May 2025 Midwest

Midwest Energy & Communications

May 2025

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

RESTORING POWER, REBUILDING TOGETHER Come See Us at the Fair

Reporting an Outage

Innovation at Palisades

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YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

CO-OP REBATE INCENTIVES

Allendale Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937 allendaleheating.com

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Portage Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com

Berrien Springs WaterFurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com

Indian River M&M Plmb & Htg (231) 238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 esiheating.com

Lansing Candor Mechanical (517) 920-0890 candormechanical.com

Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517) 886-1138 mwphonline.com

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Three Rivers Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com

Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com Filion/Bad Axe Air-O-Dynamic Htg & Clg (989) 582-0137 aod-hvac.com Grand Rapids Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsgeothermal-mi.com

Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989) 772-4822 waltonheating.com

Traverse City Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231) 943-1000 geofurnace.com

visit us at waterfurnace.com/mi

Alger Delta Electric: up to $2,000 Cherryland Electric: up to $2,500 Cloverland: up to $6,275 Great Lakes Energy: up to $5,000 Homeworks/Tri-County Electric: up to $4,750 Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op: up to $4,750 Thumb Electric: up to $2,000

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MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Contents countrylines.com

May 2025 Vol. 45, No. 5 /michigancountrylines

/michigancountrylines

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird RECIPE EDITOR: Christin Russman COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933.

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Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors.

POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS: Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; John Kran, president and CEO. CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify your electric cooperative.

See page 4 for contact information.

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Michigan Country Lines, Your Communications Partner For more than 40 years, our co-op members have received Michigan Country Lines because it is the most effective and economical way to share information.

Michigan Country Lines keeps members up-to-date about everything going on within their electric co-op.

Issues contain news about co-op services, director elections, member meetings, and management decisions that members need to know about as owners of the co-op. The magazine also includes legal notices that would otherwise have to be placed in local media at a substantial cost. Sending Michigan Country Lines helps the co-op fulfill one of its essential principles—to educate and communicate openly with its members. The board of directors authorizes the co-op to subscribe to Michigan Country Lines on behalf of each member at an average cost of $4.43 per year, paid as part of members’ electric bills. The current magazine cost is 56 cents per copy. Michigan Country Lines is published, at cost, by the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association in Lansing. As always, we welcome your comments at editor@meca.coop.

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MI CO-OP Community RECIPE CONTEST

See details on page 10. Best Potato Dishes, due July 1.

Win a $100 bill credit!

GUEST COLUMN

Share your fondest memories and stories.

Win $200 for stories published!

MYSTERY PHOTO

See details on page 18.

Win a $100 bill credit!

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

14

6 CELEBRATING THE

MAGICAL NORTHERN MICHIGAN MOREL SEASON An annual springtime festival in Boyne City offers foraging, feasting, and festivities.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Mushroom Masterpieces: Savor the earthy goodness of these mushroom recipes.

14 RESTORING POWER,

REBUILDING TOGETHER After a historic ice storm, co-ops and communities rallied to restore power— and hope—across Northern Michigan.

18 NO BARRIERS WARRIORS Applications now being accepted for No Barriers outdoor adventures.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

3

Let’s Talk About Rates VAN BUREN KALAMAZOO

CASS

LENAWEE

MONROE

ST JOSEPH

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND CASSOPOLIS SOLUTIONS CENTER 60590 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, MI 49031 M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

PAW PAW SOLUTIONS CENTER 59825 S. LaGrave Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079 M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

TECUMSEH SOLUTIONS CENTER 5050 South Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh, MI 49286 M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

CONTACT US Midwest Energy & Communications 800-492-5989 teammidwest.com Email: info@teammidwest.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Clarence “Topper” Barth, Chairperson, Three Rivers 269-279-9233 Clarence.Barth@teammidwest.com Dan Bodette, Vice Chairperson, Wauseon 419-344-4015 Dan.Bodette@teammidwest.com Ron Armstrong, Secretary, Lawton 269-299-0443 Ron.Armstrong@teammidwest.com John Green, Treasurer, Dowagiac 269-470-2816 John.Green@teammidwest.com Gerry Bundle, Cassopolis 269-414-0164 Gerry.Bundle@teammidwest.com Erika Escue-Cadieux, Onsted 419-346-1088 Erika.Escue-Cadieux@teammidwest.com Fred Turk, Decatur 269-423-7762 Fred.Turk@teammidwest.com Jim Wiseley, Bloomingdale 269-760-4619 Jim.Wiseley@teammidwest.com Jeff Diehl, Union 574-274-6693 Jeffery.Diehl@teammidwest.com PRESIDENT/CEO: Terry Rubenthaler DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: Amy Pales COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: Grant Zamora Midwest Energy & Communications is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Please note: electric customers of MEC must adhere to our bylaws, which can be found at teammidwest.com/bylaws.

