Lyon REC News

April 2019

Phone : 712-472-2506 or 1-800-658-3976 ~ Website : www.lyonrec.coop Office Hours : Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Annual Meeting 2019Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on March

18, 2019 at the Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids. Approx-imately 485 people were served at the evening meal that was ca-tered by Tony’s Catering. Members were entertained by one of the 2018 youth tour students, Haley Borman who gave a detailed overview of their trip to Washington, D.C. Members attending the business meeting were also entered into a drawing for numerous door prizes and following the meeting they all received a compli-mentary gift. Elections results were Randy Roemen will continue to be the director for District 3 and David Huff will continue to be the director for District 7. A big thank you to all who attended the Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting.

Basin Bus Tour is scheduled for June 18, 19 & 20, 2019. Call Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative if you are interested in going on this tour at 712-472-2506.We continue to sponsor a bus tour to Basin Electric in Bismarck, North Dakota. During this 3-day tour you will visit Basin Electric’s Antelope Valley Station, Coteau Properties, and the Dakota Gasification Plant. You will also have the opportunity to go shopping at Kirkwood Mall and participate in a Dinner Cruise aboard the Lewis and Clark. This tour is inexpensive, very educational, and fun.

Basin Bus Tour

Front Row Left to Right - Mark Wibben (President), Randy McKenney, Nolan Kooiker, and Rodney Mogler (Treasurer)

Back Row Left to Right - Jesse Roemen, Mark Dickmann (Secretary). David Huff, Randy Roemen (Vice President), and David DeBoer

Thank You to the members that assisted our line crew with snow and water removal the week of March 11-15. It was very much appreciated!

Line Worker Appreciation Day is April 8, 2019

From Left to Right - Larry Wibben, Ron Boogerd, Lance VanDerWeerd, Patrick Wubben, Bryan Herum,

and Dustin Timmerman

Board of Directors

Cailie Bruxvoort - George, IAChaydon Metzger - Larchwood, IA

Riley Folkens - Rock Rapids, IA

Congratulations to the 2019-2020 Scholarship Winners:

Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative values our members and their membership. Should you have concerns regarding your membership, electric service, or other issues, please contact Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative at 712-472-2506 or 1-800-658-3976 and our staff will be happy to assist you.

If your complaint is related to service disconnection, safety or engineering standards or renewable energy and Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative does not resolve your complaint, you may request assistance from the Iowa Utilities Board by calling (515) 725-7321, or toll-free 1-877-565-4450, by writing to 1375 E. Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319-0069, or by email to customer@iub.iowa. gov

Complaint Procedure

Administrative Professionals Day

is April 24, 2019

From Left to Right - Deb Heitritter, Karen Van Wyhe, Melissa Van Holland, and Ross Loomans

Turn out lights without making a move

One of the simplest ways to save energy around your home is to turn off the lights when you leave your room—just like your mother told you.If only your children would do it!The solution that will save you from sounding like a broken

record every time you remind the kids to turn the lights out? Install motion-activated light switches, and you’ll never have to tell them again.Using a tiny motion sensor, the switches detect when some-

one enters a room, and they flip the lights on. When motion stops, they switch the lights off. The switches are easy to install on your own by removing

your existing switch and face plate, and disconnecting the wires. Reconnect the wires to the motion-activated switch, screw it back into the wall, and reattach the face plate.Of course, you should shut the electricity off at the breaker

before installing the switch. These switches range from inexpensive to fancy, depending

on their features and how far away they detect motion.For rooms that you use most often during the day, install a

motion-sensor switch that also detects daylight. It will switch the light on only when there is motion and the room is too dark.

It’s not too early to get your a/c In shape

Servicing your air conditioning system is a lot like getting an oil change or tune up for your car. Sure, it’s an expense—but it’s still cheaper than waiting until it breaks down to call a techni-cian.

And you’ll sweat a lot less when you pay the $100 or so for a visit to have your heating system inspected by a professional than you will in the middle of July when the unit breaks down.

Plus, you won’t have to worry about the unit making it through another season because the tech can spot and resolve small problems before they become big ones.

Some contractors offer an annual preventive maintenance agreement, which will cost a few hundred dollars a year and typically includes a fall inspection of your heating system and a spring once-over for your air conditioner. Some plans also come with discounts on repairs and equipment. A better deal most often is to pay as you go for individual inspections.

