Contest Winners! - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Contents
1. N November December 2014 Thumb Electric Cooperative GN nese 4 Rate Changes Start In December 5 Upgrades To Online Service Coming Nov 4 12 THAW Contribute To Heat amp Warmth Fund WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT a J UST GOT THE UTILITY BILL Thanks to WaterFurnace homeowners around the world no longer dread receiving their monthly utility bills That s because a WaterFurnace geothermal system uses the clean renewable energy stored in your backyard to save up to 70 on heating cooling and hot water And with the volatile prices of electric natural gas and propane it s a smart decision now and for years to come So take control of your utility bills and contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today Bad Axe B amp DHtg 989 269 5280 Berrien Springs WaterFurnace Michiana 269 473 5667 Big Rapids Stratz Htg amp Clg 231 796 3717 Caro AllTemp Comfort Inc 866 844 HEAT 4328 Carsonville Certified Temperature Innovations 810 300 7748 Water YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS Clifford Orton Refrig amp Htg 989 761 7691 DeWitt S amp J Htg amp Clg 517 669 3705 Grand Rapids Total Comfort Resource LLC 616 406 3182 Hart Ludington Adams Htg amp Clg 231 873 2665 Indian River M amp M Plbg amp Htg 231 238 7201 Smarter from the Ground Up N lonia Home Experts 800 457 4554 Jackson Comfo2. i Si See a ee Ey me gee Why choose a metal roof s NEW Pocket Rib Panel e Snow slides off a metal roof Ji for Rural Buildings fri ici ji Exclusive to AMR Designed specifically Sa E o aa for non heated barns and outbuildings e Permanent Lifetime Guarantee Ji Available in a variety of colors this panel e Add beauty amp value to your home f is the only one to meet AMR s high stan 1 dards of functional durability Talk with A rainbow of colors amp styles j one of our metal roofing experts about e Year round statewide installation the benefits of Pocket Rib today Order in the month of November or December and get financing as low as Ask about our 297 per month with approved credit Do It Yourself SEMINARS Call today 944 638 2576 844 METAL ROOFS facebook com AMRmichigan E Financing Available AmericanMetalRoofs com Thumb Electric Cooperative www tecmi coop Heating and cooling costs got you down TEC s Energy Efficient What Type Electric Heating Program Raga are Considered may be your answer Electric Heat Geothermal Heat Pumps e Use constant temperature of the earth e Ultra efficient air conditioning e Heat domestic hot water There are many ADVANTAGES e Efficiency can exceed 400 Air S Heat P to Electric Heat including that it s ice ene air conditioning s
3. Michigan s Craig Borr CEO Michigan Electric Cooperative Association electric cooperatives lead by example Our members are proud to be leaders in both energy efficiency and renewable energy We have been leaders in both of these important areas long before they were required by the Michigan Legislature Like many of our member consumers that make their living in the agriculture industry electric co ops have always been good stewards of the environment because it is the right thing to do Together we need to remind regulators and lawmakers that the impact the EPA s proposed new rules could have on rural Michigan people and others throughout our country should be their first thought not their last With over 900 electric cooperatives in the country backing us up our voice can be heard We have a great and positive story to tell We can tell the story together And it wont even take 1 600 pages The EPA s public comment period is extended to Dec 1 please take a moment to visit Action coop today and let your voice be heard m YOUR CO OP STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NO U 17677 e Thumb Electric Cooperative requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to implement a power supply cost recovery PSCR plan and a PSCR factor of up to a negative 0 01105 per kilowatt hour
4. Space Heaters amp Cords READERS PAGE Wolverine Plans New Natural Gas Plant Mystery Photo Statement of Ownership Management amp Circulation Required by U S C 3685 1 Publication Title Michigan Country Lines 2 Publication No 591 710 3 Filing date 10 1 14 4 Issue frequency monthly except August and December 5 No of issues published annually 10 6 Annual subscription price 6 7 Complete mailing address of known office of publication Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 8 Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 9 Full names and complete mailing address of publisher editor and executive editor Craig Borr Gail Knudtson Casey Clark 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 10 Owner Michigan Electric Cooperative Assoc 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 11 Known bondholders mortgagees and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds mortgages or other securities None 12 Tax status Has not been changed 14 Issue date for circulation data below Sept 2014 15 Extent and nature of circulation Total No of copies Paid and requested circulation Total paid and requested circulation 1 Free distribution by mail 2 Free distribution outside mail Total free distribution Total distribution Copies not distributed gogr ITOIT P
