INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

SALEM ELECTRIC • PO BOX 5588 • 633 SEVENTH STREET NW • SALEM, OR 97304-0055PH: 503 362-3601 • FAX: 503 371-2956 • E-MAIL: se@SalemElectric.com • SalemElectric.com

MARCH 2015

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os

She’s a Valley girl…Willamette Valley that is! Born and raised in Dallas,

the oldest of three siblings, Ashley attended nearby Perrydale Elementary School. “I loved the close friendships,” she said about her class of 25 students. In her teen years she transferred to Dallas High School with a graduating class of 200. The move prepared her for the transition to college.

In 2004 on her first day at Chemeketa Community College, she met her would be husband Jerod. That same year she was hired as a student worker at the State and in 2009 after graduating from Western Oregon University with a degree in psychology, was hired full time. Four years later she and Jerod married and are now the proud parents of a son.

For Ashley, 2013 was memorable for another reason. She took the advice of a co-worker and applied for a job at Salem Electric. She predicted she wouldn’t be hired due to her pregnancy but applied anyway. Pleasantly surprised, she was hired in mid-November and gave birth in December. When asked why she thinks she was hired she said, “I’m familiar with office systems and I enjoy problem solving. My interest in learning new things works well with the varied and diverse job duties.”

Her supervisor agrees. “Ashley’s skills and personality are a great match for the job. She cares about people and wants to help. She has been a great addition to our team,” says Britni Davidson, customer service supervisor. Ashley has also been sharpening

her Spanish skills by helping Spanish-speaking members both in the office and over the phone.

In her spare time Ashley enjoys spending time with family, reading, exercising, cooking, shopping and playing with her dog, Lucy. She and Jerod are also looking forward to the arrival of their second child later this year. A

Since completing 11 years on the board and attending approximately

130 board meetings, I can’t help but look back to all I’ve learned since I attended my first meeting as a director in January 2004.

I knew a fair amount about the co-op. I had appreciated being a co-op member since 1983 and was familiar with Salem Electric’s reliable service and dedication to providing good customer service. But what I’ve come to learn over the years serving as a Director is, Salem Electric is about so much more than just keeping the lights on and being friendly and accommodating to its members.

Salem Electric’s commitment to safety compares to none; two years in a row with no

lost time accidents and an active and informative Safety & Wellness Program that strives to reinforce safety and promote wellness through ongoing education and training. Then there is their support of the communities they serve through volunteering, donations, and sponsorships of community and school events.

They also have an interest in preserving the environment by taking part in a multi-faceted recycling program, installing nesting platforms for area wildlife, reducing and in some cases eliminating paper use, and offering numerous energy efficiency programs to their members.

Salem Electric also supports its members through the Member Assistance

Program, a program budgeted for and approved by the Board of Directors. Annually, over 1,100 qualified members who are having difficulty paying their electric bill receive assistance with a credit on their bill.

Serving these past 11 years, I’ve gained an even better understanding and appreciation for what Salem Electric is really all about. As a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Program, I have also learned that my role as a director is, in large part, to remain informed and aware of the good things that are happening at Salem Electric and to support those efforts while looking toward future possibilities. A

Ashley MoreyEmployee profile:

VAN METER, Director

From

a d

irect

or…

Automated Metering Infrastructure

AMI UPDATEO ur AMI mini-pilot project was very useful

in getting us to our next step — the expanded pilot project.

The mini-pilot included 28 meters and the framework necessary for it to operate. This allowed us to compile valuable information which helped in our decision to move forward with the 400 meter expanded pilot project.

• We determined that the basic AMI metering and communication technology works as intended

• We proved that disconnect/reconnect operations functioned with ease and that staff time in the field can be reduced with this system feature

• We initiated on-demand meter readings that allowed quicker responses to member questions or requests

• We collected interval readings for the 28 pilot project meters

• We were able to test basic outage identification

We will keep you updated on the progress of the expanded pilot through the Info Bulletin and on SalemElectric.com. h

What is SE About?

Over the past few years the methods members have chosen to use when paying

their electric bill have changed dramatically. As the graph shows, in 2007 check and cash payments accounted for over 75% of all the payments received. In 2014 that form of payment dropped to about 40% while AutoPay and online payments jumped from 20% in 2007 to over 40% in 2014.