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By Terry Rubenthaler, President/CEO

MAY 2025

I started working for MEC almost 30 years ago. As an engineer, I have always been intimately involved in restoring power after storms, and some of those storms definitely stuck with me. I remember the summer of 1998, when it seemed like we worked every weekend. I remember the tornadoes of Oct. 24, 2001, that started near Niles, went through Cassopolis, then Marcellus, and then Schoolcraft. 2011 was our worst storm year yet, with an ice storm in February, tornadoes in May, and a derecho in July. And who could forget the ice storm of Thanksgiving week 2013? My colleagues even named a storm after me after I regrettably said, “We haven’t had a big storm in a while.” They dubbed it “Windstorm Terry.”

I have worked on a variety of storms throughout the years and agree with the experts that they seem to be getting more frequent and severe. Take March 30, 2025, for example, when the worst windstorm in my time at MEC started near Edwardsburg and moved throughout our service area. We set several new “records” that week that I hope are never broken, including replacing 140 broken poles and coordinating 25 different line crews. I am happy to report that everyone was restored safely with no injuries in five days. The MEC team’s dedication and ability to quickly assess needed resources to ensure restoration went as swiftly as possible and is something to be proud of.

There was one additional record that was set that I am sure will be broken. This storm cost MEC almost $2 million. I remember when a big storm cost $100-$200 thousand, and now it’s 10 times that amount.

Seven-figure storms are yet another example of increased costs and new teammidwest.com

challenges that our industry faces, which brings me to the subject of rates. I know a rate increase is not the news you want to hear, but here we are. While we held off on an increase in 2024 and even lowered the power cost adjustment on your bill, the time has come to implement a rate increase on the distribution charge.

To put it simply, the cost to provide service has gone up, but our growth in sales has been stagnant. As a result, MEC’s board of directors approved a 5% rate increase to start on July 1. For a customer who uses 1,000 kWh per month, the increase averages out to about $9 per month.

Rate increases are not something we take lightly. We do a lot of comprehensive analyses and have several discussions with leadership and the board before we make any decision. And yes, sometimes we do the research and determine we don’t need to do an increase, as we did last year. However, continued increases forced us to make the decision to implement one in 2025.

There is something else to be aware of when it comes to our rates. While we all love our rural space and the fact that it’s shielded from urban sprawl, it does cost more to provide a reliable, modern electric grid in our rural areas. Our neighboring investor-owned utilities average about 30 customers per mile. We have about nine, with about 4,000 miles of line and 100,000 poles to maintain.

However, I’m happy to report that the investments in maintenance and upgrades we’ve made over the years are paying off. In 2024, even with two separate tornado events, our system enjoyed 99.9% reliability overall. I’m very proud of that.

This means that even though we face challenges, we’re building our system so that we can leave the record breaking for the Olympics.

/teammidwest

FUEL MIX REPORT

Memorial Day Closure Our solutions centers will be closed Monday, May 26, in honor of Memorial Day. Make a payment or report an electric outage via SmartHub or by calling 800-492-5989.

Dropbox payments made at our solutions centers will be processed on the next open business day.

The fuel mix characteristics of Midwest Energy & Communications as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 12-month period ending 12/31/24.

COMPARISON OF FUEL SOURCES USED Fuel source

Your co-op’s Regional average fuel mix fuel mix

Coal

16.679%

24.145%

Oil

0.264%

0.442%

Gas

24.569%

38.770%

Hydroelectric

0.415%

0.591%

Nuclear

41.889%

24.869%

Renewable Fuels

16.184%

11.183%

Biofuel

0.392%

0.673%

Biomass

0.143%

0.306%

Solar

1.721%

1.878%

Solid Waste Incineration

0.145%

0.138%

Wind

13.606%

7.863%

Wood

0.177%

0.325%

NOTE: Biomass excludes wood; solid waste incineration includes landfill gas; and wind includes a long-term renewable purchase power contract in Wolverine’s mix.

