2015 November Orange County REMC Newsletter

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI www.myremc.coop CONTACT US OFFICE

812-865-2229 888-337-5900 BILL PAYMENTS 855-865-2229 TOLL FREE

CONTACT US BY EMAIL

orangecoremc@myremc.coop GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

Matthew C. Deaton OFFICE HOURS

7 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday-Friday STREET ADDRESS

7133 N. State Road 337 Orleans, IN 47452 MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 208, Orleans, IN 47452 EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES

To report service interruptions, call: 812-865-2229 or 888-337-5900, day or night. Please 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

Eugene Roberts, 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 KEY STAFF

Marty Frank, OPERATIONS MANAGER Marcy Bennett, OFFICE MANAGER Larry Pinnick, MATERIALS MANAGER Michael Roberts, STAKING ENGINEER Misty Tincher, ACCOUNTANT Billy Chastain, STAKING ENGINEER AIDE Mark Belcher, MARKETING/MEMBER SERVICES MEMBER SERVICES

•Free energy analysis •Budget billing •Automatic payments •Security lights •Home security systems •Medical emergency monitoring •Air evac life team •Water heater and HVAC incentives (requires an EM switch) •Online bill payment options •Interactive Voice Response system for payments and account inquiries via phone: 1-855-865-22865-222929 •VISA, MasterCard and Discover accepted •Exede Internet - 855-797-7855 4

Orange County REMC changing for the better Changes. They are a constant in our daily lives.

We recently completed the Residential Customer Satisfaction Survey in hopes of finding out more about our current members. We are MATTHEW C. using the results as a way to DEATON help us better communicate and connect with every generation we serve.

Communication is one of our top priorities in serving you at Orange County REMC. Soon our website, www.myremc. coop, will be getting a full makeover. With the survey data showing 50 percent of members use Facebook, we are happy to report that you can follow us on Facebook, too. It is intended that our website and Facebook will work together in a manner that improves your interaction with us. As time goes on, we hope that all of our little transformations have a large impact on the way we all communicate.

Something we are working to address is the generational gap of our members and how it affects their views of Orange County REMC. Members of our older generations know that they are members, while many of our younger members view themselves just as customers. As we try to reach those members, as mentioned above, we are increasing our use of social media and spreading the news of membership and cooperatives in the Electric Consumer.

Another specific area of concern is new member satisfaction. We recently

received survey results that indicate we have regressed in some areas. We are working through each individual survey but are finding that timeliness of the installation and explanation of the requirements and costs associated with a new service need to be improved.

With member service in mind, Orange County REMC has also recently hired Mark Belcher as our full-time member services manager. In the past, Belcher has shared his time with Daviess-Martin REMC but now will focus 100 percent of his efforts on Orange County REMC members. He knows the service territory and many of our members and has nearly 30 years of energy management and member services experience. We are excited to have him full time so please contact the office if he can help you.

Though we learned about many facets beyond our communication methods in our survey, Electric Consumer, our website, and social media will be at the top of our list for improvements. We want all of our members to have a positive experience in their interactions with Orange County REMC, from the first time you walk in the lobby to request your initial service, to attending your 50th or 60th annual meeting.

To learn more about Orange County REMC, please visit our website at www.myremc.coop and follow us Facebook at www.facebook.com/ OrangeCountyREMC. MATTHEW C. DEATON is the general manager/ CEO of Orange County REMC.

2016 Student Art Calendars are here!

Stop by the Orange County REMC office and pick up your Cooperative Calendar of Student Art. This free calendar is illustrated by students from all over the state. Supplies are limited, so get yours today!

