Take a Second Look at Solar

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1 June 2016 Volume 1, No. 28 What s inside... Message from the Manager 2015 Capital Credit Allocations Choose the Right Light Bulb Exercise Your Right to Vote Update on Construction Work Grain Bin Clearance Notice $25 Credit--Find Your Location # WIPCO sells and installs solar systems as a renewable energy option. We understand that not everyone has an ideal location for solar or may be looking to invest in renewables on a smaller scale. Community Solar might be the right fit for you! WIPCO has installed two Community Solar arrays--one at our Denison facility and one at our Onawa facility and you, as our Member, can subscribe to Community Solar at an amount that is comfortable for you. In return, you will receive a monthly production credit equivalent to your percent of system production that month. You will continue to receive monthly production credits for the 20-year contract term. If you are asking, What can I do to help control my power cost?, Community Solar might be the answer as it can help stabilize your electricity costs. Contact Stephanie Wiese at for more information. Take a Second Look at Solar Denison & Onawa Community Solar Arrays

2 2 Looking out for you... We are your source for power and information You pay your WIPCO utility bill every month Manager s Message and more than likely you think to yourself, That s done. But, the truth is we re more than just a utility provider that you pay each month for electricity. Everyone at WIPCO is committed to building stronger connections with you and the local communities we serve. One of the ways we are delivering on this goal is by providing you with information, resources and services that are as reliable and useful as the electricity we supply. We want you to view WIPCO as your trusted energy partner and your first stop whenever you have a question about energy efficiency, renewables or other information about your co-op. Your Cooperative is continually looking for ways to make our services more efficient and valuable. For example, WIPCO was one of the first cooperatives in Iowa to offer solar equipment for on-site installation and Community Solar projects at both our facilities so our member-owners would have renewable energy options. When it comes to renewable energy, we are here to answer your questions! We help you keep energy use in check by providing energy efficiency tips in our newsletter, on our website and Facebook page, and in our offices. No one makes electrical safety more of a priority than WIPCO, and we take this commitment a step further by providing electrical safety tools and tips to help keep you and your family safe in and around your home. We recently updated our website so it is mobile responsive to provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to mobile phones). We understand that is important to the cooperative member-owner of the future. Cooperative membership is a powerful thing. It means we are owned by you--our members. It means you have an energy partner you can trust to look out for your community s best interests, not its own bottom line When you have energy-related questions or needs, or questions about your membership, we are ready to work with you. At the end of the day, that s the cooperative advantage that allows us to be your community s trusted partner, provide you with the electricity you need to power your daily life, and to be your source for power and information. Offices Closed WIPCO warehouses and offices will be closed Monday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

3 Capital Credit Allocation Certificates Mailed 3 Example of a Capital Credit Allocation Certificate WIPCO Members who received electric service during the year 2015 were recently mailed a Capital Credit Allocation Certificate like the example shown above. Why are you receiving this? Electric cooperatives aren t like other utilities you, as a consumer and a member own a portion of the business. And one benefit of that membership involves the allocation of excess revenue, called margins, in the form of capital credits. Electric co-ops operate at cost collecting enough revenue to run and expand the business but not to generate profits for distant shareholders. When WIPCO has money left over, it s allocated back to you and other members as capital credits. When the co-op s financial position permits, the co-op retires, or pays, the capital credits to members in cash or as a bill credit. The Capital Credit Allocation Certificate informs you of the amount that has been credited to your patronage account and is in proportion to the amount you paid to the Cooperative for electric service in At the present time, the patronage has no cash value and cannot be used in payment of electric bills or any other bill owed the Cooperative. Your Capital Credits are deferred (retained by WIPCO) until directed to be paid by the Board of Directors. Upon approval each year, a percentage of past allocations is retired and checks are issued to the Members. The checks can be picked up at the District or Annual Meeting or mailed out if not picked up at that time. The only time Capital Credits can be refunded, other than with Board of Director s approval for a scheduled year, is upon a Member s death When a Member becomes deceased, the Member s estate would need to request the required paperwork, which WIPCO would send them. Estates are usually refunded once in the spring and once in the fall when approved by the Board of Directors. Please keep the Cooperative informed when you have a change of address. This will ensure that any Capital Credit checks which may be mailed in the future will come directly to you. ATTENTION IRRIGATORS: If you have an irrigation service and the service is on the load control rate (shuts off the system when NIPCO deems necessary), you can now receive an and/or text notification when the system is being controlled. If you have not provided WIPCO with your address and/or cell phone number, and you would like to receive load control information via and/or text, please contact our office. Those irrigators on the load control rate (shuts off the system when NIPCO deems necessary) will no longer have the option of calling the answering machine access number to get load control information. If you have other questions pertaining to irrigation services, please call our office at or

4 4 Looking out for you...

