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Take care when charging your electric vehicle Do you recall all the safety rules you were taught about refueling when you first learned to drive: Shut off the engine; don’t smoke; don’t leave the pump unattended; don’t overfill? If you are among the growing number of drivers sliding in behind the wheel of an electric vehicle, different “refueling” considerations apply. The most basic electrical safety lesson is that electricity and water don’t mix. However, EVs and their charging stations are designed to handle whatever Mother Nature throws your way, be it dust or rain. However, there are precautions to think about when charging an EV whether you are in your garage or at a public charging station. “You might not have to worry about spilling gasoline or setting off an explosion at the pump,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “But, just as when you use anything electric, there are a few things to keep in mind.” Using a level 1 charger plugged into your garage’s 120-volt/15-amp outlet is the easiest way to charge your vehicle, though it is the slowest. Always use the charger provided by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Before you plug into any electrical outlet, have a qualified electrician inspect and verify the electrical system (outlet, wiring, junctions and protection devices) for heavy duty service according to your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Check the electrical outlet and plug while charging and discontinue use if the electrical outlet or plug is hot, then have the electrical outlet serviced by a qualified electrician. In addition, when charging always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Some of the most common are: Do not use extension cords, multi-outlet power strips, surge protection strips or similar devices. Do not use an electrical outlet that is worn or damaged, or one that will not hold the plug firmly in place. Do not use an electrical outlet that is on a circuit with other electrical loads. The level 2 electric vehicle equipment utilizes 240 volts and 20 to 40 amps. These will recharge the car more quickly. You will probably need to have a qualified electrician install the charger and a separate service and plug at your home, similar to the 240 service for an electric range, water heater or clothes dryer. Before using a public charger, always inspect it first to make sure it doesn’t appear damaged. EV charging stations are designed so the cable remains de-energized until it’s connected to the port on the vehicle. Once connected, the vehicle starts communication with the device, conducting measurements to determine everything is safe and working properly, and only then will it begin the flow of energy.

Electric cooperatives do more than provide electric service; they serve your communities, too. It is fundamentally important for electric cooperatives to improve the overall economic health, vitality and quality of life in the communities they serve. Cooperatives are community focused and work to improve the sustainability and well-being of their local and surrounding communities. Co-ops are invested in the communities they serve, giving their time, money and expertise to build local economies. While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for community development through policies accepted by their members. That’s why they host a yearly Community Day, when they work collectively to make a positive impact on our state. Each year on the second Friday of October, each of Indiana’s electric cooperatives determines a need within its service area. Then, employees work as a team to complete the project. The day provides an opportunity to focus on the good work electric cooperatives do in their communities and it also gives your cooperative a chance to give back to the community it serves. Working side-by-side, Indiana’s electric cooperatives demonstrate one of the core cooperative principles: concern for community. More than 40 unique service projects are typically completed in a single day every year. Co-ops also do things for the community like spearhead “fill the backpack” programs to help underprivileged kids going back to school and sponsor scholarships for high school seniors. The statewide Youth Power and Hope Awards annually honor community-minded middle school students in the state. Electric cooperatives support their communities because it is fundamentally important to them. Why Tax Incentives are Key for Energy Innovation Electric cooperatives work hard to meet today’s energy needs and future development plans. But they are often handcuffed by a restrictive tax code and high costs associated with implementing new technologies. Developing clean energy resources and innovative technologies carries significant capital expense. As not-for-profit businesses, electric co-ops pay state and local taxes, but most are tax exempt for federal income tax purposes. Because of this, electric cooperatives do not have access to the same federal tax incentives as for-profit businesses and are disadvantaged when implementing innovative technologies. All costs incurred by the co-op are passed on to you, its consumer-members. This includes constructing and maintaining electric generating facilities, and transmission and distribution systems. Electric co-ops are making significant