December 2012

Superstorm SandyPacked a Big Punch!

Watts Happening

When a “normal” storm blows through New Hampshire, help isn’t far away. But when a “superstorm” like Sandy strikes, finding help to restore power outages is a lot harder.

More than 20 states felt the effects of the huge storm that hit New Hampshire the day before Halloween. With power knocked out to nearly 10 million people in those states, line crews and equipment were in high demand. In fact, electric utilities in the northeast alone had requested a total of 10,000 additional line crews after the storm had passed!

Fortunately, New Hampshire Electric Co-op can always count on its fellow electric cooperatives, which sent 40 crews to the rescue from as far away as Illinois. Those crews, along with NHEC and contract crews, faced a tough job. More than 25,000 members had lost power at the height of the storm, which broke 63 utility poles and sent trees down across wires in more than 300 locations statewide. Less than three days later, power was restored to all NHEC members and some of the Illinois crews were on their way to Connecticut to help with the massive restoration effort underway there.

This was a common sight around New Hampshire after Superstorm Sandy blew through.

Co-op Member Discount

$5 OFF TICKETSPresent this coupon for $5 off tickets to

A Christmas CarolPresented by the North Country Center for the Arts

at Jean’s Playhouse Lincoln, NH

Performance dates: November 30, December: 1,2,7-9,14-16

Friday/Sat: 7:30PM, Sunday: 2:00PM*Coupon valid for up to four tickets

*Not to be used in conjunction with any other offerBox Office: (603) 745-2141

Co-op Connections CardsArriving This MonthCheck your mail this month for your Co-op Connections card! Your new card will get you discounts at more than 95 national retailers like Barnes & Noble, Hertz rental cars, Best Western hotels and ProFlowers.com. One of the most valuable features of the Co-op Connections card is the pharmacy discount, which can save you 10 – 85% on the cost of your prescriptions at nearly all local pharmacies. There’s no fee or activation and your card can be shared with anyone in your family. For a complete list of available discounts, visit www.connections.coopBoard Candidates WantedThe Co-op is governed by a Board of Directors, which is elected by the members themselves.In 2013, four seats will be up for election to three-year terms. The Co-op seeks broad representation from a diverse group of individuals and encourages all qualified members to consider running for one of the open seats. You must be a Co-op member in order to run for a position on the Board. For more information about how to get your name on next year’s ballot, contact Sharon Yeaton at 603-536-8801, or yeatons@nhec.com. Voting takes place by mail ballot in May 2013 with Board members installed at the June annual meeting. For more information about the Board of Directors election process, visitwww.nhec.coop/about_electionprocess

NHEC wishes to thank the employees of the following cooperatives and municipal electric departments that provided help in the wake of the storm:

Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative (IL) Adams Electric Cooperative (IL) Corn Belt Energy Cooperative (IL) Jo-Carroll Energy Cooperative (IL) EnerStar Electric Cooperative (IL) Shelby Electric Cooperative (IL) Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (IL) Tri-County Electric Cooperative (IL) Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative (IL) Egyptian Electric Cooperative (IL) Southeastern Illinois Electric Cooperative (IL) Vermont Electric Cooperative (VT) Burlington Electric Department (VT) Washington Electric Cooperative (VT) Hardwick Electric Department (VT) Morrisville Water & Light (VT)

Ask the Energy ExpertEach month, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) offers you the chance to Ask the Energy Expert. Got a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy? Send your question to: energyexpert@nhec.com and get answers from the Co-op Energy Solutions team. Check your local newspaper or www.nhec.coop for each month’s topic…

This month’s Energy Expert is Patti Corbeil. Patti is theENERGY STAR® Lighting Program Administrator at NHEC.

Q: Are LED holiday lights worth the investment?

A: Yes, for a number of reasons.

First, and most importantly, they’re safer. The typical strand of incandescent holiday lights gives off most of its energy in the form of heat. LED lights produce very little heat, virtually eliminating the risk of fire.

Second, LED holiday lights are much more energy efficient, using up to 90% less energy than incandescents. A typical incandescent strand with 50 mini bulbs uses 25 watts, while an equivalent LED strand uses between 2-4 watts. If you have ten strands of 50 lights, and leave them on for six hours a day for the entire month of December, you would save about 30 kilowatt hours of electricity by switching to LEDs. At current rates, that’s about $5 per season – not a lot, but enough to pay for the more efficient lights in two to three years. Also, consider that LED holiday lights last 10 times as long as incandescents. You may never need to replace your holiday lights again!

One other big advantage of LED holiday lights is durability. Unlike traditional incandescents, LED lights do not contain fragile filaments that can be easily broken. And best of all – if one LED bulb on a strand of 50 burns out, it won’t burn out the whole string!

So yes, LED holiday lights cost a little more upfront but they more than make up for it with their safer operation, energy efficiency and long life. Happy Holidays!

Attention Teachers, Principals, and Students: The Lights for Learning Program is a great way to teach students about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation. Free presentations are available for students in grades K-12 at schools in New Hampshire Electric Co-op service territory.

In addition to education-based outreach programs, students have the ability to participate in a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) fundraiser. Through the fundraising

program, students sell ENERGY STAR® certified CFLs and LED night lights to family, friends, and neighbors at less than retail prices. Participating organizations retain more than 60% from the sale of each bulb. Lights for Learning is sponsored by NHEC.

Lights for Learning helps children and schools raise needed funds while encouraging participants and their communities to become more energy conscious. For more information, or to schedule a program for your school, please contact NHEC program administrator Patti Corbeil at (603) 536-8637, or corbeilp@nhec.com.

DAY 1

DAY 1 “Gift” wrap hot water lines with pipe insulation

DAY 5

A wise man (or woman) will

follow the ENERGY STAR®

when buying electronics

DAY 7

O’ Christmas tree, O’ Christ-

mas tree, how lovely are thy

LEDs

DAY 6 Halloween, get your energy vampires out of our Christmas theme! Unplug cell phone chargers and anything with a remote control when not in use

DAY 11

Add cellulose insulation to

your attic....well, it sort of

looks like snow

DAY 12While visions of clean air filters danced in their heads

DAY 2

Even Rudolph has switched

to CFLs

(but his are red)

DAY 3 Deck the halls water heater

with an insulating jacket

DAY 4

Sorry Santa, but we really

must close that damper when

the fireplace isn’t in use

DAY 8 It’s ok to be a Grinch when it comes to the thermostat:

68° is ideal

DAY 9

Make an energy savings list...

and check it twice!

DAY 10Seriously, who wouldn’t want a can of Great Stuff insulating

foam in their stocking?

12 Days of Energy SavingsIn honor of the holidays, here’s a

new take on an old favorite…