Three district meetings were held within Red Lake Electric Cooperative’s (RLEC) service area the last week of January. Topics reviewed at the meetings included 2014 in review, solar discussion, LED security lighting, off peak elec- tric heat, rebate incentives and online bill pay options (Bill4U). In his manager’s report Roger Johanneck discussed current year activities, citing a number of different accom- plishments by the Cooperative in 2014. Johanneck pointed out that our Wholesale Power Cost will have a 5 percent increase in April of 2015. RLEC has no intent of raising retail rates in 2015. Shirley Bregier, office man- ager, reviewed the options to paying your electric bill which included the Bill4U online payment option. Besides being able to pay online you also have the ability to check your daily usage by using Bill4U. In the report from member services, Kelli Brateng shared how off-peak electric heat is more economical for heating than propane. She also dis- cussed the many option avail- able for rebate incentives. The District 7 meeting was held Jan. 26 at Oak Park Church. Aaron Chervestad was unanimously elected as the director candidate from the district. Previous director Kelly Lundeen did not seek re- election. The District 2 meeting was held the afternoon of Jan. 27 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt. Cooperative members in attendance unanimously elect- ed Stacy Blawat, the incum- bent director, as the director candidate from the district. The District 8 meeting was held the evening of Jan. 27 at St. John’s Lutheran School. Incumbent director, Robert Finstad, Thief River Falls, was unanimously elected as the director candidate of the dis- trict. A total of 79 members and friends attended the three meetings. Door prizes were awarded and lunch was pro- vided at each of the meetings. Organizations involved in communi- ty projects and chari- ties are encouraged to apply for funds from Operation Round Up at this time. Completed grant applications are due in the Red Lake Electric Cooperative (RLEC) office by Thursday, March 5. Operation Round Up is a program adopted by RLEC headquartered in Red Lake Falls. Members choosing to “round up” their monthly elec- tric bill payment provide funds for this effort. Today 94 per- cent of RLEC members now choose to contribute pennies each month to enhance their communities. Funds will be donated pri- marily to nonprofit organiza- tions to help fund specific proj- ects or programs. Since the program began in 1993, $442,000 has been granted to community organi- zations and charities. Money is donated for the betterment of the community within the out- side service area boundaries of RLEC. The Red Lake Electric Trust Board of Directors determines grants. Board members are Patty Mickelson, Oklee; Van Swanson, Thief River Falls; Randy Knutson, Newfolden; Roger Johanneck and Bonnie Christians, Crookston. To apply for Operations Round Up grants, organiza- tions should contact the RLEC office in Red Lake Falls at 218-253-2168 or 800-245-6068. A short application must be completed and submitted along with a financial state- ment from the organization. The grant application form is available on the Cooperative’s Web site: www.redlakeelec- tric.com For more information con- tact Roger Johanneck, General Manager of RLEC, at 218-253- 2168 or 800-245-6068. VOL. 50 – NO. 5 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE COUNTY), MINNESOTA 56750 FEBRUARY 2015 Page 2 Manager's Comments Report from the Office Director nominations, petitions due Feb. 23 Page 3 Recipe Corner Avoid getting in hot water with your energy bill Page 4 Feature of the Month: In 1940 rural electricity became a reality Page 5 From the Mail Bag Pages 5 & 6 Member meeting photos Page 8 Give yourself some credit In this month's Volts and Jolts Volts and Jolts Published monthly for the members of RED LAkE ELECTRiC COOPERATiVE, inc. One of the Minnkota Power Systems sERViNG THE FOUR-COUNTY AREA OF MARsHALL, PENNiNGTON, RED LAkE AND POLk and a portion of the lands of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa A look at some statistics from your Red Lake Electric Cooperative qUiCk TAkEs The chart below shows the amount of control time for Red Lake Electric Cooperative’s Off-Peak customers this heating season compared to the same period the past four years. Energy sales, service interruptions and Off-peak control hours are all good examples and reminders of how your Red Lake Electric Cooperative business is impacted by the weather. Operation Round Up grant applications due March 5 Official Notice of Annual Meeting All members of Red Lake Electric Cooperative, Inc. are hereby notified of its annual meeting. The annual meeting will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls. The meeting agenda includes year 2014 in review, financial reports and election of directors. Door prizes will be awarded and lunch will be served. All members are encouraged to attend. /s/ Mark Hanson, Secretary Short-Term Control Long-Term Control Hours of Control OFF-PEAK CONTROL HOURS through February 15th The District 2 meeting was held Jan. 27 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt. Additional district meeting photos appear on pages 5 and 6. District meetings held in January Why you should attend our annual meeting In a victory for Minnkota Power Cooperative and the state of North Dakota, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reaffirmed its approval of North Dakota’s regional haze plan. This rulemaking will allow Minnkota, Red Lake Electric’s wholesale power provider, to continue to significantly reduce emission levels at the coal-based Milton R. Young Station through proven, cost- effective technology. The EPA’s reconsideration would have potentially implemented a federal regional haze plan, which would have required a $500 million investment in technology that has not been proven to work on cyclone- based boilers using North Dakota lignite coal. The EPA’s reconsideration came in response to a petition by environmental law firm Earth Justice challenging the state’s best available retrofit technology (BART) controls for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions at three coal-fired electric generating units, including the two units at the Minnkota-operated Young Station near Center, N.D. The EPA said it has considered all timely significant comments and determined that the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for regional haze meets all neces- sary environmental require- ments for good stewardship. The state of North Dakota and Minnkota have been in an ongoing dispute with the fed- eral EPA about the appropriate regional haze plan. The dis- pute centers on how the state plans to improve visibility in Class I areas like Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The regional haze program only addresses visibility; it is not a health-based program. Minnkota has made major improvements at the Young Station throughout much of the last decade to address envi- ronmental concerns, including visibility issues in Class I areas. About $425 million has already been invested at the Young Station to significantly lower emissions of sulfur diox- ide (SO2) and NOx and mercu- ry. The Young Station provides the majority of the electricity needs for more than 125,000 retail consumers in eastern North Dakota and northwest- ern Minnesota. The EPA plan, or Federal Implementation Plan (FIP), would have required an addi- tional $500 million in emis- sions control technology. In addition to technical issues, EPA’s plan, even if it did work, would not provide a percepti- ble improvement in visibility. In fact, modeling done by the North Dakota Department of Health indicates that even if you shut down all of the power plants in North Dakota, the state still wouldn’t be able to meet the FIP. The regional haze program tasks each state with develop- ing, implementing and admin- istering clean-air rules. The state plan has received strong bipartisan support from elect- ed officials in North Dakota. “We have worked virtually for years to arrive at this deci- sion, which is good news not only for the state’s coal indus- try and the people who work in it, but for North Dakota,” U.S. Sen. John Hoeven said. “It means the industry can contin- ue to provide affordable energy to our state and our region with good environmental stew- ardship.” U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp has also been pushing the EPA to accept the state’s plan rather than forcing a more costly one- size-fits-all federal plan. “North Dakota set up its own proposal to address the regional haze emitted by our utilities and today, the EPA finally listened and approved the initial plan so our state can determine the policies that make the most sense for us,” Heitkamp said. “As we move forward, I’ll continue to push on the EPA to fully approve North Dakota’s plan so we can support the utilities in the state that turn on our lights and heat our homes.” The message is clear EPA reaffirms approval of N.D. regional haze plan It’s that time of year again – annual meeting time! On behalf of Red Lake Electric Cooperative, we’d like to per- sonally invite you to join us on March 25, 2015 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. We look for- ward to gathering with you – members of the co-op commu- nity – to catch up, hear what you have to say and enjoy some good food and fellowship. This event is not only a chance to visit with members of our co-op community – it’s also a great opportunity to learn about programs offered by Red Lake Electric and get to know your co-op staff. Our annual meeting makes it possi- ble for us to gather feedback from you by providing a forum where you can let us know how we can better serve you and your family. This is an occasion to dis- cuss and learn more about the issues affecting our local com- munities. Our employees and directors are members of your community. They are con- cerned with the issues you face every day because they face them too. Rest assured, no matter what happens, we remain ded- icated to providing you with safe, reliable and affordable electric service, but we encour- age you to take part in helping us improve how we deliver that service. So make it a point to join us on March 25 at our annual meeting. We promise we will make it worth your while!
