CO-OP NEWS

Thankful for our members and our community

www.myremc.coop www.myremc.coop/internet

CONTACT US Office: 812-865-2229 Toll Free: 888-337-5900 Bill Payments: 833-890-7734

EMAIL orangecoremc@myremc.coop

OFFICE HOURS 7 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Friday

MAIN OFFICE BUILDING 1 7133 N. State Road 337 Orleans, IN 47452

OPERATIONS/MATERIALS BUILDING 2 AND 3 8390 N State Rd 37 Orleans, IN 47452

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 208, Orleans, IN 47452

TO REPORT SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS, PLEASE CALL 855-865-2229, (OPTION 1) DAY OR NIGHT. Have the phone number associated with your account ready when reporting outages. Please limit after hours calls to emergencies and outage situations.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel Houchin, District 1 Randy Roberts, District 2 Danny Easterday, District 3 Rodney Hager, District 4 Ben Lindsey, District 5 Brian Hawkins, District 6 George Key, District 7

REMC SENIOR STAFF Matthew C. Deaton, General Manager/CEO Marcy Bennett, Office Manager Misty Tincher, Accountant Mark Belcher, Member Services Manager Billy Chastain, Operations Manager Charlie Rollins, Fiber Construction Manager

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/ orangecountyremc During this season of giving thanks, I think it’s important to let you and other consumer-members of Orange County REMC know just what an impact you have on our co-op and the greater community, likely in ways you may not even realize.

As part of the cooperative business model, one of our core principles is “Concern for Community.” While our priority is always to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we view our role in the community as a catalyst for good.

We are purposeful in partnering with local groups through our Operation Round Up program, and we are thankful for the work we see being done in our community by non-profit organizations and programs. We also work closely with our local schools to provide scholarships and educational opportunities. Orange County REMC participates in an annual Youth Tour where we take our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a week-long immersion to experience democracy in action. We also sponsor younger students to attend Camp Kilowatt, a three-day camp with a well-rounded schedule that strikes a balance between education and fun. You empower the co-op through your membership and through your participation in, and support of these programs.

When you attend co-op events, alert us to problems, provide suggestions online or to our employees, you help us improve operations and thereby better serve the larger co-op membership.

Because we are locally governed by members of our community, we are able to get a first-hand perspective on community priorities, thereby enabling us to make more informed decisions on long-term investments, such as high-speed broadband internet, community solar programs, equipment and technology upgrades.

On a more personal note, we appreciate the countless acts of kindness our lineworkers and other employees receive when they are working in severe weather and dangerous conditions. Our employees are thankful for your patience and consideration when we are trying to restore power during challenging situations and prolonged periods.

Our cooperative is a reflection of our local community and its evolving needs. Together, let’s continue making our corner of the world a better place. We can’t do it without you, and for that, we’re thankful for your membership.

MATTHEW C. DEATON

General Manager/CEO

Rate Schedule

How to compute your monthly electric bill:

Use this information to figure your bill for electric use in October, November, and December.

Rate Schedule for Standard Service

Standard Service Consumer Charge...... $26 Standard Service Energy Charge.... $0.1124 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker.. $0.0062346 Total bill x Indiana sales tax..................... 7%

Example for 1,200 kWh Standard Service Consumer Charge.......$26 1,200 kWh @ $0.1124....................$134.88 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker 1,200 kWh @ $0.0032734..................$3.93 Total...................................................$164.81 Indiana sales tax.................................$11.54 Total bill.............................................$176.34

Rate Schedule for Time-of-Use Service

Time-of-Use Consumer Charge......... $30.90 Energy Charge On-Peak................. $0.1671

(On-Peak: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday–Friday, EST) Energy Charge Off-Peak.................. $0.0691 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker.. $0.0062346

(per kWh)

Total bill x Indiana sales tax, 7%

Example for 300 kWh (On-Peak) and 900 kWh (Off-Peak) Time-of-Use Consumer Charge..........$30.90 Energy Charge On-Peak 300 kWh @ $0.1671........................$50.13 Energy Charge Off-Peak 900 kWh@ $0.0691.........................$62.19 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker 1,200 kWh @ $0.0032734.................$3.93 Total...................................................$147.15 Indiana sales tax.................................$10.30 Total bill.............................................$157.45

Rate Schedule for Security Lighting

Security Lighting: 100 W HPS ............ $9.82 Security Lighting: 40 W LED................ $9.82

Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards accepted

Pay by phone at 833-890-7734.

Visit www.myremc.coop for these services: • Pay online • Pre-pay your bill • Sign up for recurring monthly payment

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Important dates to remember:

Nov. 6

Fall back as Daylight Saving Time ends.

Nov. 8

Don’t forget to vote.

Nov. 11

Veterans Day (REMC office open.)

Nov. 24-25

Thanksgiving Holiday (REMC office closed.)

Seal windows now for winter savings and comfort

With winter weather on the way, now is the time to seal drafty windows. If you can see daylight around a window frame or if you can rattle a window (movement means possible leaks), the window likely needs to be sealed.

Most window leaks can be sealed with caulk or weatherstripping, which come in a variety of compounds and materials. Visit energy.gov/ energysaver to learn how and where to seal air leaks.

2023

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Students, mark your calendar for these great summer opportunities: Sixth grade students can apply to attend Camp Kilowatt (formerly Touchstone Energy Camp) June 7-10. High School juniors can apply for an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., on the 2023 Youth Tour, June 11-18. See next month’s Indiana Connection for more information. Online applications will be available next month.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Orange County REMC is working in several areas across our service territory, performing system upgrades and maintenance. All REMC crews and contracted personnel carry identification, and their vehicles are marked with our logo. Please keep our crews safe and drive with caution as all this work means extra utility vehicles along roadways.

Brush control

The REMC crews are continuing vegetation management and are now working in the area served by the Roosevelt substation.

High speed internet

Orange County Fiber has completed fiber installation to Orange County members. We are now making progress in bringing fiber optic internet to Dubois County. Please visit our website at www.myremc.coop/ internet to see when service will be available in those areas.

Meter change-out

We are more than halfway through our five-year plan to upgrade member meters to new digital meters. These new meters require less maintenance and report outages more accurately. Crews are currently working in the Spring Mill substation area.

Please note that when your meter is changed out, it does cause a brief disruption in service. We appreciate your patience. Please feel free to contact the REMC office with any questions.

Tax credits and rebates

REMC REBATE PROGRAM

Your co-op offers incentives and rebates for members who install energy efficient equipment in their home or business. But you need to act fast. The deadline to apply for a Orange County REMC rebate for energy efficient HVAC and water heating equipment is Dec. 15. Get more info and an application at our website, myremc.coop.

GEOTHERMAL TAX CREDIT

The federal tax credit for purchasing a geothermal HVAC unit has been extended until 2024, but is being stepped down each year as follows:

• 26% for systems placed in service after Dec. 31, 2019 and before Jan. 1, 2023

• 22% for systems placed in service after Dec. 31, 2022 and before Jan. 1, 2024

Get more information about federal tax credits for energy efficient equipment at energystar.gov/

about/federal_tax_credits.

BILLY CHASTAIN

Marine Corps, 20 years

MICHAEL ROBERTS

Army, 5 years

ROBERT WHITE

Army National Guard, 4 years

ZEKE ALLSTOTT

Marine Corps, 4 years

Happy Thanksgiving

The Orange County REMC office will be closed Nov. 24-25 as our employees celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with their families.