www.prairieenergy.coop

With members of Prairie energy cooPerative

november 2010

A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa magazine . November 2010

intouch© is the official publication of Prairie Energy Cooperative Copyright 2010 Prairie Energy Cooperative

2099 Highway 3W • Clarion, Iowa 50525-0353 • (515) 532-2805Darrell Goff, General Manager

Giving you the power to prosper!

PA6%

NY2%

NJ6%

LA23%

MN24%

VT4%

KY26%

SC18%

NC8%

VA9%

NH4%

ID0%

AL16%

CA4%

CO19%

IA15%

IL20%

IN21%

KS15%

ME6%

MI15%

MO23%

MS16%

MT6%

ND26%

NE18%

NM14%

OH21%

OK19%

SD22%

UT28%

WA0%

WI17%

WV17%

WY23%

NV9%

TN17%AZ

16% AR21%

TX14%

OR0%

GA12%

FL16%

Percent Increase:High 15% and above

Medium 9% to 14%

Low 0% to 8%

Example of $20 per Metric Ton of CO2 Impact on Co-op Residential Bills

DE 11%MD 13%

© NRECA, all rights reserved. May not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.

Percent Increase in Monthly Bill

HI2%

Source: 2007 EIA dataStrategic Analysis UnitMay 2009

1 Metric Ton = 2,204.6 pounds

AK6%

Prairie Energy’s annual report to the member/owners centered on the potential disastrous affect the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will have on the future cost of energy, when and if, enforcement procedures are taken against coal fired baseload electric generation plants. At this time, it looks like Cap & Trade Legislation is not on the table.

The State of Iowa receives approximately 75% of its energy from coal-fired generation. Nationally that percentage is 50%. Both coastal regions are significantly lower. The original Cap & Trade Legislation came from Senators representing Massachusetts and California. The same could be said in the House of Representatives – No surprise there. It’s not rocket science to predict the winners and losers if Cap & Trade ever comes to fruition.

The regulation of carbon dioxide from coal-fired generation plants will lead to higher electricity prices for Iowa’s member/owners. If congress doesn’t pass the legislation, the EPA will use enforcement measures under the outdated and inefficient use of the Clean Air Act.

In difficult economic circumstances, it’s safe to say that the last thing the member/owners of Prairie Energy (or other not-for-profit electric cooperatives in Iowa) need is higher electric bills. Electric cooperatives have been trying to make sure any energy or climate change policy remains fair, affordable and achievable.

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) has an excellent grassroots network in place. Within a short timeframe, we/they were able to generate over 70,000 post cards which were delivered to Iowa Senators and Representatives expressing concern on Cap & Trade. Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of Grassroots Advocacy. That has

energy Prices continue to riseBy Darrell Goff, Executive VP/GM

changed. Whether or not you like politics, if you don’t voice your concerns or get to know your legislators, you won’t be part of the solution.

I’m asking you to make your voices heard in preventing the EPA from doing something Congress never intended. Please reach out to your elected officials in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and ask them to support fellow members of Congress who are doing important work to prevent the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Federal Clean Air Act. Together we can take a stand that will help ensure an affordable energy future and prevent a much larger economic mess.

The IAEC coordinates our grassroots efforts. They also maintain a Political Action Committee (PAC) called ACRE/FORE. ACRE – Action Committee for Rural Electric and FORE – Friends of Rural Electrics.

All Prairie Energy directors as well as staff contribute to the PAC. It’s a great way to ensure that your concerns will be heard by STATE & FEDERAL Legislators. I encourage you to join the club.

manager’s column continued on page 4.

Please complete the following information and mail with your check payable to REC/PAC to:Ms. Shelly York, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC), 8525 Douglas Avenue, Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992

Name ___________________________________________________________________________Home Address ___________________________________________________________________City ____________________________________ State _______________ Zip ________________Cooperative: Prairie Energy CooperativeEmployer _____________________________ Job Profession/Occupation ____________________Enclosed is my personal check made payable to REC/PAC to help support those political candi-dates who believe in the rural electric cooperative program (2009).

