February 2018 News from Jackson County REMC. Extreme Cold Causes Higher Than Usual Electric Usage Page 2

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1 Volume 72 - Number 8 WATT HIGHLIGHTS February 2018 News from Jackson County REMC Extreme Cold Causes Higher Than Usual Electric Usage Page 2

2 WATT HIGHLIGHTS Jackson County REMC 274 E. Base Road P.O. Box K Brownstown, IN Local calls Toll free FAX only info@jacksonremc.com Web site - Pay bills online - Pay bills by phone Office Hours 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday To report outages or emergencies (local) (toll free) day or night Board of Directors President John Trinkle - district 3 Vice-President Earl Pottschmidt - district 8 Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Kelley - district 5 John Hackman - district 1 Walter Hunter - district 2 Paul Elliott - district 4 Mark Trisler - district 6 Curtis Wischmeier - district 7 John Miller - district 9 OUR COVER Winter Scene with thermometer. See page 2 for more details. Watt Highlights - (USPS ) is published monthly for $3.00 per year (electric rates include subscription) by Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation, a consumer owned utility, 274 E. Base Road, Brownstown, Indiana Periodicals postage paid at Brownstown, Indiana. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Watt Highlights, P.O. Box K, Brownstown, Indiana Page 2 - February 2018 Prepare for Higher Than Normal Bills Mark McKinney, General Manager While there are some things Jackson County REMC can control to help keep the cost of electricity as economical as possible. One of the things we cannot control is the weather. As many of you know, so far, we have experienced a colder than normal winter. The average low temperature between December 17, 2017 and January 17, 2018 was only 13.6 F, compared to the same period last winter where the average low temperature was 23.9 F. Even during the Polar Vortex of 2014, the average low temperature for the exact same period was 18.5 F. These frigid temperatures have cause heating systems to work overtime, and since heating and cooling can make up nearly half of your electric usage, you may experience sticker shock when you receive your electric bill. Throughout the year we provide energy efficiency tips in the Watt Highlights, Facebook, Twitter, and on our website at There is still plenty of winter left, so it is never too late to list some additional energy efficiency tips for you to consider. On the next page we have listed 10 quick tips to avoid high winter bills. Using these tips can certainly help you manage your energy use, but your electric bill may still be higher than normal during the winter months. Why? Even those with the most efficient HVAC systems will experience more use in extreme weather, including additional use of the emergency backup heat. When extreme cold temperatures hit, heaters work overtime. For example, even if you set your thermostat to the recommended 68 F in the winter, when it is 18 F outside, your system must work harder to make up the 50 F difference. With your heater working harder and cycling on and off more often, your usage is higher, which unfortunately means your electric bill will be higher. If you would like to see what your electric usage was for any given month, day, or hour, log into our SmartHub website or SmartHub App and click on My Usage. We also have an energy advisor on staff who can answer questions about improving the overall energy efficiency of your home. These are both great resources to help you evaluate and reduce your electric usage. Feel free to call us if you need more information about SmartHub or learning more about how weather affects your energy usage. Source:

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4 Thermostat Do s and Don ts by Brian Reynolds, Energy Advisor I have been asked if it is a good idea to set back a thermostat at night or when everyone is gone to help reduce heating costs. The answer is; it depends on the type of heating system in the home. If a fossil fuel furnace (natural gas, propane, or fuel oil) is being used, setting back a thermostat is a great way to save money. However, if you have a heat pump or geothermal heating system, setting back your thermostat can actually cost you money. Heat pumps and geothermal units typically produce air that is between 90 and 95 degrees. Air at this temperature takes longer to heat the home. Due to the low air temperature produced, these systems require auxiliary heat during periods when more heating is required such as a cold winter day or if the thermostat is increased significantly. This auxiliary heat is not as efficient as the heat pump or geothermal unit. If a system is heating the home and it takes a long time to achieve the desired temperature, the auxiliary heat will come on to help speed up the process. For heat pumps, the auxiliary heat generally is needed once the outdoor temperature drops to below 30 degrees. Geothermal systems will go to a much lower temperature before requiring the help. When the Page 4 - February 2018 thermostat temperature is increased more than 2 degrees, both geothermal and heat pump systems will have the auxiliary heat turn on to achieve the desired temperature as fast as possible. The money you save by setting back the thermostat at night or when everyone is gone will be lost when you turn up the thermostat and the system is trying to catch up. These systems are designed to set the thermostat at a desired temperature, and then left alone. So what do I recommend? Based on the findings of the U.S. Department of Energy, you should set your thermostats for 68 degrees in the heating season. If you have a gas furnace, you can save money by setting back the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees when you are asleep or at work. If you have a heat pump or geothermal system, set the thermostat at 68 degrees and don t change it. If 68 degrees is too cold for you, find the lowest temperature that can keep you comfortable and leave it there. As always please feel free to call our office if you ever have any questions.

