Looking Out for You

Welcome The Cooperative Payment Information Locations Services and Other Information

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Co-op Connections 9

Electric Heat & Water Heaters 10

Energy Optimization 11

Solar Education Display 11

Electric Space Heaters 12

Touchstone Energy 13

Electrical Safety Demonstrations 13

Commercial & Industrial 14

Welcome Members 2

The Cooperative Difference 3-4

Locations 5

Service and Payment Options 6

More Information 7-8

People Fund 9

Services 9-14

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You’re A MEMBER-OWNER

W elcome to Great Lakes Energy, where you’re more than a customer. You’re a member-owner!

As the largest member-owned electric cooperative in Michigan, we’re committed to providing energy solutions to more than 125,000 member-consumers in 26 counties in western and northern Michigan.

Since 1937, our success has been built around the mutual trust we share with our members.

This booklet describes our many services and provides information and answers to questions you may have. Please save it for future reference. Our goal remains unchanged: to provide you with value, convenience, comfort and flexibility to meet all your energy needs. We’re looking out for you.

MissionOur mission is to deliver reliable electric service at the best

possible value for rural Michigan members.

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The Cooperative Difference

Electric cooperatives are unique in that they are owned and controlled by the consumers they serve. Our sole purpose is to provide service and value to our members, which differs from investor-owned utilities that exist to make a profit

for their investors.

As a member-owned cooperative, Great Lakes Energy allocates and

eventually returns profits to our members in the form of capital credit

refunds. We have refunded capital credits in the form of a billing credit for over 10 years. We

will continue to do so as financial conditions allow. That’s the Cooperative Difference.

We are member-regulated and decisions on rates and billing practices are directly approved by your cooperative’s board of directors. For more information on our rates, rules, regulations and bylaws visit gtlakes.com or contact us at 1-888-485-2537.

Great Lakes Energy has returned over $41 million in capital credits to members since 2003.

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YOU HAVE A VOTE!Great Lakes Energy is an electric cooperative, which is a democratic organization governed by a board of directors. The board is made up of members who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions for the cooperative as a whole.

Directors are elected from nine districts by the members to serve three-year terms. Each member of Great Lakes Energy has one vote every three years for a director in their district (one membership, one vote).

Elections are held by mail-in ballot sent with the July/August issue of Michigan Country Lines magazine. The election results are announced at the annual business meeting held each August.

Your vote in the director elections is important. Directors represent you and are accountable to the entire membership, not just their district.

For information about serving on the board or to find the directors who serve you call us or visit our website.

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LocationsOur offices are located throughout rural Michigan. Offices are open Monday-Friday, but hours may vary by location. Payment drop boxes available 24 hours a day at each location.

HEADQUARTERSBoyne City- 1323 Boyne Ave.Boyne City, MI 49712

SERVICE CENTERSHart*- 2183 North Water RoadHart, MI 49420

Kalkaska- 630 Magnum RoadKalkaska, MI 49646

Newaygo*- One Cooperative Center Drive (M-37)Newaygo, MI 49337

Reed City- 4493 200th Ave. Reed City, MI 49677

Scottville*- 525 West U.S. 10Scottville, MI 49454

Waters- 10380 Great Lakes Dr.Waters, MI 49797

Wayland- 1049 133rd Ave.Wayland, MI 49348

*Drive-up windows available

HEADQUARTERSSERVICE CENTERS

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SERVICE and PAYMENT OPTIONS STANDARD BILLING › Bills available in larger type size for easier reading

› Pay by phone or online 24-7 with a credit card or by e-check, with no processing fees

AUTOMATIC BILL PAYMENT PLAN › Automatically deducts payments from your checking or savings account

ONLINE PAYMENT OPTIONS & PAPERLESS E-BILLING › Access your account online, enroll in paperless e-billing, pay or view your bill at my.gtlakes.com

CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS › We accept most major credit cards and can automatically charge your card each month.

PAY STATIONS › Pay your current electric bill at a business near you. Call us or view the list at gtlakes.com

BUDGET BILLING PLANS › Based on past energy use. Your account is balanced annually.

