MECA-11151-September.. - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Contents
1. pricing e No subsidization by our long term loyal customers e Available to non Thumb Electric Co op members Call for details and pricing about our metered gas service 989 658 8571 or 1 800 327 0166 Not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission2. W Important Seasonal Member Information As required by the Michigan Public Service Commission Thumb Electric Co op recently has done or will do a meter reading for seasonal members who receive electric service under Rate Class 2 and have a 16 50 monthly service charge Billing for most seasonal member consumption during the past 12 months will occur on Oct 2 Each month nearly 200 seasonal members report their meter readings and the dates they are read They make monthly payments for electricity consumed in addition to the monthly service charge to avoid receiving the annual bill Seasonal members are encouraged to read their meters and include the reading date whenever possible to reduce the potential for electrical problems and billing concerns Seasonal members are also encouraged to sign up for our automatic bill payment plan Rather than writing a monthly check the money is withdrawn from your checking or savings account automatically on the day the bill is due Members also have the option to use TEC s online bill payment system called E Bill By visiting tecmi coop and selecting the Payments Meter Readings tab a member can register their account which allows them to make online payments by check or credit card record meter readings view billing and payment history current and past bills 13 month cost and usage graphs etc Paperless billing is also available YOUR CO OP Fuel Mix Report The
3. as the independent 3rd party evalua tion contractor for the certification of kWh savings In 2013 Thumb Electric collected 335 268 through the Energy Optimization Surcharge and spent 254 229 result ing in an over collection of 81 039 which will be applied towards the 2014 EO Program delivery expenses and goal achievement Thumb Electric achieved 1 784 MWh of energy savings in 2013 For every dollar spent on energy efficiency programs customers will save 3 in avoided energy costs The full report can be obtained at michigan energy org or http efile mpsc state mi us efile MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES SEPTEMBER 2014 NEO JOHN SCHNEIDER USNA B T i ri T 7 TE q T T e i o g s an 2 eee r Fly on the Wings of Hard Work fy J Harrell decided early in life that he didn t want F tosit behind a desk Strapped into the cockpit of a C 130 aircraft he now works at executing maneuvers at 400 mph and fighting G forces that double his bodyweight which pretty much takes care of that aversion to desks But Blue Angels pilot Capt Harrell sees a mission beyond the roaring engines The folks at our shows see that lm just a guy in the cockpit I m from a small town Frederick Md I went to college in the middle of nowhere Anderson Ind I m proof that a job like this is not outside the grasp of the average person The Blue Angels the U S Navy
4. dependence on foreign oil and less pollution We made this conversion for mostly economic reasons Even though the MPG of the vehicle is reduced the price difference between the two fuels allows for a payback of the investment in less than two years In short we are very pleased with the results as our fuel expenses are reduced on the electric side of the business and the profit is increased for our subsidiary propane business If you are interested call Europe Gas at 888 353 4264 for all the details crunch the numbers and see if using propane for your vehicle makes sense Another vehicle project is progressing and includes buying a new bucket truck to replace an older one in our fleet There is no bucket truck store so the planning design and specifications purchase and delivery of a truck is a long process We anticipate delivery later this year Finally an update on some line construction projects We are constructing a new emergency back up feed into our Owendale substation that will increase reliability for members served in that area We are rebuilding five miles of distribution line along Maple Grove and Downington roads in Bridgehampton and Forester townships We are also rebuilding six miles of distribution line along French Line Loree Walker and Ridge roads of Washington and Lower Sanilac townships We appreciate the cooperation of all members and property owners living near these projects Your cooperation allows us to
5. most common products you can use to reduce energy costs and with a little research choosing and using them correctly is easy too says Brian Sloboda a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network Programmable amp Smart Thermostats There are plenty of programmable thermostat brands and types to choose from but you won t find one that carries the EPA s Energy Star seal as it was dropped from these products in 2009 Why Programmable thermostats can save up to 180 a year on heating and cooling notes ENERGYSTAR gov but many customers miss out on savings by failing to install them correctly Most people failed to use the programmable capabilities They didn t know how or didn t want to Sloboda says This led to poor EPA consumer surveys so ratings dropped and therefore the Energy Star seal for most of them Enter smart thermostats which are intended as an easier alternative and come with motion sensors that detect and set a home s temperature Nest is one brand Sensors will start to turn the thermostat up or down depending on the season Sloboda says In a few days the unit will learn your schedule automatically dialing the thermostat back when you re not home The addition of phone and iPad apps are other smart features that make temperature control easy But he adds A thermostat will only save you money if you allow it to program Inte
