connect SEPTEMBER 2015 1

Published for Member/Owners of EnergyUnited

connectin this issueBright Ideas 1

Outdoor Grilling Tips 2

CEO Message 3

Energy Efficiency Tips 4

September 2015

EnergyUnited Proudly Supports North Carolina’s Bright Ideas Education Grant Program

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives (co-ops) believe there is no more important investment than in our state’s youth. That’s why for more than 20 years, electric co-ops have offered Bright Ideas education grants to teachers in K–12 classrooms across the state.

Bright Ideas grants provide funding for innovative, classroom-based projects that would not be possible otherwise. Since 1994, the program has touched the lives of more than 1.8 million students who have participated in 9,200 Bright Ideas projects, and given out more than $9.6 million. Each year, around 600 grants are funded across the state, and EnergyUnited is proud to be part of this effort. During the past 20 years, EnergyUnited has granted over $600,000 to nearly 400 teachers in our 19-county service area. Just last year, we granted over $40,000 to 27 teachers. These teachers are hardworking, committed educators who go above and beyond in their classrooms and communities to enhance their students’ learning experiences. We would like to share a few of the projects that teachers implemented last year with funds from the Bright Ideas program.

One recipient of a Bright Ideas grant in 2014 was Kim Mathes, a teacher at Davie County High School. Kim wanted to help her students learn about survival techniques and home safety, so she wrote a grant requesting funding for a project called “Home Safety Kits.” After learning her grant was funded, she and her students began to shop for items to prepare safety kits to help them learn more about preparedness and basic first aid (see photo above). While her students were assembling their safety kits, she witnessed them talking about ways to use the items they were placing in the backpacks. She was amazed at the great ideas they came up with and how they took so much

As part of our commitment to the communities in which we live, work and serve, EnergyUnited is committed

to giving back. One way we do this is by participating in the Bright Ideas Education Grant Program.

ownership in taking precautions to be prepared for unexpected situations. These students were excited that they were able to take their kits home and use them however they felt would benefit them and their families during a storm, power outage or even when stuck in traffic!

Another Bright Ideas grant recipient, Ellen Clayton, teaches music in Davidson County. Her grant funding was used to purchase dulcimers to support a unit called, “The Mountain Music Makers.” She designed these lessons to increase students’ musical skills and abilities as well as to increase their knowledge of North Carolina’s mountain music. It’s wonderful to know that so many children can now play these instruments and have a better understanding of mountain music as a result of the Bright Ideas grant.

continued on page 2

Ms. Clayton’s students using their new instruments to play mountain music.

2 SEPTEMBER 2015 connect

Voting Instructions

Voting by Mail

•Markyourselectionsbycom

pletelyfillingintheboxnextt

othecandidate

ofyourchoice.

•Detachballotandreturnth

eballottothecooperativein

careofSurvey

&BallotSystems,anindep

endentthird-partyelectionm

anagement

company.MailtoSurvey&

BallotSystems,7653Anagr

amDrive,Eden

Prairie,MN55344.

•Ballotsmustbereceivedb

ythecloseofthebusinessd

ayonSeptember15,

2015.•Electionresu

ltswillbeannouncedduringt

heEnergyUnitedAnnualMe

etingon

September24,2015atthe

StatesvilleCivicCenter,Stat

esville,NC.Thetop

portionoftheballot,whichi

ncludesyournameandaddr

ess,servesasyour

registrationform.Ifyoupla

ntoattendtheAnnualMeetin

g,detachandbring

thetopportionwithyou.

Voting Online

•Toaccesstheloginpageo

ftheofficial2015EnergyUnit

edBoardofDirectors

Election,pleasetypedirec

tvote.net/euecintotheaddre

ssbarlocatedatthe

topofyourinternetscreen.

•Aboveandtotheleftisyou

rMember NumberandElection Passcode.Use

bothofthesenumberstolo

gin.

•Onceregistered,followthe

onlinevotinginstructions.

•Onlinevotingendsat11:59

p.m.ET,September15,201

5.

• Ifyouhaveanyquestions,

pleasee-mail:support@directvote.net.

PLEASE DETACH BEFORE RETURNING BALLOT

Ballots returned to Survey & Ballot Systems must be received no later than September 15, 2015.

2015 ENERGYUNITED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

E L E C T I O N

Official Ballot

Instructions: 2015 EnergyUnited Board of Directors Election

o Ann Eller (3-year term)

o Max Walser (3-year term)

o Brian Sisson (3-year term)

Directorate District No. 1

Directorate District No. 3

OFFICIAL NOTICE

All members of EnergyUnited Electric Membership

Corporation (EnergyUnited), regardless of residency, are

asked to vote and take action on the following:

To elect three members as directors of the

cooperative.

All members are required to vote via the mail-in ballot or

complete an online ballot. To elect or re-elect candidates

from direc torate districts 1, 2 and 3, ballots from no less

than 1% of the total membership must be returned.

