HMU NEWSLETTER JAN 2017  

 

 

HMU Newsletter

Jan 2017

     

HARLAN MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. AN RP3 PROVIDER.

January is a good time to reflect on the previous year. 

Listed below are some of our accomplishments from 2016 and on‐going projects initiated in 2016: 

Communications Utility: 

‐ Continued refining the performance and operational reliability of our All‐Digital Head‐End 

‐ Added HD channels and expanded general offerings to our Video (TV) Customers  

‐ Started the first phase of our Fiber‐To‐The‐Premise (FTTP) Project, scheduled for completion in Spring 2017 

‐ Completed the Engineering Design for the second phase of the FTTP Project. This will finally provide Fiber Services to all of our customers 

Electric Utility: 

‐ Completed scheduled maintenance on 69kV transmission line between Harlan and Avoca  

‐ Continued our upgrade of all City street lighting to LED fixtures providing improved lighting quality for less energy 

‐ Completed engineering and bid materials for phase one of the electric underground conversion project on 7th, 8th & 9th Streets 

‐ Contracted for engineering services to design a three year program for completing electric underground conversion project   

 

 

Natural Gas Utility:  

‐ Worked with other concerned Municipal Utilities to effectively resist a proposed rate increase from our supply carrier (pipeline) Northern Natural Gas 

‐ Tested and/or changed out pressure regulators to ensure safe operations of our gas distribution system 

‐ Worked with natural gas supplier to ensure adequate supply for our large gas customers   

 

Water Utility: 

‐ Continuing to pursue options for improving the overall efficiency of the water plant 

‐ Along with improving the efficiency of operations, we 

2016 in Review. By Ken Weber – HMU CEO

HMU NEWSLETTER JAN 2017  2

 

 

REBATE APPLICATIONS DUE   

Submit rebate applications for lighting, appliances or insulation installed during calendar year 2016 by January 31, 2017. 

Qualifying appliances must be Energy Star approved and carry the Energy Star logo on the yellow Energy Guide. Furnaces and A/C units do have to meet certain efficiency targets. Check the rebate application or brochure for guidelines.   Insulation rebates require a pre and post inspection in order to receive a rebate.  

If you have any questions on our energy rebate programs, call Doug Hammer at 755‐5182. 

are pursuing options for reducing overall O&M expenses, particularly chemical and filter medium expenses 

‐ Approved engineering proposal for designing piping system reroutes and demolition of the old water plant    

 

Facilities: 

‐ Removed the interior walls, electrical and HVAC systems at the 405 Chatburn building 

‐ Evaluated older facilities for continued use or demolition 

‐ Worked with the Harlan Community Schools FFA Program to establish a garden 

‐ Evaluating options for a community solar project 

 

General: 

‐ Commissioned an in‐depth Cost Of Service rate study for electric, gas and water services 

‐ Commissioned an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) study to evaluate options for our long‐term energy supply including alternative and renewable energy options    

‐ Reviewing and updating the HMU Succession Plan 

 This abbreviated overview should provide insight into our efforts to provide you, our customers, the very best levels or service and reliability at the very lowest costs possible.   

As always, should you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact any of our staff or visit with us at the office.   

Yours now and into the future. 

 

 

 

HMU Newsletter

Jan 2017 Harlan Municipal

Utilities

2412 Southwest Ave. Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182 Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com 

   

Harlan’s Premier Provider of

Electric, Gas, Water and 

Telecommunications

Payment options

HMU offers numerous payment options so you can choose which option works best for you. Check or cash: customers can always pay by personal check, money order or cash in person during normal business hours or drop payments in either of the two drop boxes at our main office. Payments can also be dropped off at either Shelby County State Bank or Midstates Bank. However, be aware that dropping off payments at one of the listed banks may result in a delay in posting your payment. Make sure to drop off your payment well before the due date to ensure timely posting of your payment. Credit or debit card: HMU does accept credit and debit cards. HMU encourages you to use one of our verified payment partners to submit online payment via credit or debit card. Trusted online partners include Payment Services Network (PSN) for electric, gas and water payments or Kanokla to submit payment for your cable TV, Internet and telephone bill. Links to

these sites can be found at harlannet.com Using any other online third party payment service, for example doxo, does not guarantee your payment will be received by the due date. An untimely payment could generate additional late fees or disconnection of services. If you use a non HMU verified partner payment service, you may incur surcharges or fees that are not credited to your bill. This leaves a balance due. When you use PSN or Kanokla, you can be sure all of your payment is posted to your account. Credit cards do generate a processing fee charged to the merchant. At the December 2016 HMU Board meeting, the Trustees passed a resolution stating customers that use a credit card for payment will absorb any card processing fees if the amount charged on a credit card exceeds $5,000 per month for all accounts combined. A credit card cannot be used to pay the processing fee. If you have any questions on on-line payments, please call us between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday – Friday at 755-5182.

February 2017

Quick Hits We’re not quite

done with winter. Avoid blowing or plowing snow on

top of or near utility boxes, meters or pedestals. Accumulating snow and ice can cause problems with service or delay restoring service in case of an outage. Watch

for pedestals and transformers near alleys when plowing. Know where the boxes are before you

start.

Longtime HMU

employee Dar Gessert has assumed the duties of Director of Electric, Gas and Water, the position formerly held by Steve Dresen who

retired in 2016.

Longtime HMU

employee Dan Murray has announced his retirement and will be leaving HMU at the end

of February.

HMU Newsletter Har lan Munic ipa l Ut i l i t ies

Auto Pay: Your bill is automatically paid on the day you specify. Using Auto Pay eliminates writing and mailing a check. You’ll never need to worry about when or if the bill gets paid again. Auto Pay is a free time-saving service. There are some differences in the type of Auto-Pay. HMU Auto-Pay: Automatically deducted from checking, savings, or credit card account on the account due date. Online Auto-Pay: Through our 3rd Party Vendors, Utility and Telecom payments can be made online. These can be “one-time-only” payments or set as “reoccurring” payments each month. Auto-pay thru YOUR bank: Your bank sends us a traditional paper check on the date that you choose for it to process. This can take up to 7-10 business days to reach us so plan accordingly to ensure timely payment.

