Touchstone Energy Co-ops Reclaim Top Spot in Recent ACSI

Over the last few quarters, Touchstone Energy cooperatives have maintained a steady lead over the electric utility industry average of 72 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). While one utility (typically Southern Company) generally has held a one-point edge over Touchstone Energy cooperatives in overall satisfaction, that has changed in the combined Q1-Q2 ACSI. Touchtone Energy co-ops' aggregate score increased to an 81, tying Southern Company and PPL Corp. as tops in the industry.

In the "perceived value" section of the survey, Touchstone Energy co-ops hold the top spot, as well, with a 78. The industry average was 67 for Q1-Q2 2004. In the "customer loyalty section," Touchstone Energy cooperatives improved a significant three percentage points, obtaining an 80 and the top spot in that component of the survey.

Miss the Co-op Connections Web Conference? See it Online Now!

More members logged on for the July Co-op Connections Web conference than for any previous Touchstone Energy Web conference. So with that type of interest, it's important that those who could not attend the live version have an opportunity to get all of the valuable information the event offered. Therefore, the Co-op Connections Web conference is available for all to see.  Of the more than 100 Web conference participants, nearly 90 percent said they were likely to launch Co-op Connections at their co-ops, according to a survey of participants.

Simply click the following link, Co-op Connections, then type in your e-mail address.  Hit the continue button and key in your name and state.  After that, the show starts with slides and commentary from Touchstone Energy's Charlie Gloeckner, Crow Wing Power's Char Kinzer, Clark County REMC's Denise Adams and East Kentucky Power's Jerry McDonald.  The archive expires on Sept. 14, so take advantage of this resource now!

In addition to the archive, the Web conference is available on CD by contacting Marie Jepson at marie.jepson@nreca.coop or 703.907.5627.

National Companies Want to Offer Co-op Connections Discounts
Touchstone Energy national staff is in final negotiations with a number of businesses seeking to offer discounts to Co-op Connections cardholders. Businesses include:
- Alamo and National rental car companies
- Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Econolodge, and MainStay Suites
- Discovery Channel

For more information, contact Charlie Gloeckner at charlie.gloeckner@nreca.coop or 703.907.5589.

Mark Your Calendar Now for NET2005

Save the date!

The 2005 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives New & Emerging Technologies Conference (NET) takes place Jan. 19-21, 2005, at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Fla. As in the past, the NET conference offers the latest on emerging technologies and trends important to electric co-ops and their business customers. A pre-conference workshop for co-op staff responsible for managing key accounts takes place at the resort Jan. 18.

NET2005 makes it easy for co-op officials to:
- Meet face-to-face with energy decision-makers and hear what they want from their electric utilities
- Learn the latest on technologies revolutionizing how co-ops and their customers do business
- Obtain new ideas, tools and applications at the pre-conference Key Accounts Summit that can be used to build stronger ties to your best customers
- Rub shoulders with national energy managers, your peers, industry leaders and experts that attend NET every year.

The NET Conference has plenty to offer to a range of cooperative audiences, including CEOs/general managers, marketing personnel, business development officials, key accounts managers, and economic development professionals.

For more information on NET2005, contact Kathryn Momot at 703.907.5707 or at kathryn.momot@nreca.coop.

Available Sites and Buildings? Market Them on SitesAcrossAmerica.com

As SitesAcrossAmerica.com nears its September launch, Touchstone Energy continues to seek information on sites and buildings in co-op communities. SitesAcrossAmerica.com, a Web-based tool that helps electric co-ops draw commercial and industrial customers to the communities they serve, is targeted at real estate and site selection professionals who make the decisions about where companies locate. The SitesAcrossAmerica.com Web site will make it easy for co-ops to get their community's sites and locations noticed by expanding businesses.

If you have sites to add to www.SitesAcrossAmerica.com, e-mail Kristine Jackson at kristine.jackson@nreca.coop for a data submission form.

Touchstone Energy Images Available Online

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives' online communications kit has been updated to include the 2004 image portfolio and sample ads. These resources can be downloaded from the co-ops only section of the Touchstone Energy Web site. 

All of the new 129 images are royalty-free for Touchstone Energy co-ops to use in their advertising and communications campaigns.  The 13 new print ads with corresponding copy can be customized to suit your local co-op's needs. Touchstone Energy co-ops should have received four CDs last week with the images, sample ads and new radio spots. 

The new items are located on the Cooperatives Only section of www.touchstoneenergy.coop. Simply click the Online Communications Kit button and follow the Print/Outdoors link to access all of the new images and ads.

For more information, contact Cynthia Henthorn at cynthia.henthorn@nreca.coop.

