August 2016 - Vol 11 Issue 4

Co-op Hotline

Volume: 11, Issue 4 Southeastern IN REMC Member Newsletter August 2016

Office Hours Programs, Programs, Get Your Programs!

7:30 AM to 4:30 PM (EST) by: Bryan K. Mathews, General Manager
Monday through Friday
“Programs, programs, get your programs”, $50.00, which normally is refunded, if
Contact Information is something I had to yell as I walked up improvements are made according to the
and down the steps of the old Hoosier findings of the home audit.
Local calls: 812-689-4111 Dome during the Indianapolis Colts games
Toll free: 800-737-4111 back in the 80’s. I performed this duty to It has been brought to my attention that an
FAX only: 812-689-6987 help raise money for our college basketball even better program is available for those
To make a payment: 1-888-999-0762 team, several years ago. of you who qualify; a free weatherization
Call Before You Dig: 800-382-5544 program, provided by Southeastern
E-mail: [email protected] Fast forward to today and I want to shout Indiana Economic Opportunity
Website: www.seiremc.com out “programs, programs”, as I try to Corporation, better known as SIEOC. The
sway you to take advantage of the rebate purpose of the Weatherization Assistance
Board of Directors program offered by your local coop. For Program is to increase the energy efficiency
the record, from January through June, we of dwellings occupied by income eligible
Vince Moster - District 1 have rebated $71,850 back to our members. families, reduce energy costs, and improve
Brad Bentle - District 2 These rebates include: 39 energy efficient the family’s health and safety. The program
David Smith - District 3 electric water heaters, 12 heat pumps, may include, but is not limited to: furnace
Carolyn Armstrong - District 4 25 geothermal heat pumps, 27 electric cleaning and tuning; air sealing; insulation
Melissa Menchhofer - District 5 heating checkups, and 21 homes added of the attic, sidewalls, or other uninsulated
Mike Thieman - District 6 attic insulation. Hopefully, you appreciate areas. The last annual income guidelines
Darrell Smith - District 7 the rebate program your electric coop posted by SIEOC to qualify are:
Bonnie Boggs - District 8 provides, and the rebate has helped you
Chris Schmaltz - District 9 financially, as well as increased the energy 1 Person 150% 200%
efficiency of your home. 2 Person $17,655 $23,540
facebook.com/SEINREMC 3 Person $23,895 $31,860
I also want to mention the home energy 4 Person $30,135 $40,180
twitter.com/SEIREMC audit. We have conducted 11 home energy 5 Person $36,375 $48,500
audits up through June of this year, and I 6 Person $42,615 $56,820
Publishing Information would love to see more. With this said, I 7 Person $48,855 $65,140
know that some of you shy away from this 8 Person $55,095 $73,460
Co-op Hotline is published program because it requires an up-front $61,335 $81,780
bimonthly for the members
of Southeastern Indiana Rural
Electric Membership Corporation,
a consumer owned utility, 712
South Buckeye Street, Osgood,
Indiana 47037. Periodicals postage

