GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

[GCEA News]
[whats inside]
Solar Garden Project
n Clean Up With Laundry Efficiency
n Cost of Postage?
n Like Us On Facebook
n

Liberty and Better Life for All

BY VICKI L. SPENCER | | MANAGER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Every July, we take time to

reflect on our countrys history and remember how the
n Co-op Connections Program
actions of a few helped shape
the way we live today. Thinkn Employee Anniversaries
ing back on the rich history
n Tamper Resistant Receptacles
of the electric cooperative
movement, we should be inMAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 180
spired by how a small group of
Gunnison, CO 81230-0180
Vicki Spencer
determined individuals were
STREET ADDRESS
able to improve their quality of life and
37250 West Highway 50
the quality of life for all those who would
Gunnison, CO 81230
come after them.
970-641-3520 [Gunnison]
At our 75th anniversary celebration
970-349-5385 [Crested Butte]
in June, retired Western State Colorado
gcea@gcea.coop [email]
University history professor Duane Vanwww.gcea.coop [web]
denbusch painted a vivid picture of the
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
pioneers who settled in our area and the
Chris Morgan, president
legacy they left all of us.
District 2 [Mt. Crested Butte]
Just as the cooperative founders had
John Vader, vice president
a vision for the future, so do our memDistrict 6 [Gunnison East/Sargents]
bers today. They asked us to encourage
Paul Hudgeons, secretary/treasurer
energy-efficiency and energy conservaDistrict 5 [Lake City]
tion, and we are now providing free enBart Laemmel, assistant secretary/treasurer
ergy audits and energy efficient appliance
District 3 [Ohio Creek/Almont]
rebates. They asked us to explore opChuck Cliggett, director
portunities for increasing reDistrict 7 [at large]
newable energy, and we
Steve Schechter, director
built a wind turbine
Members who were
District 4 [Gunnison West/Powderhorn]
and installed solar
unable
to
attend
the
June
Greg Wiggins, director
panels at the high
Annual Meeting and did not
District 1 [Crested Butte]
school to educate
receive
a
copy
of
Lighting
Our
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
our membership.
Community: A History of Gunnison
Vicki Spencer
We also offer
County Electric Association,
a green power
1938-2013 may pick up a copy
program and lease
at our Gunnison or Crested
solar panels in
Butte offices while
our community
supplies last.
solar garden to
allow
mem-

bers to support renewable

energy with their consumption choices. We are also
investigating the potential
for future development of
hydropower and geothermal
power projects to serve our
community.
There are many other ways
that Gunnison County Electric Association helps influence policy
decisions that affect our community now
and for years to come. We are a catalyst
for change and we leverage our collective
power to get things done. For example,
our board makes decisions to support
local non-profits dedicated to the wellbeing of our members. Our employees
participate in various community activities, such as Relay for Life and the Winter
Coat Drive, that help enrich the lives of
our friends and neighbors.
Gunnison County Electric Association is helping build the next generation
of leadership through our Washington,
D.C. Youth Tour and summer Leadership Camp. The high school students who
travel to our nations capital meet with
lawmakers and learn up-close how our
government functions. They return to our
small community with a new perspective
and inspired to make a difference. The
students that attend summer camp learn
new leadership skills that they can use
throughout their lives.
All of these things, plus so much more,
are what make the cooperative difference.
As we celebrate our independence, we
should remember what it took to bring
power to our community and appreciate
the legacy of those who came before us.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop
July 2014
7

[GCEA News]

GCEA AND TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE

COMPLETE SOLAR GARDEN PROJECT

Are you interested in solar energy but cant install panels

on your property?
Gunnison County Electric Association and the Town
of Crested Butte have a solution for co-op members.
Our roof-top solar garden will be completed within the
next month and co-op members are eligible to lease a
240-watt solar panel for $1,100. Panels are anticipated to
produce 1.3 kWh/day beginning July 1.
Pre-sale of the 20-year leases began June 9, 2014.
Nineteen leases will be granted to co-op members. If
requests exceed the number of leases available, they will
be selected by lottery.
A fact sheet and a member contract are available at
www.gcea.coop. Call Roger Grogg or Josie Casebolt at
970-641-3520 to learn how you can participate in the
community solar garden.

