Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Employee Newsletter Fall 2026
Between THE LINES
WELCOME TO THE FALL ISSUE OF OUR EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER! We want to hear from you!
We hope the newsletter keeps you informed on employee and member updates. You will receive Between the Lines every three months. Each issue will feature employee anniversaries, birthdays, upcoming meetings and events, and more.
Do you have information to include in the newsletter or ideas to improve communication? Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.
IN THIS ISSUE
Upcoming holidays PAGE 9
Capital credits changes PAGE 11
Bingo Night at Seven Mile Winery PAGE 12
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Member satisfaction survey results PAGE 14
HAZARDS IN THE FIELD > WHAT TO LOOK FOR It's important to report hazards in the field if you see something that looks off when you're outside the office, like when you're on your way home after work. If you see something that could be dangerous, report it to Denis. One of our employees will inspect the problem and fix it if needed. Report these problems even if you're unsure it's impacting an electric line or if you don't know if the electric line is in our territory. Doing so will keep our employees and the public safe.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Shown here are several loose, dangling wires wrapped around and hanging from the lower insulator. If you see this in our area, report it to Denis.
SAFETY FIRST AGENDA
If a Green Button alarm appears on your computer while you're at your desk, treat it as a priority safety notification and report to the office of the employee who initiated the alarm. PAGE 2
Between the Lines Fall 2026
Employee anniversaries OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Mick Johnson October 10 15 years
Lisa Broermann November 3 12 years
Lori Maynard December 1 18 years
Missy Moore October 17 32 years
Debbie Carley November 9 39 years
Darlene Thompson December 14 28 years
Noah Krall October 23 7 years Rhett Hughes October 29 19 years
Christmas Celebration Saturday, December 5 • Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton 1 Riverfront Plaza Hamilton, OH 45011
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Upcoming events
OCTOBER
Community Service Days Shared Harvest Foodbank October 6 & 13 Flu Shots Community Room October 13 • 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Political Action Committee Breakfast Garage October 16 • 9 to 11 a.m. Board Meeting October 28 First Responder Safety Demonstration Garage October 29 • 9 to 11 a.m.
NOVEMBER
Employee Meeting November 2
DECEMBER
Annual Benefit Enrollment November 2 through 13
Employee Christmas Celebration Hamilton Marriott December 5 • Dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Office Closed for Veterans Day November 11
Holiday Harvest Food Drive Ends December 11
Safety Committee Meeting November 12
Office Closed for Christmas December 24 & 25
Holiday Harvest Food Drive Begins November 13 Board Candidate Interviews November 16 Birthday Breakfast November 17 • 7:30 to 8 a.m. Board Meeting November 25 Office Closed for Thanksgiving November 26 & 27
REMINDER: EMPLOYEE MEETING Monday, November 2
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Board Meeting December 30
Between the Lines Fall 2026
Birthday Breakfast NOVEMBER 17 7:30 TO 8 A.M.
If your birthday is in October, November, or December, join us in the Community Room for the fourth quarter birthday breakfast!
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Employee birthdays OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Andy Denny October 3
Daniel Chaney November 5
Steve Abrams October 14
Jacob Harrison November 13
Denis Armstead October 25
Emily Bourne November 27
Jade Guthrie October 25
Jeremy Hill November 28
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DECEMBER Seth Fricke December 12
Between the Lines Fall 2026
THANK YOU FOR MAKING FAMILY DAY A SUCCESS!
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Holiday Harvest FOOD DRIVE
Lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need this holiday season Nov. 13 through Dec. 11 Employees can donate nonperishable items! Please take these items to Andy's office. Items are given to local food banks and churches to give to families in need. Employees who are members will be entered to win a $50 bill credit for every 10 items donated! See the front desk to be entered into the drawing after you donate items.
Shop from the comfort of your home!
Use our Amazon wish list to purchase items and have them delivered to our office. Scan the QR code to get started.
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Between the Lines Fall 2026
BUTLER RURAL COMMUNITY CONNECTION
$37,100 donated to 30 local organizations this fall See grant recipients at butlerrural.coop Community Connection benefits non-profit organizations where we live and work. Consider contributing to the program or increase your level of giving during open enrollment Nov. 2-13.
Office closed for holidays Our office is closed Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving.
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Whether we like it or not, decisions made in Washington, D.C. and at our state capital impact us from how much we pay for electricity to what benefits we receive as employees. That’s why it is so important to elect and re-elect people who understand the concerns of America’s electric cooperatives.
About America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC
Who Can Join America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC?