Transcript
Three district meetingswere held within Red LakeElectric Cooperative’s (RLEC)service area the last week ofJanuary. Topics reviewed atthe meetings included 2014 inreview, solar discussion, LEDsecurity lighting, off peak elec-tric heat, rebate incentives andonline bill pay options(Bill4U).
In his manager’s reportRoger Johanneck discussedcurrent year activities, citing anumber of different accom-plishments by the Cooperativein 2014. Johanneck pointedout that our Wholesale PowerCost will have a 5 percentincrease in April of 2015.RLEC has no intent of raisingretail rates in 2015.
Shirley Bregier, office man-ager, reviewed the options topaying your electric bill whichincluded the Bill4U onlinepayment option. Besides beingable to pay online you alsohave the ability to check yourdaily usage by using Bill4U.
In the report from memberservices, Kelli Brateng sharedhow off-peak electric heat ismore economical for heatingthan propane. She also dis-
cussed the many option avail-able for rebate incentives.
The District 7 meeting washeld Jan. 26 at Oak ParkChurch. Aaron Chervestad wasunanimously elected as thedirector candidate from thedistrict. Previous directorKelly Lundeen did not seek re-election.
The District 2 meeting washeld the afternoon of Jan. 27 atNazareth Lutheran Church inHolt. Cooperative members inattendance unanimously elect-ed Stacy Blawat, the incum-
bent director, as the directorcandidate from the district.
The District 8 meeting washeld the evening of Jan. 27 atSt. John’s Lutheran School.Incumbent director, RobertFinstad, Thief River Falls, wasunanimously elected as thedirector candidate of the dis-trict.
A total of 79 members andfriends attended the threemeetings. Door prizes wereawarded and lunch was pro-vided at each of the meetings.
O r g a n i z a t i o n sinvolved in communi-ty projects and chari-ties are encouraged toapply for funds fromOperation Round Upat this time.Completed grantapplications are due inthe Red Lake ElectricCooperative (RLEC)office by Thursday,March 5.
Operation RoundUp is a programadopted by RLECheadquartered in Red LakeFalls. Members choosing to“round up” their monthly elec-tric bill payment provide fundsfor this effort. Today 94 per-cent of RLEC members nowchoose to contribute pennieseach month to enhance theircommunities.
Funds will be donated pri-marily to nonprofit organiza-tions to help fund specific proj-
ects or programs. Since the program began in
1993, $442,000 has beengranted to community organi-zations and charities. Money isdonated for the betterment ofthe community within the out-side service area boundaries ofRLEC.
The Red Lake Electric TrustBoard of Directors determinesgrants. Board members are
Patty Mickelson,Oklee; Van Swanson,Thief River Falls;Randy Knutson,Newfolden; RogerJohanneck andBonnie Christians,Crookston.
To apply forOperations RoundUp grants, organiza-tions should contactthe RLEC office inRed Lake Falls at218-253-2168 or800-245-6068.
A short application must becompleted and submittedalong with a financial state-ment from the organization.The grant application form isavailable on the Cooperative’sWeb site: www.redlakeelec-tric.com
For more information con-tact Roger Johanneck, GeneralManager of RLEC, at 218-253-2168 or 800-245-6068.
VOL. 50 – NO. 5 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE COUNTY), MINNESOTA 56750 FEBRUARY 2015
Page 2Manager's Comments
Report from the Office
Director nominations, petitionsdue Feb. 23
Page 3Recipe Corner
Avoid getting in hot water withyour energy bill
Page 4Feature of the Month:
In 1940 rural electricitybecame a reality
Page 5From the Mail Bag
Pages 5 & 6 Member meeting photos
Page 8Give yourself some credit
In this month's
Volts and Jolts
Volts and JoltsPublished monthly for the members of
RED LAkE ELECTRiC COOPERATiVE, inc.
One of the Minnkota Power Systems
sERViNG THE FOUR-COUNTY AREA OF MARsHALL, PENNiNGTON, RED LAkE AND POLkand a portion of the lands of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa
A look at some statistics from your Red Lake Electric Cooperative
qUiCk TAkEs
The chart below shows the amount of control time for Red Lake ElectricCooperative’s Off-Peak customers this heating season compared to the same period the past four years. Energy sales, service interruptions and Off-peak controlhours are all good examples and reminders of how your Red Lake ElectricCooperative business is impacted by the weather.
Operation Round Up grantapplications due March 5
Official Notice of
Annual MeetingAll members of Red Lake Electric Cooperative, Inc. are herebynotified of its annual meeting. The annual meeting will take place at10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at the Ralph EngelstadArena in Thief River Falls.