6. or light corn syrup 8 T raw sugar 15 c peanut butter creamy or crunchy Place oats and all seeds on an ungreased 9 x13 cookie sheet Toast in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes In medium saucepan combine honey sugar butter and peanut butter Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly for 5 minutes In large bowl combine fruit toasted ingredients and wet ingredients ensuring all dry ingredients are well covered by the wet Press mixture into a greased 9 x13 cookie sheet cover tightly and store at room temperature When ready to serve cut into bars or squares Leftovers may be refrigerated but always serve at room temperature Debbie Williams Rapid City SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE Thanks to all who send in recipes Please send in your favorite Holiday recipes by Sept 15 and your favorite Ethnic recipes by Oct 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 winner s January 2015 electric bill up to 200 Find more of our readers recipes at countrylines com Photos 831 Creative B DENISE HAWKINS fled aay ia ten 4 Smart Products Make Saving Energy Easier nergy savings can be easy with some savvy shopping for power strips thermostats and residential lighting These are the
7. Cloverland Electric Cooperative Midwest Energy Cooperative and Thumb Electric Cooperative the Cooperatives request Michigan Public Service Commission approval to reconcile their individual Energy Optimization EO plan expenditures and revenues collected for 2013 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case You may call or write the Cooperatives attorney Mr Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may review the application at Dykema s offices or at the respective offices of the Cooperatives Cloverland Electric 2916 W M 28 P O Box 97 Dafter MI 49724 Midwest Energy Cooperative 901 E State St RO Box 127 Cassopolis MI 49031 and Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main St P O Box 157 Ubly MI 48475 0157 The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME October 1 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 Mark E Cummins 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 adv
8. Indian River M amp M Plbg amp Htg 231 238 7201 lonia Home Experts 800 457 4554 Jackson Comfort 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 CaN visit us at waterfurnace com 2014 WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International Inc Traverse City DAVAM CY atoll cers 231 941 1215 UPPER PENINSULA Manistique Hoholik Enterprises 906 341 5065 Marquette J Goods Plbg amp Htg 906 235 5788 Marquette Swick Plbg amp Htg 906 228 3400 Sault Ste Marie Kinross Great Lakes Services Inc 906 632 5543 EA lube E September 2014 Vol 34 No 8 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 Associa
9. Thumb Electric Cooperative September October 2014 CHIGAN NIJ RY 4 ES a i W ian Le Fly on the Wings of Hard Work A Green Projects and Other Happenings at Your Electric Co op 5 Three Centennial Farms Honored 8 Tree Trimming Means Reliable Electric Service WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THERE S A IN YOUR BACKYARD REA hes r and it isn t just corn You may not realize it but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70 on heating cooling and hot water That s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family s comfort Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure Bad Axe B amp D Htg 989 269 5280 Berrien Springs WaterFurnace Meala 269 473 5667 Big Rapids Stratz Htg amp Clg 231 796 3717 f go AllTemp Comfort Inc 866 844 HEAT 4328 Carsonville Certified Temperature Innovations 810 300 7748 Mater Furnace Smarter from the Ground Up 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
10. a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member from Grand Rapids who correctly identified the photo as Au Train Falls Photo Bill Savage Move up from Steel as Aluminum x a he k z pam ee a eT eee DNR i i 7 fo i a E ee Too and C mm pm ia 4 ee SS aa A iy i a i K T TA T E N G i LTE a E t a U WARRANTY OT Our Zero Out Of Pocket Warranty means that your American Metal Roof will not e Leak due to hail perforation e Burn or support combustion e Split or crack due to cold weather e Lose impact resistance over time i O U C e Chip peel flake blister OR blow off due to wind i up to 120 miles per hour Order in the month of September and Ask about our receive FREE upgrade from Steel to It Aluminum plus 30 off garage or Do lt Yourself FLINT outbuilding when added to the order SEMINARS 6140 Taylor Dr CHARLOTTE e 1875 Lansing Rd 844 638 2976 844 METAL ROOFS facebook com AMRmichigan Financing Available gt Thumb Electric TECH Cooperative www tecmi coop What did you pay With TEsC s capped rates customers who chose our metered program paid no more than 1 949 per gallon through the heart of last winter s deep freeze aoe fe i va q Fi L Our goal is to secure the best pricing for those customers who are loyal to us Thank you for your continued support e No gimmicks e No low 1st fill and New Customer