Please check one of the following: Regular Member $35 Sustaining Member $50 Century Club Member $100 Ambassador Club Member $250 Presidents Club Member $500 Other Contribution _______

Manager’s column continuted from page 1....

High-Speed Satellite InternetReaches virtually everywhere•Starting at only $49.95 per month•Up to 30x faster than dial-up•

contact Joel groom at Prairie energy 641-923-2654 or 888-225-8707.

Schedule your Energy Audit and start saving money

An energy Advisor from Prairie Energy Cooperative can help you save money by conducting an energy audit of your home. You will receive an audit report, recommendations and several leave-behind items that can help save on energy costs.

Contact Greg Anderson, member service manager at 800-728-0013 or Don Kammrad, member service representative at 888-225-8707 to schedule your energy audit.

When a member requests a locate through the Iowa One Call system – the cooperative is only required to locate cooperative owned cable. Generally the co-ops ownership of the underground cable ends at the metering point. Beyond that point all the underground facilities are owned by the resident. What that means is, if you wish to have those facilities located it is your responsibility to find a contractor (typically an electrician) to do this. If you need assistance with names of electricians who perform this service please contact our office and we will assist.

One Call Reminder

Ceilings, floors,and walls

31%

Ducts15%

Fireplace14%

Plumbing penetrations

13%

Doors11%

Windows10%

Fans and vents4%

Electric outlets2%

Those little cracks in your home’s walls, doors, and floors might not be as harmless as they look.

Not every crack is a problem beyond an eyesore. In fact, as a home ages, it’s a given that cracks will form in overused areas, like around doors and windows. Temperature fluctuations can

cause building materials to expand and contract—and crack.

But a crack could be the only visible symptom of a hidden and po-tentially serious problem with your home—one that will be harder to fix and more expensive to deal with later if you don’t figure out what’s causing that crack now.

Here are four places to stop a crack before it starts trouble:

Your wood front door. Unless 1. you clean, sand, and refinish your door regularly, it’s bound to dry out and warp or crack. Apply a protective urethane-based finish every couple of years. Another option: Replace the wood door with a wood lookalike fiberglass door.Any hole, gap, crack, or open-2. ing on the outside of your house. Culprits: cracks around exterior light fixtures; outdoor taps; exhaust vents and fans; electrical outlets. Seal the gaps with caulk.

Tile floors. Chances are, a 3. cracked tile floor is covering up a cracked concrete floor under-neath. To solve the problem, remove all of the cracked tiles and repair the cracked concrete underneath before replacing the tiles. Bricks and mortar. Simple 4. cracks that follow the pattern of the block underneath are normal, but cracks that cut straight through the blocks can signal a serious issue. Same goes for deep crevices in your stucco, or for substantial, diagonal cracks in interior or exterior walls at the corners of doors and windows. Large cracks like these can reveal that your home’s foundation is “settling” or “heaving” because the soil underneath has gotten wet. Consult with a foundation expert to learn how bad the problem is.

Cracks in house could mean trouble

What can you do? Inspect your home. Arm yourself with a magnifying glass and a pencil and inspect your home, inside and out, for cracks. Use the magnifying glass to find the tiniest cracks in indoor and outdoor walls. If a crack is just big enough to let the point of the pencil through, you probably don’t have to worry about it. But if the eraser end fits into the crack, it’s time to do some serious repair work.

Request an energy audit. Your local electric coopera-tive can help you save with a free home energy audit. The co-op’s energy advisor can “audit” your home for leaks—in air conditioning ducts, windows, walls, and attic. The advisor might advise you to have your ducts sealed and to caulk the windows, repair attic insulation, and make other improvements.

Remember to seal your home’s leaks BEFORE you invest in expensive new products like super-efficient windows or a heating system. Even the most efficient products won’t make you more comfortable or cut your energy bills if you install them in a house that’s leaking heated (or cooled) air.

You can save on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. Use caulk or foam sealant to seal gaps and cracks in your home.