ACCESS TO RULES AND RATES YOUR CO-OP’S FUEL MIX

Please be advised that the following information is available to Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) customers: • Complete rate schedules; • Clear and concise explanation of all rates that the customer may be eligible to receive; • Assistance from MEC in determining the most appropriate rate when the customer is eligible to receive service under more than one rate;

REGIONAL AVERAGE FUEL MIX

• Clear and concise explanation of the customer’s actual energy use for each billing period during the last 12 months.

The information can be obtained by contacting MEC at 800-492-5989.

Please note: Electric customers of MEC must adhere to our bylaws, which can be found at teammidwest.com/bylaws.

EMISSIONS AND WASTE COMPARISON lbs/MWh

OUR MISSION

Delivering first-in-class innovations and solutions where others won’t OUR VISION

Creating vibrant, relevant, sustainable rural communities®

Type of emission/waste

Your co-op

Regional average*

Sulfur Dioxide

0.52

0.85

Carbon Dioxide

675.0

1,060.2

Oxides of Nitrogen

0.40

0.70

High-Level Nuclear Waste

0.0101

0.0060

* Regional average information was obtained from the MPSC website and is for the 12-month period ending 12/31/24.

Midwest Energy & Communications purchases 100% of its electricity from Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc., which provided this fuel mix and environmental data.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

5

DISCOVERING MICHIGAN’S MAGIC Cassondra Wanders Adventure Series

Celebrating the Magical Northern Michigan Morel Season Every spring, a charming lakeside Michigan town gathers to celebrate the marvelous morel mushrooms. For more than 60 years, those merry for morels have traveled far and wide to Boyne City, Michigan, for the National Morel Mushroom Festival.

Held annually on the weekend after Mother’s Day, the National Morel Mushroom Festival is a one-of-akind event, drawing hundreds of mushroom hunters and food lovers from all corners of the country.

During this four-day, fungi-filled celebration, festivalgoers come to indulge in nature’s delectable treat and be immersed in the magic of the morel season.

Recognized for their nutty, earthy flavor and honeycomb-like appearance, morel mushrooms are rare and highly sought-after. The

mushroom’s fleeting season usually lasts from mid-April to mid-May. Michigan’s climate, with its mix of hardwood forests and rich soil, provides the ideal conditions for morels to thrive.

The morel’s mystique makes it a prized find among foragers, and competitive mushroom hunts are a popular annual tradition of the National Morel Mushroom Festival. Participants venture into nearby forests, armed with baskets and a little luck, in search of these elusive fungi. Given an allotted amount of time to hunt morels, the person who finds the most is awarded a prize.

Savor the Flavor: A Culinary Celebration of Morels During the festival’s premiere event, Taste of Morels, local chefs not only showcase their creativity but also compete for the top-three winning morel-infused dishes. Boyne City restaurants and food vendors rise to the occasion, crafting this rare and flavorful mushroom in a variety of intriguing ways.

The largest concentration of morel mushroom cooking in the world takes place at the National Morel Mushroom Festival. From morel-

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MAY 2025

stuffed ravioli to creamy morel soups and savory morel stroganoff, food is at the heart of the festival.

Another signature sellout festival event is Morel Wine & Dine, held at the Beach House Restaurant on Deer Lake. This is a must-visit experience to savor scenic lake views alongside morel-inspired hors d’oeuvres plates, each paired with fine wines.

Art, Music, and Morel Magic: A Festival of Creativity & Entertainment Beyond its culinary delights, the festival comes alive with nightly entertainment and vibrant daytime activities. As the sun sets, live music takes center stage, with local bands and regional talent bringing high-energy performances to the Motherload Bash—perfect for dancing the night away.

By day, visitors can stroll through rows of canopy tents filled with handcrafted goods, morel-themed art, and unique souvenirs at the arts & crafts show.

Artisans and vendors showcase their work, while live demonstrations, fresh mushrooms, and morel-infused teas tempt curious taste-testers.

Festivalgoers can snack their way through an array of delicious options, from crowd-pleasing burgers and food truck favorites to international flavors and indulgent desserts.

For those looking to get creative, Duncan Studios hosts Painting in the Park, offering guided painting sessions where participants can craft and take home their own morelinspired masterpiece. Adults can also join a Paint & Sip event, enjoying a complimentary glass of wine or beer while following step-by-step instructions to create Michiganthemed morel art.

Aspiring foragers can attend a free morel hunting seminar, where experts share tips on identifying, harvesting, and preparing these prized mushrooms while teaching the difference between true morels and potentially poisonous look-alikes for safe foraging.

