May 2015 - Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative

P.O. Box B
1564 S. 1000 Rd, Council Grove, KS 66846
620-767-5144
www.flinthillsrec.com
FLINT HILLS RURAL
E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
Flint Hills RECA
Robert E. Reece General Manager
Board of Trustees
Roger Zimmerman
President
Duane Kaiser
Vice President
Duane Carlson
Secretary/Treasurer
Dale Andres
Trustee
Korby Effland
Trustee
Bill Hein
Trustee
Tim Miser
Trustee
Terry Olsen
Trustee
Shawn Potts
Trustee
Member Services
 ACH / Bank Draft
Program
 Online Payment
Options
 Outside Security
Lighting
 Power Surge
Protection
 Rebate
If you Programs
are without
electricity or have an electrical
For
moreon your side of
emergency
information,
us
the meter, we havecall
a master
electrician
on
staff
available
at 620-767-5144 24
hours a day.
NEWS
Flint Hills Helps Butler with Storm Damage
Cooperatives often need
help with power outages
and damage to their power
systems as a result of
strong storms of all kinds.
When this happens local
cooperatives are always
there to help their neighbors (we call this mutual
aid).
Butler REC’s system,
Flint Hills RECA crews helped to restore power to Butler REC, headquarin the El Dorado area, was
tered in El Dorado, after a spring storm.
damaged by a strong wind
crews (one from Council Grove
storm on April 2, 2015. The storm
warehouse and one crew from the
started just after midnight. When it
Hillsboro warehouse) with six trucks,
was over, Butler REC had 36 distribution poles and four transmission poles to help Butler REC with its repairs.
The Flint Hills RECA crews helped
on the ground throughout its system.
set new poles from 7:30 a.m. Friday
This resulted in over 3,500 members
morning until they returned home
without power.
around 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 4.
Butler REC called Flint Hills RECA
early that morning to request help.
We are happy to help our neighboring cooperatives who we know
Our Operations Manager, Damien
will return the favor in the future.
Herbert, dispatched two four-man
Flint Hills RECA Office Closed
May 25 for Memorial Day
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan,
national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed
on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in remembrance of those who died in
our nation’s service.
Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in
honor of those who died serving the nation during war time from the poem below
she wrote in 1915.
We cherish too, the Poppy red, That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies, That blood of heroes never dies.
MAY 2015
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
16-A
N E W S F R O M F L I N T H I L L S R U R A L E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
Get to Know
Your Co-op Staff
Tim Jirak
Area Line Superintendent /
Hillsboro Warehouse
Q. Where
are you from
originally?
Marion
Tim Jirak
Q. How long
have you
worked for
Flint Hills
RECA?
A. 27 years
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Love to hunt and fish
in my spare time
Q. Who is your favorite singer
or band?
A. George Strait
Q. What is your favorite
vacation spot?
A. Colorado
Q. Who is your favorite sports
team?
A. Kansas City Chiefs
Q. What is your favorite food?
A. Steak and shrimp
Q. What did you want to be
when you were a child?
A. I always wanted
to be a lineman
Q. What can you tell us about
your family?
A. I have a daughter, Hayley, who
is 22 and a son, Dylan, who is 20
16-B
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
MAY 2015
Putting Safety First This Month
& Throughout the Year
It’s May–and Flint Hills RECA is celebrating National Electrical Safety
Month. While safety for our members
is the top priority year-round, Electrical Safety Month is a time to acknowledge the importance of safety
excellence.
This year, we’re focusing on electrical safety in the home. Electricity is
the cause of more than 140,000 fires
each year, resulting in approximately
500 deaths, 4,000 injuries and $1.6 billion in property damage, according to
Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
There are many measures you
can take to ensure the safety of your
loved ones. Use these helpful tips
from ESFI to safeguard your home.
In the kitchen
 Vacuum refrigerator coils every
three months to eliminate dirt
buildup that can reduce efficiency
and create fire hazards.
 Ensure all countertop appliances are
located away from the sink.
 All appliance cords should be
placed away from hot surfaces. Pay
particular attention to cords around
toasters, ovens and ranges. Cords
can be damaged by excess heat.
 The top and the area above the
cooking range should be free of
combustibles, such as potholders
and plastic utensils. Storing these
items on or near the range may
result in fires or burns.
Light the way to safety
 The wattage of the bulbs you use in
your home should match the watt-
age indicated on the light fixture.
Overheated fixtures can lead to a
fire.
 Check lamp cords to make sure
they are in good condition–not
damaged or cracked. Do not attempt to repair damaged cords
yourself. Take any item with a damaged power cord to an authorized
repair center.