Sources of AIR LEAKS in a typical home

How does the air escape?Air infiltrates into and out of your home through every hole and crack. About one-third of this air moves through openings in your ceilings, floors, and walls.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Light up holiday savings with LEDs

Decorating with lights this holiday season? Consider light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They cost more initially but last twice as long as traditional lights, and you’ll recover the di�erence in three to four years.

Efficient. LEDs use between 1 kWh and 3 kWh of energy, compared to between 12 kWh and 105 kWh for traditional lights, saving $11 every holiday season.

Durable. LEDs last about 4,000 hours. They’re also made of plastic and less likely to break.

Don’t want to use LEDs? Consider trimming back the number of hours your traditional lights are on to six hours or less each day.

Sources: Consumer Reports, Alliance to Save Energy

Iowa residents, including members of your local electric cooperative, are discovering that saving energy and money really is as easy as a twist of the wrist. Through Dec. 15, 2010, co-op members are eligible for special pricing to purchase ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for as little as 99 cents at participating retailers. (Limit 12 CFLs per customer, while supplies last.)

Today’s CFLs produce bright, warm light at less cost to consumers because they use less electricity and last longer than incandescent bulbs.With the wide range of CFL shapes, sizes, and styles now on the market, consumers can find an energy-efficient bulb for every situation and enjoy reduced energy costs all year long.

Special pricing on ENERGY-EFFICIENT BULBS helps Iowa residents save money and the environment

To find participating retailers, call 800-339-6856 or visit www.iowachangealight.com

Closed for ThanksgivingOffices at your Touchstone Energy Cooperative will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 26.Phones are answered 24/7 to report outages and electrical emergencies.

In a typical U.S. home, your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of your energy bills. This includes everything from clothes washers and dryers, to computers, to water heat-ers. According to the Department of Energy, you can achieve real savings in our monthly energy bill by shop-ping for appliances with the EN-ERGY STAR® label and turning off appliances when they’re not in use.

Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phan-tom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity

used to power home electronics and appliancesances is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.

Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.

Tips to SAVE ENERGY with electronics

Ceilings, floors,and walls

31%

Ducts15%

Fireplace14%

Plumbing penetrations

13%

Doors11%

Windows10%

Fans and vents4%

Electric outlets2%

Those little cracks in your home’s walls, doors, and floors might not be as harmless as they look.

Not every crack is a problem beyond an eyesore. In fact, as a home ages, it’s a given that cracks will form in overused areas, like around doors and windows. Temperature fluctuations can

cause building materials to expand and contract—and crack.

But a crack could be the only visible symptom of a hidden and po-tentially serious problem with your home—one that will be harder to fix and more expensive to deal with later if you don’t figure out what’s causing that crack now.

Here are four places to stop a crack before it starts trouble:

Your wood front door. Unless 1. you clean, sand, and refinish your door regularly, it’s bound to dry out and warp or crack. Apply a protective urethane-based finish every couple of years. Another option: Replace the wood door with a wood lookalike fiberglass door.Any hole, gap, crack, or open-2. ing on the outside of your house. Culprits: cracks around exterior light fixtures; outdoor taps; exhaust vents and fans; electrical outlets. Seal the gaps with caulk.

Tile floors. Chances are, a 3. cracked tile floor is covering up a cracked concrete floor under-neath. To solve the problem, remove all of the cracked tiles and repair the cracked concrete underneath before replacing the tiles. Bricks and mortar. Simple 4. cracks that follow the pattern of the block underneath are normal, but cracks that cut straight through the blocks can signal a serious issue. Same goes for deep crevices in your stucco, or for substantial, diagonal cracks in interior or exterior walls at the corners of doors and windows. Large cracks like these can reveal that your home’s foundation is “settling” or “heaving” because the soil underneath has gotten wet. Consult with a foundation expert to learn how bad the problem is.

Cracks in house could mean trouble

What can you do? Inspect your home. Arm yourself with a magnifying glass and a pencil and inspect your home, inside and out, for cracks. Use the magnifying glass to find the tiniest cracks in indoor and outdoor walls. If a crack is just big enough to let the point of the pencil through, you probably don’t have to worry about it. But if the eraser end fits into the crack, it’s time to do some serious repair work.

