GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

[GCEA News]

ColoradoCountryLife.coopJuly 2014 7

EEvery July, we take time to reflect on our countrys his-tory and remember how the actions of a few helped shape the way we live today. Think-ing back on the rich history of the electric cooperative movement, we should be in-spired by how a small group of determined individuals were able to improve their quality of life and the quality of life for all those who would come after them.

At our 75th anniversary celebration in June, retired Western State Colorado University history professor Duane Van-denbusch painted a vivid picture of the pioneers who settled in our area and the legacy they left all of us.

Just as the cooperative founders had a vision for the future, so do our mem-bers today. They asked us to encourage energy-efficiency and energy conserva-tion, and we are now providing free en-ergy audits and energy efficient appliance

rebates. They asked us to explore op-portunities for increasing re-

newable energy, and we built a wind turbine

and installed solar panels at the high school to educate our membership. We also offer a green power program and lease

solar panels in our community solar garden to

allow mem-

bers to support renewable energy with their consump-tion choices. We are also investigating the potential for future development of hydropower and geothermal power projects to serve our community.

There are many other ways that Gunnison County Elec-

tric Association helps influence policy decisions that affect our community now and for years to come. We are a catalyst for change and we leverage our collective power to get things done. For example, our board makes decisions to support local non-profits dedicated to the well-being of our members. Our employees participate in various community activi-ties, such as Relay for Life and the Winter Coat Drive, that help enrich the lives of our friends and neighbors.

Gunnison County Electric Associa-tion is helping build the next generation of leadership through our Washington, D.C. Youth Tour and summer Leader-ship Camp. The high school students who travel to our nations capital meet with lawmakers and learn up-close how our government functions. They return to our small community with a new perspective and inspired to make a difference. The students that attend summer camp learn new leadership skills that they can use throughout their lives.

All of these things, plus so much more, are what make the cooperative difference. As we celebrate our independence, we should remember what it took to bring power to our community and appreciate the legacy of those who came before us.

Liberty and Better Life for AllBY VICKI L. SPENCER || MANAGER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[whats inside]n Solar Garden Projectn Clean Up With Laundry Efficiencyn Cost of Postage?n Like Us On Facebookn Co-op Connections Programn Employee Anniversariesn Tamper Resistant Receptacles

Vicki Spencer

Members who were unable to attend the June

Annual Meeting and did not receive a copy of Lighting Our

Community: A History of Gunnison County Electric Association, 1938-2013 may pick up a copy at our Gunnison or Crested

Butte offices while supplies last.

MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 180Gunnison, CO 81230-0180

STREET ADDRESS37250 West Highway 50Gunnison, CO 81230

970-641-3520 [Gunnison]970-349-5385 [Crested Butte]

gcea@gcea.coop [email]www.gcea.coop [web]

BOARD OF DIRECTORSChris Morgan, presidentDistrict 2 [Mt. Crested Butte]

John Vader, vice president

District 6 [Gunnison East/Sargents]

Paul Hudgeons, secretary/treasurerDistrict 5 [Lake City]

Bart Laemmel, assistant secretary/treasurerDistrict 3 [Ohio Creek/Almont]

Chuck Cliggett, directorDistrict 7 [at large]

Steve Schechter, directorDistrict 4 [Gunnison West/Powderhorn]

Greg Wiggins, directorDistrict 1 [Crested Butte]

NEWSLETTER EDITORVicki Spencer

[GCEA News]

ColoradoCountryLife.coop8 July 2014

M

GCEA AND TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE COMPLETE SOLAR GARDEN PROJECT

AAre you interested in solar energy but cant install panels on your property?Gunnison County Electric Association and the Town of Crested Butte have a solution for co-op members. Our roof-top solar garden will be completed within the next month and co-op members are eligible to lease a 240-watt solar panel for $1,100. Panels are anticipated to produce 1.3 kWh/day beginning July 1.

Pre-sale of the 20-year leases began June 9, 2014. Nineteen leases will be granted to co-op members. If requests exceed the number of leases available, they will be selected by lottery.

A fact sheet and a member contract are available at www.gcea.coop. Call Roger Grogg or Josie Casebolt at 970-641-3520 to learn how you can participate in the community solar garden.

Many people look for ways to be more energy efficient and save money on electric bills. One way to stop money from going down the drain is to clean up with laundry efficiency.

