OctOber 2017 3

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CELEBRATE CO-OP MONTHMade possible by our member-owners!Each October, co-ops around the country take time to celebrate National Cooperative Month. It is not only a time for us to look back at the history of Missoula Electric Co-operative (MEC), it is also a time to rec-ognize the role coop-eratives have made in providing goods and services to their member-owners in unserved, or under-served areas. Mis-soula Electric’s history dates back to 1936 when area residents banded together to bring power to their homes and farms just outside of the Mon-tana Power Compa-ny’s service territory. Going even further back, the history of the cooperative busi-ness model dates all the way back to 19th century England when a group of Ro-chdale tradespeople formed a cooperative to sell their products. Today, there are more than 29,000 coopera-tive businesses in the United States serv-ing some 350 million

members.

MEC is one of 25 electric cooperatives in Montana, who provide affordable, reliable power collec-tively for over 400,000 members. Nation-wide, there are over 900 electric coopera-tives serving 42 mil-lion members spread over 75 percent of the country’s landmass. Suffice it to say, co-operatives are every-where. To live in rural America, coopera-tives are a fact of life from the power and telephone co-op to the Farm Bureau and the local credit union, we connect to each other and the rest of the country through our cooperatives. Coop-erative are essential to the nation’s economy collectively generat-ing $514 billion in revenue as well as over $25 billion in wages.

Cooperatives are great examples of democ-racy in action. Likely the most important difference between co-ops and other

businesses is that they are democratically governed. Members elect fellow members to represent them on board of directors. The board then sets policy, approves bud-gets and makes deci-sions that effect the future direction of the cooperative. To make sure every member is equal, cooperatives subscribe to the one member, one vote philosophy. MEC members all have the same voice regardless of how many meters they pay for or how many kilowatt-hours they purchase.

This year’s theme for National Cooperative Month is Coopera-tives Commit. This commitment grows out of the way coop-eratives came into existence. At their heart, co-ops are self-help organizations. They exist out of a common need of a group of people who are unable to fulfill that need individu-ally. Cooperatives emerged through the

commitment amongst members working collectively to solve a problem. In the 1930’s, rural Ameri-cans could not afford to individually extend power to their homes from existing lines serving neighbor-ing towns. However, working together as a group committed to the reality of lighting up the rural country-side, members came together to form their own power compa-nies – rural electric cooperatives – owned by the members they served. Many de-cades have passed, and electricity is more a part of our lives than ever in history, but the commitment that spawned MEC re-mains: providing our members with afford-able, reliable power and great service.

Manager’s articleMark Hayden

Mec trustees

PresidentTom Alsaker

District #2, Big Flat406-880-8801

Vice PresidentSusan Thraen

District #3, Florence406-240-6210

Secretary-TreasurerRay Cebulski

District #5, Seeley Lake

406-677-2280

Terry HokeDistrict #1, El-Mar

406-728-6221

Chuck DrinvilleDistrict #4, Clinton

406-825-4101

Dena HookerDistrict #6, Ovando

406-793-5632

Peter SimonichDistrict #7, Evaro

406-740-1033

Missoula electric cooperative, inc.

1700 W. BroadwayMissoula, MT 59808

406-541-44331-800-352-5200

Office Hours:Monday-Friday8 a. m. -5 p. m.

Pay Online:missoulaelectric. com

Pay By Phone:1-888-477-7340

Questions:info@meccoop. com

General ManagerMark Hayden

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NATIONAL COOPERATIVE MONTHThis year’s theme is “Cooperatives Commit”October is National Cooperative Month - the time when we pause to reflect on the role cooperatives play in nearly every economic sector. It is also a time to thank our great members to whom MEC owes its formation. No matter their purpose, the one thing all cooperatives have in common is a set of guiding principles: voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; member’s economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community.

Cooperatives Commit to MembersOur mission statement states: “Our business is providing energy. Our mission is serving our members”. More than a slogan, service is the driver behind everything we do, from restoring power during an outage to having a human voice greet you when you call instead of a computer. Many of our employees are also members with a vested interest in making MEC the best it can be.

Cooperatives Commit to EducationThe future of our communities is in our youth. For this reason, MEC regularly offers college scholarships to our members and their dependents attending college in Mon-tana. In addition, MEC donates electronics and other needed items to area schools through our EEE and IEP programs. These donations help keep schools up to date with the ever-changing advances and integration of tech-nology with education.

Cooperatives Commit to SustainabilityMEC has been providing clean, renewable hydroelectric power to our members for decades, a great benefit of our access to the Co-lumbia River Hydroelectric System. Two years ago, in response to our members’ desire for more renewable energy offerings, MEC embarked on our MEC’s community solar program. Fast forward to today, and MEC has two community solar arrays, one of which being the first community solar installation in Montana complet-ed in partnership with a school.

Cooperatives Commit to Community.While it is true that modern communities would be hard pressed to prosper without certain essentials like electricity, at MEC we think building communities goes beyond extending electrical service. We support our local communities through several av-enues including sponsorships, donations and volunteerism. Many of our employees are members of the communities we serve and like MEC, want to see these communities not only survive, but thrive.