America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC is the federal political action committee (PAC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and is backed by nearly 35,000 eligible employees, directors, and consumer-members across the country. It is truly a grassroots movement powered by thousands of contributors giving an average of $65 per year.
Eligible: Directors; salaried employees with policymaking, managerial, professional or supervisory responsibilities; and any consumermember of an electric co-op that belongs to NRECA.
Join America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC! Your PAC contribution builds our collective strength, which is grounded in the relationships between local electric co-ops, the communities they serve, and the candidates seeking to represent them. Join the thousands of co-op leaders who value political engagement and the role it plays in our collective success. For just a small amount a month, you can be sure your voice is heard in Washington, D.C.
Make PAC elections during annual benefit enrollment November 2 through 13.
Ineligible: Non-exempt hourly employees*; salaried foreman with direct supervision over hourly employees*; outside contractors, such as consultants or outside attorneys*; consumers of a public power district; and general public. *If any of these are consumer members of an electric co-op that belongs to NRECA, they can join America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC. Employees who are ineligible to join AEC PAC can join OEC PAC. Speak with HR during annual benefit enrollment to learn more. Contributions to the NRECA America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC are voluntary and will be used for political purposes. You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits contributions from foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status. Any contribution guidelines presented are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the suggested amounts, or not at all. NRECA will not favor or disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount contributed or a decision not to contribute. For more information on the PAC, please contact your local cooperative or NRECA PAC team at 703-907-5799 or by email at pacteam@nreca.coop. *Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200.
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Between the Lines Fall 2026
Capital credits: Same benefit, new delivery method What’s changing Previously: Members received capital credits as mailed checks, unless they choose to receive a bill credit. Now: Members will see capital credits as automatic credits on their electric bills, unless they choose to receive a capital credits check in the mail.
When and how members will see capital credits Capital credits will show as credits on bills generated Nov. 4. Future capital credits will continue to be paid as bill credits, unless the member chooses to receive a check.
Why we’re making this change • Convenience: Automatic bill credit. • Security: No risk of lost or stolen checks. • Efficiency: Saves money on printing and postage. • Effectiveness: Removes the possibility of mail issues and eliminates unclaimed or uncashed checks.
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Automatic credit on electric bill
Bingo Night at Seven Mile Winery During this event, 78 members played bingo and spoke with coop leadership while enjoying a night out. The event was hosted at Seven Mile Winery, which is a commercial member of the co-op.
BOARD APPROVES COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT During the September board meeting, the board of trustees approved a cost of living adjustment of 4% for all positions beginning January 2027. If you have the opportunity, please extend your thanks to our board members for their continued support of the cooperative and its employees.
Insulation and air sealing rebates UP TO
$800 REBATE
We offer members a 50% rebate for installation of insulation ($800 maximum) and a 50% rebate for installation of air sealing ($400 maximum). Insulation and air sealing upgrades must be installed by licensed contractors. Do-it-yourself insulation and air sealing upgrade projects are not eligible for this rebate. Any rebate that is $300 or lower will be applied as credits on member bills.
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Between the Lines Fall 2026
FIRST RESPONDER SAFETY DEMONSTRATION We're hosting a free safety demonstration in our garage October 29. The demonstration will begin at 9 a.m. and is expected to last approximately two hours. This event will teach first responders, farmers, city employees, transportation departments, road and tree trimming crews, and other contractors the best way to respond to incidents involving electricity.
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Co-op receives high satisfaction score We recently completed our annual member satisfaction survey through the American Customer Satisfaction Index, or ACSI, which is a company that measures customer satisfaction across multiple industries throughout the United States. For 2026, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative received an ACSI score of 92 on a 100-point scale. The cooperative’s score is higher when compared to publicly measured electric investor-owned utility scores, cooperative utility scores, and municipal utility scores reported in the syndicated 2026 ACSI Energy Utility Study. The study places Butler Rural Electric Cooperative 20 points higher than the average electric investor-owned utility score of 72 and 18 points higher than the municipal utilities score of 74, per the industry ratings.
92
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative
74 Municipal Utilities
Thank you to all employees for helping us achieve an exceptional ACSI score. Your dedication to providing outstanding service is the reason behind this accomplishment.
72
Electric Investor-Owned Utilities
Compared to publicly measured energy utilities in the ACSI® survey of customers rating their own energy utility. Results based on data provided by Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, collected between April 27 through May 1. ACSI did not regulate the survey administration or sample size. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org.
Our mission To be a dynamic, progressive organization guided Do you have information to include in the employee newsletter or ideas to improve communication? Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.
by cooperative principles and to provide energy and other value-added services to its members. The cooperative will participate in its communities, providing leadership and support to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens. BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC
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