December 2017

Committed to safely and economically provide reliable energy and other services which bring value to its membership.

When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Extreme winter storms are common in our area and Fall River Electric cares about your safety. We want you to be prepared.

Heavy snow, wind, and ice can lead to downed power lines, leaving owner-members without power. During extremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous. During a power out-age, our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power, but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and your family.

• Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution when using, and never leave the heating source unattend-ed. If you are using a propane-burning device, never use them indoors. Remember that ALL alternative heating sources should be prop-erly ventilated.

• Stay fed – Although most winter power outages last less than 24 hours, you should be prepared with several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked. Crackers,

Be Prepared For Winter Storm Power Outages

cereal, canned goods, and bread are good op-tions. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage.

• Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usu-ally means power lines are down. It is best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines, always assume they are live and energized. Stay as far away from a downed line as possible, and report the situation to Fall River as quickly as possible.

Winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous, and Fall River wants you ready for what Mother Nature has in store. For more winter safety tips, visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather.

Members To Receive Over $1 MillionFall River Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors has authorized the distribution of $1,023,143 in patronage capital funds to owner-members who were members of the Cooperative in 1996 and 1997. Fall River Electric operates as a nonprofit cooperative, so when revenues exceed operating costs, those extra revenues, called margins, become patronage capital. They are disbursed to the owner-members of the Co-op on an approximate twenty-year cycle. Unlike for-profit utilities that pay profits to shareholders, Fall River Electric’s patronage capital is your investment in the Cooperative’s infrastructure.

The amount of patronage capital paid out to you this year is based on how much electricity you used during the year(s) being retired. The Cooperative’s board retires, or pays out, patronage capital when the financial condition of the Co-op allows it.

You can learn more about patronage capital by clicking the QUICK LINK title Patronage Capital on Fall River Electric’s webpage at www.fallriverelectric.com or by calling a friendly Member Service representative during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, at 800.632.5726.

Offices To Be Closed For HolidaysFall River Electric and Fall River Propane offices will close early on Friday, December 22, and will be closed all day on Monday, December 25, for the Christmas holiday. Additionally, our offices will close early on December 29 and all day on Monday, New Year’s Day, January 1 and on Monday, January 15 for the federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In case of an unexpected power outage or propane emergency during these holiday weekends, our crews will be on stand-by to respond as quickly and safely as possible. Call 800.632.5726.

Need Help Paying Your Energy Bill?Winter officially arrives this month, which usually means higher monthly energy bills. Help is available. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program and the Weatherization Assistance program can both be utilized by Fall River Electric mem-bers. Applications are now being accepted, call the office in your state for more information:IDAHO 208.522.5391MONTANA 800.332.2796WYOMING 307.739.4500

Holiday Lighting ContestFall River Electric invites you to participate in our Holiday Lighting Contest. Three lucky residents and two business will win a $250 energy credit certificate. To enter, take a nighttime photo of your exterior holiday lights and post it on our Facebook page, facebook.com/Fall-RiverREC; email to memberservices@fallriverelectric.com; or mail to 1150 N 3400 E, Ashton, ID 83420. Be sure to include your name, address of the lighting location, and phone num-ber. Mailed entries must be received by December 15. Winners will be announced the following week on Facebook and our website.

Dan SkeneDistrict 1Rexburg/Rigby

Georg BehrensDistrict 3East Victor

Debbie SmithDistrict 4

East Driggs

Brent RobsonDistrict 5West Driggs/Tetonia

Dede Draper District 6

AshtonBoard Sec/Treas

Ron DyeDistrict 7South Island Park

Doug SchmierDistrict 9, West Yellowstone President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fall River’s FLASHES newsletter is printed on recycled paper and is certified by the Forest Steward-ship Council. Products certified

by FSC directly support responsible forest management.

Want your Fall River FLASHES faster? Click the Quick Link Newsletter on our website’s home page at www.fallriver electric.com.

Keep up to date, including on power outage information, by “liking” Fall River Electric on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fallriverrec.

Jay HansonDistrict 2

West Victor

800-632-5726208-652-7431

ASHTON1150 North 3400 East

Ashton, ID 83420

DRIGGS1605 N Highway 33

Driggs, ID 83422

WEST YELLOWSTONE436 Madison Ave

West Yellowstone, MT 59758

All Our Offices Are OpenMonday - Friday8:00am - 4:30pm

Pull The Plug On Outdated Appliances This Holiday SeasonStill considering what to get for Christmas? Pulling the plug on an outdated refrigerator or dishwasher might save you money as they are considerably more energy-efficient. A new refrigerator consumes 75 percent less energy than models from the 1970s. Replace a vintage clothes washer and save not only energy, but nearly 5,000 gallons of water a year! Always look for the ENERGY STAR label. It signifies energy-efficient models.

Walk through your home and find the opportunities to “pull the plug.” An ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 15 gallons of water per load, compared to 23 gallons in older standard machines.

Replace your classic refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR certified model and use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb. If your dishwasher was built before 1994, update it and pocket an additional $40 a year on your utility bill.

Smart settings are a way you can save, too.

• Set your water heater at 120 degrees.• Turn on your washer or dishwasher when it

is full.• Keep your refrigerator around 37 to 40

degrees. • Use cold water to wash your clothes

whenever possible. • Keep your lint screen clean after every use.• Use microwaves for small meals.• Use your no-heat air dry feature on your

dishwasher.

For more information on ENERGY STAR savings, visit www.energystar.gov.

This year is rapidly drawing to a close and that means the holiday lighting season is back. If your home space is in need of a decorative refresh, here are some tips to take your artistic stylings to the next level. There are two areas to cover.

Safety is up first. If your lights are ground mounted or can be installed standing on the floor or ground, you can skip ahead. However, since most decorations involve some installation at height, you need to do the following:

1. Have a ground crew (one or two people) to steady your ladder and pass up the decorations—an invaluable part of safety and for keeping you supplied with untangled light strings, fasteners, and encouragement.

2. Remember to keep a safe distance from your overhead electric wires.

3. Don’t overreach. If you cannot get to a point with your body completely centered between the sides of the ladder, get down and relocate it.

4. Don’t overextend the ladder. If your ladder is too short, rent or borrow a longer one. A ladder extended beyond its working limits is dangerous, as is standing on rungs too close to the top.

5. Do not overload circuits by stringing more light sets together than the manufacturer recommends.

6. Check your wires for breaks and cracks in the insulation that can lead to shorts.

Most of these tips apply to outside decorating activities but several are important for inside decorating, too.

Light selection is key to your holiday success. LED lights provide longevity, brilliant color, and cost savings. A reasonable estimate of power consumption is 7 watts per 100 lights. Old incandescent bulbs use 12 watts. A string of 100 devours 1200 watts. Want to invest in even greater savings while operating holiday lights? Invest in timers to turn the lights on and off automatically. Enjoy the holiday and the lights, while saving money!

Ralph BurtonDistrict 8, North Island Park

Vice President

Holiday Lighting Tips

Bryan CaseFall River Electric

CEO/General Manager