BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Co

Co-op News
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Saturday, May 21 | Mansfield Park | Highway 16 North | Bandera, Texas
will receive a secured ballot with a unique identifier that allows
the member one vote. After you vote, you will receive an email
confirmation.
“GET CONNECTED” AT THE BANDERA EC 77TH
Voting will close at 11 a.m., May 20. The election results will be
Annual Meeting Saturday, May 21, at Mansfield
presented the next day at the annual meeting. You will still be given
Park, 2.5 miles northwest of Bandera. This year, Bandera Electric
the opportunity to designate a proxy who will be able to vote at the
Cooperative will be making a special announcement that will put
meeting.
Bandera “on the map” nationwide.
This year, the meeting is about getting
Our cooperative was built on the principles
connected. Connected to high-speed Internet
Bandera EC will be making a and access to broadband data services through
of democracy; all members have a vote and are
special announcement that a pilot program in the city of Bandera. A vast
encouraged to participate in the process. The
annual meeting is the forum for your vote to
will put Bandera, Texas “on majority of Bandera EC’s members have few
be counted, voice to be heard and questions
or no viable options for broadband Internet
the map” nationwide.
answered.
access.
This year, director positions for Districts 7,
Reliable, high-speed broadband service
8 and 9 are up for election, and there will be some improvements
is about more than just surfing the Internet, it is about access to
to the voting process. In years past, the process included publishing
streaming video services, video security, home automation while
a ballot in Texas Co-op Power to be mailed in or brought to the
reducing the data usage on your cellular plan, just to name a few
meeting or by designated proxy. This process resulted in a poor
of the benefits. Broadband allows you to work from home or Skype
response, and less than 3 percent of eligible voters participated.
with relatives, keeping families connected.
This year, Bandera EC is revamping the voting process, and the
It is no longer considered a luxury. It is now considered a basic
co-op retained an outside firm to bring more independence and
utility and will only increase in value. I suspect that better access
transparency to the democratic process. The company, Survey Ballot
to broadband will improve economic conditions for our members
Systems, will handle ballot distribution and collection, as well as
through higher property values and an increased presence of related
tallying and reporting results outside of the Bandera EC service area.
businesses to support the service.
You should receive your ballot and a bio of each of the
Be sure to attend the meeting and “Get Connected.” I believe
candidates about April 27, and you will have the opportunity to
that this year’s annual meeting will be a unique and memorable
vote by mail, phone or online. To accomplish this, each member
experience, and I look forward to seeing you all there.
20 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC March 2016
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 20
BanderaElectric.com
2/9/2016 10:57:26 AM
BEC | MI CH ELL E P RES TON
MESSAGE FROM
CEO BILL HETHERINGTON
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Bandera Electric
Cooperative, Inc.
Take advantage of springtime
Harness Nice
Weather
E LE NA E LI S S E E VA | I S T OCK | T H I NKS T OCK
SPRING IS FINALLY HERE, with sunny
days and warmer temperatures. Open the
windows!
When it’s comfortable enough to go
outside without a coat, turn off your
furnace and invite in the fresh air and
sunshine. You’ll give your house a muchneeded post winter airing-out and save
on energy bills with these tips:
Turn on ceiling fans. Most fans have
a switch that changes the direction of
the blades. Set it so that fans spin in a
counterclockwise direction, pushing air
down. In winter, fans should pull air up.
But in the spring, you want to feel the
“wind” that the blades create.
Open the curtains. The sunshine
will warm up the house and brighten it
enough that you might not need your
electric lights during the day. (Once
3172 Highway 16 N. • P.O. Box 667
Bandera, TX 78003
Open the curtains and let the sun take care of
the spring chill.
outdoor weather turns hot, keep the
drapes closed during the day. Inviting
too much heat into a room will force your
air conditioner to work harder, which is
counterproductive.)
Wash after dark. Washing machines
and dishwashers produce heat while
they’re running, so if you run them after
sundown on warm spring days, they’ll help
keep your house comfortable after dark.
That could mean you won’t have to turn
the heater back on if the temperatures
drop a little bit in the evening.
