Lyon REC News
June 2015
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.
SUMMERTIME RULE NO.1:
DO NOT MIX
WATER AND ELECTRICITY
If you don’t want a jolt from your Jacuzzi this summer, remember one thing: It’s electric.
Electricity and water don’t mix, so when you’re sitting in a
steamy hot tub out on your deck, do not touch anything electric—including the outlet your spa is plugged into.
And just in case—if the tub’s temperature control is right next to the plug and you touch the plug by accident
while sitting in the pool—equip every outlet on your patio with a ground-fault circuit interrupter.
A GFCI protects all of the devices that are plugged into it and cuts the electricity to them if they fall into the
water. It also protects you if you happen to touch an electrical device while you are wet.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says 14 people died last year from electrocutions in swimming
pools. Wet skin and wet surfaces combined with electricity increase the chance of electrical shock—and sometimes, those shocks result in death.
Look around your pool, spa and patio for underwater lights; pool pumps, filters and vacuums; power cords;
extension cords; electrical outlets; switches; radios and TV sets; and overhead power lines.
All are dangerous for you to touch when you are wet and can be deadly if they fall into a pool or hot tub.
If you—or someone else—feels a tingling sensation or can’t move all of a sudden, that could be because of an
electrical shock. If lights are on when they should be off, or if they are flickering, get everyone out of the water—
without climbing a metal ladder. Turn off all power, and call 911.
Office will be closed
Friday, July 3 2015
in observation of
Independence Day
5 Summer
Energy
Savers
Take control of your summer energy bills in five easy
steps:
→ SUN BLOCK. Half of all of the heat that enters
your home comes in through the windows. Invest
in a thick shade or window film to block out the
summer sun. Save up to 15 percent on your cooling
bill by shading west-facing windows, which absorb
the most afternoon sun. For the hottest parts of
your house, consider installing an awning or planting trees in front of the window to shade the house.
→ QUICK CHANGE. A filter for your air conditioning system costs only dollars (about $5 for
a high-quality, pleated model), but can save you
much more if you change it every month during
the summer. Dirty air conditioning filters prevent
air flow and make the air conditioning system work
harder. That means a higher bill.
→ ONE DEGREE. For every degree you turn your
thermostat up during air conditioning season,
you’ll save up to 2 percent on your cooling costs.
Try setting your thermostat at 78 degrees, and turn
on a ceiling fan to help circulate the air.
→ WIND CHILL. Fans don’t cool the air, but they
make the air feel cooler by moving it around the
room and against your skin, which creates a sort of
“wind chill” effect. When the fan is running, you
can move your thermostat three to four degrees
higher without noticing a difference in your comfort level.
→ COOL TOUCH. Replace every incandescent
light bulb in your house with a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb or an LED fixture. The replacements cost more at first than incandescents,
but CFLs use 75 percent less energy and LEDs use
less than one-tenth. Both of these energy-efficient
versions pay for themselves and then some over
their lifetimes. Plus, they emit far less heat than incandescent bulbs , so they don’t add heat to your
home’s air or make the air conditioner work harder.
Remember
Safety First
This Summer!
It’s hot outside.
Use cold water
Summertime is the perfect season to save money
on water heating. It’s hot and sticky outside, so there’s
no need for long, steamy showers or heavy, hot meals
that use a lot of energy and water to prepare.
Here are six quick tips for saving energy and money on water heating—during the summer and all year
long:
1. Fix leaks. Even a slow-dripping water
faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of hot water if you don’t repair it
quickly.
2. Use cold water. Your clothes can
get just as clean in cold water as
in hot. Buy a laundry detergent for
your clothes washer that’s designed
to work well in cold temperatures.
3. If you’re ready to buy a new dishwasher, choose an energy-efficient model. It’s guaranteed to
use less hot water than one that’s
a decade old.
4. Install low-flow showerheads, toilets and
faucets when you’re ready to replace
your old ones.
5. Change your behavior—and your
family’s. Turn the water off while
you’re hand-washing the dishes.
Turn it on only to rinse; don’t let it
run while you scrub.