PRE-PAID BILLING › Pre-pay for your electric usage. You’re billed current rates and fees, plus a $3 monthly program fee. There are no late fees, no reconnect fees and no deposits. Restrictions may apply.

IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT If you lose power, call our automatic outage-reporting system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (800) 678-0411.

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POWERTALKPowerTalk is a monthly newsletter that is sent with your electric bill as an insert. PowerTalk provides information that is similar to Michigan Country Lines, but in a shorter format. It’s a fast and easy way to find out what’s going on at Great Lakes Energy. Visit gtlakes.com to view previous issues of PowerTalk or other various bill inserts.

KEEPING YOU

InformedGREAT LAKES ENERGY KEEPS

YOU INFORMED IN MANY WAYS.

MICHIGANCOUNTRY LIN

ES

Deer BlindMeet Our

Contest Winners!

November/December 2014

Plus! 5 Fees and Billing

Rules Changes

8 Capital Credit

Refunds Coming

12 Your Co-op’s Reliability

Goal Is Within Reach

Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Plus! 13 Receive An Energy-saving Gift!

8 Fall Discounts For You

9 Take Our Co-op Member Survey

MICHIGANCOUNTRY LINES

October 2014

Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

MIXING IT UP AT

Short’sBrewing

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES Members receive Michigan Country Lines magazine ten times a year. This magazine provides information about the cooperative, energy efficiency, products and services and even recipes. It provides in-depth information and keeps members up-to-date on changes with the cooperative. Michigan Country Lines is also available online at countrylines.com. If you have a winter address, please contact us to request that we forward your magazine.

A supplement toMichigan Country Lines

Good Service Begins With Good People

We know you value reliable and afford-able service, which

is why we invest your money wisely to keep outage time

to a minimum. Power line equipment that helps direct lineworkers to where lines are down is one example. Extending our tree re-clearing efforts to dead or dying trees outside the right-of-way that pose a risk to our lines is another. And there are many other examples.

But these investments would be worth-less without the trained, dedicated people who serve you every day. They are the lineworkers

and other field workers who work long hours in lousy weather to get your lights back on. And the dispatchers who work around the clock taking emergency outage calls and notifying crews of the trouble. They are the reps who handle hundreds of billing inquiries, take your payments and refer you to assistance agencies if you’re having trouble paying your bill.

The list goes on to include those in our engi-neering, accounting, information technology and other fields who make the daily efficient operation of a member-owned electric cooperative possible.

We stress to our employees the importance of treating the people they serve as more than

just customers; they’re members who share in the ownership of this busi-ness. Our employees understand

that, and it shows. Our reps earn high marks from members for

their courteous service.Their professionalism

extends to helping their com-munities, too, such as donat-ing or making items for holiday auctions or employee

events that raise money annu-ally for local charities.Without them, there would be

no co-op.October is National Coop-erative Month, a time to

say thank you to the men and women who serve you around the clock in some capacity every day of the

year. They are the ones who are look-

ing out for you.

October 2014 • Volume 6, Issue 10 • Published for Members of Great Lakes Energy

Steve BoeckmanGreat Lakes Energy

President/CEO

Scam Alert Reminder

Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to be aware of impostors who may call them claiming to be

from Great Lakes Energy.Any GLE member who receives a call from

someone claiming to be from Great Lakes Energy and feels pressured for immediate payment or personal information is advised to hang up the phone and call their electric cooperative. Great Lakes Energy members can call 1-888-485-2537 and speak to any GLE member service representative. Co-op members, or any consumer, should never give out personal information, including financial account numbers or social security numbers, over the phone or internet to someone they do not know.

Members should also report the incident to local law enforcement authorities.

October is National Cooperative Month

Each October, cooperatives all across America celebrate the role, accom-plishments and contributions of our

nation’s cooperatives. Observing National Co-op Month gives electric co-ops yet another reason to tell our members that they are part of something special.

