Harrison CountyRural Electric Cooperative

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Phone:

Fax: harrisoninfo@hcrec.coopwww.hcrec.coop

OFFICE HOURS7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Harrison County RuralElectric Cooperative61 Fourth StreetPO Box 2Woodbine, Iowa 51579

Joe Farley, Manager/EVP Jackie Androy, Editor

DirectorsTim Sproul, presidentMarvin Klein, vice presidentDave Dickinson, secretary Russ Kurth, treasurerRodney PlathJake HeimJohn BurbridgeJim SharpLarry Ramsey

News Flashes

712-647-2727800-822-5591712-647-2906

SEPTEMBER 2013

Summer HelpL to R: Chris Andersen, Kyle Dickman, and Bryce Mikels have put in regular

hours with line crews aiding, assisting, and learning the ropes of linemen at Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative. Their hard work is greatly appreciated and their company has been enjoyed. Kyle will attend Lo-Ma high school as a senior this fall. Bryce is serving his internship required by Metro Line School of Omaha. Chris will attend Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs as a freshman this fall. We wish these three young men the best in their future endeavors. 511300910

Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative is very proud to be a part of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand, standing as a national alliance of more than 730 local, member-owned electric cooperatives spanning 46 states. We collectively deliver power to more than 40 million members every day. 125000010

Learn more about Touchstone E n e rg y a t w w w. h c r e c . c o o p and even more by clicking the Touchstone Energy tab linking you to www.togetherwesave.com.

Each year electric safety demonstrations by Dan Royer, foreman, or another lineman accompanied by Jackie Androy, communicator, take place at our area schools to promote electric safety. Presentations have also been made to area fire departments and emergency responders, boy scouts, Harrison County Farm Safety Day, and others.

Safety is a top priority at Harrison County REC. Monthly safety meetings are held for all employees, management, and a director representative. At these meetings near miss and other safety discussions of the current month are presented and discussed to keep everyone aware of situations and how easily they could happen. Annually all employees are certified and re-certified on CPR, First Aid, and the May Day procedures used for job-related emergencies. Each year all linemen are required to practice pole-top rescue methods using a 180 lb. dummy. All vehicles, equipment and materials are inspected and tested on a regular basis for flaws or working failure to avoid incidents.

“Dan provides great leadership in the promotion of safety to our employee group,” comments Manager Farley.

L to R: Joe Farley, manager presenting “No Lost Time Accident” Award to Dan Royer, safety coordinator at Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC). Employees at your cooperative were recognized by our insurer, Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, for an outstanding achievement of working 286,921 employee-hours, as an accident-free record since June, 2007.

No Lost-Time Accident Award received by HCREC

INCOME MAXIMUMS Household Three-Month Annual Size Gross Income Gross Income 1 $ 4,309 $ 17,235 2 $ 5,816 $ 23,265 3 $ 7,324 $ 29,295 4 $ 8,831 $ 35,325 5 $10,339 $ 41,355 6 $11,846 $ 47,385For households with more than six members, add $1,508 per three months, or $6,030 annually for each additional member.

2013-2014 IOWA HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

ATTENTION: RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERSNEED HELP WITH YOUR HEATING BILL?

The 2013-2014 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary heating costs for the winter heating season.

The assistance is based on household income, household size, type of fuel, and type of housing.If you are not sure where to apply, please write to: LIHEAP Iowa Department of Human Rights Capitol Complex Des Moines, IA 50319or, call your local community action agency.

2013-2014 IOWA HOME ENERGYASSISTANCE PROGRAM

WHEN TO APPLY:● Elderly (60 & over) and/or disabled: October 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014● All other households: November 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014

WHAT TO TAKE:● Proof of Income (for all household members age 19, and over) Most recent three months’ check stubs, award letter from Social Security or 2012

tax return.● Social Security numbers for all household members (documentation required)● Recent heat bill● Recent electric bill

If you receive alimony or child support, it will also need to be verified.

WAGE EARNERS:Please bring copies of your check stubs for the three-month period preceding the date of application, or a copy of your federal income tax return.FIXED INCOME:This income may include: Social Security Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Family Investment Program, Veteran’s Assistance, Unemployment Insurance, & pensions. Please bring copies of your most recent three months’ check stubs.SELF-EMPLOYED/FARMERS:Please bring a copy of your most recent federal income tax return.FIP RECIPIENTS:Please bring your current DHS Notice of Decision or contact your local office for acceptable document information.

– Outside Electric Safety –Before digging; call 811 to request

underground lines be located. Harrison County Rural Electric Co-op will locate their underground electric utility service, including utilities to the transformer and/or the electric meter FREE. The cooperative offers the service of locating our member’s secondary electric service, including anything from the meter to your project, at a charge. Examples of member responsibility would be from the meter to the home, shop, bin, etc. We have no mapping records of the location of your secondary electric service. 347900912

Remember – If you dig and hit an underground power line, it could be a fatal injury.

Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative News Flashes A Touchstone Energy Cooperative2 September 2013 3

EnergyEfficiency

Spot Your Main Account NumberRead News Flashes watching for your main account number in any of the articles or ads. If you find it, call Jackie Androy at HCREC by the 20th of the month to receive a $20.00 electric bill credit.