11. ance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Cooperatives July 1 2014 joint application for Commission authority to reconcile the expenditures and revenues for their individual EO plans for 2013 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 Dockets 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 mpscedockets 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 September 24 2014 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon the Cooperatives attorney Shaun M Johnson at 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 admi
12. at 10 years in the Marines has taught him to accept travel as part of the job The automatic spending cuts triggered by the federal budget sequestration in April 2013 grounded the Blue Angels Harrell s reaction Our season got canceled but we were more concerned about our friends and coworkers in Afghanistan It s one thing to not have air shows it s a completely different thing to not have people who due to budget cuts are not as prepared as they should be going into combat The squadron was flying again in 2014 after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ruled that outreach is crucial to the military s mission Still on Harrell s bucket list Landing a jet on an aircraft carrier I m holding out hope he says W Captain Harrell takes a selfie at Mach 3 Opposite page Capt A J Harrell 33 earned his wings in 2006 has flown in Afghanistan and on humanitarian missions and applied to the Blue Angels in 2011 A Blue Angels pilot generally spends up to three years in the squadron before returning to regular duty Below Capt A J Harrell s C 130 is nicknamed Fat Albert Photos U S Navy Blue Angels Public Affairs Staff _ L _ lt lt lt lt si i 12 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 17639 e Thumb Electric Cooperative requests Mi
13. chigan Public Service Commission approval to reconcile its renewable energy plan costs associated with the plan approved in Case No U 17310 for the period ended December 31 2013 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case e You may contact Thumb Electric Cooperative s attorney Mr Shaun M Johnson Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may also contact Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street PO Box 157 Ubly Michigan 48475 0157 800 327 0166 for a free copy of its application The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME October 9 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 Mark E Cummins 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 July 31 2014 application for Commission approval to re
14. chigander I chose Michiganian because words written and spoken infrequently tend to garner a bit more attention than the usual Little did I know just how much debate my choice of words would cause I chose Michiganian because words written and spoken infrequently tend to garner a bit more attention than the usual Needless to say Michiganian fans were overjoyed as a serious blow was struck against the villainous Michiganders To any newcomers let me explain the apparent identity crisis A battle of sorts has raged for years about the proper way of referencing folks from here I remember Michiganians debating Michiganders when I was a kid growing up in Detroit So what are we Michiganians or Michiganders While surveys show Michigander to be the people s choice research uncovered some interesting facts Abraham Lincoln coined the phrase in 1848 while making electric co op Every co op member who identifies the correct location of the photo at left by Oct 10 will be entered in a drawing for a 50 credit for electricity from their July Aug Photo gt a speech as a member of Congress Abe took a shot at Michigan Gov Lewis Cass who was running for president against Lincoln s Whig Party candidate In his speech Lincoln called the governor a Michigander in an effort to make the state s top man appear foolish like a goose The term seems to have stuck and the original use seems lost on us M
15. concile its renewable energy plan REP costs for the period ended December 31 2013 Thumb Electric represents that its REP filings included no request for a renewable energy surcharge no surcharge was approved and none was charged to its member customers in 2013 Thumb Electric further represents that there are neither revenues nor expenditures to reconcile 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 Dockets 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 mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the cases shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by October 2 2014 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon Thumb Electric 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
