MECA-11851-September.. - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Contents
1. New Customer pricing e No subsidization by our long term loyal customers e Available to non members of Thumb Electric Cooperative Call for details and pricing about our metered gas service 989 658 8571 or 1 800 327 0166 Not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission2. Thumb Electric Cooperative September October 2015 Propane Programs Members Celebrate Fall Family Days Available To Members Milestones At Octagon Barn WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THERE S A TREASURE IN YOUR BACKYARD You may not realize it but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your backyard to provide savings of up to 70 on heating cooling and hot water And for a limited time youv ll receive our Symphony comfort platform FREE with the purchase of select geothermal packages Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS Bad Axe Clifford lonia Muskegon Traverse City B amp D Htg Orton Refrig amp Htg Home Experts Adams Htg amp Clg D amp W Mechanical 989 269 5280 989 761 7691 800 457 4554 231 873 2665 231 941 1215 Berrien Springs DeWitt Kalkaska Kiessel Geothermal UPPER WaterFurnace S amp J Htg amp Clg Kalkaska Plmb amp Htg Htg amp Clg PENINSULA Michiana 517 669 3705 231 258 3588 231 747 7509 269 473 5667 pieces Grandville Lapeer Portland Great Lakes Big Rapids Total Comfort Porter amp Heckman ESI Htg amp Clg Services Inc Stratz Htg amp Clg Inc Resource LLC 810 664 8576 517 647 6906 906 495 5543 E RAGRC TE SOUS U acted ack Michigan Center Sunfield Manistique ef
3. apps short for applications programs designed specifically for use on portable devices for everything Just ask my wife She ll tell you SMH that s shaking my head for all you rookies out there Our reliance on digital technology can only be ascertained when we forget our cell Ever reached for your phone to make a quick call or send a text SE EMBER 2015 only to realize you left your cell on the charger at home Panic ensues I ve actually broken into a sweat and driven an hour round trip just to have my phone on hand Times have sure changed since was a lad These kids might run circles around me when it comes to their smart phones but had something they didn t The most popular rotary phone ever made an original Fisher Price Chatter Telephone toy And let me tell you it was GR8 m Jack O Malley lt Where in Michigan is This Every co op member who identifies the correct location of the photo at left by Oct 10 will be entered in a drawing to win a 50 electricity credit from their electric co op We do not accept Mystery Photo guesses by phone Enter your guess at countrylines com or send by mail to Country Lines Mystery Photo 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Include the name on your account address phone number and name of your co op a ett you plan to Stay in E your home a metal roof i G AN j icheaper than asphalt ae lt Orde
4. attorney Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Michigan Administrative Hearing System s Administrative Hearing Rules R 792 10422 and R 792 10432 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of the Cooperatives request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC or at the respective Cooperatives offices For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 1982 P
5. from CMS Energy which supplies nearly all of Thumb Electric s purchased power MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES a 6 PORTABLE GE and instructions for your generator Do NOT cut corners when it comes to safety These tips are merely supplemental and are not intended to substitute reading of the Owner s Manual Carbon Monoxide and Ventilation e Using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES Exhaust contains carbon monoxide a deadly poison gas you cannot see or smell e NEVER run a generator indoors or in partly enclosed areas such as garages e ONLY use outdoors and far from windows doors vents crawl spaces and in an area where adequate ventilation is available and will not accumulate deadly exhaust gas e Using a fan or opening doors and windows will not provide sufficient ventilation e It is recommended that you install battery operated carbon monoxide alarms detectors indoors according to manufacturer s instructions recommendations Gasoline Fueling and Burn Safety e If tank is over filled fuel can overflow onto a hot engine and cause fire or explosion e Do not overfill the fuel tank Always allow room for fuel expansion e Never add fuel while unit is running or hot Allow generator and engine to cool entirely before adding fuel e Never store a generator with fuel in the tank where gasoline vapors might reach an open flame spark or pilot light e Many generator parts are hot enough to bur