The meeting agenda includes year 2014 in review, financial reportsand election of directors. Door prizes will be awarded and lunch willbe served.
All members are encouraged to attend.
/s/ Mark Hanson, Secretary
Short-Term Control Long-Term Control
Ho
urs
of
Co
ntr
ol
OFF-PEAK CONTROL HOURS
through February 15th
The District 2 meeting was held Jan. 27 at Nazareth LutheranChurch in Holt. Additional district meeting photos appear onpages 5 and 6.
District meetings held in January
Why you should attendour annual meeting
In a victory for MinnkotaPower Cooperative and thestate of North Dakota, the U.S.Environmental ProtectionAgency has reaffirmed itsapproval of North Dakota’sregional haze plan.
This rulemaking will allowMinnkota, Red Lake Electric’swholesale power provider, tocontinue to significantlyreduce emission levels at thecoal-based Milton R. YoungStation through proven, cost-effective technology. TheEPA’s reconsideration wouldhave potentially implementeda federal regional haze plan,which would have required a$500 million investment intechnology that has not beenproven to work on cyclone-based boilers using NorthDakota lignite coal.
The EPA’s reconsiderationcame in response to a petitionby environmental law firmEarth Justice challenging thestate’s best available retrofittechnology (BART) controlsfor nitrogen oxides (NOx)emissions at three coal-firedelectric generating units,including the two units at theMinnkota-operated YoungStation near Center, N.D. TheEPA said it has considered alltimely significant commentsand determined that the StateImplementation Plan (SIP) forregional haze meets all neces-sary environmental require-ments for good stewardship.
The state of North Dakotaand Minnkota have been in anongoing dispute with the fed-eral EPA about the appropriateregional haze plan. The dis-pute centers on how the stateplans to improve visibility inClass I areas like TheodoreRoosevelt National Park. Theregional haze program onlyaddresses visibility; it is not ahealth-based program.
Minnkota has made majorimprovements at the YoungStation throughout much ofthe last decade to address envi-ronmental concerns, includingvisibility issues in Class Iareas. About $425 million hasalready been invested at theYoung Station to significantlylower emissions of sulfur diox-ide (SO2) and NOx and mercu-ry. The Young Station providesthe majority of the electricityneeds for more than 125,000retail consumers in easternNorth Dakota and northwest-ern Minnesota.
The EPA plan, or FederalImplementation Plan (FIP),would have required an addi-tional $500 million in emis-sions control technology. Inaddition to technical issues,EPA’s plan, even if it did work,would not provide a percepti-ble improvement in visibility.In fact, modeling done by theNorth Dakota Department ofHealth indicates that even ifyou shut down all of the powerplants in North Dakota, the
state still wouldn’t be able tomeet the FIP.
The regional haze programtasks each state with develop-ing, implementing and admin-istering clean-air rules. Thestate plan has received strongbipartisan support from elect-ed officials in North Dakota.
“We have worked virtuallyfor years to arrive at this deci-sion, which is good news notonly for the state’s coal indus-try and the people who work init, but for North Dakota,” U.S.Sen. John Hoeven said. “Itmeans the industry can contin-ue to provide affordable energyto our state and our regionwith good environmental stew-ardship.”
U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamphas also been pushing the EPAto accept the state’s plan ratherthan forcing a more costly one-size-fits-all federal plan.
“North Dakota set up itsown proposal to address theregional haze emitted by ourutilities and today, the EPAfinally listened and approvedthe initial plan so our state candetermine the policies thatmake the most sense for us,”Heitkamp said. “As we moveforward, I’ll continue to pushon the EPA to fully approveNorth Dakota’s plan so we cansupport the utilities in thestate that turn on our lightsand heat our homes.”
The message is clear EPA reaffirms approval of N.D. regional haze plan
It’s that time of year again –annual meeting time! Onbehalf of Red Lake ElectricCooperative, we’d like to per-sonally invite you to join us onMarch 25, 2015 at the RalphEngelstad Arena. We look for-ward to gathering with you –members of the co-op commu-nity – to catch up, hear whatyou have to say and enjoy somegood food and fellowship.
This event is not only achance to visit with membersof our co-op community – it’salso a great opportunity to
learn about programs offeredby Red Lake Electric and get toknow your co-op staff. Ourannual meeting makes it possi-ble for us to gather feedbackfrom you by providing a forumwhere you can let us know howwe can better serve you andyour family.
This is an occasion to dis-cuss and learn more about theissues affecting our local com-munities. Our employees anddirectors are members of yourcommunity. They are con-cerned with the issues you face
every day because they facethem too.
Rest assured, no matterwhat happens, we remain ded-icated to providing you withsafe, reliable and affordableelectric service, but we encour-age you to take part in helpingus improve how we deliver thatservice.
So make it a point to join uson March 25 at our annualmeeting. We promise we willmake it worth your while!
Each year the terms of threeof Red Lake ElectricCooperative’s (RLEC) direc-tors expire the day of the annu-al meeting. Members of each ofthe three districts whose pres-ent director’s terms will expireMarch 25 have elected directorcandidates at the recently helddistrict meetings.
The names of the candi-dates are Stacy Blawat, ThiefRiver Falls, District 2, AaronChervestad, Oklee, District 7,and Robert Finstad, ThiefRiver Falls, District 8.
Their names will be placedin the nomination at the annu-al meeting. Any other memberwithin these districts wishingto have their name placed innomination must do so bypetition. The petition is due inthe RLEC office in Red LakeFalls by 10 a.m. Feb. 23.
At least 15 members of thedistrict must sign the petition
for the director nominee. Thenominee’s name will then beplaced on the election ballot atthe annual meeting March 25at the Ralph Engelstad Arenain Thief River Falls.
Petition forms are availableat the RLEC office in Red LakeFalls. Contact RogerJohanneck, CooperativeManager, at 800-245-6068 or253-2168 for more informa-tion.
VOLtS anD JOLtS FEBRUaRY 2015 2
Mission Statement
One of the Minnkota Power Systems
Red Lake Electric Cooperative, Inc.
It is the mission of Red Lake Electric Cooperative toenhance the quality of life for people of our service areaby consistently providing quality electric service andother valued services while holding our employees, ourcommunity and our environment in high regard.
Manager'sCommentsby Roger Johanneck
After-hours
outAge phone
218-253-2200
Report from the Officeby Shirley Bregier
Notice
hidden within the text of the
articles of this issue of the
Volts & Jolts are the names
and account numbers of
some RLEC members. they
will appear within the articles
in parenthesis as such
(9999999.99 Roger P.