When you’re away on vacation, paying your bill online or with AutoPay are great options that give you one less thing to worry about. If you are interested in saving time and money while simplifying your payment process call our office at 503 362-3601 or visit SalemElectric.com for more information. h

Changing Processes

Changes in Methods of Paying

Checks2007

2014

Cash2007

2014

Autopay2007

2014

3rd Party (e.g. online banking)

20072014

Credit Card2007

2014

©iS

tock

.com

/DN

Y59

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Need a new picnic table? We can help you out. Salem Electric has a variety of spools to choose from. Just contact our Engineering Department at 503 362-3601 to arrange a time to pick it up. We can load it for you, but you must provide an adequate vehicle to haul it in. n

FreeSPOOLS

INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015 INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015

January 27, 2015

Boar

d M

eetin

g Su

mm

ary

Presented by:

Alicia BonesteeleSecretary/Treasurer

All board meetings are held at 7 PM at Salem Electric, 633 Seventh Street NW, Salem, Oregon

Jerry Berger President

Jeff AndersonDave Bauer

Joe Van Meter Vice-President

Alicia Bonesteele Secretary/Treasurer

Carl BeachPaul Ennor

BOARD OF DIRECTORSUPCOMING BOARD MEETINGSHayden Allbritton

Leadership Youth Rep

F R O M Y O U R B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

FOLD

AdministrativeServices:

For the second year in a row, with nearly 89,000 hours worked, Salem Electric had zero days of lost time and zero days of restricted duty. The average member outage time was 21.81 minutes, down from 23.03 last year. Outages were mainly animal caused or weather related. New service connects decreased from 342 last year to 187 in 2014, mainly due to the large volume of multi-family connects in 2013.

MemberServices:

Engineering &Operations:

InformationTechnology:

March 17 April 28 May 12

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9

HAYDEN ALLBRITTON , Leadership Youth Rep

From

a d

irect

or…

Sitting in the Salem Chamber of Commerce board room on a warm

September night things felt a bit uncomfortable; a good kind of uncomfortable. It was my first night at Leadership Youth and I didn’t know any of the other students, but it turned out for the best. As a West Salem High School sophomore, I usually like to keep close to my friends and not branch out too much, but sometimes in order to learn more we have to venture out of our comfort zone and that’s exactly what I did.

The first thing we did in Leadership Youth was go to the ropes course at the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) facility. I’m fine with climbing ropes, but one thing that stood in the way of me completing the course was the 70 foot tall rope swing. To me that was terrifying. Against all logic I had, I climbed up to the platform, harnessed in, and jumped off. Of course I made it and I learned a valuable lesson. In this world there are

gonna be challenges we face, challenges we don’t want to overcome, but when we fight and overcome, we reap great reward. In the business world things aren’t always going to go well but you can’t just give up, you have to get back up until you overcome and hopefully get stronger through the process.

Leadership Youth has taught me many lessons. I have learned how important each part of the community is through tours to places such as: the Capitol, Don Pancho, the Oregon Supreme Court and many others. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity I have been blessed with to learn about the Salem community. Now, I am serving on the Salem Electric Board of Directors.

The purpose of Leadership Youth is to prepare young leaders to become future leaders by impacting and working in the community. I thoroughly believe that before something is done through us, something must be done in us and that’s

exactly what Leadership Youth did for me. I do not plan to squander the opportunity I’ve been given. In the future I want to be involved in a business where I can pass on the opportunity of serving on a business board such as Salem Electric to another student. There are many years of business experience on the board and I enjoy getting to soak in all this information on how a business runs and what components are important in order to keep it running.

A special thanks to Kathy Moore, Leadership Youth Director, for accepting my application to the program and assigning me to the Salem Electric board. I’d also like to thank the Salem Electric employees and board members who have taken me in as one of their own by showing me great hospitality. I am elated to see how this opportunity serves me later in life and I look forward to learning even more and continuing to grow as a leader. A

Leadership YouthTeaches LessonsEach Department manager provided a year-end summary for their department:

In 2014 Salem Electric received approximately 64,000 phone calls, had 32,000 people visit the office, processed 14,000 connects and disconnects for electric service, and responded to 1,400 emails directed to our customer service representatives. Capital credit payments to members in 2014 totaled $1.8 million bringing the total paid since 1978 to over $23 million.

