N O V E M B E R 2013 • C O U N T R Y L I V I N G 1DECEMBER 2013 • COUNTRY LIVING 19

HWEC Board of Trustees: Chairman Ed Crawford, Vice Chairman Steve Gerten, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Dierksheide, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Tom Kagy, Marlene Barker, David Corbin, James Demler, John Edie, Knut Lahrs and Dan Wickard with President and CEO George Walton.

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

POWERLINES 1399 Business Park Drive South, North Baltimore, OH 45872-1090 • www.hwe.coop • info@hwe.coop • 800-445-4840

A Member-owned Power Company

Members First!

Call to ActionHancock-Wood urges you

to join the fight for common-sense climate change regulations that preserve affordable electricity and protect public health and the environment without impacting co-op rights. Please visit the Cooperative Ac t ion Ne twork a t www.action.coop and send them a message — it just takes a moment.

HWEC and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association support federal legislation that establishes a non-hazardous framework for regulat ing Coal Combustion Residuals waste and gives states the responsibi l i ty of administering regulations to meet federal criteria.

There are other issues to get behind as well. There are 42 million electric cooperat ive member/owners in our nation. If even half became engaged as ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action, we would represent a powerful lobbying effort to protect the rights of co-op members. Let’s not become defeated by inaction. Visit www.hwe.coop/acre.htm and let your voice be heard!

Members will see a credit on their December statements

This month, Hancock-Wood Members in all 10 districts will receive a credit on their December energy bill. This patronage capital retirement is a refund that reflects a portion of your ownership and contribution to HWEC margins during your years of Membership.

Because it operates on an at-cost basis, HWEC retires this amount based on a percentage of each Member’s patronage account, which is an accumulation of annual margins allocated to each Member according to their annual energy purchases.

The Board of Trustees determines the appropriate patronage capital retirements, while maintaining the financial stability of the cooperative. By contrast, for-profit investor-owned utilities return a portion of profits to their shareholders but, typically, not to their customers. (Continued on page 21).

Celebrating 75 years of service excellence

George Walton, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative CEO and President

HWEC leadership invited to hear Vice President Biden

The HWEC office will be closed

Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 as well as half-days

Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 for the holidays.The HWEC Rebuild Program restored 32 miles of

line. The project will continue in 2014.

HWEC CEO George Walton and CFO Marcia Stahl were among the few community leaders invited to Vice President Joseph Biden’s infrastructure presentation on Nov. 6, at the CSX Intermodal terminal in North Baltimore. HWEC worked with CSX for a combined investment of more than $4 million to extend electric service to the facility.

Biden emphasized the importance of the National Gateway Project in attracting manufacturing companies to locations where they can ship products to market cost effectively.

Following the event, Walton said, “I am pleased that our cooperative could play a part in a key economic-development stimulus project benefiting both the region and nation. We anticipate further economic growth and job creation as well as opportunities for HWEC to expand our services as a result of this project.”

George Walton and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur discuss HWEC’s investment in local infrastructure.

From left, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx; U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden; CSX Corporation COO Oscar Munoz; and U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

PL12-13V5.indd 1 11/13/13 2:32 PM

=

Ii' HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

A Touchstone Energy' Cooperative ~

2 C O U N T R Y L I V I N G • N O V E M B E R 201320 COUNTRY LIVING • DECEMBER 2013

Generator safety rules: make the proper connectionConnecting a generator to the main electrical supply for your house requires the services of a qualified and licensed electrician. Installation costs can range from $600 to $1,200. Please notify HWE before making an investment — both for cost savings and safety considerations. In compliance with state and local electrical codes, you must install a double-pole, double-throw transfer switch to prevent a generator from backfeeding into Hancock-Wood's system and causing severe and potentially fatal electrical shock to any individual repairing electrical lines.

William Barnhart, V.P. of Operations and Engineering, was chosen as this month’s Staff Star.

This month, Barnhart will mark 15 years with Hancock-Wood.

During his tenure, he has managed numerous innovative projects, including HWEC’s investment in innovative

technology such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and distribution automation systems.

Barnhart said, “These systems drastically reduce outage times, allowing crews to isolate a problem from a remote area. We already have utilized SCADA this year to troubleshoot issues for Members locally while working from a location in Texas.”

It is expected that all Member locations will be connected to the SCADA system within the next five years.

POWERL I N E S HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.hwe.coop POWERL I N E S HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.hwe.coop

Members First!

Hancock-Wood will sponsor two students to attend the annual Washington, D.C., Youth Tour. Rules and application, can be found on our web site at www.hwe.coop. The deadline is Feb. 1, 2014. Students will meet U.S. representatives and senators and explore the sites of Capitol Hill.

