communicator Many members have asked the South River EMC what s inside CEO s Comments Protecting Your Credit Card Info January 2016 You Spoke

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1 the South River EMC communicator January 2016 what s inside CEO s Comments You Spoke Cooperative Advantage Youth Programs TogetherWeSave B C D SOUTH RIVER EMC OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, IN CELEBRATION OF THE NEW YEAR. E F Protecting Your Credit Card Info Many members have asked why we send them to the automated phone system to make a credit card payment. The answer is: we need to be PCI compliant. What is PCI compliance? The Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard requires that companies that accept credit card payments take certain measures to protect a consumer s credit information. PCI compliance is an everchanging set of rules that are constantly being adapted to meet changes in technology. However, one constant is that the compliance measures are always focused on improving security throughout the entire transaction. The compliance measures are intended to protect the credit-cardcarrying consumers from having their financial information passed into the hands of anyone who might misuse the information. The credit card industry recently converted to chip-and-pin cards. These cards are embedded with chips that are more secure than the traditional magnetic information strips. Many European countries have been using this technology for years and have seen cases of counterfeit credit cards decline by up to 70 percent. Soon, South River EMC will retrofit offices with the new chip-and-pin card readers and members will have to slide their credit card into the slot to make a payment. The overarching goal is to limit the access anyone has to a consumer s credit card information. Continued on page C PO Box US 421 S Dunn, NC (910) / Follow Us! southriveremc South River EMC Communicator JANUARY 2016 A

2 MESSAGE FROM CEO Chris Spears During early November, many South River EMC members had a pleasant surprise when they received Capital Credit checks in the mail or credits on their electric service accounts. These refunds are a benefit of being a member of a not-for-profit electric cooperative. When you Benefits Of Being A Member, Not A Customer pay your electric bill each month, you are building equity in your cooperative based on the amount you pay for electricity. At the board s discretion and as the financial condition of the co-op allows, Capital Credits are retired and returned to co-op member-owners after years. Before being returned, the money is used by the cooperative as operating capital. In 2015, South River EMC retired a total of $2,819,865 to 30,875 members (active and inactive) for electricity purchased in ,855 members received their refund in the form of a check. 4,688 active members, whose refund was less than $100, found a refund on their current electric account. For any inactive accounts with an outstanding amount or bad debt owed the Cooperative, the refund was applied toward the amount due. Any past member for whom we don t have a valid current address, or the amount was less than $50, their Capital Credit refund was moved to the hold status for escheat aging. The graph is a great demonstration of how the Capital Credits process works. Money back, that s an advantage of being a member of an electric cooperative. B JANUARY 2016 South River EMC Communicator

3 PROTECTION continued from A That is why we now transfer members to our automated system to make a payment. This is a secure way of entering your credit card information without any exposure of your personal information to an employee or another member. Our after-hours service now asks members to enter the card information using the phone keypad. We realize this is a change from the conventional way of paying by handing a merchant your credit card or speaking to someone over the phone and providing your card information verbally. However, it is our responsibility to take every measure to be compliant with the PCI requirements and to protect your information. To make the transaction easier, please have your credit card ready when you call South River EMC. Ensure you are able to read all numbers on the front and back. This will speed up the transaction and lessen the chance that you will be dropped from the automated system for taking too long. We want to make sure every interaction you have with South River EMC and our employees is positive and this is one more way we are taking measures to protect you. You Spoke, We Listened South River EMC has a commitment to provide safe, reliable electric service to you, our members. In order to do so, the Cooperative clears right-ofway, or ROW. ROW is the strip of land owned by another party on which South River EMC and other utilities place their facilities. The utilities must be given access to this land for maintenance of the area to ensure the facilities are clear of vegetation. Clearing the ROW of vegetation can help prevent outages by removing foliage that might fall onto power lines during inclement weather. Not only that, it enables Cooperative crews to reach areas sooner to restore service. The Cooperative has made ROW reclamation and maintenance a necessity. That means areas that might have not been as well maintained will be given top priority and all ROW will be maintained on a rotating schedule and revisited every few years as part of the clearing cycle. However, sometimes limbs and branches don t get cut, ones that you think should. Maybe you ve had an instance where you ve spoken to a South River EMC employee on your property and THE PRACTICE OF TREE TRIMMING the clearing didn t occur when or how you thought it would. There are reasons for these events. Sometimes, the trees have little impact on the line, because the lines carry lower voltage electricity and are insulated. And as the Cooperative is not a tree removal service, it is not in our best interest to clear foliage if it does not impact your electric service. If you see trees turning brown, as a result of touching the powerlines, this is definitely a reason to contact the Cooperative. However, due to our aggressive ROW program, the Cooperative is handling cutting in a certain order, and if it can wait, it might. Areas taking priority are those that might not have received stringent removal for some time. We do have records of orders if you have called in regards to tree clearing and the Cooperative does work to make sure these orders are fulfilled. South River EMC is looking out for you. South River EMC Communicator JANUARY 2016 C

