July 2013

74th Annual MeetingThe Co-op enjoyed a good year in 2012, President/CEO Fred Anderson told members at the 2013 Annual Meeting, and looks forward to celebrating the Cooperative’s 75th anniversary with a number of initiatives that will improve member service and system reliability.

Outages and rates decreased significantly in 2012 and the company finished installing more than 83,000 smart meters, Anderson said. In the second half of 2013, those meters will enable members to view detailed information about their usage via a secure web portal on NHEC’s website, he said. For members who want to use it, the information provided by the new meters can be used to better manage their energy use.

The company’s financial state is strong, Anderson said. With equity reaching 40%, the national average for electric cooperatives, NHEC is now in a position to be able to pay capital credits to members “very soon,” he said.

Approximately 140 members and guests attended the Annual Meeting, which was held June 11 at Plymouth State University. Members enjoyed a spaghetti dinner before the meeting and

contributed nearly $700 in donations, which will be given to a non-profit organization that supports all Co-op members.

Also announced at Annual Meeting were the results of the 2013 Board of Directors election. Four incumbents won re-election to seats on the Board. Returning for three-year terms are Georgie Thomas of Intervale, Jerry Hopkins of Moultonborough, Earl Hansen of Holderness and Joseph M. “Joe” Kwasnik of Jackson. Members also voted 5,768 to 1,060 to approve a minor amendment to the NHEC Bylaws.

Board members are elected by NHEC members, who cast ballots annually to fill seats on the 11-member Board of Directors. NHEC is a democratically-controlled cooperative. This year, 7,297 members cast ballots. Thank you to everyone who participates in the cooperative way of doing business by voting in elections or attending Annual Meeting!

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative2013 Board of Directors Election Results

*Elected to three-year term

Candidates Votes Received *Georgie Thomas (Intervale) 5,524 *Jerry Hopkins (Moultonborough) 5,489*Earl Hansen (Holderness) 5,243 *Joseph M. “Joe” Kwasnik (Jackson) 5,199 Gerard J. Maughan (Tuftonboro) 4,141

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Found in NH

Sandra Jones, a Co-op member and Co-Director of the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative, was one of the members who spoke at the 74th Annual Meeting held June 11 in Plymouth.

The discovery of the Emerald ash borer in New Hampshire has prompted the State of New Hampshire to issue a quarantine order for all ash wood and wood products in Merrimack County.

To comply with the quarantine order, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative right-of-way clearing contractors will not be moving any ash wood or chips from sites in Merrimack County on which they were grown. Ash trees will continue to be pruned and taken

down, if need be, but all materials will stay on site to avoid spreading the beetle to other areas of the state not currently infested. The Emerald ash borer is a non-native invasive insect that has spread to 14 states and parts of Canada since its discovery in 2002. It is already responsible for the deaths of an estimated 50- 100 million ash trees and poses a threat to the entire ash population of North America, according to

the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.

The quarantine that exists now is preliminary and may be expanded based on information gathered in the infestation survey. If you have questions about EAB or other insects, please visit www.NHBUGS.org for the most up to date information.

Watts HappeningHeati ng, Cooling & Hot Water System ReplacementA new program from Co-op Energy Soluti ons provides rebates up to $1,200 on the installati on of high effi ciency residenti al heati ng, cooling and water heati ng equipment. Rebates are available for installati on of equipment in new homes or the replacement of old equipment in existi ng homes. For complete program details and applicati on, visit www.nhec.com/energysoluti ons/system_replacement, or call Member Soluti ons at 1-800-698-2007. Connecti ons Card Discounts

Members can now take advantage of discounts at a growing number of New Hampshire businesses when they present their Co-op Connecti ons Card. Just present your Co-op Connecti ons Card and get your discount – it’s that simple! To view a current list of local discounts available to NHEC members, visit www.nhec.coop/connecti ons, or see all of the more than 25,000 discounts available nati onwide to cardholders at www.connecti ons.coop.Free Classifi ed AdsBuy and sell online with the Co-op Classifi eds! Ads are free of charge for members and there’s no limit to how many ads you can post. To get started, register online for free at www.nhec.coop and follow the link from your account home page. Board of Directors Meeti ngsThe NHEC Board of Directors regularly meets on the last Tuesday of each month at the Cooperati ve’s headquarters in Plymouth. Please check the Board of Directors page on the Co-op web site at www.nhec.coop, or call Sharon Yeaton at (603)536-8801 to confi rm the current month’s ti me and locati on.

Sign up for Recurring Payment for a Chance at a New iPad®All NHEC members who sign up for Recurring Payment between July 1 and September 1, 2013 will be entered in a drawing to win a new iPad!

What’s Recurring Payment?

Recurring Payment is the convenient, secure alternati ve to sending your monthly payment by mail. Recurring Payment automati cally draft s your balance due each month from your bank account, debit or credit card. With Recurring Payment, you can skip the check and the stamp and rest easy knowing you’ll never miss a payment. Just set it and forget it!

How Do I Sign Up?

To sign up for Recurring Payment, visit our website at www.nhec.coop, or call Member Soluti ons at 1-800-698-2007. If you’ve never used our website before, you’ll need to sign up as a new user on the home page. Then, select ‘Financial Info’ on your account home page. From there you can choose automati c bill payment and select a payment method. Recurring Payment opti ons include checking or savings account, debit card, Mastercard®, Visa® or Discover®. Your payment will be automati cally draft ed around the same ti me each month (exact date is listed on bill).

Win an iPad!

Shortly aft er September 1, we’ll draw one winner from the list of members who have signed up for Recurring Payment between July 1 and September 1. All you have to do is sign up for the convenience of Recurring Payment during that ti me period and you’re entered to win!

Already On Recurring Payment?

You can win an iPad too! We’re having a second drawing for members who signed up for Recurring Payment prior to July 1, 2013. To qualify you must sti ll be using Recurring Payment as of September 1, 2013. No need to enter – you’re automati cally in the drawing!

With members-only pricing and pick-up locati ons statewide, NHEC is one of New England’s largest sellers of Marathon water heaters. Here are some reasons why:

Get the Marathon Advantage

$10 Off Admission

• Present coupon at ticket location and receive $10 off admission price.

• Coupon valid for members of NHEC and good for up to 4 people.

• For use from Aug. 19 – Sept. 2, 2013

Co-op Member Discount Days

Lower Cost of Ownership

Marathon’s renowned durability eliminates the cost of buying and re-installing a new

water heater every 10 years (nati onal average). This coupled with energy savings makes the total cost of ownership lower than typical water heaters.

No Rust, No Corrosion – Ever

A seamless, blow-molded polybutene inner tank wrapped in fi lament-wound fi berglass makes the Marathon impervious to rust and extremely durable – tanks are regularly tested to

withstand 100,000 cycles from zero to 150 psi.

Best Warranty

The Marathon is warranted not to leak for as long as you own your home. Other Benefi ts

• No venti ng or combusti on • No on-site fuel storage • No backdraft worries • Up to 94% effi cient

Learn more about the Marathon advantage at www.nhec.coop, or call NHEC Member Soluti ons at 1-800-698-2007.