Co-op Hotline - December 2018

Co-op HotlineDecember2018|Vol.13,Issue6

#ThankALineman

LinemanLove

Watts Inside Holiday Closings

2018 Ice Storm ................................. pg. 2-3 The REMC offices will be closed
Seeking Director Candidates ............. pg. 4 December 24 and December 25 for Christmas
Operation RoundUp ........................... pg. 5
2019 Youth Opportunities.................. pg. 6 and January 1 for New Years
Plug into Safety .................................... pg. 7
REMC Generator Program................. pg. 8

2018 Ice-Storm

The ice-storm that hit our seven-county service area in the early morning hours of November 15, 2018 left over 19,000 members without
electricity. The restoration progress was slow and tedious due to the number of trees, branches, broken poles, and wire that was down. It took
four days to get some of our members’ power restored. All our crews, including our after-hours crews, worked 16+ hours each day and we were
assisted by crews from Fulton County REMC, Steuben County REMC, Hendricks Power Cooperative, Carroll White REMC, Johnson County
REMC, Henry County REMC, and our contracted Right-of-Way (ROW) crews. Additionally, we brought in all our after-hours dispatchers to
help our call center answer and log the outage calls that were coming in and our communications and IT support employees were brought in as
well. We utilized Nixle notifications, our website, SmartHub, and social media channels, as well as local radio stations, to help keep the public
updated and informed of our restoration progress.
There were several questions and topics that were brought up on social media and over the phone throughout the course of the storm
restoration, which we would like to address here.

Vegetation Management

Trees are the number one cause of outages – especially in a severe storm like the one we just experienced. It is so important that members do
not plant trees under power lines or in our right-of-way’s. We have been talking about this topic a lot lately, because we are really trying to be
proactive with our vegetation management program. We are taking an aggressive approach to getting all of our right-of-way’s under control
by having our tree-trimming and right-of-way clearing contractors working on a 5-year rotation cycle to clear and maintain these areas. This
is a daunting task, given the rough terrain of our service territory, but it is necessary to continue to provide safe, reliable electric service to our
members. There were 663 total workorders issued to our crews throughout the recent ice-storm. They changed-out 18 poles, due to the weight
of the ice on the lines and the numerous trees and limbs falling on and through the lines, taking them to the ground and breaking the poles.
There were another 406 workorders for trees that had to be cut or dealt with in some way. That equates to 61% of the total outages being caused
by trees. So, if you are thinking of planting some trees, please make sure you do not plant them within 20-feet on any side of the power lines. If
you already have trees in these locations, they must be trimmed to 10-foot below the neutral or removed completely.
This year the contracted tree trimmers and right-of-way clearing crews have concentrated their work in the following areas: Brooksburg,
Sunman, and part of Logan. We also did some additional bid work in specific locations in Cross Plains, Patriot and Rising Sun. Our Fecon
mower worked on the Texas substation area in Dearborn County and the Blue Creek substation area in Franklin County. As a result, we noticed
that there were fewer outages in these areas, due to the right-of-way’s being reclaimed. We did note that the part of the Logan area that we had
not yet completed when the storm hit was out for 12 hours.

Safety First

The safety of our employees and crews, as well as the safety of our members and the general public, is our number one priority. We will not take
unnecessary risks or short-cuts to restore power quicker. There is a whole lot more to restoring power than you might think; definitely more
than just flipping a switch! There were several negative comments on social media and over the phone about the fact that the crews needed to
come in for an 8-hour rest period after working 16 hours straight. When working with electricity, one must be extremely focused and thinking
clearly so deadly mistakes are not made. For this reason, it is a safety requirement that our crews come in for an 8-hour rest period. We want to
make sure that ALL our employees make it home safely to their families each night.
There were some comments made on social media, suggesting that members get out there and restore their own power if they think it’s so easy.
Of course, they were being sarcastic and trying to make a point. However, we want to stress that no-one should ever do this! Our linemen go
through intensive training and are skilled in how to work around electricity. It takes years to learn everything you need to know. So, PLEASE
leave the power restoration to the professionals. This kind of DIY project is not a good idea – it is deadly - and it could cost you your life!

24/7 Service

Another conversation that picked up a bit of traction on social media was about having crews available 24/7. Some thought we need to hire
more employees to accomplish this. Others thought that the work ethic of the crews is lacking. These comments got some, especially the wives,
relatives, and friends of linemen, really fired up!
The first thing you need to know is that your REMC does have crews on-call after-hours and all weekend long. We do not have crews working
in shifts. All our crews report for a full day’s work Monday through Friday. Then, the after-hours “on-call” crew responds to outages throughout
the evening and on the weekends. If there are multiple outages or a time-intensive restoration issue presents itself, additional crews are called in
to help. This coverage is sufficient to meet the needs of our service territory unless we are impacted by a major storm. When this happens, we
have the option of utilizing our contracted crews and calling other nearby co-ops to send crews to help. This is exactly what happened during
this most recent storm.
Hiring additional employees would affect the operating budget for the co-op and would ultimately result in a rate increase, due to the added
expense of salaries and benefits for these additional employees. It is true that our employee base is lean compared to the number of members we
serve. However, our employee base is sufficient to meet our needs at this time. In emergencies, like major storms, we know we can call on our
contracted crews and neighboring co-op crews for immediate help when needed. This cost is less than the cost of adding full-time employees.