16. e www tecmi coop Green Projects and Other Happenings at Your Cooperative deas drywall dust and dirt have been flying for just over a year as we finish renovations to the Thumb Electric Cooperative TEC office in Ubly Originally built in 1962 the remodeling project both inside and out brings a new look that is energy efficient and ready for business in the 21st century If you are in town try the new drive through window for paying your bill Another unique project in progress is a 665 kilowatt solar array that is being constructed at your co op s Caro location on east Dayton Road Earlier this year we signed a 20 year lease agreement with DTE Energy that allows them to own build and maintain this solar unit on our property This partnership is a win win for both utilities and the community The array will also include a separate portion designed specifically for educational tours and an interactive kiosk to monitor the energy output and other data which will be donated and placed at the Tuscola Intermediate School District To save more energy four of our pickup trucks have been converted to run on propane autogas but can also still use regular fuel We used the professional services of Europe Gas of Marlette formally AJ Automotive of Sandusky to assist us in installing the conversion kits There are many benefits associated with burning autogas but a few major ones include lower maintenance costs less
17. ed at home or on the go Toffee Butter Crunch 12 oz box Crispix or Corn Chex 1 c butter c dark Karo or other dark corn syrup 2 c pecan halves 1 c brown sugar t vanilla extract Preheat oven to 250 Coat 9 x13 pan or a large cookie pan with cooking spray In a small saucepan combine butter brown sugar and corn syrup Cook until boiling Add vanilla Empty cereal into pan and coat with syrup mixture Sprinkle with pecans and toss until evenly coated Bake for 1 hour tossing every 15 minutes Toss until cool You can store these in jars Kathryn Southerland Hillman Baked Crab Rangoon 12 oz flaked crab meat 8 oz cream cheese c thinly sliced green onions c mayonnaise 24 won ton wrappers Preheat oven to 350 Mix crab meat cream cheese onions and mayonnaise Spray 24 medium muffin cups with cooking spray Gently place one won ton wrapper in each cup allowing edges of wrapper to extend above sides of cups Fill evenly with crab meat mixture Bake on lowest rack of oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown and filling is heated through Serve warm Garnish with chopped green onions if desired 24 servings Janice Harvey Charlevoix Birdseed Bars 2 c rolled oats 1 c sunflower seeds 1 c pumpkin seeds 1 c sesame seeds 1 c dried fruit I use a combination of dried cherries dried cranberries and golden raisins 4 25 oz unsalted butter 6 T honey
18. fuel mix characteristics of Thumb Electric Cooperative as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 12 month period ended 6 30 14 COMPARISON OF FUEL SOURCES USED Regional average fuel mix used Your co op s fuel mix FUEL SOURCE Oe 74 1 59 4 ei 0 2 0 6 3 6 9 8 DeGe 0 2 0 6 AMECEA 17 2 25 4 Renewable Fuels 4 8 4 2 Biofuel 0 1 0 5 Biomass 1 1 0 5 Solar 0 0 0 0 Solid Waste Incineration 0 3 0 0 Wind 3 2 2 7 Wood 0 1 0 5 NOTE Biomass above excludes wood solid waste incineration includes landfill gas Your Co op s Fuel Mix Regional Average Fuel Mix r EMISSIONS AND WASTE COMPARISON TYPE OF Jee Nn Your Regional EMISSION WASTE Coop Average Sulfur Dioxide 6 9 7 6 Carbon Dioxide 2 105 2 170 Oxides of Nitrogen 2 2 2 0 High level 0 0056 0 0083 Nuclear Waste Regional average information was obtained from MPSC website and is for the twelve month period ending 12 31 13 Purchased electricity accounted for virtually 100 of the electricit sold by Thumb Electric during the period Because the actual ee characteristics of all purchased electricity could not be discerned the fuel mix data presented by Thumb Electric is the same data offered by DTE Energy which supplies nearly all of Thumb s purchased power MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES SEPTEMBER 2014 HOME COOKING CHRISTIN McKAMEY SURVIVING A SNACK ATTACK These recipes will satisfy just about every craving and can be enjoy
19. hat allows you to create different modes party romantic reading or TV watching with the flip of a switch With the new lightbulb standards the Department of Energy estimates consumers will save between 6 billion and 10 billion a year Power Strips Traditional power strips expand your number of outlets but waste electricity by drawing power when they re not in use Smart power strips are a better choice because they are bigger color coded and reduce energy use by shutting down power to products that go into standby mode Most feature three outlet colors each with a unique task Blue controls heavily used devices like a TV Anything plugged into a red outlets stays on electricity to these is never cut off making them perfect for satellite boxes or units needing constant power The remaining outlets usually neutral or green are sensitive to current flowing through the blue one so turning off the TV or computer also cuts power to them Some smart power strips about 20 even have occupancy sensors and timers that can determine when to cut power to various devices and you can start to see a payback in about one year E MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES SEPTEMBER 2014 7 YOUR CO OP STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE AND THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NUMBERS U 17611 U 17612 AND U 17613