1-866-226-3372 (1-866-BANDERA)
BanderaElectric.com
Operating in Bandera, Bexar, Kendall,
Kerr, Medina, Real and Uvalde counties
CE O
William “Bill” Hetherington
BO A RD O F D IRE CTO RS
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Jerry N. Word Sr.
Lee Kneupper
Douglas “Rob” Sandidge
Jeremy Diller
Jerry S. Pierce
Richard “Dick” Earnest
Zeda Alvarado
MIchael D.T. Edwards
Kurt Solis
OFFICES
BEC Headquarters
3172 Highway 16 N., Bandera
Comfort Office
739 Front St. (Highway 27), Comfort
Leakey Office
485 W. Ranch Road 337, Leakey
MEMBER BENEFITS
• Paperless billing
• Online bill payments
• Online outage map
• Follow Us!
Twitter:
@BanderaElectric
Facebook: BanderaElectric
Instagram: BanderaElectric
Pinterest:
BanderaElectric
• Co-op Connections discount card
• Heat pump rebates
PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
BEC | MI CH EL LE PR EST ON
Bandera EC Lineman Austin Allen demonstrates
the safety gear that he wears while climbing
utility poles during a visit to Kendall Elementary
in Boerne. Allen recently paid a visit to fifthgrade classes as a part of their electricity
modules. The children learned how to compare
the energy usage at school versus at home and
how to conserve energy in both places.
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 21
• Online bill pay
• Bank draft
• Automatic credit card payment
• Level billing
• Visa, Discover and MasterCard
accepted
• ECheck payment by phone or online
• Cash or check payment in our offices
• Payments accepted at Fidelity Express
locations
• PrePay Program
• Time-Based Usage Plan
March 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
21
2/9/2016 10:57:29 AM
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
This is an opportunity for all
members to participate in
the cooperative democratic
process ...
BY RUBY HINOJOSA
BEC Public Relations Specialist
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
HHL T DA V E5 | I S T O C K .C O M
Sweet Potato
Cornbread
2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1½ cups milk
1 cup cooked mashed sweet potato
¼ cup butter, melted
1 large egg, beaten
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Grease an 8-inch cast-iron skillet or
8-inch-square baking pan.
2. Combine all ingredients, whisking
together just until dry ingredients
are moistened. Spoon batter into
skillet or pan.
3. Bake 20–25 minutes or until a
wooden pick inserted in center
comes out clean.
Find this and more delicious recipes online at
TEXASCOOPPOWER.COM
22 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC March 2016
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 22
is preparing for the 2016 Annual
Membership Meeting, Saturday, May
21, in Bandera. This year, in conjunction
with the annual meeting, Bandera EC
will host an energy fair. The energy
fair will provide cooperative members
an opportunity to learn more about
renewable energy and energy-efficiency
technologies. As a member-owner of BEC, each
person receiving service is invited to
take an active part in the business of
the cooperative by attending the annual
meeting. We always look forward to
seeing our members of the cooperative
community. Each year, the CEO and
board president present the annual report
and future plans of the cooperative. This
event is not only a chance to visit with
members, but it’s also a great opportunity
to learn about programs offered at BEC.
This year, Bandera EC will be
conducting the board of director elections
by mail, email and phone for the election
of directors from Districts 7, 8 and 9.
This is an opportunity for all members to
participate in the cooperative democratic
process and participate in our board
elections. Our board of directors are
members of our community, and they
are concerned about the issues you face
every day because they face them too. The
strength of our cooperative comes from
our members.
BE C | RUBY H I NOJOS A
Join us at the 77th Annual Meeting and Energy Fair
Bandera EC mission is to improve
the quality of life for our members, and
if possible, help them save a little money
along the way. One way we can do this
is through our energy conservation fair,
which is free and open to everyone in the
community. During the fair, we work
with vendors to provide information
and resources about energy and water
conservation, health and safety and
greener living. Members can learn more
about BEC’s sustainability efforts and
how to reduce utility costs at home. The
fair will feature energy conservation
consultants, contractors and suppliers
who will be provide firsthand information
about energy audits, winterization
strategies, energy-efficient home
improvements, and renewable energy
options and financing. This year, the annual meeting and
energy fair will foster an environment
for members to seek information,
services and products that encourage
energy efficiency, conservation and
sustainability all under one roof. Bandera
EC is dedicated to providing you with safe,
reliable and affordable electric service, but
we encourage you to take part in helping
us improve how we deliver that service.