regionally specific investments that are transforming their energy supply. But co-ops’ investments in emerging energy technologies could be enhanced if they received comparable incentives and could access direct pay options in lieu of tax credits. Currently, to access these funds, cooperatives are forced to enter into complex and expensive contractual agreements with third-party developers, who, in return, claim these credits. As not-for-profits we receive only a small portion of the tax incentives, as a majority goes to the investors or developers. Our goal is to push Congress to allow for rural electric cooperatives to benefit from the savings of direct payment of energy tax credits. The more capital spent in our local communities ensures more local jobs, local control of projects and further cooperative investment in the communities we serve. Federal policies should incentivize innovative and sustainable energy technologies, so co-ops’ consumer-members aren’t left holding the bag. What Happens to a House Divided? The Indiana House of Representatives and Indiana State Senate are controlled by whichever political party has a simple majority of members. Since 2011, both the House and Senate have been controlled by Republicans, although control has flipped between parties throughout the General Assembly’s history. But there is one unique instance where control of a chamber has been shared by both parties. In 1988, House Republicans and Democrats each won 50 seats in the chamber, creating an even split for the first time in the Legislature’s then-172-year history. Both parties came to an agreement they would split leadership, with Republican Rep. Paul Mannweiler and Democratic Rep. Michael Phillips serving as co-speakers in what the New York Times called the “Speaker du jour” plan. The House would again be split 50/50 in 1996. But, but due to a law passed the previous year, Democratic Rep. John Gregg would assume control of the chamber as sole speaker. A plaque hanging in the House commemorates both sessions of “divided” governance, although only one instance can be noted as a true split. Source: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1988/11/25/756488.html?pageNumber=20

Vice President of Member Services Northeastern REMC A legacy of support Jaime Walker came out of college 12 years ago as a bit of a crusader with an altruistic goal. “This is gonna sound really, really cheesy,” she said, “but I feel as if I was put on this earth to help people.” Since then, she’s pressed her degree in communications, culture and journalism into a career that’s stayed true to her goals within Indiana’s electric cooperative family. Walker grew up a city kid with no knowledge of what an REMC even was, until she applied for the member service director job open at Steuben County REMC, headquartered in Angola, Indiana. "When I saw the job description, it fit a lot of my skill sets and what I wanted to do,” she said. “Truly, what drew me in was the charter of the electric co-op. The reason we exist, the reason we do the things we do is because we're taking care of our members.” At Steuben, as at most co-ops, the “member services” position was a bit of a jack-of-all trades position that evolved with technology over the decades and the changing electric utility industry. Walker took the position into new directions that included more marketing programs, social media and web design. “I didn't build the line, and I didn't bill the electricity. I did everything in between” is how she described the position. She also had the opportunity to participate in many of the leadership and employee development programs cooperatives offer, which sets them apart from so many other types of businesses. In 2019, she became the vice president of member services at Northeastern REMC headquartered in Columbia City, just west of Fort Wayne. The consumer base of Northeastern REMC differs in that it serves a more suburban membership. “I wanted to take on a new challenge, something I hadn't done before.” At Northeastern, she now oversees the billing department and supervising a department that’s had up to nine employees. “That was the part that scared me the most,” she said. “I knew I could learn how the system operates. I knew I could learn the differences in policies and rates and things like that. By the time I retire, I probably won't know everything about billing, but if I can retire from here and have inspired them to do the best they can, or for their personal growth, then that's all I really care about.” “People can have a legacy with cooperatives. They can make a difference. And they can really improve the lives of our membership. It's not just a job, it's more of a calling.” CAREER SUMMARY Jaime Walker came out of college wanting to help people and improve lives. She found that opportunity working for electric cooperatives. TIMELINE 2011 — Hired at Steuben County REMC as director of member services where she handled marketing, communication, the website, social media, events, community relations, grassroots, patronage capital, youth programs, Operation Round Up and more. She also supervised the energy advisor. August 2019 — Hired at Northeastern REMC as vice president of member services. Her responsibilities include managing member service representatives, key accounts, overseeing billing procedures, patronage capital, customer service, and more.

