YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
CONTENTS 2
Youth Programs
3
New Bill Design
4-5
Weather Prediction Winter Efficiency
6
Electrical Safety Checklist
7
Quick Links
8
Larry Herbert Retires
RSE will be closed December 31 & January 1 Happy New Year!
(USPS 171-360 Published Monthly) Contributors: Jason Clemmons, Cathy Rhoades, and Brad Rogers Publication Office: 2777 S. 840 W. Manilla, IN 46150 Periodical Postage paid in Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ELECTRAWATT P.O. Box 55, Manilla, IN 46150
2
www.rse.coop
RushShelby Energy will again sponsor some outstanding educational opportunities for students in our service territory. Ten students currently enrolled in sixth grade will be selected to attend Touchstone Energy Camp at Camp Tecumseh in Brookston, Indiana. Students will enjoy a threeday, three-night experience as they learn about electricity, electrical safety, the environment and electric cooperatives. Campers will also enjoy bucket truck rides, rock wall climbing, horseback riding, swimming, archery and much more. Deadline to enter online is March 2, 2020. More than 1,500 high school students from across America take part in the Youth Tour experience each year. Four students will be selected to represent RushShelby Energy in a once in a lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., where they will meet U.S. Representatives and Senators. This unique trip will give students the opportunity to watch history come alive while exploring the museums, memorials and monuments with other students from Indiana. They will also meet student leaders from nearly every state and hear dynamic leaders on Youth Day. Bottom line, attendees will make friendships that will last a lifetime and be part of a group that has more than 50,000 alumni in every walk of life, including U.S. Senators and CEOs. Deadline to enter online is March 2, 2020.
Touchstone Energy Camp June 3-6, 2020
Indiana Youth Tour June 18-25, 2020
Since 1998, Indiana Connection and participating Indiana electric cooperatives have held an annual art contest for Indiana students in kindergarten through grade 12. The winning works of art from each grade are then used to illustrate the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art. The deadline to enter is March 20, 2020. Calendar Contest Front cover by Lexi Harford, Shelbyville High School Class of 2019. Lexi's artwork was chosen for the month of December in the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art 2020. Lexi is seen here receiving her prize money. Congratualtions Lexi!
New Bill Design
GO PAPERLESS 2777 S 840 W P.O. Box 55 Manilla, IN 46150
TOTAL DUE ACCOUNT NUMBER
CYCLE: 4
$211.76
123456789 JOHN DOE 03/26/2019 Group 999-999-9999
Customer Name Statement Date: Bill Type: PHONE #:
PAYMENT DUE 04/12/2019
SERVICE ADDRESS: 123 ANY STREET Reading Dates
Rate
Meter #
Map Location
From
To
# Days
GS-1 PROPANE
111111111 222222222
F9-99-95-B F9-99-95-B
02/21/2019 02/21/2019
03/22/2019 03/22/2019
30 25
9361 2228
Activity Since Last Billing
Present 9456 2247
Multiplier
KWH Usage
Service Type
1.0000 2.7500
1076 19
ELECTRIC PROPANE
Detail of Charges
269.59
Connection Charge
Payment Received
269.59 CR
Electric Charge Power Cost Adjustment SLY 175 Watt Propane Sales Tax
0.00
Messages from RushShelby Energy
Immediately upon opening your new bill, you will see your total due and the due date prominently displayed on top of the bill. You will also see a clearer and more transparent breakdown of your monthly charges, which has been a request from many members. The back of the bill will now provide valuable information on your electric usage. A simple chart compares your daily usage for the previous month to the high and low temperatures, allowing you to see if your electric usage follows a similar pattern to the weather.
Readings Previous
Previous Balance Balance Forward
Starting next month, you will be receiving your first copy of the new and improved RushShelby Energy bill. We hope you will appreciate the updated look and additional information we can provide.
SIGN UP ON SMARTHUB
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Phone: (765) 544-2600 Toll Free: 1-800-706-7362 Outage Information: 1-800-284-3452 Pay Online: www.rse.coop
Bp Info message will print here if one exists. If one does not exist, the box will not print.
