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HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

MEMBER CONNECTIONS

IN T

HIS

ISSU

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Tell the EPA to protect affordable electricity by Dec. 1

Prepare your home for winter and save money on energy bills

Learn the basics of energy and electricity

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta spoke at the 2014 Annual Meeting about issues facing the U.S. energy sector and commended HWEC on another successful year.

NOTICE: Our office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Offices will reopen Monday, Dec. 1, at 8 a.m.

1399 Business Park Dr. S., P.O. Box 190, North Baltimore, OH 45872 • hwe.coop • info@hwe.coop • 800-445-4840 • Power Protection Hotline: 419-257-5701

On Sept. 20, Members gathered at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green for HWEC’s Annual Meeting. They received updates about the state of their cooperative;

learned the results of trustee elections; voted on proposed bylaw revisions; and enjoy the music of chart-topper Jason Michael Carroll.

Members were able to vote on changes to the bylaws during the meeting, which led to approval of amendments addressing trustee residency and meeting-attendance requirements. Minor corrections to bylaw language and formatting were also approved.

William Kale of Portage was elected to begin serving on the HWEC Board of Trustees, while James Demler and Tom Kagy each won re-election. I shared with Members that the cooperative is continuing its $2.75 million work plan.

We’re strategically investing in projects that provide future

value for our members. It is important to

note that Hancock-Wood Electric has

decreased the cost of right-of-way trimming from $3,000 per mile of line to $900.

A powerful value for 76 years.

George Walton, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative President and CEO

I am urging our Members to join in the fight against proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) greenhouse gas regulations and become part of the ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action®.

Chairman Ed Crawford is also concerned about pending EPA regulations. “We’re facing regulations that could shut down our coal plants and raise rates,” Crawford said. At the meeting, he urged Members to fill out cards or visit Action.coop to ask the EPA to reconsider its proposals. He also encouraged them to join the political action committee, ACRE.

Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner and Ohio Rep. Tim Brown addressed the meeting and presented the cooperative with a commendation for 76 years of service. U.S. Rep. Bob Latta spoke about issues facing the U.S. energy sector and praised the good work the cooperative has done.

Rachel Wenzinger, who was selected by her peers to represent Ohio on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Leadership Council, spoke about what she learned on this past summer’s Youth Tour of Washington, D.C. The evening came to a close with a performance from country singer Jason Michael Carroll.

The annual report is available on our website, hwe.coop, and photos from the evening are featured on page 20 and on Hancock-Wood Electric’s Facebook page.

HWEC ANNOUNCES TRUSTEE ELECTION RESULTS, RECEIVES STATE CITATION AT MEETING

New HWEC Board Member William Kale

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MEMBER CONNECTIONS

SCHOLARSHIPS AND YOUTH TOUREach year, Hancock-Wood provides scholarship opportunities and a Youth Tour of Washington, D.C. These programs are being reviewed and

updated for the 2015 calendar year.

Those Members attending college in 2015 or high school sophomores and juniors interested in a week-long, guided tour of our nation’s capital, should mark their calendars to check our website the first week of January for the latest information on these opportunities. Deadlines to apply for both are Feb. 1, 2015. For more information, visit hwe.coop or call 800-445-4840.

EPA EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD TO DEC.1The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the comment period regarding its proposal to cut greenhouse gas

emissions from existing power plants. Now, the comment deadline is Dec. 1, and Hancock-Wood Members are encouraged to take full advantage of the extension by visiting Action.coop to make their voices heard.

Concerns are being raised across the country regarding the costly changes that will need to be made to our existing power plants. These costs will impact electric bills across the nation for residents and businesses.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jo Ann Emerson said, “These proposed regulations are some of the most complex and far-reaching ever written. Electric cooperatives welcome the extension of the comment period to allow for more analysis of their impact on affordability and reliability.” This extension provides electric co-ops the opportunity to offer more informed and specific feedback to the agency before announcement of the final rule.

Please visit Action.coop today to send your comments to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

2014 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETINGHWEC Members gathered at the Stroh Center in Bowling

Green to receive updates about the state of their cooperative; learn the results of trustee elections; vote on proposed bylaw revisions; and enjoy the music of chart-

topper Jason Michael Carroll. These and other great photos are available on our Facebook page!

HWEC CEO George Walton and board Chair Ed Crawford welcome state rep. Tim Brown and state Sen. Randy Gardner.

Members in the exhibitor area learn more about energy efficiency through displays provided by HWEC.

Jason Michael Carroll performed for Members.

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HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Winter is right around the corner, and whether you welcome Old Man Winter with open arms or bristle at the thought of snow, preparing your home can lower your energy

bills, increase the efficiency and lifespan of your home’s components, and make your property safer.

Windows and doors• Check all weather stripping for leaks to prevent heat loss.• Replace screen doors with storm doors.• Replace window screens with storm windows.• Inspect wooden window frames for signs of rot or decay.• Caulk inside and out, where necessary, to prevent air leaks.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning• Inspect the firebox and flue system to ensure they’re clean

of any soot or creosote. These should also be free of cracks or voids that could be a fire hazard.