Director of Fiber Operations JCREMC/JCFiber When Nick Stainbrook joined JCREMC in 2001, he came in as a 19-year-old local kid waiting his turn to become a lineman. But he had to wait in line for an apprentice position to become available. So, for the first year and a half, his position meant taking care of the JCREMC building, cleaning, mowing grass, pulling weeds. Twenty years later, Stainbrook is now heading up the engineering and operations for JCFiber, the electric cooperative’s young fiber subsidiary. He supervises six engineers and techs as the Franklin-based cooperative joins others across the state on the “splicing” edge of bringing high-speed internet to rural Hoosiers. “I love the challenge,” said Stainbrook, now 40. “When I first took it on, it was definitely mind boggling how fiber optics work and how you handle them vs. the electric. It’s definitely a different animal than what I was used to.” Stainbrook worked nine years for JCREMC as a journeyman lineman after graduating from the four-year lineman apprenticeship program. Then, in 2015, he accepted a staking engineer position which began his introduction to fiber. The cooperative had installed fiber to tie its substations together as the electric utility industry became increasingly driven by information and reliant on real-time analytics. The employee who handled the fiber for the cooperative announced his plan to retire, which allowed him to mentor his successor. Stainbrook stepped up. “At that point, we had no real idea of what it was going to turn into,” he said. “We were connecting equipment and connecting substations, but we weren’t really selling it a whole lot to customers. I just raised my hand and said ‘I’ll do it,’ and didn’t really realize what I was getting into.” By 2018, JCREMC’s new CEO saw a need for high-speed fiber internet for residential and commercial consumers in the electric cooperative’s service area. Pilot programs were put in place and marketed, and Stainbrook was named director of fiber operations for the cooperative’s new JCFiber subsidiary. JCFiber now serves over 700 residential and 120 commercial customers. A multi-phase plan announced at the end of 2020 should bring service to an additional 5,000 JCREMC members over the next four years. Looking back, Stainbrook shakes his head while pondering the unbelievable changes within JCREMC and within himself in 20 years. Now, with a bachelor’s degree under his belt he’s managing a new side of the business that is helping bring a better experience to his community. “To land where I’ve landed — in such a good job with a cooperative — and then having the versatility to go into the fiber industry and, pretty much, lead the charge … most people don’t get those kind of opportunities. It’s been a blessing,” he said. “When I first started here at 19, I barely understood what the cooperative did. It was one of those things where you put in for a job and got it. And it turned into a career.” CAREER SUMMARY Nick Stainbrook joined Johnson County REMC as an entry-level building maintenance worker and then became a lineman. Now, he oversees a team of six engineers as the cooperative’s fiber subsidiary builds high-speed fiber internet service throughout its territory. TIMELINE 2001 — Hired at JCREMC as a utility man while waiting for an apprentice lineman position to open; handled building maintenance, custodial duties, mowing, pulling weeds, etc. 2002 — Promoted to apprentice lineman; began a four-year apprenticeship program. 2006 — Graduated as journeyman/lineman; joined line crew building, maintaining and repairing power lines. 2015 — Became a staking engineer; worked with engineers and homeowners to locate and relocate service lines; worked on smaller line rebuilding projects. Began learning about fiber “ring” installed at the co-op’s substations. 2018 — Promoted to fiber project supervisor; began marketing JCREMC’s new fiber installations and working with commercial fiber customers and on a residential fiber pilot project. 2019 — Promoted to director of fiber operations; oversees new JCFiber subsidiary installing fiber in JCREMC’s service territory and serving its growing commercial and residential fiber customers; supervises six engineers.

