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the VALUE of ELECTRICITYa dollar’s worth can get you:72freshlyironed shirts48hours ofwatching TV5.3cell phonechargesWant to spend a week in Washington, D.C.,this summer—for free? Apply to attend theYouth Tour, made possible by ECI REC. We’llsend two area juniors to this fun-filled week.On your trip, you’ll meet Iowa’s members ofCongress, spend a day on Capitol Hill, tourhistorical sites, and more.APPLY BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24.72internethours of laptopaccessSources: U.S. Department of Energy; National Rural Electric Cooperative AssociationMONEY SMARTMember TipAPPLY NOW FOR YOUTHTOUR & SCHOLARSHIPS 1,000Both scholarship and Youth Tour opportunities are available tostudents whose parents are members of ECI REC.Read more about both programs at ecirec.coop.BANK SOMEBUCKS FORCOLLEGEIAEC Job Training/Safety Instructor Matt Posiask operates theigniter to the fire pan while Lineman Travis Schellhorn sweepsthe extinguisher nozzle side to side to put the fire out duringECI REC’s annual fire extinguisher training on November 8.APPLY BY THURSDAY, MARCH 2.photo by Lisa FranckJanuary/February 2017 Heartland LinkECI REC offers 1,000 scholarships toten students each year to continue theireducation in any field. If you’re interested ina career as a lineman, the Cooperative offerstwo additional 1,000 scholarships to thosewho are accepted to attend the PowerlineTechnology Program at Northwest IowaCommunity College.5

MembersSave MoreWith EnergyEfficiencyRebatesan Energy Wise messageWHETHER YOU’RE A residential, agricultural, or commercial member, take advantage of the savings your Cooperative offersthrough our extensive energy-efficiency rebate program. For example, you can get a rebate of 60 on a new clothes washer if bothyour washer and dryer are electric. We’ve listed the residential rebates here; complete rebate listings for all members can be foundat ecirec.coop or at any ECI REC office. Please note: additional qualifications apply to many of the rebates. Complete requirementscan be found on the rebate forms, so it’s wise to review these before you shop.2017 Residential EnergyEfficiency IncentivesHeat Plus Rate 100 per home - (where available, requiresseparate meter) 50 per apartmentGeothermal Heat Pump Closed Loop System, 350/ton Open Loop System, 250/ton - (no “pump &dump” systems) Unit Replacement, 250/unitAir-Source Heat Pump Standard Air-Source Heat Pump, 150/ton (including mini-splits) Hybrid Air-Source Heat Pump, 250/ton ENERGY STAR Bonus, 350/unit - Min. SEER15.0, HSPF 8.5, EER 12.56January/February 2017 Heartland LinkENERGY STAR Central Air Conditioning ENERGY STAR Qualified, 75/unit - Min. SEER15.0 & EER 12.5 ECM Fan Motor Replacement, 50/unit - (requires qualified AC replacement)Limit two air conditioner incentives per residence.Indoor Air Quality Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), 250/unitEquipment must serve the entire conditionedspace of the home. Limit of two HRVs per home.Heat Pump Water Heater ENERGY STAR Integrated Unit, 650/unit Add-on to Electric Storage Tank, 300/unit - 2.00 EFSolar Water Heater with Electric Auxiliary Tank ENERGY STAR Qualified, 350/unitHigh-Efficiency Electric Water Heater Electric Storage Unit, 50/unit - (50-55 gal.tank - min. EF 0.95) Geothermal Assisted Storage Unit, 150/unit (50-55 gal. tank - min. EF 0.95)Drain Water Heat Recovery Systems Heat Recovery Pipe System, 450/unitNot to exceed cost of system. Must have an electric water heater. Homemade systems are noteligible for the incentive.ENERGY STAR AppliancesENERGY STAR Clothes Washer (replacementonly) If both water heater & dryer are electric, 60/unit If only water heater is electric, 30/unitInterior Lighting ENERGY STAR Hard-Wired LED Fixtures, 50%of price up to 10/fixtureMaximum incentive of 10/fixture. Householdlimit of 600 applied over a 5-year period (installs prior to 1/1/13 are exempt). Fixtures withscrew-in adapters do not qualify.Be Bright ProgramJust visit a store listed at www.iowabebright.comand purchase bulbs and fixtures identified onthe shelf with Be Bright promotional materials.Outdoor Security Lighting ENERGY STAR or DesignLights Qualified LEDFixtures 20-34W, 15/fixture 35-49W, 20/fixture 50-74W, 40/fixture 75-124W, 50/fixture 125W, 60/fixtureRebate cannot exceed 50% of installed cost.WeatherizationRequirements: Must have electric heat and/or central air(homes with natural gas do not qualify). Home must be built prior to 1996. Must be upgrade to existing home (new additions do not qualify). Project cost must be 150 or more (laborcosts for self-installed projects cannot beincluded). LIHEAP-qualified members may not combineECI REC incentives with their county’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) benefits.Non-LIHEAP MembersElectric Heat (with or without air conditioning) Attic/Ceiling Insulation, 60% up to 600 Wall Insulation, 60% up to 600 Foundation Insulation, 60% up to 600 Infiltration Control, 60% up to 200 Duct Insulation/Sealing, 60% up to 200Maximum incentive per home 2,200Central AC Only (non-electric heating) Attic/Ceiling Insulation, 15% up to 150 Wall Insulation, 15% up to 150Maximum incentive per home 300LIHEAP-Qualified MembersElectric Heat (with or without air conditioning) Attic/Ceiling Insulation, 80% up to 800 Wall Insulation 80% up to 800 Foundation Insulation, 80% up to 800 Infiltration Control, 80% up to 200 Duct Insulation/Sealing, 80% up to 200Maximum incentive per home 2,800Central AC Only (non-electric heating) Attic/Ceiling Insulation, 20% up to 150 Wall Insulation, 20% up to 150Maximum incentive per home 300

