Issue 62 • February 2018

R.S.V.P.

Annual General MeetingJoin us for our 2018 Annual General Meetings (AGMs), which will be hosted throughout our Service Area.

Our AGMs will be hosted over three days and locations.

In order to ensure adequate food and seating, please R.S.V.P. on or before March 21 by calling 1.888.211.4011.

AGM Meeting Agenda:• Registration and connect with your Board and EQUS

staff - 3 until 5 p.m.• Annual General Meeting - 5 until 6:30 p.m.• Dinner - 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the AGMs, visitwww.equs.ca/members/events.

AGMDates and Locations

South Area - Tuesday, March 27The Coast Lethbridge Hotel & Conference Centre, Southern and Foothills Rooms526 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge

Central Area - Wednesday, March 28Sheraton Red Deer Hotel, Tuscany Room3310 50 Avenue, Red Deer

North Area - Thursday, March 29Best Western Sunrise Inn & Suites,Ballroom and Atim Creek Rooms3101 43 Avenue, Stony Plain

EQUS.CA

Board of Directors

Nominees for 2018The following is background information that has been provided by each of the two nominees vying for a vacant position on the EQUS Board of Directors.

Edward (Ed) Beniuk and his wife own a grain farm in the Evansburg area. He has farmed for all his life, and recently retired from

driving a school bus after 29 years of service.

Ed has been a Director with the REA since 1992 and worked in that capacity through many REA amalgamations leading up to the inception of EQUS in January 2013. His personality, work experience and long-term involvement with the REA have provided him with the knowledge and ability to make effective decisions. He is not afraid to ask questions and prides himself on being able to assess all sides of a situation before drawing any conclusions.

In his spare time, Ed volunteers for the Park Court Community Hall.

Edward Beniuk Evansburg, AB

Doug Drozd, County of Barrhead, AB

Doug Drozd is seeking re-election for the EQUS Board of Directors. A resident of the County of Barrhead, Doug was first elected in 2000 to

the Sion REA.

Doug has been involved in agriculture, specifically production, food processing and sales, for nearly 50 years.

Doug has been an integral player in all the major accomplishments of EQUS REA in his time spent on the Board of Directors. However, he is aware that EQUS has many challenges ahead of it and wishes to continue to serve as director; making decisions and setting direction to benefit the members of the REA.

Doug has been married to his wife Illie for 35 years. They have two sons and two grandchildren. Doug is the current Reeve for the County of Barrhead.

communications@equs.ca

Operation Round Up(dates)

The Generations Project is an intergenerational program where children teach seniors how to use computers and seniors teach children how to make bread.

Lou Hansen of the Onoway Golden Club let us know how the project was going, thanks to the funding received by Operation Round Up:

Just wanted to update you on our activities! We have been very busy and I feel we are having a very positive impact between seniors and youth.

In her update, Lou also included photos

of the seniors and youth making bread, seen to the right.

Could your organization benefit from Operation Round Up funding? The next deadline for funding is March 31, 2018.

For more information on Operation Program and for a funding application, visit www.equs.ca/community/operation-round-up.

The Operation Round Up Committee awarded the Onoway Golden Club with funds in quarter two of last year to put towards the Generations Project. We checked back with them recently to see how things were going.

When EQUS members share their feedback with us, they have a chance to win a $250 power credit,

which is drawn quarterly. Any EQUS member who has a service request, construction project or requested vegetation management service completed is eligible for the quarterly draw.

Upon the completion of the service, EQUS staff will contact you for your feedback. Member feedback takes just a couple minutes and provides valuable information to ensure continued member satisfaction and quality of service.

Congratulations to the 2017 fourth quarter Members Matter winners Ron and Jill Layden. Jill says the pair have been REA members since the poles went in the ground 70 years ago. She appreciates the service they receive from all staff and love seeing the smiling office staff when she stops in. The Laydens have won a $250 power bill credit for their feedback.

Feedback can be provided by phone, email, online, fax or mail. Please ensure EQUS has the most convenient way to contact you on file. The next Members Matter quarterly draw for a $250 power credit is March 31.

