AUnion Power Cooperative n October 2015

Join us at Wingate University on Saturday, October 10, 2015, for our Annual Membership Meeting

COOPERATIVE REVIEW

OCTOBER 2015

Payment Options B

In the Community C

Vampire Electronics D

High Energy

Usage Alerts E

Powering Your Life F

Topping Hurts Trees G

ROW Crew Locations H

Komen Race for the Cure

Union Power will have a team in the Komen Race for the Cure - Charlotte 5K Run/Walk on

Saturday, October 3rd at Marshall Park. We invite our members to participate by joining our team or donating to the cause:

§ Visit komencharlotte.org. Click Events, then select Komen Race for the Cure.

§ Click Teams, then select Teams List.

§ Scroll down and select the Union Power Cooperative link to visit our page (or click Donate Now or Join).

Raffle for Pink Hard Hats Signed by Panthers PlayersAnyone who joins and/or donates through our team website will be entered into a raffle drawing for one of three pink

hard hats signed by a Carolina Panther player, including one with Cam Newton’s signature. The team site will remain up through October 31, and the drawing will be held soon after. Winners will be notified via email, phone or mail.

Hard hats were signed by these players and will be on display at the Annual Meeting on October 10:

§ Quarterback, Cam Newton

§ Tight End, Greg Olsen

§ Safety, Tre Boston

Union Power employees also show their support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink shirts at our Annual Meeting, and our linemen wear pink hard hats throughout October!

Raffle for Pink Hard Hats Signed by Panthers Players

Oakboro office personnel show their support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

October 2015 n Union Power CooperativeB

Be Aware of Third-Party Payment Vendors

Union Power does not authorize the use of any third-party payment vendor such as retail establishments or online parties to accept payment of members’

electric utility bills on our behalf. These companies are in no way affiliated with Union Power, and we cannot guarantee that payments made to such vendors will reach the Cooperative to be posted to members’ accounts.

Please be aware: By making your electric bill payment through a third-party payment vendor, it may not be received by Union Power by the due date, causing your account to be subject to disconnection. You are still responsible for payment directly to the Cooperative utilizing any of the valid payment options below on this page.

Please report any third-party payment vendor (at physical locations or online) who claims they are authorized to accept payments on behalf of Union Power by calling our office at 704-289-3145 or 800-922-6840.

Payment Options for Your Convenience

We know you’re on the go, and we offer a variety of payment options to make it easy for you to pay your bill however you choose:

§ ACH Draft Payments – Your account can be set up for automatic draft from your checking, savings or credit/debit card account on the 1st, 10th or 20th of the month depending on your particular billing cycle, and you’ll no longer worry about missed or late payments. This option may be set up by calling our customer service department.

§ Auto Pay – Similar to automatic draft, you can use our Auto Pay option to personally manage your bank or credit card drafts and make changes at any time, giving you more flexibility to manage your payments. This option can only be set up through our online Member Center at union-power.com.

§ Pay Online – View and pay your bill on our secure site using your credit card, debit card or by electronic check. Visit union-power.com, click on Pay My Bill, then enter your account number or User ID and Password and select Payments.

§ Mobile App – View your bills, make secure payments, manage your alerts and reminders, and even receive push notifications using the UPC Mobile app with your iPhone®, iPad® or Android™ device. You can even set up High Bill Alerts to make you aware of high usage on your account.

§ Pay by Phone – Use our FREE automated system by calling 800-794-4423 and press 3. Please note: A $5 service fee will be applied to bill payments made through a customer service representative.

§ Pay by Mail – Use the address below to send your payment by mail. Include your payment stub and allow 5 to 7 business days for your payment to arrive. Union Power Cooperative, P.O. Box 63047, Charlotte, NC 28263-3047

§ Pay in Person – You may take your payment to one of our two office locations.

Union Power Cooperative n October 2015 C

Giving Back in the Community

O n August 6, Union Power and CoBank partnered to present an $8,000 grant to

Oakboro Fire & Rescue This grant will go towards the Oakboro 4th of July celebration which helps raise money for equipment, trucks and training for firemen.

Pictured left to right: Captain Jim Cameron, Luanne Sherron - Union Power’s vice president of communications and key accounts, and Fire Chief Rodney Eury.

Be on the Lookout for Special Co-op Connections Materials in November

Members, the November issue of Carolina Country magazine will include:

§ A special insert with a Co-op Connections card and a full listing of local business discounts inside the magazine

§ Valuable information on local and national savings, including 10-85% discounts on prescriptions at local pharmacies as well as national chain pharmacies

This card is provided to you free of charge, and there’s no signup or annual fees! All you have to do is present your card at participating businesses to receive your discount!Learn more and find local & national discounts at union-power.com or connections.coop.

We offer 100+ local business discounts and Union Power members have saved $50,000 in prescription savings!

October 2015 n Union Power CooperativeD

Could ‘Vampire’ Electronics be Draining Your Home’s Energy?