5 High-speed Internet is coming Value 50 Essential 100 Advanced 500 1G Ultra 1000 $54.95 $69.95 $99.95 $ /50 Mbps 100/100 Mbps 500/500 Mbps 1 Gig/1 Gig , surfing, shopping, managing your accounts on-line gamers/professionals who work from home streaming multiple movies and TV shows, video conferencing and more optimum speed across all your connected devices simultaneously Jackson Connect Updates: To date we have roughly 101 miles of fiber installed. Phase 1 is a total of 320 miles, which puts us approximately 1/3 of the way done with Phase 1. We are planning to begin connecting friendly s for testing purposes in February, and are planning to begin a full-scale rollout of Phase 1 customer connections sometime this spring. We ll have a more accurate time frame in a month or so. If you haven t signed up yet, you can do so on our website jacksonconnect.net or by ing us at broadband@jacksonremc.com. To date, we have about 3,800 members who have expressed interest. We will use member interest as part of our rationale for deciding where to build Phase 2 and subsequent phases of construction. Make sure to follow us on Facebook: Jackson Connect, LLC to stay up to date with the latest information. February Page 5

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7 Space Heaters Safety vs. Convenience With the hustle and bustle of the holidays just ending, we ll do just about anything to make things easier on ourselves. The convenience of electric space heaters are great, but don t forget about all of the safety precautions you may have overlooked. When bringing your electric space heater out for the winter, here are a few quick reminders that could ensure those in your home stay safe. Check that your space heater has a label showing that it is recognized by a testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord or plug any other devices into the same outlet to avoid overheating. That could start a fire. While there is no risk for carbon monoxide poisoning with an electric space heater, it holds many other safety hazards if not used properly. One mistake homeowners make when using space heaters is placing them near combustibles. Keep them at least 3 feet away from anything that could possibly burn, like curtains, beds or a rug. In accordance with fire safety, install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas. If you already have them, be sure to test them once a month to be sure they re working properly. Remember, an electric space heater is a temporary option when looking for supplemental heat. Many homeowners may use this option to heat specific rooms while they sleep, but this is unsafe. Whenever you re leaving a room or going to sleep, it is important to turn off your electric space heater. If you re leaving it unattended, it could overheat or fall. As well, a child could play too close to it and get hurt. Place space heaters out of high traffic areas and doorways where they may be tripping hazards. And when not in use, always unplug and safely store the heater. Don t let your guard down if you heat your home with an electric space heater. By following these tips, you and your family have a better chance of avoiding significant fire and electric shock hazards. Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) February Page 7