Locally owned businesses are the backbone of our community. With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to make sure your building is equipped for maximum energy savings. LED lighting for your business allows you to maintain your preferred brightness levels while keeping energy costs low. And don’t forget about your outdoor lighting options as well as timers for automatic, overnight shutoff. Check any refrigeration to ensure it is running optimally and keeping items cool without setting the thermostat lower than necessary. Keep up with regular maintenance and freon refills to ensure safe and longer-lasting inventory. Electric motor-driven systems account for about 25% of all commercial energy use. For larger operations, variable speed drives may be necessary to optimize your energy consumption. Unplug all unnecessary or unused appliances and electronic equipment. Many of these devices continue to draw power even when they are turned off. Advanced power strips are a smart, low-cost upgrade. Make sure your HVAC system is sized correctly for your business space. If it is not, this could lead to inefficient operation or insufficient cooling. Southeastern Indiana REMC’s energy advisors can help you evaluate your existing system. These tips can help you lower your energy use while keeping your operations humming. Southeastern Indiana REMC knows that your bottom line is important when making these business operations decisions. If these or other energy-saving adjustments require purchases, be sure to check out our rebates section about ways to save. As your local electric cooperative, we would be happy to come to your office, warehouse, or storefront to conduct a comprehensive energy audit to make sure you’re maximizing every dollar. Contact us at 800-737-4111 to set up your energy audit today.

Have you ever noticed your lights blink during a thunderstorm? Or perhaps you’ve noticed a blinking microwave clock when you arrive home. When this happens, you’ve likely experienced a brief disruption to your electric service which could result from a power surge or blink. While the symptoms of surges and blinks can appear similar, what’s happening behind the scenes can be quite different. What is a power surge? Power surges are brief overvoltage spikes or disturbances of a power waveform that can damage, degrade or destroy electronic equipment within your home or business. Most electronics are designed to handle small variations in voltage; however, power surges can reach amplitudes of tens of thousands of volts — this can be extremely damaging to your electronic equipment. Surges can be caused by internal sources, like HVAC systems with variable frequency drives, or external sources, like lightning and damage to power lines and transformers. Southeastern Indiana REMC encourages all members to install surge protective devices (such as surge protector power strips) to safeguard your sensitive electronics. If you’re experiencing frequent surges in your home or business and you believe the cause is internal, contact a qualified electrician to inspect your electrical system. What’s a power blink? Power blinks are also brief service interruptions, but they’re typically caused by a fault (short circuit) on a power line or a protective device that’s working in reaction to the fault. Faults can occur through a variety of instances, like squirrels, birds or other small animals contacting an energized power line; tree branches touching a power line; or lightning and other similar events. In fact, when it comes to power disruptions caused by critters, squirrels reign supreme. In 2019 alone, squirrels were responsible for more than 1,200 outages. Any of the events noted above can cause your power to blink, but you may also experience a brief interruption when protective devices that act like circuit breakers are working to detect the fault. Believe it or not, these brief power blinks caused by protective devices are actually good because that means the equipment is working as it should to prevent a prolonged outage. Regardless of the cause, Southeastern Indiana REMC crews will be on their way to inspect the damage and make necessary repairs after a power outage. And you can help too! Any time you experience repeated disruptions to your electric service, please let us know by calling 800-737-4111 or through the SmartHub app.

