New Hampshire Electric Co-op

TODAYn Winter Storm Outagesn Co-op Rate Changesn Green Your Christmasn Holiday Safety Tipsn Generator Safety

The

To report an outage please call

1-800-343-6432

For member service please call

1-800-698-2007 Monday-Friday, 8-5:00

or visit us online at www.nhec.coop

Your Electric Co-op’s Newsletter

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative579 Tenney Mountain HighwayPlymouth, NH 03264

Dec

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09BACK PAGE

Feature article:

70 Years ago... one Year ago…Trees loaded down by two days of ice brought down poles and power lines in record numbers across the state. When the weather cleared on December 14, 2008, it revealed unprecedented destruction. Approximately 47,000 members–more than half the Co-op’s membership–were without power. This stands as the single largest number of outages ever experienced by the Co-op in its 70-year history.Fifty line crews worked for nine days replacing more than 70 broken poles, 82 transformers and 120 sets of cross arms. At NHEC’s Plymouth Headquarters, 13,606 calls were received in a five-day period following the storm. The normal volume for the same time period is about 2,000 calls. By nearly every standard, the Ice Storm of 2008 was one for the history books. And while we hope there’s no repeat performance any time soon, the arrival of winter reminds us to prepare now for possible winter storm outages. Please see the inside pages for a preparation guide that will help you weather whatever Mother Nature dishes out this year.

December 4, 1939 was cold and blustery, but it didn’t chill the spirit of more than 300 people who marched down Lempster Street to the field of Fred Barton-a dairyman, Co-op vice president and a true champion of rural electrification. The new electric cooperative was setting its first utility pole in Mr. Barton’s field and history was in the air. The Manchester Union described the scene:“Lempster took on holiday appearance today, with family cars, trucks, but not a single horse and wagon in town, a 23-piece band pepping up the scene, the schoolchildren marching down the road, and everyone talking excitedly, like town meeting day was at hand and a partisan fight abrewing…The holiday spirit was everywhere, and one oldtimer yelled for the band to play ‘Roll Out the Barrel,’ but neither the barrel nor the tune was rolled out.”And so began the spread of electricity to all of New Hampshire’s back roads and farms. What started in Lempster has grown to include 80,000 members in 116 New Hampshire communities. The story of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative and of rural electrification across the country is the story of people getting together to put the power in their hands. We invite you to learn more about it online at www.nhec.coop. See our 70th anniversary section for a comprehensive look at the early years of the Co-op.

The Ice Storm of 2008.

The Co-op’s first pole, set in Lempster on December 4, 1939.

green Your ChristmasEnergy demand in the United States typically increases during the holiday season. Just think of every holiday celebration you attend—ovens and other kitchen appliances working overtime, not to mention dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers. And that’s just inside the house. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s are also the most heavily traveled of the year—that’s a lot of energy use. Below, please find some tips that will help you make the most of your energy use and limit the environmental impact of the holiday season.

Holiday safety TipsMake sure all lights you purchase con-•tain the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label, which means they meet UL safety requirements.While you’re reading labels, be sure •you’re buying the right set for indoor use, outdoor use or both.Before decorating, check all light sets •for frayed wires, damaged sockets or cracked insulation. If you find any de-fects, replace the entire set.All outdoor cords, plugs and sockets •must be weatherproof. Keep electrical connections off the ground and make sure wiring is kept clear of drainpipes and railings to prevent any risk of shock. It’s also a good idea to use a ground fault circuit interrupter on each circuit. If current leaks through frayed or dam-aged wires, the interrupter will shut off the lights.Don’t overload your electrical circuits. •Circuits in older homes carry a maxi-mum of 1800 watts each. Most newer homes can handle 2400 watts each.

To determine how many watts you’re us-ing, multiply the number of holiday bulbs by the number of watts per bulb. (If you’re not sure of the wattage, use 10 watts per bulb just to be safe!) When you’re calculat-ing the total, don’t forget to include appli-ances, normal lighting and other electrical equipment already running on the same circuit.

Remember that hot bulbs can ignite dry •tree branches. To avoid disaster, keep trees well watered and keep extension cords and light strings away from the water. For safety’s sake, light your tree only when you are at home and awake to enjoy it. As an extra precaution, keep a fire extinguisher handy and be sure your home’s smoke detectors have new bat-teries and that they’re working properly.

got a generator? Let Us Know!If you’ve installed a generator anywhere in Co-op service territory, your Co-op needs to know about it. A generator is a handy tool to have in the event of a power outage, but it can present a safety hazard for our lineworkers. If not properly installed, a generator can energize the power line outside your home–maybe while our crews are working on it. The Co-op offers a free inspection of any generator installed on our system. We’ll come to your property and make sure the transfer switch is wired properly to meet national electric codes. In addition to helping us update our records, you’ll also be keeping our lineworkers safe. If you have a generator, please call the Co-op at 1-800-698-2007 to notify us. Thank you!