Families will love the festival’s classic carnival experience, featuring thrilling rides, competitive midway games, and all the nostalgic fair food favorites. Whether you’re looking for adventure, creativity, or a chance to indulge, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

The National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City is more than just a celebration of a seasonal delicacy—it’s a testament to smalltown hospitality and a community’s love for nature, food, and togetherness.

Whether you come for the gourmet dishes, exploring the woods in search of morels, or simply soaking in the festive atmosphere, you embark on an unforgettable adventure.

Boyne City’s 65th Annual National Morel Mushroom Festival is Thursday, May 15, through Sunday, May 18, 2025. More information and a full schedule of events can be found at bcmorelfestival.com or on their Facebook page.

Scan the QR code to watch a video of our visit to the National Morel Mushroom Festival

Cassondra Scott is a content creator, writer, and social media influencer at Cassondra Wanders— sharing small businesses and sights to see all over the state of Michigan. /cassondrawanders

/cassondra.wanders

@cassondrawanders

@cassondrawanders

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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How to Report an Electric Outage When to Report As soon as your power goes out, be sure to report it.

Even if your neighbors have already told us about their outage, submitting your own report helps us pinpoint where and what the issue is.

Don’t forget to let us know about any fallen powerlines, but STAY AT LEAST 50 FEET AWAY. This is about the length of a semitruck trailer. Fallen powerlines pose a potentially deadly threat.

You can also report your outage via desktop:

The Best Way to Report The fastest and easiest way to tell us your power is out is to make a report via your SmartHub mobile app (download it at teammidwest.com/smarthub):

4. Fill out the Comments box with as much detail as possible.

2. Navigate to the menu (the three lines in the upperleft corner).

3. Go to Contact Us  Inquiries & Service Work and select Report Power Outage.

5. Fill out the Comments box with as much detail as possible and tap Send.

The more detail you provide, the easier it is for our crews to identify and repair the issue.

5. Review your contact information and click Send.

Other Ways to Report You can report your outage by calling our automated phone system at 800-492-5989. This is also the best way to report fiber outages and propane issues.

Please do not report your outage by email or social media.

These channels are not staffed 24/7 and we may not see your message until the following business day.

Bill Credit Opportunity:

THE PROGRAM: You will receive a bill or credit depending on how much energy you use vs. how much you generate.

Distributed Renewable Energy Generation

WHAT YOU GET: Every kilowatt-hour you generate is one that you don’t have to buy from MEC.

Install a renewable energy system to generate your own electricity and offset your energy usage. Use what you need, and sell what you don’t.

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2. In the menu on the left, choose Contact Us  Report Power Outage.

3. Accept the Terms and Conditions, then

1. Log in.

4. Accept the Terms and Conditions and review your contact information, then tap Continue.

1. Log into our website at teammidwest.com.

MAY 2025

If you use more than you produce, you will be billed for the difference. If you use less than you produce, you will receive a credit for the energy you provide to us.

HOW TO SIGN UP: Visit our website at teammidwest.com/distributed-renewable to review program details and fill out an application.

New Nuclear Design Will Aid Electric Reliability Last year, our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, entered into a historic agreement with Holtec International to restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in southwest Michigan. The restart is currently set for October of this year. Once the reactor is back online, it will be the first nuclear power plant in the United States to restart after being closed.

In February, Holtec made another announcement: It has partnered with Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Mitsubishi Electric to build a fleet of small modular reactors (SMR) by 2030. The SMRs are designed to generate 10 gigawatts in total. The first two units will be built at Palisades.

What’s An SMR? Small modular reactors are a new technology in nuclear energy. In contrast with standard reactors, SMRs are about a third of the size and simpler to build but can provide a big boost to energy generation.

There are currently no operational SMRs in the United States, making Holtec a pioneer in the field of nuclear energy yet again.

How SMRs Aid Reliability The two SMRs to be built at Palisades are expected to nearly double the

amount of electricity the plant can generate. This is not only a great thing for Michigan’s generation capacity, but for the rest of the United States as well, as similar SMRs could potentially be built elsewhere.

Previously, nuclear projects in the U.S. have run into roadblocks involving construction costs and timelines. Holtec hopes their SMRs will break through these barriers in a few key ways: • Lower construction costs. SMR components can be manufactured ahead of time, reducing the up-front cost of building a new reactor.

• Shorter construction times.

The premade SMR components can be assembled onsite so that they take less time to build than standard reactors.