Celebrating 125 years of service to Harlan: The history of HMU

Gas connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to connect gas appliances to gas sources.

Older gas connectors made of uncoated brass (example pictured) are susceptible to cracking, breaking and deterioration due to moving, bending, corrosion or the way they were made. The connectors have a flaw in how the tubing was joined to the end pieces. Over time, the end pieces can separate and cause a gas leak, which could lead to property damage or injury if not replaced immediately.

To our knowledge, these brass connectors have not been manufactured for over 25 years, but many are still in use. Not all uncoated brass connectors have this flaw, but all should be inspected by a professional and replaced with stainless steel connectors.

Gas appliances in your home that should be checked include: Range, oven or cook top, clothes dryer, hot water heater or auxiliary area heaters. Do NOT attempt to move the appliance yourself to check the connector. Contact a licensed plumber or qualified professional appliance repair service to inspect and replace connectors if necessary.

If an HMU employee finds a brass flex connector on an appliance in your home, the appliance will be red tagged and shut off at the appliance, if possible, or gas to the home will be shut off until the line is replaced. This is for your safety.

2412 Southwest Ave

P.O. Box 71

Harlan, Iowa 51537

Harlan Municipal Utilities

As part of celebrating 125 years of service to Harlan throughout 2016, we compiled a history of HMU. This 22 page full color book outlines the establishment of electric (1891), gas (1952), water (1891) and telecom (1995) services in Harlan, contains a list of HMU Board members since 1920, plus has historic pictures of Harlan and HMU through the years. A limited number of free copies are available at the HMU office and can be picked up during normal business hours. Or, you can also call Doug Hammer at 733-8065 to have a copy dropped off or mailed.

Phone: 712-755-5182

Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

Harlan's premier provider of electric, gas, water and telecommunications

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and on the web @ Harlannet.com

Inspect gas connectors

March 2017

2017 ConstructionMarch is when HMU starts focusing on our yearly construction schedules. 2017 will be a another very busy year for HMU.

Your HMU Telecommunications Utility will be resuming Phase I of our fiber to the home project this month. At the same time, we’ll moving forward with planning and bidding for Phase II construction. Our contractors are scheduled to return in March and their initial focus will be on completing all alley and any remaining general construction clean-up. For those customers still experiencing muddy alleys resulting from last year’s construction, we haven’t forgotten about you but some ground-settling issues just can’t be fully resolved until after the first few spring rains. And just to keep you updated, we have ordered our new digital telephone switch, which will be brought into service later this year.

Overlaying areas of that project will be the continuation of the Electric Utilities overhead to underground conversion project. The conversion is planned out over the next several years with the focus in 2017 converting those areas where we overlay the fiber project. Or, basically, 7th, 8th and 9th street from Elm to Chatburn. The intention of focusing on the overlay areas is to minimally impact those of you, our customers, where both projects impact your property so you only have to be inconvenienced once. As we complete

the remaining underground conversion work over the next couple of years, the final stage will include rebuilding our East Substation.

We are currently taking multiple steps toward improving the efficiency of our water treatment plant. The objectives are to reduce chemical use, increase the useful life of the treatment units filters and otherwise reduce operating and maintenance expenses. We have contracted with an engineering firm to prepare a plan for demolishing the old water plant and removal of two old clear wells. All this while we evaluate and test several non-operating wells for possible rehabilitation and bringing them back into production.

In addition, we will have engineers assess both the natural gas and water distribution (piping) systems. Coupled with the construction projects listed above, these additional assessments will provide information critical in formulating an overall utility asset management plan for the long-term viability and sustainability of HMU.

All of these multitude of plans, projects and investments are directed at providing you, our customers, with the most reliable, cost-effective utility services available in this area.

As always, if you have any questions about what we do and why we do it, just call our office.

The winter moratorium ends April 1. If you are having a problem paying your utility bill and could be facing a shut off, con-tact us NOW to set up a payment plan. It is much easier to make payment arrangements before ser-vices are shut off.

Spring yard work and construction starts soon! Stay safe. Call 811 before you dig and have under-ground utilities located.

Quick Hitsby Ken Weber, CEO

REMEMBER!PlEasE dRivE

safEly inconstRuction

zonEs!

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

Budget BillingBudget Billing is a way to level out utility payments over 12 months. Using Budget Billing, you’ll know how much you owe for electric, gas and water service every month.

Your Budget Billing amount is based on the amount of electricity, gas and water you used over the past 12 months. The estimated future usage assumes you will consume about the same amount of energy and water over the next 12 months.

After your average usage is determined, we can estimate what the month-ly bill will be for the next 12 months. This estimate is what you will pay ev-ery month for the next year. At the end of 12 months, you have the option to true up your bill if you used more than estimated and, therefore, owe more than originally estimated, or you can roll over the amount owed to the next 12 months. If you used less than estimated, your credit will apply toward next year.

Budget billing avoids the wide swings of monthly utility bills. Now is the time to enroll.

March 2017

Underground Gas Pipe NoticeIf you have a natural gas line that runs underground, for example, to a heater in a garage, that line is after the gas meter.

Here is a safety recommendation:

We operate our gas system with an emphasis on safety. We’re required to design, operate and maintain our underground natural gas pipeline system according to prescribed federal standards. HMU does not maintain any gas piping that occurs AFTER the meter. This is the responsibility of the customer who owns the pipe. If a buried pipe is not properly maintained it may be subject to corrosion or leakage.

To ensure continued safe and reliable operation, these lines should be checked periodically. You, or the building owner if you live in rental property, are advised to contact a licensed plumber or heating contractor to assist you in locating and inspecting your buried gas lines. If any unsafe condition is discovered, repairs should be made immediately.

If we can answer any questions related to natural gas, please call us at 755-5182.

As always, call Iowa One Call at 811 or 1-800-292-8989 before digging!

April 2017

Rate Study Update

CHANNEL CHANGES• RFDHD is now on

channel 23 (HD) and 1023 (SD)

• MSNBC is now on channel 66 (HD) and 1066 (SD)

• FOX Business Network is now on channel 70 (HD) and 1070 (SD)

GAS EFVsPlease read the enclosed notification for gas Excessive Flow Valves (EFVs). EFVs are optional for established gas services and are installed with new gas services.