Years of ServiceHonorees Steve Marlow,CEO,35 years Tom Schmitt,Line Foreman,25 yearsHonored with acertificate from IAEC Molly Cook,Consumer ServiceRepresentative,15 years Lisa Franck,Manager ofCommunications,15 years Holly Cashman,Consumer ServiceRepresentative,10 years Don Shonka,Director,10 years Robin Moore,Consumer ServiceRepresentative,5 years7 Chris Sackett,Director,5 yearsJanuary/February 2017 Heartland Link Scott Rast,Inventory/MaintenanceTechnician,5 years

We’re Always Thinking of Waysto Help Members Save Electricity.And then we thought, why stop there?TO HELP OUR MEMBERS save money on goods and services of all kinds, westarted the Co-op Connections program. There are six ways to save!The card is yours. The savings are yours. All because you’re a member of aTouchstone Energy cooperative.Local savings. There are many participating businesses in the Vintonand Independence areas. Downloada printable PDF of participating retailers from ecirec.coop or visit the Co-opConnections website for a continuouslyupdated list.National savings. Check out great online discounts at more than 98 nationalretailers like Barnes&Noble.com, HertzRental Cars, Best Western hotels, andProFlowers.com.Healthy savings. Prescriptions, dentalcare, vision, hearing aids, lab work andimaging, and chiropractic care couldall come cheaper thanks to your Co-opConnections Card. Save from 10 to 60%.Visit connections.carrythecard.com forthe most up-to-date provider lists.Cash Back Mall. With Co-op Connections’ Cash Back Mall, you can earncash back on purchases of more than300,000,000 products from more than5,000 leading online merchants. It’sthe same sites you’re already shoppingat today, but now you get more for yourmoney. The Cash Back Mall replacesthe MY VIP Savings online shoppingbenefit previously offered through ourCo-op Connections program.Coupons. Online coupons are available daily from coupons.com.Pet Assure. For 7.95 per month or 79 annually, this program provides youand your family a way to save money onveterinary care as well as other petrelated products and services.Get mobile access! The free app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, as well as Androidphones and Blackberries. The app provides instant access to deals, and you can still get the dealseven if you don’t have your Co-op Connections Card handy.For more information on these dealsand programs, visit connections.coop.Five Years of Facebook!8January/February 2017 Heartland LinkHelp us celebrate by checking outour page, if you have not alreadydone so. Go to facebook.com/eastcentraliowarec and like ourpage to get our posts about outages, safety tips, and more on yourNews Feed today!

