2015 January Southern Indiana Power Newsletter

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI www.sinpwr.com CONTACT US OFFICE 812-547-2316 TOLL FREE 800-323-2316 FAX 812-547-6853 EMAIL SINPOWER@SINPWR.COM OFFICE HOURS

7 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Friday MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 219, Tell City, IN 47586 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeff Vogel

Phone: 660-0333 CHAIRMAN DISTRICT 1: LUCE AND OHIO TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY)

Michelle Lynch

Phone: 843-5214 VICE-CHAIR DISTRICT 7: CLARK AND OIL TOWNSHIPS (PERRY COUNTY) AND COOPERATIVE TERRITORY IN DUBOIS COUNTY

Kevin Waninger

Phone: 836-4646 SECRETARY/TREASURER DISTRICT 6: LEOPOLD, TOBIN AND UNION TOWNSHIPS (PERRY COUNTY)

Philip Meyer

Phone: 454-2874 DISTRICT 2: GRASS, CLAY AND JACKSON TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY) AND COOPERATIVE TERRITORY IN WARRICK COUNTY

Gary Waninger

Phone: 357-2264 DISTRICT 3: CARTER AND HARRISON TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY)

Dirk Stein

Phone: 529-8166 DISTRICT 4: HAMMOND AND HUFF TOWNSHIPS (SPENCER COUNTY)

Randy Kleaving

Phone: 836-2536 DISTRICT 5: ANDERSON AND TROY TOWNSHIPS (PERRY COUNTY) KEY STAFF

Steve Seibert PRESIDENT/CEO

Karen Mangum

OFFICE/IT MANAGER

Jeff Hilgenhold

Power of policy impacts members It seems you can’t turn on a TV, listen to the radio or pick up a newspaper without hearing about ineffectiveness in government. It often seems that no matter what we do or who we vote for, we don’t feel truly repSTEVE SEIBERT resented in either our state or national governments.

At Southern Indiana Power, we understand how that feels, and we have been there ourselves. That feeling, along with a strong desire to take action, is the reason why we have dedicated staff who work to ensure our members’ interests are represented, and heard, by elected officials.

Members of our government relations and policy teams work tirelessly to tackle complicated regulatory and policy issues. They apply these issues to the ever-changing energy market and then evaluate how those issues impact our communities. They have a deep understanding of the needs of the communities we serve, and they use that knowledge to ensure that your needs are represented in major legislative decisionmaking.

The ability to impact change is a huge part of being a member of Southern Indiana Power. We don’t lobby elected officials on behalf of investors with the aim to increase profit margins. We work with elected officials to make sure that your interests are being considered to ensure that you will always be provided with safe, reliable and affordable electric service. That is the cooperative difference.

MANAGER OF MEMBER AND CORPORATE SERVICES

Todd Hammond

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Steve Fortwendel

LINE SUPERINTENDENT

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JANUARY 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org

“Your voice makes a huge difference in how quickly and effectively we can drive change.”

But it isn’t just our government relations team that helps us affect policy and legislative change. Your voice makes a huge difference in how quickly and effectively we can drive change. Through our grassroots advocacy programs we encourage you to bring your ideas to the table and to make your voice heard.

Southern Indiana Power members recently set the pace for co-ops across the state with over 33 percent of our members submitting comments to the EPA on the proposed greenhouse gas rule and its negative impact on members’ bills. This is how we show state and national officials that we are acting in your best interest. Your collective voice speaks loudly that we represent communities and families, not corporate interests.

The next time you are feeling frustrated, the next time you want to be heard, or the next time you want to make a change in your community, call Southern Indiana Power. Find out what we are doing to represent your interests, and find out how you can help affect impactful change in our communities.

STEVE SEIBERT is the president/CEO of Southern Indiana Power.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP They’re out of sight, but don’t forget about your air ducts.

Taking care of them can save money and energy. Check ducts for air leaks. Take care of minor sealing jobs with heatapproved tape, especially in attics and in vented crawl spaces.

Call the pros for major ductwork repairs.

— U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

IVE Rate Schedule How to compute your monthly electric bill Shown below is the rate schedule information needed to figure your bill for electric use in December.

Wholesale power cost tracker Indiana sales tax General Service Rate Facility charge All kWh

$0.00766 $0.07 $24.50 per month $0.0975

Off-Peak Heating Systems Facility charge $28.50 per month All kWh $0.0975 Energy used for off-peak heating systems between 11 p.m.-7 a.m. (EST) All kWh $0.053 Monthly Security Light Billing LED Security Light 175-watt mercury vapor 100-watt H.P. sodium 400-watt mercury vapor

$7.50 per month $7.50 per month $7.50 per month $11.50 per month

Electric bills due by the 27th of each month.

Visa, Mastercard and Discover accepted.

Online payment also avilable at www.sinpwr.com.

$50 monthly drawing

Statement of non-discrimination This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_ filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call 866-632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 202- 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Would you like to win a $50 credit on your electric bill? You could if you follow these simple rules: 1. Clip out the coupon below.

2. Fill out and return to our office along with your monthly payment before the 20th of the month. (Delinquent payments are not eligible.)

3. Coupons are dated monthly and are not available at the office.

You are automatically entered in the drawing if you have your bill withdrawn from your bank’s checking or savings account (ACH) or if you pay your bill online by the 20th.