Make sure to stop by our Missoula office this October and celebrate Co-op month with a treat.

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OctOber 2017 5

ENERGY ASSISTANCE Know who to call before winter comesHeating season is just around the corner, and energy assis-tance is available. Energy assistance programs are adminis-tered by the Human Resource Council. The following pro-grams are available:

LIEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program) LIEAP is a supplemental heating assistance benefit for a household’s primary source of heat for low-income house-holds. Benefit is determined by the type of fuel, type of dwelling, number of persons living in the home and the amount of gross income earned by all persons living in the home regardless of relationship.

Household income limits are based on federal poverty guidelines. Benefit checks are issued to your fuel vendor by the State of Montana unless you heat with wood, your utili-ties are part of your rent or you are being reimbursed for fuel purchases. In those conditions, a check will come to you from HRC.

Energy Share of Montana Energy Share of Montana is a statewide private nonprofit corporation. Application for assistance and intake in Min-eral, Missoula and Ravalli Counties is through the Human Resource Council. Energy Share accesses various sources of funds and most of them do not have an income cap.

Energy Share helps households facing an immediate energy emergency when they have exhausted all other resources. Energy Share can help households who have used their en-ergy assistance benefit or do not qualify for LIEAP. Energy Share can also help with some furnace emergencies and re-frigerator replacement, if the applicant is a homeowner. A local committee meets regularly to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to recommend assistance, the amount of as-sistance and any co-payment required.

Energy Share is a revolving loan pool. Households have an eligibility of up to $700 within a 10-year period. If repay-ment of all or a portion of the prior assistance is made, ad-ditional awards may be made totaling the amount of repay-ment. The program is active in all three counties.

APPLY BY MAIL FROM 10/1 - 4/30 Human Resource Council

1801 S Higgins Ave Missoula, MT 59801 Call (406) 728-3710

to request an application

MECrootsJoin our grassroots program and become more involvedCooperatives exist because of, and for the benefit of our members. One way members can add meaning to their membership is to join our MECroots program. We want our members to get informed, get involved and get active, and joining the MECroots program is an easy way to do it. Roots members receive a quar-terly newsletter talking about the issues electric co-ops (like MEC) face on local, state and federal levels. Roots members can take part in calls to action when we reach out to them to communicate their support either for or against a policy issue that effects their cooperative and their way of life. Cooperatives are strong because our members own us and want the Co-op to be around for another 81 years. We hope you will consider joining our MECroots program today by visiting our website at www.missoulaelectric.com.

MECroots

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ENERGY PARTNERSPropane Fun Fact:Propane is odorless and colorless by nature, so for safety, an odorant is added to liquid propane. In almost every case, the odorant used is ethyl mercaptan which gives the familiar rotten egg smell which makes leaks detectable. The requirement goes back to 1937 when the London School in Texas exploded do to an undetected natural gas (also odorless) leak ignited. A law was initially passed in Texas, but by year’s end, a federal requirement became law.

When you support Energy Partners, you support MEC.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY REBATES Effective 10/1/2017

Appliances (New)ENERGY STAR Clothes Washers up to $50.00ENERGY STAR Clothes Dryers $50.00Thermostatic Shut-off Valves $14.00-$23.00

Pipe Insulation $5.00-$25.00HVAC Measures*Ductless Heat Pumps 1 $800.00-$1,000.00Air-Source Heat Pump Upgrade 1 $500.00-$700.00Air-Source Heat Pump Conversions 1 $1,400.00-$1,600.00Geothermal Heat Pump Systems (new)1 $3,000.00Qualifying Smart Thermostat call for DEtails

New Construction*New ENERGY STAR Manufactured Homes $1,200.00Montana House (v 2. 0) 2 $1,500.00WeatherizationInsulation 3 VariesENERGY STAR Exterior Door 3 $40.00Prime Window Replacement 3 $2.00-$8.00/Sq. Ft. 1. Installations require use of a PTCS qualified installer or a BPA approved

ductless heat pump installer. Heat pumps must meet minimum efficiency requirements. For a list of qualified contractors, call MEC.

2. MEC approval required prior to start of construction. 3. Insulation, Door and Window replacement require MEC approval prior

to ordering/installing any materials. Rebates only apply to electrically heated homes.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH

Have you considered a smart thermostat for your home or vacation property? Models like the Nest thermostat are easy to use and can learn your preferences to maximize comfort and save energy. The Ecobee smart thermostat can take temperature readings from multiple rooms to ensure even heating. Both models can be accessed by your smartphone to preheat or precool you home prior to your arrival.

Energy SenseTM

Together we can...Together we will

Missoula Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 6 rural MOntana

PAYMENT SCHEDULING Did you know you can schedule your MEC pay-ment to come out of your bank account at a later date? With our SmartHub account management site, you pay now or pay later. Say you are head-ed on vacation and don’t get paid for a couple weeks. Instead of taking time away from your relaxation to pay your power bill, schedule it be-fore you leave and have a worry free trip.