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Most of us have heard that fiber optic internet speed is better, but is it really faster and more reliable than what we have now? In a word, yes. It’s the fastest and most reliable internet option available. With major advantages, like no throttling, better TV picture quality, the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously, and the same upload and download speeds, fiber is the clear choice when it comes to internet connection options. Unfortunately, fiber optic internet providers have not been willing to invest in the infrastructure to provide service to residents living in the rural areas of southeastern Indiana. Why? Because a project of this magnitude is very costly, and it takes years just to break even on the investment. This is a huge deterrent for profit-based business models. But the co-op business model is different. The focus is not on making a profit, it’s on operating at cost while working together with friends and neighbors to achieve something that benefits everyone. Southeastern Indiana REMC recognized the digital divide issue and its ability to provide a solution to the problem through a joint venture with SEI Communications, an existing telecommunications co-op. The result of this joint venture is SEI Fiber, a FTTH (Fiber To The Home) internet connection, which is the fastest, most reliable fiber optic connection because the fibers come straight to your door, not just your neighborhood or the utility pole outside your house. Concern for the community is one of the cooperative’s core values and a leading factor in the board’s decision to move forward with the SEI Fiber project. “We want to see our members and the community thrive and grow,” said Keith Mathews, General Manager of Southeastern Indiana REMC, “and we know that broadband access is an important part of making that happen.” SEI Fiber is changing the future of internet connectivity as we know it in rural southeastern Indiana. This future-forward technology is not easily influenced by external factors (like extreme weather conditions) and is environmentally friendly. It’s faster than traditional cable, DSL, and satellite internet, and increases the value of your home. Whether you are video chatting, doing your homework online, playing your favorite online games, or all of these simultaneously, you’ll find plenty of reasons to FALL in love with SEI Fiber. Get the speed you want at a price you can afford with no contacts or data caps. Visit www.seiremc.com or call 800-737-4111 to choose the speed package that’s right for you and preregister or sign up for fiber service today.

Severe winds, lightning and even squirrels can temporarily cause the power to go out. We understand power outages of any length can be frustrating, especially when your fridge is stocked with perishable foods. Extended power outages are rare, but when they occur, it’s important to understand food safety measures to take to avoid illness. Here are a few food safety tips to keep in mind before, during and after a power outage. Before an outage A good rule of thumb is to keep an emergency supply kit on hand. Be sure to include nonperishable food items like bottled water, powdered milk, canned goods, cereal and protein bars in your emergency kit. If you have advance warning that an outage is possible, fill a cooler with ice––just in case the outage spans several hours. Having a cooler ready to go can buy extra time for your refrigerated, perishable items. During an outage If an outage occurs, do not open the refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours. If it looks like the power outage will last longer than four hours, move your important perishable items to an ice-filled cooler. After an outage If refrigerated foods have been exposed to temperatures higher than 40 degrees for more than two hours, the American Red Cross recommends discarding the items. If any foods have an unusual color, odor or texture, they should be thrown away. While most perishable foods should be thrown out after an extended outage, there are a few items that are safe to consume after a two-hour exposure to 40+ degrees: hard cheeses that are properly wrapped butter or margarine that is properly wrapped taco, barbecue and soy sauces peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup and relish The best way to avoid illness from spoiled food during or after an outage is to follow the four-hour rule of thumb. After an outage, always smell and inspect foods before consuming and remember: when in doubt, throw it out. To learn more about food safety after an emergency, visit www.ready.gov/food.