SAVE THE DATEHMU Municipal Celebration is scheduled for Thursday, June 15th. Watch for your RSVP card in next month’s bill!

SIGN UP FOR BUDGET BILLING IN APRILBudget Billing helps offer stability to your monthly budget. It lets you pay the same amount every month so you can plan accordingly. Contact our office for details!

Quick Tipsby Ken Weber, CEO

In addition to all of our varied infrastructure projects, HMU is also reviewing all of our electric, gas and water utility rates. Dave Berg of Dave Berg Consulting is finishing his assessment in the form of a Base Rate-Cost of Services Rate Analysis. In other words, he reviews all of our underlying infrastructure investment, ongoing operations and maintenance expenses, planned capital investments and coverage for all bonded indebtedness. He then analyzes all of this financial data to assess our current rate structures for each class of customer (i.e. residential, commercial or industrial).

He presented the background or supporting information and assessment at our March Board meeting and plans to present his recommendations for utility rates at our April Board meeting. His preliminary indication is that our rates are, in-fact, reasonable in relation to our baseline costs of providing utility services to our customers. He recommends simplifying our electric rates by reducing the number of incremental blocks, or steps within each class of service, and slightly increasing our Demand Charges. Gas rates are projected to remain essentially the same with no expected restructuring. Water rates will also be streamlined by, again, reducing the number of incremental blocks. Industrial customers that have the greatest impact on our peak usage for both electricity and water will see a slight increase in rates, as this study shows they are currently being marginally subsidized by other customers. The Board will receive the recommendations for structuring our rates at an April Board meeting but may elect to study any impacts in greater detail prior to making any rate adjustments.

The question had been asked numerous times over the last few years how HMU sets its utility rates. Now, with the results from this Cost of Service study, we can respond from the basis of knowledge, fact and analysis. We believe HMU rates are reasonable and provide the basis for operating and maintaining highly reliable and safe systems. Through the Dave Berg assessment, HMU will be able to attest that we have reviewed all of our underlying costs and that going forward, our utility rates are equitable and fair to all classes of customers served and we are fiscally strong.

We believe this study, along with our previous cash flow analysis and other studies currently underway, will put HMU on a sustainable course well into the future. Essentially, it will provide the basis for assumptions and projections in support of not only our current projects but potentially additional future projects.

As always, should you have questions regarding your service and/or current rates please contact our dedicated staff for answers.

Remember, be safe and always call for locates prior to any spring work around above ground or buried utilities.

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

April 2017

Project ShareProject Share assists needy households in paying energy bills.

You may add a regular contribution to Project Share through your monthly utility payment or by making a one-time direct donation. Your contribution is voluntary, flexible and tax deductible.

People qualifying under the Project Share guidelines are carefully identified by an area social service agency.

Project Share Contribution

I’d like to help a neighbor in need with a contribution to Project Share.

Name_______________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________

Phone______________________________________________________________

I will contribute $___________ per month. I understand this amount will be added to my monthly utility bill.

My account number:____________________________________________________

I have enclosed a one-time contribution of $___________________________________

HMU will be flushing water mains the week of April 24th.

During this time, you may notice cloudy water before bathing, doing dishes or laundry. Be sure to let the water run for a minute or two to help remove the cloudiness.

Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

Water Main Flushing

May 2017

American Public Power AssociationRP3 Recertification

RSVP ENCLOSEDRSVP cards for the June 15th Municipal Celebration are included with your bill this month. If you are planning on attending, please return the card showing the number of people we should expect in your party. If you are NOT planning on attending, you do NOT need to return the postcard.

MEMORIAL DAY CLOSINGIn honor of Memorial Day, the HMU office will be closed Monday, May 29th. Emergency calls will be taken at 755-5182.

TIME FOR A TUNE UP!Now is the time to schedule a professional tune up of you air conditioner. Rebates are available for purchasing and installing energy efficient central air units and room air conditioners. Details are available on our website at harlannet.com or in person at our office.

Quick Tipsby Ken Weber, CEO

I traveled to San Antonio, Texas on May 7th to receive our Reliable Public Power (RP3) Recertification Award at the American Public Power Association Engineering & Operations Technical Conference. What this recertifies is the dedication of your Harlan Municipal Utilities to providing you, our customers, with the absolute most reliable and safe utility services available.

The RP3 certification is good for three years and recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: electric service reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. HMU achieved our original award in 2014. The application to recertify involved submitting documentation demonstrating the results of our behavior and efforts (measurements of performance). The programs, schedules and participation of all of our employees in these critical efforts keep us focused at all times on safety and reliability. These programs cover everything from First Aid and CPR to our Lineman Apprenticeship program and include such other activities as safe operation of chain saws, backhoes and forklifts. Basically, providing all necessary training in support of our efforts toward ensuring not only Public Safety but the health and safety of our valued employees.

This is a peer reviewed program and our application and participation is strictly voluntary. What it means to us is that we not only “Talk the Talk” concerning Safety and Reliability but we also “Walk the Walk” as indicated by our successful qualification for participation and recognition from this National Association.

So, the next time you see an HMU employee, vehicle or informational piece, look for the RP3 logo. We wear it proudly as an indication of our dedication to you, our community and our Municipal Utilities.

As always, should you have questions regarding your service and/or current rates please contact our dedicated staff for answers.

Remember, be safe and always call for locates prior to any spring work around above ground or buried utilities.

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

May 2017

Crews continue to install drops to homes and businesses in the construction area as well as pull and splice the main fiber infrastructure. Some homes have received the new boxes on the sides of the house. These boxes will house the new electronics required to accept the fiber connection and process the data sent over the fiber. Some old coax (the black wire) based boxes have been removed from the side of the house and hung via tie wraps. This is temporary until the actual fiber has been pulled to the house, the new electronics have been installed in the new box and each customer is cut over from coax to fiber. Currently, we anticipate starting to cut over customers in late third quarter and during fourth quarter of this year. Converting customers will probably continue into 2018.