 Extension cords should not be used
to provide power on a long-term
or permanent basis. Have additional
receptacles installed by a professional to provide power where
needed.
Be prepared
 Nearly two-thirds of fire deaths
result from fires in homes without working smoke alarms. Smoke
alarms should be located on every
level of your home, inside each
bedroom and outside each sleeping
area.
 Test smoke alarms every month.
Batteries should be replaced at
least once a year–or sooner if indicated in the manufacturers’ instructions. All smoke alarms should be
replaced at least every 10 years.
 Talk to your family about an emergency plan in the event of a fire in
your home. If you have small children, include them in planning an
emergency escape route–they are
more likely to remember the plan if
they’re involved in creating it.
Electrical safety awareness and
education can save lives. For more
tips and information about electrical
safety, visit www.esfi.org.
Happy Mother’s Day–May 10
Flint Hills RECA would like to wish all mothers a
happy Mother’s Day on May 10.
Flint Hills Offers Services & Rebates for Members
It’s time to start thinking about spring
since the snow and ice are gone,
and time to get ready for thunderstorms, lightning strikes
and summer heat.
Flint Hills RECA is
offering a number of
products and services
that will help keep
you safe and comfortable through all Kansas
weather.
Whole house surge
protection–Protect
your major household
appliances from lightning strikes and other
power surges.
Security lights––
Have peace of mind
knowing your property is well lit at night,
and enjoy the safer
working conditions in
the evening.
Cash Rebates–See
–See
the chart to the right for information on the purchase and installation of electric water heaters,
energy efficient air source
heat pumps, and ground
source heat pumps. Flint
Hills RECA, in cooperation with Kansas Electric
Power Cooperative
(KEPCo), offers energy
efficiency rebates to
our members. To qualify
for a rebate the unit(s)
must be installed on
the cooperative’s line.
Rebates and requirements are updated
whenever Energy Star
ratings change.
Give us a call
at 620-767-5144 for
information on these
and other member
services, or visit our
website at www.
flinthillsrec.com
Flint Hills Rebate
Requirements
Water Heaters
 $100 for non-lifetime
 $150 for lifetime
 Minimum of 40 gallon and must have
Energy Factor (EF) of 0.93
 60 gallons or greater must have EF of
0.91
Ground Source Heat Pump
 $125 per ½ ton.
 Minimum unit size of two-ton
 Open loop-Must have minimum COP
of 3.6 and EER of 16.2
 Closed Loop-Must has a minimum COP
or 3.3 and EER of 14.1
Air Source Heat Pump
 $100 per ton for a 14.5 SEER
 $150 per ton for a 15.5 SEER
 $200 per ton for a 16.5 and above SEER
 Minimum unit size of two-ton
 Minimum HSPF of 8.2
Keep Your Family Safe During & After Summer Storms
No one knows electrical safety better than
the experts who practice it every single day.
Flint Hills RECA encourages you to practice
safety with these reminders–for during and
after a summer storm:
 Avoid wires and water–When lightning
strikes a home during a storm, the
electrical charge can surge through pipes
and utility wires. That means you can get
zapped if you’re touching water or any
device that’s plugged in, whether it’s a
landline phone or toaster.
 Skip the makeshift shelter–During a
storm, it's tempting to take cover under
a picnic gazebo or golf cart, but in opensided structures with no conductors to
channel strikes, a bolt's path of least resistance to the ground could be you. On top
of that, these structures raise your risk of
a lightning strike because of their height.
Keep moving toward suitable shelter.
 Portable generators–Take special care
with portable generators, which can
provide a good source of power, but if
improperly installed or operated, can become deadly. Do not connect generators
directly to household wiring. Power from
generators can back-feed along power
lines and electrocute anyone coming in
contact with them, including co-op line
workers making repairs. It’s best to hire
a qualified, licensed electrician to install
your generator and ensure that it meets
local electrical codes.
 Flooded areas–Stay away from downed
power lines and avoid walking through
flooded areas. Power lines could be
submerged and still live with electric-
ity. Report any downed lines you see to
Flint Hills RECA by calling 620-767-5144
immediately.
 Electrical equipment–Never use electrical
equipment that is wet–especially outdoor
electrical equipment, which could be a
potential danger after a summer storm.
Water can damage electrical equipment
and parts, posing a shock or fire hazard.
Flint Hills RECA has been a proud
member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
since 12 years Along with 750 electric
cooperatives nationwide, we have partnered
with Touchstone Energy to put safety as
our number one concern. For a checklist
to assess safety hazards around your home
or to take a quick safety quiz, go to www.
togetherwesave.com/power-of-community/
safety.
MAY 2015
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
16-C
16-D
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
MAY 2015