The annual meeting makes it possible
for us to gather feedback from you by
providing a forum where you can let us
know how to better serve you and your
family. Mark your calendars, and we’ll
see you Saturday, May 21 at Mansfield
Park in Bandera.
BanderaElectric.com
2/9/2016 10:57:31 AM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Shift to off-peak electric usage and save! With TBU rates, electric
charges vary based on the time of day and season that energy is
DAYLIGHT
SAVING TIME
used. This voluntary program gives members the power to
reduce their energy bill while also helping BEC reduce overall
electricity demand.
Average December
2015 savings over
AN YAIV AN OV A | IS TOCK. COM
BEGINS AT 2 A.M.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13.
REMEMBER TO SET YOUR
CLOCKS AN HOUR AHEAD.
15.6 Percent
standard rate.
9 Percent
Eco:
$0.048000*
Normal: $0.059200*
Peak:
$0.070700*
Average 2015
yearly savings over
standard rate.
Standard Rate:
$0.067075 per kWh
Oct - May:
TBU rates are lower than the
standard per kWh charge 22
hours per day
Eco:
$0.045200*
Normal: $0.064200*
Peak:
$0.109000*
*per kilowatt hour
Want to
Know
More?
June - Sept:
TBU rates are lower than the
standard per kWh charge 20
hours per day
Make TBU work for you!
BANDERA EC
WISHES YOU AND YOUR
LOVED ONES A BLESSED
Reduce your energy bill by shifting energy
usage from
on-peak to off-peak hours.
Online
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 23
BEC | AMY ZIN K
Member Services:
866.226.3372
EASTER
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
DU CKYCARDS | IS TOCK. COM
March 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
23
2/9/2016 10:57:33 AM
Saturday, March 19, 2016
7:30-8:15 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
Registration and packet pickup
Walk/run begins
Entry Fees:
$30 Early registration until February 28
$35 February 29 and after
$40 Race Day
Group pricing*: $25 per person for teams of four or more
*If you are registering as a group, you must submit the forms together.
Committed to the Communities We Serve:
The Cooperative Difference
Proceeds of your registration will benefit these four charitable
organizations that operate within our service territory:
Blessings in a Backpack
Castle Lake Ranch VFD
Hill County Mission for Health
Arthur Nagel Community Clinic
The event is held at the city park in Bandera.
Directions, information and online registration are available at
BanderaElectric.com/CommunityInvolvement.
The top participants in the following categories will be announced on AthleteGuild.com
11-17 * 18-24 * 25-34 * 35-44 * 45-54 * 55-64 * 65 and up
INFORMED CONSENT: WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT
I, the undersigned participant in the Annual Cowboy Capital Stampede 5K/10K
and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and owners from
Run/Walk (the “event”), hereby affirm that I am in good physical condition and do
any and all claims, liabilities, losses, cost and damages (including attorneys' fees and
not suffer from any disability or medical condition which could endanger me
costs) arising from or related to my participation in the event, including from any
while participating in the event.
injuries, however caused and whether occurring during or after my participation in
I am fully aware and thoroughly informed of the hazards of my participation in
the event (which include without limitation heart attacks, muscle strains, pulls or
the event.
I also do hereby grant BEC permission to use the images of myself and/or my
tears, broken bones, shin splints, heat exhaustion or prostration, and knee, back
child(ren) which may be taken during the event. Such includes the display,
or foot injuries) and I hereby expressly, voluntarily and willingly assume all risk
distribution, publications, transmission or otherwise use of photographs, images
and dangers associated with my participation in the event.
and/or video for use in materials that include, but may not be limited to, printed
I acknowledge that as of the date of the event that I am at least 18 years of age
or have a guardian.
materials such as brochures and newsletters, news releases, video and digital images
such as those on BanderaElectric.com.
