Armed with forceful marching orders from NRECA CEO Glenn English, more than 2,500 co-op leaders spread across Capitol Hill on behalf of policies to preserve the quality of life in rural America.

NRECA CEO Glenn English comments received an enthusiastic respone at the Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez)

“This is not about fuel. This is not even about climate change,” English told participants May 3 at the annual NRECA Legislative Conference.

“This is about trying to make certain that those 42 million people served by electric cooperatives are going to continue to have affordable electric power and that their quality of life is going to be maintained and improved, as we go forward,” he said.

English’s address was one of the highlights of the three-day conference, based at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, a short walk from Congress.

Co-op managers, directors and staffers at the three-day session heard briefings on key issues from NRECA experts, and then met with elected officials and staff members to keep co-op positions front and center in legislative deliberations.

High on their to-do list, English said, was to persuade members of Congress to co-sponsor legislation that blocks or delays the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act.

That regulation, which is proceeding as Congress remains deadlocked on legislation to address carbon emissions, poses a threat to the rural quality of life because it will drive up electric bills, English said, calling the act the wrong tool for the job.

“This should not be done in this manner in this year,” he said to loud applause. “This must be stopped.”

Other issues at the conference included support for the Rural Utilities Service, legislation to expand co-ops’ role in energy efficiency, and an emphasis on informing elected officials and staffers about the unique role of co-ops.

English noted that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the rural electrification program 75 years ago this month.

After a recent visit to Roosevelt’s “Little White House” in Warm Springs, Ga., English said co-op leaders need to underscore that the rural electrification program is about more than wires and poles.

“He recognized and understood that the federal government was forming a partnership and a bond with those citizens who could not afford electric power,” English said. “That bond remains in place today 75 years later.”

Kyle Finley demonstrates the ark a mylar balloon can cause when it comes in contact with a power line or a substation

Over 160 Van Buren County Middle School Students and 50 plus Wapello County Fire Fighters  received instruction on electric safety.

Kyle Finley, owner of Live Line Demo, Inc. visited the Van Buren Middle School on Tuesday afternoon, March 23^rd.  The 45 minute school presentation covered everything from the 120 volt power found in the home to showing hazards around electrical equipment that's maybe at the farm or at a business.  Finley then stepped up the voltage to 7,200 volts showing students what happens when a squirrel or a tree contacts a high voltage power line causing a power outage.  He demonstrated some of the equipment used to sectionalize power outages thereby keeping the electricity on in as many homes and businesses as possible.  He also covered what to do a vehicle hits a power pole and a wire is down across the vehicle.  Finley said you should stay in the car unless it catches on fire and then and only then you should jump clear and continue jumping until you’re a safe distance from the car. 

Finley also held an evening session at the Wapello County Rural Fire Department for all of the rural departments and included the Ottumwa Fire Department.  This 2 ½ hour session covered much of the same material that the students received but, covered the material in greater detail and covered the handling of situations dealing with the public, blocking roadways where there are downed power lines and keeping the public at a safe distance.

The demonstrations were sponsored by Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative of Bloomfield and Northeast Power Cooperative from Palmyra, MO.

The 2010 Iowa Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. trip winners were selected from contest interviews held March 11 at Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative’s office in Bloomfield. Students were scored for their ambitions, speaking ability, appearance and poise/personality.

The contest winners are Katlyn Bassett and Hannah Swaim.  Katlyn, a junior at Davis County High School, is the daughter of Jay and Betsy Bassett, of Bloomfield.  Hannah, also a junior at Davis County High School, is the daughter of Jeff and Debbie Swaim of Bloomfield.

Katlyn and Hannah will receive an all expense paid trip to our nation’s capital along with 40 other students from across Iowa.  They will have an opportunity to visit with Iowa’s senators and representatives, spend a day on Capital Hill, explore the Smithsonian museums, take a cruise on the Potomac River and make new friends from Iowa and across the nation.

Contestants who did not win a trip will received a $100 United States Savings Bond. 

Students receiving bonds are Brook Bodkins, Sullivan Dunlavy, Michael Kline and Jakob Ruchti.

This year’s students will depart from the Des Moines International Airport on Saturday, June 12^th and return home on Thursday, June 17^th.

Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative would like to take this opportunity to offer our congratulations to all of our Youth Tour Contestants for their achievements.

