We Are REC

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Jason Satterwhite, Director of Operations and Construction Services to learn how REC uses technology to streamline their operations and keep their members informed throughout an outage event. Jason explained their drone program and the training that goes into using them. He also walked us through what happens behind the scenes during an outage event to ensure members know what's happening along the way.  For more information, visit REC's website: https://myrec.coop/ To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Michael Lindsay, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. Mike gave us some background about his experience and told us why he chose to service on the REC board. He also explained that while he represents Region 1 (the counties of Frederick, Shenandoah & portions of Page, Warren & Rappahannock) of REC's territory, he service the entire membership. We talked about the challenges the board has faced during the pandemic, a few of the highlights such as returning $13 million in capital credits to members. He told us how important it is to stay engaged with the membership and told us about how the annual meeting works. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with David Koogler, Senior Vice President […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with David Koogler, Senior Vice President of Member Services & External Affairs to learn how REC works to advocate on behalf of the member owners to ensure their voices are being heard. David explained why it's important for REC to engage with local legislators and elected officials and gave a few examples of their input on recent bills. We also talked a bit about electric cars, their growth in our area and across the country and how REC seeks to be more of a resource when making the choice to convert to an EV. For more information, visit REC's website: https://myrec.coop/economic-development To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Felicia Ainsa, Director of Economic […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Felicia Ainsa, Director of Economic Development to learn about how this position will benefit local communities within REC's service territory. Felicia explained what her goals are in this new position, how she will work with local businesses as well as new businesses to the area, and be a resource to localities as they grow their industry & infrastructure. For more information, visit REC's website: https://myrec.coop/economic-development To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Cindy Musick, Director of Vegetation […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Cindy Musick, Director of Vegetation Management to learn about REC's efforts to protect the power lines and provide reliability through sustainable and environmentally conscious means of vegetation management. For more information about REC's efforts, visit their website: https://myrec.coop/vegetation-management To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Foreman, Tim Campbell and Will […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Foreman, Tim Campbell and Will Jordan, Journeyman for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn about a day in the life of a lineman. Tim walked us through the different crews, the responsibilities and told us a bit about his history with REC. Will shared why he chose this career and explained the different steps an apprentice lineman must complete on his way to becoming fully certified & trained. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with John Arp, Vice President of Engineering, Operations & Power Supply for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn how REC is working to manage and upgrade the electric infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing communities. He explains that through the use of innovative technology, REC is planning for the future needs of businesses and residents. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with John Arp, Vice President of […]

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's new CEO, John Hewa. John explained the basics of the electric industry, REC's business model, REC's commitment to our local communities through a variety of ways and how they are working to be a community partner. For more information about Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, visit their website: https://myrec.coop/

