8 News Flashes

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Fax: harrisoninfo@hcrec.coopwww.hcrec.coop

OFFICE HOURS7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Harrison County RuralElectric Cooperative61 Fourth StreetPO Box 2Woodbine, Iowa 51579

Joe Farley, Manager/EVP Jackie Androy, Editor

DirectorsTim Sproul, presidentMarvin Klein, vice presidentDave Dickinson, secretary Russ Kurth, treasurerRodney PlathJake HeimJohn BurbridgeJim SharpLarry Ramsey

News Flashes

712-647-2727800-822-5591712-647-2906

Harrison CountyRural Electric Cooperative

OCTOBER 2013

New Facilities ConsideredThe board and management of Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative

(HCREC) have been considering how best to update our office and other facilities for more than five years. This will be the first in a series of articles explaining problems with existing facilities, solutions being considered, and likely financial impact. The purpose of this article is a brief overview. More detail will come in future communications.Why are new facilities needed?

HCREC was founded in 1936 and moved to its current facilities in 1966. Though your cooperative has carefully maintained all its facilities, time has taken its toll. All structures are in need of upgrades, some badly in need. The cooperative has identified a series of critical issues needing to be addressed. The more serious include:

1) Safety of personnel and the publica) Large trucks in and out on busy Lincolnway Street with school children, busy grocery store, bicycles, and public

walkway in front of our operation warehouseb) Ventilation; diesel fumes contaminates offices; lack of windows; health/security risk

2) Inadequate work space, i.e. operations and administrative staff offices have multiple staff in each room3) Inadequate garage space for expensive vehicles

a) Door height won’t allow for new expensive truck entryb) Insufficient room for expensive and large equipment

Beyond the specific issues identified above, the cooperative believes updating facilities will generally improve efficiency, which should moderate increases in future operating costs. More detail will follow in future articles.What solutions are being considered?

Your board began over five years ago to consider possible solutions. Among these were 1) doing nothing, 2) remodeling/expanding existing facilities at the current site, 3) relocating to a new or existing building at the Woodbine Industrial Park, and 4) construction of new facilities elsewhere.

Facing the issues at hand, doing nothing cannot be seen as a long-term option. Though it was thoroughly studied, remodeling/expanding at the existing site is also not a viable long-term solution, if for no other reasons than insufficient space and growing traffic issues. Beyond this, however, a modern electric cooperative utility with heavy trucks and equipment potentially operating 24 hours per day is just not a good long-term fit for any city center, especially when located near retail and residential structures. A more likely long-term solution is relocating to the Woodbine Industrial Park. A site has been identified next to the existing HCREC pole yard, and the cooperative is in discussion with the city and local economic development organizations. We will provide more information in future articles as details become available.Financial Situation

Your board continually reviews the cooperative financial position. Fortunately, HCREC is strong and well positioned, even in today’s challenging energy environment. Your cooperative is experiencing modest but steady growth and has significant cash reserves, including cash available from the proceeds of a highly successful investment made by HCREC’s economic development subsidiary. In addition, interest rates continue to be relatively low. All in all, this seems a favorable time to think about investing in infrastructure that will benefit the cooperative for years to come. Details of project costs will be discussed in future articles.

The HCREC board assures you it carefully balances the facility needs of the cooperative against maintaining financial strength while minimizing future impact on rates. At HCREC our only goal is to meet the needs of our member-owners, both today and tomorrow. Submitted by: Board of Directors, Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative

Spot Your Main Account Number

Read News F l a s h e s watching for y o u r m a i n a c c o u n t

number in any of the articles or ads. If you find it, call Jackie Androy at HCREC by the 20th of the month to receive a $20.00 electric bill credit.

Auditing Energy: Small Measures, Real Savingssummer? If yes, then it probably experiences air leakage.

To track down where the spots are, start with the usual suspects, such as damaged seals around doors and windows. If you see daylight or feel air, apply caulking and weather stripping to keep outdoor air where it’s supposed to be.

Don’t forget spots you might not immediately think of, like recessed canister lights and electric outlets. Outlet insulation kits can be purchased for as little as $2, and you can fix your canister lights with some caulking around the edges.