6. Limit your time in the shower. You’ll feel
more refreshed on a hot morning when you
step out of a quick, warm shower than if
you luxuriate in the steam for too long.
Keep fireworks away
from power lines
Can’t wait for the professional fireworks display—the one that the local firefighters supervise so
nobody gets hurt? You’re taking a huge risk.
Even fireworks that are legal can be dangerous, the U.S. Fire Administration warns. In fact, Fourth
of July revelers report 9,300 fireworks-related injuries a year.
The biggest culprit: firecrackers, which are responsible for 1,600 of those injuries. Next-worst are
bottle rockets and sparklers, which burn at about 2,000 degrees, according to the administration.
If you must put on your own backyard show, keep it away from power lines. Light your fireworks
in open areas so far away from power lines that you can’t even see any.
And if any of your fireworks get tangled in an overhead wire or create a spark on one, call 911 and
your electric cooperative immediately. Do not try to solve the problem yourself.
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Here are some additional safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Children should be spectators, not
participants, in the show. Never
give children fireworks or sparklers.
Read and carefully follow directions
and warning labels. Most injuries result from improper use.
Keep spectators at least 20 feet away
and not downwind from where the
fireworks will be set off.
Light fireworks only on a smooth,
flat surface away from all flammable
materials, including dry leaves.
Never try to relight fireworks that
don’t function.
Keep a bucket of water nearby in
case of fire.
have a safe
and
APRIL
OPERATING STATISTICS
2014
2015
KWH Purchased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,514,950 7,833,935
KWH Sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,279,669 7,485,955
Percentage of Line Loss
4.16%
(Year to Date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.67%
Total Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,750 KW 13,386 KW
Average Farm Consumption . . . . . . . . 2,396 KWH 1,985 KWH
$192.42
Average Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $224.63
$753.25
Income Per Mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $823.80
$719.23
Expenses Per Mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $823.39
872.86
Miles Energized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 872.86
5.36¢
Cost of Wholesale (For the Month) . . 5.47¢
Don’t turn thermostat too low
Your house has been closed up all day with the thermostat set to a moderate temperature while everyone was away.
Will your warm home cool off quicker if you turn the thermostat down to 50 degrees for a while?
The answer may surprise you: It’s “no.”
Lowering the thermostat beyond the temperature you want for your house will force your air conditioner to run
longer, not faster. And that means you could pay more money for a house that’s too chilly.
Instead, set the device to the desired temperature, and give it a chance to cool your home off slowly.
Here are a few other smart-money, summer-cooling tips:
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Install a programmable thermostat, which lets you set the thermostat higher for hours when the house is empty,
but lower during your at-home hours. Program it to crank back on about an hour before you’re due home, and
your place will feel comfortable by the time you walk through the door.
Set the thermostat at 78 degrees. You’ll save about 15 percent on your cooling bill over a 72-degree setting,
while remaining comfortable.
Move lamps, TVs and appliances away from the thermostat. The heat they produce can trick your air conditioning system into “thinking” the air is warmer than it really is, and it will keep running even when the rest
of the house is cool enough.
Open shades and blinds on cloudy days, but close them when the sun is shining. That will keep the sun from
overheating your house and forcing your a/c to work overtime.
Check the seal around your room air conditioners for air leaks. If they don’t’ fit snugly enough into window
frames, they can let hot air into the house—undoing the cooling benefits of the unit.
Consumer Authorization Form
RECare Consumer Contribution Plan
Yes, I want to be a part of members helping members and
contribute to RECare.
_____ I will make a one-time contribution to RECare. My
Check is enclosed.
Name ______________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________
City _______________________ State _______ Zip __________
Your Rural Electric Cooperative has always extended
a helping hand to those needing it. Now, in response
to actions by the Iowa General Assembly, your REC
has established RECare, a program of members helping
members. RECare will provide funds to be distributed
by local community action agencies to help pay winter heating bills and assist in weatherization of homes
of low income consumers of this Cooperative. You
may make a one-time contribution, or you may make a
monthly contribution. Even one dollar a month contribution will help others.
Please mail to:
RECare | Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative
P.O. Box 629 | Rock Rapids, IA 51246
Non-Discrimination Statement
“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 [email protected].”