Member). If you find your
name and account number,
clip it out and send it with your
next payment. You will be
credited with $5 on your elec-
tric bill.
director nominations,petitions due Feb. 23
rlec director qualificationsrequired to be elected/serve
2015 legislative Update Each year in February or
March, our statewide associa-tion, the Minnesota RuralElectric Association (MREA)holds its annual meeting in St.Paul. A good share of theannual meeting is devoted tohearing legislators talk aboutissues going on at thatstatewide level and from otherpresenters on topics from ourindustry. There is also a timeset aside for attendees to visitthe state capital building andmeet with our area representa-tives on topics that may sur-face in the legislature.
To give you an idea(4709001.02 Brent A.Anderson) about what thoseissues the Minnesota legisla-ture may explore this session, Ihave included that list of possi-bilities covered in an articlealready written by MREA'sJoel Johnson, who lobbies onbehalf of Minnesota's ruralelectric cooperatives andDarrick Moe, Acting Director,Government & Public Affairs.
State FEMAReimbursement
Electric cooperativesbelieve member-owned elec-tric cooperatives should haveaccess to state disaster fundsto help our communitiesrebuild after natural disasters,just as municipal utilities do.Damage to electric co-op linesis included in the calculationthat triggers FEMA DisasterDeclarations and we are eligi-
ble for federal assistance. The legislation provides
electric cooperatives withaccess to state relief fundsthrough the Department ofPublic Safety, streamlining theprocess currently in place.
Net Metering Reform This legislation would
reform the state's current netmetering statute for electriccooperatives and municipalutilities by eliminating theshifting of costs and allowingco-ops boards and municipalutility commissions and citycouncils to recover the fixedcosts it takes to serve net-metered members and cus-tomers.
Under the legislation, newinstallations of small (under40kW) distributed generationwould have the choice to:
- Sell all of the output to theutility at avoided or wholesalecost; or
- Receive a kWh credit ontheir bill, with excess creditsrolling over month to month.
At the end of a calendaryear the credits may expire atthe choice of the utility, elimi-nating the incentive to oversizegeneration.
- Boards and commissionswill be allowed to charge amonthly grid fee to recovercosts.
Stray Voltage Minnesota continues to
lead the country in the numberof electric cooperatives with
stray voltage cases in court.We believe the state needs toestablish standards for meas-uring and mitigating strayvoltage complaints as a way tohelp dairy farmers and avoidcostly litigation. The standardwould make utilities account-able if they didn't respond tocomplaints properly, but alsoprotect them from frivolouscomplaints.
We support legislation thatwill require those providingexpert testimony on the way autility's system is designed andengineered be licensed electri-cal engineers. The legislationwould also require those pro-viding expert testimony onstray voltage testing and meas-urements on a farm belicensed Master Electricians.We believe these common-sense requirements will detersome of the questionable "con-sultants" pushing these cases.Railroad Crossing Fees
This legislation yet to beintroduced, would standardizethe fee for utilities crossingrailroad tracks at a flat fee of$750. The language in the billis similar to what is on thebooks in South Dakota.
Move-Over Legislation The Move-Over Statute,
which requires drivers to slowdown and move over (if possi-ble) when approaching policeor emergency vehicles wouldbe changed to include utilityvehicles.
BilliNGS aNd collectioNYou will receive your energy bill on or near the
10th of each month. Payment of your monthlyenergy bill is due on the 10th of the month. Youmay pay your bill in person at RLEC during officehours, use the 24-hour drive-up drop box locatednext to the RLEC office, by auto Pay, by mail or byBill4U on www.redlakeelectric.com.
Payment must be in our office or in the mail asevidenced by the postmark on or by the 25th dayof the month to avoid a late payment charge. a 11⁄2% monthly late payment charge will be comput-ed on delinquent energy bills; the minimum latepayment charge will be $1.00.
If your payment is not received by the end of themonth a notice of disconnection statement will beincluded in the message area on your followingenergy bill. the disconnection statement will give afinal notice of when your electric service will be dis-connected if the delinquent amount remainsunpaid. If an employee is sent to disconnect yourelectric service a $60 collection fee will be chargedto your account, even if you pay the collector.
to have a disconnected service reconnected,all amounts owing including the $60 reconnectionfee and a security deposit must be paid. If the serv-ice must be reconnected after normal workinghours a $120 reconnection fee must be paid.
Bad cHeckSa $15 charge will be levied each time a
check is returned because of nonsufficientfunds, account being closed or paymentstopped along with any applicable bankcharges.
oUtaGeSIn case your electricity goes out, please do
the following:1. Check your fuses or breakers at the yard
pole or meter pedestal.2. Call your neighbor to see if they are out
of electricity also.3. Call the RLEC office (218-253-2168 or 1-
800-245-6068) during working hours or 218-253-2200 after hours.
Meter teStSRLEC has a schedule in place to have its
meters periodically tested for accuracy. Resultsfrom these tests show that meters generally slowdown with age; however, if you think that yourmeter is recording too much usage, RLEC will testit for accuracy. You must pay a test fee in advanceof the test. If the meter test shows that the meterwas inaccurate, the test fee will be refunded toyou.
Stopped MeterSIf you find your meter has stopped and you are
using electricity, please contact the office immedi-ately so we can replace it. average consumptionwill be billed to the member for the time the meterwas stopped so there is no advantage in notreporting a stopped meter.
Meter readiNGSan automated meter reading system is utilized
to obtain monthly meter readings. although thesystem is normally reliable, that is always a chancethat the correct reading has not been transmittedto the office for billing. Customers should periodi-cally read their meter and compare it to the read-ing on the billing statement. If the actual reading isnot close to the billing statement reading, pleasecall the office. Keep in mind that the reading onyour bill is from the end of the month.
GeNeral Service rateSFacilities charge variable $27 to $35 monthapril-December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5¢ KwhJanuary-March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.9¢ KwhLong term off peak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5¢ Short term off peak . . . .7.5¢ Off-peak equipment charge, $5.50/month perheat meter. Multiphase users add $22/month cost of serv-ice charge. Standby, $12/month (meter disconnected butthe power line remains; standby is not availableon services larger than 15 KVa transformercapacity). Security light: LED, $8/month; high pressuresodium, $8/month; mercury vapor, $9/month;water heater flat credit, $7/month (January-april billing).
things you should know about your electric service
One of the Minnkota Power Systems
Red Lake Electric Cooperative, Inc.