Also, look where walls meet the ceiling. Cobwebs mean you’ve got drafts.

Next, peek into the attic and inspect the crawl space or basement for sufficient insulation. How much insulation is needed depends on your climate. Check out the insulation calculator from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory: www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html. Keep in mind insulation won’t do its job well if you don’t have a proper air barrier working in tandem. That means all joints and cracks must be sealed between your living space and insulation.

F i n a l -ly, look at your light f i x t u r e s . C o m p a c t fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are

No matter the age of your home, there are things you can do to find low-cost solutions that can save money on your monthly electric bill.

Ask yourself a simple question: Does my home feel drafty and cold in the winter or stuffy and hot in the

up to 75 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they’ve come a long way in light quality, design, and affordability.

You can purchase a CFL in a variety of shapes and hues. They cost more upfront, but you’ll make your money back in less than nine months and, after that, they start saving money. Make sure to purchase a CFL that’s rated by ENERGY STAR, as ENERGY STAR-rated CFLs will typically last ten times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb producing the same amount of light.

LEDs – light emitting diodes – are in the next wave of residential lighting. An ENERGY STAR-rated model is estimated to use only a quarter of the electricity consumed by traditional bulbs and can last for 25 years. As with many new technologies, the up-front cost for an LED bulb is still much more than even a CFL, but prices are expected to drop as new products are developed.

To learn more about ways to reduce your electric bill, contact Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative, Randy Coyle at 800-822-5591 or 712-647-2727.

Source: NRECA, EnergySavers.gov, Eastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, EnergyStar.gov

Call BEFOREyou DIG!

It’s the LAW!

Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative News Flashes A Touchstone Energy Cooperative 72 October 2013

Keep wintery drafts out of your home by sealing cracks and gaps. Weather stripping around doors and windows works well when you can see daylight between the frame and the wall or floor. Use caulk to seal around the frames where you see gaps. For more tips and tricks, visit TogetherWeSave.com.

Source: TogetherWeSave.com

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

REC will pay Patronage on EstatesPatronage will be paid to estates on a discounted basis in December 2013.

If you are interested in taking a discounted settlement on the patronage of a deceased member, please complete the form below and return it to our office by Friday, October 25th. A form will then be sent for your signature to confirm the amount of patronage.

Request for Patronage to Estates

____________________________ ____________________________Name of deceased Deceased’s spouse

____________________________ ____________________________Address (when Co-op member) Name of executor or contact

____________________________ ____________________________City, State, Zip Contact’s Street Address

______________ ____________ ____________________________Date of Death Memb # Contact’s City, State, Zip

Complete & return this form by October 25th to: Shanell DickmanHarrison County Rural Electric CooperativeP.O. Box 2Woodbine, IA 51579-0002

Members helping Members thru RECare By Lori Barry, Director of Finance/Administration

Harrison County REC has a program available to its members that allows you to make a one-time donation, or a monthly donation to help someone in need with their electric bill. For the 2013 period, an average of 22 REC members contributed $951.00, decreasing $63.00 from last year. 401900011

Your donation can be made with a check, or with your approval, it can be added to your electric bill. Look for the RECare coupon in your newsletter, or contact the office to get signed up. Please consider donating to this worthy program that helps your local community!

Dealing with Cedar Tree Overgrowth in Power LinesCedar trees growing into power lines have become an issue that can potentially cause trips and outages. Harrison

County Rural Electric Cooperative is inspecting and dealing with the problem through an area contractor. If you have tree overgrowth on your property and need a local contractor, make contact with Magnolia Pasture Restoration (clearing land of unwanted trees and shrubs). Owners are Mark Michael (712-592-1654) and Bill Troshynski (402-740-1988), operating out of Logan, Iowa. Shown above is Tom Bertelsen clearing the trees under cooperative power lines with a machine that takes the tree down and at the same time chews the entire tree to debris or wood chips.

Reduce Energy Use during Peak Hours

Peak hours are the busiest times for your Cooperative since many people are using electricity at the same time. In addition, it costs more to generate electricity when demand soars during peak periods, causing the cost of your electricity to possibly rise. So using less electricity during peak periods can save your co-op, and you, money.

