NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI www.dmremc.com CONTACT US
Daviess-Martin County REMC TOLL FREE
800-762-7362
GENERAL MANAGER
Dave Sutter
OFFICE HOURS
7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m., Monday-Friday STREET ADDRESS
12628 E 75 N, Loogootee, IN 47553 MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 430, Loogootee, IN 47553 SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS
To report an outage or emergency, call 812-295-4200 or 800-7627362 day or night. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dean Harrawood, PRESIDENT John Edwards, VICE PRESIDENT August Bauer, SECRETARY Michael E. Arvin, TREASURER Terry Chapman Dale Marchino Steve Streepy BILL PAYMENT OPTIONS
Online bill payment Budget billing Auto bank draft Drive-through window Night depository Credit card payment (VISA, Discover and MasterCard accepted) Pay-by-phone MISSION STATEMENT
“Our mission is to provide dependable electricity and quality services for our members at reasonable cost.” Like us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/Daviess MartinCountyREMC
TIP OF THE MONTH
Save with efficient fridge Keep cool this summer! ENERGY STARcertified refrigerators are about 9-10 percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard. — ENERGYSTAR.GOV
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Avoid electrical dangers on the farm When farmers returned to the fields for planting this spring, we received several calls about equipment coming into contact with power lines. Daviess-Martin County REMC urges farmDAVE SUTTER ers to be particularly alert to the dangers of working near overhead power lines. Operating large equipment near these lines is one of the often overlooked, yet potentially deadly, hazards of working on a farm. As the size of the farm grows, so does the size of the equipment farmers use in the fields. You’re taking a piece of equipment to the field that you haven’t used before. You make a round in the field, get to the very edge where an existing power line is set, and all of a sudden — crash. The turn you normally made does not work anymore. You look back to see that you are hung up on the overhead power line. What do you do? Climbing out of that combine or tractor, attached to that piece of equipment now snared in a power line, is the worst thing you can do. Unless you are in immediate danger, stay where you are and call for help. Even if a line has landed on the ground, there is still potential for the area to be energized. Warn others who may be nearby to stay away and wait until help arrives. The utility wires are uninsulated, bare wires. Don’t let your body become a direct link between the line and the ground. If fire or other danger forces you out, jump clear so that no part of your body touches the energized equipment or fallen line and the ground at the same time. Take care not to fall back toward the vehicle or lines. Land with your feet together and shuffle a long distance away. And once you’re out of harm’s way, never go back until the utility company disconnects the power line. Start by making sure everyone knows
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org
“Simply working too close to a power line is dangerous as electricity can arc or ‘jump’ to conducting objects, such as a ladder, pole or truck.” to maintain a 10-foot clearance minimum from power lines. Helpful safety steps include using a spotter and designating preplanned routes that avoid hazard areas. Be aware of increased height when loading and transporting tractors on trailer beds. Many tractors now have tall antennas extending from the cab that could make contact with power lines. Avoid raising the arms of planters or cultivators near power lines, and never attempt to raise or move a power line to clear a path. Simply working too close to a power line is dangerous as electricity can arc or “jump” to conducting objects, such as a ladder, pole or truck. Remember, nonmetallic materials such as lumber, tires, ropes and hay will conduct electricity depending on dampness, dust and dirt contamination. The overhead electric wires aren’t the only electrical contact that can result in a serious incident. Pole guy wires are grounded to neutral; but, when one of the guy wires is broken, it can cause an electric current disruption. This can make those neutral wires anything but harmless. If you hit a guy wire and break it, call Daviess-Martin County REMC to fix it. Don’t do it yourself. When dealing with electrical poles and wires, always call the REMC. DAVE SUTTER is general manager of DaviessMartin County REMC.
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The employees and directors of DaviessMartin County REMC wish all fathers a Happy Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21!
Earn credits with energy management Earn energy credits for allowing DaviessMartin County REMC to place an energy savings switch on your water heater and/or air conditioner. When energy is at its peak, a signal can be sent to cycle down the heating and cooling units for short periods of time. This helps reduce the possibility of future rate increases and helps the environment. ENERGY CREDITS Water heater: $5/month Air conditioner: $10/month Water heater and AC: $15/month (Energy credits given only June - August)
County Fair Dates k Daviess County: June 9–27 k Martin County: July 10–14 k Daviess County 4-H Fair: July 17-24 k Lawrence County: July 18–25
‘Win! Win! Win!’ Each month, Daviess-Martin County REMC asks our readers three questions to which the answers can be found in the articles of Electric Consumer. Follow these simple rules: 1.) Clip the coupon along the dotted line. 2.) Fill it out. 3.) Return it to our office with your monthly payment before the 20th of the month. (Delinquent payments are not eligible.) Each month a winner will be drawn from the entries submitted. Make sure you bring or mail in your most recent coupon, as the coupons are dated monthly. Members with automatic payment accounts will be entered in the contest as well. Copies will not be accepted, and coupons are not available at the office! Winners will be notified and their names published in the following monthly issue of Electric Consumer. APRIL WINNER: Rick and Rita Drew, Washington
$50 MONTHLY DRAWING (FOR BILLS DATED JUNE 5; PAID BY JUNE 20)
1. Keep farming equipment at least ________ feet away from power lines. 2. ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerators are about ________ percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard. 3. Your co-op has created a new online store to help you select and purchase energy-efficient _________________________ for your home. NAME: _______________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________ ACCOUNT NO.: __________________________________________________ PHONE NO.: ______________________________________________________
ElectricConsumer.org • JUNE 2015 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 5
Daviess-Martin County REMC News
Recognizing OUR YOUTH F
ive area students have been chosen to represent your cooperative in two very special events this summer.
Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. High school seniors-to-be Allison Albright, Megan Hawkins and Alena Rhea will join over 1,500 other REMC youth at this year’s Indiana Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Allison is the daughter of Nathan and Julia Albright and Megan is the daughter of Rodney and Mimi Hawkins. Both will be seniors at Shoals High School. Alena is the daughter of Steven and Precious Rhea of Loogootee and is a home-schooled student. Albright, Hawkins and Rhea will meet with the other Indiana tour participants in Indianapolis on June 11. Students will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will tour many of the museums and monuments in our nation’s capital, view the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, participate in the “Youth Tour Rally” and visit Capital Hill where they will meet with representatives of Indiana’s congressional delegation. There are also stops to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., and the Civil War battlefields in Gettysburg. The Indiana Youth Tour trip is sponsored by electric cooperatives throughout the state and our statewide association, Indiana Electric Cooperatives.
to attend Touchstone Energy Camp, a fun and educational program at Camp Tecumseh near Brookston, Ind. Joshua is the son of Mark and Stephanie O’Brian and is a student at Barr-Reeve Community Schools. Matthew is the son of Brandon and Julie Poole and attends Loogootee Middle School. Touchstone Energy Camp is designed to help students learn about electrification and electric safety. It also teaches them about cooperative business principles through a variety of activities.
Campers also get to enjoy the complete camp experience with swimming, wall climbing, archery and other activities planned. The Touchstone Energy Camp program was developed by a committee of electric cooperative employees from around the state of Indiana. It is funded in part by Hoosier Energy; Wabash Valley Power Association; Indiana’s rural electric cooperatives; our statewide association, Indiana Electric Cooperatives; and local sponsors. …
INDIANA YOUTH TOUR PARTICIPANTS
ALLISON ALBRIGHT
MEGAN HAWKINS
ALENA RHEA
TOUCHSTONE ENERGY CAMPERS
Touchstone Energy Camp Seventh graders-to-be Joshua O’Brian and Matthew Poole have been chosen
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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org
JOSHUA O’BRIAN
MATTHEW POOLE
Stay safe during and after summer storms
N
o one knows electrical safety better than the experts who practice it every single day. The folks at Daviess-Martin County REMC encourage you to practice safety with these reminders — for during and after a summer storm:
Avoid wires and water When lightning strikes a home during a storm, the electrical charge can surge through pipes and utility wires. That means you can get zapped if you’re touching water or any device that’s plugged in, whether it’s a landline phone or toaster.
Skip the makeshift shelter During a storm, it’s tempting to take cover under a picnic gazebo or golf cart, but in open-sided structures with no conductors to channel strikes, a bolt’s path of least resistance to the ground
could be you. On top of that, these structures raise your risk of a lightning strike because of their height. Keep moving toward suitable shelter.
areas. Power lines could be submerged and still live with electricity. Report any downed lines you see to Daviess-Martin County REMC by calling 800-762-7362.
Portable generators
Electrical equipment
Take special care with portable generators, which can provide a good source of power, but if improperly installed or operated, can become deadly. Do not connect generators directly to household wiring. Power from generators can backfeed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including co-op line workers making repairs. It’s best to hire a qualified, licensed electrician to install your generator and ensure that it meets local electrical codes.
Never use electrical equipment that is wet — especially outdoor electrical equipment, which could be a potential danger after a summer storm. Water can damage electrical equipment and parts, posing a shock or fire hazard. Daviess-Martin County REMC is a proud member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. Along with 750 electric cooperatives nationwide, we have partnered with Touchstone Energy to put safety as our number one concern. For a checklist to assess safety hazards around your home or to take a quick safety quiz, go to http://www.togetherwesave.com/power-of-community/ safety. …
Flooded areas Stay away from downed power lines and avoid walking through flooded
ElectricConsumer.org • JUNE 2015 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 29