6. Octagon Barn There are three membership levels ranging from 5 to 15 which go to help with the preservation of this historical site Thumb Electric Cooperative would like to invite you to see their display at the Thumb Octagon Barn See early electric appliances such as this piston style water pump that was popular on many family farms in the early days of electricity This unit was in service at a TEC member s farm It was refurbished and generously donated by Richard Schmalz of Harbor Beach For more information please visit thumboctagonbarn org or call 989 665 0081 The barn is located just outside of Gagetown at 6948 Richie Road SEPTEMBER 2015 Renewable Geothermal Heat Geothermal is a simple technology that uses the earth s renewable energy to provide high efficiency heating and cooling In winter the system draws heat from the ground and transfers it to your home In summer it extracts heat from your home and transfers it to the ground Contact the energy experts at Thumb Electric Cooperative at 800 327 0166 for honest answers on your energy choices or call any of the trained and certified installers listed here All Temperature Geothermal Systems 1103 E Caro Rd Caro MI 48723 989 673 5557 Ameriheat Justin Faber 2891 E Forester Rd Deckerville MI 48427 810 376 4534 B amp D Heating Cooling amp Plumbing 1148 North Van Dyke Bad Axe MI 48413 800 515 1117 Burkhard Plumbing amp Heat
7. T ge Hart Ludington Comfort 1 Mark Woodman Hoholik Enterprises Alllemp Comfort Inc Adams Htg amp Clg 517 764 1500 Plmb amp Htg 906 341 5065 866 844 HEAT 4328 231 873 2665 Mt Pleasant 517 886 1138 Carsonville Indian River Walton Htg amp Clg Traverse City Certified Temperature M amp M Plmb amp Htg 989 774 1566 Geofurnace Htg amp Clg Innovations 231 238 7201 231 943 1000 810 300 7748 GET A Mater Furnace L Smarter from the Ground Up Symphony T ymp y VISIt waterfurnace com event 600 value WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International Inc 1 Get a FREE Symphony with select geothermal packages Promotion ends December 18th 2015 Michigan s Electric Cooperatives countrylines com September 2015 Vol 35 No 8 Executive Editor Casey Clark Editors Christine Dorr Gail Knudtson Publisher Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Design and Layout Ciesa Design Michigan Country Lines USPS 591 710 is pub lished monthly except August and December with periodicals postage paid at Lansing MI and additional offices It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta Cherryland Cloverland Great Lakes HomeWorks Tri County Midwest Energy Ontonagon Presque Isle and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of director
8. and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Martin D Snider LOCATION 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handicapped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Secretary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider Thumb Electric Coopera tive s Thumb July 27 2015 application for Commission approval to reconcile its renewable energy plan REP costs for the period ended December 31 2014 Thumb Electric represents that its REP filings included no request for a renewable energy surcharge no surcharge was approved and none was charged to its member customers in 2014 Thumb Electric further represents that there are neither revenues nor expenditures to reconcile All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Documents may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 284 8090 or by email at
9. by other retailers We do not feel it is fair for our loyal customers to subsidize the cost of these gimmicks We do not offer new customer deals just to get a new tank set Instead we rely on word of mouth from our satisfied customers and our professional and accountable reputation Whether you are a new propane customer of TESC or one that has been with us for many years we offer programs and pricing that is fair and consistent to all We thank those that currently use TESC for their propane services and we look forward to continuing to meet and exceed your expectations For those that are currently using another retailer and are not quite happy for whatever the reason may be we invite you to join the 1 100 plus customers that are more than satisfied with the services provided by TESC For information regarding pricing and programs for the upcoming heating season give us a call at 1 800 327 0166 You won t be disappointed E Thumb Electric Members Celebrate Milestones Over the past year we have had the privilege of presenting two Thumb Electric Cooperative members with recognition from the Historical Society of Michigan through their Centennial Farm Program Since 1948 the program has recognized over 6 000 farms for ownership in the same family for over 100 years Farms can currently qualify in one of two categories the noted Centennial Farm and a Sesquicentennial Farm which is over 150 years in the family Thumb Electric
10. case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et sea 1939 PA3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6j et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et seg MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 11 12 Celebrate 20 Years of FAMILY FUN AT OCTAGON BARN will once again be celebrating its Fall Family Days event Now in its 20th year festivities kick off Friday evening Sept 11 with a fish dinner from 4 to 7 p m and continues Sept 12 and Sept 13 from 8 a m to 5 p m Friends of the Octagon Barn members invite you to step back in time to view displays and demonstrations of farming in the early 1900s Vendors will also be on site with antiques crafts and a large flea market 7 he Thumb Octagon Barn Agricultural Museum In addition to the Fall Family Days event the museum is open from May through Sept Wednesday through Saturday 11 a m to 5 p m and Sundays noon to 5 p m The museum is also open for large groups such as schools to attend by appointment and for private events such as weddings reunions and family picnics Memberships are available which are the community of volunteers called Friends of the Thumb