Begin by only doing full loads of laundry. Washing machines use about the same amount of energy regardless of the size of load. So, doing one large load instead of several small ones will

save on energy costs.Using hot water helps remove stains in clothing, but heating

the water runs up the cost of the electric bill, not to mention it also shrinks and fades clothing. Use hot water only when neces-sary. Cold water will clean your clothes while reducing your energy costs.

Whenever you have the opportunity, use a drying rack or clothesline to dry your clothes instead of the dryer. However, the weather does not always cooperate, nor does everyone have access to a clothesline. If this is the case, use a high-speed spin cycle in the washer to help remove excess water to reduce the drying time once clothes have been placed in the dryer. Additionally, if your dryer has a moisture-sensing option, use it.

After every use of the dryer, clean the lint trap and the dryer vent for better circulation and to prevent a fire hazard.

Avoid doing laundry during peak hours when electric-ity is being used more frequently and is most expensive. Peak hours can vary by location and time of year. During summer months, Gunnison County Electric Associations peak hours are between 4 and 8 p.m.

If you are upgrading your washer and dryer, make sure to purchase appliances with the Energy Star label. Prod-ucts certified by Energy Star draw smaller than average amounts of electricity when not in use or turned off.

For more helpful advice on home efficiency, visit EnergyEdCouncil.org.

CLEAN UP with Laundry Efficiency

[GCEA News]

ColoradoCountryLife.coopJuly 2014 9

HLike Us on Facebook

[employee anniversaries]

Congratulations! We value our employees!

Roger Grogg..........................................Chief Operations Officer, 26 yearsJohn Stoeber ..............................................................Lead Foreman, 20 yearsRoger Lambert ........................................Warehouse/Purchasing, 14 years

Josie Casebolt ................................................Operations Assistant, 9 yearsMarni Joslyn .................................. Crested Butte Representative, 9 yearsCynthea Gunderson ................. Crested Butte Representative, 8 yearsNick Jones ........................... Crested Butte Apprentice Lineman, 6 yearsJeff Stanley ......................... Consumer Services Representative, 3 yearsMike McBride ............................................Chief Executive Officer, 2 years

ENTER THE PAPERLESS BILLING CONTEST!

Have you been trying to reach us through Facebook? Well, good news: We have recently updated our Facebook page at Gunnison County Electric Association. We will be able to stay connected and inform you on any upcoming events at GCEA. Also, we wel-come you and your comments and we are open to any sugges-tions you might have. The purpose of this page is to present help-ful information and awareness to our members. We want you to submit your questions and comments. This Facebook page is not monitored 24 / 7. Please call 970-641-3520 to report emergencies. Like us on Facebook at Gunnison County Electric Association.

AAs a member of Gunnison County Electric Association, Inc. (GCEA), a Touchstone Energy cooperative, you are eligible to receive discounts on products and services from participating local and national busi-nesses. Have you been taking advantage of the great deals? The Co-op Connections website at connections.coop is the place for co-op members to discover local and national discounts offered across the country. The list of participating businesses continues to grow, so check back regularly. Also, if you know of any busi-nesses that would be willing to enroll in this program, please send them our way. We are always looking for new businesses to enroll in the program, and in return we will assist the partici-pating business with free marketing. The Co-op Connections member benefit program is absolutely free! For more informa-tion, or to enroll your business in the Co-op Connections program, contact GCEA at 970-641-3520.

Co-op Connections Program at GCEA

Is the Increased Cost of Postage Getting You Down?

YYou can spend less on stamps by paying your monthly electric bill online. Once you set it up, you will find online payments are easy and convenient. If you have not already made the shift from paper to paperless bills, and sign up in 2014, you will be entered into our Paperless Billing Contest. Each fiscal quarter, we will

hold a drawing for members signing up for the first time during that quarter. The lucky winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card.

To get started, log on to gcea.smart hub.coop. If you do not already have a user name and

password, you will need to create one. Once you are logged in, click on My Profile, click on Update My Printed Bill Settings, then click on Turn off Printed Bills. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 970-641-3520.

Replacing your conventional power strips with advanced power strips can help reduce the electricity wasted when

electronic devices are idle. These power strips are a convenient and low-cost way to save.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

TIP of the MONTH

[GCEA News]

ColoradoCountryLife.coop10 July 2014