2014 June Daviess-Martin Newsletter

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI www.dmremc.com CONTACT US

Daviess-Martin County REMC TOLL FREE

800-762-7362

GENERAL MANAGER

Ken Frye

OFFICE HOURS

7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m., Monday-Friday STREET ADDRESS

12628 E 75 N, Loogootee, IN 47553 MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 430, Loogootee, IN 47553 SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS

To report an outage or emergency, call 812-295-4200 or 800-7627362 day or night.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve Streepy, PRESIDENT Dean Harrawood, VICE PRESIDENT Michael E. Arvin, SECRETARY August Bauer, TREASURER Terry Chapman John Edwards Dale Marchino BILL PAYMENT OPTIONS

Online bill payment Budget billing Auto bank draft Drive-through window Night depository Credit card payment (VISA, Discover and MasterCard accepted) Pay-by-phone MISSION STATEMENT

“Our mission is to provide dependable electricity and quality services for our members at reasonable cost.”

Like us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/Daviess MartinCountyREMC

TIP OF THE MONTH

Use the right light!

When replacing incandescent bulbs from recessed light fixtures, use energy-efficient bulbs that are rated for that purpose. For example, the heat buildup in downlights will significantly shorten the life of spiral CFLs. — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

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The importance of tree trimming I think we all know that trees and power lines don’t mix very well … actually, at all. Tree limbs can cause power outages if they brush up against the lines during high winds. Limbs can also break and fall through the KEN FRYE lines as evidenced during past severe storms.

When the trees take out the lines and poles, our line personnel must install new poles, reposition the wire and restore power. Downed power lines can lead to potentially dangerous and inconvenient situations for our members.

Therefore, if a line goes down, it’s vitally important that members stay away from the area until our line professionals are on site and can verify it is safe for people to move about. NEVER try to remove a limb from a line even if it is on the ground. The line is most likely still energized and is sending electricity through the limb. If you touch it, you could be electrocuted.

Tree limbs also interfere with the flow of electricity in a more subtle way. Tree limbs can cause clocks — be it your bedside clock radio or the clock on your stove or microwave oven — to blink. This happens because something on the line has created a temporary short and one of our breakers has opened and then reclosed to allow for continuity of service.

We have breakers on our lines just like the breakers in your house, but there is one huge difference: our breakers turn the power back on three times to allow the fault to clear. When the breaker closes in and does not detect a fault, it stays in.

The member, then, experiences an outage lasting seconds rather than hours.

Many of us have experienced flickering lights during a thunderstorm. This can be caused by lightning or by a tree limb brushing up against the line. Sometimes, if a limb falls on a line then clears itself, or if a small animal climbs a pole and gets electrocuted, the fault may clear itself and

ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

the power remains on. Nuisance blinks are frustrating for you and for us. It can take a lot of time to find the reason for these blinks because they are temporary in nature and difficult to detect.

We try our best to ensure a safe electric system for our members.

Occasionally, we hear of accidents around the country involving children who come in contact with power lines.

Sometimes these accidents are due to poor tree-trimming practices. You can imagine how heart wrenching it is for those in the electric utility industry to hear of anyone losing limbs or even dying because of trees brushing against electric lines.

Companies like ours are in a tough position. Though we would like to meet all of our members’ requests to leave their trees intact, if a tree poses a safety concern, at the very least, it should be trimmed. Please consider that a child might climb the tree or that someone might be working around the tree and may not be able to see that a power line is running through its mass of limbs.

Remember: we take your concerns about your yards’ aesthetic beauty seriously, but public safety and system reliability are as vitally important to us as they are to you.

If you receive a notice in the future about Daviess-Martin County REMC wanting to trim the trees on your property, please remember this article. Think about the things we all value, like having power after a large storm or not having the clock blink. Think about the safety hazard that a poorly trimmed tree can pose and think about how, with a little work, you can enjoy that special tree and still provide for a safe and working electric system.

Remember that here at DaviessMartin County REMC, we work hard to keep the lights on for you.

KEN FRYE is general manager of Daviess-Martin County REMC.

IVE Ductwork improvements offered for minimal cost

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asty weather conditions were heaped on us this past winter. The blowing winds, bitter cold and record amounts of snow made us miserable and cantankerous on many a morning as we shoveled out. Yet the winter storms of 2014 had at least one redeeming quality worth noting.

The storms created nearly perfect testing conditions in each The white areas on this ductwork indicate mastic has been member’s home, providing an up applied. Mastic is a brushed-on sealant, used to stop leaky close and personal way to evaluate ducts. Rebates are available from Daviess-Martin County the strength and efficiency of the REMC for applying mastic to enhance energy savings. construction materials and electric that can result in measureable savings. components we use. Much was Effective this year, Daviess-Martin discovered in terms of energy consumpCounty REMC is rebating ductwork sealtion. Air infiltration and less-than-stellar ing in homes built as recently as two years building performances have caused some ago or prior to that. While often rebates members’ bills to soar. Having talked with pay for a small portion of a product or many of you, we understand you are lookservice, this particular rebate covers the ing for solutions to help reduce those bills. majority of the costs associated with sealThose of us working at the cooperaing off leaky ducts with a product known tive office are excited about a cost-saving as mastic.