Reminder: Register to Vote for the 2022 General Election Make sure you register to vote in time for the 2022 general election! Did you know you must register to vote at least 29 days before an election? That means you need to register by Oct. 11 to vote in the general election Nov. 8. If you still need to register to vote or update your address, or would like to check your registration status, visit indianavoters.in.gov. This site can also help you find your polling location, review the ballot and get to know the candidates, as well as obtain absentee ballot information and other resources. More than 4.7 million Hoosiers have registered to vote. Make sure to join that list. Registering to vote is the first step in assuring your voice is heard on the local and national levels. As you evaluate the candidates and determine who to support, remember that elected officials play a very important role in ensuring your electric cooperative can continue providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity. Elected officials from the local level to the state, all the way up to Indiana’s Congressional delegation and even the president, have an impact on your local electric cooperative. You can help your local electric cooperative by backing candidates who support positive energy policies and assist the efforts of Indiana’s electric cooperatives to power the businesses and communities they serve. Let’s continue supporting candidates who support Indiana’s electric cooperatives as they are key partners in helping rural Indiana grow and thrive. Source: https://indianavoters.in.gov/ Supporting Democracy: Volunteer to Work the Polls Registering to vote and participating in an election are fundamental rights and privileges of living in a democracy. By registering to vote in the Nov. 8 general election, you are engaging in the heart of democracy and exercising your constitutional rights. Want to take it one step further? To further support your community, your country and democracy itself, you can volunteer to work the polls on Election Day. To work the polls, you must be a registered voter and a resident of the county in which you wish to work, and you must be at least 18 years old. Poll workers can earn up to $150 for their service, depending on the county. Our democracy depends upon individuals like you taking the initiative and responsibility to uphold our freedoms. If you would like to serve your community as a poll worker, contact your county election administrator or local party representative. Visit www.in.gov/sos/elections/voter-information/work-the-polls/ to find out how to sign up. Source: https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2674.htm Strengthening Indiana’s Election Security A new law has gone into effect to strengthen Indiana’s election security and integrity. HEA 1116 enhances security around absentee ballots and ensures by the next presidential election every Hoosier will cast a ballot on a voting machine with a paper audit trail. “This new law will ensure that as technology evolves and voter habits change Indiana remains a national leader in election security and integrity,” said Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan. Under the new law, the current cybersecurity contract between the Secretary of State’s office and Indiana counties will be extended to 2028. This statewide cybersecurity system protects our elections infrastructure against targeted, nation-state level attacks 24 hours a day, proactively hunts for advanced threat behavior, and responds to critical attacks. Source: https://events.in.gov/event/secretary_of_state_holli_sullivans_election_integrity_bill_signed_into_law

Be Safe Around Electricity When Moving Farm Equipment With the arrival of harvest time, Indiana’s farmers are shifting into high gear as they move into their fields to bring in their crops. All that increased activity puts farmers and farm workers at greater risk, warns Brandon Linville, Director of Operations at Southeastern Indiana REMC. “Combines and grain augers are large pieces of equipment,” says Linville. “People assume that everything will fit under the power lines, but that isn’t always the case. The biggest cause of electrocutions on farms is equipment accidentally touching power lines.” Here are some tips Southeastern Indiana REMC recommends for farmers to protect themselves and their workers: Always look up and around before moving or raising equipment. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 30 feet from all power lines and power poles. Check clearances each time you enter or exit a field. It’s possible changes were made since the last time you accessed the field and the clearances could have changed. Never try to raise power lines to allow passage of tall equipment. Even non-metallic objects such as wood poles or branches can conduct electricity. Watch out for power poles, too. If you strike one, it may break, dropping a live line on your equipment. When considering the height of equipment, don’t forget about the radio antennas and GPS receivers that may reach another couple feet above the roof. Take the time to fully lower grain augers and other portable equipment before moving them. When moving equipment near power lines, have a spotter on hand to ensure your safety. If you’re not completely sure if equipment will fit under a power line, find an alternate way to move it. If you’re in equipment that touches power lines, stay in the cab and call for help. Tell others to stay away. In the rare case of a fire and you have to escape, jump clear of the equipment. Keep both feet together and shuffle at least 30 feet away. “Working the land has enough hazards in the work itself,” says Linville. “With care and planning, moving to and from the fields shouldn’t be one of them.” SOURCES: About.com, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, Powerlinesafety.info National Farm Safety and Health Week Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. National Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 18-24, 2022, to raise awareness of the importance of practicing and promoting safe work habits and conditions. Data for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America. In 2019, there were 573 fatalities, or an equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. However, many injuries are preventable through education. Serious injuries and death can be prevented by cautiously approaching field adjustments or repairs, taking precautions to avoid slips and falls, making smart decisions while assigning tasks to youth, using and maintaining the slow moving vehicle emblem correctly, and retrofitting tractors with rollover structures. This annual promotion, the third week of September, initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed as such by each U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. National Farm Safety and Health Week is led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council. Knowledge is power for farm safety Anyone who operates farm equipment and augers should be educated about safe operating procedures and hazards, including the possibility of coming in contact with electric lines. Your electric cooperative reminds you to be alert when you’re at work. Remember: Lower grain augers to a horizontal position before moving from location to location. Pay attention to where power lines are located before raising an auger into position. Check clearances each time you access a field. It’s possible changes were made since the last time you accessed the field and the clearances could have changed. Think safe, think 10 — the 10-foot rule, that is! When working with farm equipment or machinery, stay away from power lines at least 10 feet in every direction. If you need to work within 10 feet of an overhead power line, call your electric cooperative first.

