HIGHLIGHTSWATTFebruary 2018 | News from Jackson County REMC

Volume 72 - Number 8

Extreme Cold Causes Higher Than Usual Electric UsagePage 2

Page 2 - February 2018

Watt Highlights - (USPS 669-580) is published monthly for $3.00 per year (electric rates include subscription) by Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation, a consumer owned utility, 274 E. Base Road, Brownstown, Indiana 47220. Periodicals postage paid at Brownstown, Indiana. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Watt Highlights, P.O. Box K, Brownstown, Indiana 47220.

WATTHIGHLIGHTSJackson County REMC

274 E. Base Road P.O. Box KBrownstown, IN 47220-0311

Local calls - 812-358-4458Toll free - 800-288-4458FAX only - 812-358-5719E-mail - info@jacksonremc.comWeb site - www.jacksonremc.comPay bills online - www.jacksonremc.comPay bills by phone - 1-888-999-8816

Office Hours7:30 AM to 4:30 PMMonday through Friday

To report outages or emergencies812-358-4458 (local) 1-800-288-4458 (toll free) day or night

Board of DirectorsPresident John Trinkle - district 3Vice-President Earl Pottschmidt - district 8Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Kelley - district 5John Hackman - district 1Walter Hunter - district 2Paul Elliott - district 4Mark Trisler - district 6Curtis Wischmeier - district 7John Miller - district 9

OUR COVERWinter Scene with thermom-eter. See page 2 for more details.

While there are some things Jackson

County REMC can control to help keep

the cost of electricity as economical as

possible. One of the things we cannot

control is the weather.

As many of you know, so far, we

have experienced a colder than normal

winter. The average low temperature

between December 17, 2017 and January

17, 2018 was only 13.6° F, compared to

the same period last winter where the

average low temperature was 23.9° F.

Even during the Polar Vortex of 2014,

the average low temperature for the

exact same period was 18.5° F. These

frigid temperatures have cause heating

systems to work overtime, and since

heating and cooling can make up nearly

half of your electric usage, you may ex-

perience sticker shock when you receive

your electric bill.

Throughout the year we provide ener-

gy efficiency tips in the Watt Highlights,

Facebook, Twitter, and on our website

at www.jacksonremc.com. There is still

plenty of winter left, so it is never too

late to list some additional energy ef-

ficiency tips for you to consider.

On the next page we have listed 10

quick tips to avoid high winter bills.

Using these tips can certainly help you

manage your energy use, but your elec-

tric bill may still be higher than normal

during the winter months. Why?

• Even those with the most efficient

HVAC systems will experience more use

in extreme weather, including additional

use of the emergency backup heat.

• When extreme cold temperatures hit,

heaters work overtime. For example,

even if you set your thermostat to the

recommended 68° F in the winter, when

it is 18° F outside, your system must

work harder to make up the 50° F differ-

ence.

• With your heater working harder

and cycling on and off more often, your

usage is higher, which unfortunately

means your electric bill will be higher.

If you would like to see what your

electric usage was for any given month,

day, or hour, log into our SmartHub

website or SmartHub App and click

on My Usage. We also have an energy

advisor on staff who can answer ques-

tions about improving the overall energy

efficiency of your home. These are both

great resources to help you evaluate and

reduce your electric usage.

Feel free to call us if you need more

information about SmartHub or learn-

ing more about how weather affects your

energy usage.

Source:

http://www.weather.gov/ind/localcli

Prepare for Higher Than Normal BillsMark McKinney, General Manager

February 2018 - Page 3

Page 4 - February 2018

I have been asked if it is a good

idea to set back a thermostat at

night or when everyone is gone

to help reduce heating costs. The

answer is; it depends on the type

of heating system in the home. If

a fossil fuel furnace (natural gas,

propane, or fuel oil) is being used,

setting back a thermostat is a great

way to save money. However, if you

have a heat pump or geothermal

heating system, setting back your

thermostat can actually cost you

money. Heat pumps and geother-

mal units typically produce air that

is between 90 and 95 degrees. Air

at this temperature takes longer to heat

the home. Due to the low air tempera-

ture produced, these systems require

auxiliary heat during periods when

more heating is required such as a

cold winter day or if the thermostat is

increased significantly. This auxiliary

heat is not as efficient as the heat pump

or geothermal unit. If a system is heat-

ing the home and it takes a long time

to achieve the desired temperature,

the auxiliary heat will come on to help

speed up the process. For heat pumps,

the auxiliary heat generally is needed

once the outdoor temperature drops to

below 30 degrees. Geothermal systems

will go to a much lower temperature

before requiring the help. When the

thermostat temperature is increased

more than 2 degrees, both geothermal

and heat pump systems will have the

auxiliary heat turn on to achieve the

desired temperature as fast as pos-

sible. The money you save by setting

back the thermostat at night or when

everyone is gone will be lost when you

turn up the thermostat and the system

is trying to “catch up.” These systems

are designed to set the thermostat at

a desired temperature, and then left

alone.