5. additional 6 000 people annually go to the hospital for related burns These fires are caused by contact with or nearness to the heating elements flammable fuels used in the heaters defective wiring and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by improper venting or incomplete fuel combustion Here are tips for using a space heater safely e Keep it at least 3 feet from flammables such as curtains clothing furniture or bedspreads Select a model with an automatic shut off in case it tips Buy one that is certified by an independent testing lab such as Underwriters Laboratories UL Buy the right size to handle the area to be heated Follow the manufacturer s instructions Keep kids and pets at a safe distance Never leave it unattended or sleep with it on Never use or store flammable liquids near it Do not use in a bathroom a high moisture area can cause damage Keep it away from water to prevent electrocution e Check the cord for fraying and cracks and do not use an extension cord to run it e Be sure the plug fits snugly in the outlet The cord and plug may feel warm when operating but it shouldn t feel hot If it does unplug it and have a repair person check for problems e Do not try to repair a broken heater yourself go to a qualified appliance service center Visit http www cpsc gov CPSCPUB PUBS 463 html for more safety tips on space heaters that use wood or kerosene E Metered Pro
6. crisis season However limited assistance is available outside the crisis season If you receive a DHS cash grant you may vendor part of it towards heat and electric bills Con tact your local DHS or call the Home Heating Hotline 855 275 6424 You may be able to receive help with weatherizing your home to reduce energy use if you meet low income eligibility guidelines 200 of poverty guidelines shown above and funding is available Weatherization may include caulking weatherstripping and insulation Contact your local Community Action Agency for details Visit mcaaa org to find one in your area 2 1 1 is a free phone service operating 24 hours daily to provide information about help that may be available in a particular area with utilities and other needs Learn more at UWmich org 2 1 1 You are protected from service shut off for nonpayment of your natural gas and or electric bill for up to 21 days possibly extended to 63 days if you have a proven medical emergency You must provide written proof from a doctor public health or social services official that a medical emergency exists Contact your gas or electric utility for details If you or your spouse has been called into active military duty you may apply for shut off protec tion from your electric or natural gas service for up to 90 days You may request extensions You must still pay but contact your utility company and they will help you set up a payment plan The Trust Fund p
7. electric cooperatives throughout Michigan Wolverine is excited about moving forward with a new natural gas peaking plant said project spokesman Ken Bradstreet Our Alpine Power Plant will provide a nice balance to Wolverine s existing power supply portfolio while at the same time increasing electrical reliability in northern Michigan and complementing the ever increasing amount of renewable energy in Michigan Wolverine intends to present its development plans to both the Elmira Township and Otsego County planning commissions within the next month Wolverine will also apply for an air quality permit with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality After a nearly two year evaluation Wolverine chose the Elmira Township site and entered into property options for nearly 170 acres of land The location was Alpine Power Plant Northeast view from M 32 Hwy chosen in part due to the convergence of existing interstate natural gas pipelines and high voltage electric transmission lines on the property Wolverine expects the project investment associated with the Alpine Power Plant to exceed 100 million and provide significant tax revenues to several local units of government The Alpine Power Plant will provide a major boost to the local economy Bradstreet explains Through sound financial management Wolverine is able to build this project with existing funds Based on preliminary cost estimates it is anticipated the
8. is A TOD 5 44 Farm amp Home TOD Service Charge 20 50 25 00 On Peak kwh 0 104 0 108 too high So essentially Intermediate kwh 0 074 0 077 members that consume Off Peak kwh 0 050 0 053 a large amount of energy A S 8 28 Seasonal amp Low Usage Service Charge 16 50 17 50 are paying more than Farm amp Home Energy Charge kwh 0 115 0 126 SGS 5 42 Seasonal amp Low usage Service Charge 18 75 20 00 their fair share Our General Service Energy Charge kwh 0 116 0 121 nige recent cost of GS 1 01 General Service Service Charge 12 50 13 75 service study completed Energy Charge kwh 0 117 0 118 by an independent GS TOD 2 86 General Service TOD Service Charge 25 00 25 00 On Peak kwh 0 104 0 108 company showed that Intermediate kwh 0 074 0 077 our surcharge should be Off Peak kwh 0 050 0 053 closer to 40 monthly LGS 1 25 Large General Service Demand Charge KW 10 00 10 00 Energy Charge kwh 0 089 0 087 LEDS 0 42 Large Power Demand Charge KW 10 00 10 00 in hit with ee a 7 we i1 Distribution Substation Energy Charge kwh 0 070 0 069 40 service charge right PL 100W 5 36 Outdoor Protective Per Light Fixture 11 37 11 98 away The answer is No Lighting but as the chart shows PL 250W 5 33 Outdoor Protective Per Light Fixture 18 95 19 96 So are TEC members some monthly service ee Gz IHC 3 02 Interruptible Heating Energy Charge kwh 0 075 0 077 charges will increase as Coo