Fiber, basically a piece of glass 1/11th the diameter of a human hair, is now the preferred method of data transport. It takes far less supporting infrastructure in the field, is unaffected by changes in temperature, and is capable of transporting an, almost, unlimited amount of data. Near term use includes Internet and other telecom services while the capability of the fiber allows for advanced meter reading and load management and control in the future.

Installing fiber is a long term commitment to advanced data and energy services in Harlan. Sitting here in 2017, it is hard to imagine a time when fiber becomes outdated and will need to be replaced.

Fiber to the Home (FTTX) Update

Ensuring a safe and plentiful water supply is one of our oldest and most sacred duties.

The 2017 Water Quality Report is now available. The report is designed to be an easy to read and understand update to customers on our annual water testing. It lists certain contaminants, their levels of concentration in the water and whether or not those levels are in violation of standards. As in past years, no violations of recommended levels of contaminants were found.

The report can be found in the May 9th and May 19th editions of the Harlan newspaper or online at Harlannet.com.

2017 Water Quality Report

June 2017

Obstructed Meters

4th OF JULY HOLIDAYThe HMU office will be closed Tuesday, July 4th. Emergency calls will be taken at 755-5182.

REBATES AVAILABLERebates are available for installing high efficiency air conditioners. Details available at Harlannet.com or by contacting our office.

WIRELESS ROUTERSWe lease or sell wireless routers. Three coverage ranges are available for small, medium or large areas. All are designed for multiple users. Leasing starts at $4.99/mo. See us for details.

CABLE TV CHANNEL CHANGESOn or about June 26th, HMU cable customers will see the following changes: Universal HD, Channel 183, and Esquire, channel 251, will leave the lineup. Velocity, channel 182, and MTV Live, channel 184, will join the Digital Basic tier.

Quick TipsThe HMU gas service rules, as approved by the HMU Board of Trustees, state:

3.5(2) Customer Premises:Customers shall make the meter accessible without interference from pets and/or physical barriers. If, after notice is given, the customer fails to provide for safe access to the meter, remote metering will be installed at the customer’s expense.

Our meter readers are noticing more obstructed electric and gas meters. By obstructed, we mean shrubbery or flowers are planted directly in front of or structures are built around meters. Enclosing, impeding or barring access to a meter is both an operational and safety issue. Blocking or restricting access to a meter could lead to misread meters and improper billing as meter readers are unable to get accurate readings. Emergency responders and HMU crews MUST have access to meters in case of fire. If there is a gas leak inside your home, the safest, quickest and best way to shut off the flow of gas is at the meter. If a responder cannot access the meter to shut off the gas, the situation could escalate. In the most extreme situation, not being able to shut off the gas at the meter could lead to the concentration of gas reaching an explosive level or gas feeding a fire.

Meters are scheduled for replacement to ensure accurate operation and billing. If we cannot easily access a meter, it may be necessary to trim plants away from a meter or remove an object blocking a meter. We prefer that homeowners and businesses ensure access to meters by not blocking meters with plants and shrubs or permanent structures. Yet, in the interest of public safety and accurate billing, HMU must begin to enforce our policy of meter access.

If, after July 1, 2017, meter readers find an obstructed meter, HMU will send a courtesy letter asking customers to help find a way to keep the meter clear. If a meter continues to be obstructed, HMU will work with the customer to find a way to help rectify the situation. Ultimately, meters need to be kept free of obstruction for safety and accurate reading.

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

June 2017

If you are headed to your dream destination this summer or just taking some time off for a family excursion, don’t forget about your utilities.

Even if you are only gone for the weekend, think about shutting off your water service at an inside valve if you can. An unattended small drip or leak over several days can increase your water bill unnecessarily.

If you plan to be gone for a month or more, consider contacting us about shutting off telecom services. If you’ll be gone for a significant time, say four to five months during the winter, ask about shutting off all utilities.

The last thing you want to worry about when you are on vacation is your utility bill. Setting up your account for Auto Pay ensures your bill is paid on time every month.

Vacations and Auto Pay

There are many low cost and even free ways to cut your cooling bill this summer:

• Use shades and blinds on south and west windows to block afternoon solar heat.• Keep the air moving. Don’t block vents with furniture or curtains. When possible, turn off the A/C and open doors

and windows. • Sometimes, opening windows on cool nights can increase air flow. But if it’s humid, your cooling system may

work harder the next day to remove all the moisture you let in the night before.

Other ways to trim your bill this summer and in the future:

• Keep shrubs and ground cover away from your outside central air equipment.• Have a professional A/C tune up every year or two to ensure your system works at peak efficiency.• Replace filters regularly. Remember, keep the air moving. Blocked filters add to your cooling cost.• Install ceiling fans or use box fans to circulate air.• Check duct work for air leakage.• Plant the right shade tree for your property and home on the south or west side to help block the summer sun.

Summer Energy Saving Tips

July 2017

Project Updates

SEWER SERVICE BILLINGHMU bills sewer service on behalf of the City of Harlan. If you have any questions regarding sewer service or rates, please contact City Hall at 755-5137.

ENERGY REBATESIf your air conditioner conks out this summer and you have to replace it, remember HMU offers rebates for installing high efficiency units. See harlannet.com for rebate details.

KEEPING IN TOUCHWe use a variety of ways to help get you information on scheduled and unscheduled outages, policy or procedure changes and telecom services, like adding or removing cable TV channels. They’re the quick and easy way to get accurate information as to what’s happening with your service or HMU.

Like us on Facebook: @HarlanMunicipalUtilties Follow us on Twitter:@HarlanUtilitiesVisit: harlannet.com to sign up for e-mail or text alerts.

Quick TipsWe are half-way through the 2017 calendar year but HMU is just starting our next Fiscal year (2017-2018). What this means is, that in addition to our current major infrastructure projects, we now start scheduling our budgeted Long-Term Capital Projects.