No member shall be eligibleto become or remain a directorwho:
• Is not a member of theCooperative, receiving electricservice at the member’s pri-mary residence in the districtfrom which the director iselected.
• Within three years preced-ing a director candidate’snomination was an employeeof the Cooperative.
• Is or becomes, or at anytime during the three (3) yearspreceding a director candi-date’s nomination shall havebeen employed by a laborunion, which represents or has
represented, or has endeav-ored to represent any employ-ees of the Cooperative.
• Is a parent, spouse orcohabitant of any employee ofthe Cooperative.
• Is a person who is a par-ent, spouse, or cohabitant ofan incumbent director who isnot up for re-election at thattime.
• Is in any way employed byor substantially financiallyinterested in an enterprisecompeting with theCooperative or anyCooperative-affiliated busi-ness.
• Is or becomes the full-timeemployee or agent of, or who isor becomes the full-timeemployer or principal of,another director.
The RLEC office is busy get-ting ready for the 77th AnnualMeeting. One of our tasks inpreparing for the annual meet-ing is to assign the Cooperativemargins for 2014 and get readyto retire capital credits. Sowhat are capital credits?
Capital credits reflect amember’s ownership in thecooperative. Simply put, capi-tal credits are the amount ofrevenue left over at the end ofthe business year once all theoperating expenses have beenpaid. At the end of 2014 theCooperative had margins (rev-enue minus expenses) of$825,752.
Being we are a not-for-prof-it cooperative, this amount willbe divided up between allmembers who paid an electricbill during the year of 2014.The margins will be divided upbased on how much eachmember paid the coop duringthe year for their electricity.
The Cooperative had about4,500 members that will sharethese margins. This assign-ment of capital credits willremain in each membersaccount to be used by theCooperative to build new or
rebuild aging infrastructure,improve capacity and operatethe Cooperative.
Your Cooperative has anequity plan in place whichguides the board in the annualevaluation of retiring capitalcredits to the membership.When a payout is approved bythe Board of Directors, the old-est capital credits are paidback first. RLEC retires creditson a rotation of approximately20 years which helps the coopmaintain an ideal equity level.
In January, your board ofdirectors approved the pay-ment of the balance of capitalcredits assigned to members in1996 and 90 percent of the1997 capital credit assignmentfor a total of about $435,000.
For those of you that are acurrent member and stillreceiving an electric bill fromRed Lake Electric, you will getthis in the form of a credit onthe electric bill you receive inMarch. If you have sincemoved and no longer receivean electric bill you will receivea check mid-March.
Off-Peak ReadingsThis is also a good time to
remind those of you that haveoff-peak systems to check thereading on your off-peak meterto the one reading shown onyour electric bill. Keep in mindthat the reading on the electricbill was taken on the last day ofthe month.
This is a good thing to do forall meters but off-peak sys-tems, especially those in shopsand garages, aren’t always inuse and therefore will send areading showing no usagewhich may look okay to us.Even with all the checks wehave in place to alert us whenan automated reading device isnot reporting correctly, it isstill a good thing to look at themeter reading periodically justto be sure everything is work-ing properly.
Like always, (2204005.03Roger A. Rivera Jr.) if you havea question or concern pleasecall our office at 1-800-245-6069 or e-mail us at [email protected].
Watch for your capital cred-it payment and I hope to seeyou at the annual meeting onMarch 25th.
red lake electric cooperative, inc.
voltS & JoltS(USPS 663-400)
Published monthly by the Red Lake Electric Cooperative, Inc.,412 International Drive SW, Red Lake Falls, Minnesota56750-0430, in the interest of its members and others.Periodical Postage Paid at the U. S. Post Office in Red LakeFalls, Minnesota 56750. POStMaStER, SEnD aDDRESSChangES to Volts & Jolts, c/o Red Lake ElectricCooperative, Inc., P. O. Box 430, Red Lake Falls, Minnesota56750-0430. E-mail: [email protected]
Steven Linder, Peter Mosbeck,Colette Kujava, Randy Versdahl, Stacy Blawat
Subscription rate $2.50 per year
Children at home aloneshould be able to prevent andcope with emergencies. Theymust also have a strong senseof responsibility and bemature enough to care forthemselves.
Some children enjoy caringfor themselves and welcomeadditional responsibilitieswhile others become easilybored, lonely or scared. Onlythe adults closest to the childknow if he or she is ready tospend some time at homealone.
Within a home there arevarious potential dangersincluding fires and burns, falls,poisoning, choking and suffo-cation, electrocution, uninten-tional use of firearms anddrowning. Here are some tipson how to reduce the risk ofinjury when an older child is athome alone for a short periodof time.
Fires/Burns:• Install smoke detectors
outside all sleeping areas andon every level of your home.
• Keep matches and lightersout of reach.
• Turn your water heaterdown to 120 degrees F. Thistemperature will not scald butshould provide plenty of hotwater.
• Teach your child what todo in case of fire and how toget out of the house quickly.
Falls • The surface under play
equipment should be soft andresilient, not hard ground.
• Keep stairs well-lit andclear of clutter.
Poisoning: • Put safety latches on all
cabinet doors, or store medi-cines and other poisonous sub-stances in original containerswith child-resistant caps,locked out of reach.
Other Hazards • If guns are kept in the
house, keep them unloadedand locked separate from theammunition.
Help your child create anemergency safety kit. This kitshould contain a flashlight,
first aid kit, battery poweredradio and any special instruc-tions. The kit (6709001.03Enbridge Energy Partners)should be kept in an easy toreach place. Post emergencyphone numbers near the tele-phones.
Don't expect children underthe age of 10 to be able to takecare of younger siblings anddon't leave children youngerthan age six in the care of oldersiblings.
Teach your children com-mon sense safety precautionssuch as how to use and answerthe telephone, especially howto call 911. They should nevertell a caller they are homealone.
Children should knowwhere and how the door andwindow locks operate and howto make sure they are secured.Teach them to never enter thehouse if the door is ajar or anywindows are broken. Instructthem to go to a safe place andcall police.
Teach them to carry thehouse key out of sight. Keysshould never be identified witha name and address.
Children should be instruct-ed to check in immediatelyupon arriving home. Theyshould call you or a designatedrelative or neighbor.
Acknowledgments:National Crime Prevention
Council and Safe KidsWorldwide
Don’t find yourself in hot
water with your energy bill.
Keep comfortable by making
use of water heater efficiency
tips that can help you save
energy in your home and
money on your energy bill.