This year's legislative session was marked by many challenges − and many successes. It was unlike any other as the House of Representatives held session in the Government Center, not the Statehouse. Legislators and lobbyists weren’t able to walk the Statehouse hallways together, and simple, important conversations were more difficult to arrange. Despite these challenges, Indiana’s electric cooperatives had several gains. Broadband Four bills were passed this session encouraging broadband projects and developments. Additionally, $250 million was incorporated in the budget for the broadband projects. We are looking forward to the potential funding opportunities for Indiana’s electric cooperatives’ deployment efforts as we seek to increase service to rural Hoosiers across the state. Battery Storage Sales Tax Exemption Cooperatives are always searching for the best ways to serve their consumers and keep energy safe, reliable and affordable. Battery storage is a cutting-edge technology that several cooperatives are exploring to save their consumers money and encourage economic development. The tax bill included language that exempts utility-scale battery storage systems from sales tax, thus saving cooperatives who engage in these projects millions of dollars. Pole Attachments One piece of legislation that could have had a much more detrimental impact on Indiana electric cooperatives and their consumers had to do with pole attachments. But, the electric cooperatives were able to negotiate a more favorable outcome. At the start of the legislative session, cable providers filed bills that would have mandated electric cooperatives to charge them the FCC rate when they attached cable to the co-ops’ poles. This would have put electric cooperatives like yours under FCC jurisdiction and lowered the for-profit cable providers’ financial responsibility. However, we were able to successfully negotiate a more favorable solution: removal of the FCC language and an increase in the attacher’s responsibility (7.41% to 12.5%). Language was also added that grandfathers in existing contracts and sets a fine for unauthorized attachments. The legislative session concluded with a "final dead bills day" April 22. The legislature recessed rather than adjourned so lawmakers can call themselves back into session later in 2021 to redistrict. Once in a Decade: Census Leads to Redistricting Congressional and legislative representation is one of the primary reasons why Americans are asked to participate in the census every 10 years. By law, districts must be roughly equal to population. Population growth is uneven, so, after each census, congressional districts are redrawn. How many people in a district? Indiana’s population in 2010 was almost 6.5 million according to that year’s census. The Census Bureau estimated in 2018, Indiana’s population had grown to nearly 6.7 million. The Indiana Business Research Center’s population projections expected Indiana to surpass 6.7 million residents by 2020. Data shows population declines in northwest and southwest Indiana and concentrated growth around some metro areas, such as Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. This will require adjustments to the congressional districts and state legislative districts so each Hoosier will be represented equally. Your electric cooperative is continuing to monitor redistricting efforts to ensure Indiana’s electric cooperatives are well represented and protected throughout the state. Source: https://www.incontext.indiana.edu/2019/nov-dec/article2.asp The Fight Over Public Health Emergencies The Indiana Legislature passed Senate Bill 5 obliging local health leaders to consult with other officials before enacting certain health measures. The bill created a structure to ensure health departments get OKs from county or city bodies before stricter measures are enacted. Gov. Holcomb vetoed the bill, but the legislature voted to override the veto. The final Senate vote count was 36 to 10 in favor of the override. The final House vote count was 59 to 30 in favor of the override. The bill went into effect immediately, so all local mandates are now null and void unless a local governing body takes action to re-enact them. Source: https://www.wthitv.com/content/news/Indiana-Legislature-overrides-Governor-Holcombs-veto-of-Senate-Bill-5-574391941.html

Teach your children about electrical safety at the bus stop The school bus stop is a place where friendships can be forged for life. But as school years start and kids again board school buses, Indiana Electric Cooperatives warns children and their parents about potential life-threatening hazards. Distracted drivers who don’t see or ignore the stopped school bus lights are something children all need to watch for as they stand on the curb or side of the road or cross the road to board. But there are electrical hazards, too, children should be taught to look for. “A lot can happen in the few minutes children are waiting for the bus,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “It’s our duty as parents, grandparents or guardians to teach them of the dangers around them.” Keep these situations in mind when talking to your children about school bus and bus stop safety: Warn your child to not climb up trees and utility poles or guy wires that might put them dangerously close to overhead power lines or expose them to undetected damaged or compromised equipment. Warn your child to stay away from pad-mount transformers (the big, usually green boxes) or other electrical equipment in your neighborhood. Children might view these as perfect for climbing and playing on or lying on while waiting for the bus. Do some homework yourself: Before the school year starts, find out exactly where the stop will be. Check it out yourself for blind spots and dangers curious kids might get into while waiting in the morning. If the school bus is ever in an accident and ends up in a ditch, the bus may have hit a utility pole. In that case, power lines may have dropped and be touching the bus. Teach your child to assume any fallen lines are still energized and dangerous. Let your child know if he or she is OK after an accident, remain on the bus as the driver calls 911, and wait until a first responder or the driver says it’s OK to exit the bus. In an emergency, your child may need to exit the bus immediately. Show your child how to jump clear from the bus with both feet together, avoiding contact with the bus and the ground at the same time. Then, he or she should shuffle away with tiny steps, keeping both feet together and on the ground at all times. Practice this exiting your own car.