United Power Hosts Touchstone Energy Night at the Races

Brand building can occur at top-rate speeds and United Power in Brighton, Colo., is winning in that department. The co-op hosted the Touchstone Energy 150, part of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series, on Aug. 16. The event featured a premier NASCAR event along with Pro Trucks, Figure 8s and the always-exciting Trains. As a major sponsor, United Power offered $3 off adult admission for the Aug. 16 races via coupons included in the co-op's newsletter.

Brand Manager Tip of the Month

Many events around the country call for the local electric co-op to participate in a parade. Often these events can sneak up and leave little time to come up with something that effectively tells event attendees who you are. Zac Perkins, marketing & safety coordinator at Swisher Electric Cooperative in Tulia, Texas, knows this too well. Only four days before the Swisher County Picnic Parade, he was tasked with creating a co-branded float. Teaming up with 11 fellow employees, Perkins was able to create a float (see photo below) and take advantage of an opportunity to promote the Swisher Electric and Touchstone Energy logos in front of the co-op's members. Maybe a float would be a great way for your co-op to build the brand.

Iowa Co-ops' Golf Event Raises Dollars for Kids' Health Care

Golfers participating in the fifth annual Touchstone Energy Midwest Golf Invitational raised more than $26,000 for the Children's Miracle Network. Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO), headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, and its member cooperatives, along with staff from St. Luke's Health Foundation, coordinated the event at the Sioux City Country Club July 19.

Through this event, the electric cooperatives - all affiliated with Touchstone Energy - partnered with 19 local, regional and national businesses to show their commitment to community by raising money for a regional charity. Children's Miracle Network, sponsored by the St. Luke's Health Foundation, has received more than $94,000 since the event began. The total raised for charities, including Children's Miracle Network, over the event's five-year history surpasses $107,000.

Web Sites That Wow

The Web Sites That Wow monthly feature is intended to demonstrate how a Touchstone Energy cooperative effectively uses its Web site in its brand-building efforts. This month's site belongs to Coastal Electric Cooperative (http://www.coastalemc.com), which uses the Touchstone Energy brand images on its site.

Flying High in 2004--Touchstone Energy Balloon Program

One of the most effective and eye-catching ways to promote the brand at cooperative events is to feature one of the Touchstone Energy balloons. Whether using a hot-air balloon for an evening glow or mounting a cold-air balloon on a parade float, the balloons attract ample attention. If interested in renting one of the balloons for a special event, or if you would like to send out the 2005 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives balloon calendar to members and employees, contact Cooperative Balloon Associates at 877.545.8994 or gm@cbaballoon.com.

Orange County REMC Brings Harmony to Orleans

As a Touchstone Energy cooperative, Orange County REMC has a long history of being committed to the communities it serves. That's music to the ears of Orleans, Ind., area residents.

For the past four years, the Orleans Chamber of Commerce has hosted the "Orleans Concert in the Park" series to bring musical and other events to downtown Orleans and its more than 2000 residents. Orange County REMC is sponsoring the 2004 series of free performances by musical groups with styles ranging from classical to bluegrass to big band music.
 
Orange County REMC General Manager Dan Arnold said he became interested in a Touchstone Energy Cooperative sponsorship for the concert series when he learned the Chamber of Commerce lacked the necessary funds.

"The series always draws large crowds, and it's a great way to bring the people of Orleans together for a fun event," he said. "The Chamber of Commerce organized the series, but they were short on funds so we decided to step in and help out. As a consumer-owned cooperative, creating a sense of community togetherness is important, and this was a perfect way for the REMC to contribute."

North Carolina Co-ops Send Kids to Basketball Camp

North Carolina's Touchstone Energy cooperatives in June sent 33 young women in sixth through eighth grades to the Kay Yow basketball camp in Raleigh, N.C. Campers earned Touchstone Energy scholarships to the camp based on academic performance, extra-curricular participation and an essay that accompanied their applications. The scholarships provided young women from rural North Carolina the opportunity to attend one of the most highly regarded basketball camps in the nation.

Yow, a Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame coach, and her staff worked with each camper to develop fundamental life and athletic skills applicable on and off the basketball court. These skills are consistent with the Touchstone Energy core values of accountability, integrity, innovation and commitment to community because of their emphasis on personal challenges, teamwork and effective communication.

Campers were awarded Touchstone Energy gym bags, T-shirts, water bottles and photos taken with Coach Yow.

Quotable Quotes

"A few years back, we just wanted to be mentioned in the same breath with the state's IOUs. Now, we are. The media refers to the state's three largest utilities - Duke, Progress Energy and North Carolina's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives."

- Jane Pritchard, director of corporate communications, North Carolina's EMCs

Editor, Marty Haught
marty.haught@nreca.coop
703-907-5986