11. including tops Ya c minced fresh parsley 10 oz plain Greek yogurt 1 c mayonnaise Ya c fresh lemon juice 2 T snipped fresh dill v2 t salt e t white pepper In a large bowl combine pasta tuna celery onions peas and parsley In a small bowl combine yogurt mayonnaise lemon juice dill salt and pepper Pour sauce over pasta toss gently Cover and refrigerate at least two hours Serves 10 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 9 Important Seasonal Member Information s required by the Michigan Public Service A cormssion Thumb Electric Co op recently has done or will do a meter reading for seasonal members who receive electric service under Rate Class 2 and have a 17 50 monthly service charge Billing for most seasonal member consumption during the past 12 months will occur on Oct 1 Each month nearly 200 seasonal members report their meter readings and the dates they are read They make monthly payments for electricity consumed in addition to the monthly service charge to avoid receiving the annual bill Seasonal members are encouraged to read their meters and include the reading date whenever possible to reduce the potential for electrical problems and billing concerns 1g 12 Seasonal members are also encouraged to sign up for our automatic bill payment plan Rather than writing a monthly check the money is withdrawn from your checking or savings account automatically on or near the same day each
12. month Members also have the option to use TEC s online bill payment system called Smarthub By visiting tecmi coop and selecting the my account tab a member can register their account which allows them to make online payments by check credit card or bank account record meter readings view billing and payment history view current and past bills view monthly billed and usage graphs and more Paperless billing is also available m STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NO U 17812 e Thumb Electric Cooperative requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to reconcile its renewable energy plan costs associated with the plan approved in Case No U 17310 for the period ended December 31 2014 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case e You may contact Thumb Electric Cooperative s attorney Mr Shaun M Johnson Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may also contact Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street P O Box 157 Ubly Michigan 48475 0157 800 327 0166 for a free copy of its application The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME October 8 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates
13. said Gandulla We have world class recreational opportunities available to us in Michigan and we Project Shiphunt feel very strongly about sharing them with people from around the globe m On July 13 2011 the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary NMS announced the discovery of two Great Lakes shipwrecks The discoveries were part of Project Shiphunt an exciting archaeological expedition soonsored by Sony and the Intel Corp that included five high school students from Saginaw For more on the project visit thunderbay noaa gov shiphunt htm Monohansett Site For a sneak peek at the kind of discoveries you can expect take a look at the Monohansett a ship wrecked in 1907 that lies in three sections just 18 feet below water thunderbay noaa gov shipwrecks monohansett htm Photo below With the hull broken just forward of the boiler house and the ship listing hard to port the wreck of the Norman which claimed the lives of three sailors is an intense dive experience Photos by NOAA Thunder Bay NMS MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 15 Se ar 16 STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE AND THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NUMBERS U 17838 U 17839 and U 17840 Cloverland Electric Cooperative Midwest Energy Cooperative and Thumb Electric Cooperative the Cooperatives request Michigan Public S
14. the risk of electrocution Check and adhere to all applicable federal state and local regulations relating to grounding Generator Placement and Operation e Allow at least five feet of clearance on all sides of the generator when operating e Generators can be used during a wide variety of weather temperatures but should be protected from the elements when not in use to prevent shorting and rusting e Operate the generator only on level surfaces and where it will not be exposed to excessive moisture dirt dust or corrosive vapors e Inspect the generator regularly e Always disconnect the spark plug wire and place the wire where it cannot contact the spark plug to prevent accidental starting when setting up transporting adjusting or making repairs to the generator Source American Red Cross with technical advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the National Fire Protection Association publisher of the National Electric Code and the U S Consumer Product Safety Commission W Maintain Your Home s Heating System Efficiency By James Dulley ith the heating season soon upon us make sure your heating system is running at its maximum efficiency Doing a simple heating system tune up yourself improves its efficiency resulting in significant annual cost savings However don t skip your regular professional maintenance calls just because you have done your own heating system mini tune up There are m
