Co-op Hotline - February 2018

Co-op HotlineFebruary2018|Vol.13,Issue1

79th

Annual Meeting

March 24, 2018

South Ripley
High School

Watts Inside Our Mission ...

Operation RoundUp Grants............... pg. 2 Provide safe, reliable electricity and quality
Facebook LIVE Broadcasts................. pg. 3 services to the communities we serve by
Message to the Membership........... pg. 4-5 enhancing their quality of life through
Patronage Capital Refund................... pg. 6 innovation and sustainable economic
Meet the Candidates............................ pg. 7 development.
Generac Annual Meeting Special....... pg. 8

January 30th, 2018

CommunityPress Release

SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA REMC OPERATION ROUNDUP PROGRAM
AWARDS OVER $61,000 TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS

The third disbursement of “Operation Roundup” funds totaling $61,321.14 was awarded to 31
recipients from 7 counties comprising the REMC’s service territory at a special awards
ceremony held January 30, 2018 at the REMC Community Building. The 9 member Operation
Roundup Board of Trustees met January 18th and determined that these 31 grant applications
met all the requirements. The grant money is made possible through the generosity of the
REMC membership by “rounding up” their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar amount.
The next opportunity to receive an Operation Roundup grant is scheduled for July 2018.
Applications will be accepted in the month of June 2018. You can obtain more information
about Operation Roundup program or download a grant application and guidelines at
www.seiremc.com. The following projects received Operation Roundup funding:

Milan Intermediate School $2,500.00 Playground Equipment
Jac-Cen-Del Elementary School $2,500.00 Books for Library
CEF of Southeast Indiana $2,251.12 Westport Camp activity equipment
Senior Resources of Jennings Co. $2,500.00 Funding for activities bus
Rising Sun Church of Christ $2,500.00 Fees & Registration to Christian Conf.
Vernon Fire Rescue Ladies Aux. $2,500.00 Purchase toys for kids at Christmas
Rising Sun First Baptist $1,000.00 Educational materials for children
Shelby Christian Church $2,200.00 Purchase AED for Church
Tyson Activity Center $2,460.75 Purchas 15’ Tumbi Trak for Gymnastics
Dupont Lancaster Fire Dept. $2,300.00 Turn-out gear for PPE for firemen
Dearborn Highlands Arts Council $1,000.00 Prof. artist workshop for Moores Hill Elem.
Morris Shamrocks 4H $ 425.00 Shirts for kids and leaders
North Dearborn Pantry $ 935.00 Upgrade lighting in pantry building
Tyson Library Assoc. $2,500.00 Assist in purchasing IPads for learning
Good Samaritan Food Pantry $1,000.00 Purchase refrigerator for food distribution
St. Anthony’s Preschool $ 956.99 Purchase religious curriculum
Rising Sun Fire Dept. $2,500.00 Purchase thermal imaging camera
Jennings County High School $2,450.00 Training for 7 teachers on social issues
Ohio Co. Youth Dev. 4H Board $2,500.00 Purchase hand washing station and fans
Ripley County Food Pantry $1,000.00 Purchase food for pantry
Sunman Tiger PAWS $2,494.66 Maker Movement Program for kids
Southeastern IN 4H Camp $2,500.00 Underwrite Bullying speaker fee for camp
Ripley County Chamber $1,500.00 Funds to develop new website
Osgood Fire Dept. $2,500.00 Purchase fire helmets
Dearborn County Hospital $2,500.00 Help fund eye glasses for kids

Page 2 - Co-op Hotline, February 2018

CO-OP HOTLINE Mark your calendar:

Co-op Hotline is published bimonthly SEIREMC will be broadcasting LIVE on Facebook on March
by Southeastern Indiana REMC's 14th at 9:00 a.m. Join us as we talk about everything that will
Communication Department for members, be happening at our 79th Annual Meeting.
employees and retirees of Southeastern We will also be broadcasting LIVE from the Annual Meeting!
Indiana REMC. On March 24th, at noon, we'll go LIVE to remind members
ON THE COVER that the event has started and give you a glimpse of everything
going on during registration time. Who knows, you may even
Join us on Saturday, see someone you know!
March 24th for the 79th Then at 1:00 p.m. we'll go LIVE again to broadcast the entire
Annual Meeting of the business meeting!
Members of Southeastern We've got lots of things in store for you at this year's meeting,
Indiana REMC. so mark your calendar and plan to attend - or at least tune in
to the live broadcasts to stay "in the know".
CO-OP HOTLINE EDITORIAL STAFF

B.J. Myers SEND COMMENTS TO
Communications Specialist
e-mail: [email protected] Co-op Hotline Editor
Southeastern IN REMC
Jarred Meinders P.O. Box 196
CSR/Marketing Osgood, IN 47037
e-mail: [email protected]
BACK ISSUES
Barry Lauber
Director of Marketing, To read back issues, log on to
Key Accounts & Business Southeastern IN REMC's website
Development at https://seiremc.com/content/
e-mail: [email protected] newsletters.