We pre-recorded today’s conversation via Zoom with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s new CEO, John Hewa. John explained the basics of the electric industry, REC’s business model, REC’s […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn about their community grants and scholarships program. Casey explained how their scholarship program works, who can apply and what types of education can be obtained using them. She told us of the deadline to apply and reminded us that current college students can still submit an application. Click here for more information. Casey also told us about their community grants program, explained the different categories and talked about additional funding that's available for various situations. The deadline to apply for these grants is October 15, 2020. Click here for more information. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn about smart thermostats. Casey explained that heating and cooling can equal half of a consumer's electric bill and that you can get the most impact for lowering those costs by programming your thermostat. She walked us through some things to consider when choosing a smart thermostat for your home and compared the two most popular options: Nest & ecobee. The Nest Learning Thermostat (or Nest Thermostat) is a smart thermostat developed by Nest Labs. It is an electronic, programmable, and self-learning Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat that optimizes heating and cooling of homes and businesses to conserve energy. The device is based on a machine learning algorithm: for the first weeks users have to regulate the thermostat in order to provide the reference data set. The thermostat can then learn people's schedule, at which temperature they are used to and when. Using built-in sensors and phones' locations, it can shift into energy saving mode when it realizes nobody is at home. ecobee created the world's first smart thermostat, the ecobee Smart, in 2008. The thermostats incorporate a touchscreen and work with up to 32 remote temperature/occupancy sensors which can adjust the temperature based on where you are. The ecobee4 and ecobee Smart Thermostat also include Amazon Alexa support. All thermostats since the ecobee3 allow the user to set different schedules each day for various activities (called comfort settings). By default these include home, away, and sleep. The remote temperature/occupancy sensors can engage a Smart Away mode if no movement is detected or a Follow Me mode to selectively control the thermostat based on where people are within the home. All remote sensors which are designated as "participating" in a comfort setting take the average of their temperatures and use that as the building's "overall" temperature. Additionally, users can set convenient reminders for HVAC maintenance, furnace filter replacement, or UV Lamp replacement, as well as alerts for high/low temperature and high/low humidity. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/ REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn about potential scams that could affect member owners of REC. Casey explained: Bogus Bills: a scammer will send someone an email that appears to be from their utility company Smishing: (short for S M S fishing - text message phishing)  Scammers send a text message that might look legitimate in an attempt to get you to share personal information or click on a link Over-payment Trick: scammers will typically call and they'll claim that you have overpaid your bill, and then ask you to provide personal banking information so that the over-payment can be returned back to you Disconnection Deception: scammers will call or visit your home threatening disconnection unless you give them money immediately Casey reminded us: At this time, REC has suspended disconnections for non-payment. The Cooperative is not calling to demand payment on accounts that have fallen behind. REC does not use collection agencies to contact members by phone. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be an REC employee demanding immediate payment, report the suspicious activity to local law enforcement. If you are uncertain if a call/email/visit you received came from a legitimate REC representative please call REC directly at 1-800-552-3904 to confirm. In addition, share this important warning with neighbors, friends and family to help others avoid becoming victims of this scam. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn the details about their 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Elections happening virtually on August 19, 2020 at 7pm. She explained the logistics for participating in the meeting via live stream and/or phone as well as they many options available to submit your proxy designation. We talked about the importance of participating in the meeting/elections and Casey talked about how the directors serve the member-owners of the cooperative as a whole regardless of the region in which the member resides. She gave me the deadlines for submitting your proxy and told me about the various prizes that a member-owner qualifies for based on their timely submission. For more information about the annual meeting and election process, click here to visit their website.