15. 648 2252 Preferred Heating 7736 Arendt Melvin MI 48454 810 378 5454 Priority Service by Porter amp Heckman 3056 Davison Rd Lapeer MI 48446 810 644 8576 Shetler Plumbing amp Heating 7184 Nitz St Pigeon MI 48755 800 547 3651 Superior Inc 3442 Cemetary Rd Cass City MI 48726 989 872 3305 Thumb Cooling amp Heating 5599 Pochert Rd Port Hope MI 48468 989 428 4948 And 837 South State Caro MI 48723 989 672 4948 Annual Operating Costs For an Average 1 800 Sq Ft Home r 45 000 BTU heating load 20 000 BTU cooling load 3 500 ae 3 000 2 676 2 500 open DUI SAL JUST 1 500 728 1 453 1 396 1 000 O J Geothermal Natural A A with Gee A A Heat Propane tel Oil LP Gas Baseboard Pump w Electric Furnace Factors Used Electric Baseboard Air Source Heat Pump and Geothermal based on TEC s 6 863 kWh dual fuel rate LP gas based on 2 gal and 90 efficient furnace Fuel Oil based on 3 00 gal and 80 efficient furnace Natural Gas based on 1 08 therm 90 efficient furnace including 9 mo service charge Electric baseboard costs do not include air conditioning MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13 SUN TREA By Emily Haines he eerie romance of a shipwreck is something that seems saved for epic adventure novels or blockbuster Hollywood movies But just off the coast of Lake Huron near unassuming Alpena MI is one of the most treacherous stretches of wate
16. A 304 as amended MCL 460 6 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Michigan Administrative Hearing System s Administrative Hearing Rules 2015 AC R 792 10401 et seq August 13 2015 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 18 Communicating in the Age of the Emoji By Jack O Malley N few years ago my son stood before a display of old rotary phones in an antique store puzzled by the seemingly ancient devices How did people text with those he asked chuckled before the thought occurred to me An entire generation now exists who ve never known life without mobile phones text messages Google or social media In today s world of technology a new digital language based on acronyms and emojis has emerged allowing people to communicate instantly with little more than a few letters and characters In the old days we huddled around the handset during a long distance call everyone listening and talking at the same time because the calls were too expensive for everyone to have a separate turn talking guess I m officially an old fogie LOL Mobile phones have become such an essential part of our lives we have a hard time functioning without one Like an extra appendage we rely on a cell s convenience intelligence and sheer ability to do almost anything Want to play Scrabble Download the app Want to enhance a photo Download an app Want to check Facebook Download the app Want to shop Download an app There are
17. ERATIVE AND THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NUMBERS U 17781 U 17783 AND U 17786 Cloverland Electric Cooperative Midwest Energy Cooperative and Thumb Electric Cooperative the Cooperatives request Michigan Public Service Commission Commission approval to implement their Energy Optimization Plans in compliance with Public Act 295 of 2008 and the November 24 2014 Commission Order in Cases Numbers U 17781 U 17783 and U 17786 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case You may call or write the Cooperatives attorney Mr Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may review the application at Dykema s offices or at the respective offices of the Cooperatives Cloverland Electric Cooperative 2916 W M 28 P O Box 97 Dafter MI 49724 Midwest Energy Cooperative 901 E State St P O Box 127 Cassopolis MI 49031 and Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main St P O Box 157 Ubly MI 48475 0157 The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME Wednesday September 30 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Mark E Cummins LOCATION Michigan Public Service Commission 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested pe
18. any areas within a heating system that only a qualified technician can evaluate and adjust properly The first items to check are for safety With a gas or propane furnace put several drops of soapy water on any gas line fittings you find If the water bubbles at all there are leaks Leave your house immediately and call your gas company to have it repaired With a heat pump check to make sure the insulation on all of the external wiring looks correct You can inspect potential bad spots damaged or frayed areas more carefully once you turn the circuit breaker off Turn off the electric power to the heating unit at the circuit breaker panel Remove its side cover to gain access to the blower Using a vacuum cleaner brush attachment clean any dust deposits off the blower You may find bearing oil cups on the blower motor of older systems Put a drop of oil in each cup Find the fan control switch and adjust the temperature setting lower Common settings are on at 135 degrees and off at 100 degrees Try using 110 and 90 degrees This starts the blower sooner and keeps it running longer as the heat exchanger heats up and then cools down Replace the cover and make sure all the cabinet screws are tight Also check the tightness of any cabinet screws you can find Having the cabinet well sealed improves efficiency by maintaining the proper air flow through the coils or over the heat exchanger surfaces With a heat pump also c