Following are some ways you can help during peak hours. Generally peak hours fall on the coldest of winter and hottest of summer days, between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.l Shift household chores and

activities away from peak hours. Example: Run your dishwasher when you go to bed.

l U s e y o u r m o s t e n e rg y efficient appliances. Example: Your microwave oven uses considerably less energy than your stove top or oven.

l I f you’re buying a new appliance, be sure you get the energy efficient one using the ENERGY STAR® label to evaluate models.

l Be aware of your energy consumption. Get in the habit of being energy efficient year round.Use the energy you need,

but use it wisely! Help your cooperative avoid building expensive new power plants and keep your electric rates stable.

Do You have an Air-to-Air Heat Pump?

If you do, make sure the outside coil-fan unit is clean before winter’s heating is in full swing. Because of the hot summer, your heat pump ran more than normal, which would cause it to draw more dust, leaves, etc into the coil area. A dirty coil will lower the heat pump efficiency making it run longer, causing undue wear on the unit.

Also, don’t forget the filter in the air-handling unit in your basement. A clean coil/fan outside unit and a clean furnace filter are the most cost effective steps you can take to keep your heat pump in peak operating condition.

Daylight SavingTime Ends

Change Your Clocks

NOVEMBER 3– Fall Back One Hour –

A Touchstone Energy Cooperative 3October 20136 News FlashesHarrison County Rural Electric Cooperative

2013 Energy Trail ToursEach summer bus loads of western Iowa electric cooperative members head to the Dakotas to seek the source

of their electric power.More than 100 cooperative members and employees made the trek north this summer as part of the Energy

Trail Tours conducted by Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) and its members. Three, three-day tours headed out in July and August.

Members first stopped at the Oahe Dam north of Pierre, S.D., for a tour of the powerhouse. There the force of the Missouri River creates hydropower that supplies about 20 percent of the electric needs in the NIPCO service area. 50000010

From there, the bus headed north where tour members spent a busy day visiting several facilities in the Beulah and Wilton, N.D. areas. They toured Antelope Valley generating station and the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, both owned by Basin Electric Power Cooperative; the Freedom mine, which supplies coal to both Antelope Valley and Great Plains; and to the Wilton Wind Energy Center, a 130-turbine development that send power into the Basin Electric system. Antelope Valley, Great Plains and Freedom Mine are located in one complex to share resources and gain efficiencies.

“I’ve gained a much better understanding of what happens behind the scenes at power plants and what the processes are to bring that source of power to our homes,” said one tour member.

“I didn’t know so many organizations worked together to provide us a product,” said another.

If you haven’t taken this educational and enjoyable three-day tour in prior years, watch for the sign up coupon in April and May newsletters to take the 2014 trip.

During Harvest -Look UP! Be SAFE!

Ellen & Dir. Rodney Plath, along with members Elaine & Jeff Smith, and Gaylene (employee) & Terry Woodward were our cooperative participants enjoying the tour this year.

Take the Chill Out of Winter BillsBetween holiday houseguests and shorter, colder days, electric bills tend

to rise in the winter. Below are ways to save energy during temperature drops.

l Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees – Decreasing the temp one degree, saves 5 percent on heat costs.

l Adjust blinds and curtains – Open them for sunlight during the day and close them at night to keep heat inside and protect from night time drafts.

l Reduce hot water temperatures – Set your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees or lower. Hot water accounts for 12 percent of an average home energy use.

l Seal and insulate – Keeps heat in and air out. (corners, cracks, door frames, and windows)

l Consider replacing old appliances, doors, and windows with Energy Star-rated models – Save about 15 percent of your normal energy use with these appliances and get better insulation on doors and windows for the price you pay.

l Free vents – HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems have to work twice as hard if vents are blocked by rugs, furniture, or doors. Keep vents clear for proper air flow.

l Keep food cool – 34 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit is usually sufficient to avoid overworking refrigerators.

l Special holiday tip – Decorate with LED lights. They’re up to 75 percent more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lights and last much longer. Watch the Energy-Star rating when you purchase, as cheaper LEDs tend not to last as long or be as durable.