4 Discover The Cooperative Advantage ABOUT AMERICA S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES The nation s member-owned, not-for-profit electric co-ops constitute a unique sector of the electric utility industry and face a unique set of challenges. Distribution cooperatives form the foundation of the rural electric network delivering electricity to 42 million co-op consumer-members. Generation and transmission cooperatives (G&Ts) provide wholesale power to distribution co-ops through their own generation or by purchasing power on behalf of distribution members. Whether it s a co-op serving a CO-OPS ARE GUIDED BY 7 PRINCIPLES Voluntary and Open Membership Democratic Member Control Members Economic Participation Autonomy and Independence Education Training and Information remote fishing village above the Arctic Circle or a co-op serving a marine research lab in the Florida Keys, electric co-ops share a single purpose: providing safe, reliable and affordable electric service to their consumer-members. Cooperation Among Cooperatives ELECTRIC CO-OPS ARE Concern for Community Owned by the consumers they serve Private, independent and not-for-profit Created to provide at-cost electric service Governed by a board of directors elected from and by membership CO-OPS BY THE NUMBERS 42 MILLION More than 12 percent of the nation s meters belong to rural electric co-ops. Distribution co-ops range in size from fewer than a thousand electric meters to more than 200,000. The average is 22,800 meters. 2.5 MILLION The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, or NRECA,represents 905 co-ops serving an estimated 42 million people in 47 states. Co-ops serve an average of 7.4 consumers per mile of line. Investor owned utilities average 34 consumers per mile of line and publicly-owned utilities average 48 consumers per mile of line. 12% Co-ops own and maintain 2.5 million miles, or 42 percent, of the nation s electric distribution lines, covering three-quarters of the nation s landmass. 7.4 CONSUMERS PER MILE D JANUARY 2016 South River EMC Communicator

5 Send Us A Copy Of Those A s South River EMC will hold a Give Us An A drawing on February 10. Drawings are held twice a year for students who have achieved at least one A on their report card. Each of the 15 students drawn receives a $25 gift card. The program is open to students who are members, or children of members, of South River EMC. Just make a copy of the most recent report card with at least one A and send it to the Cooperative. Please include the member s name, South River EMC account number, mailing address and daytime telephone number. Report cards can be sent to: South River EMC Give Us An A PO Box 931 Dunn, NC You can also scan and the report card to connections@sremc. com. Last Call For Scholarship Applicants South River EMC s Power Source Volunteer, or PSV, scholarship application period close shortly. The PSV committee will award at least one $1,000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships to students whose parents or guardians are members of South River EMC. Factors considered include: character, moral standards, citizenship, past and present academic performance, letters of recommendation, statements of career goals and qualifications and extra-curricular activities. Applicants must meet the following stipulations: Must live in a home receiving electric service from South River EMC. Must have a recommendation from either his or her high school principal, guidance counselor or teacher. Non-traditional students or transfers must provide a letter from their work supervisor or advisor. Must apply no later than January 22, Must have taken the SAT or ACT and submit scores with application. For a copy of the application visit sremc.com, sremc@sremc. com or call x Those Lights Will Shine A Little Brighter Are you considering an outdoor light for your property? Or maybe a streetlight in your neighborhood is blinking and about at the end of its life. A new lighting option is coming to you! South River EMC will be placing LEDs in any new outdoor light installations, as well as replacing existing lights with LEDs, as they need replacement. This transition will benefit two parties, you and the Cooperative. With an estimated lifespan of 20 years, it s more time you ll be able to use the light, and less time the Cooperative will spend testing and replacing. This saves on mileage and employee time, which saves on costs for you. Because of the technology, if an LED fails prematurely, the warranty allows the Cooperative to replace them. This means more savings for the Cooperative and you. An LED will have little change in light output, however coloring will be different. The current lights in use give off a warm yellow glow, many might associate it to the look of incandescent lighting. LEDs are a true white light, meaning everything seen under them appears in true color, and therefore has no distortion. South River EMC is looking out for you with this change in long life lighting. South River EMC Communicator JANUARY 2016 E