Check out our Vampire Losses Calculator! Visit union-power.com, Energy Center, for many more energy-saving calculators.

Even at night, items such as microwaves, coffee makers, phones, computers, MP3 players, and power tool chargers are ALIVE, silently DRAINING your home of energy and money.

Stop wasting money, and cut these “vampires” off at the source. Unplug fully charged battery-operated devices and plug appliances into power strips that can be switched off when not in use.

I’d love to have your kilo-vatt

hours!

union-power.com

Union Power Cooperative n October 2015 E

Set up alert notifications to make you aware of high usage on your account

and avoid unwanted surprises on your bill. Seasonal fluctuations in temperature and other things like hosting guests and cooking can increase electric bills. The value of the High Energy Usage Alert is that it catches something you might normally miss—like a malfunctioning heat pump or well pump—before it runs your monthly electric bill sky high.

The High Energy Usage Alert notifies you when your daily energy usage exceeds the dollar amount that you have set up.

What Happens if I Receive an Alert?If high usage alert notifications are received consistently for a few days, and seasonal temperature fluctuations can be ruled out, it is time to investigate further. These are the top three things that can typically cause a spike in usage and should be checked by a licensed technician:

§ Heating/cooling systems

§ Electric water heaters

§ Well pumps/water system leaks

Why not take time now to set up alert notifications on your account? You can select one or all four

options – text, email, push and voice notifications.

Download the UPC Mobile App by looking for our name, “Union Power Cooperative” or the app name “UPC Mobile” in the App Store or in the Android Market.

Visit union-power.com, Residential, High Energy Usage Alerts for more information.

Avoid Scary Electric Billswith High Energy Usage Alerts

No Need to be Afraid of the Dark:How to Report an OutageOur Outage Reporting System recognizes the phone number you are calling from. However, if that phone number does not match the phone number listed for your account, you will be instructed to enter additional information to help us identify the outage location. Please follow the steps below based on whether we have the correct phone number for your account in our system:

Outage location’s phone number IS NOT recognized:1 DIAL 1-800-794-4423 to report an outage.2 PRESS 1.3 ENTER phone number including the area code or the

account number (located on the top left of your bill) for the outage location.

4 PRESS 1 to confirm your outage address.5 PRESS 1 to give more details about the outage or hang up.

Outage location’s phone number IS recognized: 6 DIAL 1-800-794-4423 to report an outage.7 PRESS 1.8 PRESS 1 to confirm your outage address.9 PRESS 1 to give more details regarding the outage or

hang up.

Outage Updates 24/7Visit union-power.com on your computer or mobile device to view our Outage Map. The map updates automatically every minute and displays the following information:

§ Location of current outages by county

§ Total number of outages

§ Number of members affected

§ Number of members whose power has been restored

From our home page, click Outage Center. You can also view our Outage Map on our mobile website from your iPhone®, iPad® or Android™ device.

Don’t Let Your Energy Usage ‘Creep Up’ Without Knowing It!

Don’t be left in the dark . . . dial 1-800-794-4423

October 2015 n Union Power CooperativeF

Union Power Cooperative n October 2015 G

‘Topping’ Hurts Trees

Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of limbs larger than 3 inches in diameter to stubs within the tree’s crown, removing the tree’s normal canopy and disfiguring the tree.

Reasons not to top trees:Shock—When a tree’s crown is gone, so is the protection of its canopy. Remaining bark tissue is exposed to the sun’s direct rays, and scalding may result.

Starvation—Topping can remove so much of the crown that it upsets an older tree’s crown-to-root ratio and temporarily cut off its food-making ability.

Ugliness—Topping disfigures a tree. Even with regrowth, it will never regain the grace and character of its species. Plus, ugly trees can detract from a property’s aesthetic appeal.

Rapid new growth—After topping, a tree’s new sprouts can be far more numerous than normal growth and elongate so rapidly that the tree returns to its normal height in a much shorter time—with a far denser, weaker crown.

Insects and disease—The large stubs of a topped tree are highly vulnerable to insect invasion and the spores of decay fungi. If decay is already present in the limb, opening it will speed the spread of disease.

Cost—While topping a tree may cost less in the short run, the true costs are hidden. These include: reduced property value, expense of removal and replacement if the tree dies, loss of other trees and shrubs if they succumb to changed light conditions, legal risk of liability from weakened branches, and greatly increased future maintenance.

Weak limbs—At best, the wood of new limbs that sprout after larger ones have been cut are much more weakly attached than those that develop normally.

Tree Death—Some trees are more tolerant to topping than others; some do not sprout readily after severe pruning and the reduced foliage can lead to death of the tree.

Alternatives to topping trees:Alternatives to topping include planting trees that will fit your available space when they reach maturity, pruning properly and regularly (a light pruning every three years is recommended), and crown reduction, or making the tree canopy smaller by using proper pruning techniques. If you have questions, it’s best to contact a certified arborist who can assess the tree, provide options and perform proper techniques.