After heating and cooling,
water heating is the largest
energy user in most homes. A
great way to ensure water
heater efficiency is by lowering
the set temperature. For every
10 degrees Fahrenheit low-
ered, you can save three to five
percent on your bill. It is sug-
gested to set the water heater
temperature to no higher than
120 degrees. This temperature
is sufficient for any water heat-
ing need and reduces mineral
build up. Any hotter could
result in scalding.
Install a timer on your
water heater for greater effi-
ciency. This timer will activate
the appliance to heat the water
before major use periods and
will shut it off or lower the
temperature during times you
do not need hot water.
If your water heater does
not have one already, consider
purchasing an insulating blan-
ket for it. According to
Energy.gov, insulating your
water tank reduces standby
heat loss by 25 to 45 percent
and saves four to nine percent
in water heating costs.
A water heater insulation
blanket kit (3729016.03
Gregory or Cindy Dally, Falls
Radiator Service) is an afford-
able investment, costing
around $25, and it will pay for
itself with the energy it saves.
Be sure to check with your util-
ity to see if it offers low cost
insulating blankets or rebates.
Here are other ways to save
energy and lower your bill with
your water heater:
Do not take baths. Instead,
take short showers. This
reduces the amount of hot
water used.
Do not let the water contin-
ue to run when you are brush-
ing your teeth, washing your
hands, or doing the dishes.
Make it a habit to turn off the
water when you are not using
it.
Use cold water for laundry.
Cold water will clean clothes
just as well as warm.
Do full loads in your dish-
washer. This reduces the
amount of times you need to
run the appliance.
Fix faucet leaks and install
low-flow fixtures. With this,
Energy.gov estimates 25 to 60
percent savings on your water
heating bill.
If you are shopping around
for a new water heater, look for
Energy Star products to ensure
greater efficiency. They can
use up to 70 percent less ener-
gy and can last up to 10 times
longer than other products,
according to Energy Star. Also
check with your utility to see if
any rebates are available.
For more home
efficiency tips visit:
EnergyEdCouncil.org
VolTs anD JolTs FEBrUary 2015 3
red Lake electric Cooperative, Inc.
Operating reportmonThly comparison
deCember deCember2013 2014
Total revenue ............................$1,236,368 $ 1,166,392Total margins ..............................$ 513 $ 191,929cost of power.............................$1,023,263 $ 1,027,263KWh's purchased.................... $23,817,705 $ 15,591,845capital credits paid to Estates ..$ 5,182 $ 2,116average outage time in minutes 0 0per member
yEar To DaTE comparisondeCember deCember
2013 2014Total revenue ............................$13,636,983 $14,325,988Total margins..............................$1,140,335 $ 825,752cost of power ............................$9,702,119 $10,470,889KWh's purchased ....................144,849,402 146,387,508new service connections ........................62 71customers served...............................5,272 5,321capital credits paid to Estates ..$ 101,896 $ 66,549average outage time in minutes 156 175per membermiles of lineoverhead.............................................2,323 2,327Underground ..........................................264 270
Recipe Corner
Look up
PoWeR liNeS maY Be
oveRheaD
Chicken Wild Rice
1 cup wild rice 3 cups boiling water 1 tsp. salt 2 cans mushrooms (4 oz.
cans) 1 medium onion (diced) 1 Tbsp. minced parsley 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. pepper 3 cups diced chicken 1 can chicken rice soup 1 can mushroom soup 1/2 cup cream 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
cheese 1 cup toasted almonds, sliv-
ered
Wash rice and soak for 2-3hours. Pour boiling water overrice and cook covered for 40-60 minutes. Cook mushrooms,onion and parsley in butter for5 minutes. Mix with rice. Addremaining ingredients exceptcheese and almonds (some ofthe almonds can be put intothe mixture). Sprinkle top withcheese and almonds. Bake 11/2 - 2 hours at 350 degrees.
Melt chips in double boiler.Beat egg yolks and add pow-dered sugar and milk. Add this
to chocolate. Cook over hotwater. Add egg whites andcool. Whip whipping creamand add vanilla. Fold intochocolate mixture. Break cakeinto bite-sized pieces. Put 1/2in pan. Pour 1/2 chocolatemixture over cake. Add rest ofcake and pour remainder ofchocolate mixture over cake.Cut through to moisten all ofcake. Chill 8 hours orovernight
Pork Chop 'N PotatoCasserole
6 pork chops Vegetable oil Durkee seasoned salt 1 can cream of celery soup 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 pkg. thawed frozen hash-
browns 1 cup shredded Cheddar
cheese 1 can Durkee French fried
onion rings
Pan Size: 9 x 13 Oven Temp.: 350° Time: 40 Minutes
Brown pork chops in lightlygreased skillet. Sprinkle withseasoned salt and set aside.Combine soup, milk, sourcream, pepper and 1/2 tsp.seasoned salt. Stir in potatoes,1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 canonion rings. Spoon mixtureinto pan. Arrange pork chopsover potatoes. Bake. Top withremaining cheese and onions.Bake uncovered for 5 minuteslonger.
Corned Beef RubenCasserole
6 oz. pkg. Brownberry sea-soned croutons
12 oz. can crumbled cornbeef
16 oz. can drained sauer-kraut
8 oz. Swiss cheese slices3 eggs2 cups milk
Pan Size: 11-3/ 4 x 7-1/2 x 1-3/4 Dish
Oven Temp.: 325° Time: 35 Minutes
In buttered pan, layer 1/2 ofcroutons, corned beef andsauerkraut. Top with remain-ing croutons and sliced cheese.Beat eggs and milk together,pour over croutons. Bake untilbrowned and set in center.
Yield: 8 servings.
Snickerdoodles
1 cup shortening (part but-ter adds flavor)
1 1/2 cups sugar 2 eggs 2 3/4 cups sifted flour 1 tsp. soda 2 tsp. cream of tartar 1/4 tsp. salt
Mix thoroughly the short-ening, sugar and eggs. Sifttogether the flour, soda, creamof tartar and salt. Add to othermixture. Form into small balls.Roll in mixture of:
2 Tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon Bake at 400 degrees for 8 to
10 minutes on ungreased cook-ie sheets.