20. ichiganders Before Honest Abe was born Michiganian was used as far back as 1805 The Michigan Historical Society has favored it since 1870 when the term first appeared in its publications Turns out most women prefer Michiganian too saying Michigander is a sexist and discriminatory term that essentially leaves women out of the picture by referencing the male goose gander only I could further muddy the waters by adding to the debate another popular moniker Michiganite but I ll save that for a future column Whether youre a Yooper or a Troll hail from the Motor City or somewhere on the Sunrise side or Gold Coast it s safe to say we like our nicknames in the Wolverine State regardless of the name s bearing Michigan hasn t seen a wolverine in a long time Until next time be kind and enjoy the Great Lakes State no matter what you call yourself Share a story idea with Jack by email to jack countrylines com or write J O Malley 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 m Jack O Malley 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 your name address phone number and the name of your co op Only those sending complete information will be entered in the drawing The winner will be announced in the Nov Dec issue The July Aug contest winner is Chris Rogers
21. make the necessary capital improvements on our electric system that enable us to continue providing a reliable source of power to our members E A completed section of the solar array in Caro Thumb Electric Members Celebrate Milestones ver the past year we have had the privilege of presenting three Thumb Electric Cooperative members with recognition from the Historical Society of Michigan through their Centennial Farm Program Since 1948 the program has recognized over 6 000 farms for ownership in the same family for over 100 years Farms can currently qualify in one of two categories the noted Centennial Farm and a Sesquicentennial Farm which is over 150 years in the family Thumb Electric members that were recognized in the past year included e Dennis Krantz Schock Road Harbor Beach 100 years Established Oct 9 1911 by Peter and Bernard Krantz e Le Nola Jean Willis Loree Road Carsonville 100 years Established Oct 21 1913 by Richard Farley e Elizabeth J Lambert Shay Lake Road Kingston 100 years Established Jan 30 1886 by Phillip and Anna Traubenkraut All of us here at Thumb Electric congratulate these family farms for their longevity and wish them many more years in the farm industry If you are interested in applying for farm certification please contact us Applications are available at our Ubly office or from the Michigan Centennial Farm Program at 517 324 1828 or visit centennialfarms org
22. n Schneider SAFETY How To Use A Portable Generator Safely ON THE COVER A J Harrell says it takes endless practice and hard work to become part of the Blue Angels team He is the son of Alger Delta Electric Co op CEO Tom Harrell and performs flight demonstrations at the squadron s air shows Photos U S Navy Blue Angels Public Affairs Staff Some co op editions have a different cover READERS PAGE Jack s Journal Michiganian vs Michigander Mystery Photo z wi LS aT Michigan s Electric Cooperatives countrylines com MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES SEPTEMBER 2014 Thumb 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 BOARD OF DIRECTORS HURON COUNTY Randall Dhyse Kinde Beth McDonald Bad Axe Donald Wolschleger Harbor Beach SANILAC COUNTY Lynn Morell Ubly Kim Nunn Croswell Duane Kursinsky Sandusky TUSCOLA COUNTY Carl Cousins Millington Karl DeSimpelare Unionville Louis Wenzlaff Kingston Treasurer Secretary Vice President Director Director Director Director Director President Dallas Braun PAYMENT STATIONS Huron County General Manager 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 websit
23. nistrative 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 private 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 the Cooperatives request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan or at the respective Cooperatives offices For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission 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 6 et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Proce dure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et seq August 1 2014 YOUR CO OP Your electric co op right of way clearing program will proceed as weather permits Kappen Tree Service crews will be t
24. oss 1 Never plug a portable generator into a wall 3 Use a heavy duty extension cord to outlet or your home s electrical system connect electric appliances to the outlet There are only two safe ways to connect on the generator a standby generator to your equipment 4 Start the generator BEFORE Stationary Generator An approved connecting appliances generator transfer switch which keeps your house circuits separate from the 5 electric co op should be installed by a professional To avoid a fire turn off and let the generator cool before refueling Source SafeElectricity org Developed jointly by the Energy Education Council amp Rural Electricity Resource Council Portable Generator Plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator 2 Set up and run your generator in a dry well ventilated area outside your home and away from the garage doors windows and vents The carbon monoxide generated is DEADLY install a CO detector in your home and check the batteries regularly E d SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES SEPTEMBER 2014 13 14 ND M NC JACK S JOURNAL Are You a Michiganian or a Michigander ased on the positive feedback on its debut Jack s Journal looks to be a winner in the eyes of many Country Lines readers So far so good The first column May 2014 hit a nerve however as readers sounded off on my use of the term Michiganian over Mi
