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P.O. Box 307, Mankato, KS 66956 www.rollinghills.coop
ROLLING HILLS E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
NEWS
Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. Douglas Jackson–General Manager
Board of Trustees Gary Frieling, Athol President–District 2
Jim Ehrlich, Wilson Vice-President–District 1
Kevin Cromwell, Haddam Secretary–District 3
Bernard Bohnen, Dorrance Treasurer–District 1
Paul Wilson, Burr Oak Trustee–District 2
Leon Eck, Tipton Trustee–District 2
Robert Fredrickson, Ellsworth Trustee–District 1
Melroy Kopsa, Cuba Trustee–District 3
Jay Overmiller, Lebanon Trustee–District 2
Justin Trost, Concordia
Don’t Hesitate, Report Your Outage 24/7 Did you know that Rolling Hills Electric has its employees answering outage or emergency calls around the clock and seven days a week? All three offices have dispatchers receiving calls after regular business hours. The office phone will callforward to the dispatch phone after hours and it may take a bit to get through depending on the number of outages. If there are several outage calls coming in to your local office, you may receive a busy signal or be transferred to the dispatch phone voicemail. The dispatcher is most likely taking outage information or contacting the on-call lineman. Please provide the dispatcher
with the actual name on the account, the account number, 911 address, meter number and other identifying location. Not only does this information shorten the length of each call being received, it may assist in locating or determining the cause of the outage. Continue calling your local office to report your outage. We want to hear from you and appreciate your patience. f ELLSWORTH OFFICE
785-472-4021 or 800-530-5572 f MANKATO OFFICE
785-378-3151 or 877-906-5903 f BELLEVILLE OFFICE
785-527-2251 or 877-339-2496 f OSBORNE OUTPOST
785-346-2031 or 800-530-5572
Trustee–District 3
District Offices District 1–Ellsworth 208 W. First Street P.O. Box 125 Ellsworth, KS 67439-0125 785-472-4021
District 2–Mankato 122 W. Main P.O. Box 307 Mankato, KS 66956-0307 785-378-3151 District 3–Belleville 2305 US 81 Hwy P.O. Box 309 Belleville, KS 66935-0309 785-527-2251
Join us for Co-opportunity Day Friday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. in Beloit
Rolling Hills Electric, Farmway Co-op and Farmway Credit Union invite their members and guests to join us for free hot-offthe-grill burgers, baked beans, chips and iced tea in recognition of Co-op Month. The event is weather permitting. This gathering is a great opportunity for cooperatives to thank our members and communities for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you there. Be sure to stop by the grills and say “hello” to the Rolling Hills Electric employees. We always enjoy your visit. OCTOBER 2015
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N E W S F R O M R O L L I N G H I L L S E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
Cold Weather Rule: Nov. 1 -March 31 The provisions of the Cold Weather Rule allow for special payment and disconnection procedures for any qualifying residential members. The rule allows qualifying members to retain electric service throughout the cold weather period, which extends from Nov. 1-March 31 and for the development of payment agreements between the cooperative and the member. The cooperative will not disconnect a member’s service between Nov. 1-March 31, as long as the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will drop below 35 degrees Fahrenheit or will be in the mid to low 30s within the next 24-hour period and if the member complies with the provisions of the Good Faith Test. To meet the Good Faith Test requirements, the member must inform the cooperative of his or her inability to pay the bill in full before the stated date of delinquency. The member and the cooperative may negotiate payment agreements that are mutually agreeable and can be individualized to the member’s situation. If for any reason those terms are not met, the agreement becomes null and void and the member’s electric service will be subject to immediate disconnection. It is the belief of some that once the Cold Weather Rule is in effect, electric bills can be ignored and the cooperative will not disconnect service. This belief is NOT true. The cooperative can and will disconnect for non-payment if certain criteria is not met.
Trustee Election Bylaws & Committee The Trustee positions expiring on December 31, 2015, are JIM EHRLICH from Wilson, District 1, Position 2; JAY OVERMILLER of Lebanon, District 2, Position 2; and MELROY KOPSA of Cuba, District 3, Position 2. The 2015 Nominating Committee includes the following members: ff District 1 (Ellsworth, Russell, Lincoln, Barton, Saline) ALLAN BROKES, Wilson GENE MEITLER, Lucas ff District 2 (Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Phillips, Rooks, Smith) TERRY LONG, Lebanon MELVIN WILCOXSON, Osborne ff District 3 (Clay, Cloud, Republic, Washington) MICHAEL JUNEK, Cuba JARED MELTON, Belleville
SECTION 4.05 Nominations of Trustees. The Board shall appoint a
nominating committee, on or before the first day of October of each year, consisting of not less than one, nor more than three members from each district for whom a Trustee is to be elected. Board members may not serve on the nominating committee. Only committee members from each district will nominate their own candidate. Committee members from district one will meet together at Ellsworth, committee members from district two will meet at Mankato and committee members from district three will meet at Belleville. Nominating committees shall meet during the month of October. On or before the first day of November, the nominating committee shall prepare and post a list of nominations for Trustee at all three offices of the co-op. The committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each position.
