Looking Out for You
Welcome
The Cooperative Payment Information
Locations Services and Other Information
gtlakes.com
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Welcome Members
2
The Cooperative Difference
3-4
Locations
5
Service and Payment Options
6
More Information
7-8
People Fund
9
Services
9-14
Co-op Connections 9 Electric Heat & Water Heaters 10 Energy Optimization 11 Solar Education Display
11
Electric Space Heaters 12 Touchstone Energy 13 Electrical Safety Demonstrations 13
Commercial & Industrial 14
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You’re A
MEMBEROWNER
W
elcome to Great Lakes Energy, where you’re more than a customer. You’re a member-owner! As the largest member-owned electric cooperative in Michigan, we’re committed to providing energy solutions to more than 125,000 member-consumers in 26 counties in western and northern Michigan. Since 1937, our success has been built around the mutual trust we share with our members. This booklet describes our many services and provides information and answers to questions you may have. Please save it for future reference. Our goal remains unchanged: to provide you with value, convenience, comfort and flexibility to meet all your energy needs. We’re looking out for you.
Mission Our mission is to deliver reliable electric service at the best possible value for rural Michigan members.
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The Cooperative Difference Electric cooperatives are unique in that they are owned and controlled by the consumers they serve. Our sole purpose is to provide service and value to our members, which differs from investor-owned utilities that exist to make a profit for their investors. As a member-owned cooperative, Great Lakes Energy allocates and eventually returns profits to our members in the form of capital credit refunds. We have refunded capital credits in the form of a billing credit for over 10 years. We will continue to do so as financial conditions allow. That’s the Cooperative Difference. We are member-regulated and decisions on rates and billing practices are directly approved by your cooperative’s board of directors. For more information on our rates, rules, regulations and bylaws visit gtlakes.com or contact us at 1-888-485-2537.
Great Lakes Energy has returned over $41 million in capital credits to members since 2003.
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YOU HAVE A
VOTE!
Great Lakes Energy is an electric cooperative, which is a democratic organization governed by a board of directors. The board is made up of members who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions for the cooperative as a whole. Directors are elected from nine districts by the members to serve three-year terms. Each member of Great Lakes Energy has one vote every three years for a director in their district (one membership, one vote). Elections are held by mail-in ballot sent with the July/ August issue of Michigan Country Lines magazine. The election results are announced at the annual business meeting held each August. Your vote in the director elections is important. Directors represent you and are accountable to the entire membership, not just their district. For information about serving on the board or to find the directors who serve you call us or visit our website.
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Locations Our offices are located throughout rural Michigan. Offices are open Monday-Friday, but hours may vary by location. Payment drop boxes available 24 hours a day at each location.
HEADQUARTERS
Boyne City- 1323 Boyne Ave. Boyne City, MI 49712
SERVICE CENTERS
Hart*- 2183 North Water Road
HEADQUARTERS SERVICE CENTERS
Hart, MI 49420
Kalkaska- 630 Magnum Road Kalkaska, MI 49646
Newaygo*- One Cooperative Center Drive (M-37) Newaygo, MI 49337 Reed City- 4493 200th Ave. Reed City, MI 49677 Scottville*- 525 West U.S. 10 Scottville, MI 49454 Waters- 10380 Great Lakes Dr. Waters, MI 49797
Wayland- 1049 133rd Ave. Wayland, MI 49348 *Drive-up windows available
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SERVICE and PAYMENT OPTIONS STANDARD BILLING ›› Bills available in larger type size for easier reading ›› Pay by phone or online 24-7 with a credit card or by e-check, with no processing fees
AUTOMATIC BILL PAYMENT PLAN ›› Automatically deducts payments from your checking or savings account
ONLINE PAYMENT OPTIONS & PAPERLESS E-BILLING ›› Access your account online, enroll in paperless e-billing, pay or view your bill at my.gtlakes.com
CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ›› We accept most major credit cards and can automatically charge your card each month.
PAY STATIONS ›› Pay your current electric bill at a business near you. Call us or view the list at gtlakes.com
BUDGET BILLING PLANS ›› Based on past energy use. Your account is balanced annually.