By Mark Aeilts, Manager/CEO

Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Happy New Year to each of you.  We are pleased to announce that we are not planning any rate increase in 2010.  We are also continually updating our efforts to save you money through more energy efficiency rebates, programs and exploring the possibilities for new electric rate options which provides you more control of your own energy costs in the future.

We have been able to hedge our natural gas and diesel fuel prices related to coal delivery through our utility Cooperative network.  Combining these efforts with abundant rainfall in 2009 resulting in more hydroelectric power and our local cost containment efforts we have managed our near term costs.    

From 1986 to 2005, the average rates for our customers fell, even though the Consumer Price Index rose 77% percent. We’re proud that we’ve been able to share these savings with you over the years. After four consecutive years of wholesale cost increases our costs have stabilized for a short period of time.  There are upward cost pressures on the horizon ranging from a potential EPA requirement to speed up more environmental enhancements to our power plants to a possible carbon tax transferring wealth from the mid-western states to the coasts and developing countries. 

We are being vigilant to understand these risks and manage them to keep your rates affordable and your electricity reliable.  As a not-for-profit electric cooperative it is important to understand how each dollar is used by your cooperative to supply your electricity. 

57% of each dollar is power supplied to the local substation

23% of each dollar is for local SIEC costs (labor, materials and customer service)

20% is for fixed expenses such as customer related distribution, accounting, administrative, depreciation and banker required margin which totals $60.34 per residential meter.  The fixed costs are incurred regardless of how much energy is used and answers this question.  Why is a fixed charge of $31 on my bill?  The charge covers a portion of fixed expenses. 

We are committed to providing you with reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electric service. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE by implementing energy efficiency improvements that we will help pay for and there are normally tax credits as well. 

If you have any questions, we encourage you to call our offices at 641-664-2277. We will do our best to answer your questions and we look forward to working with you on ways that you may be able to reduce your monthly electric bill.

On November 16, 2009 our Advisory Committee Touchstone (comprised of 30 volunteer members) and other guests were able to tour the Thomas Hill Energy Center which is located southwest of Macon, MO.  We appreciate the time spent by the 17 members who took time out of their busy schedule to join us for the tour.  There were also eleven Keosauqua Light & Power and SIEC Directors and employees.
The Advisory Committee Touchstone’s purpose is the following:  
   1. To keep informed on items of vital interest to the membership such as construction, work plans, changes in policy, etc.
   2. Provide a source of “feedback” from members.
   3. Secure an understanding of the cooperatives objectives and principles.
   4. Serve as a sounding board to evaluate cooperative programs and activities.

Please make us aware if you would have interest in the future of joining the Advisory Committee Touchstone or learn more about your cooperative by visiting www.sie.coop.
The Thomas Hill Energy Center is comprised of three electrical generating units, built from 1966 to 1982 and totaling 1,153 megawatts, and a coal mine that is actively being reclaimed after closing in 1993.

New Vegetation Program Implemented

Beginning in 2007 you’re Cooperative, along with vegetation management contractors and other professionals reviewed its current vegetation management program with the goal of improving safety and reliability to everyone involved in the distribution of power including our employees, our contractors, and the general public.

The review resulted in several areas in which the Cooperative could improve upon, for sake of time, we will discuss the primary issue, which was the need to increase the clear width of right-of-way needed to effectively keep tree limbs out of the power lines.

By increasing the right-of-way width to a distance of 20 to 25 feet (See illustration below) it accomplishes several things; one it allows re-growth to occur for a period of approximately five years and greatly decreases the chance of the re-growth jeopardizing the power line. Two, it allows safer conditions and better access to perform routine and emergency maintenance which is very beneficial to you as a Member during times of ice storms and other natural disasters. Three, public safety. It is important to keep our facilities visible to the public so that they are aware of its existence as they perform activities near and around power lines such as construction and recreational activities.

Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative members can now pay their energy bill on line!

To access this new feature click on Billing & Service at the top of this page. Next click on Paying Your Bill, then click on Pay Bill Online and enter your Account Number and Social Security Number. This feature may also be accessed from the lefthand column.

Note: You will be charged a small convenience fee for using this feature. To avoid the convenience fee you may sign up for automatic deduction from your checking or savings account. See the PDF automatic payment (ACH) form on the previous page.

Proceed to Credit Card Payment -OR- Proceed to Electronic Check Payment

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