In 2014 the IT Department focused on system upgrades and implemented additional cyber security improvements. Server upgrades and reconfigurations provided additional system redundancy and increased shared data storage for better service reliability. Improved patch deployment software, regular system updates, and ongoing system monitoring helped to identify and prevent cyber security threats.

Salem Electric assisted members with hundreds of conservation projects through residential weatherization, appliance rebates, heat pump installations, and CFL and LED lighting. In 2014 these energy efficiency measures resulted in over 2.3 million kWhs saved.

Annual Meeting

U nfortunately there are people in the world that take advantage of others for their own profit and

gain. Over the past few years we’ve seen an increase in scams relating to electric utilities. The scammers contact members by phone and demand payment threatening to disconnect the power if members don’t pay. They identify themselves as Salem Electric employees and are very aggressive in their attempt to collect payment by instructing the member to purchase a prepaid credit card, often a “green dot” card, and give instructions on where to mail it. Some scammers are even sophisticated enough to have the caller ID indicate that the call is coming from Salem Electric.

Salem Electric does not do business this way.

In situations where members are having a difficult time paying their bill, Salem Electric will mail a notice with information about payment options and energy assistance and make every attempt to keep a member’s power on. Before disconnecting service, we always try to make personal contact with you.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid becoming a victim:

• Salem Electric never calls to ask for sensitive or personal information over the phone.

• Salem Electric never calls our members to threaten disconnection of their service —whether a residential or business member. If you receive this type of call, hang up, it’s a scam!

• If a Salem Electric employee visits your home they will be driving a white vehicle that is clearly marked with an SE logo and will be carrying proper identification. If you question the identity of who is at your door please call our office at 503 362-3601.

• Members should only use payment methods authorized by Salem Electric. These methods include: mailing a check, dropping your payment in our drop box, bringing your payment to the office during regular business hours, or using our online bill pay or auto bill pay options.

If you are targeted and receive a call from a scammer, never give out your personal or financial information. Hang up immediately and report the call to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection at 877 877-9392. A

BEWARE OF SCAMS

Any time an electric cord is plugged into an outlet, current is flowing through the cord — whether it is connected to

an appliance or not. For the safest results and to keep cords in good working order, never pull the cord when unplugging or removing a cord from an outlet or surge protector; pull

directly on the plug. Inspect your cords to be sure they are in good condition. If they are cracked or frayed be sure to repair or replace them. Place cords out of traffic areas and keep them out of the reach of children and pets. Never nail or staple cords to the wall, floor, or to other objects. A

Pull the Plug — Not the Cord!

©iS

tock

.com

/wak

ila

SA

FE

TY

FIR

ST

©iS

tock

.com

/ru3

apr

INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

SALEM ELECTRIC • PO BOX 5588 • 633 SEVENTH STREET NW • SALEM, OR 97304-0055PH: 503 362-3601 • FAX: 503 371-2956 • E-MAIL: se@SalemElectric.com • SalemElectric.com

MARCH 2015

©iS

tock

.com

/dk_

phot

os

She’s a Valley girl…Willamette Valley that is! Born and raised in Dallas,

the oldest of three siblings, Ashley attended nearby Perrydale Elementary School. “I loved the close friendships,” she said about her class of 25 students. In her teen years she transferred to Dallas High School with a graduating class of 200. The move prepared her for the transition to college.

In 2004 on her first day at Chemeketa Community College, she met her would be husband Jerod. That same year she was hired as a student worker at the State and in 2009 after graduating from Western Oregon University with a degree in psychology, was hired full time. Four years later she and Jerod married and are now the proud parents of a son.

For Ashley, 2013 was memorable for another reason. She took the advice of a co-worker and applied for a job at Salem Electric. She predicted she wouldn’t be hired due to her pregnancy but applied anyway. Pleasantly surprised, she was hired in mid-November and gave birth in December. When asked why she thinks she was hired she said, “I’m familiar with office systems and I enjoy problem solving. My interest in learning new things works well with the varied and diverse job duties.”