9. kWh to compute member customers bills for the 12 month period ending December 31 2015 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case e You may contact Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street Ubly Michigan 48475 0157 800 327 0166 for a free copy of its application Any person may review the application at the offices of Thumb Electric Cooperative e The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME December 2 2014 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Suzanne D Sonneborn LOCATION Constitution Hall 525 West Allegan Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handi capped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Secretary at 517 241 6160 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider Thumb Electric Coopera tive s Thumb September 29 2014 application to implement a power supply cost recovery PSCR plan and PSCR factor of up to a negative 0 01105 per kWh with a 0 06725 per kWh allowance for cost of power supply included in base rates to compute its member customers bills for the 12 month period ending Decemb
10. through March 31 if you e pay at least 7 of your estimated annual bill each month and e make equal monthly payments between the date you apply and the start of the next heating season of any past due bills When the protection period ends March 31 from April 1 through Oct 31 you must begin to pay the full monthly bill plus part of the amount you owe from the winter months when you did not pay the full bill Participation does not relieve customers from the responsibility of paying for electricity and natural gas usage but does prevent shut off during win ter months You qualify for the plan if you meet at least one of the following requirements e are age 65 or older e receive Department of Human Services cash assistance including SSI e receive Food Assistance e receive Medicaid or e household income is at or below the 150 of poverty level shown in the Income Guide lines chart at left Senior citizen customers 65 or older who participate in the Winter Protection Plan are not required to make specific payments to ensure that their service will not be shut off between Nov 1 and March 31 However seniors are encouraged to pay whatever they can during the winter so they will not have large unmanageable bills when the protection ends You can apply fora Home Heating Credit for the 2014 tax year if you meet the income guide lines listed at left or you qualify based on alternate guidelines including household income exemp
11. 8726 989 872 3305 Thumb Cooling amp Heating 5599 Pochert Rd Port Hope MI 48468 989 428 4948 And 837 South State Caro MI 48723 989 672 4948 Kundinger amp Kroll 31 E Main St Sebewaing MI 48759 989 883 2770 Lakeshore Improvements Plumbing amp Heating 7825 Big Gulley Rd Palms MI 48465 989 864 3833 Michigan Energy Services 8445 Main St Whitmore Lake MI 48189 888 339 7700 NRG Control 3690 Washburn Rd Vassar MI 48768 989 670 2543 Newton Johnson Plumbing amp Heating 114 Enterprise Dr Vassar MI 48768 989 823 2341 Orton Refrigeration 31 W Sanilac Rd Sandusky MI 48471 810 648 2252 Annual Operating Costs For an Average 1 800 Sq Ft Home z 145 000 BTU heating load 20 000 BTU cooling load 3 500 E 3 000 2 676 2 500 m 2 000 us 1 816 4 710 E i 1 500 728 1 453 a 1 396 E i 1 000 oa BE 500 A A Heat Pump w Electric Furnace Factors Used Electric Baseboard Air Source Heat Pump and Geothermal based on TEC s 6 863 kWh dual fuel rate LP gas based on 2 gal and 90 efficient furnace Fuel Oil based on 3 50 gal and 80 efficient furnace Natural Gas based on 1 08 therm 90 efficient furnace including 9 mo service charge Electric baseboard costs do not include air conditioning Natural A A with Gas LP Gas Electric Fuel Oil Baseboard Propane Geothermal MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES NOVE
12. MBER DECEMBER 2014 a he ge E e s Deer Blind E Contest Winners rom hideouts that resemble a cozy cottage complete with area rug to basic shelters we received more than 60 entries in our Country Lines tricked out deer blind contest Who knew there were so many cool deer blind styles Thanks to all who participated it was difficult to choose Our winners are featured here but visit countrylines com to tour the tricked out blinds of other electric co op members who entered Most Tricked Out Congratulations to a HomeWorks Tri County member for having the most tricked out blind Affectionately known as Fort Miller Lite it s a two story 10 by 14 foot insulated structure with a carpeted observation room solar panel propane heat and lights 13 inch flat screen color TV bunk beds and customized Miller Lite memorabilia Located in Isabella County it can host up to 12 people Photos David Trumpie Photography LL shbbddddhudidddddddddsidddddrdddrdrdddcrdddsidddddrddddddtdddddrdddisdddddiddrdrddddridddcrrdddddrddddrdrdddatdddsdddddcrdddsrrrddsdrddddtdddddstddsrdddddcidddrdddddcddddddriddddrrdddcidddrrtddsrrddddrirdddrddddddddddrrdddddddaidddsssddrdrddddrddddsidtddirtdcrrrtddcrddcirddddrrddrddddddrdddddddddddrdddrdrddddcrddddddddcrrddddrddddddriddddddddddddddddddddcdddddddtddddrddddrrdddddddddddrdddddddddddddddrdrdddssrddddrdddsdrddddsdddsrrddddddddddddddddriddrrddddttdddddddddddhdddsidddddddddssrdddcrrdddd
