1. Ingeniería

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATI
www.dcremc.com
CONTACT US
LOCAL 812-663-3391
800-844-7362
TOLL FREE OFFICE HOURS
8 a.m.– 5 p.m., Monday-Friday
STREET ADDRESS
1430 W. Main St.
Greensburg, IN 47240
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 46, Greensburg, IN 47240
EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES
To report a power outage, please
call 663-3391 or 800-844-7362.
During regular business hours, these
phone numbers connect you with our
office and after hours to our on-call
service. When calling after hours,
please limit your requests to outages
and emergencies. Whenever you call,
please give the name and account
number of the service as shown on
your bill.
HOW TO REPORT AN OUTAGE
1. Check the fuses or breakers in your
home.
2. Check the breakers below the
meter if the meter is located on a
yard pole.
3. Call your neighbors. If their power
is also off, ask if they have reported
it yet. Please do not take for granted
that the outage has been reported.
4. Call Decatur County REMC to
report your outage. Please be
prepared to give the name, address,
location number, and telephone
number for the account without
power in order for us process your
call more quickly.
TIP OF THE MON TH
Take the hot out of washing
Did you know that 90 percent
of the energy used to operate a
washing machine comes from
using hot water? A simple
switch from hot to cold can
save a great deal of energy!
Also, consider air drying or even line drying
to save even more household energy.
— U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
4 Above and beyond
Co-op membership offers value beyond electricity
We are celebrating our
77th anniversary in 2015. We
work hard every day to serve
our 7,800 members. Offering
our members real value —
and working to improve the
quality of life in the communities we serve — is just one
DON
way we set ourselves apart.
SCHILLING
Cooperatives are special
and at Decatur County REMC, we believe
that we have an obligation to provide
reliable, affordable, and safe electricity.
We don’t stop there. We take that a step
further. We also have a responsibility to
support our members, enrich our schools,
and enhance our communities to the best
of our abilities.
So what exactly does real value mean?
Well, in some ways it’s basic, like connecting with a real, local person when
you call our office, rather than just a
recording. It’s being greeted by a friendly,
knowledgeable person when you make a
visit to our local office. It could be keeping you informed about co-op business
and goings-on in Indiana. Or it’s getting
the lights back on more quickly after a
major storm or after an unfortunate squirrel decided to warm himself on a transformer. After major weather events, thanks
to mutual-aid agreements, we can bring
line crews in from other co-ops to help us
restore power to you as quickly and safely
as possible.
Every October, cooperatives are recognized for the qualities that make the
business model unique: local democratic
control, commitment to and supporting
the communities they serve and improving quality of life, special benefits and
services, and the return of margins (the
co-op term for profits) back to members
in the form of capital credits. The middle
of February we will be sending capital
credit checks to our members reflecting the patronage years of 1987, 1988 and
1990. If you were a member during that
period of time, you will receive a check
based on your usage.
DON SCHILLING is general manager/president of
Decatur County REMC.
Statement of nondiscrimination
Decatur County Rural Electric Corporation is the recipient of federal financial assistance from the
Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the
provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1967, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and the rules and
regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which provide that no person in the United States
on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap shall be excluded from participation in,
admission or access to, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under
any of this organization’s programs or activities.
The person responsible for coordination this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is
the manager of corporate relations. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this
organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes
and regulations listed above and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the Secretary,
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250; or the Administrator, Rural Utilities Service,
Washington, D.C., 20250. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination.
Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • FEBRUARY 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org
IVE
Decatur County REMC
Annual Meeting
REMC rate schedule
January use / February bill
Service availability ....................................$37
kWh rate .......................................$0.103670
Total kWh x power tracker ................. 0.010934
Total bill x sales tax............................ 0.07000
Example of bill for 1,200 kWh
Service availability ....................................$37
1,200 kWh @ $0.103670..................... $124.40
1,200 kWh @ 0.010934..........................$13.12
TOTAL............................................... $174.52
State sales tax......................................$12.22
TOTAL BILL........................................$186.74
Decatur County REMC’s voting bylaw
Section 3.05. — Voting
Each member who is not in a status of suspension, as provided for in Section
2.01, shall be entitled to only one vote upon each matter submitted to a vote
at any meeting of the members. A member shall have only one vote, although
the member may have more than one meter. Voting by members other than
members who are natural persons shall be allowed upon the presentation to the
REMC, prior to or upon registration at each member meeting, of satisfactory
evidence entitling that person to vote for the member. However, the individual
who casts the vote of this member may not vote any other membership.
An individual may cast only one vote. Members may not cumulate
their votes or vote by proxy or mail. At all meetings of the members, all
questions shall be decided by a majority of the members voting thereon,
except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws.