ELECTRIC CONSUMER • NOVEMBER 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org

IVE Rate Schedule

(for October, November and December 2015)

Figures needed to calculate your monthly bill Rate Schedule for Standard Service Standard Service Consumer Charge Standard Service Energy Charge Wholesale Power Cost Tracker Total bill plus Indiana sales tax 7% Rate Schedule for ETS Service ETS Consumer Charge ETS Off-Peak Energy Rate Schedule for Security Lighting Security Lighting- 100 W HPS Security Lighting- 40 W LED

26.00 0.1124 0.0028465

5.40 0.0691 9.82 9.82

Example for 1,200 kwh Standard Service Consumer Charge $26.00 1,200 kwh @ .1124 $134.88 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker @ $0.0028465 $3.42 Total $164.30 Indiana sales tax $11.50 Total Bill $175.80 Example for 1,200 kwh (regular) and 750 kwh (ETS) Standard Service Consumer Charge $26.00 ETS Consumer Charge $5.40 1,200 kwh @ .1124 $134.88 750 kwh @ .0691 $51.83 Wholesale Power Cost Tracker @ $0.0028465 $5.55 Total $223.66 Indiana sales tax $15.66 Total Bill $239.31 Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards accepted

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Orange County REMC News

Guaranteed savings and comfort New homeowners Terrence and Patty Rottet are enjoing the benefits of their Touchstone Energy® Home.

At Orange County REMC, we’re always looking for ways to help our members save money and energy. The MARK BELCHER Touchstone Energy Home program is one of the most comprehensive ways we can do that.

The program uses a set of standards and procedures to help prospective homeowners work with their builder to get a home that is well-insulated and features high-efficiency heating and cooling products along with: K Lower comfort conditioning costs K Environmental friendliness K Consistent comfort even during harsh weather K Higher resale value One of the most common questions we get regarding the Touchstone Energy Home Program is if an energy-efficient home is worth the extra cost. The answer, of course, is “yes!” You can leverage the value of your dream home through energy efficiency. The benefits include: K Lower utility bills K Attractive energy-efficient mortgages K Higher resale value K The potential for extra monthly disposable income For every dollar spent on energy-saving features and higher construction standards, you reduce the monthly

expense of heating (home and water), cooling, lighting and cooking. Energy consumption falls as energy-efficiency building measures are applied.

When it comes to your home, most people agree: Comfort drives satisfaction.

Higher building standards help eliminate drafts and uneven warm and cold spots in the home. Owners of Touchstone Energy homes report higher levels of comfort, while utility costs are lower. That is a win-win!

As energy costs continue to rise due to a growing demand for electricity, higher power plant costs and federal regulations, energy efficiency remains a key part of our efforts to keep rates affordable and help our members use energy wisely. Best of all, energy efficiency — simply making the electricity you use do more — saves you money.

Because we’re part of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives network, you have access to several valuable resources. Visit these websites to learn more about the Touchstone Energy Home Program and other energy saving programs we have for existing homes: www.itehome.com www.togetherwesave.com www.teamuptosave.com MARK BELCHER is the marketing/member services manager for Orange County REMC

Terrence and Patty Rottet’s new home in West Baden Springs was built and certified through the Touchstone Energy® Home program. It includes 3,000 square feet, heated and cooled by a 16 SEER heat pump. This home has a guaranteed annual heating cost not to exceed $571 and cooling not to exceed $122 per year. The home earned a 5-Star Energy Star rating and a HERS score of 54. The HERS Index is the nationally recognized scoring system for measuring a home’s energy performance.

(The lower the score, the better the rating. A home must score 70 or below to qualify as a Touchstone Energy Home)

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • NOVEMBER 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org

Patty Rotett holds the energy report and certification for her Touchstone Energy home.

Orange County REMC Employee Anniversary Marty Frank Operations Manager 22 Years

Everyone should have this home accessory Before dropping the bucks for a new area rug, recliner or side table, invest in a shiny red accessory that could ensure your home decor remains welcoming and attractive.

Every house should be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher to put out small fires — or help contain other fires before the fire department arrives. But owning the extinguisher isn’t enough; you have to know how to use it.

Remember “PASS” when operating a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointed away from you, then release the lock.

Aim low, pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

Sweep the extinguisher’s nozzle from side to side.

For security purposes, REMC will NEVER call you and ask for your credit card number.

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