paid at Seymour, IN

Co-op Hotline, August 2016 - Page 1

Paperless Programs continued from page 1 Statement of
Billing Nondiscrimination
Contest To give you a better understanding, 766 of our members
have qualified for energy assistance from SIEOC or OVO, This institution is an
One lucky receiving $372,796 in assistance over the last 25 months. equal opportunity
participant will By county that equates to $77,770 in Dearborn, $7,696
in Franklin, $42,768 in Jefferson, $77,072 in Jennings, provider and
win a $16,531 in Ohio, $55,678 in Ripley, and $95,281 in employer.
Switzerland.
Kindle Fire If you wish to
Also, depending upon the energy efficiency of your file a Civil Rights
each quarter in home, we see electric usage patterns of 336 kWhs per program complaint
2016! year up to 48,216 kWhs per year. Now, you should be of discrimination,
able to figure out from these usage patterns that some of
Sign-up for you live in a home that is heating and cooling the great complete the
Paperless outdoors. Please call the agency and sign up for the free USDA Program
Billing TODAY! weatherization today. Discrimination
Complaint Form,
SIEOC covers the counties of Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, found online at http://
Ripley and Switzerland. If you qualify give the agency a www.ascr.usda.gov/
call @ 1-888-292-5475 or 1-812-926-1585. complaint_filing_
cust.html, or at any
Ohio Valley Opportunities covers the counties of USDA office, or call
Jefferson, and Jennings. The Jefferson administration (866) 632-9992 to
office number is 1-812-265-5882 and Jennings request the form.
administration office number is 1-877-782-5882. If you You may also write a
qualify, give the agency a call and find out how you can letter containing all
save. of the information
requested in the form.
Living in rural America can be challenging, but there Send your completed
are good people providing programs to help you manage. complaint form or
What are you waiting for? letter by mail to the
U.S. Department
I say once again; “Programs, programs, get your of Agriculture,
programs!” Director, Office
of Adjudication,
Q1 Winner: 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W.,
John Ruehl Washington, D.C.
20250-9410, by fax
Q2 Winner: (202) 690-7442 or
e-mail at program.
David Dobson [email protected].

Q3 Winner:

Will it be YOU?

Q4 Winner:

Will it be YOU?

Page 2 - Co-op Hotline, August 2016

Southeastern Save with the Co-op Total
Indiana REMC Home
Rebate Program Connections Card Generator
Program
Electric Water Heaters Summer has quickly come and gone, but that doesn’t
mean the fun has to end! Did you know Southeastern 22 kw Generac
$50 to $400 Indiana REMC has a program in place to help you save
on a variety of goods and services, from hotel discounts to $4,700
All Electric Heat Pump fitness club memberships? Installed
and or Dual Fuel, Unit
Central Air The Co-op Connections® Card is a free program that
saves Southeastern Indiana REMC members money on $300
$150 to $750 everyday expenses. The card also gives you access to Cash
Back Mall, where you can get money back for shopping Maintenance
Geothermal Heat Pump online at over 3,000 leading online retailers. Fee

$1,500 Your Co-op Connections Card gives you access to Program
discounts from tens-of-thousands of retailers because it participants
HVAC Systems for taps into a national business community. But it doesn’t
Traditional or Modular just help you save at big box stores and chains. The card receive:
also provides discounts for businesses right here in our
Homes local community. In fact, it was created specifically to help $50 credit
businesses on our nation’s Main streets! And the program
$300 to $1,500 consistently adds new retailers to help improve our each of the six
members’ experience. One of the most popular features is months the REMC
HVAC Systems for the prescription discount benefit. Even if you don’t have implements load
Mobile Homes - insurance, the card will help you save up to 85 percent on control measures
Manufactured Housing your medications at more than 60,000 pharmacies across
the country.
$800 to $1,500
We know how important it is to save, and we want
Electric Heating System to make sure that you are taking full advantage of the
Checkup programs we offer. The Co-op Connections card is an
easy way to see the value of being an electric cooperative
$50 member. So don’t let the end-of-summer blues get you
down. Plan a trip for the family, get fit with a discounted
Professionally Installed gym membership or take advantage of other deals
Duct Sealing available to you. It really is the one card that does it all!

$250 to $500 You can learn more about the discounts we offer by
visiting www.connections.coop.