Keith Mathews
General Manager
e-mail: [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

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 by mail
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or e-mail at program.
[email protected].

© Copyright 2017 Southeastern IN REMC

Co-op Hotline, February 2018 - Page 3

Message to the Membership

The 79th annual meeting of the mem- nizes that each form of generation day-ahead notifications via their
bers of Southeastern Indiana REMC has its pros and cons and works best smart device. Consider the Time of
will take place on Saturday, March 24, when taken together. Its “all-of-the- Use/Critical Peak Rate. If you can
2018 at South Ripley High School. above” strategy includes coal, natural avoid the peak hours, this may be the
gas and renewable energy sources rate for you.
You will have the privilege and op- that are used to provide the best bal-
portunity to elect three directors. All ance between reliability, affordability We continue to utilize SmartHub,
voting, entertainment, and demon- and environmental concerns. which provides you much greater
strations will take place prior to the access to your account information.
start of the business meeting from Coal provided 100 percent of our Currently there are a little over 8,400
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The desig- generation assets in 2000. At the members using this service. Once
nated voting area will be marked and end of 2017, it represented 58 per- you sign up for SmartHub, you have
only members with voting ballots will cent of our capacity, with natural access to PDF bill statements, daily
be allowed in this area. gas representing 36 percent, and and hourly energy use information
renewables six percent. Hoosier with temperature correlation, outage
Other items of interest include: Energy has developed a plan to have information, and you can convenient-
10 percent of total generation com- ly make payments or report outages.
• Children’s Program (takes place ing from renewables by 2025. The
during the business meeting) current renewable resources include Don’t forget our commitment to out-
landfill methane, hydro, wind and the age restoration. If you have com-
• Energy Wall Display completed construction of ten-one puter or smart phone access you can
megawatt solar arrays in member visit our website (www.seiremc.com)
• Free Energy Efficiency Kits system territories. and view our interactive outage map.
This map is continually updated with
• Free Ice Cream Hoosier Energy is also our energy the number of members experiencing
partner – helping us take steps at an electric outage by zip code within
• Generac Generator Display our homes, farms and businesses our service area. You can quickly
to use electricity more efficiently. determine the extent of electric
• Health Fair Southeastern REMC offers a roster outages occurring on your system in
of energy-saving incentives to help real-time, which will give you an indi-
• High Voltage Safety Demonstra- lower energy bills; ranging from effi- cation of the severity of interruptions
tion cient heating and cooling equipment caused by storms, vehicle accidents,
rebates to lighting upgrades. Visit etc.
• Lunch Available TeamUpToSave.com to see the cur-
rent lineup of savings opportunities If you would like to save money on
• Photo’s with LED Lucy available. In addition, Southeastern your electric bill, please consider par-
will continue to provide home energy ticipating in our Load Control Switch
• Rebate Program Display audits and promote technology to Program, which addresses our critical
enable you to find ways to be more peak load requirements during the
The 2018 Annual Meeting theme is energy efficient. hottest or coldest time periods and
TRUST THE VISION; EMBRACE THE reduces your bill by up to $60 per
PROCESS. In non-business terms we Our Board of director’s stays commit- year. We want to help you reduce
can simply say “Let’s Get‘er Done”. ted to a 25-year return cycle of pa- your electric bill.
Southeastern Indiana REMC has been tronage or capital credits. Patronage
providing communities a better place is being returned this March for 1993 The popular generator program is
to live for 79 years. We face many and 1994 in the amount of $2.7 mil- being continued, which is tied to our
challenges and opportunities, which lion. Your cooperative has refunded demand-side management program
affect all of us, but we want to focus $20 million through the years. and provides members the security
on the key principles that our forefa- of automatic switchover to the LP
thers started 79 years ago; realizing We remain committed to offering or natural gas fired 22 kW generator
that these core principles are as im- optional rates that allow our mem- during an electric interruption. This
portant now as they were when the bers to change usage patterns and cost-effective program has been ex-
work began in 1939. Let’s roll up our to utilize technology to schedule and tremely popular with our members.
sleeves, embrace the co-op values, monitor thermostats and to receive For 2018 we are offering a one-year,
and get’er done.

