2014 July Southern Indiana Power Newsletter

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NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI www.sinpwr.com CONTACT US OFFICE  812-547-2316

Liberty and better life for all

TOLL FREE 800-323-2316 FAX 812-547-6853 EMAIL SINPOWER@SINPWR.COM OFFICE HOURS

7 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Friday MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 219, Tell City, IN 47586 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeff Vogel

Phone: 649-4275 DISTRICT 1: LUCE AND OHIO TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY)

Philip Meyer

Phone: 454-2874 DISTRICT 2: GRASS, CLAY AND JACKSON TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY) AND COOPERATIVE TERRITORY IN WARRICK COUNTY

Gary Waninger

Phone: 357-2264 DISTRICT 3: CARTER AND HARRISON TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY)

Dirk Stein

Phone: 529-8166 DISTRICT 4: HAMMOND AND HUFF TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY)

Randy Kleaving

Phone: 836-2536 DISTRICT 5: ANDERSON AND TROY TOWNSHIPS (PERRY COUNTY)

Kevin Waninger

Phone: 836-4646 DISTRICT 6: LEOPOLD, TOBIN AND UNION TOWNSHIPS (PERRY COUNTY)

Michelle Lynch

Phone: 843-5214 DISTRICT 7: CLARK AND OIL TOWNSHIPS (PERRY COUNTY) AND COOPERATIVE TERRITORY IN DUBOIS COUNTY KEY STAFF

Steve Seibert PRESIDENT/CEO

Karen Mangum

OFFICE/IT MANAGER

Jeff Hilgenhold

MANAGER OF MEMBER AND CORPORATE SERVICES

Every July, we take time to reflect on our country’s history and remember how the actions of a few helped shape the way we live today. I think back on the rich history of the electric cooperaSTEVE SEIBERT tive movement and how a small group of determined individuals were able to improve their quality of life and the quality of life for all those who would come after them. Every day, Southern Indiana Power members and employees pay homage to the legacy of our cooperative founders. And, because we are a part of an electric cooperative, we know we have the power to impact our present and shape the future, just like those who came before us. Through grassroots advocacy efforts, we help influence policy decisions that will affect our communities now and for years to come. We are the catalyst for change in our communities. We leverage our collective power to get things done. We are currently working with electric cooperatives all across the nation to get the EPA to reconsider regulations that could harm the electric utility industry and raise your electric rates. We work together, partnering with other co-ops, local businesses and community organizers to achieve economic development goals. Creating better opportunities and increasing the quality of life for our families and communities — just as our founding co-op members did. We understand that the decisions we make today could greatly affect how future generations live, so we invest in energy efficiency programs that protect

our future generations while still providing high-quality, affordable electric power. We also encourage our members to build energy-efficient homes using guidelines in the Touchstone Energy® Home Program, and we offer incentives and rebates to members who upgrade their water heater or HVAC system to a more efficient model. In recent years we’ve introduced the Energy Management program that helps members automatically reduce peak demand for electricity with the addition of a switch on their air conditioner or water heater. Cooperatives are helping to build the next generation of leadership through our Youth Tour programs; we send high school students to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and get an up-close view of how our government functions. Youth Tour participants leave our nation’s capital feeling energized. It inspires them to make a difference in their communities and gives them a new perspective. Youth Tour provides young people from our communities with an opportunity they may otherwise have never known. All of these things, plus so much more, are what make up the cooperative difference. This Fourth of July, as we think about the future of electric cooperatives and how we will continue to shape our country and our society, Southern Indiana Power remembers what it took to bring power to our communities. May we let the determination of those who came before us, guide us. STEVE SEIBERT is the president/CEO of Southern Indiana Power.

Todd Hammond

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Steve Fortwendel

LINE SUPERINTENDENT

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JULY 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

The Southern Indiana Power office will be closed July 4, as our employees celebrate Independence Day with their families.


IVE News Briefs:

Rate Schedule

Our spray crew began the summer maintenance schedule on May 12. They are currently working in the Perry County area and will work toward Derby. From Derby they will work their way north toward Dexter and also south from Derby toward Rome.

How to compute your monthly electric bill

Spray crews continue summer schedule

Pole testing will begin this fall Another important maintenance program includes testing the poles that carry electricity to Southern Indiana Power members. The cooperative will contract with Geoforce Utility Technologies to test nearly 3,000 poles later this fall.

Energy Management Program Electricity costs more to produce during the time of day when it is in highest demand. Contact Southern Indiana Power to have a switch installed on your water heater and/or air conditioner to automatically cycle down your appliances during these times of “peak” demand to help hold down power costs. You’ll receive up to $60 in bill credits to participate – six months of $5 bill credits for energy management of your water heater, and three months of $10 bill credits for your air conditioner or heat pump. Call 812-547-2316 or visit our website, sinpwr.com to sign up.

2014 Annual Meeting

We appreciate everyone who attended the 2014 annual meeting on June 20. A full recap of the events and photos will be published in Electric Consumer next month.

Shown below is the rate schedule information needed to figure your bill for electric use in June. Wholesale power cost tracker $0.00678 Indiana sales tax $0.07 General Service Rate Facility charge All kWh

$24.50 per month $0.0975

Off-Peak Heating Systems Facility charge $28.50 per month All kWh $0.0975 Energy used for off-peak heating systems between 11 p.m.-7 a.m. (EST) All kWh $0.053 Monthly Security Light Billing 175-watt mercury vapor 100-watt H.P. sodium 400-watt mercury vapor

$7.50 per month $7.50 per month $11.50 per month

Electric bills due by the 27th of each month. Visa, Mastercard and Discover accepted. Online payment also avilable at www.sinpwr.com.