You’re Not Alone in the DarkWhen a power outage happens, ECI REC springs into action. Here’s theprocess we follow to ensure that power is restored to the majority ofmembers as quickly, and safely, as possible. It all starts with identifyingwhat distribution equipment has incurred damage.Scan to watch a video fromNational Rural ElectricCooperative Associationexplaining the steps co-ops gothrough to restore power.Occasionally during a major storm, transmission towers can be damaged.Repairing these is the responsibility of our power supplier and is top priority.High-voltage transmission stations power ECI REC’s 24 distributionsubstations. If the issue is isolated and can be resolved at the substationlevel, thousands of members can get their power restored at once.Next, crews inspect distribution lines betweenthe substations and the meters they serve. If thedistribution lines can be repaired, power can berestored to the meters on those lines.To help us handle your outage calls and other electricservice information with efficiency, please make sure toupdate your contact information with any recent changes.Please list accounts that you wish to follow the samenotification process. If an account under your nameshould require a different notification process, pleasenote this account number in the second space provided.Fill out the form below and return it to:ECI REC, Info Update, PO Box 248, Urbana, IA 52345.NOTIFICATION PROCESS 1Member account #:(1)(2)If your lights are out but yourneighbors’ are blazing, call ECIREC right away so we can send aline crew to your home.NOTIFICATION PROCESS 2Member account #:Name on above account(s):Notification device: Home # Cell # Work # EmailDevice # or address:First notification device: Home # Cell # Work # EmailFirst device # or address:Please list the cell phone number(s) thatwould be acceptable to send text messages to with outage and electric servicerelated information when that servicebecomes available.(3)Third notification device: Home # Cell # Work # EmailThird device # or address:(1)(2)(3)I do not wish to be notified via textof outages and electric service relatedinformation.SIGNATUREYou can also scan the code toaccess an update form online.January/February 2017 Heartland LinkSecond notification device: Home # Cell # Work # EmailSecond device # or address:Yes, I agree to receive periodic autodialed or prerecorded calls and/or textmessages from East-Central Iowa RECat the number(s) identified above. Iunderstand that such calls and/or textsmay relay information about plannedand/or unplanned power outagesand/or service interruptions, or otherimportant service-related information,and that I can opt out of receiving suchcalls and/or texts at any time. I furtherunderstand that I am not requiredto provide consent as a condition ofpurchasing any property, goods, orservices. I agree to notify East-CentralIowa REC immediately in the event thatI voluntarily or involuntarily relinquishany number(s) identified above.9

10January/February 2017 Heartland Link

Message From the CEO, continued from 12Protecting From DisruptionsIn an era of terrorism and naturaldisasters, electric cooperatives inevery state, county, and community—no matter how large or how small—must protect their equipment andelectrical system from possible sourcesof disruption. ECI REC does thiswhile also ensuring an affordable,reliable, and secure energy supply.Cybersecurity has become ahousehold word. From hearing ofhacked emails to major power outagesin other countries, cybersecurityis something ECI REC takes veryseriously. We’re committed toprotecting our members at everypoint along our power lines.We remind you that if you seesomething, say something. We’reunited through our cooperativestructure, and both our safety andyour safety is everyone’s job!YOUR BOARDBoard District 11 - Jeff ElliottBoard District 12 - Chris SackettBoard District 13 - Allen AlbersBoard District 15 - Gary McKennaBoard District 17 - Burt S. Byers(2016/2017 Vice President)Board District 21 - Don ShonkaBoard District 23 - Jim V. Alberts(2016/2017 Secretary/Treasurer)Board District 24 - Jim BarzBoard District 26 - Steve Rau(2016/2017 President)Board District 27 - Ryan Kress(2016/2017 Asst. Secretary/Treasurer)CLASSIFIEDS: Free to members onlyPlease email your ad to classifieds@ecirec.coop. Ads for the March/April HeartlandLink must be received by Feb. 1, 2017.11East-Central Iowa REC will publish noncommercial advertisements as a service to ourmembers. All ads are free. They may be submittedby any member or employee of East-Central IowaREC. Ads should contain a phone number, name(if desired), a brief description of items with priceif applicable. Each ad is limited to maximum of 50words; please type or print clearly. Editor reservesthe right to edit or reject any ad. No ads will betaken over the telephone—please email, mail, orbring your ad to the office.January/February 2017 Heartland LinkWorking Together to Protect ourSystemsHow do we protect ECI REC? Itrevolves around creating a constantculture of cybersecurity awarenessamong our locally elected Board ofDirectors, cooperative employees, andmembers. We have robust policiesand processes in place to fast-trackresponses to problems—should theyarise—before a potential incident canspiral into a bigger situation.When it comes to cybersecurity,we know that there is no one-sizefits-all approach. Through ourstatewide and national electriccooperative associations, we workwith cooperative members, industrypartners, and government agenciesto develop effective approaches toprotecting our members’ accessto affordable, reliable, and secureelectricity.In our communities, ECI RECstays alert so that we can quicklyidentify and act on potential securityissues. We ask our members to bemindful of unusual situations andto immediately report them to usor local authorities. For example, ifyou see non-cooperative personnelnear a substation, that’s noteworthyand should be reported. Cybercrimecomes in all forms—those we canwitness and those that happenremotely from faraway locations.Grid security is not a newchallenge. ECI REC has decadesof experience working togetherwith other industry professionals toprotect our shared infrastructure,and we are constantly reevaluatingthreats and taking steps to protect thesystem.The importance of electricity inour daily lives is something we don’ttake for granted. We know that it’simpossible to entirely eliminate cyberissues from our daily lives. But what wecan do is implement due diligence intoevery aspect of our business culture.