Basin Electric looks to RTO to open marketing route

You probably don’t know what an RTO is, but you and Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) could benefit if and when our major power supplier joins one.

An RTO –short for regional transmission organization – is an independent agency regulated by the federal government that coordinates regional electric generation and transmission in a non-discriminatory manner and ensures the safety and reliability of the electric system. 331900910

About 80 percent of our power comes from Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck, N.D. Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) of Le Mars purchases the power from Basin Electric for Harrison County REC and other electric cooperatives, which are part of the NIPCO system. When Basin Electric can operate its business more efficiently and cost-effectively, it helps all the associated cooperatives and their members by controlling electric rates.

Basin Electric began an in-depth study of RTOs following the summer-long 2011 flooding along the Missouri River. All that flood water created an abundance of hydroelectric power, which in turn reduced the need for Basin Electric to generate power to its full capacity. It was a missed opportunity for Basin Electric to earn extra income. If Basin Electric had been an RTO member at that time, it would have been able to use the RTO’s far-reaching transmission system to deliver excess power to regions with an electrical deficit.

“The ability to import and export power is critical,” says Andrew M. Serri, Basin Electric CEO and general manager.

Earlier this year, following the RTO study, Basin Electric reported that it makes most economic sense for the cooperative to join Southwest Power Pool (SPP), an RTO covering Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and parts of contiguous states. Basin Electric evaluated SPP against MISO, or Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, which covers areas to the east and north of Basin Electric, including some parts of Canada. Joining an RTO is expected to minimize Basin Electric’s operating costs and maximize its electric generation values.

Basin Electric has a long-standing partnership with two regional electric providers that will figure into the decision. They are Western Area Power Administration (the federal agency that manages power produced by Missouri River dams) and Heartland Consumers Power District, a South Dakota-based public power provider. The three organizations have decided to either join an RTO as a group, or all stay independent. WAPA currently is in a federal process building toward joining an RTO. A decision on the issue could be made before the end of 2013.

So while this situation may sound like so much alphabet soup, the outcome could strengthen the balance sheet at Basin Electric and at the same time open both markets and other sources of power to the Bismarck cooperative. And that is a good thing for Harrison County REC and all its members. It’s just one more way your cooperatives are looking out for you.

Like homes and other businesses, farms of all types can lower their electricity bills by turning off or reducing use of lights and small equipment in outbuildings. Timers and sensors can also help. Regular cleaning, maintenance, and seasonal tune-ups help keep larger equipment running at top efficiency.

Samuel Raine Selected for D.C. Trip

2013 YT participant Samuel Raine in front of the Capitol.

Samuel Raine, son of REC members Michael and Michelle of Persia, was selected the 2013 winner of the Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. On Saturday, June 15, 29 Iowa students and four chaperones left Des Moines bright and early, 6:00 A.M. flight, and arrived at our nation’s capital at 9:25 A.M. From the time the Iowa group hit the ground in Washington, D.C. it was a nonstop adventure. The tours covered all the historic memorials and monuments. The Arlington National Cemetery where they experienced the changing of the guard, the Kennedy Center, the Pentagon, Mount Vernon, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and the National Cathedral, just to name a few. The group took a boat cruise on the Potomac River, and attended the Sunset Parade held at the base of the Iwo Jima Memorial featuring the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps followed by the Silent Drill Platoon, a precision rifle corp.

The week is not all sightseeing. On Monday the Iowa group was joined by 1500 other Youth Tour participants from across the U.S. at the Rural Electric Youth Day. The rally is comprised of inspirational speakers

and discussions are held about many topics that are important to today’s teens. The Iowa group spent time touring our nation’s capital, meeting with our state representative, touring the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the gallery of the Senate and House chambers. Meetings were also held with Senator Harkin and Senator Grassley.

This trip is important because it provides high school students opportunities to learn firsthand what it is like to be involved in politics, community service and today’s pressing issues in the energy industry. These students leave home, many for the first time, as strangers and come home as friends. The Youth Tour program is the joint effort of your local Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Our thanks to Samuel and our other applicants for their entry in this year’s Youth Tour. If you would like to see more about the program and see many great pictures log on to www.youthtour.coop.

Patronage Checks issued

By Lori Barry,Director of Administration/FinanceAt its regular meeting on June 27,

2013, the Board of Directors of Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) authorized the retirement of $220,749.41 in previously allocated patronage dividends. This distribution represents the remaining allocations for 1992 ($117,212.53), and 2011 ($103,536.88).

Checks were issued in August. Capital credit (or patronage) allocations represent Cooperative members’ payment for electric service that exceeds the cost of providing that service. At the end of each year, the Board of Directors reviews your Cooperative’s financial results, and any excess margins are allocated for return to the membership at a future date. If you were a member of Harrison County REC during 1992, and/or 2011, you should have received a patronage check. Amounts issued to each member will be in direct proportion to the amount paid to the Cooperative for electric service during those years.

As always, your membership is important. We here at Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative are proud to provide you with quality, reliable service. If you have any questions regarding patronage, please feel free to call or just stop in. Thank you.

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