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HOME & BUSINESS TO YOUR BRINGING POWER & INTERNET SmartHub One Time Payment Pay Bill SmartHub Start/Stop Service Start/Stop Service Rebates Rebates Start/Stop Service Outages Mail Internet IN THE NEWS Mar 13 Steps to Replace a Utility Pole Utility poles remain the backbone of most electric distribution systems. After more than 80 years since electric cooperatives first set... Mar 8 March 2023 CEO Message Working Hard to Keep Rates Stable Every time I visit the grocery store or fill up a vehicle with fuel, just like you, I feel the pinch of... Feb 16 Don't Underestimate the Risk of Overloads It’s a common problem for most of us: relying on a handy dandy extension cord since we have so many devices and not enough outlets to... 1 2 3 4 5 VIEW MORE YOUR COOPERATIVE Orange County REMC has historically acted as an 'energy source' to spur economic growth in our communities and create a better style of living. Today, we also help bridge the digital divide by meeting the current and future needs of our members by offering fiber optic internet. Bringing electricity and high-speed fiber internet to Orange County REMC members and the communities around them. LEARN MORE BY THE NUMBERS 8,532 Installed Meters 1,127 Miles of Line 6,281 Electric Members 6,519 Fiber Customers 86 58 $577,998 Years of Operation Employees Amount Donated to Local Communities

Outages Are you experiencing an outage? You can view the areas affected by outages by using this map. OUTAGE MAP Outage Map Learn what substation your power is being fed from. Planned outages will be posted on this map. SUBSTATION MAP Substation Map Outage Maps Report an Outage Report by Phone When you report the outage from the phone number that is listed on your account, the Outage Management System will confirm your number to verify the outage location. If you are calling from a different number, the system will ask you to enter your account's phone number or account number. Your account number can be found on your bill. Orange County REMC's Outage Management System will receive your call. The Outage Management System immediately updates our outage recording system and allows for fewer busy signals and less wait time for member. 855-865-2229 Report Online via SmartHub Report your outage via SmartHub on your mobile device or desktop. ​ SmartHub is a mobile and web application that allows you to: View and change account information Monitor and analyze your electric usage Make payments all from your mobile device or computer Set-up recurring credit card payments and sign up for bank draft SMARTHUB LOGIN Outage Tips Outage Tips Check your breakers and fuses to ensure the problem is not within your system. Call Orange County REMC as soon as your power goes out. Do not rely on neighbors to call. Have an emergency kit ready. This kit should include items to get you by for a couple days should an emergency strike. See here for a list of items to keep in your kits . Never go near downed power lines! The lines may still be energized and are very dangerous. Limit the times you open the refrigerator or freezer. Food will remain frozen for up to 48 hours if the doors remain closed and the unit is in good working condition. Appliances and electronics are extremely sensitive to electrical spikes from lightning or other faults. If able disconnect from the electrical source. OUTAGE SAFETY Common Outage Causes Common Outage Causes Weather Weather is probably the most well-known reason for power outages. It’s also the most common. Storms can knock down trees and tear down power lines and strong winds or flooding can damage co-op equipment. Wind and thunderstorms can be a cause for concern as well as a winter ice storm. ​ Animals Small animals also cause power outages. Squirrels, in particular, are notorious for climbing on electrical equipment and causing outages. Raccoons, foxes, possums, snakes and birds can also trigger disruptions. Even larger animals, such as bobcats, have been known to cause problems on electric poles. ​ Planned Outages Orange County REMC must make upgrades or provide routine maintenance to the electricity infrastructure. We will call those affected with the time they will be without power. It is important to keep all numbers updated. With planned outages you get the benefit of knowing the power will be out in advance, as well as an estimate for how long. ​ Don't Underestimate the Risk of Overloads It’s a common problem for most of us: relying on a handy dandy extension cord since we have so many devices and not enough outlets to... Galloping Lines Windy, Icy Winter Storms and Galloping Lines It’s winter in Indiana. That means storms with wind, snow and ice. When high winds and ice... Overhead Line Safety Overhead line safety – when in doubt, look up and out! Whether you’re on the job or working on an outdoor project around your home, you... Understanding Your Home's Electrical System Familiarize yourself with your home’s electrical system A lot of people won’t plug in their new TV or toaster without reading the... Powering Up After an Outage Pictured: Amos Murphy, Orange County REMC Journeyman Lineman. Powering up: Electric service is restored methodically to maintain safety... Fallen Lines Can be Deadly Don’t turn an accident with a utility pole into an electrical fatality Tens of thousands of accidents occur each year when power poles... 1 2 Follow Us on Facebook for Updates

