In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the appeal of buying locally. It s evident by the

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1 The ConneCTion How Local Ownership Works For You In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the appeal of buying locally. It s evident by the increased popularity of farmers markets across Iowa with shoppers wanting to buy produce or goods that have been grown by their community members. People have a desire to know more about how their food is grown and raised, and buying it from a local farmer helps to bridge that gap. It s also visible with the promotion of Small Business Saturday in November and the shop small movement, which encourage shoppers to return to Main Street and support the local small businesses they know and trust. For electric cooperatives, it doesn t come as a surprise that there is a renewed commitment to supporting local communities and economies with purchases. Local ownership and local control are hallmarks of the cooperative business model, which has served our members well during our 79 years of operation. Member involvement was the key to our formation decades ago, and it s what continues to fuel how we serve you today and the way we plan for the future. Jim Kidd Local ownership and democratic member control one of the seven key cooperative principles distinguishes us from other utilities. Every single member of the cooperative has a voice in how we do business. As a member, you elect directors who also are cooperative members to represent your interests when it comes to setting policies or making decisions on issues that impact you. One member equals one vote, and every vote counts. Because your electric cooperative is owned by your fellow neighbors, friends, and community members, decisions are made in the best interests of the needs of the communities we serve. We don t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We know that what works well for a cooperative in northwest or southern Iowa may not work as well for a cooperative in central Iowa. Because Wall Street investors are not making decisions for the cooperative on your behalf, we can remain flexible and adapt to the unique needs of our region. We can pursue economic development opportunities that are complementary to existing businesses in our area and provide for sustainable growth of local communities. continued on page 8-B u May is National Electrical Safety Month. Find the HIDDEN Louie the Lightning Bug, who promotes safety with electricity all year round. Winners for F the month F F of March: Eugene & Norma Pecinovsky, Cambridge Randy & Judy Welton, Garwin May 2017 Consumers Energy Your Source for Power and Information Dates To Remember: May 1 Read Meters May 3 Bills Due May 3 Automatic Payments Deducted May 9 Mail Bills May 14 Mother s Day May 25 Automatic Payments Deducted May 29 Memorial Day Office Closed June 1 Read Meters May 2017 A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa 8-A

2 Annual Business Meeting and Pancake Breakfast Consumers Energy s Annual Business Meeting and Pancake Breakfast is designed to take care of the important business of your co-op and the equally important business of building a real sense of community. All cooperatives serve both an economic and social purpose. While safe, reliable, and affordable electric service is crucial to our mission, improving the quality of life for all members is at the core of what we do every day. If you have not attended the Annual Meeting in the past, or if it has been a few years, this year would be a great opportunity to take the time to be with your fellow co-op members to enjoy breakfast, vote for your directors, and hear important business information about Consumers Energy. Consumers Energy is connected to you by more than just powerlines. We are your neighbors, and we look forward to seeing you at your Annual Business Meeting and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, August 26. Save the Date Consumers Energy s Annual Business Meeting & Pancake Breakfast Saturday, August 26, 2017 Your Source for Power and Information How Local Ownership Works for You continued from page 8-A While Consumers Energy s mission is to provide our members with reliable electric service in a safe manner at affordable and equitable rates, we re also committed to making our communities quality places to live. We do this in many ways, such as by providing good and stable jobs; offering educational opportunities on programs and services such as energy efficiency and safety; encouraging student leadership and education; paying local, county, and state taxes; and distributing patronage back to members based on our not-for-profit business model. Across the country, America s 838 locally owned electric distribution cooperatives provide electricity to an estimated 42 million people in 47 states, covering three quarters of the nation s landmass. The endurance of the cooperative business model is a testimony to the success of local control and ownership by the same people who rely on electric services to power their homes, businesses, and lives. 8-B A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa May 2017