But paying a pro to maintain your heating and cooling system is worth the money. Qualified, licensed service technicians are trained to spot problems that most homeowners overlook. Schedule the appointment before the season begins so there is time to order any replacement parts

VACUUM YOUR WAY TO ENERGY SAVINGSYour vacuum isn’t just for picking up messes - it can be your secret weapon in the fight to reduce your electricity bill this spring. As the spring cleaning rituals begin, follow these tips to find out how you can vacuum your way to energy savings this month:➥ Vacuum refrigerator coils twice a year to keep the appliance running efficiently. Unplug your refrigerator and pull it away from the wall. The coils will either be located on the back (for older models) or on the bottom behind a panel. Using the long nozzle or brush attachment on your vacuum, clean out all the dust and debris lingering in the coils. ➥ Seek out all heating and cooling vents and use the brush attachment to vacuum the vent plate (and behind it if possible). Removing dirt and dust will allow air to flow freely, preventing your system from working harder to push air through the house. ➥ To keep your dryer running efficiently, detach the exhaust hose and vacuum out built-up lint. While cleaning your lint trap after each load will help prevent lint build up, over time the hose can become blocked, which can cause a fire hazard. Unplug the dryer and detach the hose from the back of the dryer to clean it out.

Let your chi ldren teach you about energy eff iciencyYou do your best to teach your kids about energy efficiency and the impact their electricity use can have on the environment.As it turns out, they’re trying their best to teach you the same thing.Believe it or not, kids listen when their parents tell them about the environment. By the time they’re teenagers, most kids actually are

concerned about it. Today’s high school and college students—known as Generation Z—actually rank it among the top five things that are important to them.

They’re also learning about it in school and reading about it online.So chances are, when they see you wasting energy, they’re telling you.Listen.Your attention to energy conservation can make a lasting impact on your children. They do what you do.So turn the lights off when you leave a room. Power down your computer at the end of the day. Set the thermostat back before you

go to bed. Make the kids aware that you’re buying Energy Star-rated appliances when you shop for new ones.Know that you’re helping the next generation of consumers and homeowners form energy-wise habits that are healthy for the envi-

ronment.

“This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.”

Non-Discrimination Statement

Reducing electricity use as a renter may seem tough when you have little control over the biggest energy users in your place, like your refrig-erator, dishwasher or heating and cooling system.

But there’s still plenty you can do to lower your energy bill without making permanent—or expensive—changes. Follow these tips to re-duce energy use in your rented space:h If your home has an individual water heater, call your landlord or

property manager and ask to have the temperature lowered to 120 degrees. Most water heaters are set at a default temperature of 140 degrees—which can be hot enough to scald your skin. The lower setting will still be hot enough to keep your showers steamy.

h LookforanEnergyStar-qualifiedwindowairconditionerifyouareresponsible for purchasing it. An Energy Star a/c uses about 10 percent less energy than others. In the winter, cover your window a/cwithatight-fittingcovertopreventtheheatfromescaping,orremove the unit from the window.

h Whileblindsofferprivacy,hangingheaviercurtainswillhelpshieldout the heat in the summertime. In the winter, tape clear plastic sheeting around window frames to help insulate thin windows.

h Install sink aerators on all faucets. They are cheap and non-perma-nent,butcansignificantlyreduceyourhotwaterusewhileofferingthe same water pressure.

h Replaceanyoverlooked incandescent lightbulbswithmore effi-cientcompactfluorescent lightbulbsorLEDs.Theyuse far lessenergy than incandescents, and last six to 10 times longer—so you can take them with you when you move.

h If the windows and doors are drafty, ask your landlord about install-ingweather-strippingtosealoffcracks.It’saneasydo-it-yourselftask and cheap, too—so even if your landlord won’t cover the cost, it will be worth it because it will increase the comfort of your home and reduce your heating bills.

STILL RENTING? CONSERVE ENERGY ANYWAY

KWH Purchased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KWH Sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Percentage of Line Loss (Year to Date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Total Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Average Farm Consumption . . . . . . . .Average Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Income Per Mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Expenses Per Mile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miles Energized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cost of Wholesale (For the Month) . .

FEBRUARY OPERATING STATISTICS

10,760,60910,358,980

3.89%19,347 KWH2,947 KWH

$271.91 $1,045.02 $1,049.85

872.86 5.72¢

11,519,98711,040,079

4.44%21,793 KW3,169 KWH

$285.36$1,100.00 $1,123.33

872.865.80¢

2018 2019Lyon REC is retiring the old overhead line

this spring. If you are interested in some used

poles, please call the office at 712-472-2506.