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Annual Meeting March 13.... read more

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Annual Meeting March 13
Grants available to businesses making energy efficiency improvements
State rebates available on water heaters, furnaces and more
Macoupin County students learn electric safety
Local linemen compete in safety rodeo
MJM Electric members can rent energy efficiency DVDs from local libraries
Concerned about the rising cost of energy?
Farm Progress Show Decatur features free gifts, safety demo
Over 100 poles replaced in Staunton area
Stimulus package brought increased tax credits for energy efficient purchases
CFL recycling now available at MJM

Annual Meeting March 13

MJM's annual meeting will be held Saturday, March 13, at the Carlinville High School gymnasium. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 10 a.m.

Those attending will receive a $5 credit on their electric bill and a chance to win an attendance prize. Those registering before 10 a.m. will be entered into a drawing for a $25 credit on their electric bill. Attendees will also have the chance to ask questions at the end of business meeting and will be able to vote for the board of directors. There are no opposed elections this year. Kay Schultz of Godfrey is running for the District 1 seat, Bill Heyen of Gillespie is running for District 6, and Gary Morrison of Fieldon is running for District 9.

Entertainment will follow the business meeting along with a pork chop lunch provided by the Macoupin County Pork Producers.

Grants available to businesses making energy efficiency improvements

Commercial and Industrial accounts served by MJM Electric Cooperative are eligible to apply for a grant that, if awarded, could cover up to 50 percent of the cost of energy efficiency projects that would not otherwise be completed.

The grant is made possible through MJM's power supplier, Wabash Valley Power Association of Indianapolis, and is only open to commercial and industrial accounts. Residential services are not eligible.

Applicants must complete a form detailing the proposed project's cost, timeline, estimated energy savings, non-energy related benefits such as improved safety, and statement of need showing why the project cannot be completed without financial assistance. Projects must be completed within one year of approval.

Interested parties should contact member services director Bronson Borowiak at 217-854-3137 or 217-414-6576. Email inquiries can be sent to bronsonb@mjmec.coop

Applications must be submitted by April 12, 2010.

State rebates available on water heaters, furnaces and more

If you're in the market for a new water heater, furnace, or central air conditioner you could receive a rebate from the State of Illinois.

Condensing water heaters, gas storage water heaters, gas tankless water heaters, heat pump water heaters, gas or propane furnaces, gas boilers, central air conditioners, and air source heat pumps qualify for the new Illinois Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program.

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), items that qualify are eligible for at least a $350 rebate and as much as $1,200. The rebates will be provided at the point of purchase and must be purchased from state-approved retail locations.

A full list of requirements are available at www.illinoisenergy.org.

A second phase of the rebate program will kick in this spring and provide rebates on refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, and room air conditioners.

Macoupin County students learn electric safety

Around 500 Macoupin County elementary students learned about the potential dangers of electricity on January 14 at Carlinville Intermediate School in Carlinville, Ill.

Kyle Finley of Live Line Demo, Inc. presented an entertaining and informative visual display to fourth grade students from Carlinville, Staunton, Girard, Benld, Virden, and Mt. Olive. Finley spoke about a variety of safety issues, but focused on staying away from power lines. He told the students that a line with electricity running through it doesn't look, sound, or smell or any different than a line without electricity. Since you can't tell if electricity is running through a line, you must always assume that the line is energized and dangerous, especially when it is hanging down.

In case of an car accident involving power lines, students were told to stay inside of the vehicle to avoid injury. The importance of installing ground fault circuit interrupters was also discussed. These electrical outlets prevent electrocution by shutting off power when a fault is detected.

The presentations were sponsored by MJM Electric Cooperative of Carlinville, Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative of Auburn, Ameren IP, and the University of Illinois Extension Office.

Local linemen compete in safety rodeo

A three-man team of linemen from Carlinville-based MJM Electric Cooperative put their training and knowledge to the test Friday, October 2, when they participated in the 12th annual Lineman's Safety Rodeo at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill. The day-long event was sponsored by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Linemen competed in five different challenges that tested their ability to perform work on electrical lines quickly and safely. Thirteen of the state's 26 electric cooperatives participated, as well as a team from Springfield's City Water, Light Power.

Competitors had to rescue an injured co-worker (represented by a heavy dummy) from the top of a utility pole, made repairs on underground cables, changed out an insulator using techniques safe for hot or live line work, tested their speed in a timed pole climb, and took part in a mystery event. Each event was scored on a scale of 100 with points given for speed, safety, and work quality.

Linemen representing MJM Electric were Jeb Thackrey of Gillespie, Doug Egelhoff of Shipman, and Jared Stanton of Shipman. This is the fourth year that MJM has participated in the rodeo.

