JANUARY 2018 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19 HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MEMBER CONNECTIONS H ancock-Wood Electric Cooperative Members will see a change in their rates for electric service on their March bills. The changes will be in the energy, demand, and service charge components, but all rate classes will not be impacted the same. Each Member will receive a letter in January that explains specific adjustments to his or her rate class. For all classes except the majority of residential Members, this rate adjustment will be a multi-year increase to lessen rate impact on Members’ bills in any one year. Most residential Members will see only a $5 increase in the service charge without additional multi-year increases. Hancock-Wood Members have enjoyed one of the longest periods of rate stability in recent history. Although our wholesale supplier has raised its rates in the past, residential Members have not seen a Hancock-Wood rate adjustment since 2008. We believe that reliable electric service at a reasonable price is something that our Members can count on from their electric cooperative. Multiple factors have contributed to the need for a rate adjustment — for example, the lack of sales growth in our service territory. For years, Hancock-Wood saw sustainable, steady growth in both residential and commercial sales in our service area. Following the recession in 2007, that growth significantly declined. To add to that decline, we have seen a reduction in existing commercial sales due to the lack of growth and development in those existing businesses and the lack of new companies locating in our service territory. Losing two major companies in the Findlay area to American Electric Power is one example of this. Another major factor impacting Hancock-Wood is the reduction in sales from unseasonably mild winters and summers. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, Ohio saw a large number of above-average winter temperatures and below-average summer temperatures causing a decline in heating and cooling revenues for the cooperative. You may be asking how rate adjustments can be avoided. The simple answer is they cannot. Costs will rise, technology and infrastructure upgrades will be necessary, and sales will decrease without new growth. The Hancock-Wood board of trustees has instructed management to become more aggressive in economic development efforts to attempt to attract new commercial businesses. To assist with this effort, the board approved a monthly economic development adjustment, which will be added to Members’ bills in March 2018. This is a very small adjustment charge; it will average $1 per month for residential Members. An economic development board has been created to oversee and approve the appropriation of these funds, which shall be used to support economic development efforts in our service territory. This will allow company management to aggressively market our service territory for commercial development, which will stabilize rates for cooperative Members. Adjusting rates is not the only way our cooperative is working to fight rising costs. We continually look for ways to operate more efficiently and keep costs stable. As a Member, you can make smart investments in energy efficiency. Every kilowatt-hour cooperative Members avoid using is one the cooperative doesn’t have to purchase and deliver. This magazine and our website provide many great ways to save on electricity and better manage your energy use. We only invest in technologies that improve reliability, operations, and efficiency. We also live by the cooperative difference — as a cooperative, we are not driven by profits and making a return for shareholders. Rather, we are service-driven and operate at cost. Our focus is on keeping the business financially strong on behalf of all Members, in order to continue to provide safe, reliable service at the lowest practical cost. George Walton President and CEO Rate adjustment enacted in March 2018
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JANUARY 2018 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19
HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS
Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative Members will see a change
in their rates for electric service on their March bills. The changes will be in the energy, demand, and service charge components, but all rate classes will not be impacted the same. Each Member will receive a letter in January that explains specific adjustments to his or her rate class. For all
classes except the majority of residential Members, this rate adjustment will be a multi-year increase to lessen rate impact on Members’ bills in any one year.
Most residential Members will see only a $5 increase in the service charge without additional multi-year increases. Hancock-Wood Members have enjoyed one of the longest periods of rate stability in recent history. Although our wholesale supplier has raised its rates in the past, residential Members have not seen a Hancock-Wood rate adjustment since 2008. We believe that reliable electric service at a reasonable price is something that our Members can count on from their electric cooperative.
Multiple factors have contributed to the need for a rate adjustment — for example, the lack of sales growth in our service territory. For years, Hancock-Wood saw sustainable, steady growth in both residential and commercial sales in our service area. Following the recession in 2007, that growth significantly declined.
To add to that decline, we have seen a reduction in existing commercial sales due to the lack of growth and development in those existing businesses and the lack of new companies locating in our service territory. Losing two major companies in the Findlay area to American Electric Power is one example of this.
Another major factor impacting Hancock-Wood is the reduction in sales from unseasonably mild winters and summers. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, Ohio saw a large
number of above-average winter temperatures and below-average summer temperatures causing a decline in heating and cooling revenues for the cooperative.
You may be asking how rate adjustments can be avoided. The simple answer is they cannot. Costs will rise, technology and infrastructure upgrades will be necessary, and sales will decrease without new growth. The Hancock-Wood board of trustees has instructed management to become more aggressive in economic development efforts to attempt to attract new commercial businesses. To assist with this effort, the board approved a monthly economic development adjustment, which will be added to Members’ bills in March 2018.
This is a very small adjustment charge; it will average $1 per month for residential Members. An economic development board has been created to oversee and approve the appropriation of these funds, which shall be used to support economic development efforts in our service territory. This will allow company management to aggressively market our service territory for commercial development, which will stabilize rates for cooperative Members.
Adjusting rates is not the only way our cooperative is working to fight rising costs. We continually look for ways to operate more efficiently and keep costs stable. As a Member, you can make smart investments in energy efficiency. Every kilowatt-hour cooperative Members avoid using is one the cooperative doesn’t have to purchase and deliver. This magazine and our website provide many great ways to save on electricity and better manage your energy use.
We only invest in technologies that improve reliability, operations, and efficiency. We also live by the cooperative difference — as a cooperative, we are not driven by profits and making a return for shareholders. Rather, we are service-driven and operate at cost. Our focus is on keeping the business financially strong on behalf of all Members, in order to continue to provide safe, reliable service at the lowest practical cost.