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn about three easy DIY projects to save energy. Casey told us that it's the perfect time to tackle a few DIY energy efficiency projects for your home. The good news: You don't have to be an energy expert to do this! Here are three easy DIY projects you can do now to start saving. Make the Most of Your Water Heater. She started with one of the easiest projects: insulating your water heater. Insulating a water heater that's warm to the touch can save 7 -16% annually on your water heating bills. It should also be noted that if your water heater is new, it is likely already insulated. But if your water heater is warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation. Casey explained how to do that. Seal Air Leaks with Caulk. The average American family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much of that money is wasted through air leaks in the home. Applying caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. Casey explained the different types of caulking and walked us through the application process. Weather Strip Exterior Doors. One of the best ways to seal air leaks is to weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Weather stripping materials vary, but you can ask your local hardware or home store for assistance if you're unsure about the supplies you need. Casey walked us through the application process and gave us some tips for choosing the most effective material dependent on the door. Click here to visit Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's website for more energy saving tips. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and she surprised me with an Energy Efficiency Pop Quiz! I only missed one - but you can take it for yourself and see how you would score. For more fun ways to learn about energy efficiency - be sure you're following Rappahannock Electric Cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get a few suggestions about practicing electrical safety in our homes. May is National Electrical Safety Month so Casey talked us through a few things we can inspect, things we can modify, and things we should contact an electrician for in order to keep our homes safe electrical issues. You can find more electrical safety tips on their website by clicking here. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to learn about VA 811. Virginia 811 (VA811) is the not-for-profit organization created by Virginia's utilities to protect their underground facilities. You should ALWAYS call (or go online) before you dig. VA 811 was formerly known as "Miss Utilities." The process for having your property marked is quite simple and Casey walked us through it as well as gave us some insight into what the different colored markings represent, and why it's so important to call before you do any kind of digging. You can find more information about VA 811 on Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's website by clicking here. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today's episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get some tips for how to conserve energy while many of us are at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our conversation began with Casey explaining REC's announcement on March 16, 2020 that they will not disconnect members for nonpayment of electric service, nor will members incur late fees or other related fees as a result of nonpayment. She answered my questions about auto-pay payments, options to make a payment now that their lobbies are closed, and walked me through the various ways to set up payment arrangements now so a large bill isn't so overwhelming in a few months. Then, Casey gave several tips for how to conserve energy and ultimately save money on your electric bill while usage is higher than normal as everyone transitions to working from home and spending more time in our houses. Her tips included: changes in your laundry habits; suggestions for saving while using your dishwasher; using power strips to manage your "vampire" usage; controlling your thermostat; cooking outdoors on the grill; using REC's SmartHub to track and monitor your usage. For more energy saving tips, visit their Energy Center here: https://www.myrec.coop/res/save-energy/index.cfm REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We recorded today’s episode via Zoom with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get 14 energy saving tips that the average person might not know. Casey gave us advice for efficiently using many of our major appliances like dishwashers, dryers and furnace/air conditioners. She also talked gave us some energy saving tips about light bulbs, computers, air filters, programmable thermostats and the Instant Pot. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get a quick tutorial for setting up REC outage alerts via text message. Due to a recent system upgrade, if you signed up for REC outage alerts via text before March 2020, you will need to sign up for them again either on the website or via the SmartHub app on your mobile device. Be sure to have your account number handy. On the SmartHub mobile app: Log in. In the bottom right corner you'll see the option to click for more. Click settings. Click contact methods. Add your mobile number and/or email address. **You can also add in your spouse's mobile phone number or anyone's number that you'd like to be alerted in case of an outage at your home. Swipe the slider right for 'Receive Text Messages' and wait a second for a verification code. Enter your verification code. You're done and set up to receive outage alerts via text, and then you're all set. On the website: https://myrec.smarthub.coop/ Login to SmartHub. Under the notifications tab, choose 'Manage Contacts' Follow the instructions from above. Casey explained that REC will send an outage notification letting you know when a crew has been assigned to your outage; when a crew is on site; and, when your power is restored with the cause of the outage. When the crew arrives on site, they will typically provide you with an estimated restoration time as well. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative talking winter storm prep. Casey gave us several tips to make sure we're prepared for a power outage in the event of a winter storm. Her main tip was to have everything you need in one easy-to-access place so you don't have to scramble around. It doesn't really matter what you put your storm prep kit in, just make sure you've got all of these items in one location that you can easily access. The number one thing that REC recommends that you put in your storm prep kit is flashlights and fresh batteries. Have a good supply of bottled water. Typically for an outage situation that lasts multiple days is one gallon per person per day for drinking. And another thing related to water, if you live in a home that has well water, you shouldn't try to access your well water because your well pump isn't going to be working without power. So, fill up your bathtub(s) up if you know that a storm is coming and use that water to boil for cleaning, to flush the toilets, etc. Have nonperishable foods to eat that won't require heating. And, if it's a canned item, you want to make sure you have a non-electric hand-operated can opener. Have extra blankets or bedding. Have a first-aid kit with extra medications you may need. Have a variety of hand tools - no power tools. Have cash. In a power outage situation, you're not likely going to be able to use a debt or credit card. In addition to those items in your winter storm prep kit, Casey also recommends that if you have elderly relatives, make sure you have any items that they would need. If you have young children or babies in your home, make sure that you have extra, formula or any of the other supplies like diapers. For older children, make sure you have activities for them to do such as  board games or coloring. In the hours prior to a storm, plug in any of your electronic devices to ensure they have a full charge. If you have a landline phone, remember that cordless phones still require electricity, so add a traditional corded phone to your prep kit. For more information about how to properly be prepared during an outage, click here. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.   To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to talk about some energy saving tips for renters. A few of those included: Set the thermostat at 68 degrees, lower at night as needed. Make it a habit to change the air filters regularly. Open the drapes on sunny days to allow the sun to help add warmth to the home. Talk to your landlord about sealing any air leaks. Replace traditional light bulbs with LED's. They use far less electricity and last longer over time.   REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.   To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get a few tips for winter savings on your electric bill. Casey's tips included: Control Thermostat Settings: lowest comfortable temperature, but 68 degrees is recommended. Use a programmable thermostat to provide increased efficiency. Utilize the settings to adjust when you're away from home and overnight. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, avoid adjusting the temperature more than 2 degrees at a time. Change or clean air filters regularly. Have your system inspected annually. Seal air leaks in the home. Sealing air leaks in your home can help you save 10% to 20% on heating and cooling bills. Apply caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring and plumbing to seal in conditioned air. You should also weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Take advantage of the monitoring and usage tools available in their SmartHub app.   REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.   To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get five winter safety tips. Don't overload outlets. Never leave space heaters unattended. Inspect heating pads & electric blankets. Use portable generators safely. Check your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors regularly. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to get five tips to tame your electric bill. Set your heat to 68 degrees or lower. Seal your windows and your doors. Wrap your water heater in a blanket if it's in an unconditioned space. Avoid using a wood burning fireplace. If you have a crawl space, close the vents and seal the crawl space access door with weatherstripping. REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, VA, the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To hear more podcasts in the We Are REC podcast series, click here: https://theriver953.com/wearerec/  

