CO-OP NEWS

www.kvremc.com

CONTACT US Toll Free: 800-552-2622 Local: 219-733-2511

OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Central Time Monday-Friday

STREET ADDRESS 8642 W. U.S. Highway 30 Wanatah, IN 46390

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 157, Wanatah, IN 46390

EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES To report a power outage, please call 800-552-2622. We are available to serve you 24 hours a day. When calling, please provide the name in which your account is listed. Also, please be sure to check your fuses or breakers.

KANKAKEE VALLEY REMC STAFF Scott Sears, Chief Executive Officer Alissa Tucker, Executive Assistant Angie Swanson, Office Manager Amanda Steeb, Communications and Marketing Director Dave Howell, Purchasing and Facilities Manager Scott Hanson, Director of Operations Bri Travis, Director of Engineering

To ensure your payment information is kept secure, our in-office CSRs can no longer process an over-the-phone payment. All payments must be made using our automated payment system. When calling the office, please follow the prompts to the payment system. We still welcome in-person payments at the office.

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CONNECTED TO THE WEATHER and more

We partner with our power provider to handle weather challenges – and have done so for years.

This sweltering summer, you may have paid more attention to energy costs and reliability. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which coordinates electricity generation and transmission in parts of the central U.S. and Canada, warned that there was an elevated risk of extreme weather which could have caused capacity challenges. It pointed to a transition from fossil fuel resources as a significant contributing factor.

Fortunately, we work with Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA), our wholesale power provider, to ensure affordable and reliable energy in multiple ways.

DIVERSE POWER SUPPLY:

WVPA’s power supply portfolio includes electricity generated by a variety of resources – including wind, solar, nuclear power, natural gas and coal – to minimize the impact of resource price volatility. WVPA also has long-term contracts with rates locked in that have been very beneficial.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS:

We work with WVPA to offer Power Moves® rebates for energy efficiency upgrades for homes and businesses. WVPA’s program has awarded more than $32 million for projects saving more than 298 million kilowatt-hours – enough electricity to power nearly 25,000 homes for a year.

DEMAND-RESPONSE PROGRAMS:

We and WVPA also developed PowerShift® incentives for participants to shift their energy use when grid conditions are tight. This helps lower the peak demand, which can offset the need to construct more power plants.

CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER – LITERALLY:

WVPA’s member electric co-ops are part of the Eastern Interconnection, which is the energy grid that connects transmission facilities across most of the eastern U.S. and Canada, enabling electricity to move along transmission lines throughout the region. It does not include Texas or Quebec in Canada.

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT:

WVPA plans with governing agencies, including state, national and international authorities, to properly maintain and upgrade their infrastructure.

In short, we are all connected physically, in planning and regulatory oversight, so that we are prepared when issues arise. We work tirelessly to ensure that electricity is the last thing on your mind when you flip theswitch.

SCOTT SEARS

Chief Executive Officer

EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT

Kankakee Valley REMC celebrated a safety milestone in 2021. To receive this honor, the cooperative completed a year of no workrelated accidents that resulted in an employee missing a full eight-hour day. This award was provided to the cooperative through Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, the insurance provider for Kankakee Valley REMC.

Kankakee Valley REMC employees follow safety protocols based on leading national safety practices for the electrical industry. Safety trainings are held monthly and groundmen, linemen and operators must maintain certifications yearround. In addition, our employees participate in the Commitment to Zero Contact initiative sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. This initiative provides resources to assist in the elimination of severe injuries due to electrical contact and enhance the cooperative's safety program.

"Receiving this recognition speaks to our employees' outstanding efforts and commitment to work safety. It is through their efforts that we can maintain a culture of safety and make sure that at the end of the day, each employee returns home to their family," said Scott Sears, CEO of Kankakee Valley REMC.

ENTER TO WIN A BILL CREDIT!

Each month we ask three questions from the Kankakee Valley REMC articles.

DRAWING THREE WINNERS $75, $50, $25

Each month, one name will be drawn for each dollar amount. The winners will receive a bill credit on their next electric bill.

AUGUST WINNERS

Congratulations to the August winners! David L., Valparaiso - $75; Margaret R., North Judson - $50; Beverly C., Knox - $25.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT CORNER ANSWERS IS FRIDAY, SEPT. 16.

u What type of generator can be connected to a home’s breaker panel?

vHow much will you receive at the end of the summer for participating in the Wi-Fi thermostat program?

wHow many kilowatt-hours have WVPA’s energy efficiency programs saved?

Name: _________________________________________________

KV REMC Account No. ____________________________________

Address:________________________________________________

HOW TO ENTER

Enter online by visiting kvremc.com/quizcorner or mail your answers to: KV REMC, Attn: Quiz Corner, P.O. Box 157, Wanatah, IN 46390

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VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY

Electric cooperatives have a proud history of giving back. Sometimes, that is in the form of a financial donation, and other times it is the giving of our time and labor.

This year, Kankakee Valley REMC employees volunteered as part of the United Way Day of Caring, joining area volunteers to give back to non-profits and make a difference in the community. This event is the largest volunteerism celebration in Northwest Indiana. Time this year was spent supporting Humane Indiana Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (Knox) and Opportunity Enterprises Lakeside. Tasks included staining decks and benches, fence repair, building habitats and walkways, clearing trails, and much more.

The tasks completed allowed these organizations to focus on what matters most: serving their clients in the community. ENERGY EFFICIENCY REBATES

Planning an energy efficient project at your home or business? Visit PowerMoves.com to find energy efficient resources and learn how you can possibly get a cash rebate for your project.

WI-FI THERMOSTAT

Register your qualifying Wi-Fi thermostat in our PowerShift program and you will receive a one-time $50 bill credit. In addition, you will receive $25 at the end of the summer season for participating. Visit http://www.kvremc.com/ savings/rebates-incentives to enroll.

SOLAR ENERGY

Before you decide to invest in solar, give us a call. We will provide you with information on the requirements and fees your coop has when installing solar. An investment of this size deserves careful research. Let us help.

EV DRIVERS

Have you invested in an EV or are looking to do so? Call us to learn about our time of use rate for charging your car.