Co-op Hotline Vol. 12, Issue 5 - October 2017

Co-op HotlineOctober2017|Vol.12,Issue5

Watts Inside Our Mission ...

What Caused the Outage?................... pg. 2 Provide safe, reliable electricity and quality
Facebook Live! ..................................... pg. 3 services to the communities we serve by
Co-op Month........................................ pg. 4 enhancing their quality of life through
Nominating Committee...................... pg. 6 innovation and sustainable economic
Wind Turbine........................................ pg. 7 development.
SmartHub.............................................. pg. 8

What caused the outage?

Have you ever wondered what causes the power to go out? Glance up to the heavens and the
answer likely lies above. Nine times out of 10 when those clear blue skies change, electric service
is threatened. But sometimes car accidents or animals can cause power outages.

Common Causes of Power Outages:

Bryan K. Mathews Animals (especially squirrels)
General Manager
Animals can cause power to fail when they come into contact with specific parts of the electrical
About those annoying system. Raccoons and squirrels have been known to sneak into substations and trip lines as they
power blinks … scurry across wires.
When a critter contacts this equipment it creates an abnormal current, which can disrupt the flow
Has your power ever blinked on of power. Southeastern REMC installs guards and barriers to protect sensitive equipment, but
and off for a few seconds? This is sometimes critters find a way in.
known as a power blink. For 2017, approximately seven percent of our outages were caused by animals.
A power blink occurs when an
animal or vegetation, such as a tree Weather
limb, comes into contact with a
power line that serves your home. Mother Nature can be a tough opponent. Most of us can remember extreme weather patterns; if
When this happens, protective by chance you do not remember any, simply look at the devastation to our southern states. Severe
equipment that acts like a circuit weather such as thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, and the accumulation of ice and snow
breaker interrupts the flow of can cause tree limbs to fall on power lines, resulting in an outage.
power for a split second to reduce For 2017, approximately 14 percent of our outages were from lightning, rain and high winds.
the possibility of damage to the
electrical system or your home. Equipment failure
Many times the problem on the
power lines can be isolated, which Over time, the elements take their toll on the aging electrical infrastructure, contributing to
limits the number of members equipment failure. Nearly 15 percent of the outages on the Southeastern REMC system are due to
without electricity. equipment failure. Severe weather can cause the inner workings of the equipment to deteriorate.
Count to three. If the power comes
back on, then our automatic Vegetation
equipment has “reset” and your
service should be back. You may Trees continue to be a major culprit of the outages on the Southeastern REMC system. High
notice older digital clocks and winds can upend trees, flinging them into a right-of-way in a matter of seconds.
other devices blinking, but the The latest 2017 data shows 30 percent of the outages are from trees.
rest of the power in your house
should be back on. If not, check Accidents
to make sure the outage is not due
to a problem at your residence or Vehicles, farm equipment, or even a drone, can take out energized power lines, causing damage to
business. the system and potentially large-scale outages.
To report an outage, call So far in 2017, six percent of our outages have been caused by members and vehicle accidents.
Southeastern REMC at 1-812-689- Regardless of the cause, Southeastern REMC works around the clock to get your power restored
4111 or 1-800-737-4111. When safely and as soon as possible.
reporting the power outage by
phone, please provide your name, Ounce of Prevention
address, telephone number and
account number. If the phone The deterrent to an outage are the proactive measures Southeastern REMC crews take to prevent
lines are busy, you can quickly one from occurring. Workers in the field perform routine checks of gauges, relays, switches and
report your outage on SmartHub lines.
using your computer, smartphone Vegetation management crews regularly trim growth in our rights-of-ways to keep the electrical
or tablet. path clear and safe.
For more information on
SmartHub, please visit our website Source: NRECA, Hoosier Energy, Southeastern In REMC
at https://seiremc.com/content/
smarthub.

Page 2 - Co-op Hotline, October 2017

CO-OP HOTLINE In November, we will begin broadcasting a monthly Facebook
Live series on topics of interest to our members. Each episode,
Co-op Hotline is published bimonthly hosted by our General Manager, will last approximately 10
by Southeastern Indiana REMC's minutes.
Communication Department for members, Do you have a question or topic suggestion?
employees and retirees of Southeastern Submit your questions or topic suggestions on our website at
Indiana REMC. www.seiremc.com. All submissions will be entered for a chance
to have lunch with the General Manager! Winners will be
ON THE COVER drawn quarterly, at the beginning of the live broadcast.
We look forward to this new opportunity to connect and engage
October is National Co-op with our members. Follow us on Facebook for more details!
Month! This year's theme is "Co-
ops Commit", highlighting our
committment to Members,
Education, Impact, Community
and Kindness. For more about
National Co-op Month and the
celebratory activities planned,
see the story on page 4.