Each state’s delegation chooses a student representative for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council (YLC). Members of YLC hone their skills in public speaking, leadership and poise. Last year’s Ohio delegate, Olivia Velasquez, was selected from all participants to represent HWEC at the NRECA Annual Meeting in 2014.

A co-op and energy knowledge test is used to determine winners. Study booklets are mailed to applicants the first week of February. The test will be administered by Hancock-Wood at our North Baltimore offices on Monday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 19. For more information,

2013 Ohio Youth Tour students with U.S. Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown.

This summer, 11 HWEC Members remembered to show their Co-op Connections Card at their pharmacy and pocketed significant savings.

According to a national Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Pharmacy Savings Report released in September, these Members saved more than 43 percent on $1,263 in prescription costs for a savings of $545.92.

To find a pharmacy near you, call 800-800-7616.

The savings doesn’t stop there, your card can save you from 10 percent to 85 percent at businesses such as Office Depot, Sam’s Club, Great Wolf Lodge, Lands’ End, LifeLock, ACE Hardware, Dish, Travelodge, Marathon fueling stations, Wyndham hotels and many more local and national businesses. Once you log in online, you also will be eligible to register for an account with My VIP Savings. This service gives you access to cash back incentives, coupons and deal codes for online shopping.

For more information, click on Co-op Connections Card at www.hwe.coop and remember to bring your Co-op Connections Card when you shop!

Cooperative Connections Card

Bill Barnhart

Thousands of dollars in scholarships are available to children of Hancock-Wood Members, and the deadline to apply is approaching. Any high school senior with a 3.5 or higher GPA who is attending an accredited college or university in the fall is eligible to apply. All applications are due by Feb. 1, 2014.

A total of $8,600 will be awarded between two gender divisions. Each division features six winners with awards ranging from $300 to $1,000. Hancock-Wood’s first place winners in each division will be eligible to compete in Columbus on Apr. 9, 2014, in the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives’ scholarship competition. Nathan Maag and Courtney Thompson were the first place winners chosen to compete statewide in 2013.

More information is available at www.hwe.coop or by calling 800-445-4840. HWEC also offers scholarships through Owens Community College and the University of Findlay.

Youth Tour applications due Scholarship deadline is Feb. 1

Hancock-Wood highlights staff member William Barnhart

Nathan Maag and Courtney Thompson were chosen as 2013 HWEC scholarship candidates.

PL12-13V5.indd 2 11/13/13 2:32 PM

N O V E M B E R 2013 • C O U N T R Y L I V I N G 3DECEMBER 2013 • COUNTRY LIVING 21

technology such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and distribution automation systems.

Barnhart said, “These systems drastically reduce outage times, allowing crews to isolate a problem from a remote area. We already have utilized SCADA this year to troubleshoot issues for Members locally while working from a location in Texas.”

It is expected that all Member locations will be connected to the SCADA system within the next five years.

POWERL I N E S HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.hwe.coop POWERL I N E S HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.hwe.coop

Members First!

Learn more online!

Scan this or visit www.hwe.coop

As the weather turns colder, you will see homes, businesses and communities start to brighten up with holiday decorations and lights.

LED holiday lights offer a lower energy alternative to traditional incandescent light strings and are a great way to show your holiday spirit while maintaining your smart energy sense.

LED light strings are up to 90 percent more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than traditional light strings.

Although LED holiday lights are typically more expensive to purchase, you will make up the difference in energy savings over the life of the lights.

You can save in excess of $1,400 over the lifetime of lighting a six-foot tree with bulbs that last 20,000 hours (about 40 holiday seasons.) Imagine the savings if you used LED lights throughout your entire home.

The next Operation Round Up grant deadline is Jan. 6, 2014. For more information visit www.hwe.coop.

Energy Bytes

Hancock-Wood presents $20,000 to Findlay Boy Scouts

To find out if and when crews will be in your neighborhood

for foliage control or plant growth management call our

Power Protection Hotline at

419-257-5701

Illuminating News

From left, front row: Scouts Preston Hunteman, C.J. Miller, Donavon Hunteman, Mehki Walton, Amaris Haley; top row, Vic Pooler, Mark Miller, Jacques Behar, Cary Cox, Karl Heminger, Jeff Whitman, Boy Scouts Executive Committee President Dr. Stan Dotey (receiving the check from) CEO George Walton and Prism Board President David Corbin, Prism Secretary/ Treasurer Tom Kagy and CFO Marcia Stahl.

On Oct. 25, officials from Hancock-Wood Electic Cooperative and Prism Propane Services of Ohio, LLC, leadership presented a $20,000 check to The Boy Scouts of America toward the purchase of a generator to power fresh and sanitary water pumping operations for Camp Berry. The Findlay scout camp was hit hard by the June 2012 derecho and still is in need of assistance to restore services.

