www.fcremc.coopCONTACT USLOCAL 574-223-3156AFTER HOURS 800-286-2265FAX 574-223-4353

OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

STREET ADDRESS 1448 W. State Road 14 Rochester, IN 46975

MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 230Rochester, IN 46975

TO REPORT AN OUTAGE•Checkcircuitbreakersorfusesfirst.•Ifpossible,checktoseeif neighborsarealsoout.•Call800-286-2265(afterhours) andreporttheoutage.Givethe nametheserviceislistedunder. Ifpossible,givemaplocationand accountnumberfrombill.•Giveusyourphonenumberincase weneedtocallyouback.State theproblem,suchaslossofpower, partialpower,dimmingorflickering lights.•Pleasebepatient.Ourcrews willrestoreserviceasquicklyas possible.

CUSTOMER CONTACTSJoe KochCHIEFEXECUTIVEOFFICER

GregBitterlingMEMBERSERVICESMANAGER/ENERGYADVISOR

RickBanushLINESUPERINTENDENT

BOARD OF DIRECTORSRonaldJana1362S,600W,KEWANNA

DennisBurton2289W.OLSONROAD,ROCHESTER

AngelaMiller1580S,800E,AKRON

VirgilBiddinger5249E,400N,ROCHESTER

LeanderHoover5827S,500E,STARCITY

BudKrohnJr.5722E.STATEROAD14,WINAMAC

EricWalsh1610E,700S,MACY

FULTONCOUNTY REMC

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATIVE

FollowusonFacebookforoutageupdates,energy-savingtipsandmore!

Goodbye summer, hello harvestI don’t know about all of you, but this summer has flown by for us here at Fulton County REMC. The kids are back in school and harvest time is fast approaching.

This summer we com-pleted two of our three big

construction jobs for the year. We had approximately 1,500 poles tested, and we got our outage management system up and running.

This fall we will be working on a tie line to connect our Richland substation with our Bruce Lake substation, which will improve reliability. We plan to switch several members, who live north of the river, to our Richland substation this fall. The line crew will also be replacing any rotten poles, as determined by our pole tests conducted earlier this year.

Since harvest time is near, I want to remind all of you to watch for power lines, as well as poles. Most incidents occur when entering or leaving your fields and when unloading grain, so be extra cau-tious when performing these tasks. We all want to have a safe and successful harvest.

Every year, 62 farm workers are electrocuted in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The most common risk of electrocu-tion for farm workers comes from over-head power lines because tall equipment, such as grain augers, combines and raised dump truck beds can easily become entangled in the lines.

Grain bins also pose a danger. The National Electrical Safety Code requires power lines to be at least 18 feet above the highest point on any grain bin with which portable augers or other portable filling equipment are used.

Farmers are encouraged to call Fulton County REMC if they plan to install new

grain bins or if they are concerned about the proximity of power lines to existing structures or equipment.

The main distribution system on a farm should be large enough to accom-modate present demand and future expansion. If you have expanded your farm in recent years or simply want to make sure all components of your farm’s electrical system are functioning properly, please contact us.

Many farms have standby generators on hand in case of power outages. When a standby generator is used on a single-phase system, it must be connected to the farm’s wiring system through a double-pole, double-throw transfer switch. This switch disconnects the farm’s electric system from Fulton County REMC’s lines during an outage, which prevents back-feed to keep our linemen safe.

Another safety tip for farmers is to install waterproof and dustproof electrical boxes and outlets. Farms are dusty, moist and corrosive environments. Taking these types of precautions makes the use of electricity safer and more reliable.

Keep the farm’s electrical system operating safely by using these items.k GFCIs: Ground fault circuit interrupt-ers monitor the current flow to an electri-cal device, protecting against shocks from faulty electrical equipment in damp areas.k Double-insulated power tools: Reduce the risk of electrical shock with double insulated tools. Tools and equip-ment should also carry the label of a rec-ognized inspection and approval agency, such as Underwriters Laboratories.k Lockouts: Employ lockouts to prevent electrically powered equipment from acci-dentally starting when being serviced or repaired. k Volt meter: Regularly test electric fences to ensure proper functioning.

JOE KOCH is CEO at Fulton County REMC.

JOE KOCH

4 ELECTRIC CONSUMER • SEPTEMBER 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATIVE

Each month, Fulton County REMC awards one member a $25 bill credit. It’s easy to enter to win. Just send us the completed form below. A drawing will be held Sept. 23. If your name is drawn and your answer is correct, you will receive a $25 bill credit on one month’s bill.

JULY WINNER: Darrell Shewman

ENTER TO WIN!Fill in the missing words to the nursery rhyme below.

THIRTY DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER

Thirty days hath September,April, June, and _______________________;February has 28 alone,All the rest have 31,Excepting ___________-year, that’s the time When February’s days are ___________________.

NAME: ____________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________

ACCOUNT NO.: ___________________________________________

CLIP YOUR ANSWERS AND MAIL TO: Fulton County REMC, P.O. Box 230, Rochester, IN 46975 by Sept. 23.

You could win a $25 bill credit!Happy Labor Day!

Have a picnic on Labor Day! You deserve It. You work hard all year. And now that summer’s over, the kids are back in school. It’s time to enjoy a holiday together.

