in this issue:

Executive Message B

Scholarships C

Heat Pump Help D

My Energy Report E

New Rate Schedule F

Call Before Digging G

Right-of-Way Clearing and UPC Mobile H

reviewcooperative

clearing for reliability

There are many ways that Union Power provides you with safe, reliable electric service. One of the most common, most

visual — and crucial — ways is referred to as right-of-way clearing (or vegetation management).

A right of way (ROW) refers to a strip of land underneath or around power lines that your electric cooperative has the given right and responsibility to maintain and clear. Existing trees are trimmed to a distance far enough from conductors where they will not make contact and potentially cause harm to individuals, cause fires or disruption to electrical service. Nationwide, specifications do vary, but our safe ROW maintenance distance is 15 feet of clearance all around the primary conductors and the poles. We also remove all inappropriate “volunteer” trees under the lines.

Why Clear ROW?Clearing the ROW is critical to keeping our members’ lights on. An average of 15 percent of power interruptions occur when trees grow too close to power lines or fall in from outside the ROWs. If a tree encroaches on this safe distance, our vegetation management team will trim back branches and cut brush using chainsaws, bucket trucks, tree climbers, brush chippers and mowers. Safe chemical control methods are also being used as a way to support the growth of native low growing plant species and to suppress the tall tree species that tend to grow beneath power lines.

ROW clearing keeps your family safe by ensuring that tree branches do not become energized due to close contact with a power

line. Power lines can carry thousands of volts, and an energized tree branch is incredibly dangerous — even deadly. Be mindful when around trees close to power lines, and make sure your children know that climbing trees near power lines is extremely dangerous.

ROW clearing is critical to ensuring that we provide members with affordable electricity. Staying ahead of the game keeps us from having to come out during and after storms to restore power due to fallen trees.

Find Out More…Remember to contact the Cooperative if you decide to trim, remove or plant trees near any power service or line. The right tree in the right place will help avoid future problems. And never trim a tree in the right-of-way zone on your own. Visit us at union-power.com to find out more about our vegetation management program and to receive information about how to keep the ROW in your service territory clear.

march 2015

As a member of an electric cooperative, you may not often think about the value that co-op membership adds to your daily life. At Union Power, we exist solely to serve our members, and delivering exceptional value while providing safe and reliable power plays a significant role in our service to you.

Capital Credits — Money Back to You!As a member of Union Power Cooperative, you get money back when our revenues exceed costs — this is a distinctive value of cooperative membership. Each year, any margins (revenues in excess of expenses) generated by Union Power are proportionally allocated to you as capital credits and are held in an account in your name. Those margins are then reinvested into the Cooperative for capital expansion, system improvements and on-going operations and maintenance activities. This reduces the amount of money being borrowed which helps keep rates as low as possible.

Once the Cooperative has met its financial requirements, and after a period of time, capital credits are returned (paid) to you. As a not-for-profit utility, the return of capital credits sets us apart from other utilities and makes the cooperative business model special. Last year, we retired more than $5.5 million to our members. For more information on our capital credits program, please refer to your Member Handbook or visit our website, union-power.com.

Efficiency & Continuous ImprovementUnion Power employees continually strive to implement cost-saving measures throughout our day-to-day operations. This includes reviewing and streamlining workflow processes to ensure efficiency. We’ve deployed state-of-the-art solutions that help us pinpoint and solve problems quickly and more efficiently. Investing in continuous proactive maintenance helps us identify and correct small issues before they can turn into costlier problems. Our focus is on providing you with the best value for your dollar.

Energy-Saving Web ToolsUnion Power’s comprehensive and user-friendly website offers a variety of energy-saving tools to help you save on your electric bill each month. Energy calculators and other tools help you break down your actual energy

usage and perform an online audit of your home energy use. More than 33,000 members are participating in “My Energy Report,” a free personalized report emailed each month that details usage costs due to weather and other factors and helps members create an energy-savings plan. Our link to TogetherWeSave.com provides even more tools and tips to help lower your energy usage, in winter or summer.

