IMPACT YOUR COOPERATIVE! PAGE 15 Since 1940 February 2018 Cash in on 2018 Energy Efficiency Incentives! Your Touchstone Energy Partner POWERING THE AMERICAN SPIRIT
PLUGGED IN Have an impact on your cooperative! Sign up for the Member Advisory Council Your Touchstone Energy Partner Since 2010, the Member Advisory Council has been a sounding board for Eau Claire Energy Cooperative s board and staff. As a voluntary non-elected council, these members are an important part of the process, learning about co-op issues and sharing their viewpoints. ECEC was created over 80 years ago by folks getting I feel much more connected to my cooperative and I feel like the board listens to our concerns and values our input. Jane Mueller, Member Advisory Council together, sitting around the table and talking about issues and concerns and how to best approach them. The Member Advisory Council takes the cooperative back to those grassroots, with two goals in mind: To give feedback on current and potential programs and services To discuss the future of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative The Member Advisory Council has been instrumental in discussions related to the development and marketing of the innovative MemberSolar project to provide local, clean solar energy for members to include as part of their energy portfolios. These members have discussed the business plan, many products and services, and how the energy industry affects member With so many changes happening within energy, from renewable power to electric cars, Member Advisory Council members can see firsthand what changes are in our future. William Kramer, Member Advisory Council energy rates, energy usage, and the costs of keeping the lights on for reliable and safe energy delivery. we continue to learn about and become aware of ways to effectively deal with our energy consumption. Rollie and Pam Hicks, Member Advisory Council Few companies allow their consumers to have a direct influence on the way they do business. Eau Claire Energy Cooperative is one that does, encouraging our Member Advisory Council to become liaisons among other members, the board and staff. The Member Advisory Council is not to be confused with the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is a nine-person board and is elected by the membership. The Member Advisory Council is a voluntary council of about 25 members who apply for approval by the board. The Member Advisory Council helps make our cooperative stronger and more efficient. The Member Advisory Council applicant must: Be a current ECEC member in good standing or a high school student member. Commit to participate in at least three out of four quarterly meetings for a two-year period. No monetary reimbursement is given, but meals are provided by ECEC at the evening meetings. Meetings are led by the ECEC board chair. To apply, call 715-832-1603 or go online at www.ecec. com. Click on the COMMUNITY tab. We are lucky to have a cooperative that provides this opportunity for its member highly recommend that others take advantage of this opportunity! Barb LeDuc, Member Advisory Council a great way to see all the work that goes into providing electricity to your home, as well as the future sustainability and technology the co-op is working to incorporate into their services! Jesse Green, Member Advisory Council MY CO-OP www.ecec.com February 2018 15
One Member, One Vote Over the next few weeks, the members at Eau Claire Energy Cooperative will have the opportunity to make an impact on the governance of the cooperative. This is your chance to take part in the democratic process to vote for the directors. Every member in good standing has one vote for director candidates Absentee ballots available after February 5, 2018 If you are unable to attend the ECEC Annual Meeting, you may request an absentee ballot from the cooperative and vote for director candidates. Choose one of three ways to request your absentee ballot. We MUST receive your request in our office by 12:00 noon on February 22, 2018. Fill in and mail this request form to the address below Submit a request online at www.ecec.com Or, call 715-836-6461 Eau Claire Energy Cooperative Attn: Chief Administrative Officer PO Box 368 Fall Creek, WI 54742-0368 Eau Claire Energy Cooperative Absentee Ballot Request (please print) Name Address City/State/Zip Phone # placed on the ballot by the Nominating Committee. Candidates are named according to district boundaries, but each member votes for all district positions. The opportunity for you to vote for your board members comes up again on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at the 81st Annual meeting at The Florian Gardens in Eau Claire. Members not able to attend the meeting can ask for absentee ballots as shown at left. Watch your March issue of the WEC News magazine for complete details on the meeting as well as the candidate biographies and photographs. In November and December, 2017, the Nominating Committee met at the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative headquarters and selected the slate of candidate for three of the districts that represent the Board of Directors. District No. 2: All service areas of the cooperative within the City of Eau Claire or the City of Altoona, defined as of December 31, 2006. Robert J. Gadwill (Incumbent) District No. 4: Washington west of South Lowes Creek Road and Union, Eau Claire County; Spring Brook, Dunn County, except land in District 2. Judith A. Anibas (Incumbent) Kenneth Holmes District No. 6: Pleasant Valley, Eau Claire County; Albion, Trempealeau County. Frank Neibauer MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Eau Claire Energy Cooperative 81st Annual Meeting Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Florian Gardens 16 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