13. ck your electric use report and above iPhone and or iPad and the a service related matter and more The Android 2 1 and above smartphones or registration process for new users is simple tablets platforms and fast but you will want to have your For more details visit our website at electric bill handy so you can quickly enter tecmi coop or call 800 327 0166 m Here s what you can do with SmartHub Report an outage View or pay your bill e View payment and billing history Check your monthly kilowatt usage and view related graphs Activate a paperless billing option Set markers to track home improvement upgrades and their impact on your electric use Record a meter reading Access To Rules amp Rates This notice is published pursuant to the rules established by the Michigan Public Service Commission as set forth in the Consumer Standard and Billing Practices for Electric and Gas Residential Services R460 2146 and 2149 As a member customer of Thumb Electric Cooperative the following information is available to you upon request Complete rate schedules Clear and concise explanation of all rates that the member may be eligible to receive Assistance from the cooperative in determining the most appropriate rate for the member when the member is eligible to receive service under more than one rate Clear concise explanation of actual energy use for each billing MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES YOUR CO OP T
14. eat Lakes HomeWorks Tri County Midwest Energy Ontona gon Presque Isle and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of direc tors Subscriptions for nonmembers are 6 per year POSTMASTER SEND ALL UAA TO CFS Letters to the editor should be sent to Country Lines 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 Phone 517 913 3531 Email gknudtson meca coop Association officers are Ken Swope Midwest Energy chairman Robert Schallip Cloverland 1st vice chair man Jon Zickert Cherryland 2nd vice chairman Eric Baker Wolverine Power secretary treasurer and Tony Anderson Cherryland past chairman Craig Borr is president and CEO Unsolicited letters photos and manu scripts are welcome Country Lines however will not be responsible for their safe keeping or return The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised Change of Address Please notify your electric cooperative See page 4 for contact information Printed by a ta PRINTED WITH GREAT y SOY INK Z pen w E N THIS ISSUE HOME COOKING Holiday Happiness Christin McKamey amp Our Readers Can you afford a higher electric bill The EPA thinks you can OUR ENERGY Comment Don t Get Lost In the EPA Shuffle Craig Borr FEATURE Winners of the Country Lines Deer Blind Contest SAFETY Keep Your Family Safe Around
15. er 31 2015 All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dock ets help page Documents may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 241 6180 or by email at moscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by November 25 2014 Petitions to intervene may also be filed using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon Thumb s attorney Shaun M Johnson Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain priva
16. ercent paid and or requested circ 16 Publication of statement of ownership November 2014 17 Signature and title of editor Gail Knudtson Avg of copies each issue Actual of copies of single issues during preceding 12 mo published nearest to filing date MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2014 3 Board Of Directors HURON COUNTY Randall Dhyse Treasurer Kinde Beth McDonald Secretary Bad Axe Donald Wolschleger Vice President Harbor Beach SANILAC COUNTY Lynn Morell Director Ubly Kim Nunn Director Croswell Duane Kursinsky Director Sandusky TUSCOLA COUNTY Carl Cousins Director Millington Karl DeSimpelare Director Unionville Louis Wenzlaff President Kingston Dallas Braun General Manager New Rate Changes Start in December f you recall we were hit with a severe ice storm last winter which negatively impacted our profit which in the cooperative world is called margin As a result a rate increase of 3 02 percent totaling just over 626 000 will start in December You might be thinking Wait a minute isn t our cooperative a nonprofit organization It is in that any margin is allocated back to the members However bringing electricity to end users is a very capital intensive business Every year Thumb Electric Cooperative TEC makes large investments to replace upgrade and build new infrastructure to ensure a reliable source of po
17. ester Rd Deckerville MI 48427 810 376 4534 B amp D Heating Cooling amp Plumbing 1148 North Van Dyke Bad Axe MI 48413 800 515 1117 Burkhard Plumbing amp Heating 638 E Huron Ave Bad Axe MI 48413 989 269 7532 Certified Temperature Innovations 3107 Custer Rd Carsonville MI 48419 810 300 7748 ES Sheetmetal Gene Root 9450 Belsay Millington MI 48746 989 871 2067 Geo Renew Systems Inc 3045 Grange Hall Rd 7 Holly MI 48442 248 531 0325 Geomasters Inc Plumbing amp Heating 57 Ward St Croswell MI 48422 810 679 2251 Geothermal Systems of Lapeer LLC 6689 Orchard Lk Rd 188 West Bloomfield MI 48322 810 240 2116 Holland Heating and Cooling 9160 Lapeer Rd Davison MI 48423 810 653 4328 Ingell Refrigeration 1115 4th St Port Huron MI 48060 810 982 4226 J amp B Plumbing amp Heating 7641 Pigeon Rd Pigeon MI 48755 989 453 3931 Jack McCain Plumbing amp Heating 9651 Weale Rd Bay Port MI 48720 989 453 2277 Kowaleski Heating amp Cooling LLC 3977 Ruppel Rd Port Hope MI 48468 989 428 3371 Kulek Heating amp Air Conditioning 14421 Jeddo Rd Yale MI 48097 810 387 4452 YOUR CO OP Preferred Heating 7736 Arendt Melvin MI 48454 810 378 5454 Priority Service by Porter amp Heckman 3056 Davison Rd Lapeer MI 48446 810 644 8576 Shetler Plumbing amp Heating 7184 Nitz St Pigeon MI 48755 800 547 3651 Superior Inc 3442 Cemetary Rd Cass City MI 4