Co-op Connections CardAnother benefit of your co-op membership that adds value to you and your family is the Co-op Connections Card Program. This free membership provides discounts of 10 to 85% on prescriptions at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. It also offers you and your family valuable savings from participating businesses on medical services, online discounts, and nearly 100 local businesses. If you haven’t taken advantage of the savings, make time to visit us at union-power.com and click on Co-op Connections to see how the program can benefit you.

Our goal is to provide you with exceptional value for the money you spend on your electric bill. We will continually strive to add value to your membership while delivering the reliable service you’ve come to depend on.

Greg Andress Executive Vice President

and General Manager

executiveperspective

How Your Energy Dollar Was Spent

5%4%6%

18%

65%cost of power

cost to operate

Plant cost

Operating Margins

Interest

Taxes

2%

march 2015 Union Power CooperativeB

march scholarship deadlines

Deadline for Basketball Camp

scholarship applications!

You could be one of two winners to be coached by the

best! One male and one female scholarship available.

Deadline for Youth Tour

applications!You could be one of three rising seniors to travel to Washington, D.C. from June 13-19! A great

learning experience in the nation’s capital!

Deadline for college scholarship

applications! You could win one of six

$1,000 college scholarships (three for a 4-year accredited NC university and three for a

NC community college).

Students, don’t miss your opportunity to apply for a variety of scholarships!

New this year: Scholarships for NC Community Colleges!Union Power is offering three $1,000 North Carolina community college scholarships in addition to three $1,000 scholarships for a 4-year accredited North Carolina university! High school seniors can apply now! The application deadline is March 20, 2015, and winners will be notified in late May. Visit us at union-power.com, My Community, for more information and a downloadable application.

Summer Basketball CampsRising 6th – 8th graders, can begin applying now for one of two summer basketball camp scholarships. The Co-op will sponsor one male winner to attend the Roy Williams Basketball Camp to be held at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill from June 20-24, 2015, and one female winner to attend the N.C.

State Women’s Basketball Camp to be held at N.C. State University in Raleigh from June 14–17, 2015. The application deadline is March 31, 2015. Winners will be notified in early May.

Electric Cooperative Youth TourRising high school seniors can apply now for one of three spots to represent Union Power on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour from June 13-19, 2015. Winners will join more than a thousand students for a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit historic monuments, see our nation’s government in action, learn about the cooperative business model, and more! The application deadline is March 6, 2015. Winners will be contacted in April.

Students, make sure to take advantage of these great opportunities. Remember, more information and applications for any of these scholarships can be found at union-power.com, under the My Community tab.

Find applications and information about Youth Tour, college scholarships, summer basketball camps and more at:

union-power.com > My Community

Union Power Cooperative march 2015 C

get your heat pump in shape

Summer is around the corner, and proper maintenance can help ensure your heat pump is operating efficiently. The difference in electric use between a well maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10 percent to 25 percent!

Calling in a Pro Can ‘Pump Up’ the SavingsUnion Power recommends having a professional technician service your heat pump at least every year. The technician should do the following:

• Diagnose and seal duct air leakage

• Verify adequate airflow by measurement

• Verify correct refrigerant charge by measurement

• Check for refrigerant leaks

• Inspect electric terminals, and, if necessary, clean and tighten connections, and apply non-conductive coating

• Lubricate motors and inspect belts for tightness and wear

• Verify correct electric control, making sure that heating is locked out when the thermostat calls for cooling and vice versa

• Verify correct thermostat operation

What You Can DoThere are a anumber of things you can do to ensure that you are getting the most out of your operating system. Here are some of them:

Keep the filter clean - Clean and replace the air conditioner filter frequently (check the filter once a month). This is especially important during the summer when dust and allergens circulate. If the filter becomes clogged, your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air.

Dial for dollars - Remember, in the summer months, each degree you dial below 78 increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100, you’ll save $8 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78 degrees.

Set and go - If it’s hard to remember to tweak your thermostat before you leave for work, consider investing in a programmable thermostat or a timer for your window unit.