Her supervisor agrees. “Ashley’s skills and personality are a great match for the job. She cares about people and wants to help. She has been a great addition to our team,” says Britni Davidson, customer service supervisor. Ashley has also been sharpening

her Spanish skills by helping Spanish-speaking members both in the office and over the phone.

In her spare time Ashley enjoys spending time with family, reading, exercising, cooking, shopping and playing with her dog, Lucy. She and Jerod are also looking forward to the arrival of their second child later this year. A

Since completing 11 years on the board and attending approximately

130 board meetings, I can’t help but look back to all I’ve learned since I attended my first meeting as a director in January 2004.

I knew a fair amount about the co-op. I had appreciated being a co-op member since 1983 and was familiar with Salem Electric’s reliable service and dedication to providing good customer service. But what I’ve come to learn over the years serving as a Director is, Salem Electric is about so much more than just keeping the lights on and being friendly and accommodating to its members.

Salem Electric’s commitment to safety compares to none; two years in a row with no

lost time accidents and an active and informative Safety & Wellness Program that strives to reinforce safety and promote wellness through ongoing education and training. Then there is their support of the communities they serve through volunteering, donations, and sponsorships of community and school events.

They also have an interest in preserving the environment by taking part in a multi-faceted recycling program, installing nesting platforms for area wildlife, reducing and in some cases eliminating paper use, and offering numerous energy efficiency programs to their members.

Salem Electric also supports its members through the Member Assistance

Program, a program budgeted for and approved by the Board of Directors. Annually, over 1,100 qualified members who are having difficulty paying their electric bill receive assistance with a credit on their bill.

Serving these past 11 years, I’ve gained an even better understanding and appreciation for what Salem Electric is really all about. As a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Program, I have also learned that my role as a director is, in large part, to remain informed and aware of the good things that are happening at Salem Electric and to support those efforts while looking toward future possibilities. A

Ashley MoreyEmployee profile:

VAN METER, Director

From

a d

irect

or…

Automated Metering Infrastructure

AMI UPDATEO ur AMI mini-pilot project was very useful

in getting us to our next step — the expanded pilot project.

The mini-pilot included 28 meters and the framework necessary for it to operate. This allowed us to compile valuable information which helped in our decision to move forward with the 400 meter expanded pilot project.

• We determined that the basic AMI metering and communication technology works as intended

• We proved that disconnect/reconnect operations functioned with ease and that staff time in the field can be reduced with this system feature

• We initiated on-demand meter readings that allowed quicker responses to member questions or requests

• We collected interval readings for the 28 pilot project meters

• We were able to test basic outage identification

We will keep you updated on the progress of the expanded pilot through the Info Bulletin and on SalemElectric.com. h

What is SE About?

Over the past few years the methods members have chosen to use when paying

their electric bill have changed dramatically. As the graph shows, in 2007 check and cash payments accounted for over 75% of all the payments received. In 2014 that form of payment dropped to about 40% while AutoPay and online payments jumped from 20% in 2007 to over 40% in 2014.

When you’re away on vacation, paying your bill online or with AutoPay are great options that give you one less thing to worry about. If you are interested in saving time and money while simplifying your payment process call our office at 503 362-3601 or visit SalemElectric.com for more information. h

Changing Processes

Changes in Methods of Paying

Checks2007

2014

Cash2007

2014

Autopay2007

2014

3rd Party (e.g. online banking)

20072014

Credit Card2007

2014

©iS

tock

.com

/DN

Y59

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Need a new picnic table? We can help you out. Salem Electric has a variety of spools to choose from. Just contact our Engineering Department at 503 362-3601 to arrange a time to pick it up. We can load it for you, but you must provide an adequate vehicle to haul it in. n

FreeSPOOLS

INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015 INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015

January 27, 2015

Boar

d M

eetin

g Su

mm

ary

Presented by:

Alicia BonesteeleSecretary/Treasurer

All board meetings are held at 7 PM at Salem Electric, 633 Seventh Street NW, Salem, Oregon

Jerry Berger President

Jeff AndersonDave Bauer

Joe Van Meter Vice-President

Alicia Bonesteele Secretary/Treasurer

Carl BeachPaul Ennor

BOARD OF DIRECTORSUPCOMING BOARD MEETINGSHayden Allbritton

Leadership Youth Rep

F R O M Y O U R B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

FOLD

AdministrativeServices:

For the second year in a row, with nearly 89,000 hours worked, Salem Electric had zero days of lost time and zero days of restricted duty. The average member outage time was 21.81 minutes, down from 23.03 last year. Outages were mainly animal caused or weather related. New service connects decreased from 342 last year to 187 in 2014, mainly due to the large volume of multi-family connects in 2013.