A copy of our annual report is distributed to each member prior
to our annual meeting. Be looking for it in the mail.
ElectricConsumer.org • FEBRUARY 2015 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 5
Decatur County REMC News
Geared Up FOR SAFETY
C
an you imagine working a job that requires you to lift
heavy equipment and perform detailed tasks near
deadly high voltage? Now imagine doing this 40 feet in
the air, and sometimes, in extreme weather. This is the life of
a lineman.
These brave men answer when called — and they do so to
ensure that you are provided with safe, reliable electric service. But how do they stay safe when working in these conditions? Decatur County REMC linemen are required to wear
personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times when on the
job to keep them safe.
Let’s take a look at a lineman’s PPE.
Fire resistant (FR) clothing. While our linemen do everything possible to prevent them, unexpected fires can happen.
Fires typically occur with an arc flash — an explosion that
results from a low-impedance connection to a ground phase
in an electrical system. FR clothing will self-extinguish, thus
limiting injury due to burn.
Insulated gloves. Linemen must wear insulated rubber
gloves when working on any type of electrical line. These
gloves provide protection against electrical shock and burn,
and are tested at 30,000 volts. Protective gloves, usually made
of leather, are worn over the insulated gloves to protect the
rubber from punctures and cuts.
Hard hat. No matter how tough or “hardheaded” our
linemen are, they still need protection. Insulated hard hats
are worn at all times to protect them from blows and falling
objects.
Steel toe boots. These heavy-duty boots are typically 16
inches tall and designed with extra support in mind. The
height of the boot shields linemen from gouges, and serrated
heels provide a better grip when climbing poles. The steel
toe provides sturdier support and protects from objects that
could potentially pierce the feet. .
Safety goggles. Linemen must wear protective goggles
or glasses, whether working on electrical lines or clearing
rights-of-way. This protects them from loose debris and other
hazards.
These items make up a lineman’s basic PPE. While working on electrical lines, they also may be required to wear
equipment belts, tool pouches, safety straps and other types
of equipment. A lineman’s gear usually weighs about 50
pounds — that’s a lot of extra weight when working in hazardous conditions.
So, the next time you see a lineman – be sure to thank
him for keeping the lights on. But more importantly, thank
them for the hard —
­ and often times dangerous — work they
do, day in and day out. …
Calendars and almanacs are here!
Stop by the Decatur County REMC office to pick up your free
copy of the 2015 Farmers’ Almanac and the 2015 Cooperative
Calendar of Student Art.
The almanac is a source of information on many topics
including weather and gardening, and the calendar, produced
by Electric Consumer, features outstanding artwork by K-12
students from all over Indiana.
Stop by our office today and pick up your copies.
28 ELECTRIC CONSUMER • FEBRUARY 2015 • ElectricConsumer.org
Five tips for space heater safety
A
s temperatures drop this winter,
many will look for supplemental
heating sources for their homes.
Space heaters can be a good alternative for
those who want to warm one area of their
home without turning up the thermostat
on the central heating system. However,
space heaters are also responsible for 32
percent of house fires, according to the
National Fire Protection Association. If you
are planning to use a space heater in your
home this winter, review these tips from
Decatur County REMC to keep you, your
family and your property safe.
Materials — What are the components
of your space heater made of? Parts like
metal grating can be hot to the touch and
may burn anyone who gets too close. Make
sure you purchase a heater that is cool to
the touch and has guards over the coils
just in case little fingers get too close.
Placement ­— While it can be tempting to place a small heater on a shelf so it
is not in the way of pets and children, it is
safest to leave the heater on a level floor
on a nonflammable surface. Keeping the
space heater on the floor can keep it from
falling over, preventing fire hazards. Also,
remember that space heaters and bathrooms are not a good combination, unless
the heater is designed for bathroom use.
Moisture can damage the heater. The most important rule about space
heater placement is the three-foot rule.
Whether you are using the heater in the
bedroom, living room or kitchen, space
heaters should always be kept three feet
away from flammable materials and out of
the way of children and pets.
Special Features — Does your space
heater have an auto shutoff function if
tipped over? Auto shutoff can be a lifesaver. If you currently own a space heater
without auto shutoff, consider purchasing
a heater with this important safety feature.
Cords — You should never use an
extension cord when plugging in a space
heater as it can cause overheating. The
space heater should be plugged directly
into a wall outlet, and should be the only
thing plugged in to the wall outlet. Also
make sure cords aren’t in a high-traffic area so they are not a
tripping hazard.
Use — Never leave a heater unattended while in use.
If you are leaving your home or going to bed, make sure to
unplug the heater.
Following these tips and making sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions can keep you safe this winter. …
Happy
Valentine’s Day
from
Decatur
County REMC!
ElectricConsumer.org • FEBRUARY 2015 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 29