Don’t cool the whole neighborhood - Seal air leaks with caulking and weather-stripping. Add insulation around air conditioning ducts.

Watch the pavement - Avoid landscaping with lots of rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home. If it’s not shaded, it will increase the temperature around the house and radiate heat.

Free from debris - Keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow.

Feel the breeze - If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise in the summer. That will push the cool air down. You can run a ceiling fan half the day for about $1.50 a month, compared to $25 for an air conditioner. Remember, fans cool people—not air—so it is a good idea to only run them when you are in the room.

Learn more about heat pumps at energysavers.gov.

Source: EnergySavers.gov

Check out our Heat Pump Calculator! Visit:

union-power.com > Your Energy Advisor

march 2015 Union Power CooperativeD

Union Power Cooperative

get your heat pump in shape

Here’s what Union Power members are saying about “My Energy Report,” the Co-op’s free, personalized monthly report that shows them where energy dollars are being spent:“This service is FANTASTIC! Thank you so very much for such a detailed breakdown of costs and the factors involved!

“This is so informative. Thank you! Great feature!”

Are You Missing Out?If you aren’t one of the 33,000+ members receiving My Energy Report, why not add an email address to your account to begin taking advantage of this informative tool?! The report gives you details like changes in usage costs due to weather and other factors. You will also have the following information at your fingertips:

• You can revise or review your home profile at any time. This will help us provide an accurate analysis of your energy use.

• We will email regular energy reports that will analyze your energy use. You can view your results online at any time.

• Create a savings plan. Review home upgrades, pledge the actions that are right for you, and instantly see your potential savings.

Join Today!If you’re a residential member with seven or more consecutive months of usage history and wish to receive this report but have not given the Cooperative an email address, simply use the Online Services Member Portal to update your account with an email address. Click the link from our home page (union-power.com), and then select My Account, E-notifications, E-Bill. If you have already given Union Power an email address for your account, you are automatically enrolled in the program and you will receive monthly reports.

New residential members of Union Power who provide the Cooperative with an email address will receive the My Energy Report service after seven consecutive months of usage history with the Co-op.

My Energy Report. It’s easy. It’s free. Start saving today!

“my energy report”hit with members

UNC 00390G (July 2-31, 2013)

YOU’RE EVERYWHERE.

SO IS YOUR POWER.

Visit us at union-power.com

Union Power Cooperative march 2015 E

corn hole for a good cause

Union Power is committed to the

communities we serve, and Co-op employees support a cause close to their hearts – Hospice. The Cooperative’s Hospice Committee leads the fundraising year that runs annually from July – June. Contributions are made to the Hospices of Union and Stanly counties on alternating years. In addition to giving generously through voluntary payroll deductions, employees sponsor annual events that include a golf tournament, a raffle, and a corn hole tournament.

2015 Corn Hole Tournament - Join Us!This event will be held at the Endy Volunteer Fire Dept in Albemarle on April 11. Registration will run from 10:00 – 11:30 am and playing will begin at noon. A silent auction will be held as well, with many great items up for grabs! There will also be a 50/50 raffle drawing on the day of the tournament – get tickets for $1 from any Union Power employee starting now!

Prizes:1st Place $500.00 Cash and Trophy2nd Place $300.00 Cash and Trophy3rd place $100.00 Cash and Trophy

Contacts:Jamie Hudson 704-783-7752Wanda Stegall 1-800-922-6840 ext. 3428

Jimmy Austin 704-221-6634

rate schedule effective april 1

Residential Ratesgeneral service rate*Available in all service territories. Applicable to farm, residential, small businesses, schools, churches, and small community buildings and other single-phase service types.

Basic Facilities Charge . . . . . . . . . . .$27.50 per monthEnergy Charges Summer (June - October) All kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09979 per kWh Winter (November - May) First 1,000 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09979 per kWh All other kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09479 per kWh

all-electric service rate*Available in all service territories. Applicable to residential members, mobile homes or individually metered apartments only.