HOW TO VOTEAll EnergyUnited members may vote for ONE candidate in

EACH directorate district. Remove the ballot by tearing at

the perforation provided.

Send the ballot to the cooperative in care of Survey & Ballot

Systems, 7653 Anagram Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, an

independent third-party election management company, by placing

it in the self-addressed, stamped envelope provided. Ballots

must be received by U.S. Mail no later than close of business

on September 15, 2015. A ballot may not be revoked after it is

received by the cooperative. A member’s failure to receive a ballot

will not affect the election.

VOTER VERIFICATION

EnergyUnited members must use this official ballot to cast their

vote. Each official ballot contains your unique membership

number, which is used to verify your eligibility to vote and permits

only one vote per member.

ELECTION RESULTS

Election results will be announced at the EnergyUnited Annual

Meeting on September 24, 2015 at the Statesville Civic Center in

Statesville, NC. Results will also be announced in the November

issue of the EnergyUnited Connect newsletter.

Keep top portion to register at the 2015

EnergyUnited Annual Meeting of Members.

Directorate District No. 2

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

ANNUAL MEETING Thursday, September 24, 2015

Please participate in our board of directors election. Mail in your ballot or vote online by September 15, 2015.

Kimberly Brown, a high school teacher in Alexander County, received $2,000 to fund her project, “Science Outside the Box.” This project got her students out of the classroom and into the field to do hands-on, inquiry-based activities. They used a series of field trips around the county to make observations and collect data for ongoing studies. Monitoring the health of local streams and rivers, observing the air quality on Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area through lichen studies and evaluating waste management practices at the waste water treatment plant and the county landfill are just a few of the activities that her students participated in this past school year. Kim was also chosen to represent EnergyUnited as the Tar Heel Teacher of

Did you know that three out of five households own a gas grill? And did you know that Labor Day is the third most popular day of the year to grill right after the Fourth of July and Memorial Day?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year grilling causes an average of 8,800 home fires in the U.S. So, as you fire up the grill on these last days of summer, make sure to follow these safety tips.

Bright Ideas, Continued from Page 1

Play it Safe: Outdoor Grilling Tips

the Week this past November – her application was rated the highest overall during the review process.

If you are a teacher or know someone who is an educator, please encourage them to apply for a Bright Ideas grant by completing an online application at NCBrightIdeas.com. Applications are being accepted through September 18, and teachers in public, public charter, private and Christian schools are encouraged to apply for a maximum of up to $2,000 per grant. Educators may apply as individuals or as a team for the grants, which are awarded in a competitive evaluation process. The winners will be announced this fall.

SEPT7

Happy Labor Day! EnergyUnited will be closed

for Labor Day on Monday, September 7.

When shopping for a new appliance, consider lifetime operation costs as well as the up-front purchase price. Refrigerators last an average of 12 years, clothes washers about 11 and dishwashers about 10. Check the Energy Guide label for the appliance’s estimated yearly operating cost, and look for ENERGY STAR units, which usually exceed minimum federal standards for efficiency and quality. To learn more, visit EnergySavers.gov.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP

Follow these tips to play it safe at the grill:• If using a gas grill, check for propane leaks before igniting• Be sure the lid on your gas grill is open before lighting• If the flame on your gas grill goes out, wait 15 minutes to

re-light to allow any propane in the air to dissipate• Never use grills in a house, garage or other enclosed area• Place your grill away from your home, deck railings,

eaves or low hanging branches• Before using your grill, make sure you have read the

owner’s manual• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat• Never leave your grill unattended, and keep children and

pets at least 3 feet away from the grill space• Remain alert when grilling. If you are tired or have been

drinking alcohol, you shouldn’t grill• Keep flammable materials away from your grill at all times

SAVEwith discounts of up to 50% on all of our Outdoor Living products.

Consider purchasing your next gas grill from EnergyUnited Propane. Visit our website at EnergyUnited.com or call us at 1-888-895-4114 to learn more about the variety of products and services we offer.

connect SEPTEMBER 2015 3

From the desk of H. Wayne Wilkins, Chief Executive Officer

Prepare. Plan. Stay safe.

The 2015 Atlantic hurricane season is forecasted to have fewer named storms than historical averages, but it never hurts to prepare your home and family for possible power outages caused by severe weather.

Although we anticipate fewer named storms this season, we can’t let our guard down. After all, the 2014 season featured the fewest number of named storms in 17 years, but also featured the strongest landfalling hurricane on the U.S. mainland in six years (Hurricane Arthur on the Outer Banks).

Regardless of what kind of weather 2015 brings us, EnergyUnited is committed to providing reliable electric service to our members. As part of that commitment, we also work hard to ensure that we are prepared for severe weather events. I would like to encourage you and your family to take the time to make your own severe weather preparedness plan.