18. humb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street Ubly MI 48475 0157 1 800 327 0166 or 989 658 8571 E mail tec tecmi coop www tecmi coop PAYMENT STATIONS Huron County Bad Axe Northstar Bank Pigeon Northstar Bank Tuscola County Akron Northstar Bank Caro Northstar Bank Mayville Mayville State Bank Millington Mayville State Bank Visit Thumb Electric s website www tecmi coop Thumb Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer The Cooperative s office will be closed for the following holidays e Thanksgiving Nov 27 28 e Christmas Dec 24 25 e New Year s Dec 31 Jan 1 For electrical emergencies please call 1 800 327 0166 or 989 658 8571 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2014 5 HOME COOKING CHRISTIN McKAMEY These make ahead recipes are time savers and a perfect compliment to your holiday feast Holiday Spinach Dip 1 large round crusty bread slice off top and hollow 2 pkgs 10 oz spinach defrosted chopped squeezed 2 c sour cream 2 c Hellman s mayo 1 c chopped onion very fine 2 t dill weed 2 T oregano 1 t Lawry s seasoning salt Mix all ingredients Chill overnight Serve in bread Use scooped out bread and additional small bread slices to dip Looks pretty surrounded with cherry tomatoes Arlene Russel Harbor Springs Bailey s Milk Chocolate Truffles 34 c heavy cream 3 T butter 1 lb milk chocolate chopped in pieces not ch
19. it organization that provides last resort energy assistance f aWTUna org to low income families in Thumb Electric Cooperative s service area THAW has or more Be a P helped more than 75 000 Michigan senior citizens and families more than one information half with children keep their heat and electricity on during the winter months Please make a donation to THAW Your tax deductible contribution will help someone in your community keep their heat and electricity on this winter Please complete and mail the clip out form below along with your donation to Department 77650 THAW Fund P O Box 77000 Detroit MI 48277 0650 Or make a contribution using VISA or MasterCard by calling 800 866 THAW or 8429 Your gift is tax deductible want to help someone in my community keep their heat and electricity on this eh winter Enclosed is my check or money order payable to THAW understand my gift is tax deductible J 10 3 25 J 50 J Other MAIL TO Dept 77650 Name THAW Fund P O Box 77000 Address Detroit MI Beau City State Zip To make a contribution using VISA or MasterCard call 1 800 866 THAW or 8429 or visit thawfund org SAFETY Use Your Space Heater Safely any people use space heaters for winter warmth but they can be dangerous if used improperly The Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC estimates that 25 000 home fires every year are associated with space heaters and cause over 300 deaths An
20. l and serve Laura Kurella Sturgis SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE Thanks to all who send in recipes Please send in your favorite Sandwiches recipes by Nov 10 and your favorite Soups recipes by Dec 10 Mail handwritten or typed on one side please to Country Lines Recipes 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 or email recipes countrylines com Contributors whose recipes we print in 2014 will be entered in a drawing and Country Lines will pay the win ner s January 2015 electric bill up to 200 Visit countrylines com for more reader recipes Photos 831 Creative OUR ENERGY Don t Get Lost in the Shuffle ix hundred pages plus another 1 000 of supporting documents that s the length of the latest proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency EPA It would amend the Clean Air Act only 465 pages to limit carbon dioxide CO2 emissions from the power plants on which Michigan relies today Besides the actual rule a lot has been written about its legality feasibility and complexity In fact Michigan Rep John Dingell the longest serving member of the U S House of Representatives emphatically stated several years ago that the EPA s regulation of carbon dioxide would result in a glorious mess His position and I agree is that Congress should determine far reaching energy policy not a federal agency loaded with lifetime bureaucrats But lost in the shuffle of these thousands of page