The clean, reliable electricity Hoosier
Energy provides is something we all
depend on – and expect – at the flip
of a switch. Hoosier Energy recog-

Page 4 - Co-op Hotline, February 2018

quarterly payment plan to help you of way program to a 5-year cycle. To Darrell Smith Bryan K. Mathews
finance the purchase. provide safe and reliable power to all
members we must clear all tree’s that President General Manager
Your board continues to oversee the may cause an outage. Not only are
upgrades in your electric system by we trying to reduce outages, but your way in a
completing several projects recom- safety, the safety of our children, and five-year cycle. Both will cause future
mended in our RUS approved four- the safety of our employee’s is of the cost pressure to member rates. We
year engineering work-plan. upmost importance. I trust that most believe we can offset part of this by
of our members agree. managing with less.
One of the seven cooperative prin-
ciples is CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY, We continued our COMMITMENT Another part of the strategic plan
and one way your REMC demon- TO COMMUNITY by supporting rural is to review rates. We are conduct-
strates its support for this principle electric youth programs such as ing a cost-of-service study in 2018,
is by enabling members to be a part Page Day, Touchstone Energy Camp which will gather historical data to 1)
of the Operation RoundUp© pro- and Youth Tour. For many years we determine if the revenue generated
gram. This program has been used have given three $500 scholarships is covering the costs, 2) determine if
by co-ops for more than 20 years through the Southeastern Career any subsidies are occurring between
and allows you to support much Center and we will do that again this classes, and 3) determine cost based
needed projects within our service year. We will also continue to sup- rate components.
territory. The purpose of Operation port the 4-H animal auctions in the
RoundUp© is to collect and distribute counties we serve. Additionally, your Financially, your cooperative had a
funds for charitable purposes within REMC provides corporate sponsor- good year. This is mainly due to the
the Southeastern Indiana REMC area. ships for the following events each absence of major storm events. In
The money comes from our mem- year: Polar Plunge of Southeast Indi- 2017 our kWh sales decreased 3.17
bers who have allowed us to round ana, Relay For Life of Ripley County, percent due to weather patterns and
up their electric bills to the nearest the Versailles Pumpkin Show and the energy efficiency and over the last 5
dollar every month. For most, this Switzerland County Wine Festival. years kWh sales have decreased by
donation is less than $6 per year. We also brought the mobile mam- 7.6%. Our distribution system im-
You have made a wonderful impact. mogram program from St. Elizabeth provements and new service exten-
Because of members like you, we hospital to Ripley County again this sions in 2017 totaled $6.4 million
were able to award $118,000 to com- year. versus $5.4 million the previous year.
munity projects in our seven county New services connected in 2017
communities, in 2017. The Operation Our board and staff have identified totaled 237 versus 186 in 2016, 175
RoundUp© program is present in 85 six key issues through our latest stra- in 2015, and 200 in 2014. The fore-
percent of the rural electric co-ops in tegic planning. The issues identified cast for rural housing growth remains
Indiana. are: Succession Planning, Contract below 1%.
Bidding, Remodeling, Rates, Demand,
For public safety, we offer a full-scale and Storm Hardening the System. The combined efforts of your nine-
high-low voltage electrical safety member board of directors, 67 full-
demonstration, which is suitable for The succession plan and remodeling time employees, various contractors,
schools, fire departments or other of our headquarters will allow us to and consultants resulted in another
large events. re-align our employees as we man- successful year.
age day-to-day activities with fewer
We continue to concentrate on pole employees. Why are we strategically We appreciate your support in allow-
replacements, protective device working towards reducing our work ing us to serve you.
maintenance, right of way (tree trim- force? Two basic reasons come to
ming/removal) maintenance and mind; 1) In 2019 we will have a rate Respectfully,
replacement of older underground increase from Hoosier Energy, and 2)
primary cable in certain subdivisions. We are striving to provide safe and Darrell Smith
Unfortunately, with the infestation reliable electric to your homes by re-
of the emerald ash borer, we had to directing our vegetation management President
cut down 1,598 ash trees in 2017. program to reclaim the right-of-
Because of the increased outages Bryan K. Mathews
with trees we have changed our right
General Manager