35.00 119.44 1.21 CR 10.50 34.18 13.85
1076 kWh @ 0.1245 1076 kWh @ -0.00117 19 GAL @ 1.769
Total Electric Charges Total Propane Charges Balance Forward Total Amount Due
175.19 36.57 0.00 211.76
KEEP SEND Please do not staple or tape. Account Number
RushShelby Energy 2777 S 840 W P.O. Box 55 Manilla, IN 46150
JOHN DOE 123 ANY ST GRAND RAPIDS MI 49525
1 2
123456789
Current Net Due
211.76
Due Before 5 PM
04/12/2019
Total Due
211.76
RUSH SHELBY ENERGY 9 PO BOX 55 MANILLA IN 46150-0055
ñððòñððððñóóðñóòòðñòòóóòðñóóòñóðòñððóðóðóòóòòóòðñòóðñððñðóóóóóòññ
161904223243024038315577038315577073020194
While the look of our bill has changed, it is merely a visual change. Methods for paying your monthly bill have not changed and payments can still be made online with PayNow or SmartHub, through the SmartHub App, with automatic bank draft, by phone with our automated system, or in our office. We will continue to strive to provide quality member service.
Coming In 2020
3
Photo by: Marlo Chastain
FARMERS' ALMANAC PREDICTS ANOTHER FREEZING, FRIGID, AND FROSTY WINTER What one word can all Hoosiers use to describe Indiana weather...unpredictable. It will be interesting to follow along with the Farmers' Almanac to see how the Almanac predictions pan out. The Almanac is predicting a "Polar Coaster Winter." Above-normal winter precipitation is expected with colder-than-normal temperatures (see predictions below).
January
1-3: Sharp cold front brings gusty winds, widespread snow showers. 4-7: Blustery, cold; flurries. 8-11: Steady snow spreads in from the west, significant accumulations possible. 12-15: Snowy, then fair/cold. 16-19: Blustery winds. 20-23: Fair, then increasingly cloudy skies, very cold; snow for Wisconsin, U.P. of Michigan. 24-27: Frigidly cold air plunges south from Canada. Snow showers and squalls (a sudden gust of wind) to the lee of the Great Lakes. 28-31: Fair, bitter cold.
February
1-3: Wet, then clearing and cold. 4-7: Clearing/blustery winds, colder. 8-11: Light snow, flurries. 12-15: More snowy weather, especially in and around the Great Lakes. 16-19: Fair skies. 20-23: Snowstorm; significant accumulations possible. 24-29: sunny to partly cloudy skies/cold.
March
1-3: Fair/Cold. 4-7: Unsettled weather. 8-11: Clearing skies, turning spring-like. 12-15: Rapidly moving storm brings two to five inches of wet snow to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and the L.P. of Michigan, a wintry mix/rain to Kentucky. 16-19: Clearing and Blustery. 20-23: Storms move through the Great Lakes, then clear. 24-27: Fair, followed by unsettled skies. 28-31: Clearing and pleasant. Source: Farmers' Almanac 2020
4
Winterize Your Home for the Season Ahead Steps to Energy Efficiency
If you want to improve your home's efficiency, begin by looking at the typical problem areas in this order: 1. Basements / Crawl Spaces / Attics, 2. Insulation, 3. Air Duct Sealing, 4. Doors and Windows, and 5. Correctly-Sized HVAC Equipment. It is important to make sure your HVAC upgrade is the final step in your plan. If you begin with this upgrade, you'll likely end up with a system that is too large.
Around the House
• Run ceiling paddle fans on low, blowing upward. • When heating, keep windows locked. • Close fireplace dampers when not burning a fire. • Keep your garage door down. • Close shades and drapes at night to keep heat in. • Make sure drapes and shades are open during the day to catch free solar heat. • Insulate attic access door. • Ensure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped.
Insulation
You first need to determine how much insulation you already have in your home and where it is located. Here is what you should be looking for: • Where your home is, isn't, and/or should be insulated • The type of insulation in your home • The R-value and the thickness or depth (inches) of the insulation A prime area that is chronically under-insulated is the attic. Whether you live in a cool or warm climate, attic insulation is essential to help keep warm air inside in the winter and prevent hot attic air from heating your living spaces in the summer. If you have R-19 or less insulation in your attic, consider bringing it up to R-50. How does insulation work? Heat flows naturally from a warmer space to a cooler space. During winter months, this means heat moves directly from heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements and even outdoors. It can also travel indirectly through interior ceilings, walls and floors-whenever there is a difference in temperature. During summer months, the opposite happens-heat flows from the exterior to the interior of a home. Proper installation of insulation creates resistance to heat flow. Heat flow resistance is measured or rated in terms of its R-value-the higher the R-value, the greater the insulation's effectiveness. The more heat flow resistance your insulation provides the lower your heating and cooling costs will be.