Request an energy audit. Your local electric coopera-tive can help you save with a free home energy audit. The co-op’s energy advisor can “audit” your home for leaks—in air conditioning ducts, windows, walls, and attic. The advisor might advise you to have your ducts sealed and to caulk the windows, repair attic insulation, and make other improvements.

Remember to seal your home’s leaks BEFORE you invest in expensive new products like super-efficient windows or a heating system. Even the most efficient products won’t make you more comfortable or cut your energy bills if you install them in a house that’s leaking heated (or cooled) air.

You can save on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. Use caulk or foam sealant to seal gaps and cracks in your home.

Sources of AIR LEAKS in a typical home

How does the air escape?Air infiltrates into and out of your home through every hole and crack. About one-third of this air moves through openings in your ceilings, floors, and walls.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Light up holiday savings with LEDs

Decorating with lights this holiday season? Consider light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They cost more initially but last twice as long as traditional lights, and you’ll recover the di�erence in three to four years.

Efficient. LEDs use between 1 kWh and 3 kWh of energy, compared to between 12 kWh and 105 kWh for traditional lights, saving $11 every holiday season.

Durable. LEDs last about 4,000 hours. They’re also made of plastic and less likely to break.

Don’t want to use LEDs? Consider trimming back the number of hours your traditional lights are on to six hours or less each day.

Sources: Consumer Reports, Alliance to Save Energy

Iowa residents, including members of your local electric cooperative, are discovering that saving energy and money really is as easy as a twist of the wrist. Through Dec. 15, 2010, co-op members are eligible for special pricing to purchase ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for as little as 99 cents at participating retailers. (Limit 12 CFLs per customer, while supplies last.)

Today’s CFLs produce bright, warm light at less cost to consumers because they use less electricity and last longer than incandescent bulbs.With the wide range of CFL shapes, sizes, and styles now on the market, consumers can find an energy-efficient bulb for every situation and enjoy reduced energy costs all year long.

Special pricing on ENERGY-EFFICIENT BULBS helps Iowa residents save money and the environment

To find participating retailers, call 800-339-6856 or visit www.iowachangealight.com

Closed for ThanksgivingOffices at your Touchstone Energy Cooperative will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 26.Phones are answered 24/7 to report outages and electrical emergencies.

In a typical U.S. home, your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of your energy bills. This includes everything from clothes washers and dryers, to computers, to water heat-ers. According to the Department of Energy, you can achieve real savings in our monthly energy bill by shop-ping for appliances with the EN-ERGY STAR® label and turning off appliances when they’re not in use.

Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phan-tom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity

used to power home electronics and appliancesances is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.

Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.

Tips to SAVE ENERGY with electronics

www.prairieenergy.coop

With members of Prairie energy cooPerative

november 2010

A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa magazine . November 2010

intouch© is the official publication of Prairie Energy Cooperative Copyright 2010 Prairie Energy Cooperative

2099 Highway 3W • Clarion, Iowa 50525-0353 • (515) 532-2805Darrell Goff, General Manager

Giving you the power to prosper!

PA6%

NY2%

NJ6%

LA23%

MN24%

VT4%

KY26%

SC18%

NC8%

VA9%

NH4%

ID0%

AL16%

CA4%

CO19%

IA15%

IL20%

IN21%

KS15%

ME6%

MI15%

MO23%

MS16%

MT6%

ND26%

NE18%

NM14%

OH21%

OK19%

SD22%

UT28%

WA0%

WI17%

WV17%

WY23%

NV9%

TN17%AZ

16% AR21%

TX14%

OR0%

GA12%

FL16%

Percent Increase:High 15% and above

Medium 9% to 14%

Low 0% to 8%

Example of $20 per Metric Ton of CO2 Impact on Co-op Residential Bills

DE 11%MD 13%

© NRECA, all rights reserved. May not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.

