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You expect reliable and affordable electricity from your electric cooperative, so how does your co-op deliver on that promise? A complex network of electricity generators and tens of thousands of miles of electrical lines work together to ensure that enough electricity is available on the coldest winter morning and during the dog days of summer. What happens when the demand for power overwhelms the ability to provide it? That’s a particularly vexing question given the transition taking place in how electricity is produced and shared across this network. The key to meeting the energy needs so essential to your quality of life is balancing electricity supply with demand. While that may sound simple, there is a complex web of facilities and organizations that work together to make it happen each day. Regional transmission organizations coordinate, control and monitor the electric grid across several states in a region. Think of them as energy traffic managers on an interstate highway system, regulating the number of cars – in this case, electricity – and their destination. Even so, on some days there is an imbalance in that system that leads to rolling power interruptions or blackouts—so-called “max-gen” events. In those cases, supply simply can’t keep up. In the Midcontinent region comprised of 15 states, there were six max-gen events from 2006-2016. Since 2016, there have been 15, including three last July and August alone. Simply, that’s because power plants that generate electricity are being closed faster than new producers come online. In most cases, traditional large-scale power suppliers such as coal and nuclear plants are being closed and replaced by alternatives on a much smaller scale. And this gap is closing more quickly despite the development of new natural gas-fueled power plants. As more electric utilities pursue zero- or low-carbon initiatives by 2035 and beyond, this challenge will grow more complex. So, what’s the answer? Electric cooperatives and others in the energy sector will continue to develop renewable options and pursue new technologies. But absent new large-scale alternatives and advances in energy storage, the stalwarts of today’s energy fleet—coal and nuclear energy facilities—must continue to operate in many regions. In some, they remain the most cost-effective options for producing electricity.

Indiana’s electric cooperatives are committed to the communities they serve and are involved with philanthropic activities throughout Indiana and beyond. Your cooperative serves your community and spearheads philanthropic projects to help create a better world. For instance, during Community Day, Indiana’s electric cooperatives 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 provide extra value 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 completed in a single day every year. Cooperatives care about their communities. That’s why they take time out of their week to serve them. Stay up to date on cooperative initiatives by being a grassroots advocate. Encourage your friends and family to sign up, too. Visit https://action.indianaec.org/ today! Do you know of a service project that you would like your cooperative to get involved in? Contact your cooperative today! Supporting the Ronald McDonald House for 25 years Concern for community is a core principle of Indiana’s electric cooperatives. Electric cooperative employees and directors work in and care for the communities they serve. One of their charitable initiatives is the Ronald McDonald House. The Ronald McDonald House of Indiana has been providing a supportive home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill or injured children since 1982. Indiana’s electric cooperatives have been proud supporters since 1995. Each year at the annual meeting of the cooperatives’ statewide service association, co-ops throughout the state donate much-needed supplies for the house. Throughout the last 25 years, Indiana’s electric cooperatives have donated over $200,000 to support the Ronald McDonald House’s mission. The needs of the house may change, but our focus will always be to ensure the Indiana Ronald McDonald House can assist Hoosier families for many years to come. Living the Principles Outside Our Borders Paying it forward through Project Indiana Indiana’s electric cooperatives are such strong supporters of the seven cooperative principles they’re taking their passion for these pillars of the cooperative movement and are sharing them in other parts of the world. Through Project Indiana, Hoosiers have brought hope, in the form of electricity, to rural Guatemalan villages. Using donated materials, volunteers bring electricity to these impoverished areas for the first time. The project was born in the summer of 2012 under the moniker Hoosiers Power the World. One of the largest international endeavors undertaken by electric cooperatives across the U.S., the first trip included 28 linemen, two cooperative executives and staff members from Indiana Electric Cooperatives, the service association of the state’s electric cooperatives. Over a four-week period, the volunteers, working in conjunction with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s International Program, toiled with villagers to erect poles at the precipice of steep drop-offs, running cable through jungle gorges. By 2015, the vision grew into Project Indiana and sustainable change — moving beyond electrifying villages to making them better places to live, enhancing the community and encouraging the development of cooperatives — just as happened 85 years ago when the electric cooperatives first brought electricity to rural Indiana. Through Project Indiana, electric cooperatives are paying it forward, empowering global communities one village at a time. And, we know it all begins with electricity — access to better health care, fresh drinking water, expanded educational opportunities, economic development and increased public safety. Project Indiana volunteers plan to return to the communities to provide them with other resources and services they so desperately need, and visit other parts of the country to help electrify those communities. It’s the cooperative way.