Since September is National Preparedness Month— and because severe weather events seem to be occurring more frequently — consider planning for bad weather now before storms hit. Make sure you have enough food, water and supplies to last a few days and take other practical steps to keep you and your family safe. Even at a modest level, preparation can help reduce stress and anxiety, and lessen the impact of an emergency event. Here are general guidelines recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Assemble a grab-and-go disaster kit. Include items like nonperishable food, water (one gallon per person, per day), diapers, batteries, flashlights, prescription medications, first-aid kit, a battery-powered radio, and phone chargers. Develop a plan for communicating with family and friends (i.e., via text, social media, third party, etc.). Have some extra cash available; during a power outage, electronic card readers and cash machines may not work. Store important documents (birth certificates, property deed, etc.) in a safe place away from home (for example, a bank safe deposit box). Keep neighbors and coworkers apprised of your emergency plans. Fill your car with gas. Organize your supplies so they are together in an easily accessible location that family members know about. Caring for vulnerable family members If you have older family members or those with special needs, make sure they have enough medication and supplies for a few days. If they don’t live with you, arrange for a neighbor to check in on them. If a severe weather event is expected, consider having your relatives stay with you if feasible. Otherwise, call them daily. If you have an infant or young children, make certain that you have ample formula, diapers, medication and other supplies on hand to weather an outage lasting several days or more. Keeping four-legged family members safe For families with pets, having a plan in place in the event of a prolonged outage or an emergency will help reduce worry and stress. Bring pets indoors at the first sign of a storm or other emergency. Pets can become disoriented and frightened during severe weather and may wander off during an emergency. Microchip your pet and ensure the contact information is up to date. Store pet medical records on a USB drive or in an easy-to-remember location. Create an emergency kit for pets (include shelf-safe food, bottled water, medications and other supplies). At Southeastern Indiana REMC, we care about your safety. Planning for an emergency today can make it easier for you to deal with severe weather and potential outages in the future.

Some temptations are hard to resist. An example: the allure of that “ding” on your phone, alerting you to an incoming text or call. When you’re driving, you know you shouldn’t check your phone but, still, the curiosity is driving you crazy! You tell yourself that making an exception — just this once — won’t be a big deal. However, as much as you’d like to convince yourself otherwise, that one exception could be the most dangerous decision you’ll ever make. Why do we indulge in behavior we know to be wrong, dangerous and in many states, including Indiana, illegal? Blame it on excessive self-confidence. According to American Automobile Association research, most people feel they are better-than-average drivers. And, we reason, with our busy lives, we are certainly accustomed to multitasking. But mounds of research and thousands of deaths every year prove otherwise. August is Back to School Safety Month. As a new school year begins with young drivers and school buses back on the road, it’s a good time to be reminded of the dangers of distracted driving. Using a phone while driving creates enormous potential for injuries and fatalities. Distractions take a motorist’s attention off driving, which can make a driver miss critical events, objects and cues, potentially leading to a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one of every 10 fatal crashes in the U.S. involves distracted driving, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths annually. This statistic is heartbreaking because so many of these accidents could easily be avoided if we’d simply put down our phones while driving. Distracted driving is considered any activity that diverts our attention, including texting or talking on the phone, and adjusting the navigation or entertainment system. Texting is by far one of the most dangerous distractions. Sending or reading one text takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. Not only should you ignore your phone while driving, you can help keep the roads safe by moving over for first responders and other emergency vehicles. Additionally, if you see utility crews conducting work near the roadside, move over when possible and give them extra space to perform their work safely. At Southeastern Indiana REMC, safety is foremost in everything we do –– for our employees and the community members we serve. We routinely remind our crews of the dangers of distracted driving, and we hope you’ll have similar conversations with your teens who may be new to the roadways and are especially susceptible to the lure of technology. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe on the roads. Remember: that text can wait. Waiting just might save a life.