19. e Yt freshly ground black pepper e 2t nutmeg e 1 b cooked lobster meat langostinos Preheat oven to 375 Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water Add pasta and cook according to the directions on the package 6 to 8 minutes Drain well Meanwhile heat the milk in a small saucepan but don t boil it In a large pot melt 6 T of butter and add the flour Cook over low heat for 2 minutes stirring with a whisk Still whisking add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more until thickened and smooth Turn off the heat add the Gruyere Cheddar 1 T salt the pepper and nutmeg Add the cooked macaroni and lobster meat and stir well Place the mixture in a large casserole dish Melt the remaining 2 T of butter combine them with the fresh bread crumbs and sprinkle on the top Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top Crab Casserole Virginia Rubingh Ellsworth e 4 b tresh frozen crab meat e 1 2 c sour cream e 1 T lemon juice e pinch garlic salt e 1 4 c cheddar cheese divided e 8 0z pkg cream cheese softened e 2 T Hellman s mayonnaise e 1 t Worcestershire sauce e 1 T milk Mix all ingredients together in a casserole dish Sprinkle half of the cheddar cheese on top Bake at 325 for 25 30 minutes Seafood Pasta Salad Betty Poradek Stephenson e 8 0z pkg imitation crab meat cut up e 8 oz bag frozen mini shrimp thaw
20. ed optional e cup chopped celery e 1 2 T chopped green onion including some tops e 1 can water chestnuts chopped e 8 oz frozen peas thawed e 1 lb bag rotini noodles cooked e dash dill weed e 1 c Miracle Whip e 8 oz sour cream Mix all pasta together and chill for several hours Keeps up to three days in fridge Dilly Fish Gertrude Romanchuk Traverse City e fresh pan fish e dill pickle juice e instant potato flakes e peanut oil Wash fish and dry well with paper towels Soak fish in dill pickle juice for 15 30 minutes Roll in potato flakes and fry in peanut oil turning once Fry until golden brown Very tasty SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE Thanks to all who send in recipes Please send in your favorite Easy Chicken recipes by Sept 10 Chili recipes by Nov 1 and Gluten Free recipes by Dec 1 Enter your recipe online at countrylines com or send to handprinted or typed on one side please Country Lines Recipes 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Please note the co op from which you receive your electric service Contributors whose recipes we print in 2015 will be entered in a drawing and Country Lines will pay the winner s January 2016 electric bill up to 200 Dill Shrimp Salad pictured Mary Babcock Port Austin e 4c cooked small shells or penne pasta e 1 lb cooked fresh shrimp diced 1 c frozen peas 1 c small diced celery Ya c chopped green onions
21. ervice Commission approval to reconcile their individual Energy Optimization EO plan expenditures and revenues collected for the period ended December 31 2014 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case You may call or write the Cooperatives attorney Mr Shaun Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may review the application at Dykema s offices or at the respective offices of the Cloverland Electric 2916 W M 28 P O Box 97 Dafter MI 49724 Midwest Energy Cooperative 901 E State St RO Box 127 Cassopolis MI 49031 and Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main St P O Box 157 Ubly MI 48475 0157 The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME October 6 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Mark D Eyster LOCATION 7109 West Saginaw Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handi capped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Sec retary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public heari
22. g a site map photography data and sonar images or even knowing the name and vessel information It s no wonder our student programs appeal to our younger visitors said Gandulla You don t have to be able to scuba dive 300 feet to have an interaction with maritime history We provide and encourage hands on experiences both in and on the water The experiences are anything from a class trip to the sanctuary s impressive Visitor s Center with over 10 000 feet of exhibits participating in a program on shipwreck archeology or building underwater robotics There are also glass bottom boat tours that allow visitors to view shiowrecks without ever getting their feet wet Gandulla says it s not uncommon for students who have had a field trip in elementary or high school or invested themselves in a Shipwreck Alley class to later become a volunteer as an adult aga he bow of the schooner EB Allen 1864 1871 The Florida 1889 1897 still sits upright with its T Package freight still inside While all of this is available in our state s backyard people from around the world come to marvel at Visit D wo n Ss 25 ie If you re interested in a trip to the Visitor s Center visit thunderbay noaa gov visit Or to book a glass Beyond the rich and special maritime history of bottom boat tour go to alpenashipwrecktours com this area it s also a remarkable place to vacation soroa iSO cell O98 2a62805