Mastic is a non-hardening measure we are offering to members that will increase comfort levels in your homes substance applied to duct seams after it’s been secured with metal screws. Once and save on kilowatt use. The program, applied, the gooey substance remains plibrought to us by our power provider, able and far outlasts the commonly used Hoosier Energy, provides a significant duct tape. rebate for an improvement in your home

As you know, you own your electric cooperative. We are not trying to sell any product or service. We are making recommended changes, supported by the International Energy Code, section 403.2.2 which requires “all ducts, air handlers, filter boxes and building cavities used as ducts shall be sealed.” As your energy provider, we believe you should comply with and exceed codes. Mastic sealing is the method supported by our Touchstone Energy® Home building standards and is the only method we recommend to stop heat loss in HVAC ductwork.

In 2014, Daviess-Martin County REMC is suggesting all members take advantage of this offer. This is a short-term and long-term win for all of us. Not only will it provide you, our member, with more favorable bills and more comfort, but it’s more economical to spend pennies on the dollar for energy-efficient upgrades than to spend dollars for building power plants.

Please visit www.dmremc.com for more information on this program and others. Deadline to participate is Dec. 31. …

‘Win! Win! Win!’ monthly drawing Each month, Daviess-Martin County REMC asks our readers three questions to which the answers can be found in the articles of Electric Consumer. Follow these simple rules: 1.) Clip the coupon along the dotted line. 2.) Fill it out. 3.) Return it to our office with your monthly payment before the 20th of the month. (Delinquent payments are not eligible.)

Each month a winner will be drawn from the entries submitted. Make sure you bring or mail in your most recent coupon, as the coupons are dated monthly.

Members with automatic payment accounts will be entered in the contest as well. Copies will not be accepted, and coupons are not available at the office! Winners will be notified and their names published in the following monthly issue of Electric Consumer.

APRIL WINNER: Daryn Fleagle, Montgomery

$50 MONTHLY DRAWING (FOR BILLS DATED JUNE 5; PAID BY JUNE 20)

1. Never try to remove a limb from a line if it is on the ground. If you touch it you could be electrocuted. TRUE or FALSE? 2. When encountering downed power lines while driving, it is OK to drive over them. TRUE or FALSE? 3. Gene Sherfick was elected to serve on the board of directors in _____________.

NAME: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ACCOUNT NO.: ___________________________________ PHONE NO.: ___________________________________

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Daviess-Martin County REMC News Celebrating our 75th anniversary

Remembering EARLY DAYS An historical look into early cooperative years, shared through the memories of former board director Gene Sherfick and his wife of 66 years, Eldean. Gene served on the board for 13 years, from 1959-1972.

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here’s a winding, gravel road flanked by a sometimes, unruly creek that leads back to Gene Sherfick’s homestead — an area of Daviess-Martin County REMC where Sherfick has lived his entire life.

On a warm May afternoon with warm breezes blowing through, Sherfick sits with his wife at the kitchen table, sharing stories about his childhood, farming days and the time he served as a director on the REMC board.

“I was probably 13 years old when we first got electricity.

That’s probably one of the greatest things in my lifetime,” he recalled. “I probably switched on the light 13 times a day just to make sure it was still there.”

As service reached each home site, an installer would be needed to wire the homes. Sherfick’s older brother was hired to provide initial service in many area homes. Of course, the former director said, that often consisted of only one light fixture in each room. He and Eldean chuckle as they recall the appliances that followed — a clothes washer and a refrigerator.

“But you didn’t have it, so to speak, until you owned an electric stove,” Eldean said.

At the urging of a friend, Sherfick ran for a seat on the board in his early 30s and was elected in 1959, 20 years after

The 1969 Daviess-Martin County REMC board of directors included, in front row, from left, Herman Bennett, Ralph Brown, Donald Stuckey, Bevis McCord, Hollis Sherwood, and in back row, Dale Grafton, Rex Crane, John Memering, Chester Cornett, Walter Clinton, and Gene Sherfick.

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

Gene and Eldean Sherfick recall the early days of electricity.

Gene served on the DaviessMartin County REMC board of directors for 13 years.

the incorporation of Daviess-Martin County REMC. By that date, the cooperative had established territory boundaries and was focused on building lines and rights-of-way to improve reliability.

At 87, Sherfick recounts his younger days on the ninemember cooperative board, when he served with two founding board members Walter Clinton and Chester Cornett.

“They were all great, older directors,” he said, jesting, “Of course, anybody over 45 was an old man in my eyes back then.”