3 REC Day on the Hill March 22, 2017 REC Day on the Hill is a one-day event that brings co-op directors, managers, and staff from all over the state of Iowa to Des Moines to meet with their legislators at the statehouse. Booths and displays are exhibited to help illustrate co-op efforts relevant to energy issues being discussed by legislators. Attending from Consumers Energy were Directors Allan Armbrecht, Bill Hobson, Pat VonAhnen, and Mark Wampler as well as General Manager Jim Kidd and Member Services Manager Gail Hull. Consumers Energy s 2017 Youth Tour Winner, Flint Vernon Flint Vernon will be one of the lucky 1,500 high school students who will have a chance to meet with their elected officials and discuss the issues that are important back home. Flint and the other Youth Tour winners will travel to Washington, D.C., to experience the trip of a lifetime this June. Youth Tour is so much more than a sightseeing trip. Students have repeatedly shared that this experience has helped them grow into successful professionals. Flint is active at North Polk High School in activities such as cross country, track, band, speech, drama, and Quest Club. Flint is looking forward to visiting our nation s capital and learning the history of the area as well as making many new friends. For more information on the Youth Tour program, contact Kippen Glenney at or kglenney@consumersenergy.coop. May 2017 A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa 8-C

4 Spring Energy Efficiency and Seasonal Reminders for Your Home It s finally spring! As you prepare to head outdoors this spring and summer, listed below are energy efficiency tips and a seasonal reminder checklist to ensure a more energy efficient home this spring. EnErgy EfficiEncy Tips Strip and tape, caulk and insulate Sealing cracks and openings to prevent outside air from leaking into your home makes sense year around. Spring is a great time to look for air leaks around windows and doors. Repair screens and upgrade windows Repair holes in screen windows and doors so you can enjoy those spring breezes. If you have single-pane windows, look to replace them with more energy efficient double-pane windows. Develop a plan for replacing windows over several years. Shade windows If you have south or west facing windows that get a lot of direct sunlight, keep the drapes closed or add a protective film to shield the windows. Trees, vines, or shrubs naturally shade windows over time. Insulated drapes are a good investment for summer and winter months. Install a programmable thermostat Programmable thermostats can save up to about 10 percent a year on energy costs when used properly. There are many options out there so look to see what best suits your family s needs. Service your AC This may cost money upfront, but keeping your air conditioning unit running in top shape pays back on your energy bill. For a lower-cost option, try hosing off the outside coil to clean it. Keeping the bushes and shrubs away helps keep the unit cleaner year around. Upgrade your lights Traditional incandescent bulbs are no longer available, unless you ve stockpiled a supply. You will use up to 80 percent less energy for light-emitting diodes (LED) than for incandescent light bulbs. Seal the garage The attached garage may leak more conditioned air than any other part of your home. Add weather strips to the bottom of the garage door and the door into your house. seasonal reminder Tips Open up your house Install screens and open up your windows and doors to warming or cooling spring breezes. That s free conditioned air you don t have to pay for. Take advantage of natural light Before sunlight heats up your house, let that light pour inside. Instead of using lightbulbs, use natural light to illuminate your house. Wash clothes in cold water - Wash your clothes cold, then air dry them. Up to 90 percent of the energy for washing clothes is for heating the water. Most clothes wash just fine in cold water. The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) estimates about 392 loads of laundry a year for a typical family. Dry clothes by air As for drying clothes, dry them in a dryer for just a couple of minutes to remove wrinkles. Then, hang them to dry outside or inside, and save about 5 percent of your energy bill according to the DOE. Change ceiling fans Change the blade direction to counterclockwise in warmer weather. When you stand underneath a fan, you should feel cooler. Turn it off when you leave the room fans cool people, not rooms. Change filters Be ready for summer by replacing last year s air conditioning filter now. Do the same for your furnace, and be ready for next winter now. Clean the refrigerator Vacuum the coils on the back, and adjust the temperature to degrees Fahrenheit for maximum efficiency. Check the seals on the refrigerator door and replace if leaking. If you have any questions about these tips or other ways to save on your electric bill, contact Consumers Energy s Energy Advisors, C.D. Kendall or Jeff Lanning, by calling D A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa May 2017