CLEAN UP with Laundry Efficiency

Many people look for ways to be more energy efficient and save
money on electric bills. One way to stop money from going
down the drain is to clean up with laundry efficiency.
Begin by only doing full loads of laundry. Washing machines
use about the same amount of energy regardless of the size of
load. So, doing one large load instead of several small ones will

ColoradoCountryLife.coop
8
July 2014

save on energy costs.

Using hot water helps remove stains in clothing, but heating
the water runs up the cost of the electric bill, not to mention it
also shrinks and fades clothing. Use hot water only when necessary. Cold water will clean your clothes while reducing your
energy costs.
Whenever you have the opportunity, use a drying rack
or clothesline to dry your clothes instead of the dryer.
However, the weather does not always cooperate, nor does
everyone have access to a clothesline. If this is the case,
use a high-speed spin cycle in the washer to help remove
excess water to reduce the drying time once clothes have
been placed in the dryer. Additionally, if your dryer has a
moisture-sensing option, use it.
After every use of the dryer, clean the lint trap and
the dryer vent for better circulation and to prevent a fire
hazard.
Avoid doing laundry during peak hours when electricity is being used more frequently and is most expensive.
Peak hours can vary by location and time of year. During
summer months, Gunnison County Electric Associations
peak hours are between 4 and 8 p.m.
If you are upgrading your washer and dryer, make sure
to purchase appliances with the Energy Star label. Products certified by Energy Star draw smaller than average
amounts of electricity when not in use or turned off.
For more helpful advice on home efficiency, visit
EnergyEdCouncil.org.

[GCEA News]
Is the Increased Cost of
Postage Getting You Down?
ENTER THE PAPERLESS BILLING CONTEST!

You can spend less on stamps by paying your monthly electric

bill online. Once you set it up, you will find online payments are
easy and convenient. If you have not already made the shift from
paper to paperless bills, and sign up in 2014, you will be entered
into our Paperless Billing Contest. Each fiscal quarter, we will
hold a drawing for
members signing
up for the first time
during that quarter.
The lucky winner
will receive a $100
Visa gift card.
To get started, log
on to gcea.smart
hub.coop. If you do
not already have
a user name and
password, you will need to create one. Once you are logged in,
click on My Profile, click on Update My Printed Bill Settings,
then click on Turn off Printed Bills. If you have any questions,
please give us a call at 970-641-3520.

[employee anniversaries]
Roger Grogg..........................................Chief Operations Officer, 26 years
John Stoeber...............................................................Lead Foreman, 20 years
Roger Lambert.........................................Warehouse/Purchasing, 14 years
Josie Casebolt.................................................Operations Assistant, 9 years
Marni Joslyn................................... Crested Butte Representative, 9 years
Cynthea Gunderson.................. Crested Butte Representative, 8 years
Nick Jones............................ Crested Butte Apprentice Lineman, 6 years
Jeff Stanley.......................... Consumer Services Representative, 3 years
Mike McBride.............................................Chief Executive Officer, 2 years

Congratulations! We value our employees!

Like Us on Facebook

Have you been trying to reach us through Facebook? Well, good

news: We have recently updated our Facebook page at Gunnison
County Electric Association. We will be able to stay connected
and inform you on any upcoming events at GCEA. Also, we welcome you and your comments and we are open to any suggestions you might have. The purpose of this page is to present helpful information and awareness to our members. We want you to
submit your questions and comments. This Facebook page is not
monitored 24 / 7. Please call 970-641-3520 to report emergencies.
Like us on Facebook at Gunnison County Electric Association.

Co-op Connections
Program at GCEA

As a member of Gunnison County

Electric Association, Inc. (GCEA), a
Touchstone Energy cooperative, you are
eligible to receive discounts on products
and services from participating local and national businesses. Have you been taking advantage of the great deals? The
Co-op Connections website at connections.coop is the place for
co-op members to discover local and national discounts offered
across the country. The list of participating businesses continues
to grow, so check back regularly. Also, if you know of any businesses that would be willing to enroll in this program, please
send them our way. We are always looking for new businesses to
enroll in the program, and in return we will assist the participating business with free marketing. The Co-op Connections
member benefit program is absolutely free! For more information, or to enroll your business in the Co-op Connections
program, contact GCEA at 970-641-3520.

TIP of

the

MONTH

Replacing your conventional power strips with advanced

power strips can help reduce the electricity wasted when
electronic devices are idle. These power strips are a convenient
and low-cost way to save.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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July 2014
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[GCEA News]

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July 2014