February 2023

ELECTRAWATT

VOLUME 25 |

ISSUE 2 | FEBRUARY 2023

ARE YOU READY TO SERVE?

Rate IncreaseComing April 2023

General economic forces are adding up in all areas of our lives. e impact of in ation can be noticed at the grocery store, gas pumps and major retailers, to name a few. RushShelby Energy is not immune to in ation. is has increased the cost of electricity, materials and equipment we purchase daily to operate and maintain our system. For example, gas for trucks increased, and materials such as wire, nuts, bolts, poles and transformers have more than doubled in cost. In some cases, it has become challenging to obtain these items.

Toward the end of 2021, global energy costs began to increase dramatically due to in ation, supply chain issues and most recently, the war in Ukraine. Coal prices have gone up 300% since 2021 and natural gas prices have increased more than 100%. is has resulted in an increase of more than 175% in wholesale power prices. While we have added wind and solar power to the mix of electricity we purchase from Hoosier Energy, there isn't enough green power produced to cover all needs. Coal and natural gas represent more than half of Hoosier Energy's annual operating cost.

RushShelby Energy has absorbed a considerable amount of these higher costs through sound management and stewardship. However, due to continued industry-wide increases, RSE must spend more on purchasing electricity and supplies than we can absorb. Unfortunately, this means we must raise rates to help us meet our nancial goals and remain scally sound. is increase will take e ect on April 1, 2023. is is the rst base rate increase since April 2019.

We provide electric service to six di erent rate classes. Di erent types of users have di erent load characteristics and con gurations for lines, transformers and substations. Each con guration bears other costs allocated appropriately to each rate class. Due to these di erences each rate class may see a rate change varying from the average of 5.4% over all classes.

For years, we have charged much less in the monthly connection charge that covered the xed costs to maintain the quality, reliability and integrity of the services we provide to get electricity to your home. What the monthly connection charge does not cover is recouped in the energy charges. is current rate structure relies heavily on the sale of power to recover the xed costs such as power lines, equipment, right-of-way maintenance, taxes, insurance and more. is can be negatively a ected by signi cant variations in energy sales. Di culty covering the day-today operating costs or collecting more than what was needed can be the result of this. Moving the expenses where they need to be will level out this issue for RushShelby Energy. e monthly connection charge for residential members will change to $55.00 per month while kWh charges

Scholarships

Students graduating from high school this May can apply for a $1,000 scholarship from RushShelby Enegy. Two scholarships will be awarded.

Students must be the child of a RushShelby Energy member, residing in a home served by RSE electricity. Applications will be judged on scholarship, citizenship and school activities. Each application must also include a 750-to-1,500-word essay. All scholarship requirements and essay information can be found on our website at www.rse.coop. e deadline for scholarship applications is April 7, 2023.

Student Art Calendar Contest

Indiana's electric cooperatives and their statewide magazine, Indiana Connection, invite Indiana K-12 students to enter the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest.

A rst-place artist will be selected for each grade, K-12, and will receive $200. e artwork for each grade level winner will illustrate either the cover or one of the 12 months of the calendar. Additional artists will earn honorable mention awards and will receive $75.

Artwork will be judged on merit, originality, creativity and its suitability for a wall calendar. Indiana public, private or home-schooled students in K-12 during the 2022-23 school year are eligible.

For more information visit indianaconnection.org/for-youth/art-contest. Deadline to apply is March 24, 2023.

New Date & Time

Planning is underway for the 2023 annual meeting and we are looking forward to this summer's meeting where we celebrate you, our members. To allow more members with busy fair schedules to attend, RushShelby Energy has decided to move the annual meeting back a day. is year's meeting will be July 13th, at our headquarters from 4-7:30 pm.

Our annual meeting will once again include a meal, live entertainment and an enjoyable time for your entire family. We will also have giveaways and a grand prize ra e. Look for additional information in following newsletters. We cannot wait to share the day with all of you - our members.

country."

John F. Kennedy spoke these famous words in one of the most notable inaugural speeches given. His inspiring words urged Americans to take actions that bene ted the greater good. In essence, Kennedy was saying our country thrives when we all contribute our talents to the common good.

On a smaller scale, we think the same can be said about our co-op, speci cally with regard to our board members. RushShelby Energy's board members are community-minded individuals with a variety of skill sets. Our board is made up of farmers, educators, business owners, etc. We rely on their many talents to help us make informed decisions on long-term priorities and investments. Our directors live right here in the co-op's service area, and we consider them the eyes and ears of the community because they provide their prospective on important community issues.

We recognize it takes many people with di erent skills to create a well-rounded board that can represent the full spectrum of our community. at's why when we're seeking new directors, we want folks with diverse perspectives, experience, expertise and views. We're seeking local members of our community who can apply their unique talents to bene t all our friends and neighbors. But above all else, we're looking for folks who love our community and want to see it thrive now and in the future.

Are you ready to serve?

