November 2017

Committed to safely and economically provide reliable energy and other services which bring value to its membership.

Recently, Fall River Electric crews have discovered a few cases of members stealing power for their personal use, and your Cooperative considers this a serious, as well as an extremely dangerous, thing to do. Fall River will prosecute violators to the full extent of the law in an effort to obtain restitution for you, the owners of the Co-op.

Power theft is not a victimless crime and places the very people who are stealing power at risk for losing their life. Anytime a meter base, transformer, or meter itself is tampered with, there is the risk of electrocution and death or a fire that could destroy an entire structure.

Individuals stealing power from Fall River may justify the act by thinking they are taking just a little from a large corporation. The fact is, since Fall River Electric is a nonprofit cooperative, they are actually stealing from their neighbors, friends, and family. There are many who struggle to pay their power bill each month and the cost of stolen power adds to that burden, as all owner-members end up bearing the cost of power theft.

Since you, the owners of this Cooperative pay for stolen power, please call Fall River Electric anytime you suspect tampering or theft has occurred. All information provided to Fall River can be given anonymously.

Electricity Theft Is Stealing From Your Neighbors

Extended Office Closure For ThanksgivingFall River Electric and Fall River Pro-pane offices will be closed Thursday AND Friday, November 23 and 24, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The extra day will allow our staff to spend a little more time with their families.

In the case of an unexpected power outage during this holiday weekend, our crews will be on stand-by, ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible. If you experience an outage on the weekend or any time after normal business hours, call 1.800.632.5726. You can also call this number for propane emergencies.

Need Help Paying Your Energy Bill?Winter officially arrives next month, but colder weather is here, which usually means higher monthly energy bills. Help is available. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program and the Weatherization Assistance program can both be utilized by Fall River Electric mem-bers. Applications are now being accepted, call the office in your state for more information:

IDAHO 208.522.5391MONTANA 800.332.2796WYOMING 307.739.4500

Maintenance Fee ExplanationThe monthly Line & System Main-tenance Fee, which is charged to all members, ensures everyone pays an equal share of the Co-op’s infra-structure costs, including transmis-sion lines, substations, power line improvements, maintenance and repairs, billing, accounting, loan pay-ments, and member services.

As was reported in last month’s edition of FLASHES, Fall River Electric’s elected nine-member board of directors made the deci-sion to absorb BPA’s Final Record of Decision, which raised wholesale power rates to Fall Riv-er on October 1 by 6.1 percent. At the Septem-ber meeting, the board discussed not only the BPA rate increase and whether it would result in an increase in rates to Co-op members, but also possible implementation of a demand charge for residential members and a review of the Co-op’s net metering policies for mem-bers that generate power from their own solar, wind, or hydro systems.

The board postponed for future consideration both the residential demand charge and net metering review, but did vote unanimously to absorb the BPA rate hike now and not increase rates to its owner-members.

More Details On Board Decision To Absorb BPA Rate Increase

This action was only possible due to the Co-op’s board, management, and employees past nine-year efforts to improve equity in the Co-operative. From a low of 26 percent to today’s excellent 38 percent equity ratio, Fall River’s CEO/General Manager Bryan Case says, “This success in improving our financial fitness was a major feat and required the concerted ef-forts of the board and Fall River employees.”

“While getting the Cooperative in financial shipshape, the staff also focused on increas-ing its commitment to member services, mak-ing investments that ensure owner-members have a reliable elec-trical system. This includes $3.2 million in facility upgrades in 2016 alone,” Case added.

Lighting up your home or business this holiday season could result in a lower electric bill. How so? Fall River Electric invites you to participate in our Holiday Lighting Contest. You could earn a $250 energy credit certificate if you are one of three lucky residential winners or two business winners. To enter our Holiday Lighting Contest, take a nighttime photo of your exterior holiday lights and post it on our Facebook page, facebook.com/FallRiverREC, email it to us at memberservices@fallriverelectric.com, or mail it to us at 1150 N 3400 E, Ashton, ID 83420. Be sure to include your name, address of the lighting location, and phone number. Mailed entries must be received by December 15, 2017.

