Effective June 8th, the night deposit at our Hartford office will no longer be available. The below sign will be posted at the office. You can still make payments by phone, mail, website, or SmartHub app.

During the summer, many people are concerned about staying cool. Whether you rely on a central air-conditioning unit, a fan or a window A/C unit, be aware of safety threats they may pose. Air conditioners and fans are everyday appliances, and knowing how to properly clean, fix and maintain them is important for your safety!

Every spring, schedule professional A/C maintenance to inspect the appliance for any issues that could lead to a fire. In addition to annual maintenance check-ups, change your air filter every 30–60 days. Inspect your outdoor unit periodically to ensure it has proper airflow, remove debris and clean the condenser unit. You can even use a garden hose to periodically clean your condenser coils. (Make sure you turn the breaker off first!)

If you rely on a window A/C unit during the summer, do not plug it into an extension cord or power strip. It should have its own dedicated outlet. Before installing it, make sure the window and frame are in good condition—there should be a metal bracket, mounting rails or some sort of firm support system. If the unit doesn’t fit, do not try and force it. Never put anything on top of the unit.

Since these units are exposed to the elements, they tend to be more at risk for a fire or other dangers. To prevent these risks, never position them where water is or could spill. Clean or replace filters as instructed and continue to inspect cords for damage regularly.

If you fancy a fan to keep you cool, here are some quick safety tips to follow this summer:

• Only purchase fans that have been tested in a recognized, independent lab.
• Check for product recalls at cpsc.gov.
• Double check that air intakes are not blocked.
• Keep fans away from water.

Finally, always be aware of changes in your A/C unit. You should know when something sounds out of the ordinary. If you see wires sticking out of the A/C unit, or if you see leaking refrigerant or hear noises coming from the unit, you should take these as signs of trouble. Don’t wait to contact a professional for help—act immediately!

Source: ESFI

• The director election opens May 16th and runs through 4:30 p.m. on June 9th.  Members in Districts 3 and 5 will begin receiving ballots today.  Those members who have provided email addresses to Kenergy will receive a ballot both electronically and by mail, however, only one ballot per member is counted.
• Members should not hand-deliver ballots to Kenergy offices. The election is handled by a third party and ballots should be returned in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided. 
• Members should not mail their Kenergy payment in the envelope provided for the ballot return as it will not be received by Kenergy, but will be sent to the third party administrator for the election. 

Anyone with questions about the election should contact Debbie Hayden at dhayden@kenergycorp.com or 270.689.6101.

All Kenergy offices will be closed Monday, May 30th for the Memorial Day holiday. We hope you have a safe and healthy holiday with family and friends.

As always, you can drop payments at our nightly drop box, make payments on our SmartHub app or by accessing your account 24/7.

Each year, Kenergy selects three high school juniors to attend the Washington Youth Tour. A team of Kenergy-area judges selected students based on their academic resume and a 1,000-word essay on the subject of their choice. Kenergy is thrilled to announce the three delegates for the 2022 Washington Youth Tour.

Conner Blackburn of Hanson – Conner is the son of Ashley Blackburn. He attends Madisonville North Hopkins High School.

Jennavieve Luppino of Centertown – Jennavieve is the daughter of Brad Luppino. She attends Abreka Academy.

Noah Norris of Owensboro – Noah is the son of Scott and Jaime Norris. He attends Daviess County High School.

The delegates will travel to Washington, D.C. for an all-expense paid trip in June. The week-long trip will allow students to learn about leadership, the cooperative model, and also explore the nation’s capital. Our delegates will tour Gettysburg, the Smithsonian Institute, Arlington National Cemetery, the FBI Building, the National Zoo, Library of Congress, U.S. Capitol, and the White House to visit with Kentucky’s congressional delegation to learn more about energy issues.

More than 1,500 students from across America take part in the Youth Tour experience each year. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has been coordinating this program since the 1950’s.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Pictures courtesy of Rebecca Sams.

Kenergy member-owners of Districts 1, 3 and 5 will have the opportunity to vote this year for a director in the upcoming election.

Kenergy’s bylaws stipulate that any uncontested candidate will be declared the winner of the board seat without an election. By virtue of being the only candidate nominated, incumbent Craig Roberts of District 1 will retain his seat for another three-year term.

Chris Mitchell has represented District 3 since 1997 and is being challenged by Ryan Hammack who submitted a petition to have his name placed on the ballot.

Bill Denton, who had represented District 5 since 1994, resigned from his position in early February. His term as the District 5 representative expires in June of this year and he had previously announced that he did not plan to seek re-election. Two candidates, Mike Hazelwood and Tom McFarland, each filed a petition to have their names placed on the ballot.

Ballots will be mailed in mid-May. Members have the option of voting online or by mail. Winners of the election will be announced at the cooperative’s Annual Membership Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at Kenergy’s office in Henderson.

Trees add immeasurable value to your property but maintaining them comes with a cost. They need pruning, sometimes heavy trimming or removal.

The most common types of serious tree trimming accidents are:

• Electrocution. You can be seriously injured or killed if you come into contact with an electric line. It’s easy to misjudge the height of a tree or length of a branch. If there’s a chance power lines might be involved at all, always call your electric utility first and its experts will come out and advise you. Even when you think there’s room, if the wind blows a limb into a power line as you’re trimming it, you can be electrocuted.