811 Day reminds Hoosiers to call before you dig Aug. 11 is just one day a year, but Indiana Electric Cooperatives hopes the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 any day of the year before a digging project. Every six minutes, an underground utility line is damaged somewhere in the United States because someone decided to dig without first calling 811. “811 Day reminds homeowners and professional contractors to make that call,” said Brandon Linville, Director of Operations. Calling 811 with your intent to dig will bring all the appropriate utilities out to mark the approximate locations of their buried lines with flags, spray paint or both. This is a free service. “Whether it’s electric, gas or water, you don’t want to accidentally dig into a buried utility,” Linville added. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting. Indiana requires two full working days’ advance notice to the 811 center or online before a digging project to give the utilities enough time to mark the approximate location of their underground utilities on your property (IC 8-1-26). Each utility will be marked in a specific color. The marks are valid for 20 days. Before you contact Indiana 811, you will need to know specific details about where you plan to dig, including the county, township, street address, nearest intersecting street and location on the property. You will also need the name and phone number of the person who will do the digging. It’s recommended you mark the designated area with white paint or flags, so the utilities know where you plan to excavate. “It really is the only way to know which utilities are buried where,” noted Linville. “And, after all, calling before you dig is the law.” Look out below! Overhead is not the only place electric power lines cross our yards or bring electric service to the meter on the house. In many suburban neighborhoods, buried power lines have become the norm. While this means there are no poles and wires running overhead to worry about, they still require special consideration: Underground power lines require those green boxes, called padmount transformers. Though it may be tempting to hide them with landscaping, please don’t. Your electric cooperative might have to open that equipment during a power outage or for routine maintenance. Keep shrubs and structures at least 12 feet from the “door” of the box, and at least three feet from the sides. If landscaping is too close, inadequate air circulation can cause equipment to overheat and fail. Plantings might have to be cut and removed. Keep the meter on your house visible and accessible, too. Never allow children to play on or around the pad-mounted transformers. They contain electrical equipment with high voltage inside. Do not plant near underground utility services. Tree roots can grow and interfere with underground pipes, cables and wires. Future repairs to these facilities also could damage the health and beauty of nearby plants and trees. Look out above! While you’re thinking of 811, don’t forget about overhead power lines when planning projects outside the home. Before raising a ladder to prune trees, clean out your gutters, paint, etc., always look around to make sure there are no overhead power lines. Always carry a ladder horizontally when moving it to avoid running into overhead power lines or losing your balance and having the ladder fall onto power lines. Keep ladders, other equipment and people at least 10-15 feet away from overhead power lines. Never approach power lines knocked down by storms or attempt to move broken limbs if they are touching power lines and call your electric cooperative.