8 Recipes Simply Delicious by Nicole Ault Communications/Public Relations Specialist Strawberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 Box Strawberry Cake Mix 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil 2 Eggs 2 cups White Chocolate Chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Mix in white chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed. Place heaping spoonful s onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Let set on pan for 2 minutes then remove to a wire rack for cooling. Slow Cooker Potato Soup 5 pounds russet potatoes 10 cloves of garlic minced 1 medium/large yellow onion diced 64 ounces chicken stock or broth 16 oz cream cheese softened 1 tablespoon seasoned salt *optional garnishes: crumbled bacon shredded cheese, green onions Peel Potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, salt, and chicken stock to slow cooker. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours. Add the softened cream cheese and puree soup with an immersion blender until the cheese is incorporated and blended well. Stir well, top with your choice of garnishes & enjoy! Yields about servings. Crispy Bacon Grilled Cheese Roll Ups 8 slices of bread, crusts removed 8 slices precooked bacon 8 slices of cheese or 1 cup+ grated cheddar 1/4 cup butter Using a rolling pin, roll slices of bread flat. Place one slice of cheese (or 2-3 tablespoons grated cheddar). Roll up bread & cheese. Wrap one slice of bacon around each roll securing with a toothpick. Place in a pan over medium-low heat. Add a small spoonful of butter & using tongs, rub the rolls in the butter ensuring the bread edges are covered. Continue adding bits of butter and turning with tongs until all sides are browned and cheese is melted. Page 8 - February 2018

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10 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Jackson County February 21 - Annual Farmers Breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Pewter Hall, just east of State Road 135 south of Brownstown. The event is hosted by the Community Foundation of Jackson County and Purdue Extension Service. Reservation deadline is February 16. For more information or to make reservations contact the Community Foundation of Jackson County by info@cfjacksoncounty.org or by phone February & Jackson County Community Theatre s 2018 Dinner Theatre production of Almost, Maine. begins February 16, with additional performances February 17, 23, and 24, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour. In addition to the dinner shows, a non-dinner show will be held on Sunday, February 18 at 2:30 p.m. This year marks the 38th year that JCCT and The Pines Restaurants have partnered to provide the popular event. Reservations are required for the dinner shows. They may be made online at the group s website, www. jcct.org. In addition, tickets may be ordered by phone at JCCT (5228) or by mail@jcct.org The Feb. 18 non-dinner 2:30 matinee, also at the Evergreen Room, does not require reservations. All tickets for the non-dinner show are general admission and are available at the door prior to the performance. Page 10 - February 2018 Scott County February 1 - The Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District will be hosting their 73rd Annual Dinner Meeting on Thursday, February 1, The dinner-meeting venue will be in the Scott County Mid-America Science Park (MASP) located on 821 S. Lake Road beginning at 6:30 p.m. SWCD supervisor appointment and election will be conducted. Guest speaker is Mr. Joe Pearson, former Indiana Legislator, Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture and current Executive Director for MASP. Please call , ext. 3 for ticket reservations. In case of inclement weather, a snow-date will be set at another time. Washington County March 3 - Pekin Community Health Fair at Pekin United Methodist Church. 244 S. Shorts Corner Rd. Pekin, IN S. 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Services are FREE. We will be providing a free lunch to all participants To have your non-profit group s event listed in our Community Calendar, please contact us by letter, phone or (nault@ jacksonremc.com) at least six weeks before your event date. Include a phone number we can call to verify your information. ART CONTEST win $200 You could ENTER YOUR BEST ARTWORK Fill the pages of the 2019 calendar! ELIGIBILITY Indiana public, private or home-schooled students in kindergarten through 12th grade during the school year are eligible to enter the contest. DETAILS AND DEADLINE A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at ElectricConsumer.org/?p=5327. Artwork must be received by March 23, Questions? Contact Electric Consumer, or ec@electricconsumer.org.

11 EAP Moratorium Set to End Participants in the State of Indiana s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) should note that the final day to catch up their accounts is Thursday, March 15. Disconnection of delinquent services is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 16. Please contact the REMC s Billing Department as soon as possible to arrange to bring your account up-to-date prior to the 16th. Coming Soon!! A new look to your electric bill. Make sure to check out the March Watt Highlights for more information. February Page 11

12 TELEPHONE TOLL FREE During regular office hours you will be connected with our customer service representatives. After regular hours you will be connected with our answering service. Please call during regular office hours for all business other than outages or emergencies. OFFICE HOURS 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM - Monday through Friday FAX only info@jacksonremc.com Web site - Pay bill online - visit our website (above) Pay bill by phone When calling or writing please give the name and customer number above your name on this label or your account number shown on your bill.