When a storm threatens, you should check supplies and make sure you have the following items: a portable radio with fresh batteries, flashlight, first-aid kit, canned or packaged foods that can be prepared without electricity or refrigeration, several days’ supply of drinking water, a full tank of gas in your car and cash available for any purchases you may need to make during a power outage. Make sure you also have several days worth of any required medical supplies or prescription medication.

Another tip is to remember to unplug major non-vital appliances. Advanced surge-protection systems will protect your home from most power surges but will not prevent damage from a direct lightning strike.

Please stay informed by turning on your local TV station, listening to the radio or by engaging in social media where we will post information throughout the hurricane season on EnergyUnited’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

After the storm has passed, be sure to stay away from any downed power lines – assume they are energized and extremely dangerous. Also, be sure to check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks or the smell of burning insulation.

If your power goes out as a result of storm damage, call 1-800-EUNITED or go to EnergyUnited.com to report an outage online. Using these automated systems is the quickest and easiest way to report an outage. By entering your phone number or account number, your outage will be recorded in our system and included in our restoration plans.

I hope you and your family are well prepared for any severe weather we may experience in North Carolina this year. Rest assured, EnergyUnited will do everything possible to make sure your lights stay on and that your power is quickly restored in the event of a power outage. Take care and have a safe and happy Labor Day!

ENERGYUNITED.COM/STORM-CENTER

Be sure to view the new outage map on our website and learn about its enhanced capabilities:

IMPROVED OUTAGE REPORTING FROM ENERGYUNITED EnergyUnited is proud to announce that we will soon be releasing an updated version of our online outage reporting system. This enhanced power outage map will be easy to navigate and mobile friendly so you can report an outage and see restoration data in real time from any device! Once launched, this system will inform users of how many members are affected by an outage and the estimated restoration time.

NEW OUTAGE

MAP

4 SEPTEMBER 2015 connect

It’s the Little ThingsWhen it comes to energy efficiency in the home, sometimes small changes can make a big impact. A small, unglamorous task like changing the filters on your HVAC system makes your unit run more efficiently – keeping your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It also saves money. And the savings gained from having your system run more efficiently can be applied to more fun or entertaining pursuits that your family can enjoy together.

The Lowdown on DirtAs you move around your home, you drive dust into the air from carpets, furniture and drapes. Regardless of where it comes from, dust and dirt trapped in a system’s air filter leads to several problems, including:

• Reduced air flow in the home and up to 15 percent higher operating costs

• Costly duct cleaning or replacement• Lowered system efficiency

A Change for the Better

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

connect is published monthly for its members by EnergyUnited.

Please send questions, comments and story ideas to Maureen Moore, Communications Manager at maureen.moore@energyunited.com

1-800-522-3793 www.energyunited.com facebook.com/EnergyUnited @EnergyUnitedEMC

H. Wayne Wilkins Chief Executive Officer

Making the SwitchNow that you know the facts, it’s time to get busy changing or cleaning the air filter in your heating/cooling system. Many HVAC professionals recommend that you clean or change the filter on your air conditioner or furnace monthly. It’s simple and easy, and in many cases, it only takes a few minutes.

A Teachable MomentBeyond saving money and improving the air quality in your home, changing your air filter is a great opportunity to teach your family about energy efficiency. Consider getting everyone involved, and the entire family will learn how simple changes can make a big difference.

For other tips on how to save, see our Energy Saving Tips page in the Environment & Safety section at EnergyUnited.com.

5 Energy Efficiency Tips for Your Home While You’re on Vacation

Labor Day is a great time to get away and forget about the little stresses of life. While you’re away, you might be thinking, “No one is home, so we’ll automatically use less energy!” But, just because your house is empty doesn’t mean that your appliances and lights have stopped using electricity. Follow these tips to save energy and money while you’re away.

1. Heating and CoolingThere’s no reason to keep the air conditioner running when you’re not there, unless pets will be left at the house. And even with a pet inside, it’s safe to set your thermostat to 85 or 90 degrees.

2. Water HeaterShut off the circuit breaker to the water heater. If you have a gas heater, turn the gas valve off to be safe. Upon returning home, the hot water tap should be allowed to run before the power and gas are turned on to make sure the water tank isn’t empty. It can damage the unit if the tank is heated without any water in it.

3. Electronics and AppliancesEven when your major appliances are turned off, they still use electricity. Before you leave, unplug every unnecessary appliance and electronic in your home. Even small electronics like electric razors, coffee pots, digital clocks and cell phone chargers all drain energy when plugged in.

4. Automatic LightsAutomatic lights set on a timer allow you to make your house look occupied while you’re away. But they prevent wasted energy by keeping lights off during the day.

5. Blinds and CurtainsThe simple act of lowering your blinds and shutting your curtains will help keep the summer heat out.

ENU34i