1. Use LED LightsDeck the halls–and the tree, and the eaves–with en-ergy efficient LED lights, rather than conventional incandescent bulbs. They’re 75% more efficient and better for the environment too!

2. Cook SmartWhen possible, cook with pressure cookers, mi-crowaves and toaster ovens. The feast will taste just as good, using a lot less energy than a conventional oven.

3. RecycleGifts are great, but they create a lot of waste. Get cre-ative with wrapping paper–use old newspapers, maps, pages from atlases or colorful magazine pages, etc. Recycle cardboard boxes and look for ways to recycle or reuse your Christmas tree instead of sending it to a landfill.

4. Turn It DownTurning down your thermostat one degree will save you 136 lbs. of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2 months; you won’t notice the difference. Or try turning it down 5 degrees, put on a sweater, toss another blanket on your bed, and save 136 lbs. of CO2 in a few weeks. Ad-ditionally, make sure your thermostat is programmed to heat the house to room temperature only when you

will be at home and awake—keeping it at 55 degrees when you’re asleep and at work will save major dollars and pounds. Also, if you’re going away for the holi-days, make sure you turn down the heat to 50 degrees before you leave.

5. Treat Your Chimney with CareHuge amounts of heat can escape through open or leaky chimney flues. Making sure the flue is always closed after a fire can keep huge amounts of heat from escaping—but most dampers still leak, so consider in-stalling a chimney-top damper that completely seals the chimney opening.

6. Give Green Multiply the positive impacts of your giving. Thought-ful, eco-minded gift giving can benefit the planet as much as the recipient, save money and distinguish your presents. The first step is to focus on the gift item itself: give to charity in someone’s name, buy second-hand gifts or give ENERGY STAR® rated electronics and appliances. Vote with your dollars by choosing socially- and environmentally-responsible companies if you are purchasing new products. Next, think about how you purchase your presents: shop online instead of driving to the store, ship your presents by ground instead of by air, and combine all your shopping into as few trips as possible. Every mile you avoid driving saves a pound of carbon dioxide emissions, which adds up fast.

Winter Storm Outages

Be PreparedA home emergency kit can be invaluable in the event of a prolonged power outage. We all hope that any outage is short-lived, but preparing for longer interruptions is time well spent. Here are some ideas for your kit:

Basic Needs Portable radio•Flashlight(s)•Spare batteries•Candles•Matches or a lighter•Wind-up or battery alarm clock•Moist towelettes (baby wipes)•Freezer ice packs–keep them in the freezer •all the time so they’re ready to useLarge cooler or ice chest•Sleeping bags or blankets•Warm, dry clothing•First Aid Kit •Personal hygiene supplies•Baby supplies, including diapers•Essential medicines/prescriptions•

Water If you know a storm with the potential to cause outages is coming, fill containers with water, including your bathtub(s). Separate water for drinking from that for other uses. Flush toilets sparingly with a bucket of water. Also, remember to fully charge your cell phone–portable phones without battery back-up will not work without power.

Food Plan on a 3 to 5 day supply for each member of the family, including family pets. These can include:

Canned meats, vegetables and fruits•Freeze dried meats, vegetables, fruits and •prepared mealsInstant foods•Foil pouch products•Infant foods and needs•Pet foods•

In addition, the following will make life without power easier:

Manual can opener•Disposable plates, cup, and eating utensils•Camp stove and fuel•

Be SafePrepare a safe source of heat. Have a safe alternative way to heat your home in case of a power failure. Never use a barbecue, camp stove or any other unvented heater because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you do not have a way to keep your home warm enough, go to the home of a friend or relative, or check into a shelter until the power goes back on.

Dangers of Portable GeneratorsConnect the appliance you want to use •directly to the generator. Do not connect the generator directly to •the building wiring system.Run the generator only in a well-•ventilated area to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide from burning fuel.Use caution when handling and storing •fuel. Turn off the generator for refueling.

To Report an Outage: 1-800-343-6432

The Co-op Board of Directors has approved a number of changes to the rates and charges you pay for electric service. Below is a review of those changes, as well as a discussion of other measures NHEC is taking to meet the economic challenges of the times.

Co-op PowerEffective November 1, 2009, the Co-op Power line item on your bill (the price you pay for our purchases of electricity from generators and wholesale suppliers) decreased 8.2%. This decrease is the result of expected lower energy costs during the upcoming winter period. Wholesale electricity is generally more expensive in winter due to New England’s heavy reliance on natural gas for both electricity and heating fuel. However, the nation enters this winter with a record amount of natural gas available in storage. Strong gas production and weak demand due to mild weather and the recession are holding gas prices for this winter down. NHEC does not make a profit on the costs of wholesale generation and electricity purchases–we charge our members only what it costs us to purchase power.