So what do I recommend? Based

on the findings of the U.S. Department

of Energy, you should set your ther-

mostats for 68 degrees in the heating

season. If you have a gas furnace, you

can save money by setting back the

thermostat 5 to 10 degrees when you

are asleep or at work. If you have a

heat pump or geothermal system, set

the thermostat at 68 degrees and don’t

change it. If 68 degrees is too cold for

you, find the lowest temperature that

can keep you comfortable and leave it

there.

As always please feel free to call our

office if you ever have any questions.

Thermostat Do’s and Don’tsby Brian Reynolds, Energy Advisor

February 2018 - Page 5

High-speed Internet is coming

$54.95 $69.95 $99.95 $149.9550/50 Mbps

e-mail, surfing, shopping,

managing your accounts

100/100 Mbps

on-line gamers/pro-fessionals who work

from home

500/500 Mbps

streaming multiple movies and TV shows, video con-ferencing and more

1 Gig/1 Gig

optimum speed across all your

connected devices simultaneously

Value 50 Essential 100 Advanced 500 1G Ultra 1000

Jackson Connect Updates:

• To date we have roughly 101 miles

of fiber installed. Phase 1 is a total

of 320 miles, which puts us ap-

proximately 1/3 of the way done

with Phase 1.

• We are planning to begin connect-

ing “friendly’s” for testing purposes

in February, and are planning to

begin a full-scale rollout of Phase

1 customer connections sometime

this spring. We’ll have a more ac-

curate time frame in a month or

so.

• If you haven’t signed up yet, you

can do so on our website jackson-

connect.net or by emailing us at

broadband@jacksonremc.com. To

date, we have about 3,800 mem-

bers who have expressed interest.

We will use member interest as

part of our rationale for deciding

where to build Phase 2 and subse-

quent phases of construction.

• Make sure to follow us on Face-

book: Jackson Connect, LLC to

stay up to date with the latest

information.

Page 6 - February 2018

February 2018 - Page 7

With the hustle and bustle of the

holidays just ending, we’ll do just

about anything to make things easier

on ourselves. The convenience of elec-

tric space heaters are great, but don’t

forget about all of the safety precau-

tions you may have overlooked.

When bringing your electric space

heater out for the winter, here are a

few quick reminders that could ensure

those in your home stay safe.

• Check that your space heater has a

label showing that it is recognized by a

testing laboratory, such as Underwrit-

ers Laboratories (UL).

• Inspect heaters for cracked or bro-

ken plugs or loose connections before

each use.

• Plug space heaters directly into

a wall outlet. Never use an exten-

sion cord or plug any other devices

into the same outlet to avoid overheat-

ing. That could start a fire.

While there is no risk for carbon

monoxide poisoning with an electric

space heater, it holds many other

safety hazards if not used properly.

One mistake homeowners make when

using space heaters is placing them

near combustibles. Keep them at least

3 feet away from anything that could

possibly burn, like curtains, beds or

a rug. In accordance with fire safety,

install smoke alarms on every floor of

your home and outside all sleeping ar-

eas. If you already have them, be sure

to test them once a month to be sure

they’re working properly.

Remember, an electric space heater

is a temporary option when looking

for supplemental heat. Many home-

owners may use this option to heat

specific rooms while they sleep, but

this is unsafe. Whenever you’re leaving

a room or going to sleep, it is impor-

tant to turn off your electric space

heater. If you’re leaving it unattended,

it could overheat or fall. As well, a

child could play too close to it and get

hurt.

Place space heaters out of high

traffic areas and doorways where they

may be tripping hazards. And when

not in use, always unplug and safely

store the heater.

Don’t let your guard down if you

heat your home with an electric space

heater. By following these tips, you

and your family have a better chance

of avoiding significant fire and electric

shock hazards.

Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation

International (ESFI)

Space Heaters Safety vs. Convenience

Page 8 - February 2018

Simply Delicious

by Nicole AultCommunications/Public

Relations Specialist

Recipes Strawberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Box Strawberry Cake Mix1/2 cup Vegetable Oil2 Eggs2 cups White Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Mix in white chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed. Place heaping spoonful’s onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Let set on pan for 2 minutes then remove to a wire rack for cooling.

