If it lights up, heats up, makes a noise or smokes, we’ll fix it.
It's Tim Kulow’s mantra as Electrical System Engineering Foreman at Eastern Illini. It sums up his very technical position quite well. He works with substations, line regulators, capacitors, electrical breakers, load controls, solar inspections and a myriad of other equipment and electrical components. He spends his days trouble shooting, repairing, replacing, regulating and re-engineering, so member/owners always have safe reliable power.
Tim is a whiz at math and uses his abilities to solve the daily challenges of his job, whether it be finding a bad script in an embedded code, uncovering glitches in a recent installation, or hunting up meters that can interface with different connectors. He enjoys the variety of the projects he works on and finds satisfaction in solving problems and creating solutions that make a positive impact on providing electricity to Eastern Illini member/owners.
“Tim makes Eastern Illini a better place, says Shannon Deck, Member Care Representative at EIEC who works with Tim to resolve member/owner electrical issues. “Tim is just a wealth of knowledge and Eastern Illini and our members are very lucky to have him on staff.”
Tim’s first job as a teenager was working at the Standard Oil Station where he made $1.83 per hour. His first job at the co-op was as summer help in 1981. He went full-time in 1983 and now has 35 years of service. He’s had the job of Electrical System Engineering Foreman for the past 13 years.
Tim recalls that the first winter on the job for him was one he’ll never forget. Christmas Eve of 1983 saw – 80 degree wind chill, high winds, and blizzard conditions. The situation added up to all hands on deck to get power restored. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to be doing on Christmas Eve, but he stepped up along with others to restore power.
Tim reflects on other storms throughout his career and says that no matter what causes the outage, EIEC’s number one priority is taking care of member/owners. We work together. It’s a family-like atmosphere at Eastern Illini and he enjoys what he does and the people with whom he works.
Tim was born in a small farm town about 50 miles west of Springfield, named Arenzville. Arenzville and the 400 people who currently live there host an annual Burgoo Festival. Tim enjoys going to the Burgoo Festival not only for the stew but for the camaraderie. In 2018 it will be held September 7th and 8th.
Burgoo is a soup made from chicken, beef, and vegetables and cooked for several hours until the flavors have blended, and the ingredients have become a thick stew. Arenzville burgoo is cooked in iron kettles over a wood-burning fire to give it a special smoky flavor and according to Tim, it is the best Burgoo you’ll ever taste.
Tim owns a Harley Davidson motorcycle and he seizes every opportunity he can to experience the sense of freedom and adventure that comes from riding the back roads of America, stopping at hole-in-the-wall restaurants and spending time with good friends.
He’s been on several memorable trips including riding down the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This glorious 469-mile trek of scenic roadway is full of sweeping curves, steep hills and fast drops and runs from Virginia all the way to North Carolina.
He’s also traveled on the Trail of the Dragon, an eleven mile stretch of road on the
Tennessee and North Carolina state line, that boasts 318 white knuckle turns that add to the thrill of the ride.
Tim is a big fan of another Tim – that’s Tim Wilkerson, a drag racer with the National Hot Rod Association. Tim Kulow is drawn to the sound of the 8,000-horsepower engines, the smell of the nitro-methane fuel, and the 300 mph speed of the cars.
Anytime Tim gets a chance, you’ll find him at a track. It’s not surprising that Tim enjoys drag racing. His job at Eastern Illini requires noticing the subtleties, understanding the inner workings and paying attention to the details all of which are very similar to the math and mechanics used in auto racing to win.
In his spare time, Tim also enjoys snowmobiling. He finds snowmobiling relaxing as he travels through timber areas in northern Wisconsin, creating his own path and reaching places that are undiscovered or seldom visited.
Tim and his wife of 32 years, Ann, live in Paxton. They are very proud of their family: son, Austin, daughter-in-law, Danielle and daughter, Danielle.