Page 2 - Co-op Hotline, December 2018

The Systematic Approach to Restoring Power Be Prepared

When the power goes out, we expect it to be restored within a few hours. But when a major storm or • Create an EMERGENCY KIT
natural disaster causes widespread damage, extended outages may result. Our line crews work long, hard • Be knowledgeable about food
hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible.
First, they check high-voltage transmission lines. Transmission towers and cable that supply power to safety.
transmission substations (and thousands of members) rarely fail. But when damaged, these facilities must • Purchase a generator
be repaired before other parts of the system can operate.
Second, they check distribution substations. A substation can serve hundreds or thousands of consumers. After-the-Storm
When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to determine if the problems stem from
transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself or if problems exist further down the • Assume all downed lines are
line. energized and report them to us
Third, they check main distribution lines. If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, immediately.
distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of consumers in communities or
housing developments. • Stay away from flooded areas
Fourth, they check tap lines. If local outages persist, supply lines (also known as tap lines) are inspected. and debris. They can conceal
These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground downed power lines.
service, outside businesses, schools and homes.
And finally, they check individual homes. If your home remains without power, the service line between a • Resist the temptation to drive
transformer and your residence may need to be repaired. Always call to report an outage to help line crews around looking at storm
isolate local issues. damage. You could hinder
So, depending on where you live, your service may be restored sooner than others’ or you may be one of the rescue efforts or restoration
last ones to get your power back on. It’s all about location. efforts and jeopardize your
safety.
What about people with medical problems?
• If you’re using a generator,
Many people are under the impression that if they have a medical issue, they are guaranteed to get their operate it outside your home
power restored first. This is a misconception. We do maintain a list of people who have medical issues that and connect appliances
necessitate having power. However, the main reason for this list is to inform you of planned outages so you directly to it. Do not wire
can make other arrangements if necessary. There are lots of people on this list who require oxygen. And your generator directly to your
this is a legitimate need. However, being pregnant or having young children does not qualify you for this breaker fuse box, as it could
list. backfeed on power lines –
During a normal outage, we may notice that an account is flagged as having a medical issue and will try sending electricity out toward
to get that account on before others if possible, but there is no guarantee. Our protocol is to follow the restoration crews and possibly
procedure described earlier – especially during a major outage. inflicting injuries.

Why did crews leave my neighborhood when I still didn’t have power? • Never operate a charcoal grill or
gas grill inside the house.
There are several reasons this might happen. We often send crews to survey storm-damaged areas before
we begin any repairs, which actually speeds restoration and helps us immediately address any dangerous • If you leave your home, turn off
situations. We may need to work elsewhere to fix the problem that’s affecting you and your neighbors. appliances that may have been
Lastly, we may need to work on a problem that will restore power to a greater number of members. on when the power went out, or
turn off your main breaker.
Why did my neighbor have power and I didn’t?
• If you have any doubt about
Storm damage can affect main power lines, individual circuits or both. It’s possible that your individual your home electrical system or
circuit was damaged – or your home may be on a different main power line than your neighbor’s. are unsure of how to proceed,
call a licensed electrician.
Why couldn’t anyone tell me how long the power would be out?
Stay Connected
We work aggressively to restore power as quickly and safely as possible after a storm – including bringing
in crews from other areas to assist. With storm restoration work there are too many unknowns, that cannot • If you don’t have power, report
be factored in, to give an accurate time estimate. it. Don’t assume we know your
power is out. The fastest way to
Discounts and Reimbursement Requests report an outage is to use our
SmartHub app. Speaking to a
A handful of members have asked if they will receive a discount on their power bill for the days they were customer service representative
without electricity. We have also had multiple requests for reimbursement of food that was lost. Food won’t speed up your restoration.
loss or other storm-related loss is one of the many unfortunate occurrences in cases of extreme weather,
such as the ice-storm we just went through. Unfortunately, Southeastern Indiana REMC cannot assume • Update your contact
responsibility for spoiled food or other losses caused by a storm, as extreme weather is beyond our control. information with us so we can
But don’t despair! Many individual insurers cover loss claims. reach you for verification if
needed.