First up is major maintenance to the north water tower on 12th Street and replacing the aged steel riser. This project ended up being deferred from last year. The Cyclone water tower, at the High School, is scheduled for sandblasting and painting. We have modified the standard specifications of our maintenance agreement to upgrade the standard paint to a new mildew-resistance product. If this works, it should eliminate the ongoing problem of mildew turning black on the shadowed bottom side of the “bowl”. What happens during the summer is that moisture collects on the surface at the north bottom side of the “bowl” and mildew forms turning the surface black. We hope this new paint mitigates the mildew problem we have had in the past using regular exterior paint. The tower is too high for any type of power washing utilizing HMU equipment and hiring the work done is expensive. Any regular cleaning to remove the mildew would have to be performed regularly during the summer and fall.

We are winding-up Phase I of the Fiber Project and are scheduled to start Phase II construction later this summer. Once construction is completed there will be a period of time required to test and commission the new lines and equipment. We are currently evaluating options for budgeting and scheduling the conversion of Customers over to the new system. The conversion work was originally planned to occur in the second half of 2018.

Last month’s Muni Celebration was gauged a success. We always appreciate the opportunity to interact with you, our valued Customers. These occasions not only allow us to interact personally with our Customer but also provides HMU the opportunity to introduce and demonstrate new technology as it is brought into our local market.

As always, should you have any questions regarding your HMU services, please call us or visit the office.

by Ken Weber, CEO

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

July 2017

The Iowa Utilities Board requires that all utilities in the state publish an annual notice advising customers of their right of appeal on certain complaints and where a qualified utility representative can be reached. The following is a required notice to HMU customers: Customers of Harlan Municipal Utilities who desire assistance in the resolution of a complaint may ask for the customer service representative at:

Harlan Municipal Utilities 2412 Southwest Avenue Harlan, Iowa 51537

or call HMU at (712) 755-5182 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If your complaint is related to electric or natural gas service disconnection, safety or renewable energy, and Harlan Municipal Utilities does not resolve your complaint, you may request assistance from the Iowa Utilities Board.

Dispute Resolution

Thank you, once again, for a great turnout! We hope you enjoy the Celebration as much as we do and that you will join us again next year.

Congratulations to Diane Coenen and Rachel Theulen. They were winners of the raffle drawings at our Municipal Celebration. Diane won the patio table and Rachel won the electronics bundle.

Muni CelebrationUpdate...

By Mail:Iowa Utilities BoardCustomer Service 1375 E. Court Ave., RM 69 Des Moines, IA 50319-0069

By telephone or FAX:Toll free: 1-877-565-4450Fax: 1-515-725-7399

By eMail: customer@iub.iowa.gov

Online: https://iub.iowa.gov/how-to-file-complaint

August 2017

It’s on the Internet so it’s OK. Right?

LABOR DAYThe HMU office will be closed on Monday, September 4th for Labor Day. Emergency calls taken at 755-5182.

AUTO PAYAuto Pay is a very quick and convenient way to make sure your utility bills are paid on time every month. It’s a free service. Ask us how to sign up!

CHANNEL UPDATESWatch for the Tennis Channel on HMU Cable channel 84.

Watch HCHS football and volleyball on HLTV channel 15.

GO CYCLONES!

DID YOU NOTICE?Did you notice the back of the utility bill now has explanations of the various categories on the front side of the bill?

Quick TipsOne can find pretty much anything one wants on the Internet. Recipes, sports scores, music videos, even family pictures are now uploaded to cloud storage sites. Does that mean that anything that you can access on the Internet is free and OK to use however you want? No.

Most Internet content, whether it is an article written for the Wall Street Journal, a picture taken by a local photographer or a video produced by your favorite music star is still protected by copyright laws. A copyright protects the person responsible for creating the original work, whether it is written word, a painting, a movie, music, including lyrics, and other creative works of art. The person or entity holding the copyright has a say in how their creation is distributed, exhibited, sold or used by other people. It is always safe to assume that any created content in any form has a copyright. Copyright holders are commonly listed in books and during movie credits but it is not a requirement that the rights holder expressly state their rights on their work. Violating a copyright can result in criminal prosecution and/or fines.

Movie studios are very aggressive in protecting their copyrights and pursuing violations. Producing a new movie costs tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars and studios want to protect their financial interest in order to recoup their investment. The advancement of producing movies in a digital format makes it very easy for someone to steal a digital copy of the movie, upload it to a server and allow people all over the world to view the movie before it hits the theaters. Pirated copies affect the amount of money the studio can make on the movie.

It is possible to track illegal downloading of copyright protected content such as movies. If this happens, HMU, as your internet service provider, is notified when a movie is illegally downloaded by one of our customers. We are required to help protect digital rights of copyright holders. This means we will contact the person responsible for the account and let them know there has been a copyright violation associated with their service. It is not necessary to find the person that actually downloaded the movie as the account holder is presumed to be responsible for all activity on the account. (Parents: if the account is in your name, you are responsible for what your children or their guests may download. It’s always a good idea to remind kids what is OK and not OK to access on the Internet and through your account.)

Typically, when customers are notified a movie has been illegally downloaded on their account, the activity stops and we do not receive any other notices. Continuing to download pirated content after a notification is a violation of our service policy and may result in the termination of service through us.

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Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

August 2017

Bids have been accepted to begin the next phase of converting electric lines from overhead to underground and a continuation of the fiber to the home project.

Beginning in September, crews will be working in an area generally described as north of Chatburn to Cyclone and east of 6th street. Initially, main line conduits for electric and fiber will be bored in. Depending on how late in the year the contractors can work, we anticipate they will also install some secondary conduits yet this year.

We expect the project to halt over the winter and be completed in 2018. Once done, we will finally have the HMU electric distribution system underground.

Eventually, all properties within Harlan will have access to a direct fiber connection.

Next, and final, step

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So… what’s OK and what’s not? Accessing movies through credible pay sites like Netflix, iTunes or Amazon Prime is the safest way to go. If you are paying for the movie, you are purchasing the right to view the movie through the rights holder. Using a service, like watchtvanywhere, where you can watch content online because you subscribe to the cable channel, is all right, easy and convenient. Using an OTT service such as Hulu, PlayStation Vue or HBO Go is all right as you have somehow reached a financial agreement with the provider to access the content.