Internet is a necessity in today’s world. It is needed to do almost everything: attend school, complete homework, run a business, access doctors and medical care, or even stream a movie with your family. Unfortunately for many rural Americans, internet access is limited at best. For many, it simply isn’t even an option because there are no companies willing to provide service. But things are beginning to change. Your electric cooperative recognized this problem and knew it had to help be a part of the solution. Electric cooperatives are leading the way in serving the rural and economically disadvantaged areas in Indiana, those that have the greatest need for broadband. Electric cooperatives have made real investments into solving the rural broadband problem. Recent state grants are helping electric cooperatives leverage significant amounts of private funding to expand broadband access. In 2015, only two of Indiana’s 38 electric cooperatives had active broadband projects. By 2020, that number had more than quintupled to 12. Now, only one year later, there are 19 cooperatives with active broadband projects. Similarly, in 2020, cooperatives had invested $134.5 million into deploying broadband to rural Indiana. One year later, that number more than doubled to $273 million. In 2020, cooperatives served 17,921 addresses with broadband service and deployed 4,237 miles of fiber to provide that service. One year later, those numbers also doubled. Currently, 31,037 addresses are served, and 8,425 miles of fiber are deployed. Your local cooperative saw a problem and acted to provide you with the solution. Now, it is working hard every day to make sure you have access to high quality, high speed internet, no matter where you live. Four Facts About Broadband in Rural America High-speed internet has become a major focus across rural Indiana. From electric cooperatives and allied rural organizations to the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and legislators who serve rural areas, finding the financial wherewithal to fund expensive fiber-optic networks into sparsely-populated areas is no longer a quixotic quest. It’s happening. “Hoosiers need affordable, quality internet regardless of where they live, work or go to school,” Gov. Eric J. Holcomb told Indiana Connection. “Access to broadband brings countless opportunities. And that’s why I’m excited to see key infrastructure projects positively impact economic development, health, agriculture and quality of life.” Closing the digital divide allows those in under-served or unserved areas the same opportunities that exist in connected communities: 1. Millions of Americans lack broadband. About 34 million Americans don’t have high-speed internet service. Many of these people live in rural, low density areas. 2. Private carriers fear rural costs. There is a huge gap between the benefits to consumers and what a private service provider will earn by deploying broadband in areas with low population density. 3. Broadband backbone eases cooperative entry. A modern electric cooperative requires up-to-the-minute smart communications technology, and that requires a broadband backbone. Such a system would allow the cooperative to communicate with its substations, better oversee power lines to restore or even prevent outages in a timely fashion, and provide smart meters and other advances consumers demand. A broadband backbone also affords cooperatives the opportunity to provide retail high-speed internet, when possible, as it passes fiber-optic cable by members’ homes and businesses. Cooperatives that build a broadband backbone for their electric power system can more economically connect rural areas. A good partner can help. Many hands lighten the load, and that rings true for rural broadband. While electric cooperatives may have infrastructure in place and brand recognition among consumers in rural areas they serve, the cost to deliver high-speed internet can give many pause. Government loans and loan guarantees and grants for rural broadband can help close the digital divide. Partnerships between cooperatives and private carriers are an economical way to deliver internet service to members. What’s Your Broadband Story? Electric cooperatives are finding ways to help close the rural digital divide, providing all Hoosiers the same opportunities. Affordable and reliable quality internet means life-altering improvements for rural Hoosiers in: Modern health care including prompt access to specialists, and expanded monitoring and treatment options. Modern education options so rural students can use technology previously available only to their urban peers. Adult learners will have access to distance education options. Economic development opportunities mean small businesses in rural areas can enter the global marketplace. And, young families seeking a rural lifestyle can enjoy that small town sense of community with the modern conveniences of an urban area. Tell us how having access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet could improve your family’s quality of life, or how new service options have changed the way you live. Your stories will continue to inspire our state’s leaders to do all they can to bring broadband to all of Indiana. Visit action.indianaec.org/share-your-story/