6 The HERO Home Of Your Dreams The thermal envelope, or shell, of your home (walls, roof and floor) is designed to keep you dry and comfortable. Protecting you from the elements, this shell is constructed with various products. Pieces of wood called studs and joists form the skeleton of the house, insulation is installed. The frame is covered inside and out with different types of finishing products, such as sheet rock (inside) and siding and roofing (outside). It s completed by installing windows, skylights and doors. Air leaks are common, even in new homes, and they can cause discomfort and an upswing in energy costs. Why? First, discomfort: having a well-sealed home prevents air infiltration, or the introduction of cold air into your warm home, or vice versa, depending on the season. Infiltration leaves whoever is in the home uncomfortable, because instead of being warm and toasty, they might be feeling a chill instead. This leads to energy costs. If, as mentioned previously, you feel a chill in the air, you want to correct it. At first you might get a blanket, or cuddle up with a loved one or pet. However, that chill will persist and you find yourself adjusting the thermostat. That causes your heat pump to run longer, which uses more electricity. Building a high efficiency residential option, or HERO, home will help control these uncomfortable situations. With a tightly built thermal envelope, a HERO home is 30 percent more efficient than a home built to code. South River EMC offers rebates on this energy-efficient option: Contractors who build a new HERO certified home that receives electricity from South River EMC, are eligible to receive a $400 rebate once the home has been checked for compliance. Members who move into a new HERO certified home, are eligible to receive a $200 rebate. Members who have a HERO home custom built, are eligible to receive a $600 rebate. For more information on HERO homes, visit energycodes. gov and for information on the HERO home rebate, visit sremc. com or call x The Search For A Great Heating System Space heating is the largest energy expense in the U.S. home, accounting for about 45 percent of energy bills. A good choice for this climate is a heat pump, which pulls heat from the surrounding air to heat your home. The great thing is that it can be used for cooling too. With a life expectancy of 15 years or so, and the availability in electric heating, as well as geothermal, you have quite a choice in units. Don t make your choice based on size alone, take consideration of efficiency. Units with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, of 16 or greater are consistently found to run more efficiently than those of a lower SEER rating. This efficiency in running can lead to lower energy costs for you. A high-efficiency unit can be expensive, but well worth the investment if used appropriately. South River EMC rebates on the purchase of 16 SEER or greater air source or dual fuel hybrid heat pumps for $200. Geothermal heat pumps, more expensive and requiring more space, are eligible for a $500 rebate. For more information on these systems try energy.gov, or visit sremc.com to research rebates. You can also contact our office at x F JANUARY 2016 South River EMC Communicator

