MEMBER RELATIONS SUPERVISOR COUNTY ELECTRIC T...Clay Sabrowski Conor Dawson Lily Redden Ashleigh...
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BY ALLIY SAHAGUN MEMBER RELATIONS SUPERVISOR THANK YOU TO THE HELPERS JULY 2020 Powering Possibilities GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 180 Gunnison, CO 81230-0180 STREET ADDRESS 37250 West Highway 50 Gunnison, CO 81230 ph 970-641-3520 tf 800-726-3523 fax 970-641-7333 web www.gcea.coop email [email protected] facebook.com/ GunnisonCountyElectricAssociation @GunnisonREA T he last couple of months have seen a significant outpouring of care and concern for others as we have battled the COVID-19 crisis together. ere is no part of our community that this virus has not touched, and together we mourn the loss of loved ones, jobs, incomes, busi- nesses and the way of everyday life here in the Gunnison Valley. But there is hope. In the wake of every tragedy there is a silver lining — good things that come when they’re least expected and help that is offered when we need it the most. Mr. Rogers taught us that during times of disaster, we must do as his mother taught him and “look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Gunnison County Electric Association is grateful for those on its staff and many others in the community who have chosen to be the helpers. Our GCEA member support specialists have been on the front line every day, taking calls from members who have experienced a variety of hardships and they are doing their best, working from home, to take care of our members. ankfully, the GCEA Board of Directors approved back in March not to disconnect members who were behind on paying their bills. Member support special- ists have been working with members each day to make payment arrangements to get them back on track with their accounts. ese specialists have also been searching for ways to provide assistance through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program and unclaimed capital credit certificates. Members in return have expressed grati- tude that GCEA is being flexible, helpful and understanding during this difficult time. To help members further, GCEA revived the Credits to Cash program to provide economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credits to Cash gives GCEA members the option to receive 35% of their allocated, unretired 1994-2015 capital credits amount early. is program ended last year, but many GCEA members did not participate in the program. If you did not receive your Credits to Cash check, please call GCEA to take advantage of this finan- cial assistance. Teamwork between departments at GCEA continues to happen even though we are not all working under the same roof. GCEA System Administrator Shane McGuinness set up GCEA employees with equipment and technology to be able to work from home to serve our members. Shane also worked to complete a project installing fiber to the GCEA headquarters building, which allows for better connec- tivity and the ability to communicate and work more effectively. We appreciate Shane’s willingness to come to our aid with all of our technical needs. Energy Use Advisor Alantha Garrison continues to stay busy working from home, advising members how to cut down on high electric usage and be more energy efficient. With the help of Billing Assistant Chastity Miller and Meter Technician Jeff Stanley, members’ high-usage concerns are discussed and investigated to determine the culprit for the increased energy use. With Alantha’s help over the phone, members are guided through their homes to learn how their electric appliances are contributing to their bill, how to reduce the usage of certain ALLIY SAHAGUN 7 COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2020 YOUR CO-OP NEWS
Transcript of MEMBER RELATIONS SUPERVISOR COUNTY ELECTRIC T...Clay Sabrowski Conor Dawson Lily Redden Ashleigh...
BY ALLIY SAHAGUN MEMBER RELATIONS SUPERVISOR
THANK YOU TO THE HELPERS
JULY 2020
Powering Possibilities
GUNNISON C O U N T YELECTRICASSOCIATION
MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 180
Gunnison, CO 81230-0180
STREET ADDRESS37250 West Highway 50
Gunnison, CO 81230
ph 970-641-3520 tf 800-726-3523 fax 970-641-7333 web www.gcea.coop email [email protected]
facebook.com/GunnisonCountyElectricAssociation
@GunnisonREA
T he last couple of months have seen a significant outpouring of care and concern for others as we have
battled the COVID-19 crisis together. There is no part of our community that this virus has not touched, and together we mourn the loss of loved ones, jobs, incomes, busi-nesses and the way of everyday life here in the Gunnison Valley. But there is hope.
In the wake of every tragedy there is a silver lining — good things that come when they’re least expected and help that is offered when we need it the most. Mr. Rogers taught us that during times of disaster, we must do as his mother taught him and “look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Gunnison County Electric Association is grateful for those on its staff and many others in the community who have chosen to be the helpers.
Our GCEA member support specialists have been on the front line every day, taking calls from members who have experienced a variety of hardships and they are doing their best, working from home, to take care of our members. Thankfully, the GCEA Board of Directors approved back in March not to disconnect members who were behind on paying their bills. Member support special-ists have been working with members each day to make payment arrangements to get them back on track with their accounts. These specialists have also been searching for ways to provide assistance through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program and unclaimed capital credit certificates. Members in return have expressed grati-tude that GCEA is being flexible, helpful and understanding during this difficult time.
