Summer 2026 Between the Lines

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Employee Newsletter Summer 2026

Between THE LINES

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER 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 an idea to improve communication?

Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.

IN THIS ISSUE

Peak alerts information PAGE 2

Links to Community Connection Golf Outing PAGE 7

New event at Seven Mile Miami University drone Winery project PAGE 8 PAGE 10

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PEAK ALERTS

Peak alerts are issued when the demand for electricity is near an annual high and rising toward a new peak. They typically occur on hot summer days from approximately 1 to 8 p.m. We ask our members to reduce their energy consumption during this time to try to avoid reaching a new peak, which helps keep costs down.

If members have a radio-controlled switch on their water heater or a Cool Returns switch on their central air conditioning system, it will be activated during summer peak alerts. Members are notified by email and through social media when peak alerts are in effect.

Minimizing the impact of electric demand peak is important. Annual peaks affect future transmission and generation costs. A peak alert does not indicate a shortage of electricity – it is a way for members to help hold down electric costs.

Employee birthdays JULY

AUGUST

Noah Krall July 6

Kevin Maddock August 14

Kyle Fagin September 2

Laura Smith July 6

Steve Fritzsche August 21

Debbie Carley September 9

Andrew Strait July 7

Ray Brunner August 30

Rhett Hughes September 11

Lori Maynard July 9

Kim Phipps August 30

Curt Loewenstine July 11 Tom Wolfenbarger July 22 Cody Holthaus July 25

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SEPTEMBER

Between the Lines Summer 2026

Employee anniversaries

JULY

Laura Smith July 1 30 years

AUGUST

Bob Conrad August 16 33 years

SEPTEMBER James Hatfield September 8 1 year

Julie Abbott July 5 20 years Josh Smock July 12 5 years Emily Bourne July 18 10 years Cheryl Mathews July 20 11 years Larry Hornung July 21 16 years Steve Fritzsche July 23 14 years Ryan Kerr July 24 3 years Evan Rauch July 24 3 years Andrew Strait July 29 7 years

MEMBER SUMMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The HEAP Summer Crisis Program is effective July 1 through September 30. This is a one-time benefit for members and offers up to $800 to assist with electric utility bills. If you have questions about this program, please see Darlene.

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SAFETY FIRST AGENDA

If inclement weather is imminent during Family Day, listen for an announcement to evacuate tents. Guests should be directed to leave immediately. For those who cannot safely evacuate the premises, temporary shelter is available in the garage.

Birthday Breakfast AUGUST 5 • 7:30 TO 8 A.M. If your birthday is in July, August, or September, join other employees in the Community Room for the third quarter birthday breakfast!

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Between the Lines Summer 2026

Upcoming events

JULY

AUGUST

Family Day Friday, July 10

August is Community Connection Month

Nominating Committee Meeting Monday, July 13

3rd Quarter Birthday Breakfast Wednesday, August 5

Butler County Fair Cookout Saturday, July 25

Links to Community Connection Golf Outing Friday, August 14

Board Meeting Wednesday, July 29

Safety Committee Meeting Friday, August 21

Preble County Fair Picnic Friday, July 31

Board Meeting Wednesday, August 26

SEPTEMBER Office Closed for Labor Day Monday, September 7 Community Connection Board Meeting Tuesday, September 9 Nominating Committee Meeting Monday, September 14 Bingo Night at Seven Mile Winery Thursday, September 24 Board Meeting Wednesday, September 30

FAMILY DAY

Friday, July 10 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New time!

Knob Creek Coffee is a Family Day vendor. You will have a chance to submit drink and breakfast orders before the event begins.

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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 is a padmount transformer that has been knocked from its base. If you see this in our area, report it to Denis.

Happy Labor Day!

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s office is closed Monday, September 7 for Labor Day. Have a safe and happy holiday!

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Between the Lines Summer 2026

Follow us on LinkedIn!

Stay connected – follow Butler Rural Electric Cooperative on LinkedIn for updates, employee highlights, and cooperative news!

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative

links

TO COMMUNITY CONNECTION

GOLF OUTING FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 Indian Ridge Golf Club • 8 a.m.

Texas Roadhouse lunch Fill out the form in the break room or see Andy to sign up to play before August 7!

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SEPTEMBER 24 | 6 P.M. Seven Mile Winery 3526 Somerville Jacksonburg Rd. Middletown, OH 45042 Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | Bingo 6 to 7 p.m.

Speak with co-op leadership from 7 to 8 p.m.

This is a new event for members. If you're an employee and a co-op member, you can attend with one guest. Registration opens September 1.

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Between the Lines Summer 2026

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative earns two national communication awards Butler Rural Electric Cooperative was recently recognized for outstanding communication excellence, earning two Spotlight on Excellence awards. The cooperative received a gold award for its mail delay strategic communication campaign and a silver award for its member value strategic communication campaign.

The mail delay strategic communication campaign helped members navigate challenges related to mail delivery disruptions by providing clear updates and alternative payment options. The campaign ensured members had the information they needed to avoid service interruptions and manage their accounts with confidence.