5 The Marshalltown Gateway Centre Solar Array output information now available! Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) energized their solar array the Marshalltown Gateway Centre Solar Array - in late CIPCO is Consumers Energy s power supplier, and nearly 60% of their electricity is generated from emission and carbon-free resources. CIPCO s utility-scale solar project includes The Marshalltown Gateway Centre Solar Array, which is located to the west of Consumers Energy s headquarters in Marshalltown. This solar array along with the solar arrays located in Urbana, Wilton, Pella, and Osceola comprise Iowa s largest utilityscale solar project. Now, when members access the cooperative s Website at there is a link on the home page to the solar array output information to the right of the Pay My Bill button as well as in the revolving banner ad regarding the Marshalltown Gateway Centre Solar Array. When the link is clicked, a new window or tab will open with output information from the Marshalltown Gateway Centre Solar Array. Information is broken down by day, week, month, year, and lifetime while also showing the impact made by generating this solar energy. For more information about the Marshalltown Gateway Centre Solar Array or how to understand the output information, please call Consumers Energy at May 2017 A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa 8-E

6 West Marshall Middle School Career Day Consumers Energy employees presented information to students at the West Marshall Middle School Career Day in April. Lineman James Harger and Executive Assistant/Communications Coordinator Kippen Glenney spoke to four groups of students about different careers paths available in the co-op industry. For information on presentations by Consumers Energy staff, contact Member Services Manager Gail Hull at or 8-F A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa May 2017

7 Mommy s Little Helper! I love to help my mommy. That s why she calls me Mommy s little. I really like to help my mommy in the kitchen where I make for breakfast. Sometimes I let my pet lick the when my mom isn t looking! This makes my brother/sister giggle and! After breakfast, I like to play with my when I should be washing my. I don t get dressed until Mommy tells me to get dressed times. Her body part face is usually a pretty by then! I pull out my outfits and change times until I find just the perfect thing to wear to make Mommy happy. When Mommy is out shopping at, I help by -ing up and down all aisles to help her find my favorite and. This way, she doesn t have to guess which I like. Shopping always gives Mommy a, so I make it easy for her and tell her EVERYTHING that I want. Before we pay for our stuff, I always have to go to the bathroom. If we time it right, my brother/sister and I can make trips to the bathroom while at the same store! I really love pushing the shopping cart through the parking lot. I pretend to be while I do it so I can make it there fast! It always makes my mom shout, Super Hero ailment! exclamation My mommy usually wants to go to stores while we are out. But, after the first store, she s too so we go back home. At home, I help my mommy by playing color animal name of store noun with my brother/sister and our all over the house. When my Daddy comes home, Mommy is and asks me to help Daddy as well as I helped her. noun adverb plural noun plural noun kitchen tool plural noun My Mommy is so! She s the -est mom ever! verb verb type of food noun May 2017 A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa 8-G

8 Office Hours 7:30 am 4:30 pm Monday through Friday Contact Us nd Street Marshalltown, Iowa Phone: Toll-Free: Fax: Directors: Bill Hobson, President Mark Wampler, Vice President Pat VonAhnen, Secretary-Treasurer Allan Armbrecht, Asst. Secretary-Treasurer Terry Benskin Jeff Edler Arden Greiner Bob Meimann John Ripley If you have an idea for a topic for The Connection, please contact Kippen Glenney at or kglenney@consumersenergy.coop. May is National Electrical Safety Month May is National Electrical Safety Month, and across the country, electric cooperatives are promoting safety awareness. Every year, thousands of accidents occur due to shock hazards, and Consumers Energy, a not-for-profit electric utility, is committed to educating the public about potential electrical dangers in the home. Many home fires occur when electrical equipment is outdated or improperly used. In 2015, there were 1,345,500 fires reported in the U.S., a 3.4% increase from 2014, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Members should understand their electrical systems, as well as any safety concerns associated with the latest residential technologies before bringing them into homes. With newer technologies, such as solar panels, electric vehicles, and more electrical gadgets in the home, people need to be well educated and be sure to have an electrical system that is compatible with an increased load. Through electrical safety awareness and education, we can all play a part in preventing electrical hazards and injuries in the future. If you have any questions regarding electrical safety, please contact one of the cooperative s Energy Advisors, C.D. Kendall or Jeff Lanning, by calling H A supplement to Living with Energy in Iowa May 2017