To help members further, GCEA revived the Credits to Cash program to provide economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credits to Cash gives GCEA members the option to receive 35% of their allocated, unretired 1994-2015 capital credits amount early. This program ended last year, but many GCEA members did not participate in the program. If you did not receive your Credits to Cash check, please call GCEA to take advantage of this finan-cial assistance.
Teamwork between departments at GCEA continues to happen even though we are not all working under the same roof. GCEA System Administrator Shane McGuinness set up GCEA employees with equipment and technology to be able to work from home to serve our members. Shane also worked to complete a project installing fiber to the GCEA headquarters building, which allows for better connec-tivity and the ability to communicate and work more effectively. We appreciate Shane’s willingness to come to our aid with all of our technical needs.
Energy Use Advisor Alantha Garrison continues to stay busy working from home, advising members how to cut down on high electric usage and be more energy efficient. With the help of Billing Assistant Chastity Miller and Meter Technician Jeff Stanley, members’ high-usage concerns are discussed and investigated to determine the culprit for the increased energy use. With Alantha’s help over the phone, members are guided through their homes to learn how their electric appliances are contributing to their bill, how to reduce the usage of certain
ALLIY SAHAGUN
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items and give members more control over their usage.
Member Support Specialist Marni Joslyn has also helped members with high-usage complaints and recalls specifically helping a member who was using over 120 kilo-watt-hours on average per day, which is quite high for a residential account. Marni verified the meter with her and took an
on-request read. She talked the member through some ideas and mentioned the water heater. The member turned off the breaker to the water heater on a Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday morning, she had only used 2 kWh. She and her husband went into the crawl space and found that the water heater had been leaking. The usage had skyrocketed since early December. She
was extremely grateful for Marni’s help to pinpoint this expensive problem.
As a cooperative, our mission is to serve our members and find ways to make their experience easier, more affordable and reli-able. We are here to serve you and thank you for trusting us to provide you with your electric service.
GCEA Welcomes Matt Feier to the Co-op Family
G CEA welcomes Matt Feier to the co-op family. Matt fills a new role at GCEA as the strategy execution specialist. He will help carry out and complete
GCEA’s strategic goals and initiatives. Matt worked for Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the last 18 years and his most recent position with the resort was serving as the senior manager of mountain planning. Matt’s education includes a Master of Environmental Policy and Resource Management with a focus in natural resource management as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in environmental conservation. Matt is excited to help provide an essential service to our community and to help develop the renewable energy products requested by our membership.
During his free time, Matt likes to spend his time in the great outdoors. He enjoys riding bicycles in all of their different formats (gravel, mountain, townies, etc.) and he especially loves “bikepacking.” Matt also hopes to spend more time at Blue Mesa
and on the lower Gunnison. In winter, he has become devoted to cross-country skiing and fat biking.
GCEA is excited to welcome Matt to the co-op family and we cannot wait to see how he helps GCEA grow.
YARD WORKE L E C T R I F I E D
Mow down your cost of new lawnequipment with the outdoor powerequipment rebate through GCEA!
Low Noise, Low Maintenance, Zero Emissions
Lawn MowerSnow BlowerLeaf Blower
ChainsawPruner
Trimmer
For more information, visit www.gcea.coop/Rebates
Matt Feier
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Congrats, 2020 Seniors
Ashleigh MacLennan, daughter of Aaron and Paula MacLennan, will attend the College of Idaho located in Caldwell this fall. She will study biomedical science with hopes of also exploring business. After graduating from college, she plans to go on to medical school. During her four years at Gunnison High School, she participated in volleyball, alpine skiing, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, speech and debate, and the Science Olympiad and was a Link Leader. Ashleigh is excited for her next adventure to begin.
AshleighMacLennan
Gunnison Class of 2020
Congratulations from your Gunnison County Electric
Association family.
Jessica Palmer
Crested ButteClass of 2020
Congratulations from your Gunnison County Electric
Association family.
GCEA wants to congratulate the graduating class of 2020. This year was definitely different, but the 2020 class will be remembered as extraordinary. You did not get to cele-
brate your special moments like has been done in years past, but your celebrations were still memorable.
The co-op family has two high school students we want to congratulate and send well wishes to as they begin this next chapter
of their journey. GCEA has provided student scholarships for decades thanks to
unclaimed patronage capital, the generosity of members, the Allen, Somrak and Drake families, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, individual directors and GCEA employees.