25. rimming trees soon in the following areas Freemont amp Dayton Townships Lobdell Hunt and Byington Road areas Lexington amp Lower Sanilac Townships Trimming work continues in Lexington and Lower Sanilac townships in Sanilac County and in Watertown Township in Tuscola County Tree trimming is necessary because overgrown trees and other vegetation are causing a larger than normal number of outages to homes and businesses in these Thumb Electric Cooperative service areas Please call us at 989 658 8571 if you have any questions or concerns Public Act 295 The Clean Renewable and Efficient Energy Act 2013 Annual Energy Optimization Report Thumb Electric Cooperative MPSC Case Number U 17373 Thumb contracted with the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association MECA to administer the Energy Optimization efforts in order to comply with PA 295 MECA filed a 4 year Energy Optimization plan with the MPSC on August 1 2011 as required by PA 295 This EO plan was approved by the MPSC on November 10 2011 and we began implementing the plan January 1 2012 The Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation WECC was selected to implement all Resi dential Commercial and Industrial Programs and the Energy Optimization website michigan energy org WECC has subcontracted with JACO Michigan Energy Options Franklin Energy Morgan Marketing Partners and Honeywell to assist with the implementation of the EO Programs MECA contracted with KEMA
26. rior Lighting As of January 2014 a federal phase out replaced incandescent lightbulbs with more energy efficient options Currently there are only three bulb choices halogen The LEDs are the equivalent of the most widely used 60 watt incandescent and are more long lasting and energy efficient but Sloboda warns that the brand you buy matters There is a whole lot of junk out there You can buy name brand LEDs for about 10 and more expensive SmartThermostat iPhone incandescents CFLs and LEDs i ih i A k Nest thermostat Photos Nest ones from not so reputable companies He recommends sticking with long time brands such as GE and Sylvania but says don t overlook the lesser known Cree products A 60 watt 800 lumens Cree costs about 10 at a big box store and is guaranteed to last 10 years or more Transitioning to LEDs is easy if you read the lighting facts on the box which will help narrow your choice by temperature and color which has nothing to do with wattage and means you can choose bulbs with a daylight or soft white glow Smart devices are even now in the lightbulb aisle Manufacturers like LG and Philips produce LEDs that can be controlled by your cell phone and change colors to suit your mood Today s lighting is really starting to become part of a home s entertainment system Sloboda says Many smart lighting units come with software t
27. s flight demonstration squadron performed at the 88th National Cherry Festival Air Show in Traverse City July 5 6 Capt Harrell the son of Tom Harrell CEO of Alger Delta Electric Cooperative in the U P town of Gladstone flew his Marine Corps C 130 known affectionately as Fat Albert Just before heading to Traverse City Capt Harrell came down from the clouds to talk to Country Lines about the Blue Angels Like Harrell s achievements the breathtaking precision of their flight acrobatics is the result he emphasizes of hard work To air show spectators it s 48 minutes of magic but in reality he notes We practice endlessly talent is not enough Pi TAD a While the primary mission of Harrell s C 130 is to give the squadron logistical support the plane is also part of the show Fat Albert starts the action with an 82 minute flight demonstration that showcases its tactical capabilities Flying in tight formations the squadron s six Boeing F A 18 Hornets reach speeds of 700 mph Fat Albert chugs along at 400 mph Between shows the Blue Angels named after a 1950s New York night club frequented by pilots don t stand still either From mid March to mid November they typically travel to 35 U S towns doing 70 shows for 11 million spectators Based in Florida Harrell regrets being away from his wife and children so much I m on the road 300 days a year he says but adds th
28. the hearing and advise the presid ing administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Com mission in this matter becomes public information thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private 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 Electric Cooperative requests may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC or at the office of Thumb Electric Cooperative For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 241 6080 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 6 et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Proce dure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et seq August 7 2014 How To Use A Generator Safely Keep this page in your home s emergency kit or with your generator Photo Daniel Cima American Red Cr
29. tion 2859 W Jolly Rd Okemos MI 48864 Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta Cherryland Cloverland Great 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 ry i PRINTED WITH SAKE LS SOY INK Z S pen N THIS ISSUE HOME COOKING Surviving A Snack Attack Christin McKamey amp Our Readers OUR ENERGY Make Home Energy Savings Easy B Denise Hawkins FEATURE Blue Angels Fly on the Wings of Hard Work Joh
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