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Year To DateSeptember 1 to January 31
DEGREE DAYSJanuary, 2015
avoid getting in hot waterwith your energy bill
degree daySTo determine degree days, you must calculate the dailymean temperature for the time period you are measuring.Degree day computation is based on the assumption thata building does not require any heat if the outside temper-ature averages 65 degrees during a 24-hour period. Toobtain a degree day figure, the high temperature and thelow temperature for the day are added and the total divid-ed by two. That figure is then subtracted from 65. Forexample, if the high temperature was 30 degrees and thelow temperature 10 degrees, the figure would be30+10=40; 40/2=20; 65-20=45. This would be a 45-degreeday. The higher the degree day figure, the more heatrequired to warm your home.
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Want to cut your heatingcost by up to 50%? OFFICE PHONE
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In 1940 rural electricity became a realityBy Evelyn Glass
Farmers looked forward tothe day when rural electricitywould become a reality. Aftermonths of hearing of the plansand watching the workersbuild the lines to carry elec-tricity to the rural area, theylooked ahead to the day whenthey would have access to theservice.
For Ernest and Lydia Seegerthat day came in 1940. Whenthey moved to California theirson, Wally, a single man,assumed the responsibility ofthe farm. His plan was to con-tinue farming.
In October of 1942 Wally’splans were changed when hereceived notice that he was tobe drafted into the army. Hewas engaged to Marie Waldaland they decided to marrybefore he had to leave for thearmy. With the date for him to
enter the army just three weeksaway, they quickly planned asmall wedding and a honey-moon.
To their surprise when theyreturned from shopping for thewedding Wally’s father said, “Ijust got a call from the draftboard. They said GovernorStassen is in Washington, D.C.and called to tell the draftboard he helped to get a billpassed stating that the last sonon the farm would be granted adeferment.” This meant Wallywould not be drafted.However, they decided to goahead with their original plansand were married on Oct. 14,1942.
With this change in theirplans, Wally and Marie estab-lished their home on the farmwest of Red Lake Falls andcontinued to live therethroughout their marriage.
Wally passed away on June30, 2001. Marie continues tolive on the farm in the samehouse where they lived andraised their four children.Daughter Kaye lives inPhiladelphia. Mike, Steve andBrad all live near Red LakeFalls. It is Marie’s joy to haveher children, grandchildrenand great-grandchildren livenear her and to have thosefrom Philadelphia come oftento visit. Today Mike and Stevecontinue to farm with theirheadquarters on the homefarm.
In 1976, Wally and Mariebuilt a cabin on their farm.Drawing on her Norwegianheritage Marie chose to namethe cabin “The Hytta.”Translated into English it sim-ply means "cabin." At TheHytta Marie taught paintingclasses for 30 years. The medi-
ums were oil and acrylics andfeatured both NorwegianRosemaling and folk art fromfifteen different Europeancountries.
She says she has lost countof how many students she wasprivileged to have in her class-es. Each year she would have a“boutique” and would offer forsale many of her painting proj-ects and those of her friendsand students.
Marie appreciates antiques,especially those that have beenin the family. She has been cre-ative is using them to decorateher home, often withRosemaling and folk paintingto add to their attractiveness.One of the pieces is a cornercabinet (pictured below). Thelettering on the front tells astory:
“There is a little villagewhere the people love God and
one another. Each is free to fol-low his heart, so they rejoice inwork sing at play. They won-der, imagine invent usefulthings and create beauty. Theylaugh and cry build, plant, har-vest, tend the flock and othercritters. They live peacefully,joyfully, in tune with nature.And they live happily ever afterin a small village called home.”Jean Wortham, Author
Bethany Lutheran Churchhas been the church home forWally and Marie all these yearsand a very important part oftheir family life. Marie was oneof the leaders who began thetradition of the fall Norwegian-style Smorgasbord that hasbeen held every year since1948 when their church wasorganized. It is an event antici-pated by many and is wellattended with people comingfrom many miles to enjoy sup-
per and fellowship. In addition to the tradition-
al role of wife of a farmer,Marie worked off the farm forseveral years. The office ofAAA (Agricultural AdjustmentAct) which later became theASCS (Agriculture Stabiliza -tion and Conservation Service)office, serving farmers, was herplace of employment.Similarly, Wally, was employedby American Crystal full timefor 24 years.
When asked what part RedLake Electric had in makingtheir lives better, Marie spokeof her appreciation for theservice that has been a part ofthe success of the farm. Theconsistent dependability ofhaving electricity availablemade their years of farmingeasier and contributed to theirquality of life.
The Hytta, which means "cabin" in Norwegian, is where Marie taught painting lessons for 30years.
Members of the Seeger family include, from left, Kaye, Steve, Marie, Mike and Brad.
Longtime Cooperative member Marie Seeger has many antique items displayed in her home,including this decorative corner cabinet.
vOLTS ANd jOLTS FEBRUARY 2015 5
Red Lake Electric Cooperative is pleasedto offer you Auto Pay. Now you can have yourmonthly energy bill paid automatically fromyour checking or savings account. You canreceive the Auto Pay service by completingthe Auto Pay sign-up sheet and returning it toRed Lake Electric Cooperative.
The Auto Pay service is free of charge. Notonly is this service free, you will eliminate theexpense of writing a check, postage to mailyour payment and no more late paymentpenalties because your bill will be paid ontime, every month, for you.
Your payment will be automatically madefor you on the 5th of each month. If the 5thfalls on a weekend or holiday, the payment will
be made on the next business day. You willcontinue to receive your monthly energy billas you have in the past, indicating the amountthat will be withdrawn from your bank account.The proof of your payment will appear on yourbank statement and your next month's energybill statement.
Continue to pay your monthly bill untilyou are notified on your bill that the AutoPay has been set up for you.
If you have any questions about the AutoPay please call RLEC at 800-245-6068 or218-253-2168.
Auto PAy offered by rLeC
AUTO PAYSIGN-UP SHEET
I authorize Red Lake Electric Cooperative (RLEC) and the bank listed below to initiate vari-able entries to my checking or savings account. This authorization remains in effect until Inotify RLEC in writing to cancel it in such time as to allow RLEC to act on it.
RLEC ELECTRIC ACCOUNT #
NAME (PRINT)
AddRESS
TELEPHONE #
NAME OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
CHECkING ACCOUNT #
SAvINGS ACCOUNT #
SIGN HERE TO AUTHORIzE
Please return this authorization form with a blank, voided check to: Red Lake Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 430, Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
Pictured are some of the Red Lake Electric members who attended the District 7 meeting held on Jan. 26 at Oak Park Church inrural Oklee.
Corinne Swenson
of Middle River
(photo at right)
won a George
Foreman Grill at
the District 2
meeting held Jan.
27 in Holt.
Jerome Sorenson, Thief River Falls, was the winner of a clock radio at the District 2 meeting
which was held at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Holt.