• Falling. You can be seriously injured or killed if you fall from a tree. Pruning branches or trimming out dead or overgrown limbs sometimes requires getting into the tree. Always make sure you are using appropriate safety harnesses and ropes when climbing. Also wear safety googles, hard hat, gloves, long-sleeve shirt, long pants and appropriate work shoes. Before climbing, inspect the tree to make sure no power lines run through or near the tree.

• Being struck. You can be seriously injured or killed if you are struck by falling trees or limbs. Cutting large limbs and trees can be tricky. Improper cutting can cause the tree to fall where you hadn’t planned. Always have two escape routes planned ahead of time in case the tree starts going the wrong way. A falling tree hits the ground with great force. Branches and limbs crack, bounce, snap and recoil, especially if dead wood is present. Snapped branches can be flung surprisingly far in multiple directions. Tie off limbs to be cut and lower them to the ground with rope. Never turn your back to a falling tree, and always wear a hard hat when trimming and cutting.

• Overestimating. You can be seriously injured or killed if you overestimate your abilities.

Bill Denton has resigned from his position on the Kenergy board of directors effective immediately.  His term as the District 5 representative expires in June of this year and he had previously announced that he did not plan to seek re-election.  Mr. Denton has served on the Henderson Union/Kenergy board of directors since 1994.

Any member who resides in the district and has a Kenergy membership in their name is eligible to serve.  Nomination shall be by signed written petition and must be submitted to the Corporation by 4:30 p.m. on February 24, 2022.  For additional information about the election, contact Debbie Hayden at 270-689-6101 or email dhayden@kenergycorp.com.  

District 5 includes the area of Henderson County east of the Pennyrile Parkway and east of that portion of Highway 41 which runs to the north of the Pennyrile Parkway. 

Kenergy filed an application for a waiver with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (KPSC) in July 2020. This application was seeking a waiver to provide broadband services to Kenergy members. Kenergy received the KPSC findings on October 22, 2020. The order from KPSC approved a portion of the application, but denied other portions.

After taking time to process the information from the KPSC order and evaluate the next best steps for the cooperative, Kenergy board of directors and staff decided to file a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with KPSC on September 10, 2021. The CPCN seeks approval from KPSC to authorize  the construction of a high-speed fiber optic cable network in support of Kenergy’s current and future communication needs as a rural electric distribution cooperative and lease the excess capacity of the fiber network in support of extending and enhancing the availability of broadband to unserved and underserved households and businesses in Kenergy’s service territory.

“Our goal to bring high-speed internet to all Kenergy members has not changed,” Jeff Hohn, Kenergy President and CEO said. “As Kenergy stated from the beginning of this project exploration, there would be many hurdles to make this happen. After we received the last order from KPSC in 2020, we decided this would be our best option to pursue that same goal for our members.”

Since filing the CPCN, we wanted to take our members through a timeline of events to help you better follow the proceedings.

On September 13, 2021, the Office of the Attorney General intervened. This is normal in most applications through KPSC.

KPSC established a procedural schedule that laid out important dates and deadlines for information needed in the application process.

On September 30, 2021, the Kentucky Broadband and Cable Association (KBCA) requested permission to intervene. Members of KBCA include Access Cable, Armstrong, C&W Cable, Charter Communications, COMCAST, Inter Mountain Cable, LYCOM Communications, Mediacom, Suddenlink and TVS Cable.

Kenergy has received their first set of data requests and staff are working to answer those requests.

Under the current procedural schedule, Kenergy is not anticipating a decision from KPSC until summer of 2022.

You can follow the progress and view all information regarding this application under Case No. 2021-00365 on www.psc.ky.gov

We will continue to keep our members updated as more information becomes available in this application.

By: Abby Berry

Solar energy is booming, and the future is brighter than ever. Through the use of rooftop solar panels, many homeowners can now harness the sun’s natural rays to produce their own electricity that’s environmentally friendly and cost effective.

But with the increasing popularity of solar, unfortunately, some businesses are taking advantage of consumers who are interested in generating their own energy through rooftop panels.

While many solar companies are genuine and truly want to help consumers with a successful solar installation, there are the occasional bad apples.

You’ve likely heard a story or two about solar vendors that promised rooftop panels that would generate enough electricity to power the entire home. Then, after the homeowner has paid thousands of dollars for the installation, the solar panels aren’t working, and the vendor is nowhere to be found. Sadly, this story has been the reality for many consumers.  

If you’re interested in solar panels for your home, consider these tips before installation:

• Talk to an energy advisor at your local electric co-op first. We want you to feel confident about any decisions you make about your home energy use, especially decisions about generating energy at home.
• Collect at least three quotes from different solar companies to ensure you’re getting a competitive deal. As with any major purchase, research is key, so thoroughly read customer reviews for each of the three solar vendors.
• If you speak to a solar vendor and they use high-pressure tactics, like an offer that’s only good for 24 hours, run! Any reputable solar company will recognize that you need time to review a proposal and thoroughly weigh your decision.
• You know if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So, if a solar company is making promises that sound unachievable and outlandish, they probably are. Remember, if you have any questions, you can always count on your electric co-op for advice.
• Finally, when it’s time to review and sign a solar contract, make sure the language is clear and easy to understand. Ensure any prior verbal (or emailed)  promises are also included in the contract.