• Greater location flexibility. Being smaller than standard reactors, SMRs are an opportunity for nuclear plants to be built in areas that might not be able to accommodate larger reactors.

All these benefits could add up to a lot of extra energy being generated in the United States, which is becoming more and more important as we increase our reliance on electricity.

Holtec isn’t the only company looking into SMRs. Others, like Amazon and Alphabet (operators of Google), are also investing in the technology.

NUCLEAR IS THE GREENEST ENERGY Nuclear energy is completely carbon-free and is even more reliable than traditional power plants like coal, able to run more than 90% of the time.

It’s also highly efficient—the Department of Energy says one uranium pellet about one inch tall can produce the same amount of energy as 120 gallons of oil, 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, or one metric ton of coal.

As we continue to rely on greater amounts of electricity due to things like AI and cryptocurrency, innovations like Holtec’s SMRs will help generation keep up with demand for years to come.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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MI CO-OP Kitchen

MUSHROOM MASTERPIECES Explore creative and flavorful ways to cook with mushrooms.

WINNING RECIPE!

CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS Amanda Herbert, Midwest Energy & Communications

2 (8-ounce packs) fresh mushrooms ³⁄4 cup melted butter 1 cup finely chopped fresh spinach 1 cup crab meat 12 ounces cream cheese ¹⁄2 teaspoon garlic salt ¹⁄2 teaspoon lemon pepper 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce ¹⁄2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce ³⁄4 teaspoon white wine Preheat oven to 350 F. Take stems out of mushrooms, rinse, then place in 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix all ingredients together.

Top mushrooms with mix. Bake immediately for 15 minutes, then broil till golden brown.

Serve and enjoy.

RECIPE CONTEST

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Best Potato Dishes, due July 1. Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

10 MAY 2025

MOREL MUSHROOM MOUSSE Tamara Elhart, Great Lakes Energy 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature ¹⁄4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, room temperature ³⁄4 teaspoon ground white pepper 1 tablespoon butter ¹⁄4 cup finely chopped onion ¹⁄2 cup chopped fresh morel mushrooms 2 tablespoons Marsala wine Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, and white pepper. Mix until cream cheese and butter are fluffy. Melt another tablespoon of butter in small skillet over medium heat.

Add onions and sauté until onions are tender. Add mushrooms and sauté for 1 minute. Add Marsala wine to the skillet and allow juices to reduce to about 2 tablespoons of liquid. Remove from stove and allow mushroom mixture to cool completely.

Add mushroom mixture into cream cheese mixture and blend using electric mixture until fluffy and combined. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Remove and allow mousse to come to room temperature—serve with crackers.

STUFFED MUSHROOMS Debra Buback, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op 1 pound large whole white mushrooms 1 tablespoon butter ¹⁄2 cup finely chopped onion ¹⁄2 cup finely chopped green pepper 1 (5-ounce jar) Kraft Old English cheese spread 1 tablespoon Frank’s hot sauce, optional or to taste.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Wipe mushrooms clean, do not wash.

Remove stems and finely chop (I use a mini food processor to finely chop stems and veggies). In medium sauté pan, melt butter on medium heat, and add stems, onions, and green pepper. Sauté until soft and most of the liquid is cooked off.

Add cheese spread. Stir and mix well until cheese is melted.

Add Frank’s hot sauce, if using. Turn heat to low, and stuff mushrooms. Fill each as much as possible. Place on a sheet pan and bake about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

SULPHUR SHELF SNACK (AKA – CHICKEN OF THE WOODS) Kim Ison, Midwest Energy & Communications 1 tablespoon chopped onion 2 tablespoons of butter 2 cups cleaned sulphur shelf mushrooms, cut into bite-size pieces ³⁄4 cup chicken broth 1 clove of finely chopped garlic ¹⁄4 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons chopped parsley Sauté the onion in butter for 1 minute, add mushrooms, and stir until the butter is absorbed. Add the broth and cook for 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

Add the garlic, sour cream, and salt. Stir over low until well blended. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve with crackers or toast rounds. Serve immediately.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 11

MEC IN THE COMMUNITY

Career Fairs In March, we presented at career fairs held by Dowagiac High School, Edwardsburg Middle School, and Southwestern Michigan College.

MECers chatted with around 178 students about the many career paths available at MEC.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library On March 19, WLEN 103.9 held a live radio broadcast to raise funds for the Lenawee County chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.