Professionally Installed
Attic Insulation

$250 to $500

Download the
Rebate Form at:
www.seiremc.com

Co-op Hotline, August 2016 - Page 3

Electric cooperative sponsors students at
Touchstone Energy Camp

Southeastern Indiana REMC sponsored four students at
the annual Touchstone Energy Camp. The camp was held
June 8-11, 2016, at Camp Tecumseh in Brookston, Ind.
Students entering seventh grade this fall were eligible
to attend and were selected by their local cooperative
to participate in the three-day program. The students’
agenda combined traditional outdoor camp activities with
environmental education, electrical safety practices and
cooperative business education.
“This is a great way for students to learn about the role
of the electric cooperative in their community. On top
of that, they get to experience all the fun of camp,” said
B.J. Myers, Administrative Assistant/Communications
Specialist of Southeastern Indiana REMC.
Students representing Southeastern Indiana REMC at
Touchstone Energy Camp were:
• Shelby Brandt, Aurora
• Brooklyn Dunn, Milan
• Lara Moster, Sunman
• Bailey Thompson, Milan
The Touchstone Energy Camp program was developed
by a committee of electric cooperative employees from
Indiana. The camp is funded in part by Indiana’s electric
cooperatives, Hoosier Energy, Wabash Valley Power,
Indiana Electric Cooperatives and other industry partners.

Page 4 - Co-op Hotline, August 2016

Electric Cooperative
Sends Youth To Visit

Washington, D.C.

Southeastern Indiana REMC sponsored Michaela a night cruise on the Potomac River, the National Mall
Hartman of Sunman on Indiana’s Electric Cooperative memorials, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and
Youth Tour June 9-16. Youth Tour provides young much more.
Hoosiers the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital,
experience American history and gain a better The Indiana Youth Tour students also participated in a
understanding about their electric cooperative and youth rally, during which they shared their thoughts and
government. opinions on a variety of timely issues. The youth rally
prepared the students for a day on Capitol Hill, where they
A delegation of 82 Indiana students representing 34 had an opportunity to meet with Indiana’s congressional
Indiana electric cooperatives participated in the trip. More delegation.
than 1,800 students from 47 states traveled to Washington
for the week-long experience.

“Southeastern Indiana REMC is pleased to provide
this opportunity for our local youth,” said Lori Miller,
Accounting Assistant of Southeastern Indiana REMC,
who also attended the trip as a chaperone and trip
photographer. “It’s a great trip and a wonderful chance to
see the sights, make new friends and learn how everyone,
even young people, can make a difference in the political
process.”

Students participating in the trip visited the Flight 93
and Pentagon 9/11 Memorials, the Gettysburg Battlefield,
Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Institution,

Co-op Hotline, August 2016 - Page 5

Safeguard electronics with surge protectors

Surge protectors save your electronics from power surges voltage. The excess voltage can cause an arc of electrical
or increases in voltage significantly above the intended current, which heats and damages the device. Smaller
level in the flow of electricity. While power surges are surges may still damage electronics and gradually shorten
commonly associated with lightning and storms, surge the device’s life. While power surges can destroy electronic
protectors have everyday purposes. Power surges, devices, they can even start a house fire.
unfortunately, can happen at any time of day, regardless of
weather. Point-of-use surge protection devices, the most common
type of surge protector, protect the items that are directly
High-powered pieces of equipment are more likely than plugged into it from electrical surges. This surge protector
lightning to cause power outages. These powerful electrical can’t stop the surge, but it instead diverts the surge to the
devices, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, require ground, away from your electronic devices. The best point-
a lot of energy to turn on and off quickly. of-use surge protectors have an indicating light and/or
alarm that shows when it should be replaced.
“While these surges are not as intense as lightning surges,
they can be severe enough to damage equipment and Another option is service entrance surge protection
technology,” said Keith Mathews, General Manager at devices, which protect your home’s entire electrical system
Southeastern Indiana REMC. “But the damage often could and are mounted on your main electrical panel at the
have been mitigated if the consumer had used a surge base of the electric meter. This option protects what can’t
protector.” be plugged into a point-of-use device, such as outlets
and light switches. Whole-house surge protectors can
When lightning strikes near a power line — whether it’s handle surges from outside the home of up to 20,000 volts;
underground, in a building, or along poles — the electrical standard outlet surge protectors typically can’t handle
energy from the lightning can boost electrical pressure more than 6,000 volts.
by millions of volts. Most surge protectors can’t tolerate
extremely large power surges. So, for further protection, Surge protectors serve as safeguards to protect your
Southeastern Indiana REMC recommends unplugging electronics. Although they are not 100 percent effective
important electrical devices. Surge protectors are perfect during thunderstorms, surge protectors are inexpensive
for protecting your electronics during less powerful and and can save your valuable electronics during common,
unexpected power surges. everyday surges.