Basic Facilities Charge . . . . . . . . . . .$27.50 per monthEnergy Charges Summer (June - October) All kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09692 per kWh Winter (November - May) First 500 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09399 per kWh All other kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.08839 per kWh

pay your way pre-pay rate*Monthly Rate:Basic Facilities Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30.50 per month General Service Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09893 per kWhRes. All-Electric Service Rate . . . . . . . . . . . $0.09265 per kWh

Fees:Connection Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00Minimum Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50.00

Commercial Rates commercial service rate*There are three basic billing components of the Commercial Service Rate:

Basic Facilities Charge . . . . . . . . . . .$75.00 per month

Billing Demand ChargesFirst 25 kW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.00 per kWAll kW over 25 kW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.65 per kW

Energy ChargesFirst 3,000 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.10937 per kWhNext 3,000 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.08164 per kWhNext 6,000 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.06939 per kWhNext 12,000 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.06065 per kWhAll kWh over 24,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.05452 per kWh

*Applicable riders, including those associated with the North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) and the Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) may apply. Visit union-power.com for a full schedule of all Union Power’s Rates and Riders.

how your new rate affects your bill

General Service Rate (usage: 1260 kWh)

March Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $153.15

April Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $163.63

All-Electric Rate (usage: 1260 kWh)

March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $140.14

April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $152.64

march 2015 Union Power CooperativeF

springtime plantingcall before you dig

Did you know that underground utility lines are buried approximately three feet underground? However, this distance doesn’t take into account erosion or

additional grading done after the lines have been installed. This means that even shallow digging projects can be potentially dangerous. Hitting an underground utility line while digging may result in serious injury and disrupt service to an entire neighborhood that can bring about costly fines and repairs.

If you are planning a home improvement project, planting a tree, or installing a fence or deck - always start by calling 811 first. North Carolina law requires you to place this call at least 48 hours prior to digging to ensure that all underground utility lines are marked.

Dialing 811 will forward your call to your local One Call Center. The operator will ask you for the location of your digging project and route all affected utility

companies to send a professional locator to mark the lines free of charge. Once the underground lines have been marked, you will know the approximate location of your utility lines. This will protect you, your family, and your neighbors. North Carolina law also requires that you allow a 24-inch buffer on each side of the marked utility line. When digging, use a hand shovel and be sure to dig at least 24 inches away from each side of the marks, not directly on them.

Remember — always call before you dig! For more information, visit call811.com.

Major Savings on Rx withCo-op Connections Card!

Get In On the Savings! Visit us at

union-power.com

Residential Members! Click on Co-op Connections on our home page to learn more about ways to save locally and nationally with this money-saving discount card! A perk of being a Union Power member!

Business Owners! To join this FREE marketing program, visit the Co-op Connections for Participating Businesses page or call 704-220-0703 or 704-220-0714.

Union Power members have saved more than $48,000 in prescription savings alone just by using their cards at pharmacies that include nearly all the major names and many of the local drug stores.Start using your card now and watch the savings add up!

30,000where members can shop and

save in their neighborhoods

page views onConnections.coop

$ 82 MILLIONCardholders have saved more

than onprescriptions since 2007

1.37 million

CO-OP CONNECTIONSFast Facts 2014

Average savings onprescriptions reached the

highest level ever at 45% off

Union Power Cooperative march 2015 G

Union: Andrew Jackson Dr, Antioch Church Rd, Arbor Ln, Baron Rd, Berry Mullis Rd, Beulah Church Rd, Bill Wiley Rd, Billy Howie Rd, Blair St, Bloomsberry Ln, Bow Hill Dr, Brandy Ct, Brief Rd W, Buckboard Ln, Campground Rd, Caravan Ln, Chambwood Rd, Clontz Rd, Collins Rd, Crow Rd, Crowell Dairy Rd, Cull Williams Ln, Deal Rd, Doster Rd, Eagle Rd, Earl Duncan Rd, Eubanks St, Fincher Rd, Forest Springs Dr, Fox Run Rd, Garrett Rd, Golden Pond Dr, Greenhurst Ln, Grove Dr, Happy Hollow Ln, Helen Dr, Heritage Ln, Heritage View Rd, Hood St, Howey Bottoms Rd, Huntington Dr, Hwy 218, Hwy 75, Jonah Ridge, Kensington Dr, Kerr Rd, Lazy B Circle, Lee Branch Rd, Lee Massey Rd, Lester Mullis Rd, Lon Parker Rd, Machado Dr, Majestic