23. he EO Pro grams MECA contracted with KEMA as the independent 3rd party evalua tion contractor for the certification of kWh savings In 2014 Thumb Electric collected 346 333 through the Energy Optimization Surcharge and spent 234 950 resulting in an over collection of 111 383 which will be applied towards the 2015 EO Program delivery expenses and goal achievement Thumb Electric achieved 1 784 MWh of energy savings in 2014 For every dollar spent on energy efficiency programs customers will save 3 61 in avoided energy costs The full report can be obtained at michigan energy org or http efile mpsc state mi us efile Fuel Mix Report The fuel mix characteristics of Thumb Electric Cooperative as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 12 month period ended 6 30 15 COMPARISON OF FUEL SOURCES USED Regional average fuel mix used Your co op s fuel mix FUEL SOURCE CFE 0 59 4 ei 0 0 6 90 9 8 eEG 0 0 6 Ae GEE 0 25 4 Is 10 4 2 0 0 5 10 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 0 5 Your Co op s Fuel Mix Regional Average Fuel Mix p EMISSIONS AND WASTE COMPARISON TYPE OF leev en EMISSION WASTE cooo Aono Sulfur Dioxide 0 25 7 6 Carbon Dioxide 897 2 170 Oxides of Nitrogen 0 23 2 0 High level 0 0 0083 Nuclear Waste Regional average information was obtained from MPSC website and is for the twelve month period ending 12 31 14 The fuel mix data presented by Thumb Electric is the data
24. heck the cabinet screws on the outdoor condenser unit Set up the thermostat so the furnace starts Hold a stick of lighted incense near all the joints in the ductwork both return and supply air ducts to check for air leaks If you find leaks wipe dust off the surfaces and use mastic a gooey non hardening material around the leaking joints This is a good time to change your furnace filter or clean a central air cleaner element Consider installing a more effective filter element than the low cost fiberglass ones that many systems use This may not help indoor air quality much but it can keep the air flow paths cleaner for more efficient heat transfer Check the accuracy of the wall thermostat You may actually be keeping your house warmer than you realize Tape a bulb thermometer on the wall next to your furnace Check the thermometer reading when the furnace shuts off and note the difference between it and the thermostat setting Now you will know where to set the thermostat to get the indoor temperature you desire If it is inaccurate replace it with a new electronic setback model MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 7 Lobster Mac amp Cheese Doreen Zuznis Clio e kosher salt e vegetable oil e 1 lb cavatappi tubed corkscrew pasta e 1 qt milk e 8 T 1 stick unsalted butter divided e 2c all purpose flour e 12 oz Gruyere cheese grated 4 c e 8 oz extra sharp cheddar grated 2 c
25. ing 638 E Huron Ave Bad Axe MI 48413 989 269 7532 Certified Temperature Innovations 3107 Custer Rd Carsonville MI 48419 810 300 7748 ES Sheetmetal Gene Root 9450 Belsay Millington MI 48746 989 871 2067 Geo Renew Systems Inc 3045 Grange Hall Rd 7 Holly MI 48442 248 531 0325 Geomasters Inc Plumbing amp Heating 57 Ward St Croswell MI 48422 810 679 2251 Geothermal Systems of Lapeer LLC 6689 Orchard Lk Rd 188 West Bloomfield MI 48322 810 240 2116 Holland Heating and Cooling 9160 Lapeer Rd Davison MI 48423 810 653 4328 Ingell Refrigeration 1115 4th St Port Huron MI 48060 810 982 4226 J amp B Plumbing amp Heating 7641 Pigeon Rd Pigeon MI 48755 989 453 3931 Jack McCain Plumbing amp Heating 9651 Weale Rd Bay Port MI 48720 989 453 2277 Kowaleski Heating amp Cooling LLC 3977 Ruppel Rd Port Hope MI 48468 989 428 3371 Kulek Heating amp Air Conditioning 14421 Jeddo Rd Yale MI 48097 810 387 4452 Kundinger amp Kroll 31 E Main St Sebewaing MI 48759 989 883 2770 Lakeshore Improvements Plumbing amp Heating 7825 Big Gulley Rd Palms MI 48465 989 864 3833 Michigan Energy Services 8445 Main St Whitmore Lake MI 48189 888 339 7700 NRG Control 3690 Washburn Rd Vassar MI 48768 989 670 2543 Newton Johnson Plumbing amp Heating 114 Enterprise Dr Vassar MI 48768 989 823 2341 Orton Refrigeration 31 W Sanilac Rd Sandusky MI 48471 810
26. members that were recognized in the past year included e Richard amp Tami Schroeder Wagner Road Croswell 100 years Established Dec 22 1915 e Mr amp Mrs Ronald Colston Sanilac Road Kingston 100 years Established March 25 1914 All of us at Thumb Electric congratulate these family farms for their longevity and wish them many more years in the farm industry If you are interested in applying for farm certification please contact us Applications are available at our Ubly office from the Michigan Centennial Farm Program at 517 324 1828 or visit centennialfarms org E Public Act 295 The Clean Renewable and Efficient Energy Act 2014 Annual Energy Optimization Report Thumb Electric Cooperative MPSC Case Number U 17373 Thumb Electric contracted with the Michigan Electric Cooperative Associa tion MECA to administer its Energy Optimization efforts in order to comply with PA 295 MECA filed a 4 year Energy Optimization plan with the MPSC on Aug 1 2011 as required by PA 295 This EO plan was approved by the MPSC on Nov 10 2011 and we began implementing the plan Jan 1 2012 The Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation WECC was selected to implement all Residential Commercial and Industrial Programs and the Energy Optimization website michigan energy org WECC has subcontracted with JACO Michigan Energy Options Franklin Energy Morgan Marketing Partners and Honeywell to assist with the implementation of t
27. mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the cases shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by October 1 2015 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon Thumb Electric s attorney Shaun M Johnson Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure R 460 17315 and R 460 17335 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of Thumb Electric Cooperative requests may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC or at the office of Thumb Electric Cooperative For more information on how to participate in a
28. n you during operation and while the generator is cooling after turning off Avoid coming into contact with a hot generator SEPTEMBER 2015 NERATOR SAFETY TIPS Electrocution Hazard and Electrical Shock Hazards e Connecting a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others A generator that is directly connected to your home s wiring can back feed onto the power lines connected to your home and injure neighbors or utility workers e Do not connect your generator directly to your home s wiring or into a regular household outlet e Always start or stop the generator only when no electrical loads are connected e Overloading your generator can seriously damage your valuable appliances and electronics Do not overload the generator Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating of the generator Prioritize your needs A portable electric generator should be used only when necessary and only to power essential equipment e Use the proper power cords Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load Overloaded cords can cause fires or equipment damage Do not use extension cords with exposed wires or worn shielding e Do not operate the generator in wet conditions such as rain or snow e The generator must be properly grounded If the generator is not grounded you run
29. ng to consider the Cooperatives June 29 2015 joint application for Commission approval to reconcile their individual EO plans for the period ended December 31 2014 The Cooperatives are requesting authorization to reconcile their EO plan expenditures and revenues collected for the period ended December 31 2014 All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Docu ments may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 284 8090 or by email at mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by September 29 2015 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon attorney Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law j
30. r in the Great Lakes a place called Thunder Bay If the name itself sounds ominous it s because Thunder Bay offers up unpredictable shifts in weather alarming gales fog banks and notoriously rocky shoals that play ghostly host to an area fittingly called Shipwreck Alley There lies the remains of over 200 ships only about 100 that have been physically discovered While it s difficult to imagine the friendly beaches of the Great Lakes as anything but welcoming these deep and traitorous waters were once bustling byways for both recreational and business mariners not all that ended at their intended destination It s easy to stay motivated and excited in your work when you re dealing with such a robust historical landscape said Stephanie Gandulla maritime archeologist and media coordinator for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary There are so many stories lying just below the surface of the Great Lakes 14 SEPTEMBER 2015 SURE THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY Twisted hull of the German freighter Nordmeer 1954_4 966 Those stories just increased substantially as the marine sanctuary has grown from 448 square miles to a remarkable 4 300 miles as of last September This means expanding both research and educational programs as well as a multi year plan to characterize every known shipwreck in the sanctuary Characterizing can mean a variety of informational components including havin
31. r in the month of September amp receive a from steel to Aluminum plus a as yr r r a a F i n ii p Fi SH your garage or outbuilding when added to your order TEI i oo La CE r B i an a a TF i j ron i Ba E a E ha ja ri NT HII F Bakes q i Fi j Lm J 1 D i 1 4 l T PE i CE Toughness and low maintenance requirements make metal roofing Financing Available perfect for the demanding needs of 1 844 638 2576 agricultural applications Each roof is hand crafted and 844 METAL ROOFS finished with custom made trims l and accessories available in i CHARLOTTE 1875 Lansing Road AMR s high standards of View our website to see a gallery of roofs we ve functional durability are met installed in and around Michigan or to request a quote by utilizing only the best materials and the most qualified installers who AmericanMetalRoofs com f PREV attain a minimum of 300 training hours Thumb Electric Cooperative www tecmi coop Got Sticker Shock Think Long term Don t be fooled into short term new customer only programs only to get sticker shock when the program ends Compare apples to apples and ask what current long term customers are paying Sg Our goal is to secure the best pricing for those customers who are loyal to us Thank you for your continued support e No gimmicks e No low 1st fill and