21. ling we work to spread the DF 8 03 Dual Fuel Heating Energy Charge kwh 0 064 0 069 fixed costs more fairly amp Cooling among all members E ES 8 01 Energy Storage Energy Charge kwh 0 050 0 054 Website Online Payment Upgrades Offer You More Service o serve you even better Thumb T i a Electric Cooperative will launch a refreshed website on Nov 4 along smart with an upgrade to our online oe payment system from E Bill to SmartHub 4 The new SmartHub system is a powerful account management service tool that offers much more than a quick way to pay your bill it s a convenient two way communication platform that allows you to access your electric service account and track energy use information from either a computer or mobile device the account number To get the process started and enroll visit tecmi coop and click on the My Account Pay Bill Meter Reading button on the home page The SmartHub app is free to download and install and is available for both Apple IOS and Android mobile devices Search for it in the Apple Store or on Google Play SmartHub is not case sensitive but must be entered as one word If duplicates appear the correct app is the one provided by our service partner and product developer the Whether you prefer to pay your bill National Information Solutions Cooperative online or not you can still register and use NISC The app is supported using IOS 3 1 SmartHub to che
22. ocolate bits 34 c Bailey s Irish cream c confectioners sugar 14 c cocoa powder t cinnamon Combine cream and butter in saucepan and bring to a light boil remove from heat Add chocolate pieces stir to melt Stir in Bailey s Pour into bowl and refrigerate at least 6 hours Spoon out walnut size pieces of the mixture onto cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm Before serving sift together confectioners sugar cocoa and cinnamon or you can do them all separately for a different variety of colors Roll each truffle into a ball and roll in cocoa sugar mixture Makes 40 or more Refrigerate in airtight container Use candy papers to keep them from sticking together when serving at room temperature These do have alcohol in them so serve just at an adult party Kami Maurer House Sebewaing Low Effort Eggnog i P 4 egg yolks a i 15 c sugar plus 1 T 1 pint whole milk 1 c heavy cream 3 oz rum or bourbon or extract 1 t freshly grated nutmeg 4 egg whites In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color Gradually add the 4 c sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved Add the milk cream bourbon and nutmeg and stir to combine Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks With the mixer still running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form Whisk the egg whites into the mixture Chil
23. or all electricity and natural gas used At the end of the protection period participants in the plan must make arrangements with their utility company to pay off any money owed before the next heating season Program Home Heating Credit Contact Mich Dept of Treasury Max Max Exemp Income Exemp Income 1 12 842 4 26 243 30 728 35 186 2 17 329 5 3 21 786 6 Add 4 457 for each exemption over 6 Program Earned Income Credit Contact U S Treasury Dept Internal Revenue Service irs gov EITC Michigan Dept of Treasury michigan gov treasury Program Crisis Assistance Program Contact Local Michigan Department of Human Services DHS michigan gov mdhs Program Low Income Home Weatherization Contact Local Community Action Agency Program United Way Contact Call 2 1 1 or UWmich org 2 1 1 Program Medical Emergency Protection Contact Local Utility Company Program Shut off Protection for Military Active Duty Contact Local Utility Company Program Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program Contact Program MI Energy Assistance Program Contact Utility or 2 1 1 in late November The Winter Protection Plan protects eligible senior and low income customers from service shut offs and high utility bill payments during the winter months Nov 1 March 31 You may enroll between Nov 1 and March 31 If you are an eligible low income customer your utility service will remain on from Nov 1
24. pane Service Rules Providing prompt deliveries and great service is a pri ority for Thumb Energy Services Corporation TEsC To help us provide great service members using our metered propane plan are required to provide accurate monthly meter readings with payment by the due date each month If a member fails to provide regular and accurate monthly meter readings TEsC may at its sole dis cretion convert the member s payment option from the metered program to the will call program Please contact TEsC if you intend to be on vacation or away from home for an extended period of time so we can properly service your account Winter Tree Trimming Schedule Tree trimming will take place in the following areas by Kappen Tree Service and Proline Clearance Tuscola County Dayton Township Lobdell Hunt and Byington Road areas plus Lakeview Drive Woodland Trail Harmon Street Cat Lake Hills Road and Cat Lake Road north of Blackmore Road Watertown Township All single phase lines Sanilac County Continues in Lexington and Lower Sanilac MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2014 13 READERS PAGE Fr new natural gas fueled electric generating plant is being planned by Wolverine Power Cooperative of Cadillac Called the Alpine Power Plant its location will be in Elmira Township Otsego County west of Gaylord Wolverine a not for profit electric cooperative provides wholesale electric power to six