Regional Access ChargeEffective November 1, 2009, the Regional Access Charge increased 2.8% for a basic residential member. Some of the costs this charge recovers are set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and cover the Co-op’s share of the cost to build and operate the regional transmission system that gets power from generators to your home or business. Several billion dollars worth of improvements are currently underway on the New England transmission grid, aimed at improving overall reliability of the transmission grid and relieving transmission bottlenecks in locations such as the southern Connecticut and Boston metro areas. Some of the reliability improvements have occurred in New Hampshire as well, aimed at relieving congestion on the system between northern and southern New England.

Member Service ChargeEffective November 1, 2009, the Member Service Charge increased 7% to $21.41 per month. The Member Service Charge is a flat fee that is meant to recover most of the fixed costs to operate our distribution system. Whether you use no energy or 1,000 kilowatt-hours, there is a fixed cost associated with maintaining the poles, wires and meters that provide you with access to electricity. Earlier this summer, NHEC completed a Cost of Service study that showed the average cost to serve one member, without the sales of kilowatt-hours, is $37.25 per month. In order to keep rates as affordable and equitable as possible, NHEC does not seek to recover that entire cost through the Member Service Charge. The Delivery Charge portion of your bill, a per kilowatt hour charge, is the other charge by which NHEC recovers the cost to provide service.

The Bottom Line As a result of these changes described above, the typical residential member using 500 kWh per month will see an overall bill decrease of 2.3% effective November 1, 2009.

Cutting CostsRate changes alone are not enough to provide for the long-term sustainability of the Co-op during this prolonged period of declining kilowatt-hour sales and growth in new members. The Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to eliminate positions, freeze new hiring, reduce benefits and eliminate programs that are not essential to the core business of the company. These decisions have been made necessary in part by the sluggish economy, but also by unexpected and unprecedented increases in the cost of benefits. Fortunately, NHEC entered these hard times on solid financial footing and, with the changes outlined, can weather this downturn. We all hope for better times but are making the decisions necessary to ensure the Co-op remains viable.

Rate Changes Result in Seasonal Decrease

NHEC was proud to partner with the United States For-est Service in the development of the White Mountain National Forest Headquarters in Campton. The Co-op worked on two fronts, securing easements across I-93 to serve the

new campus and helping the Forest Service qualify for more than $15,000 in rebates from the statewide New Equipment & Construction energy efficiency program. The 23,400 square-foot office building houses 100 employees and is a model of energy efficient, low-impact design. Among the features of this LEED-certified project (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are a wood pellet cogeneration plant, pervious concrete parking lots, composting toilets and systems that recycle grey-water through indoor planter beds. See all the features online at: www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/.

Forest Service Holderness Library

The grand opening of the White Mountain National Forest Headquarters was October 30, 2009.

With know-how and rebates from NHEC, the 100-year-old Hol-derness Library is making smarter use of energy. On cold winter days the building’s old furnace was burn-ing up to two gal-lons of heating oil per hour to keep the place warm. A $5,000 rebate from NHEC helped the library replace the system with a highly efficient propane-fired furnace that is expected to save over $1,100 per year in heat-ing costs alone. Insulation, air sealing and lighting upgrades are adding to the savings as well.

Energy Solutions Rep. Ben Stephenson (left) and Key Account Executive Bill Johnstone (right) present Library Director Victoria Lang with a rebate check from NHEC for energy efficiency upgrades at the Holderness Library.

WATTS HAPPENING!

Seeking Candidates for Board of DirectorsFour seats on the 11-member Co-op Board of Directors will be up for election to three-year terms in 2010. In a cooperative, the members themselves elect candidates they feel will best represent them on the Board of Directors. Voting takes place by mail ballot in May 2010 with board members installed at the June annual meeting. The Co-op seeks broad representation from a diverse group of individuals and encourages all qualified mem-bers to consider running for one of the open seats. You must be a Co-op member in order to run for a position on the Board. For more information about how to get your name on next year’s ballot, contact Sharon Yeaton at 603-536-8801 or nhechq@nhec.com.

Board of Directors MeetingsThe NHEC board of directors regularly meets on the last Tuesday of each month at the co-operative’s headquarters in Plymouth. Please check the Board of Directors page on the Co-op website at www.nhec.coop, or call Sharon Yeaton at 603-536-8801 to confirm the cur-rent month’s meeting time and location.

Snow Tires, Oak Floor Tiles and a Sony PlayStation 3…They were all for sale last month in the online Co-op Classifieds. Buy, sell or swap at www.nhec.coop. Ads are free of charge to Co-op members and there’s no limit on how many ads you can post. To get started, register online and follow the links to post your free ads.

Co-op Member Discount!

Get Half-price Lift Tickets at Tenney Mountain!

Get a half-price all day lift ticket good for up to four people to use on January 22,

2010! Offer only available for skiing and riding. Member must present original cou-pon or recent copy of NHEC bill to receive

discount. No photocopies.