But please use a little caution as you celebrate.• Make sure someone is always in charge of the

barbecue, grill, or camp fire.• Unplug the electric grill when not in use.• Make sure your outdoor cooking takes place

away from dry grass and bushes; avoid the wind.• Don’t use kerosene or gasoline in place of

charcoal lighter fluid.A good holiday is a safe holiday. We hope

you and your family have a wonderful Labor Day celebration.

The Fulton County REMC office will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.

ElectricConsumer.org • SEPTEMBER 2014 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 5

Fulton County REMC News

At the 2014 Fulton County 4-H Fair, held July 14-18, the REMC sponsored the Battle

of the Barns, which returned to the fair in 2013. Approximately 35 4-H’ers received a Battle of the Barns T-shirt courtesy of Fulton County REMC. Several other sponsors donated differ-ent prizes to both teams.

Monday night’s competition started off Battle of the Barns with several messy games. Kids love to get messy!

Tuesday was a scavenger hunt, where the kids had to go all around

the fairground to find clues.Wednesday night the kids had a

blast! We had a color run, and by the time we were finished, we were all looking a little green (with powdered green paint).

Thursday was our last night and we finished up with several relay races, and for a special treat, the kids got ice cream.

This year’s Battle of the Barns winner was the swine barn. The win-ning team received free admission to the Friday night dance.

A big thank you to all of the partici-

pants and especially to all the helpers who came out and volunteered their time. We had a lot of fun.

REMC also had a commercial booth located in the Everett Smith Building, where directors and employ-ees had the opportunity to speak with many people who were passing by.

Fulton County REMC encourages children of all ages to participate in 4-H. It is an experience of a lifetime. REMC wants to congratulate all the 4-H’ers, leaders, and parents for a job well done! We look forward to seeing you all at the fair again next year. …

Having fun AT THE FAIR

This young fairgoer

tries to eat a banana

through a nylon mask.

This was among the

silly and messy games during Battle of the Barns, sponsored by

Fulton County REMC.

Battle of the Barns participants receive instructions for the next game from Fulton County REMC employees. Approximately 35 4-H’ers competed in the fun competition at this year’s fair.

On Wednesday night, Battle of the Barns participants competed in a color run, during which they had powdered green paint thrown on them.

28 ELECTRIC CONSUMER • SEPTEMBER 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

As harvest begins, rememeber a few safety tips

It is that time of year again when we are starting (or have already started) the yearly harvest.

During this very busy time please be safe and always keep overhead electrical lines in mind.

The same lines that make the harvest much easier and help us to perform much of our work are also an ever present danger if not kept at a safe distance. Many people think our high voltage lines have a pro-tective insulted coating. The truth is almost all high voltage lines have no coating at all. Most are alumi-num wire wrapped around a steel cord. As the lines stretch under high load or hot weather and then retract or shrink in cold weather, any coating would crack or fall off. This would be a bigger problem because people would think they were protected when they were not.

Also keep in mind that farm equipment has become sig-nificantly larger in recent years, while power lines have gener-ally remained at the same height. Combines and spraying equip-ment are larger, grain augers are longer, and the list goes on and on. People assume that everything will fit under the power lines, but that isn’t always the case. Always take a little extra time to be safe. We at the REMC recommend farmers take the following safety precautions:k Always look up and around before moving or raising equip-ment. Don’t trust your memory. Keep in mind, as stated earlier, that power lines sag between poles, especially on hot days or if they are under a high electrical loads. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 30 feet from all power lines and power poles.

k Never assume that power lines are insulated. While some second-ary lines may have insulation, it may have worn off. A very small gap in the insulation may expose you to danger.

k Don’t try to raise power lines to allow passage of tall equipment. Even non-metallic objects such as wood poles or branches can con-duct electricity.k Watch out for power poles and guy wires, too. If you strike one, it may break the pole, dropping a live line on your metal tractor or combine.k When considering the height of equipment, don’t forget about the radio antennas and GPS receivers that may reach another couple feet above the roof.k Take the time to fully lower grain augers and other portable equipment before moving them.k When moving equipment near power lines, have a spotter on hand to ensure your safety.k If you’re not completely sure that equipment will fit under a power line, find an alternate way to move it.k Be especially careful when lift-ing large metal objects such as irri-

gation pipes and ladders.k If you’re in equipment that touches power lines, stay in the cab and call for help, unless you’re in immediate danger because of a fire. If you have to escape, jump out far enough to avoid contacting the equipment. Keep both feet together and shuffle or hop at least 30 feet away, keeping your feet together the whole way.

In addition to avoiding over-head power lines, be careful about doing any kind of digging near underground power cables. Make sure you know and mark the loca-tions of all underground lines on the land you farm. If you are going to be starting a project that requires digging always call 8-1-1 a few days in advance to have all underground utility lines marked so it will be safe for you to dig. This service is free of charge. If you did hit an under-ground utility line while digging, you can harm yourself or those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, and poten-tially be responsible for fines and repair costs. So give them a call and dig safely.

So as we work to bring in the fall harvest, keep in mind the elec-tric lines that are above and below us. Have a safe harvest and give us a call at 574-223-3156 if you have questions or concerns we can help you with. Thanks for reading. …

GREG BITTERLING is the member services manager/energy advisor at Fulton County REMC. Contact him at gregb@fcremc.coop or 574-223-3156.

From your energy advisor

“The same lines that make the harvest much easier and help us to perform much of our work are also an ever present danger if not kept at a safe distance.”

ElectricConsumer.org • SEPTEMBER 2014 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 29