At a time of increasing national concern about the economy, especially rising energy costs, we also must communicate the coop-erative difference to decision makers at all levels whose actions affect our members and the communities in which they live and work. The cooperative difference defines who we are and what we can achieve: looking out for our members’ best interests.

We’re thanking our members, too. Visit a GLE office in October to receive a free energy efficiency item, while supplies last. Plus enter to win an energy efficiency prize.

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A supplement toMichigan Country Lines

November 2014 • Volume 6, Issue 11 • Published for Members of Great Lakes Energy

GLE Solar SnapshotT his fall half of the 40 panels that

make up the solar display at the Great

Lakes Energy office in Boyne City were

re-adjusted to align them with the sun’s

lower position in the sky. The other panels

will remain at the same angle. In the spring,

we will see what difference this makes in

amount of energy generated by each. The 10

kilowatt (kW) system with two 5 kW arrays is

being used to educate GLE members on the

use of renewable energy. Information about

the system’s energy output so far and other

project facts, including cost, are available in

the November/December issue of Michigan

Country Lines or online at gtlakes.com.

Great Lakes Energy does not sell or install

solar panels.

Here to HelpF ederal officials predict warmer temperatures for our area this winter which

means we could pay less to stay warm in our homes.

After last season, that’s certainly good news.

The federal Energy Information Administration predicts lower bills compared

to last winter for those who heat their homes with either electricity, natural gas,

propane or fuel oil. Homes with propane or fuel oil are expected to see the biggest

drop due to lower demand. As you may have experienced, prices for these fuels

increased drastically last winter due to high demand during the “polar vortex”. While these predictions

sound promising, we also know that weather can be unpredictable. Regardless what the months

ahead bring, one thing is certain. We will be here to assist Great Lakes Energy members who are

struggling with their energy bills. In addition to Energy Optimization programs to help

reduce your energy use (visit michigan-energy.org), there’s

a simple way that you can find agencies to help you. Just

dial 2-1-1. It’s a free community health and human services

information and referral service that connects eligible

residents with energy payment assistance help and much

more. By simply dialing 211, available 24/7, callers are

connected with a trained, caring professional who will

confidentially assess their situation, identify their needs and

refer them to local resources for help.

Although it varies by location, local resources include basic needs such as food, housing, shelter,

temporary financial assistance, transportation, utility assistance and more. In addition, local resources

include mental health care and counseling, health care, individual/family life assistance and other

services.If you should experience trouble accessing 2-1-1, you can do a search for the closest 2-1-1 provider

in your area by visiting www.211.org. For information on other types of bill payment assistance, visit

our website, gtlakes.com or call us.Helping our members with their energy costs is another way we’re looking out for you.

Steve BoeckmanGreat Lakes EnergyPresident/CEO

For information on energy payment assistance help and much more just dial 2-1-1 or visit www.211.orgFor more information

about net metering programs or GLE’s solar panels visit gtlakes.com.

Interested in solar for your home? Contact a

local solar panel dealer.

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Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates and discuss topics with other members.

E-NEWSLETTER Members receive a free monthly e-newsletter just by providing your email address. Update your email address by contacting our office by phone or email. We will never sell or rent your email address to outside companies.

SOCIAL MEDIALike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates and discuss topics with other members. Watch videos about GLE and our services on YouTube. Simply visit gtlakes.com and click on the Facebook, YouTube or

Twitter icon.

IN OUR OFFICES We have literature and brochures available for free in each of our offices. You can also contact us by phone or email to request more information. View the list of our office locations on page five. Office hours may vary by location. Visit our website or call us for office hours.

ONLINE Visit our website at gtlakes.com to learn more about Great Lakes Energy, enroll in one of our programs or submit an e-mail request for more information.

STAY CONNECTED We need your current phone number and e-mail address on record to inform you of outages and other important matters. Contact us to update yours today.

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Charitable organizations in our communities have received more than $2.6 million in grants from the People Fund since 1999.

You can help by allowing us to “Round Up” your bill by an average of 50-cents each month. Join thousands of Great Lakes Energy members who support the People Fund.