MJM Electric members can rent energy efficiency DVDs from local libraries

Members of MJM Electric Cooperative now have access to two energy efficiency DVDs that explain how to build a new home, and retrofit an existing home, in order to make efficient use of its heating and cooling system.

The DVDs are hosted by Doug Rye, a nationally-recognized authority on energy efficiency. Rye, a licensed architect, writes a monthly column for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and hosts a weekly radio show, "Home Remedies."

"This is another way for us to provide information to our members," MJM member services director Bronson Borowiak said. "If you're interested in saving on heating and cooling costs, it's worth the few hours it takes to watch these videos."

MJM has donated DVDs to several area libraries, where they may be checked out by MJM members. These include the public libraries at Carlinville, Gillespie, Staunton, Brighton, Jerseyville, Litchfield, Hillsboro, and Nokomis.

MJM members who don't have a library card can rent the DVDs at most locations by presenting their Co-op Connections card. These cards identify members as belonging to the cooperative and are good for discounts at a variety of local businesses.

Concerned about the rising cost of energy?

Our Energy, Our Future MJM Electric Cooperative is taking part in a national campaign to ensure the cost of energy remains affordable in the future. We are asking our members to contact their legislators in Washington, D.C., and voice their concerns on rising cost of energy.

When you visit the website for Our Energy Our Future you will be asked to fill out a simple form. You can then click on a link to generate a letter addressed to your legislators on your behalf.

You do not have to be a member of MJM Electric in order to utilize this site. All you need is a concern for the future and the willingness to begin a conversation with your elected officials. The first step for us to find a solution to rising energy costs is to start a dialogue.

Farm Progress Show Decatur features free gifts, safety demo

MJM Electric Cooperative is partnering with other local cooperatives and Touchstone Energy to hold an exhibit at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur September 1-3. The exhibit will contain information about energy efficiency measures that can help reduce your electric usage.

A free gift will be offered each day as well as the opportunity to win Wal-Mart gift cards. MJM members who present their Coop Connections card will receive a special gift. If never received a card or have lost yours, contact the office at 217-414-6576.

Illinois Touchstone Energy Cooperatives along with the Energy Education Council and SafeElectricity.org will also be sponsoring the Live Line Demo, an electrical safety demonstration featuring 7,200 volts of electricity. Great for kids and adults, it�s an experience your family won�t want to miss. Kyle will have his Live Line Demo just outside the Varied Industries Tent. For more information, visit www.livelinedemo.com.

The Touchstone Energy hot air balloon will make an appearance flying the American flag as part of the opening ceremonies each morning. If weather permits the balloon will do a late afternoon flight.

The Varied Industries Tent runs the length of Fifth and Fourth Progress Street and is between West Progress and Central Progress Avenue. The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Exhibit will be on the end cap just inside the entrance/exit on Central Progress Avenue.

Over 100 poles replaced in Staunton area

Linemen are in the process of replacing approximately 140 utility poles near Staunton and Litchfield.

The poles were marked for replacement last summer by Lee Inspection and Consulting of Joplin, Mo. The company tested around 1,000 poles in the area and were scheduled to test poles near Carlinville and Jerseyville as well.

New poles are first placed into the ground. Linemen then transfer wiring and equipment from the old poles to the new and dispose of the old poles.

Stimulus package brought increased tax credits for energy efficient purchases

If you've been holding off on that new insulation or water heater for your home, you may want to consider making the purchase in the next two years to take advantage of increased tax credits available for energy efficiency purchases made in 2009 and 2010.

These credits were previously for 10 percent of the total cost but were increased significantly by the $787 billion stimulus package passed in February.

Newly purchased water heaters, heating systems, air conditioning, exterior doors, windows, insulation, and roofs are eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent of the total cost up to $1,500. Geothermal, solar, and wind systems do not have a cap and are available for systems installed from 2009-2016.

For more information visit Energy Star.

This video explains the credits available.

CFL recycling now available at MJM

MJM Electric Cooperative members can now drop off used compact fluorescent lights for recycling at the cooperative’s office, located at 264 N. East Street in Carlinville, Illinois.

CFLs use four times less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs to produce the same amount of light. This saves electricity, which reduces your bill and reduces the amount of emissions from power plants since less power is needed for the energy-efficient CFLs.

You can help reduce those emissions even more by recycling used CFLs. Drop any used lights off at our front desk. We’ll package them and ship them to a recycling facility in Wisconsin operated by world-renowned recycling leader Veolia. Please note that we are accepting CFLs only. No long fluorescent tubes, the type commonly seen in offices, will be accepted.