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio with Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and […]

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. During our conversation today with Louis O'Berry, Energy Management Advisor for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, we discussed his personal energy saving practices (as well as those of other REC employees) in his own home. We tried to determine whether Louis actually walked the walk or simply talked the talk. Have a listen and decide for yourself. For more tips and information about energy savings & management, visit REC's website: https://www.myrec.coop/res/save-energy/index.cfm

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio for a conversation with Kris Sieber, Manager of Member Services, and Larry Andrews, Manager of Administrative Services & Controller for REC. We talked about Capital Credits: what they are, how they're used, and why they're important to the financial stability of the cooperative. Larry & Kris explained how members earn the credits and how they are re-distributed back to REC members. For more information about Capital Credits, visit REC's website: https://www.myrec.coop/share/member-benefits/capital-credits.cfm

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. We were in the studio for a conversation with Cindy Musick, Director of Vegetation Management for REC about their vegetation management program. We talked about how & why they schedule their maintenance; how it works & who the people are in the trucks and on the front lines for clearing right-of-ways. We discussed how many of those on her team are certified arborists and foresters; some strange things she's seen in her travels to member properties; and even learned about how members can acquire wood chips from their local maintenance crew. Cindy also told us about the wildlife aspect of her job that includes saving some trees for use as animal dens and nesting for raptors & eagles. They recently planted a pollinator garden at the Blue Ridge office in Front Royal and have since planted several more at other offices as well. For more information about the vegetation program, to "ask a forester a question," visit REC's website: https://www.myrec.coop/share/reliability/vegetation-management.cfm

We are REC – a podcast series produced in partnership with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. Our conversation today with Louis O'Berry, Energy Management Advisor for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative included some common energy misconceptions. We talked about fireplaces, dishwashers, attic fans, adding insulation and replacing windows; and, some misconceptions surrounding their use and saving energy. For more tips and information about energy savings & management, visit REC's website: https://www.myrec.coop/res/save-energy/index.cfm