Slow Cooker Potato Soup5 pounds russet potatoes 10 cloves of garlic minced1 medium/large yellow onion diced 64 ounces chicken stock or broth16 oz cream cheese softened 1 tablespoon seasoned salt

*optional garnishes: crumbled bacon shredded cheese, green onions

Peel Potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, salt, and chicken stock to slow cooker. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours. Add the softened cream cheese and puree soup with an immersion blender until the cheese is incorporated and blended well. Stir well, top with your choice of garnishes & enjoy! Yields about 10-12 servings.

Crispy Bacon Grilled Cheese Roll Ups8 slices of bread, crusts removed 8 slices precooked bacon8 slices of cheese or 1 cup+ grated cheddar 1/4 cup butter

Using a rolling pin, roll slices of bread flat. Place one slice of cheese (or 2-3 tablespoons grated cheddar). Roll up bread & cheese. Wrap one slice of bacon around each roll securing with a toothpick. Place in a pan over medium-low heat. Add a small spoonful of butter & using tongs, rub the rolls in the butter en-suring the bread edges are covered. Continue adding bits of butter and turning with tongs until all sides are browned and cheese is melted.

February 2018 - Page 9

Page 10 - February 2018

To have your non-profit group’s event listed in our “Community Calendar,” please contact us by letter, phone or e-mail (nault@jacksonremc.com) at least six weeks before your event date. Include a phone number we can call to verify your information.

Jackson County

February 21 - Annual Farmers’Breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m.at Pewter Hall, just east of State Road135 south of Brownstown. The event is hosted by the Community Foundation of Jackson County and Purdue Extension Service. Reservation deadline is February16. For more information or to makereservations contact the CommunityFoundation of Jackson County by e-mail info@cfjacksoncounty.org or by phone 812-523-4483.

February 16-18 & 23-24 - Jackson County Community Theatre’s 2018 Dinner Theatre production of “Almost, Maine.” begins February 16, with additional performances February 17, 23, and 24, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour. In addition to the dinner shows, a non-dinner show will be held on Sunday, February 18 at 2:30 p.m. This year marks the 38th year that JCCT and The Pines Restaurants have partnered to provide the popular event. Reservations are required for the dinner shows. They may be made online at the group’s website, www.jcct.org. In addition, tickets may be ordered by phone at 812-358-JCCT (5228) or by email: mail@jcct.org The Feb. 18 non-dinner 2:30 matinee, also at the Evergreen Room, does not require reservations. All tickets for the non-dinner show are general admission and are available at the door prior to the performance.

Scott County

February 1 - The Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District will be hosting their 73rd Annual Dinner Meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2018. The dinner-meeting venue will be in the Scott County Mid-America Science Park (MASP) located on 821 S. Lake Road beginning at 6:30 p.m. SWCD supervisor appointment and election will be conducted. Guest speaker is Mr. Joe Pearson, former Indiana Legislator, Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture and current Executive Director for MASP. Please call 812-752-2269, ext. 3 for ticket reservations. In case of inclement weather, a snow-date will be set at another time.

Washington County

March 3 - Pekin Community Health Fair at Pekin United Methodist Church. 244 S. Shorts Corner Rd. Pe-kin, IN 47165. S. 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Services are FREE. We will be provid-ing a free lunch to all participants

COMMUNITYCALENDAR

ART CONTEST

ELIGIBILITYIndiana public, private or home-schooled students in kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2017-18 school year are eligible to enter the contest.

ENTER YOUR BEST ARTWORKFill the pages of the 2019 calendar!

win $200

Questions? Contact Electric Consumer, 317.487.2220 or ec@electricconsumer.org.

You could

DETAILS AND DEADLINEA complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at ElectricConsumer.org/?p=5327. Artwork must be received by March 23, 2018.

February 2018 - Page 11

EAP Moratorium Set to End

Participants in the State of Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) should note that the final day to catch up their accounts is Thursday, March 15.

Disconnection of delinquent services is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 16.

Please contact the REMC’s Billing Department as soon as possible to arrange to bring your account up-to-date prior to the 16th.

Coming Soon!!

A new look to your electric bill.

Make sure to check out the March Watt Highlights for more

information.

When calling or w

riting please give the name and

customer num

ber above your name on this label

or your account number show

n on your bill.TELEPHONE - 812-358-4458TOLL FREE - 800-288-4458

During regular office hours you will be connected with our customer service representatives. After regular hours you will be connected with our answering service. Please call during regular office hours for all business other than out-ages or emergencies.

OFFICE HOURS7:30 AM to 4:30 PM - Monday through Friday

FAX only - 812-358-5719E-mail - info@jacksonremc.com

Web site - www.jacksonremc.comPay bill online - visit our website (above)

Pay bill by phone - 1-888-999-8816