5 WIPCO urges members to vote... Western Iowa Power Cooperative will hold a District Meeting at the Onawa Community Center in Onawa, Iowa on Tuesday, August 23 and the Annual Meeting at the Boulders Conference Center in Denison, Iowa on Thursday, August 25. WIPCO members will have the opportunity to elect three directors. WIPCO urges all of its members to vote. Members can vote at either the District Meeting, the Annual Meeting, or by returning a mail-in ballot. How do I vote by mail-in ballot? A postcard, similar to the sample shown below, along with written instructions on the procedure for voting by Mail-in-Ballot will be mailed to each Member on June 6 with their electric bill. Director elections and voting is a vital part of the Annual Meeting each year. We invite and encourage members to attend the District and/or Annual Meeting, but if you are unable to attend, please exercise your right to vote! SAMPLE - Please don t mail this sample postcard back! 2016 Annual Meeting Mail-in-Ballot Request If you wish to receive a Mail-in-Ballot for this year s Annual Meeting, please fill in your name, address and location number on the space provided. This postcard must be returned by August 5, Please call or if you have any questions. 5 One easy call gets your utility lines marked and helps protect you from injury and expense. Safe Digging Is No Accident: Always Call 811 Before You Dig Visit call811.com for more information. Name: Address: Location No.: You may return this postcard with your energy bill or drop it off at either the Denison or Onawa office. Ballots will also be available at the District Meeting in Onawa and at the Annual Meeting in Denison. Stay Connected to Western Iowa Power Cooperative Have you seen our Facebook page? Visit for links to our Facebook site. It is a great way to stay informed about what is happening at your Cooperative!

6 6 Looking out for you... Update on construction work plan and line crew projects WIPCO is dedicated to you, our member-owners. The Board of Directors and Employees know that our members are the reason we are in business, and we work hard every day to provide safe and reliable electric service. Regular maintenance and upkeep of our electric distribution system is vitally important for both safety and reliability. In 2016, WIPCO crews will complete all of the Construction Work Plan and other projects. WIPCO is currently completing year four of our five-year work plan. In 2018, we will create a new five-year work plan, which will be used as a blueprint for future projects. The 2016 Construction Work Plan projects are as follows: Replace 1.5 miles of single-phase underground line with new overhead line. This project is in Stockholm and Milford Townships in Crawford County. Replace 1 mile of singlephase underground line with new overhead line. This project is in Jackson Township in Crawford County. Replace 2 miles of threephase underground line with new underground line. This project is in Milford Township in Crawford County. We will continue to provide updates on the progress of these projects and appreciate your patience as we work to complete them. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Jason Lee at or Line crews have a good start in 2016 Jason Lee, WIPCO s Operations Superintendent reports that the line crews are doing an outstanding job on construction and maintenance work. As of May 1, work includes: Completed the replacement of 1.5 miles of single-phase underground line with new overhead line in Crawford County Completed 18 service uprates, installed 11 new services, and completed 29 service retirements Replaced 60 poles Changed 124 oil circuit reclosers Completed 389 maintenance and job tickets Completed 2,100 miles of overhead and underground line inspection As usual, when summer arrives construction and farm activity increases. We have had a number of requests for new and upgraded services. We care about the safety of you, your family and farm workers. That s why we urge you to contact us before you break ground on a new grain bin, barn, or other building. Building a structure too close to overhead power lines can create an electric shock danger during and after construction. If you are planning any new projects, expansions, or changes to your electrical service, please call the Operations Department so we can work with you to ensure safe power line clearances for your addition.

7 Grain Bin Clearance Notice When you start to plan for a new grain bin or move an existing one, please contact WIPCO. WIPCO and Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) will provide assistance in planning for a safe environment for everyone working and living around grain bins. The State of Iowa requires specific clearances for electric lines around grain bins, with different standards for those filled by portable and permanent augers, conveyors and elevators. The attachment to this article shows a drawing of the specific clearances required for both scenarios. If you have any questions concerning the drawings, please contact WIPCO. According to the Iowa Electric Safety Code found in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter (3) b. An electric utility may refuse to provide electric service to any grain bin built near an existing electric line which does not provide the clearances required by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)C National Electrical Safety Code, Rule 234F. This paragraph b shall apply only to grain bins loaded by portable augers, conveyors or elevators and built after September 9, 1992, or to grain bins loaded by permanently installed augers, conveyors, or elevator systems installed after December 24, (As adopted by the Iowa Utilities Board) WIPCO is required by the Iowa Utilities Board to provide this annual notice to farmers, farm lenders, grain bin merchants, and city and county zoning officials. If you have any questions concerning clearance regulations, please call the Cooperative. Disclaimer: These drawings are provided as part of Iowa electric cooperatives annual public information campaign and are based on the 2012 Edition of the NESC as corrected. To view the actual drawings refer to 2012 Edition National Electrical Safety Code and the Errata to 2012 Edition National Electrical Safety Code Correction Sheet issued April 29, Every care has been taken for the correctness of the contents of these drawings. However, the IAEC and its member cooperatives accept no liability whatsoever for omissions or errors, technical inaccuracies, typographical mistakes or for damages of any kind arising from the use of the contents of these drawings, whether textual or graphical. 7

8 (USPS 9340) 809 Highway 39 North - P.O. Box 428 Denison, Iowa OR FAX wipco@wipco.com 418 East Iowa Avenue - P.O. Box 115 Onawa, Iowa OR FAX wipco@wipco.com Office & Warehouse Hours Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Western-Iowa-Power-Co-Op/ Published monthly by Western Iowa Power Cooperative 809 Highway 39 North, Denison, IA Periodicals postage paid at Denison, IA Phone: OR POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WIPCO Informer, PO Box 428, Denison, IA Jeffery Bean, Executive V.P./General Manager Mari Miller, Editor Western Iowa Power Cooperative s mission is to enhance our members quality of life by providing safe and reliable electric services. Save $25.00 on your REC bill Read this newsletter carefully. Hidden somewhere within these pages are two Member location numbers. Find your location number in this newsletter, call the REC office by the 20th of the month, and you will receive a $25.00 credit on your energy bill. The location numbers in the May newsletter belonged to Gary Volkert and Larry Bonnes.