Quarter Four

Members MatterCongratulations to Ron and Jill Layden, the winners of the quarterly Members Matter draw. The next Member Matters draw for a $250 power credit is March 31.

EQUS.CA

Sherry has been an EQUS member for over 20 years. She was so pleased with the service that she recommended

EQUS to her father. She remarked that she has never had a problem with her service and the employees are easy to deal with. Sherry has won a $500 power credit for her efforts.

New to 2018, those that refer a member to EQUS will receive a $250 Co-op gift card. All you have to do is call, fax or email your Area Office with the prospective member’s name, contact information and any other relevant details. EQUS will connect with the prospective member.

Once that person becomes a member, we will follow up with you and send a $250 Co-op gift card.

Winner of the 2017

Member Referral DrawCongratulations to the winner of the 2017 Member Referral draw - Sherry Sikstrom.

Effective on your January 31 billing, your transmission rate increased. The FortisAlberta AUC approved rate, which is applicable for REAs, for Q1 of 2018 is 4.2388¢/kWh. Included in the calculation of this rate is a 2018 Balancing Pool Allocation Rider (BPAR), which is a

charge, a Transmission Adjustment Rider (TAR), which is a charge, and the Quarterly Transmission Adjustment Rider (QTAR), which is a charge.

This increase reflects a 3.86% increase from Q4 of 2017.

First Quarter

Transmission RateQuarterly update on transmission charges.

All members are free to purchase electricity services through EQUS’ regulated rate tariff or from a retailer of their choice. The delivery of electricity to you is not affected by your choice. If you change who you purchase electricity services from, you will continue receiving electricity from EQUS. For a current list of retailers you

may choose from, visit www.ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310.4822 (toll free in Alberta).

Mailing Address: Box 6199, 5803 42 Street, Innisfail, AB T4G 1S8

To report a power outage in your area, or for other services such as construction or vegetation management, please call your local Area Office.

North Area Office1.888.627.4011

Central Area Office1.877.527.4011

South Area Office1.888.565.5445

Main Office1.888.211.4011

EQUS.CAcommunications@equs.ca

Choose EQUS or any other energy supplier. Supply

EQUS will always be your distributionlink to your energy supplier.

EQUS will always serve you.Distribution You

You can choose your energy supplier

EQUS REA LTD.

Rate Schedule2018 EQUS REA LTD. Rate ScheduleEffective January 1, 2018

1 | P a g e

2018 EQUS REA LTD. Rate Schedule Effective January 1, 2018

Rate 370 – Rural Service

Rate 370 5 kVA 7.5 kVA 10 kVA 15 kVA 25 kVA >25 kVA Monthly Operating $71.26 $83.84 $95.33 $123.52 $168.91 $5.60 Minimum kVA billed on all services is 35 Amps or 5 kVA. Demand services are billed at a minimum of 65% of the transformer capacity or 25 kVA – whichever is greater. Demand services with a minimum demand of 650 kVA or greater will be billed $5.00 per kVA for all kVA in excess of 25 kVA.

Rate 372 – Idle Rate for Rural Service

Rate 372 5 kVA 7.5 kVA 10 kVA 15 kVA 25 kVA >25 kVA Monthly Operating $53.44 $62.88 $71.50 $92.65 $126.68 $4.21 Idle Service is available to members that select to cease energy consumption for a period of time and request that the electric supply facilities are left in place. Monthly service charges are based on the kVA of capacity. Demand services are billed at a minimum of 65% of the transformer capacity or 25 kVA – whichever is greater.

Rate 375 – Rural Residential Subdivision Service

Rate 375 applies to services within a rural subdivision. The subdivision must have a minimum of 3 services within the subdivision and the services are connected to a shared transformer(s). Monthly Operating Monthly service charge per service within the subdivision $22.64 All kWh Delivered 2.12¢/kWh The monthly rate minimum for a service in a rural residential subdivision is $22.64.