MemberServices:

Engineering &Operations:

InformationTechnology:

March 17 April 28 May 12

©iS

tock

.com

/stu

artm

iles9

9

HAYDEN ALLBRITTON , Leadership Youth RepFr

om a

dire

ctor

…

Sitting in the Salem Chamber of Commerce board room on a warm

September night things felt a bit uncomfortable; a good kind of uncomfortable. It was my first night at Leadership Youth and I didn’t know any of the other students, but it turned out for the best. As a West Salem High School sophomore, I usually like to keep close to my friends and not branch out too much, but sometimes in order to learn more we have to venture out of our comfort zone and that’s exactly what I did.

The first thing we did in Leadership Youth was go to the ropes course at the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) facility. I’m fine with climbing ropes, but one thing that stood in the way of me completing the course was the 70 foot tall rope swing. To me that was terrifying. Against all logic I had, I climbed up to the platform, harnessed in, and jumped off. Of course I made it and I learned a valuable lesson. In this world there are

gonna be challenges we face, challenges we don’t want to overcome, but when we fight and overcome, we reap great reward. In the business world things aren’t always going to go well but you can’t just give up, you have to get back up until you overcome and hopefully get stronger through the process.

Leadership Youth has taught me many lessons. I have learned how important each part of the community is through tours to places such as: the Capitol, Don Pancho, the Oregon Supreme Court and many others. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity I have been blessed with to learn about the Salem community. Now, I am serving on the Salem Electric Board of Directors.

The purpose of Leadership Youth is to prepare young leaders to become future leaders by impacting and working in the community. I thoroughly believe that before something is done through us, something must be done in us and that’s

exactly what Leadership Youth did for me. I do not plan to squander the opportunity I’ve been given. In the future I want to be involved in a business where I can pass on the opportunity of serving on a business board such as Salem Electric to another student. There are many years of business experience on the board and I enjoy getting to soak in all this information on how a business runs and what components are important in order to keep it running.

A special thanks to Kathy Moore, Leadership Youth Director, for accepting my application to the program and assigning me to the Salem Electric board. I’d also like to thank the Salem Electric employees and board members who have taken me in as one of their own by showing me great hospitality. I am elated to see how this opportunity serves me later in life and I look forward to learning even more and continuing to grow as a leader. A

Leadership YouthTeaches LessonsEach Department manager provided a year-end summary for their department:

In 2014 Salem Electric received approximately 64,000 phone calls, had 32,000 people visit the office, processed 14,000 connects and disconnects for electric service, and responded to 1,400 emails directed to our customer service representatives. Capital credit payments to members in 2014 totaled $1.8 million bringing the total paid since 1978 to over $23 million.

In 2014 the IT Department focused on system upgrades and implemented additional cyber security improvements. Server upgrades and reconfigurations provided additional system redundancy and increased shared data storage for better service reliability. Improved patch deployment software, regular system updates, and ongoing system monitoring helped to identify and prevent cyber security threats.

Salem Electric assisted members with hundreds of conservation projects through residential weatherization, appliance rebates, heat pump installations, and CFL and LED lighting. In 2014 these energy efficiency measures resulted in over 2.3 million kWhs saved.

Annual Meeting

U nfortunately there are people in the world that take advantage of others for their own profit and

gain. Over the past few years we’ve seen an increase in scams relating to electric utilities. The scammers contact members by phone and demand payment threatening to disconnect the power if members don’t pay. They identify themselves as Salem Electric employees and are very aggressive in their attempt to collect payment by instructing the member to purchase a prepaid credit card, often a “green dot” card, and give instructions on where to mail it. Some scammers are even sophisticated enough to have the caller ID indicate that the call is coming from Salem Electric.

Salem Electric does not do business this way.