In those years, members would gather annually in the Washington High School auditorium to hear the latest in the development of the cooperative. In comparison to today’s events, the annual meetings were simple, Sherfick said, and getting a quorum was just expected.

“You have to remember, electricity was still a fairly new thing back then,” he added. “People were just happy to get it.”

As the fields around his home would suggest, Sherfick has farmed since his service in the Air Force during the Korean War. He’s also a philanthropist.

“I’ve spent my whole life on boards of some kind,” he said. In fact, he left the REMC board to become a commissioner. He looks upon his service to the electric cooperative with fondness and believes whole-heartedly in the service it provides.

“It’s a good deal,” he said, relaying a story of an outage on his farm. “We were without electricity for about four days one time and we used a generator. Boy, was it expensive! All told, what we are paying for electricity today is cheap.” …

Youth chosen for summer programs Indiana Youth Tour Ashley Jones, Audrey Sanders and Ashton Allbright will represent Daviess-Martin County REMC on the 2014 Indiana Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., June 12-19. The high ASHTON ASHLEY JONES AUDREY school seniors-to-be will ALLBRIGHT SANDERS gain a personal understanding of American Touchstone Energy Camp history and their role as citizens, and Daviess-Martin County REMC is insight on the important roles elecalso happy to announce the canditric cooperatives play in their commudates selected to participate in the nities. Indiana’s electric cooperatives Indiana Touchstone Energy® Camp. have been providing this opportunity to Rachel Robinson, Melaina Tippery, young Hoosiers since 1960.

Alexas Hutchinson, Jenna Lueken, The Indiana delegation of approxiConnor Wilson and Hadley Faith have mately 76 students from throughout been chosen to participate in this fun the state is selected by the students’ and educational program at Camp local electric cooperatives. More than Tecumseh near Brookston, Ind. 1,600 students from 48 states will Robinson is the daughter of Chuck be in Washington for the week-long and Audrey Robinson; Tippery is conference. the daughter of Michael and Brandy “Daviess-Martin County REMC Tippery; and Hutchinson is the daughis pleased to be able to provide this ter of Teiara Haines. All three will be opportunity for our local youth,” said seventh graders at Loogootee Jr./Sr. Janet Chestnut, manager of communiHigh School. cations/member relations at DaviessLueken is the daughter of Jamie Martin County REMC. “It’s a great trip Lueken, and Wilson is the son of Trent and a wonderful chance to see the and Jennifer Wilson. Both will be sevsights, make new friends and learn how enth graders at Barr-Reeve Jr./Sr. High everyone, even young people, can make School. a difference in the political process.”

Faith is the daughter of Bryan and The Indiana delegation will visit Heather Faith, of Washington; she will the Flight 93 and Pentagon 9/11 be a seventh grader at Washington Memorials, the Gettysburg Battlefield, Junior High School.

Arlington National Cemetery, and the Touchstone Energy Camp is Smithsonian Institution. They will also designed to help seventh graders-to-be take a night cruise on the Potomac learn about electrification and electric River, visit the National Mall memorisafety. It also teaches them about coopals, the National Museum of the Marine erative business principles through a Corps and much more. variety of activities.

The Indiana Youth Tour students Campers also get to enjoy the comwill also participate in a youth rally plete camp experience with swimming, hosted by the National Rural Electric wall climbing, archery and other activiCooperative Association, during which ties planned. they will share their thoughts on a Touchstone Energy Camp is sponvariety of timely issues. The youth rally sored by Indiana’s electric cooperatives, will prepare the students for a day on Hoosier Energy, Wabash Valley Power Capitol Hill, where they will have an and local sponsorships. … opportunity to meet with Indiana’s congressional delegation.

NEWS & NOTES

from your cooperative Earn credits with Energy Management Program Earn energy credits for allowing Daviess-Martin County REMC to place an energy savings switch on your water heater and/or air conditioner. When energy is at its peak, a signal can be sent to cycle down the heating and cooling units for short periods of time. This helps reduce the possibility of future rate increases and helps the environment.

ENERGY CREDITS Water heater: $5/month Air conditioner: $10/month Water heater and AC: $15/month (Energy credits given only JuneAugust.)

Call 812-295-4200 or visit www. dmremc.com for more information or to sign up.

Third quarter tracker change Reflected on bills received in August, Daviess-Martin County REMC members will see a change in the wholesale power cost tracker adjustment effective July 1, 2014.

Hoosier Energy has changed the power cost tracker from $1.08 per 1,000 kWh used to $2.01 per 1,000 kWh used.

Area county fair dates Daviess County: June 20 - 28 Daviess County 4-H Fair: July 11 – 18 Lawrence County: July 12 – 19 Martin County: July 11 - 16

Happy Father’s Day! The employees and directors of Daviess-Martin County REMC wish all fathers a Happy Father’s Day on Sunday, June 15!

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