25. rddddssddddddddddsddddsidddddsiddssad die Most Interestingly Engineered Kudos to for building the most interestingly engineered blind Working in underground excavation for 30 years Ron envisioned a 36 foot underground storage tank for his shelter The HomeWorks Tri County member set the tank upright above ground and added a cupola at the top that swivels 360 degrees Getting to the top means climbing a 28 rung ladder but he is installing a 12 volt elevator Best Story Behind the Blind made his deerblind after finding that nearly every garage sale had a fake Christmas tree usually with a bent broken base or missing branches The Midwest Energy co op member decided to bend the wire tree branches around a circle of hog fencing with heavy plastic as a roof His idea has gained popularity and he says it makes hunting affordable and a green way to hunt by recycling old trees Now he makes them for friends and people are giving him their old trees E Photo Courtesy Dean Ronk 10 Home Heating Assistance Programs 2014 2015 Season Program Winter Protection Plan Contact Your Local Utility Company Income Guidelines 2014 2015 in Household 150 Poverty Guide Maximum Income S17 005 257 29 685 Ses 41 865 AL OSS 54 045 60 090 Add 6 090 for each additional member Note All customers 65 are eligible regardless of income Customers are responsible f
26. re will be no rate impact on the electric co ops that purchase power from Wolverine Visit alpinecleanenergy com for further details on the proposed plant Wolverine supplies wholesale power to Cherryland Electric Cooperative Grawn Great Lakes Energy Boyne City HomeWorks Tri County Electric Cooperative Portland Midwest Energy Cooperative Cassopolis Presque Isle Electric Gas Co op Onaway Spartan Renewable Energy Inc Cadillac and Wolverine Power Marketing Cooperative Cadillac lt lt lt Do You Know Where This Is Every co op member who identifies the correct location of the photo at left by Dec 10 will be entered in a drawing for a 50 credit for electricity from their electric co op We do not accept Mystery Photo guesses by phone Enter your guess at countrylines com or send by mail to Country Lines Mystery Photo 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos 48864 Include the name on your account address phone number and name of your co op Only those sending complete information will be entered in the drawing The winner will be announced in the January 2015 issue The September contest winner is Phyllis Burge of Manistique a Cloverland Electric Cooperative member who correctly identified the photo as the East Channel Lighthouse on Grand Island in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area September Photo Metal Rooting a S Permanent Financing Wy pP Pa RA eaglowia
27. rovides temporary assistance to veterans and their families facing a financial emergency or hardship including the need for energy assistance Michigan Veterans Trust Fund at 517 284 5299 or http Michigan gov dmva Agency assistance through MEAP which includes funds from the Low Income Energy Assistance Fund LIEAF became available in early October Visit Michigan gov mpsc for details about organizations that have received MEAP grants Shut off protection is provided Nov 1 April 15 for all residential customers regardless of income of any Michigan electric that has chosen not to collect 97 cents monthly from its customers for the LIEAF fund Dial 211 for more information on heating and other human services programs and help Contribute to The Heat And Warmth Fund Keep this child and thousands of others like him warm this winter Neighbors helping neighbors in need e A family had funeral expenses that caused them to fall behind in their utility bill payments THAW helped to keep the heat and electricity on during this difficult time e A senior citizen with an annual income of 7 000 has to pay a large unexpected medical bill and falls behind on utility payments e A 42 year old husband with two children is laid off He can t find another job his unemployment runs out and the utility bills don t get paid These are just some of the people helped by The Heat And Warmth Fund THAW ys aK d THAW is a nonprof
28. rt 1 Htg Lenawee Htg 517 764 1500 Kalkaska Kalkaska Plog amp Htg 231 258 3588 Lapeer Porter amp Heckman 800 445 4328 Mount Pleasant Walton s Htg amp Clg 989 772 4822 Muskegon Adams Htg amp Clg 231 873 2665 Muskegon Kiessel Geothermal Htg amp Clg 231 747 7509 Onaway Standard Htg 989 733 8309 Palms Lakeshore Improvements 989 864 3833 Portland ESI Htg amp Clg 517 647 6906 Traverse City Geofurnace Htg amp Clg 231 943 1000 visit us at waterfurnace com 2014 WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International Inc Traverse City D amp W Mechanical 231 941 1215 UPPER PENINSULA Manistique Hoholik Enterprises 906 341 5065 Marquette J Goods Plog amp Htg 906 235 5788 Marquette Swick Plbg amp Htg 906 228 3400 Sault Ste Marie Kinross Great Lakes Services Inc 906 632 5543 November December 2014 Vol 34 No 10 Executive Editor Casey Clark Editor Gail Knudtson Publisher Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Design and Layout Ciesa Design Michigan Country Lines USPS 591 710 is published monthly except August and December with peri odicals postage paid at Okemos MI and additional offices It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta Cherryland Cloverland Gr