Winners will be selected and announced on our Facebook page AND our website the following week, so everyone can drive by your home or business to see your light display. Happy Holidays from Fall River!

Light Up The Holidays And Win!

Dan SkeneDistrict 1Rexburg/Rigby

Georg BehrensDistrict 3East Victor

Debbie SmithDistrict 4

East Driggs

Brent RobsonDistrict 5West Driggs/Tetonia

Dede Draper District 6

AshtonBoard Sec/Treas

Ron DyeDistrict 7South Island Park

Doug SchmierDistrict 9, West Yellowstone President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fall River’s FLASHES newsletter is printed on recycled paper and is certified by the Forest Steward-ship Council. Products certified

by FSC directly support responsible forest management.

Want your Fall River FLASHES faster? Click the Quick Link Newsletter on our website’s home page at www.fallriver electric.com.

Keep up to date, including on power outage information, by “liking” Fall River Electric on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fallriverrec

Jay HansonDistrict 2

West Victor

800-632-5726208-652-7431

ASHTON1150 North 3400 East

Ashton, ID 83420

DRIGGS1605 N Highway 33

Driggs, ID 83422

WEST YELLOWSTONE436 Madison Ave

West Yellowstone, MT 59758

All Our Offices Are OpenMonday - Friday8:00am - 4:30pm

Board Member Jay Hanson Re-Elected To CFC BoardThe National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, also known as CFC, recently held its regional meeting for districts 7 and 9. Fall River Electric board member Jay Hanson was re-elected to their board of directors. The CFC board is guided by 23 members representing ten geographically defined districts that set overall policy, establish programs, and develop strategies for CFC.

Created and owned by America’s electric cooperatives, CFC is a nonprofit finance cooperative that provides financial resources to its owner-members. Money borrowed by Fall River from CFC comes at substantially lower interest rates than traditional borrowing. For example, CFC has saved Fall River approximately $9M on the Chester hydro project. “CFC cares for the littlest electric co-op and the largest the same way. They are there to help Fall River when we have financial needs,” Hanson says. Fall River Electric is fortunate to have Hanson on the CFC board.

The strategies below will help you save energy, save money, and stay comfortable during the cold winter months ahead. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the winter.

Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun• Open curtains on your south-facing

windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Cover Drafty Windows• Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a

frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.

• Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

Adjust the Temperature• When you are home and awake, set your

thermostat as low as is comfortable.• When you are asleep or out of the house,

turn your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours and save around 10 percent a year on your heating bills. A smart or programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.

• If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting or use a programmable thermostat specially designed for use with heat pumps.

Find and Seal Leaks• Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs

for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.

• Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.

Maintain Your Heating Systems

• Schedule service for your heating system.• Furnaces and heat pumps: Replace your

filter once a month. • Wood- and pellet-burning heaters:

Clean the flue vent regularly. Clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.

Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace• Keep your fireplace damper closed unless

a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.

• When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly—approximately one inch—and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50 and 55 degrees.

• If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.

• If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warm air back into the room.

• Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.

• Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.

• Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.

Lower Your Water Heating Costs• Turn down the temperature of your water

heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.

Remember, energy efficiency doesn’t have to be difficult. Focus on small changes to save big. Learn more about ways to save energy by visiting fallriverelectric.com and click on the link titled “SAVINGENERGY,” or call our energy conservation specialist at 208.652.7431 during normal business hours.

Ralph BurtonDistrict 8, North Island Park

Vice President

Tips For Saving Energy This Winter

Bryan CaseFall River Electric

CEO/General Manager

Jay Hanson (left) is con-gratulated by Fall River Elec-tric Board President Doug Schmier following the CFC election.