Visit TogetherWeSave.com or www.hcrec.coop for more ways to save.

Electrical Safety involving Downed Power Lines

Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative offices

will be closed Monday, November 12th observing

Veterans’ Day

Every year there are fatalities and many reports of injuries due to contact with downed power lines. Below are just a few tips that might keep you safe in such instances.

Never touch a downed power line. Assume all wires on the ground are charged and stay away. Touching a downed power line can be fatal. Report them to your electric cooperative immediately. Never assume someone else has reported a power outage or downed line. BeSafe and make the call!

It’s best to stay inside after a storm to avoid possible contact with a down power line. There may be downed

power lines hidden by brush or debris. Storm debris can easily ignite when in contact with d o w n e d p o w e r lines, especially if the electrical wires are severed.

I f y o u c o m e upon an accident or are in an accident involving downed power lines, it’s best to stay in your vehicle and wait for help to arrive. If you have a cell phone report the accident and

downed power line to emergency responders and also the local utility if possible immediately. Never exit your vehicle unless there is an absolute emergency, such as a fire in your vehicle.

In case of fire causing the urgency, jump free of the vehicle with your feet together, then bunny-hop with your feet together as far as you can. Walking or running with feet apart can cause electrocution.

After an accident your vehicle and the surrounding area can become energized. Electricity looks for the quickest path to ground causing a serious and possibly fatal injury to you or the Samaritan approaching. Warn them to stay away!

Crystalized soil resulting from energized line on the ground.

Have a Creepy, but SAFE – Halloween!

Halloween lights and decoration in October are almost as common as Christmas displays in December. The same safety rules apply, plus a few special cautions for costumes.l Wear costumes and accessories that are flame

resistant, flame retardant and non-combustible.l Use flashlights, battery-operated candles, or glow

light sticks for those trick-or-treaters on the streetsl Drivers should be especially careful watching for

little ghosts and goblins on the streets.

Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative News Flashes A Touchstone Energy Cooperative 54

BUDGET BILLINGBudget accounts are recalculated in June and December. If you have a question about your bill, please contact our office.

A message telling members their new budget amount will print on the bills mailed in May and November.

How We’re SpecialCooperative principles guide co-ops to be stewards of their communities

Every October since 1930, not-for-profit cooperatives of all kinds have recognized National Cooperative Month as a way to educate the public about how cooperatives work and appreciate their members.

In 2013, Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) highlights the notions that guide all co-ops, commonly referred to as the “Seven Cooperative Principles”.#1: Voluntary and Open Membership - Co-ops are open to anyone who is able to use its services, which means any person who

moves onto Harrison County REC service territory is allowed membership. Annual meetings serve as a very good way for members to get to know the people who run their co-op. It’s also a time for members to be updated on important business matters. Each year on the first Monday in April, Harrison County REC convenes for its annual membership meeting. Watch for details on the 2014 annual meeting as the time nears, usually beginning in December and January.

#2: Democratic Member Control - Members vote for a director to represent them on the board of directors, which governs thecooperative. Annual meetings also serve as the forum for this election of directors. Voting information will be sent to you through the monthly cooperative newsletter and by direct mailing so that you are included to vote for the directors of your choice each year before, by absentee, or at the annual meeting.

#3: Members’ Economic Participation - Electric cooperatives are owned by their members, therefore they do not create profits forshareholders. Excess revenue/margins are allocated back to the membership in the form of capital credits or patronage. Capital credits are retired and then paid back to members each year based on their purchased power usage from the cooperative. Margins are used by the Harrison County REC as working capital for a period of time, then paid back to individual members as the board approves and allocates. “Allocating and retiring excess revenue to members helps distinguish cooperatives,” points out Manager/EVP, Joe Farley. “We’re proud to support our communities by putting money back in local economy and the pockets of the members we serve. That’s a special business model.”Nationally, electric cooperatives have retired $11 billion in capital credits since 1988, of which $768 million was in 2012.