• Use the SmartHub app, if you
have a smart-phone, tablet or
computer, to report an outage
quickly and monitor its status.

• Utilize the information
provided in the Outage Center
on our website (www.seiremc.
com).

• Follow our social media
channels for periodic updates
on the restoration progress.

Co-op Hotline, December 2018 - Page 3

2019 Nominating Run For A Seat
Committee on the

Board of Directors

District 4 The Board of Directors is a group of individuals, elected to
represent the members of the cooperative. They establish
Comprised of all members residing in Center, Hogan policies for corporate management and provide oversight,
and Washington townships in Dearborn County; making decisions on major company issues. Their key
purpose is to ensure the co-op's prosperity by collectively
Randolph township in Ohio County; and Posey and directing its affairs, whilst meeting the appropriate
York townships in Switzerland County. interests of its stakeholders, which are the members.
Essentially, it is the role of the Board of Directors to
Deb Cappel (Chair) hire the General Manager of the business and assess
the overall direction and strategy of the business. The
812-290-1141 General Manager is responsible for hiring all of the other
employees and overseeing the day-to-day operation of the
Carolyn Titkemeyer business, and is ultimately accountable to the Board of
Directors for the cooperative's performance.
812-438-2615 Members elect the Board of Directors, but there is a
board appointed nominating committee that selects and
Kenny Works nominates the director candidates. The nominating
committee members have been approved for the 2019
812-584-6282 director elections for districts 4, 5 and 9. These individuals
serve a very important role for the REMC by selecting and
District 5 nominating qualified director candidates.
A majority vote of the nominating committee is required
Comprised of all members residing in Cass, Pike, to nominate a candidate and no member of the committee
and Union townships in Ohio County; Caesar Creek is eligible to be nominated as a candidate for director.
township in Dearborn County; and Brown, Shelby, A director serves for a three-year term, attending meetings
locally, statewide and nationally to keep abreast of
and Otter Creek townships in Ripley County. legislation and industry issues as it effects the rural electric
cooperative.
David Osborne (Chair) A candidate must be a member residing in the district and
must meet the qualifications for director as specified in
812-621-1248 Section 3 of Article IV of the corporate bylaws.
If you are interested in serving your REMC as a director
Michele Speer from district 4,5 or 9; contact the appropriate nominating
committee member with your request for consideration.
812-689-7282 Additional details regarding qualifications and time
commitments will be provided by the nominating
Patty Harrell committee. The deadline for nominations is Wednesday,
January 16, 2019.
812-525-3130

District 9

Comprised of all members residing in Jackson,
Johnson, Franklin, Center, Delaware and Washington

townships in Ripley County.

Charles Baylor (Chair)

812-654-3669

Kay Bean

812-654-1724

Carol Lovins

812-654-2766

Page 4 - Co-op Hotline, December 2018

Operation RoundUp® CO-OP HOTLINE

Next Application Due Date: December 31, 2018 Co-op Hotline is published bimonthly by
Next Trustee Meeting Date: January 2019 Southeastern Indiana REMC's Communication
Department for members, employees and retirees
As a member of Southeastern Indiana REMC, you have of Southeastern Indiana REMC.
a unique opportunity to support Operation RoundUp®, a ON THE COVER
program that provides financial support to organizations Lineman love from the kiddos.
and individuals within the seven counties served by the This photo (taken by REMC employee, Lori Miller)
REMC. And all that is required is the "rounding up" of captures a precious moment that occurred during
your power bill. the recent ice-storm as our linemen worked 16+
Established in 2016, Operation RoundUp® began as an hour days to restore the power to members in the
extension of the electric cooperative principle "neighbor Southeastern Indiana REMC service territory.
helping neighbor." So far, SEIREMC members have The wives of our linemen coordinated a hot
contributed over $241,000 in grants to date! breakfast for the crews before they set out on
another long day of cutting trees, pulling wire,
How it works: and setting poles. Many of the linemen's children
joined them, even though it was very early on a
Members who participate contribute an average of only Saturday morning, just so they could spend a little
$6 per year. A few cents from each consumer adds up to a time with their dads.
significant amount of assistance - nearly $125,000 is raised
annually through Operation RoundUp®. Your power bill SEND COMMENTS TO
is "rounded up" to the next highest dollar amount. The
extra cents go directly into a fund called the SEIREMC Co-op Hotline Editor
Community Fund, and is administered by a board of Southeastern IN REMC
trustees made up of representatives from the communities P.O. Box 196
we serve. Osgood, IN 47037
For example, if your electric bill is $60.76, it would be
rounded up 24 cents to $61.00. The Community Fund BACK ISSUES
mission is to assist with food, shelter, health, safety and
education needs in the counties served by SEIREMC To read back issues, log on to
including Dearborn, Franklin, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Southeastern IN REMC's website
Ripley, and Switzerland. It helps worthy charitable at https://seiremc.com/content/
organizations and civic groups. The Fund does not pay newsletters.
power bills.
If you're not sure if you participate in Operation This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
RoundUp®, call us at 1-800-737-4111.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
Current Operation RoundUp® Trustees
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil
• Keith Allhands Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
• Steve Black Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or
• Judy Copeland at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
• Carla Elston containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form
• Mike Fledderman or letter by mail to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
• Jerry Lamb Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or e-mail
• Barry Lauber at [email protected].
• Keith Mathews
• Owen Menchhofer © Copyright 2018 Southeastern IN REMC
Co-op Hotline, December 2018 - Page 5

