October • 2015 - Hill County Electric Cooperative

October • 2015
HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
NEWS & VIEWS
2121 US Hwy 2 NW • PO Box 2330 • Havre, MT 59501
TIP OF
THE
MONTH
Unplug Unused
Electronics
Don’t let vampires suck the life
out of your energy efficiency
efforts! Unplugging unused
electronics – otherwise known
as “energy vampires” – can
save you as much as 10% on
your electric bill.
Source: energy.gov
Avoid Bill
SHOCK!
Sign up for prepaid metering
from Hill County Electric
HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC
COOPERATIVE
Conveniently view usage
and pay online!
1.877.394.7804
hillcountyelectric.coop
Manager’s Message
by Rick Stevens, General Manager
Hill County Electric Cooperative (HCE) along with the
nation’s 900 electric cooperatives and more than 40,000
other cooperatives around the country are joining together to celebrate
National Co-op Month again this October. I would like to share some
reminders I found on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
website that help to tell the story of why electric cooperatives still hold an
important place in our rural areas.
The cooperative form of business makes a difference in all aspects of
life - utilities, housing, agriculture, health care, banking, insurance and
childcare. Cooperatives serve 120 million members, or four in 10 Americans.
Cooperatives are locally owned and operated. The fact that HCE is a locally
owned company - owned by the members we serve - keeps our focus on
you. More than just being locally owned, HCE conducts business through a
board of trustees elected at its annual meeting where bylaw changes are
proposed and voted on by you, the members we serve. It’s the “people”
part - the personal involvement, the grassroots activities - that characterizes
what electric co-ops are all about.
HCE’s commitment to you begins with maintaining reasonable rates in order
to keep your electric bill affordable. Electric service is delivered to you at
little more than cost. There are no hidden fees and no profits for investors in
faraway cities. Any money left over after all the bills are paid stays in our rural
areas and is put to work strengthening the economic well being of our rural
lifestyle. And being headquartered in Havre allows us to offer a personal
touch in resolving any questions about your service or your bill.
Because electric co-ops are so closely linked to the rural areas, there are
countless examples of activities that have the “co-op touch”: conducting
safety programs at schools and local events; providing scholarships and
supporting 4-H activities; working with the appropriate parties to encourage
new businesses or new housing to locate in our service areas; working in
support of area schools, colleges and hospitals - the list goes on and on.
It is precisely because HCE is a local business, owned by its memberconsumers and staffed by employees that live right here that places it in a
HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
1.877.394.7804 • hillcountyelectric.coop
October • 2015
HCE has always tried to be a good neighbor, providing
an important role in the rural areas we serve. Service
means not only making sure the electricity is flowing
but also helping the rural community and its citizens
maintain their current ventures and create new business
opportunities.
The HCE Board, Management and Staff care about the
people we serve. That service goes a long way beyond
keeping the lights on, it is neighbors helping neighbors.
That’s what it’s all about - that’s the electric co-op
tradition.
HCE HAPPENINGS
During July, Hill County Electric had approximately 1,753 account hours affected by outages.
Of these hours:
Primary UG Faults: 563
WPA/NWE: 187
Equipment Or Material Failure: 167
Planned Maintenance: 348
Weather Related: 329
Miscellaneous, Public, Wildlife or Unknown: 159
This compares to 3,387 hours one year ago. HCE crews worked on locates, work orders and maintenance
across the service area. Outback has completed the pole change out south of Chinook.
WIN A FREE TRIP TO
The experience of a lifetime is waiting for you!
LY ONLI
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DL
Tour Dates: June 11-17, 2016 Apply By: November 30, 2015
Essay Topic: Considering your top three consumer needs,
how do you believe HCE can best communicate our care and
concern to the younger members of the cooperative?
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EASY!
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HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
good position to listen and respond to the needs of this
area. All these things - helping consumers save energy,
economic development, and volunteerism - point to
one thing: your electric co-op and its staff are more than
just an electric utility. They are an integral part of the
community.
