Indiana’s electric cooperatives have been around for almost 90 years. Read on to learn more about Hoosier co-ops. Can you find the bolded words in the puzzle? ► The first successful U.S. cooperative was organized in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin. ► Electric cooperatives began in the 1930s because it was not cost-effective for investor-owned utilities… Continue reading.

Cooperatives worldwide operate according to the same set of core principles and values adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance. These principles are rooted in the first modern cooperative, founded in Rochdale, England. These principles are a key reason that America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their members first…. Continue reading.

Electric cooperatives serve over 42 million people and power over 22 million businesses, homes, schools, and farms in 48 states. You might be surprised by the number of co-ops of all kinds that are around you. Co-ops have been formed to sell produce and electricity, offer financial and banking services, provide housing and health care,… Continue reading.

October is National Cooperative Month. Indiana Connection is published by Indiana Electric Cooperatives, which is the service organization for our state’s member-owned electric co-ops. If you’re receiving this magazine, you are probably a co-op member. It’s easy to think of your co-op as just an electric company, but as I’ve learned over the last 10… Continue reading.

Electric vehicles continue to be a hot topic in the energy and environmental fields. However, throwing electric vehicles under one umbrella is not entirely accurate. Let’s look at the different types of electric vehicles available on the market. BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES What most people mean when they say “electric vehicle” is a fully battery-powered EV… Continue reading.

 By Natalie Derrickson If you’re a Halloween fanatic, there’s only one spot to be this fall — the 78th Annual Historic Irvington Halloween Festival. A community-wide celebration of all things spooky, Irvington located about 15 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis, welcomes all to enjoy their shared affection for the haunting season. Kicking off on Oct…. Continue reading.

By Mike Lunsford My wife and I are country people, and for four or five months of the year, we watch as a lush green curtain is gradually pulled around us. It is a welcomed thing after we have outlasted the brown and muddy months of winter. Still, with deep woodlands behind us to the… Continue reading.

By Veni Fields For fans of flaky crusts and an abundance of filling across Indiana, the Hoosier Pie Trail beckons. Indiana Foodways Alliance, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration, promotion, and preservation of the authentic food culture of Indiana, has compiled a list of 36 stops throughout the state. What’s your pleasure? Crispy,… Continue reading.

By Chris Adam Whether a fan of spooky legends or terrifying tales, this tour of some of Indiana’s haunted places has something for everyone Are you a fan of fright and haunted places? Do you like to check out locations with spine-tingling tales? If so, you don’t need to travel far. Indiana is home to… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Scott County honors its pioneer past at the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum, located in the former Scott County Poor Farm. Established in the late 19th century, the poor farm provided shelter and care for those unable to support themselves because of economic hardship or disabilities before modern social welfare programs… Continue reading.

On July 18, the Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees unanimously voted to provide fiber internet as a new service offered by the co-op. This decision came after conducting several feasibility studies earlier this year. The board’s goal is to provide high-speed, reliable internet to the co-op’s electric membership via fiber-to-the-home. WHY IS THE… Continue reading.

Tax credits and rebates can help bridge the affordability gap to higher-efficiency equipment for your home, allowing you to complete energy efficiency upgrades that can lower your energy use and save you money in years to come. First, knowing the difference between a tax credit and rebate is important. A rebate is a payment for… Continue reading.