Your HVAC System
• Have your HVAC system serviced once per year by a NATE-certified technician. • Set thermostats to 68 degrees in the winter. • Change HVAC filters monthly. • Minimize use of electric space heaters.
Where to Caulk
• Along baseboards. • Around all windows . • Around plumbing and electrical penetraitions in your attic, crawl space and basement. • Around all outdoor penetrations including telephone, electrical, cable, gas, water spigots, dryer vents, etc.
5
Electrical Safety Checklist Nearly half of all home fires occur during winter months. Take a few minutes to identify and correct any potential electrical hazards to ensure the safety of your home. SWITCHES AND OUTLETS • Are any switches or outlets warm to the touch?
YES NO
• Are any outlets or switches discolored? Discoloration indicates dangerous heat buildup at these connections.
YES NO
• Do plugs fit snugly into outlets? Loose-fitting plugs can cause overheating and fires.
YES NO
Warm switches or outlets indicate an unsafe wiring condition.
CORDS • Are any cords cracked, frayed or damaged? Damaged cords can expose wires, causing shock or fire hazard.
• Are any cords pinched by furniture or windows, or attached to anything with staples or nails? Pinching and/or stapling cords can damage the insulation, causing shock or fire hazard.
• Do you use extension cords on a permanent basis? Extension cords should only be used temporarily.
YES NO
YES
NO
YES NO
ELECTRICAL PANEL
6
• Do you have recurring tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses? If yes, this could indicate you're exceeding a safe level of electrical current.
YES
NO
• Do you have arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)? AFCIs provide greater fire protection. Check your circuit breakers for the AFCI label.
YES
NO
Quick Links Employee Milestones Congratulations to Keith Combs, Journeyman lineman, for 15 years of service and to Corey Coons, FourthYear Apprentice, for 5 years of service. RushShelby Energy appreciates your hard work and dedication to our membership.
Operation RoundUp Grant recipients for November: Future of Carthage - American Flags St Joseph Catholic School - Leveled Library Applications for February are due February 6, 2020. Applications and more details are available on our website at www.rse.coop.
Roast Beef 4 1/2 lb beef roast 1 T vinegar 1 T brown sugar 1/4 t allspice
From the Kitchen of Jana Everhart
1/4 t black pepper 1/2 t dry mustard 1 t paprika 2 t salt
Mix together all ingredients except meat. Rub the mixture well into meat. Place meat on a roasting pan with no cover. Do not add water. Bake at 2000 for 61/2 hours.
The yearly planners, pocket calendars and Farmers' Almanacs are available for our members. Stop by our office at 2777 S 840 W Manilla
PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID
P.O. Box 55 Manilla, IN 46150-0055
Larry Herbert Retires "Well, it's about that time in my life that we all face. As of January 3rd, I am retiring from RushShelby Energy. My health is good, so I've decided it's time. I have been in line work for 42 years; 10 years as a union contractor, one year with a city municipal - Anderson Light & Power, and 31 years with RushShelby Energy." "I have seen many changes in my career, the two biggest being: meters replacing meter men, and computers being used by linemen to help find locations therefore, helping with outage restoration." "There are a few people I would like to thank. First, my wife, Pennie, of 42 years. She has spent many days and nights wondering and waiting for a call from me, which I was not very good about doing. From my trip to Guatemala, to the many hurricanes, tornadoes, and ice storms that took me to areas away from home, I appreciated her patience." "I would also like to thank Virgil Pratt and Steve Ward for hiring me as a lineman for Rush County REMC. Finally, I appreciate Jerry Stark for putting up with me during his tenure as my foreman."
Larry Out!
"I have truly enjoyed working with the employees of RushShelby Energy, and serving the membership throughout the years. Best wishes to all of the linemen out there keeping the lights on!" "From the employees and directors, I want to express a tremendous thank you to Larry for his 31 years of dedicated service to RushShelby Energy and its membership. " said Terry Jobe, President & CEO. "Larry has carried on the proud tradition of our operations employees that have gone before him. Larry has served as an inspiration to the young linemen to follow him. Enjoy your retirement Larry, you have earned it."