George Walton President and CEO
Rate adjustment enacted in March 2018
20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2018
HWE aids New Hampshire co-op membersHancock-Wood linemen were called to help another cooperative in New Hampshire who suffered major storm damage. Hurricane-force winds in late October caused the fourth-largest power outage in New Hampshire history, with 450,000 residents across the state without power at the outage’s peak. Eleven Ohio co-ops quickly assembled a team of 40 linemen, three supervisors, 17 bucket trucks, and three digger derricks to assist New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), which had 51,000 of its 81,000 members without power.
HWE linemen Lee Brodman and Ryan Stearns were two of the linemen from Ohio who helped restore power to the New Hampshire cooperative in need.
Above: Storm damage across the state caused the fourth-largest outage for New Hampshire. Below: Crews had to travel by boat for access to restore power to islands.
HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS
During these coldest months of the year, we do everything we can (within reason) to stay warm. The most important consideration when using any heating source is how to operate the appliance safely.
Any home with a fossil fuel-burning appliance should have a carbon monoxide detector
installed on each floor of the main living area. This is especially important if a vent-free gas heater or fireplace is being used anywhere in a home, including the garage. A vent-free heater is considered very efficient because it does not allow any combustion gases to leave the structure. The drawback is those gases can contain harmful and deadly compounds. Be sure to comply with all the
required clearances for your heater, and make others in your home aware of them also.
Secondary heaters are commonly used this time of year to help maintain comfort in problem areas of a home, and to keep water from freezing in other areas.
To control the operating cost of these devices, be sure the target area is well insulated, and use a reliable thermostat to accurately control the temperature. Inspect the heater cord to verify it is in good condition. Using extension cords to operate heaters is not recommended. If an extension cord is necessary, be sure the cord is appropriate to handle the heater’s electric load.
For more tips on keeping warm and energy efficient this winter, visit hwe.coop/save-energy/saving-energy-links or contact the office at 800-445-4840 to schedule an audit.
Bruce Warnecke Energy Services Advisor
Think Energy $mart with Bruce
JANUARY 2018 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 21
The Feb. 1 deadline for HWE’s scholarship programs is quickly approaching. Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative has granted more than $100,000 in scholarships within the last decade.
An additional Power Systems Engineer (PSE) Scholarship has been added to the program. The winner of this scholarship is eligible for paid internship(s) in the co-op’s engineering department and will receive $2,000 annually for four years.
Award categories are: first place — $2,750; second place — $2,250; third place — $1,950; fourth place — $1,750; fifth place — $1,500; sixth place — $1,250; seventh place — $1,000.
The senior who is awarded first place in the Hancock-Wood’s Children of Members scholarships will go on
to compete in the statewide competition conducted by Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives at their offices in Columbus. Visit our website to apply today.
CTF donates more than $15,000 locallyThe board of trustees for the Hancock-Wood Electric Community Trust Fund (CTF) awarded $15,360 in fourth-quarter grants to local nonprofits.
The following organizations received grant funding: Youth for Christ of Hancock County, $3,000; Northview School, $900; E.A. Powell Elementary, $1,160; City Mission of Findlay, $1,500; Christian Clearing House, $2,000; Challenges Champions, $1,800.
The Hancock-Wood Electric trustees each made a $500 donation for a total of $5,000 to an organization of their choice in their respective districts. Applications for first-quarter grants are being accepted through Jan. 15. Visit hwe.coop/community-involvement to learn how to apply. Members are invited to apply for a voluntary seat on the Community Trust Fund board of trustees, which
oversees Operation Round Up grant disbursements. If you would like to be considered, please call 800-445-4840 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
Prism Solutions trustees elected At the October board meeting, the Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative board elected three trustees to the Prism Solutions board. Each trustee will serve a three-year term. The Prism Solutions board of trustees governs operations of Prism Propane Services of Ohio, LLC, an affiliate of Hancock-Wood. Six candidates competed for three board seats, vacant due to expiring terms. Incumbent Ed Crawford won re-election to the board, and newcomer Dave Thomas was elected to the second seat. Past Prism board member and current Hancock-Wood Trustee Dave Corbin was elected to fill
the final seat. Remaining Prism Solutions Board members are Don Barker, chairman, and David George, vice-chair. Learn more at prismpropane.com.
Thomas Corbin Crawford
HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair Tom Kagy, Vice Chair William Kale Secretary/Treasurer Tom Dierksheide, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Marlene Barker, and trustees Dave Corbin, Edward Ingold, Knut Lahrs, Glenn Miller, Timothy Phillips, and Ann Demler.
HWE seeking 2018 scholarship applicants
2017 scholarship winners with the HWE board of trustees
Pictured are (from left) Amanda Sizemore with Challenged Champions, Brandon Montague with City Mission of Find-lay, CTF Chairman Dan Branson, Tammy Stahl with Christian Clearing House, and Gary Lee with Youth for Christ of Northwest Ohio.
22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JANUARY 2018
HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEKIDS CONNECTIONS1399 Business Park Drive South, North Baltimore, OH 45872 • www.hwe.coop • [email protected] • 800-445-4840
1. Electric outlets are not overloaded.
2. Electric cords do not run under rugs or furniture legs.
3. No electric cords are worn or frayed.
4. Electric appliances are kept away from water.
5. There is a fire extinguisher in the house.
6. Electric heaters are far away from flammable objects.
7. Power tools are stored in clean dry areas.
8. All smoke detectors are properly working.
9. There are safety plug covers on outlets that are not in use.
10. There are no trees near the house that interfere with power lines.
HOME ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSPECTION
TrueNeeds Work
you complete the inspection below for your home. If you find any hazards, check “Needs Work,” and ask an adult to fix them.
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