PLUGGED IN AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT Deadline March 1, 2018 Do you know an Eau Claire Energy Cooperative member who has gone above and beyond to help others? Do you know a member who has made a difference in the community through local service projects or non-profit organizations and local events? Now is the time to nominate your friends or neighbors for the fifth annual Concern for Community Awards. Nominate an ECEC member at www.ecec.com. This year s recipient will be honored at our 81st Annual Meeting at the Florian Gardens on March 13, 2018. MEMBERS RECYCLE OVER 300 POUNDS OF LIGHTS! MY CO-OP Since late November co-op members have been bringing their dud holiday light strings to Eau Claire Energy Cooperative for recycling. In fact, they brought in over 300 pounds that will NOT go to the landfill. Where do they go? The old unusable light strings are recycled by taking them to Hope Gospel in Eau Claire where volunteers take them apart to salvage various parts for reuse. It s a win-win for all! YOUTH AMBASSADOR MEETING Wednesday February 21 12 1:30 p.m Meet at Red Robin for lunch 3005 Golf Road, Eau Claire Proceed to Eau Claire Humane Association for tour 3900 Old Town Hall Road, Eau Claire FAMILY DAY AT HOME & GARDEN SHOW! Saturday, February 24 It s Family Day at the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Home & Garden Show Saturday, February 24. Bring the entire family to this one-day event sponsored by Eau Claire Energy Cooperative. Special prizes and activities geared to your children will greet you. It s part of the 40th CVHBA Home & Garden Show. For three days you will have access to over 115 Home Show vendors who can help you with home energy efficiency incentives, home design ideas, building plans, remodeling strategies, landscaping, and much more! The three-day Friday through Sunday show takes place February 23 25 at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center at 3456 Craig Road. For more information and tickets, see the back cover of this magazine or go to www.cvhomebuilders.com. www.ecec.com February 2018 17
FREE ENERGY-SAVING PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE TO RENTERS Focus on Energy s popular offering that ships free energy-saving products to Wisconsin homeowners is now available to renters and condo owners. This year our Simple Energy Efficiency offering expands to all ratepayers of utilities that participate in Focus on Energy, said Casey Langan, Focus on Energy spokesman. Funded by 108 electric and natural gas utilities, Focus on Energy has worked with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects since 2001. There are six different packs to choose from. They include items such as light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, high-efficiency showerheads, pipe insulation, and advanced power strips for home offices and entertainment centers. Participants can order one pack per household, once every three years. Order your free pack online at focusonenergy.com/ simple or call 800.230.4701. Packs are shipped for free to your doorstep within four to six weeks. Please have your electric utility account numbers available when ordering. Whether switching to LED lightbulbs or plugging electronics into an advanced power strip, these products help Wisconsinites save energy and money, Langan said. These Simple Energy Efficiency packs are just one way Focus on Energy benefits our state s economy, reduces energy waste, and conserves resources. Youth Leadership Conference Holiday Inn South 4751 Owen Ayres Ct., Eau Claire, Wis. March 5 6, 2018 More Co-op Value: High school students wanted! Add more value to your cooperative membership and mark your calendars for the Co-ops Yes! Youth Leadership Conference, March 5 6, 2018, at the Holiday Inn South, Eau Claire, Wisconsin! This event brings together high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from across Minnesota and Wisconsin to collaborate and connect while learning about the cooperative business model. Registration for up to five lucky high school students from Eau Claire Energy Cooperative member families will be paid by ECEC. But you must register by February 5, 2018. Registration deadline: February 5, 2018 Click on www.ecec.com or call 715-832-1603 18 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News Your Touchstone Energy Partner Lynn E. Thompson, President/CEO Mary Kay Brevig, Editor, Manager of Communications & Public Relations 8214 Hwy 12, P.O. Box 368, Fall Creek, WI 54742-0368 www.ecec.com Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. 4 p.m. Mon Fri Non-emergencies: 715-832-1603 Emergencies & outages: Toll FREE 800-927-5090 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Diggers Hotline: 811 or 1-800-242-8511 Call 3 working days before you dig.
PHONE NUMBERS VITAL TO RELIABLE ELECTRIC SERVICE As people utilize their cell phones more and eliminate their land lines, we find that we no longer have valid phone numbers on record. Therefore, we are not able to contact our members in order to give you important information about your electric service or about scheduled maintenance outages. We urge you to contact us with updated phone numbers so we may serve you better. You can submit your telephone number through our website or via email at info@ecec.com, through SmartHub, or call our office at 715-832-1603. We only use this information to contact our members with information related to electric service. We value your privacy, and do not use or sell this information for any other purposes. Our goal is to continue to provide you with safe, reliable electric service. WINTER SAFETY TIPS WHAT S YOUR NUMBER? Home fires occur more often in winter than any other season because of the increased use of heating systems. Remember to test your smoke alarms. The National Fire Protection Association recommends: Testing alarms at least once a month. Installing new batteries at least once a year. Keeping batteries in alarms. Never borrow them for other purposes. Replacing all alarm batteries upon moving into a new home. Replacing alarms every 10 years. SMARTHUB An easy way to manage your energy bill SmartHub means you have options when it comes to managing your energy bill at Eau Claire Energy Cooperative. Have you ever wondered when your highest electric usage takes place? Have you wondered why your energy bill is what it is? SmartHub helps you determine those answers. If you have not signed up, you re missing out on a lot of smart benefits including: Pay your energy bill online Set up your energy bill for automatic payments View your billing history View and manage your electric usage Identify ways to lower your energy bill Sign up for SmartHub online. It s ECEC s FREE and mobile online payment system that allows you to monitor your daily energy usage. Click on the signup link and follow the prompts to create your user name and password. Questions? Call, click or visit us at 715-832-1603 or www.ecec.com.