For more information, call (704) 289-3145 and speak with Wil Ortiz (ext. 3323), manager of vegetation management.

Examples of trees struggling with rapid new growth and weaker limbs and crowns after being topped.

Business Owners! To join this FREE marketing program, visit union-power.com, click Community, Co-op Connections or call 704-220-0703 or 704-220-0714.

During the next month, you may see our tree-trimming crews in your neighborhood. ABC Professional Tree Services and Carolina Tree Care will be working in the following counties:

Cabarrus: Backwoods Pond Ln, Baltimore Dr, Behind Hartsell Rd, Bostwood Ln, Bullfrog Pl, Burlwood Rd, Cedarvale Farm Pkwy, Cherrysford Ct, Erinbrook Dr, Falcon Dr, Freeman Dr, Grady Harris Sr Rd, Hickory Ridge Rd, Hwy 601 S, Joyner Rd, Mammoth Oaks Dr, Maple Bluff Ln, McMillian Dr, Morrison Rd, Mt Pleasant Rd S, NC Hwy 24-27, Parks Lafferty Rd, Pine Bluff Rd, Piney Church Rd, Pioneer Mill Rd, Rocky River Rd, Sternbridge Dr, Zion Church Rd

Mecklenburg: Atrium Way, Aylesbury Ln, Ballards Pond Ln, Birchhill Rd, Brandonwood Ln, Burmester Ln, Camberwell Rd, Candalon Way, Canterway Dr, Casual Corner Ln, Chanson Pl, Clubhouse Ct, Danbrooke Park Dr, Ellesmere Ct, Errington Ln, Foxcrest Dr, Hayden Way, Hitchgate Dr, Hounds Run Dr, Kale Ln, Keziah Rd, Kuck Rd, Lakeview Circle, Lebanon Rd, Markus Dr, Meadow Ln, Mullis Ln, Old Oak Ln, Peckham Rye Rd, Pine Lake Ln, Plashet Ln, Quail Ridge Dr, Rebus Rd, Rice Rd, Saddlewood Ln, Sam Newell Rd, Singletree Rd, Thamesmead Ln, Williams Rd, Willowbend Ln

Stanly: Harvell Rd, Hatley Burris Rd, Hilltop Rd, Laurin Ct, Liberty Hill Ch Rd, Pless Mill Rd, Sunset Lake Rd, Whitney Dr

Union: Forest Dr, Fowler Secrest Rd, Goldmine Rd, Icemorlee St, Joe Kerr Rd, Kensington Dr, Kiker Brock Dr, Love Rd, Marvin School Rd, Mill Pond Dr, Pacer Ln, Pine Oak Rd, Poplin Rd, Providence Rd S (Hwy 16), Rea Rd, Robinwood Ln, Rocky River Rd N, S Providence Rd, Secrest Price Rd, Secrest Shortcut Rd, Seymour St, Ski Trail Ln, Sue St, W Unionville Indian Trail Rd, Waxhaw Marvin Rd, Wilson Ave, Winfield Dr, Wingard Rd

For more information about Union Power’s vegetation management program or tree trimming practices, please call 704-289-3145 and speak with Wil Ortiz (ext. 3323) or Carrie Lorenz-Efird (ext. 3291). Visit our website, union-power.com, for monthly right-of-way clearing updates.

Right-of-way Clearing

Union Power Cooperative provides safe and reliable power with exceptional value to more than 71,000 member accounts in Union, Stanly, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Rowan counties.

Greg AndressExec. Vice President & General Manager

Carrie C. Stroud, CCCEditor

Rhonda Smith, CCCAssociate Editor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

B. L. Starnes, PresidentLee Roy Kirk, Jr., Vice PresidentJan Haigler, Secretary-TreasurerDent H. Turner, Jr., Asst. Secretary-TreasurerNeil W. Hasty, Jr.Carole P. JonesJim T. HartsellDavid G. HyattTom J. Caudle

Business Hours8 AM to 5 PM Monday–Friday704-289-3145 or 704-485-3335Toll-free: 1-800-922-6840union-power.com

24-Hour Outage Reporting Serviceand Account Information1-800-794-4423

Call Before DigNC One Call Center — Dial 811SERVICE CHARGES:Security Deposit(charges vary)$0, $175, $375

Connection Fee$25

Late Payment Charge$5 or 1.5% of past due balance, if greater

Returned Check Fee$25

Meter Test$75 (refunded if not accurate)

Dual Meter Comparison$50 (refunded if not accurate)

Trip Charge$25 (checks or money orders only, no cash)

RECONNECT CHARGES:(collected in advance)

Normal Hours$50 (if called in before 4:00 PM)

After Hours$100 (if called in after 4:00 PM)

Weekends and Holidays$100

Call and ask us about the ‘Pay Your Way’ billing option

Check out UPC Mobile! Search for “Union Power Cooperative” or the app name “UPC Mobile” in the App Store or in the Android Market.

Cooperative Review is published monthly by

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