MEC provided a matching challenge grant to the Lenawee Community Foundation for the library. Through the radio broadcast and other donations, this event raised $21,602, enough money to give more than 600 kids a free book per month until they start kindergarten. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library helps introduce literacy to young children to help them start kindergarten on the right foot.

12 MAY 2025

Hotline Demonstrations In March, we presented electric hotline safety demonstrations to 20 employees of the City of South Haven to provide information on the dangers of electric current and how to protect yourself.

We provide electric hotline demonstrations for free to organizations within our electric service territory. Contact us at pr@teammidwest.com to ask about scheduling a demo.

Come See Us at the Fair!

Will you be at any of these county fairs?

Stop by our booth to speak with our team!

7/20 to Lenawee County Fair 7/26 lenfair.com Adrian, MI 7/28 to Cass County Fair 8/2 mycasscountyfair.com Cassopolis, MI 8/11 to Berrien County Youth Fair 8/16 bcyf.us Berrien Springs, MI

Check out these other fun summer events in and near our service territory.

5/31, 7/19, Lake Bluff Artisan Fair 8/16, 8/30 stjoetoday.com/artisanfair St. Joseph, MI

7/14 to Van Buren Youth Fair 7/19 vanburenyouthfair.com Hartford, MI

8/19 to Chelsea Community Fair 8/23 chelseafair.org Chelsea, MI

6/6 to Cassopolis Beach Bash 6/7 cassopolismainstreet.com/ beach-bash Cassopolis, MI

7/17 to Ann Arbor Art Fair 7/19 theannarborartfair.com Ann Arbor, MI

8/29 to Fulton County Fair 9/4 fultoncountyfair.com Wauseon, OH

6/21

Devils Lake Summer Festival manitoubeachmichigan.com Manitou Beach, MI

7/18 to Dowagiac Summer Festival 7/19 & BBQ Competition dowagiacchamber.com Dowagiac, MI

9/5 to Paw Paw Wine and 9/7 Harvest Festival wineandharvestfestival.com Paw Paw, MI

6/21

Marshall Blues Fest marshallbluesfest.com Marshall, MI

7/18 to Elkhart County 4-H Fair 7/26 4hfair.org Goshen, IN

9/5 to Allegan County Fair 9/13 allegancountyfair.com Allegan, MI

6/27 to 100th St. Joseph County 7/5 4-H Fair 4hfair.com South Bend, IN

7/20 to Thunder Over Michigan 7/22 Air Show thunderovermichigan.org Ypsilanti, MI

9/6 to Williams County Fair 9/13 wcofair.com Montpelier, OH

7/3 to City of Adrian Bicentennial 7/6 sites.google.com/view/ adrianbicentennial2025 Adrian, MI

7/21 to Marshall Bluegrass Festival 7/26 marshallbluegrassfestival.com Marshall, MI

7/4 Berrien Springs Pickle Festival facebook.com/ BerrienSpringsPickleFestival Berrien Springs, MI 7/10 to River Raisin Festival 7/12 riverraisinfestival.org Blissfield, MI 7/12 Lake Breeze at Sunset lakebreezemusicfestival.com St. Joseph, MI 7/14 to Barry County Fair 7/19 barryexpocenter.com Hastings, MI

8/3 to Jackson County Fair 8/9 jacksoncountyfair.net Jackson, MI 8/4 to Kalamazoo County 8/9 4-H Showcase kalcounty.gov/399/kalamazoocounty-youth-fair Kalamazoo, MI 8/10 to Calhoun County Fair 8/16 calhouncountyfairgrounds.com Marshall, MI

9/14 to St. Joseph County Grange Fair 9/21 sjcgfair.com Centreville, MI 9/20 to Artalicious Fine Arts Fair 9/21 facebook.com/artalicious Adrian, MI 9/21 to Hillsdale County Fair 9/27 hillsdalecountyfair.org Hillsdale, MI 10/11 to Tecumseh Appleumpkin Festival 10/12 downtowntecumseh.com/events Tecumseh, MI

8/15 to Bluegill Frolic 8/16 facebook.com/BluegillFrolic Marcellus, MI

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

RESTORING POWER, REBUILDING TOGETHER

By Emily Haines Lloyd

Ice can be beautiful— but not when it brings disaster to a region.

In Northern Michigan, beauty turned brutal in hours. What began as a quiet snowfall late on March 28 quickly escalated into a catastrophic ice storm, coating counties at the tip of the mitten in a thick, glassy shell.

Trees snapped under the weight of more than an inch of ice, power lines were pulled down like string, and thousands of electric poles splintered or collapsed under the strain.

