Electric Consumer

WHITE COUNTY
REMC
302 N. Sixth St., P.O. Box 599
Monticello, IN 47960
Phone: 574-583-7161
Toll Free: 800-844-7161
Fax Line: 574-583-4156
www.whitecountyremc.com
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Outside construction hours:
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Closed weekends
SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS
Local call: 574-583-7161
Long distance only: 800-844-7161, day or night.
Routine questions answered during regular
business hours. Only emergency calls will be
accepted after regular working hours.
DIRECTORS
Dean D. Lowry, chairman, District 2
8931 W 550 S, Francesville
219-567-9669
Margaret E. Foutch, vice chairman, District 4
7535 W 500 S, Chalmers
219-279-2677
Ralph H. Zarse, sec./treas., District 6
1535 S 100 E, Reynolds
219-984-5849
William R. Begley, assist. sec./treas., District 7
P.O. Box 365
1054 E. Creekside Court, Brookston
765-427-2578
Gerald E. Kruger, District 1
10036 W 700 S, Francesville
219-567-9605
Gary E. Gerlach, District 3
9833 S Base Road, Star City
574-595-7820
Melvin R. Coonrod, District 5
8666 N 800 E, Monticello
574-870-0145
Information from your electric cooperative
Powering the future ….
Strength, service, partnership
Early in April, Wabash Valley Power Association
hosted its 47th annual meeting in Indianapolis.
White County REMC board members with
President and CEO Randy Price attended the
event to discuss the future of energy. Wabash
Valley Power Association (WVPA) serves the
wholesale power needs of 28 local distribution
cooperatives in a five-state area.
Chuck Penry from the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA) delivered the
keynote address at the annual meeting. Penry’s
speech, titled, “The New Reality: What to Expect
from Washington,” laid the framework for the
remainder of the breakout sessions.
Sabrina Kapp, Wabash Valley Power communications manager, said, “When we were working
on the agenda for this year’s meeting, we tried
to balance the changing nature of our business
with the very real economic concerns that we’re
all facing. Our board of directors truly supports
ongoing education, and we appreciate this opportunity to spend a day learning and working
with the boards of our member systems.”
Breakout session topics including: “Retail
Pricing in the New Reality.” “The Resurgence
of the Nuclear Industry” and “Utility Financing
Meets Energy Policy.”
“Generation plant cost increases are up 85
percent due to higher material costs, fuel costs,
transmission upgrades, and the cost of renewable
Ralph Zarse
Margaret Foutch
portfolio standards which will raise retail prices,”
said Ralph Zarse, White County REMC board
member. Marty Blake, guest speaker, addressed
new approaches to customer-focused pricing in
the changing utility environment.
Power plant managers from WVPA’s five power
suppliers were on-hand to update attendees.
“The Holland Plant was acquired by Wabash
Valley and Hoosier Energy,” said Zarse. “The
Holland plant is an intermediate load plant with
an excellent environmental record. With its one
hour start-up time and 359,000 minimum volts
capacity, it will really help in July’s peak loads.”
“The managers from the five power plants
spoke on their dependable supply of electricity,”
said Margaret Foutch, White County REMC board
member. “It’s amazing how much is involved in
please turn to page 11EE
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide our members and
customers with high quality, competitively
priced electricity and other services. We strive
to exceed their expectations, winning their
loyalty while enhancing lifestyles in the communities we serve.
“No job is complete until the member is
satisfied.’
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2009 • 7EE
OPERATION ROUND UP
Operation Round Up distributes grants
W
hite County REMC Operation Round Up®
just completed its second quarter of distribution
to area nonprofits within the service territory.
Seventeen grants were awarded totaling $9,044
bringing 2009’s annual donations to $11,013.
Many of the distributed grants were earmarked
for area schools and youth educational experiences.