In situations where members are having a difficult time paying their bill, Salem Electric will mail a notice with information about payment options and energy assistance and make every attempt to keep a member’s power on. Before disconnecting service, we always try to make personal contact with you.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid becoming a victim:

• Salem Electric never calls to ask for sensitive or personal information over the phone.

• Salem Electric never calls our members to threaten disconnection of their service —whether a residential or business member. If you receive this type of call, hang up, it’s a scam!

• If a Salem Electric employee visits your home they will be driving a white vehicle that is clearly marked with an SE logo and will be carrying proper identification. If you question the identity of who is at your door please call our office at 503 362-3601.

• Members should only use payment methods authorized by Salem Electric. These methods include: mailing a check, dropping your payment in our drop box, bringing your payment to the office during regular business hours, or using our online bill pay or auto bill pay options.

If you are targeted and receive a call from a scammer, never give out your personal or financial information. Hang up immediately and report the call to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection at 877 877-9392. A

BEWARE OF SCAMS

Any time an electric cord is plugged into an outlet, current is flowing through the cord — whether it is connected to

an appliance or not. For the safest results and to keep cords in good working order, never pull the cord when unplugging or removing a cord from an outlet or surge protector; pull

directly on the plug. Inspect your cords to be sure they are in good condition. If they are cracked or frayed be sure to repair or replace them. Place cords out of traffic areas and keep them out of the reach of children and pets. Never nail or staple cords to the wall, floor, or to other objects. A

Pull the Plug — Not the Cord!

©iS

tock

.com

/wak

ila

SA

FE

TY

FIR

ST

©iS

tock

.com

/ru3

apr

INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015 INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015

January 27, 2015Bo

ard

Mee

ting

Sum

mar

yPresented by:

Alicia BonesteeleSecretary/Treasurer

All board meetings are held at 7 PM at Salem Electric, 633 Seventh Street NW, Salem, Oregon

Jerry Berger President

Jeff AndersonDave Bauer

Joe Van Meter Vice-President

Alicia Bonesteele Secretary/Treasurer

Carl BeachPaul Ennor

BOARD OF DIRECTORSUPCOMING BOARD MEETINGSHayden Allbritton

Leadership Youth Rep

F R O M Y O U R B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

FOLD

AdministrativeServices:

For the second year in a row, with nearly 89,000 hours worked, Salem Electric had zero days of lost time and zero days of restricted duty. The average member outage time was 21.81 minutes, down from 23.03 last year. Outages were mainly animal caused or weather related. New service connects decreased from 342 last year to 187 in 2014, mainly due to the large volume of multi-family connects in 2013.

MemberServices:

Engineering &Operations:

InformationTechnology:

March 17 April 28 May 12

©iS

tock

.com

/stu

artm

iles9

9

HAYDEN ALLBRITTON , Leadership Youth Rep

From

a d

irect

or…

Sitting in the Salem Chamber of Commerce board room on a warm

September night things felt a bit uncomfortable; a good kind of uncomfortable. It was my first night at Leadership Youth and I didn’t know any of the other students, but it turned out for the best. As a West Salem High School sophomore, I usually like to keep close to my friends and not branch out too much, but sometimes in order to learn more we have to venture out of our comfort zone and that’s exactly what I did.

The first thing we did in Leadership Youth was go to the ropes course at the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) facility. I’m fine with climbing ropes, but one thing that stood in the way of me completing the course was the 70 foot tall rope swing. To me that was terrifying. Against all logic I had, I climbed up to the platform, harnessed in, and jumped off. Of course I made it and I learned a valuable lesson. In this world there are

gonna be challenges we face, challenges we don’t want to overcome, but when we fight and overcome, we reap great reward. In the business world things aren’t always going to go well but you can’t just give up, you have to get back up until you overcome and hopefully get stronger through the process.

Leadership Youth has taught me many lessons. I have learned how important each part of the community is through tours to places such as: the Capitol, Don Pancho, the Oregon Supreme Court and many others. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity I have been blessed with to learn about the Salem community. Now, I am serving on the Salem Electric Board of Directors.

The purpose of Leadership Youth is to prepare young leaders to become future leaders by impacting and working in the community. I thoroughly believe that before something is done through us, something must be done in us and that’s

exactly what Leadership Youth did for me. I do not plan to squander the opportunity I’ve been given. In the future I want to be involved in a business where I can pass on the opportunity of serving on a business board such as Salem Electric to another student. There are many years of business experience on the board and I enjoy getting to soak in all this information on how a business runs and what components are important in order to keep it running.