PRE-PAID BILLING ›› Pre-pay for your electric usage. You’re billed current rates and fees, plus a $3 monthly program fee. There are no late fees, no reconnect fees and no deposits. Restrictions may apply.
IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT If you lose power, call our automatic outage-reporting system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (800) 678-0411.
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KEEPING YOU
Informed GREAT LAKES ENERGY KEEPS YOU INFORMED IN MANY WAYS.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES N A G I H S MICUNTRY LINE October 2014
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Members receive Michigan Country Lines magazine ten times a year. This magazine provides information about the cooperative, energy efficiency, products and services and even recipes. It provides in-depth information and keeps members up-to-date on changes with the cooperative. Michigan Country Lines is also available online at countrylines.com. If you have a winter address, please contact us to request that we forward your magazine.
er 2014
Decemb
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Fall Discounts al Credit 8 8 CaRepitfunds Coming For You
Co-op’s
Reliabilit ach
9
Take Our Co-op Member Survey
13 Receive An
Energy-saving Gift!
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12 YoGoural Is Within Re
POWERTALK PowerTalk is a monthly newsletter that is sent with your electric bill as an insert. PowerTalk provides information that is similar to Michigan Country Lines, but in a shorter format. It’s a fast and easy way to find out what’s going on at Great Lakes Energy. Visit gtlakes.com to view previous issues of PowerTalk or other various bill inserts.
A sup Michigan plement to Country Lines
A supplement to Michigan Country Lines October 2014 • Volume 6, Issue 10 • Published for Members of Great Lakes Energy
Good Service Begins With Good People
W
e know you value reliable and affordable service, which Steve Boeckman Great Lakes Energy is why we invest your money President/CEO wisely to keep outage time to a minimum. Power line equipment that helps direct lineworkers to where lines are down is one example. Extending our tree re-clearing efforts to dead or dying trees outside the right-of-way that pose a risk to our lines is another. And there are many other examples. But these investments would be worthless without the trained, dedicated people who serve you every day. They are the lineworkers
We’re thanking our members, too. Visit a GLE office in October to receive a free energy efficiency item, while supplies last. Plus enter to win an energy efficiency prize.
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and other field workers who work long hours in lousy weather to get your lights back on. And the his fall dispatchers who work around the clock taking half of make emergency outage calls and notifying crews of the the 40 up the panels solar Lak trouble. They are the reps who handle hundreds that re-adjus es Energy offi display at ach October, cooperatives all across the Gre of billing inquiries, take your payments and refer ted to ce in Boy at lower America celebrate the role, accomalign ne City pos you to assistance agencies if you’re having trouble them were will rem ition in the with plishments and contributions of our the sun paying your bill. ain at sky. The ’s we will the sam nation’s cooperatives. Observing National other The list goes on to include those in our engie amount see what diff angle. In the panels Co-op Month gives electric co-ops yet another neering, accounting, information technology and of ene erence spring, rgy gen kilowat reason to tell our members that they are part t (kW) erated this makes other fields who make the daily efficient operation in syst by eac being of something special. em with h. The used to of a member-owned electric cooperative possible. two 5 use of edu At a time of increasing national concern kW arra 10 renewab cate GLE We stress to our employees the importance ys is mem the syst le about the economy, especially rising energy em’s ene energy. Info bers on the of treating the people they serve as more than ede project rmation officials rgy out costs, we also ral must communicate the coopfacts, put so means just customers; they’re members who about pred incl the Nov we far and warmerat all erative difference tocou decisionictmakers ember/D uding cost, ld pay share in the ownership of this busitem Afte Country are ava other ecembe r lastaffect levels whose actions ourless members to stay and peratures for ilab season, The fede Lines r ness. Our employees understand Steve warm Great our area that or onli issue of Mic le in communities in Ene which live’sand Great Boeckman the to Lak last win ral certwork. in our hom Lakes this win rgy they ne at higan that, and it shows. Our reps earn Informa whoainlwe Energ solar pan es Energy y es. ter