December 2016
Volume 15, Issue 12
Looking Out for You
GLE Members Receive Record Refunds When GLE earns a profit, our members get the credit—capital credits, that is.
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embers receive capital credits when they belong to a cooperative like GLE that manages its finances
wisely. This year’s capital credits disbursement marks a record refund for members and signifies the value of membership in a coop. GLE will be returning $10 million to members in December, with many members receiving double the refund that they received last year. Last year, we returned over $4.69 million, less than half of what we’re able to return this year. The much larger-than-usual refund is due in part to the financial success of Wolverine Power Cooperative (WPC), our power provider. Since WPC is also a co-op that performs well financially, they return profits to their members in the form of capital credits just as GLE does. WPC’s Board of Directors approved retiring capital credits of $15 million to its member co-ops in 2016. GLE’s share of that amounted to over $8 million, which permitted our board to authorize capital credits refunds of $10 million to GLE members. That brings the total amount of refunds issued annually since 2003 to over $56 million. 2016 marks the 14th year in a row that GLE members have enjoyed receiving capital credits, which appear as a credit on their December bills. This year, members who purchased electricity in any or all of these years—2015, 1993, 1992 and 1991—will receive a capital credits refund. Amounts over $1,000 will be sent as checks. It’s the hard work of our employees and board of directors that contributes to GLE’s success helping to make the return of capital credits possible.
Members with refunds over $25 will also receive a postcard communicating the amount of the refund they will receive. In addition, call center reps will mention the refund amounts to members when the opportunity arises during a phone conversation. These efforts will help engage our members in the co-op and reinforce the cooperative difference while drawing attention to the refund on their bill, which will be printed in red. Members can learn more about capital credits in their November/December issue of Michigan Country Lines or by visiting the Capital Credit Refunds page on our website.
Capital Credit Refund Q&A for Members Q. What are capital credits? A. Capital credits are a key reason why you’re more than just a customer; you’re a member of GLE. They represent your share of profits (called margins in the co-op world) that are generated when revenues exceed our operating costs. In a co-op business, margins are not kept, but are allocated back to the members who provide the revenue through the electric rates they paid during the year. Unlike investor-owned utilities, co-ops do not have shareholder investor/ owners. Our members are our investor/owners. Every time you pay your bill, you’re making an investment in a business you co-own.
Q. Why is the refund on my bill different than my neighbor’s? A. Your share of the margins is based on the amount you spent for electricity during the years involved. If your neighbors spent more for electricity in these years than you, they will receive a larger refund and vice versa. Q. Why are the refunds based on 2015 and 1991-93? A. Capital credits were retired from the oldest years (1991-93) and most recently completed fiscal year (2015) to allow both long-time and new members to receive the benefit. Also, all capital credits earned by members prior to 1993 have now been returned. Q. What if I don’t receive a refund? A. You should receive a refund if you were a GLE member who purchased electricity from Continued on next page...
Capital Credit Refund Continued ...
us in 2015 or 1991-93. If you did not get a refund, you may be a member who joined us in 2016 or may have assumed the electric account from a relative who is now deceased. Contact us for instructions on how to claim any capital credit refunds that may be issued in the deceased
person’s name. Anyone who plans to move off our lines should provide us with their new address for our records. Your assistance will help limit the amount of unclaimed capital credit refunds. Q. What about capital credits earned in other years? Will they be returned, too? A. Yes, we plan to continue retiring capital credits annually, provided financial conditions allow us to do so. Q. What do you do with the capital credits that haven’t been retired and returned yet? A. They remain part of the capital invested in the cooperative that allows us to build, maintain and improve our power line distribution system and provide the other services that you expect as a GLE member. Q. Will I receive a refund again next year? A. It is too early at this time to predict how well your cooperative fared financially in 2016. However, based on how well we’ve done in the past with returning capital credits, we expect to continue this member benefit next year.