Brookston’s After School Experiences (BASE)
received a $500 grant to assist in the purchase
of two storage cabinets to organize media and
game collections plus a water slide for summer
activities. BASE is a program sponsored by
Brookston United Methodist Church. During
the school-year, 25-30 students from preschool to
sixth grade attend the safe haven that provides
organized activities. “In the summer, we have
between 40-50 students during the hours of
6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” said Christy McMindes,
a United Methodist Church teacher.
Junior Achievement serving White County
received $600 to support the Global Marketplace
program being taught in Frontier Elementary
and North White Middle Schools in spring, 2009.
“Through a series of six lessons taught by
community volunteers, students use these international aspects to analyze historical events
and contemporary international business concepts and practices,” said Keli Whitaker, Junior
Achievement area coordinator. “They apply
their knowledge of international trade to their
daily lives.”
Meadowlawn Elementary School teachers
Angie Alexander and Teresa Hemming applied
and received a $544 grant to purchase classic and
education board games.
The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana
received a $500 grant through the White
County REMC Operation Round Up fund. This
will help with publishing costs for the Pulaski
County Historic Sites and Structures Inventory
Interim Report. Suzanne Stanis, left, received
the check from White County REMC Member
Services Manager Casey Crabb.
8EE • ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2009
“We recognize the impact that
REMC makes in the White
County area by providing
financial assistance to many
worthy programs in the area.
We are extremely thankful
to REMC.”
— Christine Shaffer
“Research suggests there are great benefits
when teachers use board games in the classroom.
These games strengthen mathematic skills
of children, particularly from disadvantaged
backgrounds,” said Alexander. “These games
will be used to reinforce and supplement math
skills, to expand vocabulary, to promote higher
level thinking skills and to enhance social skills.
We will use them for family reading nights and
Grandparents Day.”
Barb Bedrick, representing the White County
United Way, accepted a $500 grant to support
Reading Junction of White County. This program
is affiliated with Dolly Parton Foundation’s Imagination Library. From birth to age five, children’s
parents may sign up to receive a hardbound book
a month from the Imagination Library. “Currently, there are 300 children who are enrolled
in the program with a waiting list of 150,” said
Bedrick. “There is no cost to the child’s family
and no eligibility requirements except for age
and residence. The cost to be part of Reading
Junction is $28 per child per year.”
Special Olympics Pulaski County received
$1,000 to support this worthwhile organization. “This is our first year to support a team
in track and field events,” said organizer Becky
Hintz. “We are planning to send a team of 20 to
invitational area and state events. The REMC
grant money will help purchase uniforms. It
will also pay the registration fees, lodging, and
transportation fees.”
Tri County Primary School received $600
to purchase interactive whiteboards for several
classrooms. “K-2 teachers have witnessed students
are more actively engaged in core curriculum
when the material is presented on interactive
whiteboard systems,” said Kathleen Ingram and
Jacque Hageman. The interactive technology will
be installed during the summer months.
West Central Elementary fifth grade Explorers, with their teacher Marilyn Bernal, applied
and received a $500 grant to purchase new
playground equipment that meets Indiana
Safety Code Requirements. “Our goal is to keep
everyone on our playground safe,” wrote fifth
grade students. The Explorers plan to border the
main playground equipment to keep mulch from
spreading in the grass, install a good drainage
system and replace old materials. All improvements will meet state safety codes.
West Central Elementary School requested
and received a $500 grant for its K-5 media center.
Many of the media center books are old and in
need of replacement. “Several years ago some
books were pulled from the Easy Fiction section
to make an area for kindergarten students,” said
Julie Hart. “I try to add to it, but I would like to
buy several new books written specifically for
our pre-k and kindergarten students.”
The award-winning Spirit of Twin Lakes
marching band received $600 toward its uniform
drive. “The last time the band boosters purchased marching band uniforms this year’s 2009
graduating class was in preschool,” said Christine
Shaffer, band parent. “When you consider that
annually we have approximately 100 marching
band students each season, you can see that over
1,300 individuals wore the current uniforms!”