President and Chief Executive Officer Whitewater Valley REMC Building Trust The day Mary Jo Thomas took the open accounting position at Whitewater Valley REMC in 1996, she began working her way up the career ladder. In 2013, she became president and CEO of the cooperative that provides electricity to consumers in several counties along the Indiana/Ohio state line around Richmond. After providing a reference for the person who originally applied for the accounting job, she learned he turned it down because it included a typical cooperative “wearing-of-many-hats” role,” which included answering the telephone and backing up the utility’s front counter during the lunch hour. So, Thomas applied. “I didn’t have any problem with that,” she said. “And that’s really been my work ethic: to help out wherever I can. That’s how you build trust in the workplace – by working shoulder to shoulder. I did not set out to be CEO. If you think you’re better than anybody else and shouldn’t have to do something, that’s not a good way to build teamwork.” When she became CEO, she was the only female chief executive of a cooperative in Indiana and only the second in the 85-plus year history of Indiana’s REMCs. In more recent years, two other women have become CEOs at Indiana electric cooperatives and a third has become the CEO at a power generation and transmission cooperative. As Thomas was promoted, she began working closely with a new CEO who joined the cooperative in the early 2000s. In her, he saw his successor; he began mentoring her. Thomas accompanied him to meetings around the state and was exposed to all elements of the industry outside her local cooperative. When it came time for his retirement, he and the Whitewater Valley board of directors thought the succession was in place to go smoothly. Only, Thomas wasn’t sure. “I teetered back and forth,” she recalled. “I wasn’t sure I could do it.” But the retiring CEO assured her, “You’re doing it now.” Thomas stepped into the role she realized she’d been doing. What made the decision easier, she noted, was she knew the team she’d have behind her. “The staff I have, and that I knew I had going in, make my job easy,” she said. “We’re a team. It’s a group effort for sure. “You have in the back of your mind that you have to know it all. But when you have good people around you, you don’t have to know it all. I don’t have to have the answer to every question. I might need to know how to find the answer, but I know who to ask to get all the information to make a decision.” Career Summary: Mary Jo Thomas didn’t set out to be CEO, but others saw her leadership skills in how she worked as a team player as she rose to the top. Now she is in her eighth year as CEO of an Indiana electric cooperative. Timeline August 1996 – Hired at Whitewater Valley REMC as Accountant/Computer Specialist: The only accountant on staff; prepared all financials and helped set up the mainframe computer and PCs in the office. January 2001 – Promoted to Director of Customer Service: Oversaw the customer service representatives and managed all accounting and financials. Managed the IT department. Also installed, maintained and supported the co-op's computer systems, storage, network and security appliances. July 2005 – Promoted to Director of Administrative Services and Corporate Development: New position with restructuring; handled all accounting duties along with additional HR duties, corporate development, and working with operations. April 2012 – Promoted to Chief Operating Officer: Focused on gaining an in-depth knowledge of the co-op's operations. March 2013 – Named President and CEO of Whitewater Valley REMC: Oversees the cooperative with 25 full-time employees and serves approximately 9,800 consumers in Randolph, Wayne, Union, Fayette, Franklin and Dearborn counties, and maintains over 1,800 miles of line.

Electric cooperatives remind Hoosiers of electrical water hazards During the summer, many Hoosiers will be enjoying their pools and surrounding lakes around the state. Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds pool owners and lake-goers of electrical dangers around water, noting that water and electricity do not mix. When using the pool this summer, avoid electric shock by using battery-operated appliances or waterproof covers for items near the pool when possible. If someone in the pool feels electricity -- almost like a stinging feeling – or appears to have been shocked, do not dive in. You could be shocked, too. Instead, turn off the power and use a non-metal shepherd’s hook to pull him or her out of the water to safety. Electrical shock can cause paralysis and the victim will need assistance immediately When using long-handled pool cleaning equipment, always look up and around to make sure there are no low-hanging power lines connected to a home or pool house nearby. The same safety concerns are in play around lakes and rivers, too, along with a few more. Avoid running electric appliances with extension cords out to where you are sunbathing/swimming. They present both a shock and trip hazard. Avoid swimming or going in the water near boats plugged into shore power or docks with electrical services. If you are in the water and feel electricity, stay calm and swim to shore if you can but do not touch a metal ladder or any other metal objects. Staying safe while near the water is simple but these tips can be easily forgotten. Create a checklist for your family and friends to review before the start of warmer weather.

Make sure electrical safety is on your boat’s checklist Electric safety is an important part of boating safety often overlooked. Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds boaters water and electricity are a deadly combination, and to make sure electrical safety is included in your boat’s checklist. “It’s critical you stay away from electric power lines and other electricity sources when you go boating,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “After all, besides being a popular ingredient for summertime fun, water is a good conductor of electricity. Even when you’re on a boat, electricity still tries to reach the ground below to the bottom of the body of water.” Boaters should constantly be aware of the location of power lines. That means paying close attention when raising or lowering the boat’s mast or spar and ensuring drying sails and sheet lines don’t blow into power lines. “When docking your boat, enlist the help of another person to help guide you at least 10 feet away from all power lines,” Gasstrom added. Among other maritime must-dos: While on the water, watch for signs that indicate where underwater utility lines are located. Don’t anchor your boat near them. When fishing, check for overhead power lines before casting your line. If your boat accidentally comes in contact with a power line, whatever you do, don’t jump in the water. Stay on board and don’t touch anything made of metal. Don’t leave the boat until it has moved away from the power line. If you notice a tingling sensation while swimming, the water could be electrified. Get out quickly, avoiding metal objects like ladders. Equipment leakage circuit interrupters protect swimmers nearby from potential electrical leakage into the water around your boat. Consider installing them on your boat. Periodically have a professional marine electrician inspect your boat’s electrical system. It should meet local and state safety codes and standards. Make sure the boat’s AC outlets are three-prong. All electrical connections should be in a panel box to avoid contact. Install ground fault circuit interrupters on your boat and dock. When using electricity near water, use portable GFCIs labeled “UL-Marine Listed.” Test all GFCIs once a month.