Services like Vimeo or YouTube, where the content holder may or may not authorize the distribution of their work, exist. Some rights holders are vigilant about taking down their content posted by others. One day a video may be on YouTube and it may be gone the next if the rights holder demands it be taken down.

Following the guideline “if you are paying for it you are OK and if it is free, be cautious” is pretty good advice. Using services like Periscope to distribute copyrighted content, such as a live sporting event, is illegal. If you have to use special software, workarounds, VPNs or private servers in the dark shadowy part of the web, it’s probably illegal.

Water Tower UpdateCrews from Suez Water Advanced Solutions performed an annual five point inspection of the water tower at Cyclone Ave. and Highway 59 during the first two weeks of August. In the process, the tank was power washed outside to remove mildew and the paint refreshed. A routine internal tank inspection was performed to check for corrosion.

The water towers are inspected on a regular basis to ensure safe and sanitary conditions. Contractors check for structural integrity, safety items such as ladders, and to just make sure all is ok with the towers. We plan on the towers being in service for a long time and want to make sure they are properly maintained and operating as intended. Plus, water towers tend to be visual markers for a town. A lot of people see the tower on Highway 59. We want to make sure it’s attractive and help Harlan put its best foot forward.

Above: Hash marks show approximate area where overhead lines will be converted to underground

September 2017

Construction Update & Looking Ahead

WINTER IS COMING!September is the time to winterize your home. Visit harlannet.com for lots of helpful energy saving tips and rebate information. We offer rebates for installing insulation, energy efficient furnaces and programmable thermostats.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?Get your fall football fix with HMU cable. Find college and pro games all Fall long on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and NFL networks and more. A whole home DVR from HMU records up to six games at once. Pause in one room, pick up where you left off in another room. A jump back button allows you to have your own instant replay. Skip or fast forward through commercials when you watch replays of recorded programs. See us for details.

Quick TipsAs you have probably noticed, there has been much construction activity in our community this past year related to HMU facilities.

To bring you up-to-date, the amount of construction work already underway will be increasing this Fall as we start the next step in installing Fiber to the Home and the next phase of our Electric Underground Conversion Project. In addition to those, you may have noticed the new paint job on the Cyclone water tower by the High School. We also expect the engineering specifications will be ready yet this Fall to start the delayed maintenance on our 12th Street water tower.

Some of this activity reflects our concerted efforts toward protecting and maintaining HMU’s many valuable assets (infrastructure and facilities). Scheduled maintenance helps HMU ensure we fully realize their intended useful (service) life while making diligent efforts towards extending useful life of assets where it makes business sense. Planned maintenance along with scheduled replacement and/or additions of new infrastructure or equipment is what allows HMU to deliver the enhanced and reliable level of services our municipal customers expect. Everything we plan for and implement is directed toward providing least-cost services to our customers while providing for long-term sustainable levels of reliability.

Another element of our obligations to you, our customer, is to periodically take a step back and try to assess the future as best we can. Your HMU Board of Trustees will be meeting with staff next month to discuss and formalize our strategic objectives for each utility:

• Are we positioned where we need to be regarding services provided? • Does HMU meet or exceed our Customer’s expectations? • Are staffing levels and succession planning appropriate to operate and maintain

our systems? • Are staff offered the requisite training opportunities to support professional, and

personal, growth and development? • Are we focused on working safely to protect our employees, our infrastructure

and our community? • And most importantly, are we forward looking and able to respond to changes

in the community, the county and the state?

There is much to be aware of and much that HMU has to comply with, and/or report on, regarding the integrity and safety of our utility delivery systems, both at the state and federal levels. Compliance with standards, particularly with regards to financial accounting, is paramount to the operating transparency you expect and we endorse. An example of this openness is all the discussion, and publication, of information related to our recent efforts

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by Ken Weber, CEO

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

September 2017

Operating a safe gas system is one of our highest priorities. Enclosed with the newsletter is our brochure on natural gas. Please take the time to read it and discuss it with family members.• ALWAYS call 811 before you dig to make sure there are no gas lines in the area of digging.

HMU will locate gas lines owned and operated by HMU up to the meter for free when you call 811.

• Customer owned piping including gas lines running to grills, yard lights, out buildings or garages will not be marked by HMU as these lines are after the meter and owned by the customer. Contact a plumbing or heating dealer or qualified private contractor to locate gas piping owned by you.

• Insist others performing work for you call before they dig.• Learn how to recognize a gas leak and what to do if one happens. See the brochure for

signs of a gas leak.• Do not cover or obstruct gas meters. Make sure we can get to a meter if necessary.• Keep our number by your phone and call us any time of day if you suspect a gas leak.

Call 755-5182 24 hours a day.

Natural Gas Safety Notice

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to refinance our 2010A Electric Revenue Bond. This refunding effort utilized a competitive bidding process resulting in the potential savings of $359,000 in interest and expenses over the remainder of the refunding term. This is but one example but clearly illustrates our commitment to doing everything possible to save money for our rate paying Customers.

If you should you ever have questions related to how we do what we do or how we utilize your utility payments, feel free to visit our office anytime, Monday through Friday.

Yours for another year of growth and progress.

LIHEAP Enrollment Begins October 1stThe 2017-2018 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary heating costs for the winter heating season. The assistance is based on household income, household size, type of fuel, and type of housing.

Where and when to apply:West Central Community Action • 1018 6th St., Harlan, IA 51537 • 712-755-5602

Applications are taken on a first-come-first serve basis M-F from 9:00am-3:00pmElderly: 60 & over and/or disabled: Apply October 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018All other households: November 1, 2017– April 30, 2018

Things to take with you when applying for LIHEAP:• Proof of Income for all household members age 19 and over. Check stubs from the

previous 30 days, award letter from Social Security or 2016 tax return.• Social Security Numbers for all household members (documentation required).• Bills: Recent heat and/or electric bill.

Fixed Income: This income may include: Social Security Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Family Investment Program, Veteran’s Assistance, Unemployment Insurance and pensions. Take copies of your check stubs for the 30 day period preceding the date of application or a copy of your Federal Income Tax Return.