29. s is the impact on people How much will electric bills increase Will manufacturers relocate How many jobs will be lost Which power plants will be forced to shut down In Michigan one third of Michigan s coal fleet will close as a result of EPA regulations Arguably some of those facilities need to close as they are old and dirty Energy policy questions are often difficult but they are important questions Michigan s electric cooperatives work hard to keep your electricity affordable and reliable Thats why we re asking the EPA for answers to these and many other questions We don t want you to get lost in the shuffle We put you our members first We advocate for you Our member cooperatives see you every month paying your bill at the office We work with you We know when times are tough We often live next door After all you govern us Our board members and community leaders are one and the same We re as local as any organization and we like it that way That s why we keep reminding the bureaucrats in Washington D C that the rules they write have an impact on the real world where we live Thats why we re encouraging everyone to take 30 seconds to sign up at Action coop and tell the EPA we cannot afford these regulations Please raise your voice Don t get lost in the shuffle Together we can tell the EPA that support for the environment and a true all of the above energy policy are not mutually exclusive
30. te Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure R 460 17315 and R 460 17335 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 241 6060 A copy of Thumb s request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Thumb Electric Cooperative For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Com mission at the above address or by telephone at 517 241 6180 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6j et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and procedure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et seq Renewable Geothermal Heat Geothermal is a simple technology that uses the earth s renewable energy to provide high efficiency heating and cooling In winter the system draws heat from the ground and transfers it to your home In summer it extracts heat from your home and transfers it to the ground Contact the energy experts at Thumb Electric Cooperative at 800 327 0166 for honest answers on your energy choices or call any of the trained and certified installers listed here All Temperature Geothermal Systems 1103 E Caro Rd Caro MI 48723 989 673 5557 Ameriheat Justin Faber 2891 E For
31. tions and heating costs Additional exemptions are available for seniors disabled claimants or claimants with 5 or more of their income from unemployment compensation If you qualify you may receive assistance to help pay for your winter heating bills Forms are available mid to late January wherever tax forms are provided or from the Michi gan Dept of Treasury 517 636 4486 or michigan gov treasury The Home Heating Credit claim form must be filed with the Michigan Dept of Treasury before Sept 30 2015 The Earned Income Credit EIC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low income working individuals and families who meet certain requirements and file a tax return Those who qualify will owe less in taxes and may get a refund Even a person who does not gener ally owe income tax may qualify for the EIC but must file a tax return to do so If married you must file jointly to qualify File Form 1040 or 1040A and attach the EIC You may claim a Michigan earned income tax credit for tax year 2014 equal to a percent age of the federal earned income tax credit for which you are eligible Visit the website or see the 2014 MI tax booklet for details State Emergency Relief Program SER mibenefitsaccess org You do not have to be a DHS client to apply for help with a past due bill shutoff notice or the need for deliverable fuel through the SER This program available Nov 1 May 31 provides most of its utility assistance during this
32. wer One source of money for these improvements comes from low interest loans We need to show our lenders that we are good to pay back our loans and thus we are required to make a certain margin every year In a good financial year like we were having before Dec 22 2013 7 to 8 cents of every 1 you pay is given back to you in the form of patronage Last year due to the ice storm it was around 2 cents This is why we need the rate increase which is the first since November 2010 This increase will be combined with the annual rate realignment that was approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission last year If you recall this was done to ensure that each rate class pays their fair share of the costs The overall impact on TEC member rates is shown below A utility needs a certain cash flow to operate This is achieved mainly from two sources on the electric bill the monthly service charge and the energy kWh sales The service charge is supposed to cover the fixed costs of running a business such as poles wires transformers vehicles etc Fixed costs exist regardless of how much electricity each member uses similar to other utilities such as telephone internet Dallas Braun General Manager Rate Rate Description Monthly Charge Existing New and cable Class POT Rate Rate If the monthly service 2 84 Farm amp Home Service Charge 10 00 12 00 charge is too low the Energy Charge kwh 0 120 0 121 energy kWh charge
33. ystem but provide heating too e Safe e Efficient e Efficiency can exceed 225 e Can be combined with electric Clean Economical propane or fuel oil furnaces e Reliable e Comfortable Electric Baseboard e Most economical system to install and maintain e 100 efficient e Individual room control be the choice for you See chart on page 9 for cost details Call for more information and to see how Electric Heating could ig Oo e
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