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Planting season is at hand for many of Indiana’s roughly 94,000 farmers. While you prepare to plant the crops that keep the world fed, Orange County REMC reminds you to keep safety in mind — especially when working around electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 62 farm workers are electrocuted each year in the U.S. Here are some helpful safety tips for farmers to keep in mind this season: Make sure farm equipment like planter arms and sprayers safely clear overhead power lines. Some clearances may have changed since the last time you entered the field. The tall equipment can easily become entangled in power lines and pose an electrocution risk. Keep a minimum of 10-foot distance from power lines in all directions. Consider asking your electric cooperative to move overhead lines around buildings or frequently used pathways. Keep a safe distance from power poles and guy wires. If your equipment strikes and damages a guy wire or power pole, do not try to fix it yourself. Call your electric cooperative to make the repair. If your farm equipment becomes entangled with power lines, call 911 immediately. Keep others away and remain calm. DO NOT try to exit the equipment or touch someone who has had electrical contact. If you must exit the equipment for life-threatening reasons, jump out and away from the equipment and make sure to land with your feet together and touching. Then, shuffle at least three tractor lengths away with your feet touching. NEVER attempt to get back into or touch equipment that is in contact with a power line. If you are planning a controlled burn, mow and remove vegetation at least 15 feet around any pole prior to burning and apply fire retardant to the area as recommended by the manufacturer prior to burn period. Do not directly spray or treat a pole. Should a burn get out of control and endanger poles or other equipment, call 911 immediately. Do not allow the fire to cross under power lines in large areas. Smoke contains carbon particles which can conduct electricity. If the concentration gets high enough around power lines, an electrical discharge from the line to the ground, similar to lightning, can occur. Such discharges have killed firefighters. When working below power lines with water hoses, extreme care must be taken to keep water streams out of overhead lines. Water will conduct electricity and the water stream will act as a conductor. Know what to do if electrical contact occurs With farmers returning to the field for planting season, Orange County REMC offers reminders about the dangers of power lines. If you’re inside machinery that comes in contact with a downed power line: If you can, drive safely away from the downed power line and the source of electricity. Travel at least three tractor lengths, or about 40 feet, before stopping. If you can’t drive or you are injured, stay where you are inside the equipment until help arrives. If you must get out of the machinery because of a life-threatening reason such as a fire, don’t touch the machinery and the ground at the same time with any part of your body or clothing. With the door open, prepare to jump. Stand up, elbows tucked into your stomach and your hands held close to your chest. Jump out and away from the machinery, taking care to land with your feet together and touching. Don’t stumble. Shuffle away with your feet touching each other and the ground. Don’t stop until you’re at least three tractor lengths away from the machinery. Call 911 and ensure that no bystanders come within 40 feet of machinery. Once away from the equipment, never attempt to get back on or even touch the equipment. If you’re outside the machinery when you notice a farmer comes in contact with a downed power line: Stay at least three tractor lengths away. Tell the person on the machinery to stay where he or she is. Call 911 and ensure no bystander moves within 40 feet of machinery. Keep your planned burn under control Controlled burns can be a beneficial way to clear a field of debris. But they must be planned carefully and correctly. Here are safety tips if power lines are nearby: Mow and remove vegetation at least 15 feet around any pole and apply fire retardant to the area as recommended by the manufacturer prior burning. Do not directly spray or treat the pole. Do not allow the fire to cross under power lines in large areas. Smoke contains carbon particles which can conduct electricity. If the concentration gets high enough around power lines, an electrical discharge from the line to the ground, similar to lightning, can occur. When working below power lines with water hoses, extreme care must be taken to keep water streams out of overhead lines. Water will conduct electricity and the water stream will act as a conductor. Should a burn get out of control and endanger poles or other electrical equipment, call 911 immediately. SOURCES: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Virginia Cooperative Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Evergy, Kansas State University