Indiana’s electric cooperatives work closely with both the state and federal government to ensure the energy they provide is safe, reliable and affordable. Indiana has two delegates to the U.S. Senate and nine delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives. Indiana’s senators are Mike Braun and Todd Young. Braun was elected in 2018. A native of Jasper, Indiana, where he owns Meyer Distributing, a truck specialty parts retailer and aftermarket wholesaler. Young was elected in 2016. He served for a decade in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. A fifth generation Hoosier, Young currently lives in Johnson County. Indiana’s nine Congressional representatives are Frank Mrvan, Jackie Walorski, Jim Banks, Jim Baird, Victoria Spartz, Greg Pence, André Carson, Larry Bucshon and Trey Hollingsworth. Mrvan (District 1) was elected in 2021. He is passionate about serving the labor interests and steel and manufacturing industries of Northwest Indiana. Walorski (District 2) was elected in 2013. A native Hoosier who was born and raised in South Bend, she is passionate about growing our economy, bringing good jobs to northern Indiana, strengthening our national security, ensuring veterans receive services and care, and keeping the American Dream alive for Hoosiers. Banks (District 3) was elected in 2017. He currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a supply corps officer. In 2014 and 2015, he took leaves of absence from the Indiana Senate to deploy to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Baird (District 4) was elected in 2019. He is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, whose distinguished service to our country was recognized with a Bronze Star with V device and two Purple Hearts. He is a lifelong resident of west central Indiana and previously ran a home health care agency and a farm with his family. Spartz (District 5) was elected in 2021. She was born overseas and immigrated to the United States 20 years ago after meeting her husband, a lifelong Hoosier, on a train in Europe. Spartz became a U.S. citizen and worked her way up from bank teller to a CPA, finance executive and successful business owner. Pence (District 6) was elected in 2019. Pence is a Marine officer and small businessman from Columbus, Indiana, the only place he has ever called home. He is passionate about job creation, economic growth and serving with leadership. Carson (District 7) was elected in 2008. An Indianapolis native, Carson grew up on the city’s east side. Before taking office, he served on the Indianapolis City-County Council, worked full time in law enforcement, and worked in intelligence and counterterrorism for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Bucshon (District 8) was elected in 2011. He was born and raised in a small central Illinois town. Bucshon served with the U.S. Navy Reserve for almost a decade and, before joining Congress, was a practicing physician and surgeon specializing in cardiothoracic surgery. Hollingsworth (District 9) was elected in 2017. He is a small business owner, who even during the depths of the recession as other U.S. businesses moved overseas, found opportunities for companies to expand, produce and hire locally. Later, Hollingsworth partnered with businessmen and chemists to start an aluminum remanufacturing operation in Indiana. New Legislator Spotlight Two new federal legislators were elected for the first time in 2021: Rep. Frank Mrvan (District 1) and Rep. Victoria Spartz (District 5). Mrvan is a member of the Democratic Party and Spartz is a member of the Republican Party. Prior to Congress, Mrvan served as the North Township trustee for 15 years and Spartz served as an Indiana state senator from 2017-2020. Mrvan currently serves as a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Spartz currently serves as a member on the House Committee on Education and Labor and the House Committee on the Judiciary. In their first few months in office, both new delegates have been quite busy. Spartz has co-sponsored 12 bills and Mrvan has co-sponsored 50 bills. A Historical Look at Indiana’s Federal Delegation Indiana’s first federal delegation was elected in 1815. Rep. William Hendricks was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1815 and served until 1821. Sen. James Noble and Sen. Waller Taylor were elected to U.S. Senate in 1816. Noble served until 1831 and Taylor served until 1825. Since the first Hoosier representation in Washington, D.C., Indiana has elected candidates from the Democratic, Republican, Democratic-Republican, Jacksonian, Anti-Jacksonian, Whig, Opposition, Independent, Anti-Monopoly, and Greenbacker parties. Perhaps the most well-known historical federal officials from Indiana are William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison. William was elected governor of the Indiana Territory in 1801, where he served 12 years. He was elected President of the United States in 1841 and served just 32 days as the ninth president before passing away. Thirty years later, in 