NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI www.myremc.coop CONTACT US OFFICE
812-865-2229 888-337-5900 BILL PAYMENTS 855-865-2229 TOLL FREE
CONTACT US BY EMAIL
orangecoremc@myremc.coop GENERAL MANAGER/CEO
Matthew C. Deaton OFFICE HOURS
7 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday-Friday STREET ADDRESS
7133 N. State Road 337 Orleans, IN 47452 MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 208, Orleans, IN 47452 EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES
To report service interruptions, call: 812-865-2229 or 888-337-5900, day or night. Please have the phone number associated with your account ready when reporting outages. Please limit after hours calls to emergencies and outage situations. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eugene Roberts, DISTRICT 1 Randy Roberts, DISTRICT 2 Danny Easterday, DISTRICT 3 Rodney Hager, DISTRICT 4 Ben Lindsey, DISTRICT 5 Brian Hawkins, DISTRICT 6 George Key, DISTRICT 7 REMC KEY STAFF
Marty Frank, OPERATIONS MANAGER Marcy Bennett, OFFICE MANAGER Larry Pinnick, MATERIALS MANAGER Michael Roberts, STAKING ENGINEER Misty Tincher, ACCOUNTANT Billy Chastain, STAKING ENGINEER AIDE Mark Belcher, MARKETING/MEMBER SERVICES MEMBER SERVICES
•Free energy analysis •Budget billing •Automatic payments •Security lights •Home security systems •Medical emergency monitoring •Air evac life team •Water heater and HVAC incentives (requires an EM switch) •Online bill payment options •Interactive Voice Response system for payments and account inquiries via phone: 1-855-865-2229 •VISA, MasterCard and Discover accepted •Exede Internet - 855-797-7855 4
Your co-op is working for you As I contemplate what to share with the membership this month, I realize that there are many, many moving parts that affect your cooperative. Initiatives at the federal, state and local levels MATTHEW C. are working to either augment or hinder our core misDEATON sion of providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity. New regulation including the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), Clean Power Plan, Waters of the United States, Broadband Ready Communities, Rural Broadband: SB469 and Service Territory Preservation Act: SB 309 all will impact business going forward. Orange County REMC is engaged with our cooperative counterparts that represent us at these levels and will relay specific impacts as the changes become permanent. Specific to the Clean Power Plan, the price of electricity will be impacted according to our national cooperative organization’s analysis. Although not consistent, an average of a 10 percent increase could occur based on the fact that income of co-op consumers is, on average, 12 percent lower than the median national income used by the EPA to consider cost impacts. I find it unacceptable to use phrases like “could occur,” but unfortunately, that is the dynamic these initiatives take. The same day the White House announced the final Clean Power Plan, Gov. Mike Pence issued a statement saying, “When it comes to energy policy, this administration continues to place its environmental
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • SEPTEMBER 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org
agenda ahead of the interests of Hoosier ratepayers, jobs and the economy. Here in Indiana, homeowners and businesses rely on coal-burning power plants for low-cost, reliable energy. Yet little to no consideration was given to states like ours throughout the development of the EPA’s final rule, and that is simply not acceptable.” We must wait and see together just how this final regulation will play out. There are many good people staying upto-date on these and numerous other issues I can assure you. Locally, the REMC team is working to refine policies and procedures to enhance your interaction with us. Team members are working hard on a project that integrates all of our existing business systems allowing a much greater percentage of automation and less manual input of information. I will say that, regardless of what is going on with the politics in Washington, D.C., or Indianapolis, Orange County REMC is here to carry out our job the best we can. We continue to plan and execute a long-term construction work plan, looking into the future the best we can. We continue to provide great member services, such as time-of-use rates, pre-paid accounts and many energy efficiency programs. I encourage the learning of new ways of doing business and appreciate your feedback along the way. In all we do, we have the common theme in mind, making the member experience better. MATTHEW C. DEATON is general manager/CEO of Orange County REMC.
IVE Rate Schedule
(for July, August and September 2015)
Figures needed to calculate your monthly bill Rate Schedule for Standard Service Standard Service Consumer Charge Standard Service Energy Charge Wholesale Power Cost Tracker Total bill plus Indiana sales tax 7% Rate Schedule for ETS Service ETS Consumer Charge ETS Off-Peak Energy
Patoka Lake Clean Up: Sept. 12 We need your help! Please volunteer your time to help pick up trash and debris along the shores of Patoka Lake. Cleanup Day at Patoka Lake helps ensure clean drinking water for 11 southern Indiana counties, affecting over 31,000 households and businesses — more than 100,000 people. Last year, 72 people assisted with shoreline cleanup including many families and high school students along with the staff of Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hoosier Hills Marina and Patoka Lake Marina. This team effort resulted in more than 1,300 pounds of trash being removed from the lake perimeter, but your help is needed to remove more trash this year. Volunteer registration on Sept. 12 begins at 8 a.m. at Hoosier Hills Marina, which is located on Highway 545. The event ends at noon with a free fish fry at the marina as well as a T-shirt and prize giveaway for participating volunteers. All supplies will be provided. However, volunteers should wear sturdy shoes or boots. For more information, please call Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District at 800-313-5589 or Patoka Lake Visitor Center at 812-685-2447.