for Presid ter whi gtla cooperative difference ent/CEO y Thepro tion Adm good news. does those defines pane or els. ch high marks from members not sell kes.com. wholooking increasefor inistratio fuelcan heat thei and what we out for oil. achieve: or inst p due d dras aredro Hom n their courteous service. pred r hom all es with ticaour to best sound icts low lowerinterests. lly last es with members’ propan promis demand er bills Their professionalism either e or fuel ing, we winter due ahead com . As you electrici to high brin oil are also kno g, one may ty, natu pared extends to helping comdemand expecte strutheir w that thin ggling ral gas during have experie d to see weather with thei g is certain. munities, too, such as donatthe “po nced, the bigg , In add can be r energy prices We will est ition unpredi lar vortex”. for thes ing or making for to bills. be here reduitems While ce you ctab Energy e fuel to assi r energy holiday auctions or employee Opt st Gre le. Regardless these predictio s a sim ple way at Lak use (visi imization wha ns pro es Ene events that raise dialmoney rgy mem t the months 2-1-1.annu-that you can t michigan-en grams to help bers ally for local charities. ergy find .org who are agencie It’s a freebe s to help ), there’s Without them, there info rmawould you. Just tion and community no co-op. residen hea lth Lakes reat Energy members are referral ts with and hum service October is National mor energy e. By Coopto be an aware impostors that con servof paymen reminded simplyto ices erative Month, connec a time assistan may callnec them claiming to be ts elig ted with dialing 211 t who ible help saycon thank you to thea train from Great , ava LakesceEnergy. fidentia le 24/7 and much ed, cari ilab assess refe men and llywomen , calle ng r them GLEpro member who receives their situ Any rs are a call from fess to loca iona atio who serve you l resourcesomeone Althoug n, iden claiming to l bewho from Great Lakes tify thei will s for help it vari tempor around hthe clock r needs for immediate es by Energy and . feels pressured ary fina and ncial assi location, loca include in some capacity payment orl reso personal information is advised mental stance, urces incl servicesevery day hea of the lth care to tran spoup the phone hang and call their electric . and cou rtation, utili ude basic nee If you year. They ty assi Energy members cooperative. nselingGreat Lakes ds such should stance , health in you as foo and mor erience can call 1-888-485-2537 r area are expthe to any careand For mo byones e. In add d, housing, , indispeak trouble our web visiting who vidual/fa re infor shelter, accessin service representative. member Co-op www.2 GLE site, gtla mily life ition, local g 11.o about 2-1 mation kes. resource Helping are look-1, rg. Foror any consumer, assistan com or members, never give ne s our mem informa you canshould ce and do a sear us. ing outbers for callout tion on including other progra t metering financial ch for with thei personal information, other the clos ms or you. types of r energy account numbers est 2-1 GL bill pay cost is or social security numbers, panels ment assi -1 provider ano over the phones or internet to someone they 94728_Po ther way visit gt E’s solar stance, werTalk.in we’re Intere lakes.co visit do not know. dd 1 looking ste out m. d for you in solar Members should also report the incident your . to local law enforcement authorities.
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9/18/14 10:31 AM
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E-NEWSLETTER Members receive a free monthly e-newsletter just by providing your email address. Update your email address by contacting our office by phone or email. We will never sell or rent your email address to outside companies.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates and discuss topics with other members.
SOCIAL MEDIA Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates and discuss topics with other members. Watch videos about GLE and our services on YouTube. Simply visit gtlakes.com and click on the Facebook, YouTube or Twitter icon.
IN OUR OFFICES We have literature and brochures available for free in each of our offices. You can also contact us by phone or email to request more information. View the list of our office locations on page five. Office hours may vary by location. Visit our website or call us for office hours.
ONLINE
Visit our website at gtlakes.com to learn more about Great Lakes Energy, enroll in one of our programs or submit an e-mail request for more information.
STAY CONNECTED We need your current phone number and e-mail address on record to inform you of outages and other important matters. Contact us to update yours today.
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PEOPLE
Fund
C
haritable organizations in our communities have received more than $2.6 million in grants from the People Fund since 1999.