Nominations may be made by petition, filed on or before the close of business, December 1, at one of the three offices of the co-op. The petition must be signed by not less than five percent of the members of the district for whom the Trustee is to be elected. The secretary shall immediately post such nominations at the same place where the list of nominations by the committee is posted. Nominations made by petition shall appear on the ballot in the order received. Any members interested in having his or her name on the ballot for a trustee position should call his or her district office, or notify one of the nominating committee members. Trustee candidates must reside in one of the counties in the respective district.
SECTION 4.06 Election of Trustees.
The election of Trustees shall be by mail ballot. Only those nominees selected by the nominating committee or nominated by petition shall appear on the ballot. There may be write-in votes for a qualified member not named on the ballot. The ballot shall first list the name nominated by the committee, then the names nominated by petition in the order received and, at the end, a place to write in a name. Failure of strict compliance with the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of any election of Trustees. The secretary shall mail the ballots to the respective members on or before the 10th day of December of each year. On or before the first day of January of each year, ballots must be postmarked or received at the offices of the co-op.
Please Don’t Mail Payments to Osborne Outpost It has been brought to our attention that the post office in Osborne has been receiving mail, including payments for Rolling Hills Electric. The Osborne location is an outpost only. All payments and correspondence should be sent to one of the three offices below.
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ff Rolling Hills Electric, P. O. Box 125, Ellsworth 67439 ff Rolling Hills Electric, P. O. Box 307, Mankato 66956 ff Rolling Hills Electric, P. O. Box 309, Belleville 66935
Please contact one of the above offices for questions.
Ticket Give-Away for the International String Trio Rolling Hills Electric has five pairs of tickets available for the above concert to be held on Thursday, October 29 at 7 p.m. in the Beloit Municipal Building. One entry per member, please.
International String Trio Ticket Drawing–Enter Oct. 22 Name ____________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip _____________________________________________________________ Phone Number _____________________________________________________________ Mail your entry to: Rolling Hills Electric, Attn: Linnea, P. O. Box 125, Ellsworth, KS 67439
No Posting Zone: Power Poles Most jobs do not require you to climb 40 feet in the air and conduct business within a few feet of high voltage power lines that carry 7,200 volts of electricity. However, for many utility workers, this is just another day at the office. Across the nation there are between 160 to 180 million utility poles that provide the electricity that powers everything in your daily life — including the brewing of your morning cup of coffee and the lights you turn off before going to bed. The electricity we depend on would not be possible without the linemen who maintain and repair these utility poles. Rolling Hills Electric urges you to keep utility poles free from all personal materials such as balloons, fliers, and metal objects like staples or tacks. By respecting utility poles, you can help keep your community powered and our linemen safe. This practice of putting attachments on poles is not only illegal in many areas, but also creates hazards
for the linemen. Utility workers use specialized climbing devices to perform regular maintenance and repair damaged power lines at the top of utility poles. Nails, tacks, and other metal objects that are used to attach objects to utility poles can interfere with the safe operation of the climbing boots used by utility workers. Foreign objects that are embedded in utility poles can also snag or damage the protective clothing that keeps line workers safe from electrical shock. These men and women already work in extremely hazardous conditions, so everyone who relies on electricity should take steps to make their job as safe as possible. Other items that have been found on utility poles include tree stands for hunting. If you plan on hunting, do not place tree stands or other objects on utility poles. For your own safety, please keep as much distance between yourself and overhead power lines as possible.
