My name is Ryan Heater, and I appreciate the opportunity to introduce myself as the new vice president of government relations for Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC). I was born and raised in rural Indiana, grew up on a farm, and lived on a co-op line. I’m thankful for the important role that REMCs have in… Continue reading.

1. DON’T LIGHT UP YOUR WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE. A crackling fire doesn’t contribute much heat to your room. Plus, the open flue sucks the heated air out of your house through the chimney. Burning a fire in the hearth when the temperature dips into the 20s can actually increase your heating bills. 2. DON’T OVERSTUFF YOUR… Continue reading.

If you feel a draft while you’re curled up on the sofa with a good book or the television remote, don’t automatically crank up the thermostat. Move the sofa. The chilliest places in your home during the winter are right next to the windows. So move your furniture away from the windows. Here are five… Continue reading.

Frigid temperatures can cause heating systems to work overtime, and since heating and cooling can make up nearly half of your electric bill, your bill may be higher than normal in the winter. HERE’S WHY ADDRESSING SOME HIGH BILL CULPRITS HOW YOUR ELECTRIC CO-OP CAN HELP YOU Your electric cooperative has programs to save you… Continue reading.

I’m Britt Davis, and I am the new editor for Indiana Connection. I’m excited to step into this role and honor the legacy of the editors who came before me.  I’ve spent most of my career as the editor of a group of regional construction magazines that cover the United States. Through that position, I… Continue reading.

By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp January is the month of resolutions, although most are short-lived — like no more ice cream after 7 p.m. Making resolutions for your outdoor landscape can be much easier. Here are a few resolutions that can make a significant impact in the coming year. Remove an invasive plant from your… Continue reading.

On the cusp of the 21st century, Delmar Bontrager took a job going from location to location manually reading electric meters for a small rural electric cooperative. To many, it may have seemed like a job without longevity. Automated digital meters that read themselves were already becoming the industry standard. But, in his mind, Bontrager’s… Continue reading.

This year’s Youth Power and Hope Award winners are working to better their communities by giving of themselves. Indiana Connection and Indiana’s electric cooperatives established the Youth Power and Hope Awards in 2009 to recognize fifth through eighth graders who are stewards of their community. The 2023 Youth Power and Hope Awards winners are: LEAH… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Known as the RV capital of the world, Elkhart County is located in Northern Indiana as part of the Michiana region. More than 200,000 tourists visit the county for its annual 4-H Fair — the second-largest county fair in the United States. AMERICAN LIFE ILLUSTRATED The Midwest Museum of American Art in… Continue reading.

Many homeowners have considered adding battery storage or a backup generator to provide power when the electricity goes out. Such an addition can be a major investment, costing thousands of dollars. If you have thought about purchasing a backup power source, there are a few questions that you should consider. Why do you want a… Continue reading.

If an approaching winter storm is the lead story on your nightly news, it’s probably chaos at the local grocery and too late to properly stock up on necessary food items, de-icing pellets and other related items. That’s why you should prepare before a winter storm is on the horizon. It’s important to develop a… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever The 2024 cooperative calendar’s “Artist of the Year,” Justine Ocken, proves that the acorn doesn’t fall far from the Ocken tree. Pardon the pun, but the oaken reference is something her family embraces, and family is something the Whitko High School senior embraces in every work of art she creates. “I… Continue reading.