Jessica Palmer, daughter of Ken and Holly Palmer, will attend the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs in the fall of 2020 where she will pursue a nursing degree. She received the GCEA scholarship, the Rotary scholarship, and the UCCS Chancellor’s award. Jessica was a member of the Gunnison Valley Mentors Program as well as the National Honor Society. She will miss her home but is excited to start a new adventure and plans to spend a semester studying abroad in Europe.
GCEA 2020 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSCRESTED BUTTE COMMUNITY SCHOOLRuby LaemmelKeely OlsonChristopher MyersAvery BernholtzLivie NuteRena ElfenbeinSophia KibisiakOwen Berv Jessica PalmerJesse FulkersonDane De FratesSeveryn PetersenFinn Smith Emily HahnAnalise Chain
Madison PankeyOlivia Gordon
GUNNISON HIGH SCHOOLJoslyn HaysNatalie BrauchClay SabrowskiConor DawsonLily ReddenAshleigh MacLennan
Gage McPhailLuke BacaialliJenna WiseMolly JacksonEllie JacksonShelby Means
Wesley Whitesides Evan Parmeter
LAKE CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLClaire CunninghamAdrian RuizHailey Hooper-Gray
SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOLAbigail Fostveit
2020 GCEA RETURNING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSAlexander Dumas Alexandra HaysAmber FlynnAshton McGinnAvery PulleyElior Bilow MaklerCaleb LindahlCameron CurtissClara CranorCourtney SticklerElizabeth FelixElla LapelloHope FreemanIsabel YoungJessica LehmannJohn Smith
Josh MerkJulia Jacobson Kade McGinnKaravela ZeiterKatherine KetchamKatie Trautman Kayla Chambers Kylie SchodorfLacie WiseLily FessendenLily TalbotMadaline ReddenMadelynn FelixMegan LevineMeredith WarrenMiranda Hall
Paige ThompsonPeter SperlSara Melby Sarah SmithSean JonesSherwood MartineauSiena TruexSlater WeilSophia BorchersSydney PetersenTatum YoungWalker Carroll
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GCEA Hosts Virtual “Field Trips” for Area Schools
U sually around this time of year, GCEA’s member relations team is busy visiting area schools educating
students on topics such as electrical safety, energy efficiency and Arbor Day. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the team got creative and provided virtual “field trips” rather than visiting the students in person. Tri-State Generation and Transmission’s Education Programs Coordinator Michelle Pastor also arranged an at-home presenta-tion of the Story Behind the Switch from her
basement in Denver to the homes of fourth-grade students in Gunnison and Lake City.
Students were able to watch Michelle demonstrate a Van de Graaf generator and learn about static electricity, as well as watch Michelle complete an electric circuit using her energy stick display.
If you have a group that is interested in a virtual meeting to learn about electric safety, renewable energy or energy effi-ciency, please call our office at 970-641-3520 to schedule a virtual “field trip.”
GCEA Employee AnniversariesJUNE Dan Oberosler — Crested Butte Journeyman Lineman, 28 yearsTodd Fuller — Gunnison Working Foreman, 15 yearsDustin Cadwell — Gunnison Journeyman Lineman, 12 yearsAndy Holsteen — Crested Butte Journeyman Lineman, 8 yearsJustin Hulick — Gunnison Apprentice Lineman, 3 yearsTy Percival — Line Locator/ Inspector, 2 years
JULYRoger Grogg — Chief Operations Officer, 32 yearsJohn Stoeber — Line Superintendent, 26 yearsRoger Lambert — Warehouseman, 20 yearsJosie Casebolt — Operations Assistant, 15 yearsMarni Joslyn — Crested Butte Member Support Specialist, 15 yearsJeff Stanley — AMI & Meter Technician, 9 yearsMike McBride — Chief Executive Officer, 8 yearsRobert Summer — Gunnison Apprentice Lineman, 4 years
July 2020
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month
If you’re spending more time at home, try an online energy audit to assess its
overall efficiency. Visit energystar.gov, then enter “home energy
yardstick” in the search box to get started.
SAFETY TIP: KEEP YOUR MOTOR RUNNINGElectric motors can get damaged when wet and should not be used after a storm until they are inspected and approved by a professional. It may be necessary to have some of them repaired or replaced.
SAFETY TIP: EYE ON THE SKYWatch the forecast and make sure you are inside when a thunderstorm approaches. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the area in which it is raining. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning before returning outdoors.
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