Envision This Issue:
Capital Credits Refunds Front Cover & Page 2 Nondiscrimination Statement Page 2 ACA Tax Reporting Page 3 InfoTech Meeting Page 3 People Power Page 3 Jim Ance Feature Page 4 United Way Page 4 Honor Roll Page 5 Teresa Spence Feature Page 6 Puzzle Page 7 Personal News Page 7 Online Outage Reporting Back Cover
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Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Health Plan Tax Reporting Forms Coming
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n January, employees will receive an important health plan tax reporting form to complete 2016 tax returns. Employees will receive Form 1095-C from GLE if they were considered full-time for at least one month in 2016 and/or were enrolled in GLE’s Group Health Plans in the same plan year. Eligible retirees with GLE as their primary plan coverage will also receive Form 1095-C. Under Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations and as a company that maintains a self-insured health plan, GLE is required to report to both the IRS and eligible employees regarding health insurance coverage. Individuals will again receive Form 1095-C from GLE if they were considered full-time for at least one month in 2016 and/or were enrolled in GLE’s Group Health Plans in the same plan year. Eligible retirees with GLE as their primary plan coverage will also receive a
form. Those Medicare-primary should receive information directly from Medicare. Form 1095-C will outline what coverage was made available, what months, if any, that coverage was elected and who in the workers’ family was covered, as applicable. For 2016, GLE offered qualifying health coverage (referred to as “minimum essential coverage” and “minimum affordability”) for eligible employees, their spouses and dependents. Upon receipt of your form, verify accuracy of all information and promptly report any discrepancies to Anjanette Reynolds at (231) 487-1352. Forms should be retained along with other required tax documents.
GLE Hosts InfoTECH Meeting
Power
PEOPLE
PROMOTION
Jeremy Bonner from Field Design Technician in Newaygo to Lineworker in Reed City.
TRANSFER Eli Diemond from Reed City Lineworker to Lineworker in Waters.
ANNIVERSARIES
We would like to recognize employees for their years of service whose anniversary hiring dates are this month. Years worked with the company are listed after each name. Kris Whittet (33), John Smith-Newaygo office (32), Charity Gee (15), Maureen Madrid-Wilson (15), Murlin Green (11), Ken Corrigan (9), Tedd Parm (8), Vicki Blain (4), Jenn Cherwinski (4), Kathy Heinig (3), Kyle Lockman (2), Mike Holmberg (2), Robin Rodarmer (2).
BIRTHDAYS
The following employees celebrate birthdays this month. Birth dates appear after each name. Wendy Whalen (1), Jeremiah Ritchie (1), Teresa Spence (2), Mike Hofmann (6), Craig Edmonds (10), Sarah Knight (12), Joyce Burns (13), Patrick Hrenko (14), Mike Mathu (14), Dawn Felton (14), Tom Gurzynski (15), Cami Dejager (16), Leland Kelly (17), Art Hudson (18), Steve Drake (19), Janet LaFave (21), Walt Lodholtz (26), Mike Holmberg (26), John Smith – Newaygo office (28), Judy Caverly (29), Shari Culver (29), Megan Healey (29), Jim Ance (31).
RETIREE BIRTHDAYS On Oct. 20 and 21, GLE hosted a Michigan Electric Cooperative Information Technology conference, InfoTECH 2016, in Boyne City. The meeting for IT employees from Michigan co-ops is held at a different co-op each year. This year, it featured presentations from five vendors: Digital Highway and Sierra Wireless (GLE’s cellular data equipment suppliers); Delta Networks and Fortinet (security products support); and National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC),
the company that will begin working with GLE in 2017 to replace our existing Customer Information System (CIS) hardware and software. GLE’s Kristi Caporosso, Programmer Analyst III, and Director of Business Security & Networks Mike Youngs also gave presentations to the group. Kristi spoke on the automated MISS DIG ticket process, and Mike discussed Ransomware.
The following retirees celebrate birthdays this month. Birth dates appear after each name. Nancy Ferguson (1), Viola Robinson (4), Richard Wouda (7), Thomas Hanna (17), Wayne Goodwin (19), Bob Wiltjer (22).