For six years in a row, the Twin Lakes band
program earned the Indiana State School Music
Association (ISSMA) all-music award. ISSMA
initiated a program of recognition for outstanding high school music organizations in the State
of Indiana. ISSMA serves over 385 high schools
in the state and in 2007-08, only 24 bands were
selected to receive the all-music award. The
Twin Lakes High School band “The Spirit of
Twin Lakes” is proud to be a recipient of this
prestigious award.
Annually, Operation Round up funds area
schools’ after prom events. “The goal of after
prom is to provide a memorable night that is safe,
wholesome and supervised for the students, our
future leaders,” said Mary Cotterman, Frontier
High School junior class parent. Six schools received $200 after prom funding: Frontier, North
White, Tri County, Twin Lakes, West Central and
Winamac high schools.
In Pulaski County, REMC granted a $500
grant to assist in covering publishing costs of
the Pulaski County Historic Sites and Structures
Inventory Interim Report. The interim report
will highlight Historic Landmarks Foundation of
Indiana’s architectural survey of Pulaski County
to raise awareness of architecturally and historically significant sites and structures and districts.
Operation Round Up awarded the town of
Brookston $2,000 to assist in building a new
Brookston Fire Station and Emergency Building. “The current building Brookston is using
is inadequate to store vehicles and equipment
… it slows response time,” said Brookston Clerk
Treasurer Ginger Brown. Brookston is applying for a $500,000 grant from the IOCRA CFF
program. The town is contributing $50,000. “If
the town receives $10,000 in local grants, it will
receive additional points in the grant process.”
Since its inception in 2003, Operation Round
Up has served area non-profits by distributing
funds totaling $169,797.09.
More photos on pages 9EE and 11EE.
The Brookston After School Experiences
(BASE) received a $500 grant through the
White County REMC Operation Round Up fund
to purchase two storage cabinets and a water
slide. From left, Kelly Rhodes and Barbara
Gagnon accept the check from Round Up
trustee Ramona Bartlett.
The North White High School after prom
committee received a $200 grant from White
County REMC’s Operation Round Up program
to help fund the after prom activities. Peggy
Griffin, left, receives the check from Casey
Crabb.
Junior Achievement of White County received
a $600 grant from the White County REMC
Operation Round Up fund for its Global
Marketplace program at the North White Middle
School and Frontier Elementary School for
Spring 2009. Operation Round Up trustee Kathy
Meadors, left, presents the check to Junior
Achievement Area Coordinator Keli Whitaker.
The Reading Junction/White County United
Way received a $500 grant through the White
County REMC Operation Round Up program
to provide funding for hardbound books each
month to White County preschool children from
the Imagination Library. White County REMC
Operation Round Up trustee Tina Davis, left,
presents the check to Barbara Bedrick.
Meadowlawn Elementary School received
a $544 grant to help purchase classic and
educational board games for the classroom.
From left, Meadowlawn Principal Margaret
Xioufaridou and Angie Alexander receive the
check from White County REMC Operation
Round Up trustee Jan Ray.
The Tri County High School after prom
committee received $200 to help fund after
prom expenses from the White County REMC
Operation Round Up fund. Operation Round Up
trustee Kathy Meadors, left, presents the check
to Stacy Castor.
The Special Olympics of Pulaski County
received a $1,000 grant through the White
County REMC Operation Round Up program to
help purchase uniforms and pay registration
fees, lodging, and transportation for the
track and field program. White County REMC
Operation Round Up trustee Kathy Meadors,
left, presents the check to Susan Overton.
The Town of Brookston received a $2,000 grant
from the White County REMC Operation Round
Up program to assist in building a new fire
station and emergency station for Brookston.
Brookston’s Clerk-Treasurer Ginger Brown, left,
receives the check from White County REMC
Round Up trustee Ramona Bartlett.
Tri County Primary School received a
$600 grant from the White County REMC
Operation Round Up program to help purchase
whiteboards for the primary classrooms. From
left, Jacque Hageman and Kathleen Ingram
receive the check from Operation Round Up
trustee Jan Ray.