What does it mean to serve on the board?

Serving on the RushShelby Energy's board means you're making a di erence locally, using your individual talents and perspective to guide big decisions about the co-op that in turn bene t the larger community. While day-to-day decisions are made by co-op sta , major decisions are made by the board, whose mission is to look out for the vitality of the co-op and the community it serves. On a granular level, RushShelby Energy board members typically provide input and guidance on:

• budgets

• co-op goals and directions

• capital investments and upgrades in equipment and technology

• renewable investments and energy mix

• co-op's role and involvement in economic development

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your

e energy industry is undergoing a major transition. Technology advancements and increased consumer preference for more renewable energy is driving change. RushShelby Energy is facing big decisions, and board members have an opportunity to help chart a course for our future. To serve the community best, we need input from a wide range of people that represent the broad spectrum of views within the community.

Opportunity to Serve

While you don't need to be an expert in electricity or business to run, you do need to have a passion for the community and willingness to actively serve and learn. We're looking for individuals who can represent the full gamut of the member we serve. Our board meets on a regular basis, and we o er specialized training opportunities to help board members make informed decisions. Board members gain a deeper understanding of the electric utility industry, the cooperative business model and local economic development e orts.

RushShelby Energy's board elections will be held at the annual meeting on ursday, July 13, 2023. RushShelby Energy's board is made up of nine individuals who set the policy and direction of our organization. Each year at the annual meeting, members are able to vote on three directors to serve on the board. In 2023, the three districts up for election are 1, 4 and 7.

Any member residing in a home served by RushShelby Energy and in a district up for election, may have his or her name placed on the ballot by completing a petition. e petition must have een signatures from other RushShelby Energy members living anywhere on our cooperative system. If you are interested in serving on the board by becoming a director for RushShelby Energy, you may obtain a petition from our o ce beginning March 6, 2023. ese petitions must be completed and returned to RushShelby Energy no later than May 5, 2023. Additional information may be found on our website, www.rse.coop, in the bylaws section.

Keith Theobald - District 1Charles Smith - District 4Bruce Everhart - District 7

Beat Peak the

If you look around your home, you likely have more devices and equipment that require electricity more than ever before. Our connected lives are increasingly dependent on more electricity to function. At the same time, as demand for electricity rises, RushShelby Energy must deliver an uninterrupted 24/7 power supply - regardless of market conditions or other circumstances.

As you would expect based on your family's habits, electricity use uctuates throughout the day based on consumer demand. RSE must be able to provide enough electricity to meet the energy needs of all members during times of highest energy use or "peak hours." ese peak times are typically in the morning as people start their day and in the evening as people return to their homes.

What you may not know is that electric utilities including RushShelby Energy typically pay more for electricity - either from a power plant or from another utility with excess power - during those morning and evening "energy rush hours." In addition, the demand for electricity is even higher when it's especially cold outside, when heating systems must run longer to warm our homes.

If the "peak times" concept is a bit puzzling, here's an easy way to think about it, and it's similar to a major concert. We know costs go up when there is strong demand for tickets (or electricity), and both are subject to the basic economic laws of supply and demand. When a lot of people want the same thing, it's more expensive. When they don't it's cheaper - like a bargain matinee or an "early bird" special at a restaurant.

During peak periods when the cost to produce and purchase power is higher, we encourage you to take simple steps to save energy, such as turning your thermostat down a few notches, turning o unnecessary lights and waiting to use of large appliances during o -peak times.

You can also save energy by plugging electronics and equipment such as computers, printers and TVs into a power strip, then turn it o at the switch during peak hours. If you have a programmable thermostat, adjust the settings to sync up with o -peak periods. When we all work together to reduce energy use during periods of high electricity demand, we can relieve pressure on the grid and save a little money along the way.

Another bene t of this time-of-use approach to electricity use allows greater control over your bill. Reducing the peak impacts the power-supply cost to every co-op member. is is particularly noticeable as energy costs have risen across the U.S. Collectively, everyone conserving energy and making small changes can truly make a di erence.

Remember, taking simple steps to save energy throughout the day and shi ing energy intensive chores to o -peak hours is a smart choice for you and our community.

Quick Links Congratulations, Lance!

Lance Sparks, Journeyman Lineman, was named Employee of the Month for February. Lance was nominated by his peers for his positive attitude, kindness and being a great communicator. Congratulations, Lance! Well deserved.

2023 Indiana Festival Guides are available in our lobby!

Do you have a home o ce? Set equipment like printers and scanners to automatically switch to sleep or energy-saver mode when not in use. In addition to saving energy, the equipment will stay cooler, which will help extend its life. Another way to save in the home o ce is to use energy e cient lamps for task lighting. Small lamps use less energy than whole-room lighting.

Mini-Member

Word Search

Did you know there are ways you can reduce your electronics energy use?

Read the energy-saving tips then find and circle the bolded words in the puzzle.