1876, William’s grandson, Benjamin, unsuccessfully ran for governor of Indiana. But the Indiana General Assembly elected Benjamin to a six-year term in the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1881 to 1887. In 1888, he was elected the 23rd U.S. president. SOURCES: https://www.braun.senate.gov/about-mike; https://www.young.senate.gov/about-todd; https://mrvan.house.gov/about; https://walorski.house.gov/about/;https://banks.house.gov/biography/; https://baird.house.gov/about/; https://www.spartzforcongress.com/about/; https://pence.house.gov/about; https://carson.house.gov/about/biography; https://bucshon.house.gov/biography/full-biography.htm; https://hollingsworth.house.gov/biography/ https://mrvan.house.gov/about; https://www.congress.gov/member/frank-mrvan/M001214?q={%22search%22:[%22frank+mrvan%22]}&s=4&r=1&searchResultViewType=expanded; https://www.congress.gov/member/victoria-spartz/S000929?q={%22search%22:[%22frank%20mrvan%22],%22within%22:[%22frank%20mrvan%22]}&searchResultViewType=expanded; https://www.spartzforcongress.com/ https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_congressional_delegations_from_Indiana; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Harrison#:~:text=Benjamin%20Harrison%20(August%2020%2C%201833,States%20from%201889%20to%201893; https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/william-henry-harrison/

Manager of Operations and Engineering Clark County REMC Climbing his way to the top Dave Barton literally started at the bottom and climbed his way up to a long, successful career at Clark County REMC. At age 60, he looks back from about as high a perch as he could go. From that vantage point, he realizes there is no top or bottom when it comes to the Sellersburg-based REMC’s success. “What I feel most proud of is being part of building a great team,” he said. “Clark County REMC succeeds or fails as a group. Everybody’s job is important.” Barton started as groundman on the tree crew. “Back then, we had a crew that was trimming trees and taking trees down, and there was a foreman, a tree trimmer, and then I was the groundman. So, I was dragging brush, chipping brush,” he recalled. When he hired on at the REMC, the potential of becoming a journeyman/lineman was discussed, as well as Barton’s high school interest and training in electronics. Barton’s dad had been a telephone lineman, so that had appeal. “I remember seeing him as a phone company guy; he had climbing hooks and a belt. I watched him climb a pole when I was young.” He could remember thinking, “I want to do that someday.” In the fall of 1985, Barton started the four-year lineman apprenticeship training and graduated in 1989. He also was still interested in technology and electronics. He took advantage of additional academic and training opportunities and followed the advice of a supervisor by eventually earning an associate degree in electrical engineering technology. Now, as manager of operations and engineering, he oversees 27 individuals performing all the activities from line construction and engineering to his old stomping ground — the right-of-way. On three occasions, he has stepped in to serve as general manager during the GM’s extended leaves. “I appreciate how much our leadership believed in me and gave me new opportunities along the way.” Barton said from day one at the REMC, almost 40 years ago, the environment has been special. “It’s just been a family atmosphere the whole time. Even though there’s been ups and downs along the way, you always had each other’s back, and you always felt as if you mattered. There’s just something really special about being a part of cooperative where we’re doing things for the our members, trying to find a way of doing the right thing for them — whether it’s in engineering design or the lineman getting up in the middle of the night to repair a power outage,” Barton noted. “We have succeeded because we figured out a way to get everybody to work to their best potential rather than any one supervisor coming up with some plan. The plan,” he emphasized, “is within the people.” CAREER SUMMARY Dave Barton climbed his way up from the guy down in the brush, clearing rights-of-way for power lines to building and repairing power lines. Now, he oversees a team of 27 individuals who build and maintain the lines that keep the power on for 22,000 consumers. TIMELINE 1984 — Hired at Clark County REMC as groundman on the tree-trimming crew. Dragged trimmed limbs away, ran the chipper for right-of-way maintenance. 1985 — Promoted to apprentice lineman. Began the four-year apprenticeship program at Hoosier Energy. 1989 — Graduated apprenticeship program as journeyman/lineman. 1995 — Added meter technician to his duties after completing a two-year training course. 2000 — Promoted to operations supervisor. Oversaw staking engineers and design and construction planning. 2007 — Promoted to manager of operations and engineering. Supervises a team of 27 that includes all outside lineworkers, line construction, engineering and right-of-way maintenance.