7 The Benefits Of Energy Star Qualified Appliances Have you considered an Energy Star appliance, but just don t know if you want one? Or maybe you haven t even considered an Energy Star appliance, but you ve heard a little about them? A little is better than nothing with what Energy Star has to offer: Lower Utility Bills. Appliances account for nearly 20 percent of the average household s energy use. A package of Energy Star qualified appliances can save up to $80 a year in energy costs compared to standard appliances. Improved Quality and Durability. Energy-efficient appliances often include quality components surpassing those found in standard appliances. These can result in fewer mechanical problems, longer equipment life, and in many cases, extended warranties. Enhanced Performance. Energy Star qualified appliances often outperform standard appliances due to improved design and advanced technologies. For instance, some Energy Star qualified appliances include features that decrease operating noise, while others include technologies that reduce water use. Consider an Energy Star certified refrigerator, clothes washer or dehumidifier and you could not only be taking advantage of all these benefits, but earning one more, the $25 Energy Star Insulation and Weatherization Are Key To Saving Insulation works to prevent heat transfer, in the winter that would mean the loss of heat through uninsulated or under insulated spaces. Don t spend the money to heat your home only to lose it so quickly. Go into your attic and/or crawlspace and check that there is insulation and it s nice, thick and dry. Insulation that s threadbare and flat needs an upgrade. Insulation that s wet, means another problem all together, more than likely a leak somewhere. When checking your insulation, do yourself a favor and check your weather stripping and caulking as well. These weatherization products help prevent air infiltration, or the introduction of outdoor air into the home, bad for comfort and costs. When weatherizing, caulk is used for non-moving applications, like around baseboards and window sills, etc. Meanwhile, weather stripping is used for moving pieces, like doors and windows. When there are small cracks or gaps, those tiny air molecules that you expect to keep you warm, are making a swift exit outdoors, while the cooler air is making its way inside. By checking and replacing insulation where necessary and weatherizing your home, you can be comfortable and energy appliance rebate from South River EMC. For complete details or to get an application, visit sremc.com or call x efficient. Not only that, but by spending some money, you can make a little more money. That s right, South River EMC offers rebates for making these upgrades to your home. And it s a win for everyone! Rebates are as follows: Sealing: Air $100 Duct $100 Insulation: Attic/floor $100 Floor/ crawl $100 For complete details on work and proof required for rebate visit sremc.com or call x South River EMC Communicator JANUARY 2016 G

8 The Perfect Lights For The New Year Cold cathode bulbs aren t something you think about a lot. With bulbs like LEDs to light up your world, why should you consider these little gems? That s a reason, they re little gems! Cold cathodes come on instantly at full brightness, and are more reliable for starting in cold weather. They have a long lifespan and are dimmable to a certain degree. Also, the light created by cold cathodes, is easy on the human eye. LEDs are popular due to their efficiency and new technology. The LED as we know it has been around for over 50 years. The recent development of white LEDs is what brought it into the public eye as a true lighting contender. LEDs have a long lifespan, a direct and bright light, and are available in dimmable options. Not only that, but LEDs perform well in colder weather, as well as being energy efficient, nearly 80 percent compared to standard incandescents. If you re in need of new light bulbs, or just like to have some at the ready, consider these gems when looking at your local retailer. Catching them on sale makes it an even better deal, especially when coupled with South River EMC s rebate. The Cooperative rebates $1 per bulb, on the purchase of LEDs and cold cathodes. On your receipt write your name, South River EMC account number, mailing address, and daytime phone number. Send the receipt to: South River EMC Energy-efficient lighting PO Box 931 Dunn, NC Don t Be Blinded By Your Choices In Water Heating When selecting a new water heater for your home, choose a system that not only provides enough hot water, but also does so efficiently, saving you money. This includes considering the different types of water heaters available and determining the right size and fuel source for your home. Systems include: Conventional storage water heaters offer a ready storage tank of hot water. Tankless water heaters heat water directly,. Heat pump water heaters, or HPWHs, move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Solar water heaters use the sun s heat to provide hot water. Indirect water heaters use a home s space heating system to heat water. Other considerations: Fuel type, availability and cost. The energy source you use for water heating not only affects the water heater s annual operation costs but also its size and efficiency. Size. To provide your household with enough hot water and maximize efficiency, you need a properly sized unit. Sizes will vary depending on the system and your fuel source. Efficiency. To maximize your energy and cost savings, find out how energy efficient a water heater is before you purchase it. Research energy.gov to find out how to check the efficiency of systems you re considering. Costs. Before you purchase a water heater, it s a good idea to estimate its annual operating costs and compare those costs with other models. You might be surprised at the results! The Cooperative offers rebates on two of these systems, a heat pump water heater and a solar water heater. A $200 rebate on an HPWH and a $400 rebate on a solar water heater. Due to recent changes in water heater construction, only HPWHs under 55 gallons are eligible for a rebate. HPWH is the standard for units 55 gallons and larger. For more information on the rebate, visit sremc.com or call x H JANUARY 2016 South River EMC Communicator