• Check the fireplace for drafts. If it’s cold despite the damper being closed, the damper may need to be replaced or consider installing a Chimney Balloon into the flue.

• Clean or replace the air filter in your furnace.• Bleed valves on any hot-water radiators to increase heating

efficiency by releasing air that may be trapped.• Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

are in working order.• Remove air conditioners from windows or cover them with

insulated liners to prevent drafts.• Replace your older thermostat with a programmable unit.• Install foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates.• Switch ceiling fans to reverse their air flow so warm air is

blown down for efficient air circulation.• Flush water heater tanks to remove sediment and check the

pressure relief valve for damage.• Examine exposed ducts and seal any leaks in the attic,

basement or crawl space.

Outdoors and roofs• Trim overgrown branches back from the house and

electrical wires to prevent ice- or wind-related damage, which may cause outages.

• Inspect outdoor lighting around the property to be sure good illumination is available to minimize the chance for accidents on icy walkways at night.

• Check for and replace missing or damaged shingles.• Clean gutters and downspouts to check for damage.

More tips and tricks for energy efficiency can be found on our website at hwe.coop/save-energy/saving-energy-tips.

WINTER PREPARATIONS SAVE MONEY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman Ed Crawford, Vice Chairman Tom Kagy, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Dierksheide, Assistant Secretary / Treasurer Marlene Barker, and trustees David Corbin, James Demler, John Edie, Steve Gerten, William Kale and Knut Lahrs.

REBUILDING CONTINUES IN NOVEMBERAs part of our $2.75 million rebuilding project, Hancock-Wood is replacing older equipment in seven out of 10 districts in 2014. This is just one

example of Members seeing direct service-reliability benefits from investment in Hancock-Wood’s infrastructure, which includes a reduction in outages.

In November, contract crews will be wrapping up the rebuilding projects for the year. Crews will be rebuilding lines outside of Bowling Green along Kramer, Napoleon and Cuckle Creek roads. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 800-445-4840.

TOGETHERWESAVE.COMImagine if every Ohio co-op member made one small change. Now, stop imagining. Flip a switch. Seal some cracks. Screw in an LED lightbulb. Install a programmable thermostat and actually program it. It doesn’t take a lot of energy to save energy, but it sure pays off for all of us. What can you do? Find out how the little changes add up at TogetherWeSave.com.

WIN $300 OFF YOUR BILL!

Visit Hancock-Wood’s website to sign up for e-mail alerts, news and online bill pay to enter to win a quarterly drawing for $300 off your next electric bill. Click on Members Connect to complete the form.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OCTOBER’S WINNER:LARRY SCHALLER of FINDLAY

www.HWE.coop

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HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEKID CONNECTIONS

CFL CHARLIE EXPLAINS THE BASICS OF ENERGY & ELECTRICITY CONNECT ONLINE

One of Hancock-Wood’s main priorities is safety. Electrical safety can be difficult to understand until you are faced with a hazard.

Spot the Hazard is a game designed to present real-world scenarios that encourage awareness of electrical safety.

Kids are able to move around the virtual neighborhood finding electrical hazards. Once identified, an explanation is presented for future awareness.

This game is recommended for kids 11 years old and older. Visit http://powerup.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/over-11/danger/spot-the-hazard.aspx to play today!

ENERGY BYTESSee what else CFL Charlie has in store for you in the

Kid’s Corner!kidsenergyzone.com

Flipping a switch at home can turn on a light, but how did it happen? To better understand how electricity works, we need to understand what electricity is and how it is generated, transmitted and distributed. Follow CFL Charlie’s journey to understand the basics of

energy in this four-part series, appearing in this Kid Connections section through December. Past editions are available online at hwe.coop.

HOW IS ELECTRICITY TRANSMITTED?Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy from generation plants to electrical substations owned by distribution utilities like Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative. Once electric-power is generated, the current is moved through step-up transformers to increase the voltage and push it through transmission lines, which stretch across the country. A volt is a measurement of electromotive force in electricity.

Electricity is transmitted at much higher voltages — upwards of 600,000 volts — to travel long distances. In comparison, the electrical distribution lines often seen in your local neighborhood carry between 7,200 and 12,470 volts. During this transfer, some electricity is lost. The amount lost depends on the type of metal used in the lines and the distance between the generation plant and your neighborhood substation.

The transmission and distribution network is known as “the grid” because transmission lines connect electric generation plants across the nation. If more

electricity is needed than a single generation plant can produce, another plant can send power from a different location using this transmission network.

Transmission lines typically look like the one pictured to the left. Tall metal towers keep lines off the ground, and glass or porcelain insulators are used where the lines connect to the tower to keep the electricity from being conducted by the tower itself to the ground.

These lines feed into local substations, where the electricity can be managed by local utilities and distributed to homes and businesses. Many times the voltage is reduced at the substation for homes by passing though a step- down transformer.

Next month, CFL Charlie will conclude this series by explaining how electricity is distributed from local substations to your home.