Make sure you know about these three types of outlets Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds consumers about the three types of electrical receptacles designed with safety in mind. The three types of receptacles are tamper-resistant receptacles, ground-fault circuit interrupters and arc-fault circuit interrupters. Receptacles pose dangers to children and adults alike. A curious child may insert a paper clip, coin or key into an outlet’s openings. Accidents or carelessness with plugged-in appliances around water or simply faulty receptacles and wiring can cause electrical shocks and fires leading to disaster and tragedy. “Electrical safety is always improving,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “There are many consumer safety devices that are now either code and are standard in any newer home, or available and can be installed to make your home safer.” Here are three types of electrical receptacles installed today. TRR — Tamper-resistant receptacles have an interior spring-loaded cover that closes off the slots of the receptacle until a plug is inserted. They open only when two prongs of a plug are inserted simultaneously. GFCI — Ground-fault circuit interrupters have been around for many years and are required in receptacles in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms — wherever there may be water and/or dampness present. GFCIs have “reset” and “test” buttons associated with them. GFCIs are a circuit breaker that stops the flow off electricity the instant it detects an imbalance in the current going to and returning from equipment along the circuit. AFCI — Arc-fault circuit interrupters prevent an electrical fire in your home due to “arcing.” An arc fault is an unintended arc created by current flowing through an unplanned path. Arcing creates high-intensity heating, resulting in burning particles that can ignite nearby material like wood or insulation. If a home doesn’t have these three life-saving types of receptacles, contact a qualified electrician about installing them where needed.

10 ways to save energy in the laundry room Your clothes washer and dryer account for a significant portion of energy consumption from major appliances, and let’s face it––laundry is no one’s favorite chore. Make the most of your laundry energy use! There are several easy ways you can save energy (and money) in the laundry room. The Department of Energy recommends the following tips for saving on suds: Wash with cold water. Switching from warm water to cold water can cut one load’s energy use by more than half, and by using a cold-water detergent, you can still achieve that brilliant clean you’d normally get from washing in warm water. Wash full loads when possible. Your washing machine will use the same amount of energy no matter the size of the clothes load, so fill it up if you can. Use the high-speed or extended spin cycle in the washer. This setting will remove more moisture before drying, reducing your drying time and the extra wear on clothing. Dry heavier cottons separately. Loads will dry faster and more evenly if you separate heavier cottons like linens and towels from your lightweight clothing. Make use of the “cool down” cycle. If your dryer has this cycle option, you can save energy because the clothes will finish drying with the remaining heat in the dryer. Use lower heat settings to dry clothing. Regardless of drying time, you’ll still use less energy. Use dryer balls. Dryer balls, usually wool or rubber, will help keep clothes separated for faster drying, and they can help reduce static, so you can eliminate dryer sheets. Switch loads while the dryer is warm. This allows you to take advantage of the remaining heat from the previous cycle. Clean the lint filter after each drying cycle. If you use dryer sheets, remember to scrub the filter once a month with a toothbrush to remove excess buildup. Purchase ENERGY STAR®-rated washers and dryers. When it’s time to purchase a new washer or dryer, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. New washers and dryers that receive the ENERGY STAR® rating use about 20% less energy than conventional models.