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Jim Ance looks forward to the future
After 26 years of getting up at 5 a.m. every day, Jim Ance, North Operations Manager, is looking forward to becoming a man of leisure. “I am looking forward to sleeping in a bit and being able to casually watch the news every morning,” he confesses. While he may not miss getting up early every day or working storms, he will miss the people. “I have worked with a lot of top notch people over the years. That has always remained consistent.” Some of Jim’s fondest memories include working on a line crew with Gregg Capelin, Jeff Mapes and Jim Babcock, restoring power to people and knowing they were making a difference. He also fondly recalls his first week working at Top O’ Michigan. “I took the position so I could be home every night with my family, and the day I started we had a major storm, snow up to my knees. I wasn’t home for a week,” he remembers. Jim witnessed a lot of changes over the years, but advancements in technology and availability of equipment
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for all linemen are to him the best changes made. Trucks may all have laptops now, but Jim still takes pride in carrying his paper maps with him, which have come in handy, especially for contract crews and when technology isn’t working like it should. Something else Jim always has with him? His diet Mountain Dew. “Diet Mountain Dew and Law and Order TV marathons are two of my vices,” he admits. Jim’s retirement plan has been in the works for years, but he got serious about it a year ago. “Dave Matz is only seven months older than me. When he started talking about retirement, I thought why not me, too?” Jim’s father passed away before getting the opportunity to retire, so Jim plans to take full advantage of his own retirement. Jim’s wife Becky, son Dillon and daughter Kelsey are all happy he will be getting some much-needed down time.
“I have worked with a lot of top notch people over the years. That has always remained consistent.” Jim’s wife, however, has a list of projects, starting with finishing the basement. “I am not a carpenter by any means, so it could be interesting,” Jim laughs. He would rather tinker with his recently restored Austin Healey Sprite than frame in basement walls. “I had an Austin Healey as a 16 year old. It has been fun restoring one as an adult.” Jim also plans on volunteering with Brother Dan’s Food Pantry in Petoskey and traveling. A trip to southern California to visit friends will be the first destination, but Becky would also love to go to the East Coast (“I have no desire to go to New York City, but what
the wife wants, she gets”) and Europe, including the village in Poland where her grandparents and family still reside. Jim is also contemplating getting back into flying. “I gave up being a pilot after a health scare and I thought I would really miss it. Same with boating, but other activities seem to always fill in the gaps.” Change isn’t a bad thing, just different. Retirement will be a big change for a hardworking guy like Jim, but not a bad one. Family and life outside work will fill in the gaps. Retirement party details will be announced at a later date. Jim's last day will be Jan. 3, 2017.
Uniting for United Way If community involvement is a key coop principle, GLE fulfilled that principle once again, thanks to generous employee and director donations during this year’s United Way campaign. Pledges totaling $14,226 came in from 68 employees and directors. A total of 12 United Way agencies and groups throughout GLE’s service territory receive the funds. They in turn assist many charitable organizations that depend on United Way support to impact three pillar areas in their communities: education, income and health. In addition, GLE received a $5,000 matching contribution from lender CoBank through its Sharing Success program. The $5,000 will be divided among the 12 United Way agencies selected by employees. United Way represents one more means of looking out for our members and our communities.
Employee
Honor Roll
Recognizing employees who receive special praise from members for providing exemplary service.
MEMBER SERVICES ›› Kathleen Spillane of Harbor Springs emailed to say, “We stopped by your office in Boyne City to take advantage of the free LED nightlight for Co-op Member Month. We thought the office was open until 5 p.m. and arrived at 4:35. Communications and Marketing Rep Mary Smith was leaving for the day and asked if she could help. She turned around and let us into the building and made sure we received our gift. Very impressive. It was a Friday end of week and she didn’t hesitate to help."
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ›› Margie Werden of Grant wrote on Facebook, “Thank you for getting our power turned back on! I sure do appreciate Great Lakes Energy!”
SURVEY RESPONSES ›› Sarah Otto of Marion says, “I would like to thank all of you at Great Lakes Energy. We lived downstate and had another energy company. By comparison, Great Lakes has been amazing. God bless the men and women who go above and beyond to make sure we have power. I am a very satisfied member.”
›› Tom Harrington of Fennville says, “I was impressed with next day service and quick hookup through your ‘smart meter.’ Thanks again.”
PEOPLE FUND ›› For October, employees who promote the People Fund to members submitted 397 enrollments, bringing the year-todate total to 3,110. Sarah Knight gained the most enrollments for the month with 50. She received a $20 gift card and possession of the People Fund traveling trophy. Maureen Madrid-Wilson and April McDonald, two of the 16 employees who turned in six or more enrollments for the month, each received a $10 gift card in a random drawing.
Celebrate Together
and Give Back!