Percent Increase in Monthly Bill

HI2%

Source: 2007 EIA dataStrategic Analysis UnitMay 2009

1 Metric Ton = 2,204.6 pounds

AK6%

Prairie Energy’s annual report to the member/owners centered on the potential disastrous affect the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will have on the future cost of energy, when and if, enforcement procedures are taken against coal fired baseload electric generation plants. At this time, it looks like Cap & Trade Legislation is not on the table.

The State of Iowa receives approximately 75% of its energy from coal-fired generation. Nationally that percentage is 50%. Both coastal regions are significantly lower. The original Cap & Trade Legislation came from Senators representing Massachusetts and California. The same could be said in the House of Representatives – No surprise there. It’s not rocket science to predict the winners and losers if Cap & Trade ever comes to fruition.

The regulation of carbon dioxide from coal-fired generation plants will lead to higher electricity prices for Iowa’s member/owners. If congress doesn’t pass the legislation, the EPA will use enforcement measures under the outdated and inefficient use of the Clean Air Act.

In difficult economic circumstances, it’s safe to say that the last thing the member/owners of Prairie Energy (or other not-for-profit electric cooperatives in Iowa) need is higher electric bills. Electric cooperatives have been trying to make sure any energy or climate change policy remains fair, affordable and achievable.

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) has an excellent grassroots network in place. Within a short timeframe, we/they were able to generate over 70,000 post cards which were delivered to Iowa Senators and Representatives expressing concern on Cap & Trade. Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of Grassroots Advocacy. That has

energy Prices continue to riseBy Darrell Goff, Executive VP/GM

changed. Whether or not you like politics, if you don’t voice your concerns or get to know your legislators, you won’t be part of the solution.

I’m asking you to make your voices heard in preventing the EPA from doing something Congress never intended. Please reach out to your elected officials in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and ask them to support fellow members of Congress who are doing important work to prevent the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Federal Clean Air Act. Together we can take a stand that will help ensure an affordable energy future and prevent a much larger economic mess.

The IAEC coordinates our grassroots efforts. They also maintain a Political Action Committee (PAC) called ACRE/FORE. ACRE – Action Committee for Rural Electric and FORE – Friends of Rural Electrics.

All Prairie Energy directors as well as staff contribute to the PAC. It’s a great way to ensure that your concerns will be heard by STATE & FEDERAL Legislators. I encourage you to join the club.

manager’s column continued on page 4.

Please complete the following information and mail with your check payable to REC/PAC to:Ms. Shelly York, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC), 8525 Douglas Avenue, Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992

Name ___________________________________________________________________________Home Address ___________________________________________________________________City ____________________________________ State _______________ Zip ________________Cooperative: Prairie Energy CooperativeEmployer _____________________________ Job Profession/Occupation ____________________Enclosed is my personal check made payable to REC/PAC to help support those political candi-dates who believe in the rural electric cooperative program (2009).

Please check one of the following: Regular Member $35 Sustaining Member $50 Century Club Member $100 Ambassador Club Member $250 Presidents Club Member $500 Other Contribution _______

Manager’s column continuted from page 1....

High-Speed Satellite InternetReaches virtually everywhere•Starting at only $49.95 per month•Up to 30x faster than dial-up•

contact Joel groom at Prairie energy 641-923-2654 or 888-225-8707.

Schedule your Energy Audit and start saving money

An energy Advisor from Prairie Energy Cooperative can help you save money by conducting an energy audit of your home. You will receive an audit report, recommendations and several leave-behind items that can help save on energy costs.

Contact Greg Anderson, member service manager at 800-728-0013 or Don Kammrad, member service representative at 888-225-8707 to schedule your energy audit.

When a member requests a locate through the Iowa One Call system – the cooperative is only required to locate cooperative owned cable. Generally the co-ops ownership of the underground cable ends at the metering point. Beyond that point all the underground facilities are owned by the resident. What that means is, if you wish to have those facilities located it is your responsibility to find a contractor (typically an electrician) to do this. If you need assistance with names of electricians who perform this service please contact our office and we will assist.

One Call Reminder