A special thanks to Kathy Moore, Leadership Youth Director, for accepting my application to the program and assigning me to the Salem Electric board. I’d also like to thank the Salem Electric employees and board members who have taken me in as one of their own by showing me great hospitality. I am elated to see how this opportunity serves me later in life and I look forward to learning even more and continuing to grow as a leader. A

Leadership YouthTeaches LessonsEach Department manager provided a year-end summary for their department:

In 2014 Salem Electric received approximately 64,000 phone calls, had 32,000 people visit the office, processed 14,000 connects and disconnects for electric service, and responded to 1,400 emails directed to our customer service representatives. Capital credit payments to members in 2014 totaled $1.8 million bringing the total paid since 1978 to over $23 million.

In 2014 the IT Department focused on system upgrades and implemented additional cyber security improvements. Server upgrades and reconfigurations provided additional system redundancy and increased shared data storage for better service reliability. Improved patch deployment software, regular system updates, and ongoing system monitoring helped to identify and prevent cyber security threats.

Salem Electric assisted members with hundreds of conservation projects through residential weatherization, appliance rebates, heat pump installations, and CFL and LED lighting. In 2014 these energy efficiency measures resulted in over 2.3 million kWhs saved.

Annual Meeting

U nfortunately there are people in the world that take advantage of others for their own profit and

gain. Over the past few years we’ve seen an increase in scams relating to electric utilities. The scammers contact members by phone and demand payment threatening to disconnect the power if members don’t pay. They identify themselves as Salem Electric employees and are very aggressive in their attempt to collect payment by instructing the member to purchase a prepaid credit card, often a “green dot” card, and give instructions on where to mail it. Some scammers are even sophisticated enough to have the caller ID indicate that the call is coming from Salem Electric.

Salem Electric does not do business this way.

In situations where members are having a difficult time paying their bill, Salem Electric will mail a notice with information about payment options and energy assistance and make every attempt to keep a member’s power on. Before disconnecting service, we always try to make personal contact with you.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid becoming a victim:

• Salem Electric never calls to ask for sensitive or personal information over the phone.

• Salem Electric never calls our members to threaten disconnection of their service —whether a residential or business member. If you receive this type of call, hang up, it’s a scam!

• If a Salem Electric employee visits your home they will be driving a white vehicle that is clearly marked with an SE logo and will be carrying proper identification. If you question the identity of who is at your door please call our office at 503 362-3601.

• Members should only use payment methods authorized by Salem Electric. These methods include: mailing a check, dropping your payment in our drop box, bringing your payment to the office during regular business hours, or using our online bill pay or auto bill pay options.

If you are targeted and receive a call from a scammer, never give out your personal or financial information. Hang up immediately and report the call to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection at 877 877-9392. A

BEWARE OF SCAMS

Any time an electric cord is plugged into an outlet, current is flowing through the cord — whether it is connected to

an appliance or not. For the safest results and to keep cords in good working order, never pull the cord when unplugging or removing a cord from an outlet or surge protector; pull

directly on the plug. Inspect your cords to be sure they are in good condition. If they are cracked or frayed be sure to repair or replace them. Place cords out of traffic areas and keep them out of the reach of children and pets. Never nail or staple cords to the wall, floor, or to other objects. A

Pull the Plug — Not the Cord!

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INFO BULLETIN MARCH 2015

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Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

SALEM ELECTRIC • PO BOX 5588 • 633 SEVENTH STREET NW • SALEM, OR 97304-0055PH: 503 362-3601 • FAX: 503 371-2956 • E-MAIL: se@SalemElectric.com • SalemElectric.com

MARCH 2015

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She’s a Valley girl…Willamette Valley that is! Born and raised in Dallas,

the oldest of three siblings, Ashley attended nearby Perrydale Elementary School. “I loved the close friendships,” she said about her class of 25 students. In her teen years she transferred to Dallas High School with a graduating class of 200. The move prepared her for the transition to college.