The winner will be notified and the name published in the following monthly publication of Electric Consumer.

NOVEMBER’S WINNER: David Flamion

$50 monthly drawing FOR BILLS DATED JAN. 10 PAID BY JAN. 20 NAME: ________________________________________________ ADDRESS:_____________________________________________ PHONE: _______________________________________________ ACCOUNT #:___________________________________________

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KEEPING CURRENT • SOUTHERN INDIANA POWER

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • DECEMBER 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

Not for co-op use

ElectricConsumer.org • FEBRUARY 2013 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 9

Southern Indiana Power

ELECTRICAL MYTHS

CAN KILL. Scholarship and grant deadline approaches The Operation Round Up board of trustees is accepting applications for scholarships and grants Jan. 2-Feb. 16.

Scholarships: Students eligible for the scholarship must be scheduled to attend their sophomore or higher year of college in the fall of 2015, be enrolled as a full-time student (carrying 12 hours or more) and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The student or his/her parent(s) must also be a member(s) of Southern Indiana Power and participate in the Operation Round Up program.

Grants: Those eligible to apply for an Operation Round Up grant include groups or organizations located within the Southern Indiana Power service territory, which covers the counties of Perry, Spencer, Dubois and Warrick. (Applicants are not required to be members of the cooperative.)

If you are interested in applying for an Operation Round Up scholarship or an Operation Round Up grant, please visit the Southern Indiana Power office or download the forms from the website at www.sinpwr.com. If you have any questions please contact the cooperative office at 800-323-2316 or 812-547-2316 or email sinpower@sinpwr.com. …

Note to Members:

Rubber gloves and rubber shoes protect you from electricity.

MYTH

TRUTH That’s true only if they are 100 percent pure rubber with no holes or tears (the kind that electrical linemen wear). Typical cleaning gloves and shoes, which are made with rubber mixed with cheaper materials, aren’t going to protect you in an electrical encounter.

MYTH

All power lines are insulated.

TRUTH As a rule, power lines aren’t insulated.

So, how come birds don’t get electrocuted when they perch on a power line? They don’t represent a path to the ground. If a bird were to touch two wires at once, or a wire and the ground, it would be electrocuted.

Pole treating to begin in Chrisney area To help maintain high quality and reliable service while delivering electricity to our members, Southern Indiana Power conducts several annual preventative maintenance programs.

One such measure is utility pole inspection and treatment. Southern Indiana Power contracts with a company to treat utility poles in a rotating cycle. Crews from Geoforce Utility Technologies will be in the Chrisney area for approximately three months, beginning in January.

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ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JANUARY 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org

Power lines outside carry the same 110-volt electricity we use at home.

MYTH

TRUTH Here in Indiana, most power lines carry 7,200 volts. Some carry up to 19,000 volts. You can’t tell the voltage by just looking at it.

STAY SAFE. BUST THE MYTHS.

Highlights of Nov. 19 board meeting In an effort to keep you informed of your cooperative’s operations and activities, the following are highlights of the Nov. 19 board meeting.

7. The CEO report was the first item of new business with Seibert reporting the following items:

1. All directors were present along with CEO Steve Seibert and Administrative Assistant Lisa Hinton.

a. Seibert updated directors on the city of Tell City’s proposed annexation.

A hearing is set for Thursday, Nov. 20, with Dubois Circuit Court Judge Weikert.

2. The Oct. 29 board meeting minutes were reviewed and approved.

b. Pole treating began Oct. 28 on Rose Hill substation.

3. The membership certificates and vouchers were reviewed and approved.

4. The directors’ report was reviewed and approved.

5. Seibert reviewed the Hoosier Energy Wholesale Power Cost Tracker and its impact on the co-op’s financial position.

No changes will be made to the tracker at this time.

6. Seibert gave a brief update on capital credit progress. Capital credit retirement checks for the years of 1979-1983 have been mailed. A listing of unclaimed capital credits for the years of 1964-1970 was published in the legal section of the Perry County News on Nov. 10.

c. Seibert reported Directors G. Waninger and Kleaving, Manager of Member and Corporate Services Jeff Hilgenhold and he attended an Indiana Electric Cooperatives legislative dinner on Nov. 17. d. Seibert has been informed Southern Indiana Power’s long distance contract with TransWorld Network, will be terminated by TransWorld Network, effective Nov. 30, 2015. e. Seibert reported on Action.coop results. To date 2,457 members (33.6 percent) have submitted comments regarding the EPA greenhouse gas rule, making Southern Indiana Power number one

in the state for member comments. f. Seibert informed the board 215 Southern Indiana Power members have signed up for the Air Evac program through the co-op. g. Seibert reported member information meetings for 2014 have concluded. Seibert provided information on meeting attendance. h. Seibert informed the board of the following scheduled meetings: IEC annual meeting, Dec. 8-9; budget committee meeting, Dec. 11; and employee Christmas party, Dec. 12.

8. Seibert reported safety training is scheduled for Nov. 21 and advised there were no lost-time accidents and no public liability claims to report.

9. Seibert reported on an annual meeting committee meeting that was held Nov. 7. Director G. Waninger reported on a Hoosier Energy board meeting held Nov. 10.

10. The next regularly scheduled board of directors meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17.

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