Whether you’re illuminating a single bush or your entire roof, here are some tips for safely hanging lights outdoors this season. MAKE A PLAN Map out where each strand of lights and every outdoor decoration will go before you get to work — you’ll save time and you’ll stay safer. DETERMINE WHAT YOU’LL NEED Before… Continue reading.

Dress up your space in a flash with these simple yet creative holiday decorating ideas. SET THE SCENE A few inviting touches will add instant warmth to any room, such as the scent of a cinnamon or spruce candle, the cozy texture of a knit throw or the cheeriness of a colorful, decorative wall hanging…. Continue reading.

Before you deck your halls and welcome overnight guests, peruse these pointers: 1. INSPECT YOUR ITEMS Carefully inspect all of your holiday decorations, electrical items and extension cords to ensure that everything is in safe, working order. A few things to look out for include: 2. READ THE FINE PRINT Take a few minutes to… Continue reading.

• Electric co-ops serve 42 million people and power over 21.5 million businesses, homes, schools and farms in 48 states. • Boone REMC was a model for other rural electric groups in the country. The REMC received one of the Rural Electrification Administration’s first loans on July 22, 1935. It was energized on May 21,… Continue reading.

The word “cooperative” is similar to “cooperation,” meaning people working together and mutually benefiting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit, and co-ops exist for one reason: to serve their members. Not only have cooperatives been formed to sell electricity, produce and flowers, but there are also co-ops that… Continue reading.

Cooperatives play a vital role in transforming communities. The roots of the modern co-op movement can be traced back to a store started by a group of weavers in the town of Rochdale in northern England in 1844. The group was guided by a set of principles drawn up by one of its members, Charles… Continue reading.

Electric vehicle owner Laura Matney giggled while glancing at goods when visiting a gas station convenience store. Matney, the marketing manager for Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA) and a Power Moves® team member, traveled with her family from Indiana to Sarasota, Florida, in their electric Tesla Model 3. It was Matney’s longest journey in an… Continue reading.

Jim Binkley honors the trade even after retirement Clark County REMC’s Wyatt Binkley first climbed at a lineman rodeo when he was 12 years old. Last year, he was on the team that finished first place overall at the inaugural Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo. He received a unique, handcrafted trophy for his efforts —… Continue reading.

Now’s the ideal time to start preparing your home for the impending cooler weather. Use this handy checklist of chores that includes tips from The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to start your season off on the right foot. □ Safely store warm weather tools, such as trimmers and lawnmowers. Check your cold weather tools,… Continue reading.

The final member of the Indiana Connection team to highlight is Mandy Barth, the vice president of communication at Indiana Electric Cooperatives, the publisher of the magazine. Her essential leadership provides the glue that binds the whole team together. Here’s more about her: As vice president of communication, it is my pleasure to work alongside… Continue reading.

September is National Pet Insurance Month and although pet insurance may seem like a luxury, with the right policy and coverage, it may come to the rescue in the event of serious illness, disease or accident. Over 69% of Hoosier households share their home with a pet, with twice-yearly vet trips running over $400 for… Continue reading.

By Richard Biever Duff Patterson straddled his electric bicycle and examined the trail map at the head of the Cardinal Greenway in Richmond. He was deciding if he should go right onto the rail-trail or left to a path that followed the East Fork of the Whitewater River. Until April, he’d been a lifelong resident… Continue reading.