Electrical Safety Tips for Kids At Rolling Hills Electric, we understand your child’s health and well-being are your top priority. With more than 140,000 electrical fires occurring each year, knowledge of electrical safety is necessary to ensuring your loved ones stay safe. Here are a few tips you can share with your little ones: Electrical fires are caused when a wire or electrical device overheats. It is important to make sure your children understand that water cannot extinguish this type of fire. Only fire extinguishers should be used to snuff out an electrical fire. In fact, it’s important they understand that water and electricity do not mix! Keep all electrical devices, especially those used in a bathroom–blow dryers, curling irons, electric razors–away from water. Keep metal objects out of appliances and plugs. If a piece of toast gets stuck in the toaster, never use a metal knife to retrieve it. Unplug the toaster, and use a different tool or utensil to remove the toast. Remember, only plugs should go in outlets. Sticking fingers or other objects in outlets may result in an electrical shock. It’s always a good idea to turn lights off when they are not in use. This will save your family money on your electric bill and prevent electrical fires from overheated bulbs. Kids will be kids, and they love the great outdoors. Remind them to avoid overhead power lines. Whether they are climbing trees or flying kites or remote-controlled toys, they should always be mindful of what is above. Talk to your children about the importance of electrical safety, and more importantly, lead by example– because you never know who’s watching. OCTOBER 2015
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Helping Others Means Safety First When Dealing with Electricity Good Samaritans are characterized as people who have the desire to help those in need. Knowing how best to help in an emergency situation can make the difference between life and death — for the victim and the Good Samaritan as well. In 2012, two women separately came upon the scene of an accident in the Los Angeles area where a driver had crashed into a fire hydrant and a power pole. Both women thought that they could help the driver of the car. However, power lines were down, and the lines had energized the water from the fire hydrant that had pooled around the car. When the women approached the car, they unfortunately could not even save themselves. Fallen power lines do not have to be sparking or arcing to be live and energizing objects they are in contact with. Therefore, always assume the power line is energized, and never
touch or approach it. If you come upon an accident scene involving a vehicle and downed lines, stay back and warn others to stay away. Make sure the occupants of the car stay inside the vehicle until the utility has de-energized the lines. In a rare circumstance, the vehicle may catch fire. The only way the occupants can safely exit is to jump free and clear without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Advise them to jump and land with feet together, and then hop away to safety. If you encounter any other accident situation in which you believe someone is in contact with electricity or has just suffered an electrical shock, here are some additional tips: ff Look first. Do NOT touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source and be energized. If there are others nearby,
make sure they do not touch the person either. ff Call, or have someone nearby call, 911 and the electric utility. ff Turn off the source of electricity — if known and if safely possible (i.e., circuit breaker or box). If you are not sure, wait for help from the emergency responders. ff Only once the source of electricity is OFF, check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing, or movement). Provide any necessary first aid. ff Prevent shock. Lay the person down and, if possible, position the head slightly lower than the trunk of the body with the legs elevated. ff Do not move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger. Remember, safety first. To learn more about electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.
Start Saving with a DIY Home Energy Audit As temperatures begin to drop and your energy focus turns from cooling your home to heating it, consider using this time to increase energy efficiency and cost savings for the colder months ahead. Whether your home is old or new, chances are you are spending more on energy costs than necessary. Armed with some basic knowledge and a little time, you can conduct a baseline energy audit of your home to identify where you are losing energy (and money). Use a checklist and take notes on problems you find as you walk through your home. Remember, the audit itself won’t save you money unless you act on your findings. So, where to start? If your home has multiple levels, work from the top down. Begin in your attic or highest floor, and work your way down to the first floor or basement. Insulation and air leaks (drafts)– According to the Department of Energy, improving your home’s insulation and sealing air leaks are the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars. Check to see
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whether there is sufficient insulation in the attic. Are openings containing piping, ductwork and chimney sealed? Electronic devices–Inventory all of the electronic devices you have and how often you use them. Computers, printers, DVD players, phones and gaming consoles are notorious “vampire power” users–they drain energy even when not in use. If items can be turned off without disrupting your lifestyle, consider plugging them into a power strip that can be turned on and off (or put on a timer). Lighting–Note where you still have incandescent lights. Can you replace them with CFL or LED upgrades? Do you have nightlights? If so, consider replacing them with LED nightlights. Are there places where you can install motion sensor lights in low use areas, such as a closet, porch or garage? Thermostat/indoor temperature–Do you have a programmable thermostat? When was the last time it was programmed? Is the date and time correct? If they are not, this could throw off the automatic
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settings. Is it set so the temperature is lower during the day and/or times when no one is home and at night when people are sleeping? Consider lowering the temperature a few degrees. Appliances and cleaning–Appliances are large energy users, and if yours are more than 10 years old, they are likely not as energy efficient as today’s options. How and when you use them also make a difference. Do you wash your clothes in hot water, or can you use cold water instead? Do you use your washer, dryer or dishwasher during the day? Consider running them at night, during off-peak times. Does your hot water heater have a blanket? If not, consider insulating it. Make sure your dryer vent isn’t blocked–this will not only save energy, it may also prevent a fire. Once you have completed the audit, take a look at the findings. Prioritize actions that you can take based on your time and budget, weighing where you can get the most impact for your investment. Increasing your home’s energy efficiency will make your family comfortable while saving you money.
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