Utility poles remain the backbone of most electric distribution systems. After more than 80 years since electric cooperatives first set them throughout rural Indiana, they remain the most cost-effective way to safely support power lines, insulators, transformers and other electric hardware. Occasionally, either through a vehicle strike, lightning strike, ice storm, tornado, or simply age, a pole needs to be replaced. And while every electric cooperative has thousands of poles throughout its system, each pole replacement is different. It’s much more than just digging a hole and sliding a new pole in the ground. The work is done methodically and, even in the best scenarios and weather conditions, might take several hours. One of the most common reasons for a broken pole and an unexpected power outage is a vehicle strike. Here’s a step-by-step description of what typically goes into a pole replacement so that consumers on the “dark side” of the damaged pole can better understand why the power outage affecting them might be taking longer than they would think. Assess the situation The cooperative is notified of a broken pole. This can come from the cooperative's own monitoring system, sheriff's department or consumers. Lineworkers will visit the pole and assess the damage. This may take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the location and if the notification comes outside of normal business hours. Secure the scene and call in a crew If the pole needs to be replaced, the lineworkers on the scene will first make sure the scene is safe. They'll de-energize the line following established safety procedures. Next, they will call for a crew of three to four others to come with a bucket truck and a digger truck. In many cases, resetting or replacing a pole also requires calling into 811 – the Indiana “call before you dig” service – before crews can dig new holes. This is required to locate other buried utilities along the right-of-way and can add time to the restoration. Obtain supplies and tools The original responding lineworkers will work on what can be done until the additional crews arrive with a new pole and replacement equipment. Depending on the weather and the proximity of the broken pole to the replacement pole and equipment, this may take 1-2 hours. Replace the damaged pole When all crew members are present, they begin setting a new pole and will work to safely restore power to consumers as quickly as possible. This includes removing equipment from the broken pole and attaching the necessary equipment to the new pole. Depending on the location, the equipment needed on each pole will vary. Poles are generally buried around 6 feet in the ground. The buried part of the broken pole is usually pulled out with the hydraulic lift on a truck. Sometimes it’s necessary to dig a new hole. Dirt is backfilled and tamped down with hydraulic equipment. The power lines are then lifted back into place and mounted on the new insulators. Once all is back in place, the protective gear is removed and an all-clear is given, the power is turned back on. Sometimes it’s possible during the pole replacement process to redirect power to those affected by the outage. It is the goal of the electric cooperative to safely restore power to as many consumers as quickly as possible. The average pole replacement could take up to 3-4 hours under favorable conditions with no mitigating circumstances – or longer if unforeseen circumstances slow the crew down.

Working Hard to Keep Rates Stable Every time I visit the grocery store or fill up a vehicle with fuel, just like you, I feel the pinch of rising prices. Here at Orange County REMC, we’re working hard to minimize electric rate increases. It has been a challenge, as global costs began to increase dramatically at the end of 2021 due to inflation, supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine. Coal prices have increased 300% since 2021 and natural gas prices have gone up more than 100%, although we have seen a small decrease in natural gas prices very recently. These factors have resulted in an increase of more than 175% in wholesale power prices. Orange County REMC is a distribution co-op, which means we purchase electricity from Hoosier Energy, a generation and transmission co-op. We then distribute this power to you, our members. Even considering the recent investments Hoosier Energy has made in wind and solar generation, coal and natural gas represent more than half of their annual operating costs. Similarly, more than 69% of Orange County REMC’s operating cost consists of purchasing this power to deliver to our members. To help manage price volatility, Hoosier Energy charges Orange County REMC a Power Cost Adjustment, which is part of the charges billed to the member. If you have been tracking your bills, you will notice the PCA has increased over the past few months. Despite all of this, Orange County REMC’s residential rate of 14.2 cents per kWh remains below the national and state averages. This fact is even more impressive when you consider that as a rural electric co-op, we have far fewer members per mile of line than other electric utilities. One thing that will make a big difference for Orange County REMC going forward is the positive impact our telecommunications business, Orange County Fiber, is having on the co-op’s financial health. The growth of Orange County Fiber resulted in a positive margin in 2022 which is being used to offset costs for our members. It is expected that Orange County Fiber will continue to make a positive financial impact for our members in the future while also providing an improved quality of life as more of our members are connected to a world-class fiber optic network. In the coming months, you will have a chance to review our Annual Report and hear more details about how business and operating decisions are made at the REMC. I encourage you to mark your calendar and plan to attend the Orange County REMC Annual Meeting June 2. Learn more about the Annual Meeting. Matt Deaton General Manager/CEO