Creating an electrical safety plan before you plant a tree Trees and power lines often coexist without problems. However, there are precautions to take when planting a tree. Not only do dangers lurk for the person planting the tree, nearby power lines and trees can be harmed as well. Trees growing too close to electrical lines are the primary cause of momentary short circuits and flickering lights. When it storms, tree limbs that are too close to power lines can knock the lines out completely and create a greater threat to your safety. Overhead utility lines are the easiest to see and probably the ones we take for granted most. Although these lines look harmless enough, they are extremely dangerous. Meanwhile, underground utility lines can be buried very close to the ground’s surface. That’s why it’s so important to call before you dig. “You can’t spell plant without a plan!” is what Southeastern Indiana REMC wants its DIY’ers to remember when landscaping. “Before you start planting, we encourage our consumers to call their local 811 call center at least a few working days, but no less than two full working days, before they start planting,” said Brandon Linville, Director of Operations. “Never assume the utility lines are buried deeper than you plan to dig.” Once you know where to plant to avoid underground utilities, find out where the prime planting spots away from overhead utility lines are. If you are planting a small tree that will grow no larger than 25 feet tall, planting it 25 feet away from power lines is a safe distance. If the tree is 25-40 feet tall, plant it 40 feet away from power lines. The bigger the tree, the farther it should be. So, if the tree is expected to grow more than 40 feet high, it should be planted 60 feet away from utility lines. Keeping trees away from these utility lines not only keeps you safe, it keeps the trees safe as well. Trees planted too close to underground lines can suffer root damage. Trees planted too close to overhead lines need regular pruning. Southeastern Indiana REMC works hard to provide you reliable electric service. You can help by following these few simple guidelines when managing the trees on your property. Being aware of these dangers and how to avoid them can keep you, your home and the trees safe. Tips for safely planting a tree Call 811 to have underground utilities marked at least a few working days, but no less than two full working days, before digging (IC 8-1-26). Knowing their locations helps you dig safely, and planting a safe distance away will help prevent damage from roots. Create a basic plan, or a sketched diagram, before you begin planting to avoid future troubles. Using the information from the underground utility locator service will be a big help in setting some guidelines. Consider a tree’s potential growth when choosing its location. If it’s expected to grow higher than 15 feet, choose a spot 25 to 50 feet away from utility lines and your home. Plant with energy savings in mind. Not only can you upgrade your landscape, you can decrease your energy use, too. Trees can keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Just be sure you’re aware of power line location and avoid structural damage. Call your local cooperative if you need help trimming a tree away from power lines. This will keep you and everyone around you much safer. Understanding 811’s underground utility markings So you’ve called 811, the underground utility locator service, to mark the location of underground utilities before you start digging. You see each is marked with a specific color, but what do they represent? Red – electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables Yellow – natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous or flammable material Orange – telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit Blue – potable (drinking) water Green – sewers and drain lines Purple – reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines White – proposed excavation limits or route

How Fiber Internet Improves Education While you’re checking off the items on that back-to-school list, you might want to consider adding SEI Fiber to the list. Fast and reliable internet is an important part of your student’s education. It helps them download assignments, upload homework, and access resources. It also helps them connect with classmates and instructors and participate in off-site learning when necessary. Many textbooks are accessed online, which means that schools are investing in technology and equipment such as tablets and other devices that connect to the internet rather than replacing outdated textbooks. A fiber broadband connection helps these devices perform better. Many schools issue each student a tablet or chrome book for the schoolyear for the purpose of completing lessons and submitting assignments. Lessons are often supplemented by audio, video, and interactive elements that must be accessed online. These digital learning materials help students engage with the content on a deeper level, but without high-speed internet, these tools and resources cannot be accessed and utilized. Do your kids ever have to work on group projects? If you don’t have high-speed internet, you may become frustrated trying to schedule a time for the students to get together outside of the classroom to work on their project. With fiber internet, they can do a lot of the work online! Fiber internet is also helpful in speeding up the time it takes to complete homework after school. It helps them research and complete assignments quickly, so they can enjoy the evening with family and friends. We all want to give our children the best opportunity for success. An investment in fiber internet, is not just another item on the school supply list. It’s an investment in your child’s future. For more information about SEI Fiber, including price packages and installation details, visit www.seiremc.com or contact the member services department at 800-737-4111.

The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the combined use of clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, small appliances and other electrical equipment (noted as "all other uses" below) accounts for the largest percentage of electricity consumption in American homes.