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2009 • 9EE
CO-OP NOTES
Bills due
Cycle 1: May energy bills due June 5.
Unpaid Cycle 1: May bills subject to disconnect
June 30.
Cycle 2: May energy bills due June 20.
Unpaid Cycle 2: May energy bills subject to
disconnect July 15.
Meter reading dates:
Cycle 1: June 29, 30 and July 1 and 2.
Cycle 2: June, 15, 16, 17 and 18.
White County REMC meter readers must have access to your meter during reading dates. Please
keep these dates in mind if you have locked gates
or dogs that might prevent an accurate reading of
your meter.
Programs and services available
• Broadband Internet
• EZ Pay Plan
• Long distance service 6.5 cents
• EnviroWatts
• Surge suppression equipment
• Water heater program
• Free water heater repair service
• Operation Round Up®
• Budget billing
• Free energy audit
• Security lights
• Geothermal heating/cooling incentives
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
www.whitecountyremc.com
Co-op Connections card
At the end of April our members were mailed the
Co-op Connections cards and key fobs. This is the
latest benefit White County REMC is offering its
members. There is no charge for this discount program, simply use it at any participating business.
The discounts vary depending on each business. A listing of the businesses will always appear
on our Web site at www.whitecountyremc.com.
Click on the Co-op Connections link. Several
times each year we will also print a list of the
local businesses who are participating. New
businesses are being recruited all the time to
join and we will update those as they come on
board with this great program.
A new feature of the program can be accessed by going to our Web site. After entering
the Co-op Connections Card site on our home
page, look on the left side of the page directly
under the yellow pharmacy discount button,
there is a green button that says Coupons. One
click and you are taken to our cobranded page
for Coupons.com. There are all kinds of savings
for shoppers before you head out to stores to get
what you need.
The current list of local businesses participating is as follows:
•Best Western Brandywine Inn and Suites,
Monticello
•D2 Lawn and Tree Service, Monticello
•Goble Pontiac GMC, Winamac
•Jackson Hewitt Tax Service/TL Tax Service,
Monticello
•Madden Publishing, Monticello
•Midwest Rentals, Lafayette
•Monical’s Pizza, Monticello
•Monical’s Pizza, Delphi
•RoDale Electric, Monticello
•Speedy Car Rental, Monon
•The Sportsman Inn, Monticello
•Twin Lakes Tours and Taxi, Monticello
One feature of the Coupon site is recipes.
We will feature one from time to time. Here is
this month’s feature.
Cranberry Chipotle Pork Chops
5 pork loin rib chops, cut 1 1⁄4 inches thick
(about 3 lbs. total)
1 can (8 oz.) jellied cranberry sauce
1
⁄3 cup apricot or peach preserves
or apricot or peach spreadable fruit
1
⁄4 cup chopped onion
1 T. lemon juice or cider vinegar
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
or 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
Trim any fat from the pork chops. In a grill with a cover,
arrange the preheated coals around a drip pan. Test for
medium heat above the drip pan. Place the pork chops on
the grill rack directly over the drip pan. Cover and grill the
chops for 35 to 40 minutes or until the juices run clear.
Meanwhile, for sauce, in a small saucepan combine the
cranberry sauce, preserves or spreadable fruit, onion,
lemon juice or vinegar, and pepper. Bring to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5
minutes, stirring occasionally. To serve, brush the chops
with sauce. Pass remaining sauce with chops. To broil:
Prepare sauce and pork chops as directed above, except,
instead of grilling, place pork chops on the unheated rack
of a broiler pan. Broil with the surface of the chops 3
to 4 inches from the heat for 18 to 22 minutes or until
juices run clear, turning once. Serve as above.
Finally — high speed Internet service!
White County REMC and Fairnet, a local company specializing
in Internet service, have formed a partnership to provide the
convenience of high speed Internet service to you.
Sign up today!