At a special ceremony held at the camp, Hancock-Wood President and CEO George Walton presented Boy Scouts Executive Committee President Dr. Stan Dotey with a partnership check including $5,000 each

in contributions from Hancock-Wood and Prism Propane. The remaining $10,000 donation was approved by Clarence Mahovlich, vice president of CoBank, based in Atlanta, GA., as part of its Sharing Success Grant program.

Walton said, “Camp Berry is one of our valued Cooperative members and an integral part of the youth enrichment experience in our community, so we worked to assist them in their restoration efforts.”

Camp Berry leadership is working with area contractors for installation of the generator, which is expected in 2014.

Thousands of dollars in scholarships are available to children of Hancock-Wood Members, and the deadline to apply is approaching. Any high school senior with a 3.5 or higher GPA who is attending an accredited college or university in the fall is eligible to apply. All applications are due by Feb. 1, 2014.

A total of $8,600 will be awarded between two gender divisions. Each division features six winners with awards ranging from $300 to $1,000. Hancock-Wood’s first place winners in each division will be eligible to compete in Columbus on Apr. 9, 2014, in the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives’ scholarship competition. Nathan Maag and Courtney Thompson were the first place winners chosen to compete statewide in 2013.

More information is available at www.hwe.coop or by calling 800-445-4840. HWEC also offers scholarships through Owens Community College and the University of Findlay.

Scholarship deadline is Feb. 1

Clarification:In our mailed November issue of PowerLines, Krista Rood’s recipe for Butternut Squash Pie on p. 24 should read,“...cook over medium heat

with 1/2 cup water until soft. Strain and mash with 1-1/2

cups evaporated milk.”The entire corrected recipe is in the November edition online

at www.hwe.coop

Hancock-Wood highlights staff member William BarnhartDistrict Restructuring

(Continued from page 19). The District Restructuring Program first

presented in our August PowerLines issue will go into effect in 2014. Any Members affected may expect a letter this month outlining details of the program approved by the Board of Trustees. This restructuring will not affect electric service delivery in any way but may change your District number and governing trustee. The program was implemented in accordance with our Articles of Incorporation, which mandate that “equitable representation” be given to the geographic areas served by the Co-op.

Rate RestructuringIn October, we alerted you to board-

approved changes to the Co-op’s rate structure, which take effect in January 2014.

This action, which creates no additional revenue for the Co-op, will help Members manage electric consumption/demand and control energy costs. This allows HWEC to apportion costs to the proper rate components. Most Members will not see a change in their overall bill total, but will see the Co-op offer additional energy efficiency rebate incentives. Details of the changes will be including in the letter sent to each Member.

Rate and district restructuring updates to be mailed this month

PL12-13V5.indd 3 11/13/13 2:33 PM

N O V E M B E R 2013 • C O U N T R Y L I V I N G 322 COUNTRY LIVING • DECEMBER 2013

Kidz Zip Lines......

See what else CFL Charlie has in store for you at Kids Energy Zone!

POWERL I N E S HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.hwe.coop

Get Wired!

Members First!

www.kidsenergyzone.com

Energy providers and government leaders are researching ways to make fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas last longer and burn cleaner, while also exploring the various sources of renewable energy that appear in this eco racer game.

The game introduces kids to five forms of renewable energy while they race around different tracks in an electric car.

The Windy Canyon track features wind and solar power; Green Valley features hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass.

Visit http://www.atmosenergy.

com/about/educat ion/e e w _ s i t e / e c o - r a c e r /index.html to access the game. Recommended for grades 3-7.

Home Energy InspectionIs everyone in your household doing as much as they can to save energy? Use this checklist to complete your inspection with your parents or another adult. Post your completed checklist to remind your family how to save.

Score 5 points for every “Yes,” 0 points for every “Not Yet.” 0 - 15 Fair - There is a lot more you can do to save energy.20 - 35 Good - You have some good savings, with room for improvement.40 - 55 Excellent - Congratulations on your super energy savings!

Economic assistance: where you can seek helpIf you are unable to meet your obligation of your electric bill due to financial hardship, we urge you to contact one of the following agencies provided under Ohio law to see if you are eligible for economic assistance. Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps those of low income to pay bills. Contact the Department of Development for more information at 800-282-0880 or your local county welfare program. Note: Proper weatherization/insulation of your home can cut down on your energy use and, as a result, reduce your home energy cost. Hancock-Wood is now providing home energy audits free of charge. Contact us at 800-445-4840 to schedule yours today.

PL12-13V5.indd 4 11/13/13 2:33 PM