In 2004 on her first day at Chemeketa Community College, she met her would be husband Jerod. That same year she was hired as a student worker at the State and in 2009 after graduating from Western Oregon University with a degree in psychology, was hired full time. Four years later she and Jerod married and are now the proud parents of a son.

For Ashley, 2013 was memorable for another reason. She took the advice of a co-worker and applied for a job at Salem Electric. She predicted she wouldn’t be hired due to her pregnancy but applied anyway. Pleasantly surprised, she was hired in mid-November and gave birth in December. When asked why she thinks she was hired she said, “I’m familiar with office systems and I enjoy problem solving. My interest in learning new things works well with the varied and diverse job duties.”

Her supervisor agrees. “Ashley’s skills and personality are a great match for the job. She cares about people and wants to help. She has been a great addition to our team,” says Britni Davidson, customer service supervisor. Ashley has also been sharpening

her Spanish skills by helping Spanish-speaking members both in the office and over the phone.

In her spare time Ashley enjoys spending time with family, reading, exercising, cooking, shopping and playing with her dog, Lucy. She and Jerod are also looking forward to the arrival of their second child later this year. A

Since completing 11 years on the board and attending approximately

130 board meetings, I can’t help but look back to all I’ve learned since I attended my first meeting as a director in January 2004.

I knew a fair amount about the co-op. I had appreciated being a co-op member since 1983 and was familiar with Salem Electric’s reliable service and dedication to providing good customer service. But what I’ve come to learn over the years serving as a Director is, Salem Electric is about so much more than just keeping the lights on and being friendly and accommodating to its members.

Salem Electric’s commitment to safety compares to none; two years in a row with no

lost time accidents and an active and informative Safety & Wellness Program that strives to reinforce safety and promote wellness through ongoing education and training. Then there is their support of the communities they serve through volunteering, donations, and sponsorships of community and school events.

They also have an interest in preserving the environment by taking part in a multi-faceted recycling program, installing nesting platforms for area wildlife, reducing and in some cases eliminating paper use, and offering numerous energy efficiency programs to their members.

Salem Electric also supports its members through the Member Assistance

Program, a program budgeted for and approved by the Board of Directors. Annually, over 1,100 qualified members who are having difficulty paying their electric bill receive assistance with a credit on their bill.

Serving these past 11 years, I’ve gained an even better understanding and appreciation for what Salem Electric is really all about. As a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Program, I have also learned that my role as a director is, in large part, to remain informed and aware of the good things that are happening at Salem Electric and to support those efforts while looking toward future possibilities. A

Ashley MoreyEmployee profile:

VAN METER, DirectorFr

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Automated Metering Infrastructure

AMI UPDATEO ur AMI mini-pilot project was very useful

in getting us to our next step — the expanded pilot project.

The mini-pilot included 28 meters and the framework necessary for it to operate. This allowed us to compile valuable information which helped in our decision to move forward with the 400 meter expanded pilot project.

• We determined that the basic AMI metering and communication technology works as intended

• We proved that disconnect/reconnect operations functioned with ease and that staff time in the field can be reduced with this system feature

• We initiated on-demand meter readings that allowed quicker responses to member questions or requests

• We collected interval readings for the 28 pilot project meters

• We were able to test basic outage identification

We will keep you updated on the progress of the expanded pilot through the Info Bulletin and on SalemElectric.com. h

What is SE About?

Over the past few years the methods members have chosen to use when paying

their electric bill have changed dramatically. As the graph shows, in 2007 check and cash payments accounted for over 75% of all the payments received. In 2014 that form of payment dropped to about 40% while AutoPay and online payments jumped from 20% in 2007 to over 40% in 2014.

When you’re away on vacation, paying your bill online or with AutoPay are great options that give you one less thing to worry about. If you are interested in saving time and money while simplifying your payment process call our office at 503 362-3601 or visit SalemElectric.com for more information. h

Changing Processes

Changes in Methods of Paying

Checks2007

2014

Cash2007

2014

Autopay2007

2014

3rd Party (e.g. online banking)

20072014

Credit Card2007

2014

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Need a new picnic table? We can help you out. Salem Electric has a variety of spools to choose from. Just contact our Engineering Department at 503 362-3601 to arrange a time to pick it up. We can load it for you, but you must provide an adequate vehicle to haul it in. n

FreeSPOOLS