Plans starting at $26.95-$59.95
DSL plans starting at $27.95-$59.95
(574) 583-4416 • (888) 588-4589
www.wctyremc.com
Happy Father’s Day
10EE • ELECTRIC CONSUMER • MAY 2009
POWERING THE FUTURE
MORE OPERATION ROUND UP PHOTOS
continued from page 7EE
being able to allow so many consumers to just
flip a switch and plug in their computers, etc.!”
“We learned about the resurgence of nuclear
power in our industry and the need for more
generation soon is a valid concern,” said Foutch.
“Only 104 nuclear power units in the U.S.
provide 19.4 percent of generation,” said Zarse.
“Base load is 24/7 with no emission of greenhouse gases or air pollutants. Capacity factor is
91.1 percent vs. 30-40 percent for wind energy.
“New electric generating plants need to be
built, but it is very expensive with financing, licensing, permits and the high cost of materials,”
said Zarse. “The process takes six to seven years
to complete a new plant to start producing power.
“New plants can’t be built in five years, so wind
power should really help in the five-year plan,”
continued Zarse. “In the next 10 years, it is our
hope that the future’s higher energy use will be
met with new plants built to carry the base load
required to keep our power on.
“If government imposes more regulations on
power plants, members will see increased cost
for power,” said Zarse. “If new plants aren’t built
there could be brown outs in the future.”
“Renewable energy is a good addition that
WVPA uses right now with landfill gas plants and
wind and solar farms,” said Foutch. “With the
new wind farms in White County and surrounding areas, hopefully WVPA can take advantage
of this additional market. New technology and
change are a sure thing for the future of the
electric industry.”
“The time is critical for members to be informed,” said both board members. “Members
can cut costs by moving on-peak use to other times
of the day,” said Zarse. Both Zarse and Foutch
encourage members to read Electric Consumer,
and bill stuffers, and refer to the White County
REMC Web site for industry updates. Members
are also encouraged to contact board members
who represent their district with questions and
concerns.
“It is my responsibility to keep up with all the
changes in the electric industry so I can make
intelligent decisions that are in the best interest
of the members,” said Zarse.
“All board members are encouraged to pursue
ongoing educational opportunities,” said Price.
“I am proud to serve with people willing to learn
and grow within this changing industry.”
In addition to supplying power, WVPA also
provides a broad variety of business services to
help its member systems better leverage their
own resources and benefit from joint efforts
with other nearby co-ops. Wabash Valley Power
helps its members better serve their members
by staying at the forefront of innovation in the
power industry. WVPA serves its mission of supplying and delivering reliable wholesale power
at a stable, competitive price and responding to
members’ collective needs.
The Spirit of Twin Lakes Band Boosters
received a $600 grant from the White County
REMC Operation Round Up program to assist
in purchasing new band uniforms. In the check
presentation are, from left, Twin Lakes Band
Director Chuck Kubly, Operation Round Up
trustee Tina Davis, and Keila Jones.
The West Central High School after prom
committee received a $200 grant from the
White County REMC Operation Round Up
fund to assist in funding after prom activities.
Shown in the presentation from left: Todd Miller
and Operation Round Up trustee Jan Ray.
The West Central Elementary School Media
Center received a $500 grant from the White
County REMC Operation Round Up program to
help purchase books for Pre-K and Kindergarten
students. From left, Tina Davis presents the
check to Julie Hart.
The Twin Lakes High School after prom
committee received a $200 grant from the
White County REMC Operation Round Up fund
to help fund after prom activities. Operation
Round Up trustee Ramona Bartlett, left,
presents the check to Lisa Gooding.
The West Central Elementary School fifth grade
Explorer Group received a $500 grant from the
White County REMC Operation Round Up fund
to help purchase new playground equipment to
meet Indiana safety code requirements. Tina
Davis presents the check to students McKenzie
Kopka, left, and Jerod Putt.
Winamac junior class after prom committee
received a $200 grant from the White County
REMC Operation Round Up program to help fund
after prom activities. In the presentation are,
from left, Margaret Gudas, Julie Chapman, and
Jan Ray.
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2009 • 11EE