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
Danny L. Arnold 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: 1-855-797-7855 4
Learning the cooperative principl Seven principles give all co-ops guidance – promotion of education is one! One of my favorite bumper stickers is, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” The importance of education was drilled into me from my earliest memories. It is no accident that we educate children from a very DANNY L. early age while their young ARNOLD minds are still dry sponges willing to absorb so much. The original seven co-op principles set forth in 1844 contained the simple phrase, “promotion of education.” Today, principle five states that all co-ops should promote “education, training and information.” This is intended for the employees, members and the community at large. It is based on the simple premise that if people know more about the cooperative business model, they will be in a much better position to understand the benefits and promote better use of the co-op and its resources. While there are almost 1 million people in the U.S. that work for cooperatives of all types (agriculture, housing, credit unions and many others in addition to electric co-ops) very few of us learn about cooperatives in school. That creates a real challenge when trying to explain the cooperative difference. People understand an investor-owned business is designed to make a profit or that a non-profit, like the Red Cross, is designed to serve the community. Electric cooperatives, like Orange County REMC, have both an economic and social purpose. We operate on a notfor-profit basis so that we can pass along the best price for our goods and services to you, the member–owner. Due to the fact that the cooperative business model is normally not taught by teachers, it is up to us at REMC to ensure that you know about the differences and benefits of being a co-op member through publications like this one. Consumer surveys by Touchstone Energy® and others
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consistently affirm that people prefer to do business with a cooperative if given a choice. So why don’t they teach about co-ops in school? There are several theories about this including that there is not enough academic research about cooperatives, which is often the source for curriculums. Another reason offered is that the co-op community is so diverse that teaching about it only creates more confusion. The first issue about research is being addressed just a few miles up the highway by the Cooperative Business Research Institute at Indiana University. The second issue can be addressed by answering the age old question: “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: “One bite
IVE Rate Schedule (for October, November and December of 2014) Figures needed to calculate your monthly bill
ples at a time!” Simply take an interest in learning about Orange County REMC. Scrolling through our website, attending our annual meeting, stopping by the office or talking to your fellow co-op members are all good ways to better understand the cooperative model you’re a part of. By knowing more about how cooperatives operate, you are in a better position to participate as member-owners. We always welcome your questions and comments to help us promote the cooperative way of doing business. DANNY L. ARNOLD is the general manager/CEO of Orange County REMC.
Employee Anniversary Marty Frank Operations Manager 21 Years
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 Rate Schedule for Security Lighting Security Lighting- 100 W HPS (45 kWh) Security Lighting- 175W MV (80 kWh)
26.00 0.1124 0.0031059
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 Wholeslae Power Cost Tracker @ .0031059 $3.73 Total $164.61 Indiana sales tax $11.52 Total bill $176.13 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 @ .0031059 $6.06 Total $224.16 Indiana sales tax $15.69 Total bill $239.85 Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards accepted
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Orange County REMC News 2015 Student Art Calendar Available Stop by the Orange County REMC office to pick up your free copy of the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art. Each year, Electric Consumer and Indiana’s electric cooperatives hold a statewide calendar art contest. It is open to all Indiana students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Each month is illustrated by the winner of a different grade, with the kindergarten winner on the cover.
Above: James White of Mercy Center and Orange County REMC’s Carla Piper load 1,400 pounds of food donated to the Center from REMC members who brought a canned good to the REMC office to exchange for a CFL light bulb. Left: Lexie Stroud and Avery Richards help make popcorn at the REMC booth at the Valeene Homecoming. (Stroud is the niece of Orange County REMC employee Stacy Slaten.)
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Changes to REMC’s workforce On Sept. 18, Larry Pinnick returned to his original position as materials manager. Pinnick began his journey with Orange County REMC in 2000 as the warehouse supervisor. In 2005, he advanced to the engineering department as an engineering aide. With retirement in his near future, Pinnick felt this was a good time to move from the engineering deLarry Pinnick partment. “As REMC continues to move forward with new technology, I felt this would be the best time to return to the materials manager position,” Pinnick said. “This allows someone who will be here for a longer period of time to move into the engineering department, learn the new technology and ultimately create a smoother transition to better serve the members.” Billy Chastain Pinnick’s shift of position created an advancement opportunity for Billy Chastain who previously held the materials manager position. Chastain’s new duties as engineering aide will include responding to requests for service or information. Chastain has been an REMC employee for five years.
HONOR OUR VETERANS THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER 11th IS VETERANS DAY—WE THANK OUR ACTIVE AND RETIRED MILITARY MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY SPECIAL VETERANS DAY OFFER Orange County REMC will donate $50 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every Exede High Speed Internet activation in November. Enjoy your favorite websites, keep in touch with family and friends, shop online and download your favorite movies, shows and songs the way you want — super-fast! Orange County REMC members don’t pay any upfront costs AND receive $5 off their monthly Exede bill for 24 months.
CALL 855-797-7855
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