Other sources of power surges can include faulty wiring Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation International,

and downed power lines. howstuffworks.com

Any spike in voltage can harm your electrical devices
if the increase is above the device’s intended operating

Page 6 - Co-op Hotline, August 2016

Electric cooperatives YOUTH POWER
AND HOPE AWARDS
to honor
Are you a
‘power and hope’ MIDDLE SCHOOLER

of Indiana youth in yourMAKING A DIFFERENCE
COMMUNITY?
Indiana’s electric cooperatives and their statewide
magazine, Electric Consumer, are accepting applications You could be a winner.
for awards that recognize the community spirit of Indiana’s
youth. TELL US YOUR STORY.

The Youth Power and Hope Awards program honors If you’re a fifth through eighth grader making
students in fifth through eighth grades who are leaders a difference in your community and you live on
in their communities and whose parents live on electric
cooperative lines in Indiana. electric cooperative lines, apply now for the
2016 Youth Power and Hope Awards.
Five winners will be selected to travel to Indianapolis in
December to be recognized and attend a special program Winners will be honored at a special ceremony in
in their honor. In addition, winners will be featured in Indianapolis this December and will get the chance
Electric Consumer.
to hang out with Oliver Luck, NCAA executive
“One of the founding principles of Southeastern Indiana vice president of regulatory affairs and father of
REMC is a commitment to community,” said B.J. Myers, Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck.
Administrative Assistant/Communications Specialist of
Southeastern Indiana REMC. “We are proud to be a part of Applicants must submit an application form,
recognizing the community service efforts of our youth.” examples of how they have been involved
in their local communities, and a reference
Past award recipients include students who have initiated letter from a trusted adult. Parents, please visit
a coat drive for the underprivileged, supported patients electricconsumer.org/?p=230 for an application
at Riley Hospital for Children, worked with special needs and to learn about past award recipients.
children, volunteered at a local animal shelter, raised APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FRIDAY, SEPT. 30.
money for the American Cancer Society, and more.
Questions?
Applicants must submit an application form, examples of Contact us at [email protected] or
how they have been involved in their local communities,
and a reference letter from a trusted adult. Visit 317.487.2200.
electricconsumer.org/?p=230 for an application and to
learn about past award recipients. Applications are due Co-op Hotline, August 2016 - Page 7
Friday, Sept. 30.

NCAA executive Oliver Luck to be
featured speaker

Oliver Luck, NCAA executive vice president of regulatory affairs, will
be the featured speaker at the 2016 Youth Power and Hope Awards
presentation in December.

Luck joined the NCAA in 2014 after serving as director of athletics
at West Virginia University. A former NFL quarterback, he is also the
father of Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck.

The top five applicants will be invited to attend the Indiana Electric
Cooperatives annual meeting Dec. 6 where they will receive their
awards and attend a private recipients’ reception with Luck.

P.O. Box 196 PRST STD
712 South Buckeye Street U.S. POSTAGE
Osgood, IN 47037
PAID
SEYMOUR, IN
PERMIT NO. 198

Know what’s below.
Call before you dig.
Call 811 or 800-382-5544
24 hrs a day/7 days a week

Receive emergency alerts from Southeastern
Indiana REMC by text message and e-mail

Sign Up Today
It’s Free & Easy!
Text REMC to 888777

Provide your zip code for location-specific alerts

Page 8 - Co-op Hotline, August 2016