You can help by allowing us to “Round Up� your bill by an average of 50-cents each month. Join thousands of Great Lakes Energy members who support the People Fund.
Visit gtlakes.com to enroll today!
Co-op Connections Discount Card Save money at local businesses, on prescriptions and on other medical services with your free Co-op Connections card. Once you receive your cards they are ready for use at participating businesses locally and nationwide. There is no participation fee to members or to participating businesses. All new members will receive a set of cards in the mail. Visit our website and click on the Co-op Connections section for the most up to date program and discount information or call us and ask for extension 8957 for more information.
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ELECTRIC HEAT & WATER HEATING WATER HEATER REBATES* Receive a $100 Energy Optimization rebate when you purchase and install a qualified heat-pump water heater. GLE does not sell or install water heaters.
ELECTRIC HEAT REBATES* When you install a ground- or air-source heat pump in your home, you may qualify for $250-$500 in rebates. The system you install must meet minimum qualifications for efficiency. GLE does not sell or install heating systems. Energy Optimization rebates up to $450 are also available for qualified ground or airsource heat pumps.
ELECTRIC HEAT RATE* Save on the electricity you use for heating your home with a qualified heat pump. Your ground- or air-source heat pump must meet minimum efficiency requirements. Contact us for details.
*Some restrictions may apply. Program subject to change or cancellation at any time.
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Great Lakes Energy offers a variety of programs to help members save energy. These programs also comply with Michigan’s “Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act.” Programs are available for all rate classifications and are designed to help you save energy. For more information about these programs, visit the Energy Optimization website at www.michigan-energy.org or call 877-296-4319.
SOLAR
EDUCATION DISPLAY
A 10kW solar panel array is on display outside GLE’s Boyne City office. Two 5kW arrays, one fixed and one tilting, provide enough energy to power an average home. The panels help power the office and provide education for members about solar panels.
Members interested in solar or other types of self-generation may qualify for the co-op’s net metering program. GLE does not sell or install solar panels. Information about the solar project and net metering is available in the Boyne City office lobby during business hours or by visiting www.gtlakes.com/solar-
energy-project.
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ELECTRIC SPACE HEATERS High-quality Convectair electric space heaters are available from Great Lakes Energy. You can choose from a wide variety of room and bathroom heaters in either 120 or 240 volt. Convectair models are on display in our offices. Prices start at $234.
CONVECTAIR UNITS OFFER: ›› Safe operation ›› Efficient, even heat ›› Plug-in or hard wire units ›› Easy installation ›› Two-year full warranty Convectair is not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
For more information, visit us online or call us and ask for extension 8957. Call 888-GT-LAKES 94866.indd 12
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G
reat Lakes Energy is your local Touchstone Energy® cooperative.
Touchstone Energy® is a national alliance of local, cooperatively owned utilities providing high standards of service. More than 700 Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives in 46 states deliver energy and energy solutions to millions of member-consumers every day.
As a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, Great Lakes Energy is committed to serving our members with integrity, accountability, innovation and community involvement.
Electrical Safety Demonstrations GLE provides free electrical safety “hotline” demonstrations to schools and qualified groups in its service area. The 45-minute presentation demonstrates the power of electricity and teaches electrical safety. To schedule a free demonstration, visit our website.
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COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
We’re committed to providing a high level of service and value to all our commercial and industrial members. Your unique needs and overall importance to our business require special energy services.
WE ALSO PROVIDE: ›› Assistance in determining the most economical rate for your facility ›› Technical assistance with troubleshooting/ solving electrical problems or concerns related to member-owned primary equipment ›› Help with obtaining low interest capital to meet your growth needs ›› Thermal imaging services ›› Power quality monitoring ›› Transformer maintenance and testing ›› Energy Optimization Programs
Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES MAGAZINE - Applicant for GLE service agrees that $4.15 of the amount paid for electricity each year is for a subscription to “Michigan Country Lines”. Updated December 2014. All programs subject to change or cancellation.
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1323 Boyne Avenue Post Office Box 70 Boyne City, MI 49712 t: 888.GT.LAKES (888.485.2537) f: 231.582.6213 gtlakes.com glenergy@glenergy.com
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