Something new is in store to go along with the holiday luncheons this year. To continue the spirit of giving, employees will have the opportunity to participate in a community service project following the luncheon. In conjunction with The Manna Food Project in the north and TrueNorth Services in the south, employees will be able to spend time after the luncheon giving back to these nonprofit organizations and the local community. We hope to see you at the GLE holiday luncheon closest to you: ›› Wednesday, Dec. 7 Lang Lodge (Camp Newaygo) ›› Tuesday, Dec. 13 Boyne Mountain Events include a silent auction and 50/50 cash raffle with proceeds to local charitable organizations selected by employees at each GLE location. A special holiday photo booth featuring the photography skills of Thomas Mann will add to the fun, festivities and memories. Plan to be there!
From your Loss Control Department:
DAYS WITHOUT LOST TIME INCIDENTS BY LOCATION* City
Boyne City Hart Kalkaska Newaygo Petoskey Reed City Scottville Waters Wayland
Current Total
Record Total
210 3,231 440 859 397 451 2,047 831 349
3,069 3,231 2,279 1,530 2,530 5,283 2,047 2,566 5,118
*Note: Totals were as of October 31, 2016. Tracking began Jan. 1, 2000 and include Line, Field and Office employees at each location.
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This Is Teresa Spence To help get to know each other, look for occasional brief profiles in Envision on individuals who volunteer or are nominated for the feature by fellow employees. Submit names you would like considered for future features to Linda Kotzian in Hart. JOB TITLE: •• Administrative Assistant, Loss Control & Training
LOCATION: •• Boyne City IN GENERAL: •• Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Lived in London, Ontario four years before moving to Michigan.
•• Married to Mike Spence for 25 years. •• Children: Katie (sophomore at Grand Valley State University), Steven (senior at East Jordan High School) and Tia (sophomore at East Jordan High School)
•• Live in East Jordan. •• Hired by GLE for present position in 2013.
FAVORITES: •• Movie: I grew up watching James Bond and enjoy watching the new action spy thrillers. I also love to watch Disney and sappy love stories with my girls. We all also enjoy watching Harry Potter and Marvel comic movies.
•• Color: Yellow! It’s bright and happy. •• Season: Autumn! Love all the colors and the crisp air. Only it’s too short-lived.
•• Meal: I love all Italian food and no one can cook it as well as my parents. But if I had to pick one thing, my favorite is gnocchi, which is like a potato dumpling. It was our special meal when my family got together, served of course with my dad’s homemade wine.
•• Dessert: Did someone say “chocolate?!” MORE ABOUT TERESA: •• Leisure activities: Working out, walking, reading, watching movies with my family. I used to road bike a long time ago, but I just bought a mountain bike to give that a try.
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•• Volunteer activities: As my kids were growing up, I volunteered for everything I could, from helping in the classroom to being on the preschool co-op board and coaching their t-ball and soccer teams. I’ve been one of two tech people at my church for the last 10 years.
•• Car: My first car was a cherry red Toyota Corolla SR5, manual transmission. (I saved $1,000 that way.) But I couldn’t even drive it off the lot because I didn’t know how to drive a stick shift. I had to have my boyfriend (now my husband) drive it home for me. I learned to drive a stick pretty quick, and it was so much fun!
•• Best vacations: The first was my trip to Italy with my parents at age 18. We visited family and traveled to Venice, Trieste, Florence, Pescara and Rome. The second was taking the kids to Disney World for Halloween when they were 8, 6 and 4. Trick-or-treating at the Magic Kingdom was a blast, and we were able to go to the parks after they were closed to the public. I bet each of us ended up with five lbs. of candy, plus we hung out with Disney character villains you don’t normally see.
SURPRISING FACT: •• My parents literally “came over on the boat” when they emigrated from Italy
to Canada via New York in 1956. I have three brothers and three sisters who live in Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa and London, Ontario. My oldest sister was born in Italy.
THINGS ON MY “BUCKET LIST”: •• An extended trip to Italy to visit with relatives, plus side trips to Germany, France and Spain.
•• Explore more of the U.S. and Canada. •• Learn to speak Italian…again. As we were growing up, we spoke English only at home so that we would speak better English in school. To this day, my siblings and I respond in English when my parents speak Italian to us. Italian is harder to learn than you think!
WHAT MAKES ME PROUD: •• Watching my children grow into beautiful young adults. They are kind, generous and fun to be around. I’m excited to see what the future holds for them.