Rate 377 – Rural Residential Service

Rate 377 applies to residential services that are used for domestic purposes only with a maximum operating demand of 5 kVA and usage not to exceed 3,600 kWh’s each calendar year. Monthly Operating Monthly service charge per service $29.05

Rate 470 – Grain Dryer Service

Rate 470 5 kVA 7.5 kVA 10 kVA 15 kVA 25 kVA >25 kVA Monthly Operating $46.94 $55.70 $63.90 $84.45 $112.41 $3.09 Minimum kVA billed on all services is 35 Amps or 5 kVA. Demand services are billed at a minimum of 65% of the transformer capacity or 25 kVA – whichever is greater. Grain dryer rate is only available for use during August through January only. Grain dryer services placed on idle will be billed the applicable distribution tariff as defined in Rate 470.

Rate 570 – Irrigation Service

Rate 570 10 kVA 15 kVA 25 kVA 30 kVA 35 kVA Monthly Operating $45.23 $67.22 $92.74 $119.17 $135.79 Irrigation services with a transformer capacity >than 35 kVA are billed at a minimum of 90% of the transformer capacity. Irrigation services > than 35 kVA, up to and including 75 kVA, will be billed at $135.79 plus $3.92 per kVA per month. Irrigation services > than 75 kVA will be billed at $135.79 plus $3.60 per kVA per month. Irrigation rate is only available for use during May through October only. Irrigation services placed on idle will be billed the applicable distribution tariff as defined in Rate 570.

EQUS.CA

2 | P a g e

2018 EQUS REA LTD. Rate Schedule Effective January 1, 2018

Rate 600 – Industrial Subdivision Service

Rate 600 applies to services within an industrial subdivision with Expected Operating Demands of less than 1,000 kVA. Rate 670 will be applied to industrial services within a subdivision with Expected Operating Demands of 1,000 kVA or greater.

Rate 600 10 kVA 15 kVA 25 kVA >25 kVA Monthly Operating $98.13 $124.71 $168.91 $5.01

The kVA of Capacity is the greatest of: 1. the highest Metered Demand in the billing period; 2. the Minimum Investment Demand as specified in the ESA, if applicable; or 3. the Minimum kVA of 10 kVA. An Electric Service Agreement (ESA) with EQUS may be required for service under this rate.

Rate 670 – Large General Service

Rate 670 applies to services that do not qualify for other specific rates, with Expected Operating Demands of 1,000 kVA or greater.

Monthly Operating Minimum monthly kVA billed on all services is 65% of the Expected Operating Demand. Monthly service charge for the first 50 kVA $4.99/kVA For the next 450 kVA $3.12/kVA For all kVA greater than 500 kVA $2.14/kVA An Electric Service Agreement (ESA) with EQUS is required for service under this rate.

Rate 700 – Street Lighting Service

Rate 700 applies to street lighting fixtures owned and maintained by EQUS.

Operating Daily service charge $0.6769/Fixture-day

Transmission (SYSA) Rate

Transmission (SYSA): The current FortisAlberta AUC approved rate, including all rate riders, distributed in accordance with EQUS’ rate policies.

Option M Distribution Generation Credit / Charge

Option M is available to Distribution Generation (DG) members that are interconnected to the distribution system downstream of a FortisAlberta transmission Point of Delivery (POD) and which are exporting into the Alberta Interconnected Electric System, (AIES).

Option M credits/charges received by EQUS for a DG member under the approved FortisAlberta Option M tariff will be flowed through by EQUS to the applicable member.

Cooperative Energy Rate (Contract Specific) Regulated Energy Rate

Cooperative Energy Rate: Refer to Energy Contract Regulated Energy Rate: Fluctuates Monthly Fixed Energy: Refer to Energy Contract Fixed Energy: $8.00 Flat Fee per Month UFE & Line Loss: 5.77% on Energy Billed UFE & Line Loss: 5.77% on Energy Billed

EQUS REA LTD.

Rate Schedule Continued2018 EQUS REA LTD. Rate ScheduleEffective January 1, 2018

EQUS.CA