Rate Schedule for Security Lighting Security Lighting- 100 W HPS Security Lighting- 40 W LED
26.00 0.1124 0.0030698
5.40 0.0691 9.82 9.82
Example for 1,200 kwh Standard Service Consumer Charge $26.00 1,200 kwh @ .1124 $134.88 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker @ $0.0030698 $3.68 Total $164.56 Indiana sales tax $11.52 Total Bill $176.08 Example for 1,200 kwh (regular) and 750 kwh (ETS) Standard Service Consumer Charge $26.00 ETS Consumer Charge $5.40 1,200 kwh @ .1124 $134.88 750 kwh @ .0691 $51.83 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker @ $0.0030698 $5.99 Total $224.09 Indiana sales tax $15.69 Total Bill $239.78 Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards accepted
Camp saves with lighting upgrades
Scenic Hills Christian Camp recently took advantage of Orange County REMC’s incentive program to upgrade lighting in several buildings from T12 fluorescent lamps to T8 lamps. On top of a $2311.41 rebate, it is estimated the camp will save 4,704 watts, 8,467 KWh or $951.69 annually. Orange County REMC’s Mark Belcher, left, is pictured above with camp manager Mark Campbell and his son.
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Orange County REMC News
Operation ROUND UP More than $7,700 in grants awarded The Board of Trustees of Orange County Rural Electric Community Fund, Inc., announced grants totaling $7,769.08 were approved for distribution. Operation Round Up® grants were awarded to Jubilee Community Health Clinic, Inc., Paoli Youth Diamond Sports and Springs Valley Band Boosters. This round of awards brings the total amount disbursed by Operation Round Up to $381,081 since the inception of the program in 2003. The deadline for the next round of grant applications is Oct. 23, 2015.
Pictured above are some of the July grant recipients — Bob Vaal with Springs Valley Band Boosters, Evelyn Shellenberger with Jubilee Community Health, Inc. and Operation Round Up trustee Kelly Wade.
REMC members save with incentive programs
MARK BELCHER
Orange County REMC has special programs designed to help members save energy or money. Some programs have immediate payback while others have a long-term effect.
Appliance recycling program If you have an old second refrigerator or freezer parked in your garage keeping your soda pop or ice cream cold, it’s probably costing you more money than you think. Did you know that it could use up to five times more electricity than a newer model, costing you an extra $100 or more each year in electricity? Orange County REMC’s appliance recycling program offers our members a quick and easy way to reduce your energy bill. Not only will you save money on your electric bill each month, but you’ll receive a $50 bounty on your old appliance. To schedule your free refrigerator pickup, just call 877-395-5535.
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Discount lightbulbs Visit www.myremc.coop and click on the “Team Up Lighting Rebates” icon to go to our online store. Create your order of at least six LED or CLF bulbs and get instant discounts and free shipping.
Incentives for energy efficient equipment Orange County REMC offers incentives for members who want to upgrade their water heater or HVAC equipment. Go to www.myremc. coop/rebates.html for details and specifics on all the incentives for different pieces of equipment.
Energy management program One of the most efficient ways to keep a handle on future energy costs is the energy management program. We are still looking for members who will allow Orange County to install a switch that can remotely operate both your electric water heater and central air conditioner or heat pump during times when demand for electricity is at its peak. An electric peak comes most often during a stretch
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • SEPTEMBER 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org
of very hot or cold days as demand for electricity increases. During this time of increased use, Hoosier Energy might be forced to purchase additional power on the volatile power market. Avoiding the need to purchase additional power will in turn keep your rates low. Visit www. myremc.coop/energy_management. html to sign up.
Touchstone Energy home Did you know that owning a Touchstone Energy® home can save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs each year? Because of its region-specific insulation standards, high-efficiency electric heat pump and electric water heater, the Touchstone Energy home slashes heating and cooling bills. Touchstone Energy homes feature year-round comfort, year-round efficiency, year-round savings. Go to www.itehome.com for more information. Visit www.myremc.coop for more information on all these programs, and more. …
Fall ETS Service Special Don’t wait for cold weather to find out your ETS units are not functioning properly. Call 812-865-2229 locally or 888-337-5900 (toll free) to schedule your ETS check-up.
REMC member Lynn Miller of Hardinsburg (pictured here with granddaughter Aubrey) has been turning her passion for cooking and baking into a part-time hobby since 2006.
REMC will lower the normal $25 service call to only $10 for the first unit and $5 for each additional unit. The ETS service call for the first unit is free, if you allow REMC to install an energy management switch on your water heater and/or HVAC equipment.
Employees celebrate anniversaries
Miller offers catered meals and desserts for all events such as weddings, birthdays or family reunions. If you need a dessert or meal for your event, contact Lynn at 812-653-1962 or email millerlynn5715@gmail.com. GARY CHEATHAM 35 years
ED THURMAN 21 years
INSTANT SAVINGS ON HIGH-SPEED INTERNET? GLAD SOMEONE THOUGHT OF IT.
BILLY CHASTAIN 6 years
FRE ACTIVA E $150 a TION c tiva fee waiv tion ed!
SUPER FAST Speeds up to 12 Mbps
Do you have an idea for an individual, group or business to be featured in our Community Corner? Send an email to Stacy Slaten at sslaten@myremc.coop.
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7/23/15 10:38 AM
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