Heartland Link (USPS No. 313-160) ispublished bimonthly for 3.30 per year byEast-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative,2400 Bing Miller Ln., Urbana, IA 523450248 with outposts located at 1707 FirstSt. E. Independence, IA 50644 and 1600West D. St., Vinton, IA 52349. Periodicalsclass postage paid at Independence, IA, andadditional mailing offices.CLIP AND MAILJan./Feb. 2017 Vol. 24 - Issue 01See page 2 for the Member Challenge questions.Answers: 1. 2. 3.Please note: NO ANSWERS will be taken over the phone.POSTMASTER: Send address changes toHeartland Link, 2400 Bing Miller Lane,PO Box 248, Urbana, IA 52345.Phone: (319) 443-4343Ownership: East-Central Iowa RuralElectric CooperativePublisher: Steve MarlowEditor: Lisa FranckEast-Central Iowa REC is an equalopportunity employer.Members get connected atwww.ecirec.coop24-Hour Bill Pay With SmartHubSee account information at ecirec.smarthub.coop or download the app.Outage Center & MapMessageFrom the CEOView current outages via SmartHubor at outages.ecirec.coop:81.Online FormsAccess rebate, service request,and program sign-up forms.Call Before You DigNotify utilities before you dig atwww.iowaonecall.com or call 811.FacebookFind news and updates atfacebook.com/eastcentraliowarec.Co-op Connections Get discounts on everyday expenses.Visit www.connections.coop or download the mobile app.Heartland Link E-NewsletterEmail ecirec@ecirec.coop and askto receive our newsletter via email.HomeEnergyCalculatorBreak down monthly energy costs.Click the HomeEnergySuite icon atecirec.coop.Iowa Rural PowerJoin grassroots advocates forIowa’s electric cooperatives.Visit www.iaruralpower.org.Cybersecurity andYour CooperativeYOU’VE HEARD THE STORIES about credit and debitcard information being stolen while shopping atbig-name retailers such as Target and Home Depot.You’ve likely taken steps to protect your data andprivate information from online hackers or fromcallers trying to capture your credit card informationthrough a scam. You know you must be constantlyalert and mindful of potentially unsecured situationsin order to keep personal information safe.Just as you need to protect your own data andinformation from hackers, East-Central Iowa RECfaces those same challenges with data and protectingthe power grid from attempts to disrupt service. ECIREC is at work around the clock, 365 days a year,to protect our members and the infrastructure thatallows us to provide essential electricity.continued on page 11

heating and cooling systems, weatherization, and lighting. SAFETY TRAINING page 5 Annual fire extinguisher training was completed in November. Photo by Lisa Franck. 2 . Garry Slife Richard J. Sloan Steve & Janell Wollschlager. January/February 2017 Heartland Link 3 Contact ECI REC Calendar Notes