#4: Autonomy and Independence - Electric cooperatives are found in 47 states and cooperative-owned electric lines cover 42 percentof our nation’s land mass. Each cooperative, however, is its own autonomous, independent business.We work closely with our neighboring co-ops, but our members are the sole governors of Harrison County REC. The member-elected board of directors approves policies and resolutions that inform the way we do business. 322601010

#5: Education, Training, and Information - Cooperatives have a responsibility to keep their members informed regarding mattersof cooperative business. Other important topics of concern would be energy efficiency, safety, and community contribution. Your cooperative’s monthly local newsletter, “News Flashes” and the statewide cooperative magazine, “Living with Energy” are both good ways to keep members informed on relevant news. A great deal of cooperative information can also be found on our website, www.hcrec.coop.

#6: Cooperation among Cooperatives - Cooperatives are independent entities, but still work closely together and rely on each othersharing resources, information, and manpower. Mutual aid is a program electric co-ops have relied on for many years to get power restored quickly after severe weather emergencies. Harrison County REC needed extra hands after the severe blizzards of 2009 and 2010 as well as the Missouri River flooding of 2011. Mutual aid was used as Co-ops from neighboring towns and states came to our call for help in restoring power to our membership more quickly. When neighboring co-ops need help, Harrison County REC sends crews to their aid. Some examples would be ice storms in Northeast Iowa, North & South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Missouri, along with the disasters created in Louisiana and Mississippi by Hurricane Katrina.

#7: Concern for Community - Probably the most visible of the seven cooperative principles, driving electric cooperatives to be goodstewards of the communities they serve and/or are located. Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative undertakes a variety of projects, such as school safety and electrical education programs; any civic or professional groups no matter the age requesting safety programs; coaching or refereeing youth activities; leaders of community youth groups; serving on city or government boards. Employees may also be serving on hospital, library, church, or other boards as in director positions. Our first priority is delivering safe, affordable, reliable electricity to those we serve, but we also feel strongly about supporting and contributing to the development of our communities. Even if there were no concern for community principle, employees of Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative live in the communities we serve, and we serve neighbors and friends.

Cooperatives support 4-H

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of Iowa showed their support for youth and education by sponsoring the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 8-18. Co-op representatives also staffed an energy efficiency display in the 4-H Building. 310700910

The display featured detailed information on insulation types and effectiveness; infiltration reduction; external wall construction; lighting options; correct window installation and flashing; water heating; heat pumps and old appliance recycling.

The Touchstone Energy booth also featured an energy bike that allowed fairgoers to pedal and generate electricity to power items such as light bulbs, a radio or fan. The bike demonstrated how much more energy is required to light inefficient bulbs compared to compact fluorescent lamps or LEDs.

2 c. flour 2 t. Baking powder1 t. salt 1 t. cinnamon½ t. nutmeg ½ t. allspice

Sift the above ingredients together. Set aside

4 eggs 2 c. raw carrots, grated2 c. sugar 1 c. crushed pineapple1 ¼ c. oil 1 c. nuts½ c. coconut

Mix together and add to the dry mixture. Mix well. Put into a greased 9”x13” pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Frosting:¼ c. butter 2 T. cream cheese1 pkg. powdered sugar ¾ c. coconut¼ c. pineapple 1 t. vanilla2 t. orange peel

Sift all together and frost cooled cake. Enjoy!

October 2013

Tropical Carrot Cake

Consumer Authorization FormYes! I want to be a part of members helping members and contribute to RECare._____ I will make a one-time contribution to RECare. My check is enclosed._____ I will contribute $________ per month to RECare.I understand this amount will be added to my monthly electric bill.Name: __________________________________________________________Address: ________________________________________________________City: ________________________________ State: ______ Zip: __________Account Number: _________________________

Mail to: RECare Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 2

Woodbine, IA 51579-0002

RECare Program InformationMembers Helping Members

Your Rural Electric Cooperative has always extended a helping hand to those needing it. Now, in response to actions by the Iowa General Assembly, your REC has established RECare, a program of members helping members. RECare will provide funds to be distributed by local community action agencies to help pay winter heating bills and assist in weatherization of homes of low-income consumers of this cooperative.

You may make a one-time contribution or you may make a monthly pledge that will be automatically added to your monthly electric bill. You may also make your contribution part of a matching fund, if there is one established.