From the Mail BagDear RLEC,
Thank you so much for theclock-radio I won at theDistrict Meeting.
Lana NelsonOklee
Dear RLEC,Thank you for the tea cup
and saucer shelf I won at theDistrict Annual Meeting.
Muriel MandtOklee
Dear RLEC,Thank you for the clock
radio I won at the DistrictMeeting.
Ginny ArmstrongThief River Falls
Dear RLEC,Thank you for the very
informative meeting you puton at St. John School. The pieand prizes were also very muchappreciated.
Sincerely,Myron and Ila
AndersonThief River Falls
vOlTS And jOlTS FEBRUARY 2015 6
P. O. Box 430 412 International Drive SW Red Lake Falls, MN 56750-0430
Any new off-peak electricheating equipment purchasedand installed after May 1, 2014qualifies for an off-peak elec-tric heat incentive.
Members will receive $20per kilowatt (kW) for qualify-ing electric heating equipmentwith a maximum incentive of$600. The electric equipmentmust be part of an off-peakheating system with a qualifiedbackup heating source. Theequipment must be hardwired.
Heat pumps may also quali-fy for the incentive. Air-source
heat pumps will receive a $100per ton incentive. Ground-source heat pumps will receivea $200 per ton incentive. Heatpumps do not have to be con-trolled as part of an off-peaksystem. Any resistance or stripheat as part of a ground-sourceheating system must be con-trolled. The maximum incen-tive for heat pumps is $600.
This off-peak electric heatinstallation incentive is inaddition to the conservationincentives offered as part ofthe Cooperative’s PowerSavers Program.
In the wake of rising andfluctuating fossil fuel pricesand with this electric heatingequipment incentive, now is agreat time to install off-peakelectric heat.
Equip your home(3927002.05 Kenneth Asp) orplace of business with a dual-fuel heating system and be setfor heating seasons of thefuture. Call Red Lake ElectricCooperative at 253-2168 or800-245-6068 for more infor-mation.
• Baseboard Heater• Boiler• Cove Heater• Forced Air Furnace • Plenum Heater• Unit Heater• ETS Furnace
Pictured are members of Red Lake Electric Cooperative who attended the District 8 meeting heldon Jan. 27 at St. John’s Lutheran School, Thief River Falls.
Qualifying electric
heating equipment
John Erickson, Thief River Falls, was the winner of an electricknife at Red Lake Electric's District 8 meeting held Jan. 27 inThief River Falls.
Muriel Mandt, Oklee, was the winner of an oak shelf at Red Lake Electric’s District 7 meeting heldJan. 26 in Oklee.
John Mattson, Thief River Falls, was the winner of a LED flash-light at Red Lake Electric’s District 8 meeting which was held inThief River Falls.
Your key to buy, sell or trade anything is the
cLaSSifiEDSThe members are invited to use this fRee WANT AD service.if you have anything to trade or sell, just drop a card to red lake electric cooperative, box 430, red lake Falls, mn 56750.
red lake electric cooperative
Want Ad Order formuse this handy form to submit your want ads.
PLEaSE PRinT.mail or bring your ads to the rlec office by the tenth of themonth. commercial ads are 10¢ per word with a minimumcharge of $4 per insertion.
member want ads are Free. one want ad per member permonth.
Please PRINT . . .your name, address and phone number. mail with yourpower bill payment, if you prefer, or fax to 218-253-2630.
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By Allison GoldbergA credit score is a number
that indicates a person’s credit-worthiness—the higher thenumber, the more likely it is aperson will repay his or herdebts. And the lower the score,the less likely a person is torepay those debts.
These scores are used to eval-
uate the potential risk of doingbusiness with a person. A lowcredit score can adverselyimpact your ability to secure aloan or line of credit, rent ahome, or it could increase yourinsurance premiums, amongother repercussions.
It’s important to understandhow your credit score is deter-
mined and what steps you cantake to ensure your score is ashigh as possible given yourcredit history so that, when youdo need credit, you can obtainthe best possible interest ratesand insurance premiums.
The FICO score was intro-duced in 1989 by FICO (thencalled Fair, Isaac, andCompany) and is now used bythe majority of banks and creditgrantors. An approximate break-down of the FICO score theexact formula is proprietary is:
score it’s essential that you makepayments on time, pay downyour debt, use not only revolv-ing debt (e.g. credit cards, openlines of credit) but also install-ment debt (e.g. mortgage, stu-dent loans, car loans), whenappropriate, and rarely apply fornew credit. The length of yourcredit history can improve withtime alone.
Thanks to the Fair andAccurate Credit Transactions(FACT) Act of 2003,(1130004.06 Donald Peterson)every legal U.S. resident is enti-tled to a free annual copy oftheir credit report from each ofthe three main credit reportingagencies, Experian, Equifax andTransUnion, using the websiteannualcreditreport.com or byphone at 877-FACT-ACT.
While the reports won’t con-tain your numerical credit score,you can buy the score from each
agency for a fee of $7.95 if youwish. Some banks and creditcard issuers provide customerswith their credit score for free;you may wish to contact yourbank or credit card companies toinquire.
Review your credit reportsfor errors. Any errors may belowering your credit score, andyou should request an investiga-tion of errors as soon as possi-ble.
The Federal TradeCommission provides detailedinformation on its consumerwebsite (consumer.ftc.gov)about what you should andshould not include in your lettersto the credit reporting companyand the creditor who reportedthe disputed information. Credit
reporting companies must inves-tigate disputes within 30 days –unless they consider yourrequest frivolous, so stick to thefacts, provide copies of support-ing documents (not originals)and include a copy of your cred-it report with the disputed itemscircled.
If the credit reporting compa-nies find that the informationyou challenged is incorrect, theymust remove it and the creditorwill have to notify the nationalcrediting reporting companies,who will have to correct yourcredit file. Once they’ve investi-gated, the credit reporting com-pany must provide the results inwriting to you, too, and a newcopy of your credit report forfree, if the findings resulted in
changes to your report. You can also ask that the
credit reporting agency send acorrected credit report to anyonewho received a copy within thepast six months and to anyonewho received a copy within thepast two years for employmentpurposes.
Just remember that accuratenegative information can onlybe removed by the passage oftime. Accurate negative infor-mation can remain on your cred-it report for seven years, andbankruptcy information canremain for 10 years.
For more resources onimproving your credit score andother financial issues, you canvisit the FTC (consumer.ftc.gov)for trustworthy information.