$50 monthly drawing

Would you like to win a $50 credit on your electric bill? You could if you follow these simple rules: 1. Clip out the coupon below. 2. Fill out and return to our office along with your monthly payment before the 20th of the month. (Delinquent payments are not eligible.) 3. Coupons are dated monthly and are not available at the office. You are automatically entered in the drawing if you have your bill withdrawn from your bank’s checking or savings account (ACH) or if you pay your bill online by the 20th. The winner will be notified and the name published in the following monthly publication of Electric Consumer. MAY’S WINNER: Anthony Foster

$50 monthly drawing FOR BILLS DATED JULY 10 PAID BY JULY 20 NAME: ________________________________________________ ADDRESS:_____________________________________________ PHONE: _______________________________________________ ACCOUNT #:___________________________________________

ElectricConsumer.org • JULY 2014 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER   5


Southern Indiana Power

Operation ROUND UP Grant applications being accepted Thanks to our collective donations, Operation Round Up® is becoming a very successful way to provide funds to local community programs and projects. The Operation Round Up board of trustees will be accepting applications from Aug. 1 until Sept. 15. Disbursement will take place in October. Those eligible to apply for funds include groups, organizations, individuals or families located within the Southern Indiana Power service territory, which covers the counties of Perry and Spencer, and areas in Dubois and Warrick counties. Applicants are not required to be members of the cooperative. The maximum grant amount available to any group or organization in any one year is $5,000, and the maximum amount available to any individual or family in any one year is $1,000. An organization that previously received a grant in the last grant cycle will not be eligible for the current grant cycle. Grants are available for local volunteer fire departments, youth programs, 4-H, senior citizen programs and other community service projects. The fund will NOT be used to pay any electric or utility bills or be used in any way to support or oppose any political candidate or campaign. If you or your organization is interested in applying for an Operation Round Up grant, please visit the Southern Indiana Power office or download the forms from the website at www.sinpwr.com. Due to the possible volume of

Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department recently received a $2,000 Operation Round Up grant to purchase nozzles for their new truck. Pictured above are Bill Griepenstroh, Operation Round Up Trustee Amy Ramsey, Abraham Welch and Carl Forston

requests there will be no blank applications mailed. If you have any questions please contact the Southern Indiana Power office at 800-323-2316 or 812-547-2316 or send an email to aramsey@sinpwr.com. …

Air Evac Lifeteam is the largest independently owned and operated membership-supported air medical service in the United States with aircraft, pilots and medical crews in rural American communities, standing by 24 hours a day to respond to emergency calls. Through an agreement with Southern Indiana Power, membership for this service is available at $5 per month for a family. Billing is provided on your electric bill and there is no annual fee or contract.

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JULY 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org


Highlights of May 28 board meeting In an effort to keep you informed of your cooperative’s operations and activities, the following are highlights of the May 28 board meeting.

1. All directors were present along with CEO Steve Seibert and Administrative Assistant Lisa Hinton. Also present were Attorney Chris Goffinet and Alvin Evans, president/CEO of Perry County Development Corporation. 2. The April 23 board meeting minutes were reviewed and approved. 3. The membership certificates and vouchers were reviewed and approved. 4. The directors’ reports were reviewed and approved. 5. Seibert discussed the Hoosier Energy Wholesale Power Cost Tracker (WPCT). There will be no changes to the WPCT that will affect members at this time. 6. Seibert reviewed proposed changes to board policies No. 203.R3 Director Compensation, No. 207 Director Training and No. 403.R2 Rural Economic Development Loan Program and the cooperative bylaws with directors. 7. The CEO report was the first item of new business with Seibert reporting the following items: a. Seibert provided a City of Tell City annexation timeline update.

b. Seibert informed directors on Youth Tour and Touchstone Energy Camp attendees. The 2014 Indiana Youth Tour will be June 12-19. Attendees will be Emily Davis from Perry County and Hanna Brown from Spencer County. The 2014 Touchstone Energy® Camp will be June 4-7. Attendees will be Natalie Vaughan and Sophie Matthews of Spencer County and Katelyn Davis and Maria Hubert of Perry County.

j. Seibert reported the following meeting dates: Indiana Electric Cooperatives dinner with Gov. Mike Pence, June 17; Service Concepts annual meeting, June 26; Hoosier Energy New Director Orientation, July 7; and Hoosier Energy CEO Orientation, July 9.

c. Seibert updated directors on the Ohio Valley Resources project in Spencer County.

8. John Bullock, training and safety instructor at Hoosier Energy, conducted substation training on April 30. RRSI Rep Greg Ressler performed Red River Application training on May 15 for the summer spray crew. Seibert advised there were no lost-time accidents and no public liability claims to report.

d. The upcoming focus of Action.coop will be on EPA existing source rules.

9. Alvin Evans discussed a project that could possibly utilize RUS REDLEG funding.

e. Seibert reported testing continues on the NISC SmartHub program.

10. Director K. Waninger was selected delegate and Director Vogel was selected as alternate to the NRECA Regional meeting to be held Sept. 4-5.

f. IEC has a STP Meeting June 5 with legislators. g. Seibert has completed the NRECA Management Internship Program six-week training course.

11. Chairman Waninger was selected delegate and Director Kleaving alternate to the CFC District meeting to be held Sept. 4-5.

h. Seibert reported the following upcoming Annual Meeting Dates: Orange County REMC, June 6; and United REMC, June 14.

12. Director Braun reported on the Hoosier Energy board meeting held May 12. 13. Director training information was provided to directors.

i. The CFC Forum will be held June 10-13. Seibert and Director Braun will attend.

14. The next two regularly scheduled board of directors meetings will be Wednesday, June 25, and Wednesday, July 30.

ElectricConsumer.org • JULY 2014 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER   29


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