Co-op Hotline, February 2018 - Page 5

REMC to Refund $2.6 Million in Patronage

HOW MUCH PATRONAGE (CAPITAL equity range, which generally falls between 40% HOW OFTEN DO MEMBERS RECEIVE
CREDITS) IS BEING REFUNDED IN 2018? to 60%. If cash is available and equity is high CAPITAL CREDITS?
Your Board approved refunding capital credits for in the range, a capital credit refund to members The Southeastern Indiana REMC Board of
the year 1993 and 1994. The total amount of the is an appropriate consideration of our Board in Directors makes a decision each year, whether
patronage to be refunded is $2,684,646.91. Based controlling our system equity. or not to refund capital credits. When the
on past experience, we actually refund around 74% cooperative is strong enough financially and the
of this amount or about $1,986,638.71 due to not ARE CAPITAL CREDITS REFUNDED EVERY member equity levels are high enough, the board
having a valid address for some former members. YEAR? directs staff to refund some portion of past years’
Each year, the Southeastern Indiana REMC capital credits.
WHAT ARE CAPITAL CREDITS? Board of Directors makes a decision on whether
Retained margins left over at the end of a year at a to refund capital credits based on the financial HOW WILL THE REFUND WORK?
not-for-profit electric cooperative. Capital credits health of the cooperative. During some years the Members currently receiving electric service will
represent the most significant source of equity for co-op may experience extreme weather patterns see the refund as a separate line item on their
Southeastern Indiana REMC. Since a cooperative’s which significantly affects kWh sales and margins, electric bill. Inactive members who no longer
“shareholders” are also the people the co-op serves, high growth in the number of new accounts purchase electricity from Southeastern Indiana
capital credits reflect each member’s ownership added, maintaining an optimal equity level, rate REMC (with capital credits due) will receive a
in the cooperative. This differs from dividends inadequacy due to inflated costs since the last rate capital credit check. Due to the expense involved
investor-owned utilities pay shareholders, who revision or severe storms may result in the need to in processing printed checks, the minimum capital
may or may not be customers of the utility. spend additional funds to repair lines and restore credit check that will be written will be $5.
electric service. These events might lower cash
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? and member equity, causing the board to defer any WHAT IF I HAVE MOVED?
Member-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities like capital credit refund. For this reason Southeastern If you move or no longer have electric service with
Southeastern Indiana REMC set rates to generate Indiana REMC’s ability to return margins to Southeastern Indiana REMC it is important that
enough money to pay operating costs, make members in the form of capital credits reflects your members keep their address current, so that future
payments on any loans, and provide an emergency cooperative’s strength and financial stability. disbursements can be properly mailed. Capital
reserve. At the end of each calendar year, we credits are reserved for members even if they move
subtract operating expenses from the total amount DO I LOSE MY CAPITAL CREDITS IN THE out of the Southeastern Indiana REMC service
of money collected during the year. The balance is YEARS THE CO-OP DECIDES NOT TO MAKE area. Southeastern Indiana REMC will make a
called a “margin”. REFUNDS? diligent effort to send a check to a valid address by
No. All capital credits from every year members mail.
HOW ARE MARGINS ALLOCATED? have been served by Southeastern Indiana REMC
Margins are allocated to members as capital credits are maintained until such time as the board HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL GET REFUNDS?
based on their purchases from the cooperative refunds them. Prior to this year, Southeastern Roughly 7,600 currently active members will
– how much power the member used. Member Indiana REMC refunded all capital credits through receive a bill credit on their primary electric
purchases may also be called patronage. 1992 and 25% of 1993. account in March for the amount of their capital
credits. Another 7,900 active members (i.e.
WHY DOES MY COOPERATIVE REFUND HOW MUCH HAS SOUTHEASTERN Beneficiaries) whose refund exceeds $5 will
CAPITAL CREDITS? INDIANA REMC PAID IN TOTAL CAPITAL receive a check from Southeastern Indiana REMC
Doing so follows one of our seven cooperative CREDITS REFUNDS SINCE IT BEGAN IN sometime during March.
principles – Members’ Economic Participation 1939?
– through rotation of capital. Capital rotation/ Southeastern Indiana REMC has paid MORE INFORMATION
refund, when determined feasible by the Board, $19,858,854.91 in capital credit refunds to current We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and
is also required to meet IRS requirements to and former members to date. thank you for being a member. If you have
maintain our 501 C12 tax status. Capital rotation/ additional questions about capital credits, please
refund is also used as a tool to target our optimum visit www.seiremc.com or call 800-737-4111. n
Page 6 - Co-op Hotline, February 2018

DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

Bradley Bentle David Smith William Kohler Mike Thieman

Bradley has been a director of David has been a director for your William and his wife, Lisa, have Mike has been a director of
Southeastern Indiana REMC for REMC for the past nine years. He is made Manchester township their Southeastern Indiana REMC for
the past 24 years. He served as assigned to the Member Relations home for the past five years. His the past 9 years. He served as
Board President for two years and subcommittee and has earned the background includes seven years Board Treasurer for three years and
as Vice-President for two years. He Credentialed Cooperative Director active duty (army), with two tours was elected as Board Secretary in
has also completed training in board and Board Leadership certifications stateside and two tours overseas. 2017. Mike is currently pursuing
leadership and is a credentialed as well as the Director Gold He retired from the postal service in training in board leadership and is a
cooperative director. Certification. 2012 after 23 years. For 11 of those credentialed cooperative director.
years, he represented Local 304 of Life-long residents of Switzerland
Bradley has been employed for 44 For the past four years David has the National Postal Mailhandlers County, Mike and his wife, Melisa,
years with Cincinnati Incorporated, a represented your REMC on the Union as a steward. make their home on their 4th
large manufacturer of metal working Hoosier Energy Board of Directors. generation family farm on Thieman
machinery, located in Harrison, He has been assigned to the William’s business experience Road in Cross Plains. They are
Ohio. As Sr. Sales Administrator, he Employee Relations, Finance & Audit includes operating Kohler Properties parents to three daughters.
is responsible for the administrative and Operations subcommittees in his for over three years, as well as
aspects of the overall sales process tenure on that board. being co-owner of B&L Honey. He is Want to know
for new machinery, both domestic affiliated with Delhi Hills Lodge 775 more about
and international. In addition, David has a Bachelor of Science in Cincinnati and has been active your director
he is responsible for the shipping Degree in Manufacturing as a Shriner. During his three years candidates?
process of the new machinery to Engineering Technology and a with Syrian Shrine Mini-Cruisers
their customer’s, domestically and Master of Business Administration in Cincinnati, he was Treasurer of Check out the
internationally. Degree (MBA). For the past 28 years the group. William’s volunteer "Meet the
he has taught in the Mechanical work has consisted of working
Bradley and his wife, Lenna, Engineering Technology program with the Cincinnati SPCA in terms Candidates"
have been lifetime residents in at the Cincinnati State Technical of data entry, landscaping, and video on the
the Bright area. They reside on & Community College, Cincinnati, mobile adoption sites. Shortly after REMC's website!
State Line Road, Lawrenceburg, Ohio. moving to Dearborn County, he
in Miller Township. They have volunteered with the PAWS shelter https://www.seiremc.com/
two daughters, married, with five David resides on a small farm on in Lawrenceburg. During that time, content/annual-meeting
grandsons and one granddaughter. State Route 262 in Dillsboro (Clay he developed, structured and led
The Bentle family attends the Township) with his wife Patti. They the 1st Annual PAWS Ride, which
Greendale First Church of Christ, have two grown children – Grant and has gone on to become a huge
where Brad is actively involved in Elli. In his spare time David enjoys success.
their music ministry program. hunting and golfing. He also enjoys
rebuilding old vehicles. William is currently training for
a seat on the Board of Directors
David hopes to maintain your at Postal Family Credit Union in
confidence in his abilities to help Cincinnati, where he has been a
set policies that ensure your electric member since 1988.
distribution cooperative will remain
a competent partner in your electric If elected, William pledges to work
needs well into the future. With this diligently with this Board in keeping
in mind David also wants to ensure our Co-op strong, competitive and
the membership that he, along with growing.
the other board members, will be
vigilant in keeping abreast of new
technologies that can benefit the
members, while striving to maintain
costs at a point the membership can
afford, to use the new technologies.

VOTING will take place prior to the start of the business meeting

Co-op Hotline, February 2018 - Page 7

PRST STD
U.S. POSTAGE

PAID
SEYMOUR, IN
PERMIT NO. 198

PO Box 196
712 South Buckeye Street
Osgood, IN 47037

Office Hours Our Mission ... Board of Directors

7:30 AM to 4:30 PM (EST) Provide safe, reliable electricity and quality services Vince Moster - District 1
Monday through Friday to the communities we serve by enhancing their Brad Bentle - District 2
quality of life through innovation and sustainable David Smith - District 3
Contact Information economic development. Carolyn Armstrong - District 4
Melissa Menchhofer - District 5
Local calls: 812-689-4111 Mike Thieman - District 6
Toll free: 800-737-4111 Darrell Smith - District 7
FAX only: 812-689-6987 Bonnie Boggs - District 8
To make a payment: 1-888-999-0762 Chris Schmaltz - District 9
Call Before You Dig: 800-382-5544
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.seiremc.com

Annual Meeting Special

Save $50

on the purchase of a 22 kW
Generac Generator

Must be purchased and installed by the end of
2018. Annual maintenance fee required.

Receive a $50 load control credit for each of the six months the REMC implements load control measures.