32. ristin McKamey amp Our Readers l A FEATURE Sunken Treasure At Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Emily Haines QO READERS PAGE Communicating In The Age Of The Emoji Jack O Malley Guess Our New Mystery Photo MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 3 4 Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street Ubly MI 48475 0157 1 800 327 0166 or 989 658 8571 E mail tec tecmi coop www tecmi coop Board Of Directors HURON COUNTY Randall Dhyse Treasurer District 1 Kinde Donald Wolschleger Vice President District 2 Harbor Beach Beth McDonald Secretary District 3 Bad Axe SANILAC COUNTY Kim Nunn Director District 1 Croswell Mike Briolat Director District 2 Cass City Duane Kursinsky Director District 3 Sandusky TUSCOLA COUNTY Louis Wenzlaff President District 1 Kingston Jonathan Findlay Director District 2 Caro Carl Cousins Director District 3 Millington Dallas Braun General Manager PAYMENT STATIONS Huron County Bad Axe Northstar Bank Pigeon Northstar Bank Tuscola County Akron Northstar Bank Caro Northstar Bank Mayville Mayville State Bank Millington Mayville State Bank Sanilac County Sandusky Northstar Bank Visit Thumb Electric s website www tecmi coop Thumb Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer SEPTEMBER 2015 Thumb Electrics Propane Service our co op started offering propane service to
33. rson may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handicapped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Secretary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Cooperatives August 3 2015 joint application for approval of their Energy Optimization Plans in accordance with Public Act 295 of 2008 and the November 24 2014 Commission Order in Cases Numbers U 17781 U 17783 and U 17786 for Cloverland Electric Midwest Energy and Thumb Electric respectively All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Documents may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 284 8090 or by email at mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by September 23 2015 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon the Cooperatives
34. s POSTMASTER SEND ALL UAA TO CFS Association officers are Robert Schallip Cloverland Electric Cooperative chairman Mark Kappler HomeWorks Tri County Electric vice chairman and Eric Baker Wolverine Power Cooperative secretary treasurer Craig Borr is president and CEO CONTACT US Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 351 6322 cdorr meca coop The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised Change of Address Please notify your electric cooperative See page 4 for contact information IN THIS ON THE COVER The 4 300 square mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary located on Lake Huron in Alpena protects one of America s best preserved and nationally significant collections of shipwrecks Some co op editions have a different cover Photo courtesy of NOAA Thunder Bay NMS IN YOUR WORDS Our new question of the month section of Michigan Country Lines Let us know your answer and it may appear in the next month s issue or on your electric co op s social media site Please answer the question in your own words at http bit ly 1MgI7W5 Now the question What in your life are you most thankful for O SAFETY How To Use A Portable Generator Safely 7 OUR ENERGY Maintain Your Home s Heating System Efficiency James Dulley QO HOME COOKING Fresh and Flavortul Seafood Recipes You Will Love Ch
35. udge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure R 460 17315 and R 460 17335 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of the Cooperatives request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan or at the respective Cooperatives offices For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6 et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et sea SEPTEMBER 2015 STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MIDWEST ENERGY COOP
36. you our members in 1997 through its subsidiary Thumb Energy Services Corporation TESC Today 18 years later we continue to offer this great service to both Thumb Electric Cooperative members and non members in the three county area of the Thumb Dallas Braun General Manager We use the contracted services of Bartnik Propane Services for the delivery installation and maintenance of propane and related equipment Owner Dave Bartnik and his employees provide the professional and courteous service that we strive for and our customers have come to expect Your co op offers different programs to meet the needs of it s propane customers The most popular is the metered program which is very budget friendly It is an effective service that is offered by no other propane retailer in the area We own the propane inside the tanks in the customers yards The customer only pays for the propane after they have used it which is measured by a meter installed on the tank So instead of paying 800 to 1 000 for a 500 gallon tank fill a monthly bill only for the gallons used will be sent The only information needed by you the customer is to provide TESC an accurate monthly meter reading We do not guarantee to be the lowest price in the area but we are competitive in price While some propane users still switch suppliers for the immediate gratification of a low first fill price for new customers many have wised up to these gimmicks
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