We spend a lot of time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average person spends 90% of their life indoors. (I don’t know about you, but I suddenly have the urge to go for a long walk!) Additionally, our homes are becoming more energy efficient––they’re better insulated and sealed with less ventilation––which is great for our energy bills but not so much for our indoor air quality. The thought of breathing in pollutants can be scary, but the truth is, indoor air pollution is common and simply unavoidable. The good news is there are ways you can easily improve the air quality of your home. Here are five tips to help you breathe a little easier. Change your air filter often. Clogged, dirty filters reduce the amount of airflow and the HVAC system’s efficiency. When a filter becomes too clogged, the excess dirt and dust are sent through your air ducts, adding unnecessary allergens and other unwanted particles into your living space. During the cooling season (summer months), the Department of Energy recommends replacing your air filter every month or two. This is one of the easiest ways to promote better indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Regularly vacuum carpet and rugs––especially if you have furry friends. The cleaner the home, the healthier the home. Vacuuming carpet and area rugs once a week can greatly reduce the accumulation of pet dander and dust inside your home. Frequently clean other areas that collect dust, like drapes, bedding and cluttered areas. Use vents to remove cooking fumes. Those exhaust fans aren’t just for when you burn the bacon. Fans help remove fumes emitted while cooking and eliminate unwanted moisture and odors. They may be a bit noisy, but these handy tools can help you improve indoor air quality while you’re preparing that culinary masterpiece (or even a grilled cheese sandwich!). Get a handle on humidity. Summer months typically bring more humidity than we’d like, especially if you live in a high-humidity climate zone. Moisture in the air can carry bacteria and other unwanted particles that you eventually breathe in. Dehumidifiers work to remove that moisture from the air, reducing the amount of bacteria, mold and other allergens in your home. Incorporate air-purifying plants into your living space. There are several varieties of indoor plants that can help detoxify your home from dust and germs found in a variety of home products, furniture and other materials. A few low-maintenance, air-purifying plants to consider are snake plants, aloe vera plants and pothos plants (also known as Devil’s Ivy). These vibrant, lush plants are eye-catching and beneficial for any home. Remember to review care conditions and think about placement for any new plants you add to your home. Taking simple steps to purify indoor air can improve health and overall quality of life. With a little effort, you can improve the indoor air quality of your home and breathe a bit easier.

It’s no secret that consumers with a water, gas or electricity connection have long been targets for utility scams, but fraudsters have changed their tactics since the Covid-19 pandemic. As consumers became more reliant on technology for work, school and commerce, scammers noted these shifts and adapted their tactics to this changed environment. Imposter scams are the number one type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission. While scam artists may come to your door posing as a utility worker who works for the “power company,” in today’s more connected world, attempts are more likely to come through an electronic device, via email, phone or text. Common Types of Scams A scammer may claim you are overdue on your electric bill and threaten to disconnect your service if you don’t pay immediately. Whether this is done in-person, by phone, text or email, the scammers want to scare you into immediate payment so you don’t have time think clearly. If this happens over the phone, simply hang up. If you’re concerned about your bill, call us at 800-737-4111. Our phone number can also be found on your monthly bill and on our website, www.seiremc.com. If the scam is by email or text, delete it before taking any action. If you’re unsure, you can always contact us at 800-737-4111, or use the SmartHub app to check the status of your account. Some scammers may falsely claim you have been overcharged on your bill and say they want to give a refund. It sounds easy. All you have to do is click or press a button to initiate the process. If you proceed, you will be prompted to provide banking or other personal information. Instead of money going into your bank account, the scammers can drain your account and use personal information such as a social security number for identity theft. If this “refund” scam happens over the phone, just hang up and block the phone number to prevent future robocalls. If this scam attempt occurs via email (known as a “phishing” attempt) or by text (“smishing”), do not click any links. Instead, delete it, and if possible, block the sender. If you do overpay on your energy bill, Southeastern Indiana REMC will automatically apply the credit to your next billing cycle. When in doubt, contact us. Defend Yourself Against Scams Be wary of call or texts from unknown numbers. Be suspicious of an unknown person claiming to be a utility worker who requests banking or other personal information. Never let anyone into your home that you don’t know unless you have a scheduled appointment or reported a problem. Southeastern Indiana REMC employees wear co-op branded clothing and carry ID badges. When we perform work on our members’ property or come into your home, our employees are professionals and will always identify themselves. We want to help protect our community against utility scams, and you can help create the first line of defense. Please report any potential scams to us so we can spread the word to prevent others in the community from falling victim.