PEOPLEFund

Co-op Connections Discount CardSave money at local businesses, on prescriptions and on other medical services with your free Co-op Connections card.

Once you receive your cards they are ready for use at participating businesses locally and nationwide. There is no participation fee to members or to participating businesses.

All new members will receive a set of cards in the mail.

Visit our website and click on the Co-op Connections section for the most up to date program and discount information or call us and ask for extension 8957 for more information.

Visit gtlakes.com to enroll today!

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ELECTRIC HEAT & WATER HEATING WATER HEATER REBATES*Receive a $100 Energy Optimization rebate when you purchase and install a qualified heat-pump water heater. GLE does not sell or install water heaters.

ELECTRIC HEAT REBATES*When you install a ground- or air-source heat pump in your home, you may qualify for $250-$500 in rebates. The system you install must meet minimum qualifications for efficiency. GLE does not sell or install heating systems. Energy Optimization rebates up to $450 are also available for qualified ground or air-source heat pumps.

ELECTRIC HEAT RATE*Save on the electricity you use for heating your home with a qualified heat pump. Your ground- or air-source heat pump must meet minimum efficiency requirements. Contact us for details.

*Some restrictions may apply. Program subject to change or cancellation at any time.

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Great Lakes Energy offers a variety of programs to help members save energy. These programs also

comply with Michigan’s “Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act.”

Programs are available for all rate classifications and are designed to help

you save energy. For more information about these programs, visit the Energy Optimization website at www.michigan-energy.org or call 877-296-4319.

A 10kW solar panel array is on display outside GLE’s Boyne City office. Two 5kW arrays, one fixed and one tilting, provide enough energy to power an average home. The panels help power the office and provide education for members about solar panels.

Members interested in solar or other types of self-generation may qualify for the co-op’s net metering program. GLE does not sell or install solar panels. Information about the solar project and net metering is available in the Boyne City office lobby during business hours or by visiting www.gtlakes.com/solar-energy-project.

SOLAR EDUCATION DISPLAY

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High-quality Convectair electric space heaters are available from Great Lakes Energy.

You can choose from a wide variety of room and bathroom heaters in either 120 or 240 volt. Convectair models are on display in our offices. Prices start at $234.

CONVECTAIR UNITS OFFER: › Safe operation

› Efficient, even heat

› Plug-in or hard wire units

› Easy installation

› Two-year full warranty

Convectair is not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

ELECTRIC SPACE HEATERS

For more information, visit us online or call us and ask for extension 8957.

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Great Lakes Energy is your local Touchstone Energy® cooperative.

Touchstone Energy® is a national alliance of local, cooperatively owned utilities providing

high standards of service.

More than 700 Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives in 46 states deliver energy and energy solutions to millions of member-consumers every day.

As a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, Great Lakes Energy is committed to serving our members

with integrity, accountability, innovation and community involvement.

Touchstone Energy

Electrical Safety DemonstrationsGLE provides free electrical safety “hotline” demonstrations to schools and qualified groups in its service area. The 45-minute presentation demonstrates the power of electricity and teaches electrical safety. To schedule a free demonstration, visit our website.

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Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES MAGAZINE - Applicant for GLE service agrees that $4.15 of the amount paid for electricity each year is for a subscription to “Michigan Country Lines”.

Touchstone Energy

Updated December 2014. All programs subject to change or cancellation.

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIALWe’re committed to providing a high level of service and value to all our commercial and industrial members. Your unique needs and overall importance to our business require special energy services.

WE ALSO PROVIDE: › Assistance in determining the most economical rate for your facility

› Technical assistance with troubleshooting/solving electrical problems or concerns related to member-owned primary equipment

› Help with obtaining low interest capital to meet your growth needs

› Thermal imaging services

› Power quality monitoring

› Transformer maintenance and testing

› Energy Optimization Programs

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1323 Boyne Avenue Post Office Box 70 Boyne City, MI 49712

t: 888.GT.LAKES (888.485.2537) f: 231.582.6213 gtlakes.com glenergy@glenergy.com

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