Nearly 100,000 cooperative member homes and businesses lost power—many for far longer than expected.

This storm was one of the most challenging Michigan co-ops had ever faced. The damage wasn’t just widespread—it was layered and difficult to access. Heavy ice brought down trees and power lines, while relentless waves of snow, wind, and freezing rain made conditions too difficult and dangerous for crews to begin restoration work until day three. Downed lines were buried beneath tangled debris, and poles had snapped in remote, hard-to-reach areas. Great Lakes Energy (GLE), which typically replaces around 800 poles per year, replaced that many within the first three days once restoration could begin. Crews worked around the clock in brutal conditions, pushing through exhaustion and emotional strain, knowing thousands were still without power, heat, internet, and water.

Photo by Jeremy Bassett

Meteorologists called it a “generational” storm—comparable to a multi-day Category 5 hurricane. After the first wave, 99% of Presque Isle Electric & Gas (PIE&G) members had lost power— something that had never happened in the co-op’s 88-year history.

“We call this storm ‘unprecedented,’ because it is,” said Allan Berg, PIE&G CEO. “No other network in our state has been completely taken down like this. But our restoration work is also setting records.”

In a unique show of cross-functional mutual aid, not just lineworkers—but engineers, IT and administrative staff, vegetation management teams, logistics coordinators, and communicators— joined the effort. The situation called for everyone.

Despite the scope of damage, progress was steady. By April 14, most electric outages had been restored, with remaining pockets on track for rebuild and restoration in the days ahead.

The work now shifts to fiber network restoration alongside continued recovery of the electric system, including debris removal over thousands of miles of infrastructure.

But even amid crisis, the storm revealed something extraordinary: the strength and heart of the community.

Every Michigan co-op sent support, and others came from across the

country. Mutual aid crews worked side by side with local teams, sharing tools, resources, and long days. Their dedication was nothing short of heroic.

The Cooperative Difference

Community members stepped up, too.

Great Lakes Energy and Presque Isle Electric & Gas set up “Storm Camp” at the Otsego County Fairgrounds outside Gaylord. Staffed by volunteers, the site provided bunkhouses, meals, and laundry for a capacity of 1,200 field crews. Neighbors opened their homes. Businesses donated supplies.

Across Northern Michigan, people came together—not because they had to, but because that’s who we are.

While Northern Michigan battled ice, Southern Michigan was also hit hard. On March 30, 2025, severe thunderstorms tore through Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC)’s service area, bringing 80 mph winds and two tornadoes.

The storm snapped 140 poles and knocked out power to over 10,000 members at the peak—the largest storm the co-op had faced in at least 30 years.

"It's been amazing to see our team, but also contractors, families, mutual aid workers from across the country, volunteers from other co-ops, and our community—all show up to get power restored,” said Shaun Lamp, GLE CEO. “When you see people show up for one another, it’s humbling.”

MEC crews worked tirelessly through ongoing storms to restore service. Everyone—from lineworkers to dispatchers to warehouse teams—came together to get the lights back on.

Yes, ice can be beautiful—but its beauty fades when it freezes life in place. What lasts longer is the spirit of the people who faced it together: neighbors helping neighbors, strangers becoming friends, and a region proving that even in the harshest conditions, we endure—and we power on.

Follow the day-by-day restoration story at meca.coop/outage-center.

Then, they packed up and headed north.

Once their own system was restored, MEC crews joined mutual aid efforts to help storm-ravaged communities in Northern Michigan.

That’s the cooperative difference.

We don’t just serve—we show up.

Local teams. National reach. A shared commitment to keeping the lights on—together.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 15

BLOCK ALL THE

HACKERS With CommandIQ, your router is automatically protected from hackers, viruses, malware, and other digital threats.

It’s free for MEC fiber internet customers on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Fiber internet service is not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

DOWNLOAD TODAY: teammidwest.com/commandiq

Need Reliable

PHONE SERVICE? Get fiber phone w/ unlimited calls from MEC!

Residential : $39.95/MO. + TAX Combine fiber internet & phone from MEC and enjoy a $10/mo. discount on your phone bill.

Fiber phone services are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

LEARN MORE: teammidwest.com/phone

16 MAY 2025

Notice to Electric Customers of Midwest Energy & Communications: Tariff Changes The Midwest Energy & Communications Board of Directors adopted the following changes to the cooperative’s tariff at a special Board Meeting on April 15, 2025, in accordance with Public Act 167 (P.A. 167).