Forest Ln, Maple Grove Ch Rd, Mill Grove Rd, New Town Rd, Newell Dr, Noah Helms Rd, Old Dutch Rd, Old Waxhaw Monroe Rd, Pierce Rd, Plaxico Dr, Pleasant Grove Rd, Pleasant Springs Rd, Potter Downs Rd, Potter Rd, Ramsey Ln, Raymond Austin Rd, Rev H Morrison Rd, Richard Coffey Ln, Robinson Rd, Rock Hill Ch Rd, Roscoe Howey Rd, Rushing Rd, Russell Rd, S Potter Rd, Shannon Rd, Shepherds Ave, Skytop Rd, Springdale Dr, Tall Oak Ln, Tally Ho Dr, Timnah Ln, Tom Laney Rd, Turtlewood Dr, Twelve Mile Creek Rd, Twin Oaks Rd, W Duncan Rd, W Lawyers Rd, Walker Rd, Waxhaw Indian Trail Rd, Waxhaw Marvin Rd, Weddington Rd, Western Union School Rd, Willoughby Rd, Woodglen Dr, Wright Rd

Cooperative Review is published monthly by

Union Power Cooperative provides safe and reliable power with exceptional value to more than 70,000 member accounts in Union, Stanly, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Rowan counties.

Greg AndressExec. Vice President & General Manager

Carrie C. Stroud, CCCEditor

Rhonda Smith, CCCAssociate Editor

BOARD OF DIRECTORSB. L. Starnes, PresidentLee Roy Kirk, Jr., Vice PresidentJan Haigler, Secretary-TreasurerDent H. Turner, Jr., Asst. Secretary-TreasurerJuanita W. PoplinNeil W. Hasty, Jr.Carole P. JonesJim T. HartsellDavid G. HyattTom J. Caudle

Business Hours8 AM to 5 PM Monday–Friday704-289-3145 or 704-485-3335Toll-free: 1-800-922-6840union-power.com

24-Hour Outage Reporting Serviceand Account Information1-800-794-4423

Call Before DigNC One Call Center — Dial 811

SERVICE CHARGES:Security Deposit-charges vary $0, $175, $375Connection Fee $25Late Payment Charge $5 or 1.5% of past due balance, if greaterReturned Check Fee $25Meter Test $75 (refunded if not accurate)Dual Meter Comparison $50 (refunded if not accurate)Trip Charge $25 (checks or money orders only, no cash)

RECONNECT CHARGES:(collected in advance)Normal Hours $50 (if called in before 4:00 PM)After Hours $100 (if called in after 4:00 PM)Weekends and Holidays $100

For more information about Union Power’s vegetation management program or tree trimming practices, please call (704) 289-3145 and speak with Wil Ortiz (ext. 3323) or Carrie Lorenz-Efird (ext. 3291). Visit our website, union-power.com, for monthly right-of-way clearing updates.

right-of-way clearingDuring the next month, you may see our tree-trimming crews in your neighborhood. ABC Professional Tree Services, Asplundh Tree Experts, and Carolina Tree Care will be working in Union County:

pay on the go with UPC Mobile

Pay your bill and more with UPC Mobile! Download our free app for iPhone®, iPad® and Android™. Simply search for our name, “Union Power Cooperative” or the app name “UPC Mobile” in the App Store or in the Android Market.

Once your app account is set up, you can make secure payments quickly and conveniently, and view your payment history and monthly bills. You’ll have quick access to our contact information, office addresses and hours, and more. Also available on the app are self-help options like voice, text, and email alerts and reminders.