The member value strategic communication campaign highlighted the many benefits of cooperative membership, including reliability, local service, and the cooperative principle of putting members first. The campaign helped strengthen member understanding of the value they receive beyond electric service and led to the cooperative

NEW DATE! EMPLOYEE MEETING Monday, November 2

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receiving its highest member satisfaction score.

The recognition reflects Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s ongoing dedication to excellence and its focus on delivering meaningful value to every member.

Jade Guthrie The awards were MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND presented to Jade MARKETING Guthrie, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s manager of communications and marketing. The awards reflect the cooperative’s commitment to keeping members informed and engaged through effective, timely communication.

Save the Date New and upcoming events this fall

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT SHARED HARVEST FOODBANK

FIRST RESPONDER SAFETY DEMONSTRATION Thursday, October 29 • 9 to 11 a.m.

October 6 & 13 • 1 to 3 p.m.

Employees can use up to eight hours each year to participate in community service efforts. These hours can be used during our annual Community Service Day in October at Shared Harvest Foodbank. Employees can volunteer October 6 or October 13. You can also use this time to volunteer at an organization of your choice.

Speak with your supervisor to schedule community service time.

First responders are invited to our office for a safety demonstration focused on responding to incidents involving electricity. Participants will learn about electric hazards, proper emergency response procedures, and best practices for working safely around energized equipment. Cooperative staff will provide practical guidance, answer questions, and demonstrate how first responders and utility personnel can work together to protect lives safely during emergencies.

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE BREAKFAST Friday, October 16 • 9 to 11 a.m.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING WITH RODD WELKER Friday, November 6

Members who contribute to our political action committee, or PAC, and local elected officials are invited to join us for breakfast at our office to learn more about the important role advocacy plays in supporting electric cooperatives. Guests will hear updates on legislative issues affecting our industry, discover how PAC contributions help strengthen the cooperative voice at the local, state, and federal levels, and have the opportunity to connect with cooperative leaders and elected officials while discussing issues that impact the members and communities we serve.

All employees are invited to participate in a team-building and professional development training session with Rodd Welker Friday, November 6. This interactive program will focus on strengthening communication, collaboration, and leadership skills while fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. The training is designed to help employees build stronger working relationships, enhance teamwork across departments, and develop practical strategies they can apply in their daily roles.

Additional details, including schedules, will be shared as the event approaches.

MIAMI UNIVERSITY DRONE PROJECT

We recently partnered with Miami University's Geographic Information System (GIS) program to give students hands-on experience using drone technology and GIS mapping to inspect utility infrastructure. Throughout the semester, student teams worked alongside our engineering department to map outage-prone areas, assess utility poles and rights-of-way, and develop interactive mapping applications to support future operations. The project provided students with valuable real-world experience in fieldwork, data analysis, teamwork, and client communication while allowing the cooperative to evaluate drone-assisted inspections as a potential in-house tool for monitoring utility assets. Thanks to our engineering department for facilitating this valuable partnership!

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Between the Lines Summer 2026

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION Members elected Steve Grote, Michael Tilton, and John Broering Sr. during our 2026 election. These members were elected to our board of trustees following the retirement of Ron Kolb and Bob Spaeth, along with redistricting that went into effect following our annual meeting in April.

1 (Oxford and Reily townships), District 2 (Milford Township), and District 5 (Madison and Wayne townships). David Evans holds the seat for District 1, Jim Meador holds the seat for District 2, and Vickie Jo Barger holds the seat for District 5. These board members can run for re-election if they choose.

In May, board members elected David Evans as president, Jim Meador as vice president, and Michael Tilton as secretary and treasurer of the board of trustees.

Members living in Madison, Milford, Oxford, Reily, and Wayne townships can run for and be elected to serve on the board of trustees. Board members help make decisions on the members’ behalf and ensure the co-op always operates in the best interest of its members.

The 2027 board of trustees election is underway.

Three board seats are up for election – District

ELECTION RESULTS

Steve Grote DISTRICT 6

Michael Tilton DISTRICT 7

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John Broering Sr. DISTRICT 8

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ENERGY DAY A SUCCESS!

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Between the Lines Summer 2026

Butler Rural Community Connection provides grants to local non-profit groups, schools, and organizations in Butler, Preble, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties. Funds for the program come from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members and employees who voluntarily contribute to Community Connection. Some members choose to allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded to the next dollar amount and the extra change is allocated to Community Connection. Other members and employees choose to donate a specific amount each month or give a one-time donation. Thank you to the 23 employees who contribute to Community Connection!

Past grants funded: • School sensory paths • Playgrounds for parks • Food shelters • Animal rehab shelters

• AEDs for community

• Accessible wheelchair

• Teacher classroom

• Senior citizen home

locations

materials

swings

repair costs

Consider signing up to donate to Community Connection or increasing your level of giving during open enrollment in November.

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SAVE THE DATE

Christmas Celebration Saturday, December 5

Our mission

Do you have information to include in the employee newsletter or an idea to improve communication?

Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.

To be a dynamic, progressive organization guided 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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