• An increase of $0.008765 per kWh in the Distribution Charge across all rate classifications, effective with bills rendered in or after July 2025.

• A tariff addition was made to comply with Michigan’s Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) standard, created under Public Act 295 of 2008. The maximum surcharge amounts will vary based on rate classification, as shown below. The rate for EWR for 2025 is $0.00 across all rate classifications.

These unapproved minutes are published in accordance with P.A. 167 of 2008.

A full copy of MEC’s rate structure is available on the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) website. Visit teammidwest.com/electric-rates for a link.

Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) Tariff Addition: Rate Classification

Maximum Authorized

2025 Customer Surcharge

Residential

$0.005 per kWh

$0.00 per kWh

Residential Time-of-Use

$0.005 per kWh

$0.00 per kWh

Comfort

$0.005 per kWh

$0.00 per kWh

Interruptible Whole House Control

$0.005 per kWh

$0.00 per kWh

General Service

$3.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

General Time-of-Use

$3.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

Irrigation

$6.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

Large Power

$100.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

Large Power (Over 200 kW)

$1,000.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

Large Power Time-of-Use

$1,000.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

Large Power Primary

$5,000.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

Industrial

$5,000.00 per meter per month

$0.00 per meter per month

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

2025

NO BARRIERS ADVENTURES FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DISABILITIES—APPLY BY MAY 15 FOR IN-PERSON EXPEDITIONS & EXPERIENCES TAKING PLACE JUNE-SEPTEMBER No Barriers Programs Serve: • • • •

Apply by May 15 to be considered!

People with disabilities Veterans with disabilities Youth with disabilities & their families Family caregivers

In-person programs run from June to September

Michigan electric cooperatives believe there should be “No Barriers” for people affected by disabilities. That’s the name and idea behind CoBank’s No Barriers initiative. Michigan cooperatives are seeking affected adults, veterans*, youth, and caregivers from our local community to participate in No Barriers’ multi-day basecamp experiences and backcountry experiences, where participants will learn to overcome challenges and leave ready to elevate their lives and communities.

Full and partial scholarship opportunities for qualified applicants** *Must have VA disability rating to be eligible. **Fundraising required for those who do not qualify for a scholarship.

Learn more & apply: nobarriersusa.org Contact us: info@nobarriersusa.org 970-484-3633, ext. 201

Don’t miss this chance to embark on an unforgettable journey.

Apply today!

MYSTERY PHOTO Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo to the left by May 25 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community.

March 2025 WINNER! Our Mystery Photo winner is Daryl Feldpausch, a HomeWorks Tri-County Cooperative member who correctly identified the photo as the Scott Sunken Garden in Lansing, Michigan.

Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/August, September, and November/December.

18 MAY 2025

The Affordable Geothermal System for Rural Homeowners

Add a Well-Connect to your existing furnace in one day and heat & cool for half the cost for decades.

Financing, 30% Tax Credit, and Rebates Available SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE 1-833-GEOWELL wellconnectgeo.com

TeamMidwest.com

EXPERIENCE PEACE OF MIND PROPANE: THE MEC DIFFERENCE June 2025 – May 2026

GUARANTEED CAPPED RATE

SPECIAL OFFERS

250+--Gal. Tank

120--Gal. Tank

Pump-Down Credit – up to $150

$1.979/gal.

$2.679/gal.

Switching to MEC propane? We’ll reimburse you up to $150 toward your current provider’s pump-down fee.

A pump-down invoice is required for reimbursement.

Refer-a-Friend Credit – $100 each Secure rate protected from market instability.

Billing and delivery options to fit your family’s needs.

No hidden fees or pricing games.

Share MEC propane with a friend! We’ll give you BOTH a $100 credit once their tank is set and their service is activated. Have them mention TELL A FRIEND and your name when they call 800-492-5989 to sign up.

ENERGY STAR® Propane Rebates – up to $500 The Michigan Propane Commission offers rebates of: • Up to $400 when installing a new ENERGY STAR® propane water heater • Up to $500 when installing a new ENERGY STAR® propane furnace

Credit check and 12-month contract required. Tank set fee of $1 plus applicable fees for trenching and securing township permits. Propane services are not available in southeast Michigan or northern Ohio. Propane services are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Appliances must be installed by Dec. 31, 2025. Apply for the rebate and get more info at MiPropaneRebates.com.

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

EXPLORE MEC PROPANE

800.492.5989

teammidwest.com/propane