Wage Earners: Take copies of your check stubs for the 30 day period preceding the date of application or a copy of your Federal Income Tax Return.

Self-Employment/Farmers: Take a copy of your most recent Federal Income Tax Return.

FIP and SSI Recipients: Take a copy of your current DHS Notice of Decision or contact your local office for acceptable document information.

If you receive alimony, child support, or rental income, it will also need to be verified.

October 2017

Why public?

MEDALLION HUNTThe Harvest Fest medallion hunt starts Monday, October 23rd. Watch HMU cable channel 14 for clues on where the medallion is hidden. New clues are released at noon each day. Find it, return it to HMU and claim the $100 reward.

SAVE MONEY WHEN AWAY FROM HOMEIf you will be out of your home for an extended period of time (snowbird or extended medical care) have us place your telecom account on vacation status to save money.

REBATES AVAILABLERebates for the purchase of energy efficient furnaces and insulation are available. Visit harlannet.com or in person at our office for details.

HOW ARE WE DOING?Report Cards are included in this month’s bill. Give us a grade then drop the card in the mail.

OLYMPIC CHANNELThe Olympic Channel features highlights of past Olympic games and is now on Channel 219 on the digital tier.

Quick TipsThe month of October hosts Public Power Week and Public Natural Gas Week. Both are designed to celebrate and promote the virtues of Public ownership of electric and natural gas utilities. But why is public ownership a good thing?

Let’s reflect on history. When widespread commercial electric power became viable in the late 1800’s, large electric providers focused on densely populated areas like New York or Boston to efficiently minimize cost. As the private providers were interested in making a profit, It became apparent they were not interested in serving high cost, sparsely populated, rural areas. The economics of a few customers in a large area didn’t maximize their profits.

Yet, it was obvious the success of commerce and of community viability rested on electric power. If the large providers would not serve small towns like Harlan, who would? In the spirit of self-sufficiency, towns built their own light plants, owned and operated by the City, for the long term benefit of the people. As a community entity, the utility was governed by its citizens and employed its citizens. Any additional funds generated by the light plant were invested in upgrades making the plant or system more reliable or cost efficient. Excess funds were, generally, directed back to the City or for community betterment projects allowing the community to grow while holding down taxes.

Post WWII technological developments and expansion of natural gas distribution systems allowed more communities across the county access to a cheap form of energy to use for winter heating and industrial processing. Following the concept of self-sufficiency and not waiting on the for profit providers to supply service, communities built and operated their own gas systems. This utility, too, was governed by its citizens and employed its citizens. Any excess funds retained by the utility were put back into the community for the betterment of all, not just shareholders expecting a return on investment.

So what are the results of the concept of public utility providers? There are three types of electric providers: Investor owned for profit, member owned Cooperatives and City owned), Public providers, like municipal utilities, typically offer lower rates. Excess funds can be transferred back to a city and used for the overall betterment of the community instead of funneled into the personal pockets of investors. Decisions on how to run and operate the utility are made by citizens; not by Corporate Boards half a country away. The public utility is operated with the a guiding philosophy to do what is best for the entire community, not a few shareholders.

Very few towns have embraced the concept of self-sufficiency and determining their own destiny like Harlan. HMU is one of a very few utilities that provides electric, gas, water and telecom services. For 126 and 63 years respectively, the concepts and execution of Public Power and Public Gas have succeeded overwhelmingly in Harlan.

by Ken Weber, CEO

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

October 2017

HMU will be flushing water mains the week of October 23rd.

Please check your water before doing dishes, laundry or bathing. If your water appears cloudy, let it run until it becomes clear.

Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

Water Main Flushing

Pictured: Donald Cote and Brian Lasher from the HMU Water Department.

Project ShareProject Share assists needy households in paying energy bills.

You may add a regular contribution to Project Share through your monthly utility payment or by making a one-time direct donation. Your contribution is voluntary, flexible and tax deductible.

People qualifying under the Project Share guidelines are carefully identified by an area social service agency.

Project Share Contribution

I’d like to help a neighbor in need with a contribution to Project Share.

Name_______________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________

Phone______________________________________________________________

I will contribute $___________ per month. I understand this amount will be added to my monthly utility bill.

My account number:____________________________________________________

I have enclosed a one-time contribution of $___________________________________

November 2017

Reflecting on 2017HOLIDAY HOURSPlease note that the HMU office will be closed Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th for Thanksgiving. Emergency calls will be taken at 755-5182.

GREAT GIFT IDEAHMU gift certificates make a great Christmas gift for the hard to buy for person or to donate to giving trees. See one of our CSRs to purchase an HMU gift certificate.

LOCAL EVENTSWatch HCSD winter sports and holiday concerts on HLTV Channel 15.

BINGE WATCHERSA whole home DVR is great for winter binge watching. Record away and watch later from any room in the home.

Quick Tips

Here we are in November asking the same perennial question: Where has the year gone?

From an operations standpoint, this is an extremely busy period trying to wrap-up multiple construction projects before the first hard freeze and the onset of cold weather and snow. Concurrently on the Administrative side, we are reconciling fiscal year 2016-2017 Audit results and starting the budget process for fiscal year 2018-2019.

When preparing our annual fiscal year budgets, we review each utility’s long-term operations and maintenance objectives, required and scheduled maintenance, as well as fleet vehicle and general equipment replacement. Over the past several years we have used projected cost-of-living standard increases for expenses and wages while projecting continuing declines in revenues. Although financial performance of our electric, natural gas and water utilities are subject to the fluctuations of weather, we are also impacted by general declines in the number of customers (population trends) and overall energy, services and water usage (conservation and efficiency improvements). All the while, we’re continuing to make and plan for significant investments in infrastructure, with the overall objective of creating “Sustainable Utilities”.

On another note, we wish to extend our appreciation to every customer and citizen of our great community of Harlan for your patience during all of our various construction and system upgrade projects. We always strive to minimize and mitigate any impact to service during these periods of intense activity, but rest assured, everything we are undertaking is based on our intense desire to provide the highest level of reliable services at the most affordable cost possible.