I N E 11/
30
1.877.394.7804 • hillcountyelectric.coop
October • 2015
BLAST FROM THE PAST
This article appeared in the HCE
Newsletter October 1978.
1. VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open
to all people able to use its services and willing
to accept the responsibilities of membership,
without gender, social, racial, political or religious
discrimination.
2. DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL
Cooperatives
are
democratic
organizations
controlled by their members—those who buy the
goods or use the services of the cooperative—who
actively participate in setting policies and making
decisions.
3. MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
Members contribute equally to, and democratically
control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits
members in proportion to the business they conduct
with the cooperative rather than on the capital
invested.
4. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE
Cooperatives
are
autonomous,
self-help
organizations controlled by their members. If the coop enters into agreements with other organizations
or raises capital from external sources, it is done
so based on terms that ensure democratic control
by the members and maintains the cooperative’s
autonomy.
5. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION
Cooperatives provide education and training for
members, elected representatives, managers and
employees so they can contribute effectively to
the development of their cooperative. Members
also inform the general public about the nature and
benefits of cooperatives.
6. COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively
and strengthen the cooperative movement by
working together through local, national, regional
and international structures.
7. CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work
for the sustainable development of communities
through policies and programs accepted by the
members.
HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
THE SEVEN COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
October • 2015
HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
SWAP & SHOP
SWAP & SHOP is a classified advertising section of the Hill County Electric and Triangle Communications
websites and newsletters. It is maintained as a service to customers and communities wanting to buy,
sell and announce non-commercial items. To include an ad, go to itstriangle.com/swap-and-shop and
complete the online form. Administrators will review the information within two business days and if
approved, the ad will appear on the website. It will stay online for 60 days unless you notify us to remove
or change it. It will also appear in any of the HCE & Triangle newsletters printed during that 60 day
window. HCE and Triangle reserve the right to abbreviate ads and if the section is full, we will display ads
on a first come, first-served basis.
AGRICULTURE
Hay for Sale
Winter wheat bales. $80 a ton (price negotiable
on quantity). Around #1100 net wrapped. Lots
of wheat in heads. Good feed value. West of
Havre. Call 406.372.3218 or 406.945.7359.
FOR SALE
Rabbit Hutches
One wood and wire rabbit hutch $35. Two wire
hutches with removable trays & feeder troughs
$20 each. Water bottles & feeder bins included.
Call 406.355.4123, all messages returned.
Moving - Must Sell!!!
Pellet stove $125, Oak roll top desk $150
Horse waterer $75, Ping pong table $30,
Daybed frame $25.00. Contact Chris or Faith,
Day: 406.861.0253 or Evenings: 406.669.3379.
Jayflight 2008 19’ Travel Trailer
Sleeps 7, excellent condition, some hail dents.
$4,500 OBO. Contact Chris or Faith, Day:
406.861.0253 or Evenings: 406.669.3379.
1985 Mercury
Marquis 4 door car. Call 406.654.2436.
97 Cadillac Seville
Clean with 12 stacker CD player.
Call 406.759.5579.
Elliptical
Schwinn 410i elliptical, good condtion. For more
information call Fitness Xpress at 406.759.5835.
1635 Massey Ferguson
For sale 1635 Massey Ferguson tractor. Like new,
only 1,367 hours. Call 406.547.3811.
TO GIVE AWAY
Basketball Hoop
Basketball hoop mounted on a long pipe. Free
for the taking. Call 406.265.2712.
IN SEARCH OF
One Level Ranch Style House
In search of a one level ranch style house in
good/fair condition that can be moved. Call Joe
at: 406.357.4236 or 406.945.4149
Employee(s) Needed
The Big Sandy Meat Shop is looking for a full
time employee. The job covers all aspects of our
plant. Wages are based on experience. Please
contact Jim at 406.390.6859 or the plant at
406.378.2119.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU
INCLUDE CONTACT INFO
WHEN SUBMITTING AN AD.