2019 YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

Southeastern Indiana REMC understands the value of educating our youth. That's why the co-op offers multiple learning
opportunities for students of all ages. Here are the opportunities available in 2019!

Art Contest (K-12 grades) This program is for 6th grade students (entering 7th grade the
following school year). SEIREMC will sponsor six students
SEIREMC participates each year in the Indiana Electric (whose parents are members) to participate in this camp at no
Cooperatives Calendar art contest. Indiana students, attending cost to them.
any public or private school or home-schooled, currently Camp will take place June 5-8, 2018. Applications must be
in grades K-12 may participate. Students do not have to be completed online and are due on or before March 4, 2019.
consumers of an REMC/REC to participate in this contest,
which is conducted by the Electric Consumer magazine. Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. (H.S. Juniors)
Artwork may be submitted by teachers, 4-H leaders or others
as a group or class project, or by individual students or their SEIREMC participates in the Indiana Rural Electric Youth
parents or guardians. Students may enter as often as they wish. Tour to Washington, D.C., which allows local teenagers to visit
The winning artwork (by grade level) will be published in an our nation's capital and learn about government and electric
annual calendar. cooperatives. While in Washington, Youth Tour delegates
The submission deadline is March 22, 2019. Winners will be visit landmarks such as Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol
notified by April 19, 2019 and will be announced in the May Hill, the U.S. Supreme Court, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Vietnam
issue of Electric Consumer. memorials, and several museums. On Capitol Hill, Indiana's
delegation will visit with their local Congressman and take
REMC Page Day at the Indiana Statehouse a tour of the Capitol Building that includes a visit to the U.S.
House of Representatives Gallery.
Page Day with the Indiana Senate gives students an opportunity This all-expense-paid experience is for high school Juniors
to learn about their state government and how bills become (entering their Senior year the following school year).
law. Highlights include a Statehouse tour, mock bill activity, SEIREMC will sponsor two students (whose parents are
speakers and other educational activities. Students may have members) to attend in 2019.
the opportunity to see the Indiana Legislature in action and will Youth Tour will take place June 13-20, 2019. Applications must
meet and have their picture taken with their legislator. be completed online and are due on or before March 4, 2019.
The program is open to high school students who have reliable
transportation to and from the Indiana Statehouse on January Want more information?
23, 2019. The application deadline is January 11, 2019.
Contact B.J. Myers, Administrative Assistant/Communications
Touchstone Energy Camp (6th graders) Specialist, at 800-737-4111 ext. 236 or visit our webpage (www.
seiremc.com) to see additional information, brochures, videos
SEIREMC is a participant in the Indiana Touchstone Energy and more.
Camp program at YMCA's Camp Tecumseh near Brookston,
IN. The camp offers traditional camp fun like canoeing,
swimming, and horseback riding. Campers also learn about
environmental stewardship, power supply, and electric safety.

Page 6 - Co-op Hotline, December 2018

Winterize your home

Whether it’s protecting your pipes or trimming your trees, begin to make
your home safer against snow, ice and colder temperatures this winter.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START WINTERIZING YOUR HOME.

HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR PIPES THIS WINTER:

Turn off outdoor faucets, and have sprinkler systems blown out by a professional.
Drain outdoor hoses.

Remove and drain window A/C units.
Insulate pipes in exposed or unheated areas.

Keep your thermostat above 55 F.
On especially cold days, open cabinets to let warm air reach sink pipes.

This winter, plan ahead for burst pipes, water and tree damage, and unexpected power outages. Knowing
how to prepare for these common occurrences can be beneficial to you and the safety of your home.

If a pipe does burst in your home, avoid electrocution by calling your electric cooperative right away to turn
off your electricity before going down in a basement or before touching any plugged in appliances.

Co-op Hotline, December 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; enhancing quality of Brad Bentle - District 2
life through innovation and sustainable economic David Smith - District 3
Contact Information Carolyn Armstrong - District 4
development. 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

POWER.

OUR LIVES
DEPEND ON IT.

Purchase a 22 kW total home backup
generator and transfer switch at the

discounted price of $5,200