HMU is not only here to serve your current needs but also to be prepared for the Future.

by Ken Weber, CEO

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications.

2412 Southwest AvenuePO Box 71

Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

November 2017

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas created by an incomplete burning of oil or gas by-products. Potential sources include automobiles, gas appliances, gas furnaces, chimneys, charcoal grills and portable kerosene heaters.

Some common symptoms of CO poisoning are: nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, persistent cough, fatigue, eye and upper respiratory tract irritation, wheezing or increased angina in people with coronary disease.

If you suspect a buildup of CO in your home or business, it is important to promptly leave first and then call emergency responders to gain medical attention if necessary. Have HMU test CO levels within the home before returning.

While CO alarms can be a useful secondary line of defense, the primary line of protection is prevention. Prevention includes regular, professional inspections of gas and other fuel burning appliances to ensure safe and efficient operation. Chimney flues should be cleaned regularly. Never use charcoal or propane grills inside as a heating source or for cooking. Never leave a car running in a closed garage, especially a garage attached to or under living quarters.

Simple regular maintenance and inspection of appliances and safe habits can lower your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:Know the Symptoms

Payment & Billing OptionsWe offer numerous payment and billing options to fit various lifestyles.

ACH paymentYour payment is pulled automatically from a checking or savings account on your due date. This method ensures your bill is paid in a timely manner every month. No more writing checks or worrying about the bill being paid on time. You still receive a record of your utility use and payment for your files.

On-line via credit cardSign up for an account at Payment Services Network (PSN) through the link at harlannet.com or paymentservicenetwork.com to pay electric, gas or water bills. Using this method allows you to pick the date the payment is made.

MailP.O. Box 71, Harlan, Iowa 51537

In person at our officePay by cash, check, debit or credit card 7:30 – 4:30 Monday – Friday. There are two drop boxes at our office for after-hours payments. We recommend you do not put cash in the drop boxes.

Budget BillingBudget billing evens out your payment each and every month so you can budget your utility bill. Budget billing takes the swing out of high summer cooling and winter heating bills. You’ll know each and every month what your bill will be. Budget Billing amounts are adjusted each year to reflect your actual use from the previous year.

December 2017

Water PlantDAVE GOEDE RETIRESAfter 39 years, electric line foreman Dave Goede will be retiring on December 22nd. Dave started his service with HMU in December of 1978. HMU is grateful for Dave’s dedication to serving customers.

HOLIDAY CONCERTSWatch holiday concerts from Shelby County Catholic School, Harlan Community School District and local churches on HCTV channel 15. We’ll air three days of concerts on December 23rd, 24th and 25th. See the on screen and on line guide for program dates and times.

Our end of year Best of 2017 programming begins December 26th and runs through January 1st. Watch replays of the Shelby County Fair, HCSD sports, fine arts and community events we’ve produced throughout the year. See the online or onscreen guide for programming days and times.

WINTER BINGE WATCHINGWinter is a great time to binge watch programming on a whole home DVR. Start watching a show in one room, pick up where you left off in another. The skip back function is like having your own instant replay for bowl and playoff games. Zip through commercials and save time watching recorded shows. See us for a demonstration or details.

Quick TipsProviding a safe and plentiful water supply to the City of Harlan is one of our oldest and most sacred duties.

In an effort to address long standing operational issues with the water plant, we undertook an extensive review of current design, operations and maintenance practices. What we found were several items, either related to specific design or operation, that led to higher than anticipated operating costs. For example, we found the filtration system may have been unintentionally disrupted in the startup process leading to premature cartridge filter replacement. Operating pressures were leading to inefficiencies in the reverse osmosis membranes. Water quality or quantity was never in doubt. The plant was just not operating as cost efficiently as it should.

With the assistance of HARN/RO, a qualified engineering firm, we have identified what we believe to be a comprehensive course of action designed to correct or improve some of these issues. In the interest of protecting the integrity and reliability of this significant investment, and achieving results as quickly as possible, HMU will immediately implement the prescribed course of facility improvements via the steps recommended by HARN/RO. We anticipate the work will start in January and take 1-2 months to complete. The plant contains redundant design meaning we will be able to implement the repairs with no compromise to quality or interruption in the water supply.

We believe the recommended steps will put us in a much better operational position when complete.

The HMU office will be closed Monday, December 25th forChristmas and Monday January 1st for New Year’s Day.

Emergency calls taken at 755-5182.

On behalf of the employees, management andBoard of Trustees, all of us wish you the happiest

of holidays and a great New Year. We look forward to serving you in 2018.

Harlan’s premier provider of electric, gas, water

and telecommunications. 2412 Southwest Avenue

PO Box 71Harlan, IA 51537

Phone: 712-755-5182Fax: 712-755-2320

E-mail: HMU@harlannet.com

www.harlannet.com

Follow us!

December 2017

Please do not blow or shovel snow on top of electric boxes, gas meters or telecom pedestals. Blocking a box or meter could slow down an outage restoration or cause a safety problem.

Watch for boxes when plowing snow in alleys. Inadvertently hitting a pedestal or box could cause an outage.

Winter Safety Reminder

Eight Ways to Save in Cold WeatherSeal air leaks throughout your home or business: A variety of products are available to seal doors, windows, and electrical outlets to prevent cold air from seeping in.

Insulate: Ensure your home has adequate attic, wall and floor insulation. Insulate ducts or boiler pipes in unheated areas.

Turn it down: Install a programmable thermostat that automatically turns down the heat when you are asleep or away.

Maintain: Have heating systems serviced regularly to maintain safety, peak performance and efficiency. Keep ductwork clean. Change furnace filters every month during the heating season. Lubricate motors as needed to decrease loss to friction.

Buy smart: Always buy EnergyStar qualified appliances when possible and apply for a rebate from HMU when you purchase qualifying Energy Star products. Make a commitment to install LED bulbs when incandescent bulbs burn out.

Use smart: Set your own house or business energy policy. Remind the whole family to shut off lights, TV’s, and computers when they are done using them. Small acts done regularly add up to energy and cost savings.

Read smart: Stop by our office and pick up a free Energy Matters book filled with tips and hints on how to save on your electric bill.