WHO’S MY HERO? •• My parents. They worked so hard to give us a better life in a new country than what they had in Italy.
S S K Y C W H O T P Z V G S C
E T E E A Q V N C O O N R O X
E R S U R N T U Q L I A O O W
Y O E M N V F P U V N P P R R
O P N P E I S N R I E F L F G
L S E L D R T E M R Q O E B T
P E R O E E S E A Q E C D S L
M A G B E A S T D E S U G W Y
E T M R I Y I P X W N S I Y S
G E I Y G V F D F Z A C N C Y
M N Y R E J O W H O Z Y G G A
G L E E F X B S L O O K R Y W
R N N E P H Y M I H N E Q I W
E A O S F F I F F L N G A E O
C O M M U N I T Y E A A M Z V
Puzzle This month’s puzzle is a word search with a hidden message. Fill in the answers to the questions below. Circle the answers in the word search. Once you find all the answers in the word search, use the letters that are left in the square, beginning with G in the top row, to fill in the hidden message. All clues can be found on the Intranet. This puzzle is a little extra challenging but worth the work because our December puzzle winner receives a $100 gift card! Quiz entries must be received by Mary Smith in Boyne City by the 8th of each month. Her fax number is 231-439-2894. The $100 gift card drawing will be held from among all correct quiz entries. Congratulations to Jessica MacNaughton, whose November puzzle solution was selected at random from among 35 entries. Jessica received a $25 gift card. NAME EXTENSION NUMBER
Company info>Mission & Vision Statements Company info>Mission & Vision Statements September 2016 Envision GLE hosted two free _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in October for is an integral element of our 1. _ _1._ _ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is5. anourintegral _ _ _ _ _ _ _. element of our operations. operations.
New Member Cover Wrap
October 2016 Envision
October 2016 Envision 2. Let’s show our communities again this year how much we care 6. We’re a not-for-profit _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ owned by you. by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ generously to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ with our value-added programs. 7. Save this 2. Letʼs show our communities again year how much we care by _ Al Aown spends a lot of time _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with local 3. youth _ _generously _ _ _ _ programs. to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Hidden message: GLE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ who take time to volunteer grasp that _ 4. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ _ their communities is another way to _ _ _ _ out for 3. Al Aown spends a lot of time _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with local youth our members. programs. 4. GLE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ who take time to volunteer grasp that _ _ _ _
communities is another way to _ _ _ _ out for our members.
September 2016 Envision
Personal News
5. GLE hosted two free _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in October for our _
Kady and Bruce Gracik welcomed a baby girl, Jaci Marie, on Oct. 25. Kady is a Member Service Representative in Newaygo.
Member Service Training Coordinator Sam Huismann along with her husband Ryan welcomed baby girl Lexi Grace, who was born Oct. 10. Sam works in Newaygo.
New Member Cover Wrap
Jessica and Skyler MacNaughton were married Oct. 7 in Boyne City. Jessica is a Member Support Rep in Boyne City.
6. Weʼre a not-for-profit _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ owned by you.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
GLE offices will close Dec. 23 & 26 and Jan. 2
Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
New Outage Reporting Options Added Reporting outages just got faster and easier for GLE members. On Nov. 1, the new outage reporting “went live.” Rather than having to call in their outages to our toll-free number, members can now report via their GLE online account or through our mobile app. With either option, information gets transmitted instantly to GLE’s outage management system. When it is possible to estimate restoration time, that information appears in real time on the member’s online account screen or mobile device. Members even receive an automated call to the phone number on record when power is restored. To tap into this new outage reporting features, members can go to my.gtlakes.com and sign up for a personal online account. Once logged in, a member clicks on the Outages link on the left of the screen to report their outage. Members with an online account can also add the GLE app to their mobile phone or device. They simply search for Great Lakes Energy in the App Store and
download the app, or update if they already have the app. Once they login and click on the Outage icon at the bottom of the display, they are taken to a screen where they can report the outage. Applications Supervisor Daryl Desloover led the charge behind the scenes to add electronic outage reporting. Daryl reports that members have made 1,500 payments through the mobile app as of Nov. 2, showing an upward trend in use since the app was launched earlier this year. The new outage reporting feature on the app should add to its popularity with our members while enhancing the member experience.
While no one likes outages, GLE is pleased we can give our members these convenient options for reporting them and receiving updates.