CO-OP HOTLINE EDITORIAL STAFF Mobile Mammogram
Program
B.J. Myers SEND COMMENTS TO
Communications Specialist November 20, 2017
e-mail: [email protected] Co-op Hotline Editor
Southeastern IN REMC R9E:M30CaT.mra.i-n5in:0g0Cpe.mnt.er
Jarred Meinders P.O. Box 196
CSR/Marketing Osgood, IN 47037
e-mail: [email protected]
BACK ISSUES
Barry Lauber
Director of Office Services To read back issues, log on to
e-mail: [email protected] Southeastern IN REMC's website
at https://seiremc.com/content/
Keith Mathews newsletters.
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, October 2017 - Page 3

Southeastern IN REMC observing
National Co-op Month

Southeastern Indiana REMC is joining 30,000 cooperatives communities through participation in events such as Relay
nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, for Life and the Polar Plunge, electrical safety demonstrations,
which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed opportunities for youth such as Touchstone Energy Camp
to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops and Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., scholarships through
Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the Southeastern Career Center, sponsorships for community
the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their events, and support for our communities through the Operation
members and communities. RoundUp program.
“Our cooperative delivers electricity to 24,246 member-owners To celebrate National Co-op Month, Southeastern Indiana
in our seven-county service area of southeastern Indiana,” says REMC employees will be giving back to the community by
Keith Mathews, General Manager. “Delivering safe, reliable, participating in our 2nd Annual REMC Community Day. This
affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in year we will be volunteering at the Versailles State Park; clearing
our communities because we are locally owned and operated. trails, splitting firewood, painting, making repairs, etc. to
Revenue generated by Southeastern Indiana REMC goes back to improve and enhance the grounds for visitors – many of which
Main Street, not Wall Street.” are our members. We will also be collecting donations for the
Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric Ronald McDonald House throughout the month of October.
cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s Items may be dropped off at either of our two convenient office
to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, locations in Osgood or Aurora.
investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving Follow #CoopMonth on Facebook and Twitter to see how co-
because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population ops across the country are celebrating National Co-op Month.
and low-density areas.
In addition to providing the vital power co-op members
depend on, Southeastern Indiana REMC engages with local

Page 4 - Co-op Hotline, October 2017

Co-op Hotline, October 2017 - Page 5

Looking for a way to get more involved?

Consider serving on the 2018 Nominating Committee

The Board of Directors is seeking nominating committee members for the following districts:

District 2: Comprised
of all members residing
in Logan, Harrison,
Miller and Lawrenceburg
townships in Dearborn
County.

District 3: Comprised of
all members residing in
Kelso, York, Manchester,
Sparta and Clay
townships in Dearborn
County.

District 6: Comprised of
all members residing in
Pleasant, Craig, Cotton
and Jefferson townships
in Switzerland County.

Members of the Nominating Committee serve a very If you have an interest in serving your cooperative as
important role by selecting qualified director candidates a nominating committee member, please submit your
for members to vote upon at Southeastern Indiana request for consideration, in writing, to your district’s
REMC’s Annual Meeting. current director or to Southeastern Indiana REMC,
Attn: Director of Office Services, P.O. Box 196, Osgood,
Once selected, nominating committee members meet IN 47037. The deadline to submit your request for
with the REMC’s Attorney, General Manager, Director consideration is November 1, 2017.
of Office Services, and the Administrative Assistant/
Communications Specialist to discuss in detail the District 2 – Brad Bentle
expectations of the committee, the qualifications of a 21626 Stateline Rd, Lawrenceburg
good director candidate and a thorough explanation
of the process and procedures involved in nominating [email protected]
director candidates.
District 3 – David Smith
The REMC provides a copy of the Bylaws as well as 8465 State Rd 262, Dillsboro
a District Membership List to the chairman of each
nominating committee, which are used as aids in [email protected]
contacting and determining the eligibility of potential
candidates. District 6 – Mike Thieman
14890 Thieman Rd, Cross Plains
Page 6 - Co-op Hotline, October 2017
[email protected]

TOO MUCH “$ GREEN” TO KEEP
GREEN ENERGY WIND TURBINE OPERABLE

It was September of 2011 when a group of 4th graders The goal of providing our membership with valuable data
from South Ripley Elementary school in Versailles, Indiana to make informed decisions in making renewable pur-
took a field trip to the REMC headquarters in Osgood, chases has been achieved. Members have had access,
Indiana to watch a Hoosier Energy line crew lift a 60’ wind through our website, to look at both wind and solar data
turbine onto a concrete pad for the purpose of generat- and, hopefully, this information has been beneficial to
ing electricity from the wind. This was one of Hoosier our members. Moving forward, we will no longer have
Energy’s first renewable
installations in their power the capability of collecting
network. wind turbine data due to
the high cost of repairs.

In 2011, as green energy As with any project, we
interest was increasing, carefully look at the
Hoosier Energy and mem- benefits verses the costs
ber systems like Southeast- to our members and your
ern Indiana REMC made REMC board of directors
the decision to install re- and management team
newable residential energy determined that it would
sources like wind turbines be financially irrespon-
and solar panels at the sible to make the costly
different cooperative loca- repairs. Once the decision
tions so members could get was made, Hoosier Energy,
information about the cost owners of the turbine, sent
and benefits. According a line crew to the REMC
to Heath Norrick, Hoosier headquarters on Monday,
Energy’s Renewable Energy August 28th and removed
Manager, “everywhere you the wind turbine.
went and everything you
heard just had this “green” Although we no longer
feel to it, so people natural- have the green energy
ly started asking questions. wind turbine on site,
By installing residential Hoosier Energy and its
type wind turbines, Hoo- member cooperatives con-
sier Energy and its member tinue to build and invest in
systems have been able to many renewable projects
offer its members detailed including wind, solar, and
information on costs, sav- methane gas produced by
ings, and power generation landfills. Visit our website
of small wind and solar at www.seiremc.com to
projects.” learn more about wind, so-
lar, and many other renew-
That was 2011, now let’s able opportunities.
fast forward to today, 2017.

Co-op Hotline, October 2017 - Page 7

PRST STD
U.S. POSTAGE

PAID
SEYMOUR, IN
PERMIT NO. 198

P.O. 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