In full awareness of the above, I, on behalf of myself, my successors, heirs,
representatives, administrators and assigns, hereby agree to release, hold
I hereby affirm that I have read this waiver and release and fully understand the
terms used in it and their legal significance.
harmless and indemnify Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc., the City of Bandera
Name
Birth Date (month/day/year)
Age
Address
Email
Phone
Gender:
Female
Male Race Option:
Signature
5K
10K
T-Shirt Adult Size:
S
M
L
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 24
2XL
Guardian Signature (If participant is under 18)
Submit entry fee and form. Make checks payable to Bandera Electric Cooperative with 5K/10K noted in the memo line.
Mail forms to Bandera Electric Cooperative, Attn: Cowboy Capital Stampede, P.O. Box 667, Bandera, TX 78003.
24 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC March 2016
XL
Revised: 02/2016
BanderaElectric.com
2/9/2016 10:57:33 AM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
BY TONY TUCCI
BEC Writer
from
es and
ny
on in
y
es
ed
mages
d the
XL
: 02/2016
WHEN ELIZABETH LOPEZ ENTERED
the hospital laundry room in Uganda,
she couldn’t believe her eyes or ears.
There were no washing machines with
the sloshing sound of water and no
electric dryers humming and spinning.
Elizabeth, a medical student from Boerne,
who was doing a six-week study at the
Karoli Lwanga Nyikibale Hospital, saw
two wood-burning stoves that supplied
boiling water to large tubs where all the
hospital’s laundry is done by hand.
“There were tons of linens, and they
all had to be air-dried and ironed. It was
a surprise to me,” said Elizabeth, who is
back in the U.S. now and finishing her
internship at the University of Texas
Medical Branch in Galveston. “But, they
said it’s open to the air, so the germs
can’t collect there as much.”
Elizabeth said she was sent to Uganda
to study the hospital’s facilities. The
African Mission Healthcare Foundation
had recently provided funds for some
renovations, which she found had
“dramatically changed” conditions at the
162-bed hospital, which serves 1 million
people in Western Uganda.
“Many more people were recovering
from surgery,” she said. “I started to
understand the struggle they faced.” This
was especially true in the laundry, which
had to cope with the weather, a real
hardship during the rainy season.
She decided to do something about it.
The hospital owner, Dr. J.C. Luyimbaazi,
agreed that a modern laundry was a
top priority and said it would cost about
$13,000. Elizabeth’s father, Mike Lopez,
said he learned about conditions at the
laundry by reading his daughter’s blog.
“I said we have to do something. This
has to change,”he said. It was just before
Christmas 2014, and the Lopez family,
which includes five children, decided to
pool their Christmas money and donate
it to the hospital. “I talked to friends and
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 25
organizations I knew, like scouting,” said
Mike, a Bandera EC member.
One group he reached out to was
the Knights of Columbus at St. Peter’s
Catholic Church in Boerne, where he
attends services. The Knights sent an
appeal for help to its members. The
organization had helped Mike’s daughter
with a scholarship a few years earlier. “It
took a while, but we raised $6,000,” Mike
said.
His daughter was uncertain about how
to raise the rest of the money. Then she
contacted the African Mission Healthcare
Foundation.
The foundation had already provided
funds for hospital improvements—work
that resulted in improved services and
fewer infections. According to the
foundation “The laundry facility is old
and unhygienic.”
“The increased surgical volume means
more soiled linen, but the hospital lacks
the proper space to clean and process
the dirty laundry.”
The foundation joined with Elizabeth
to set up a website, and the remaining
$7,000 was raised. Anyone who would
like to donate additional funds can
send a check to AMHF, P.O. Box 2783,
Westerville, Ohio 43086.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth is completing
her education in Galveston, and will
become a doctor in May 2017. When
asked if she has plans to return to
Uganda, she exclaimed “I would love
to!” She would like to go back, visit the
hospital laundry and hear the sloshing
sound of washing machines and the hum
of electric dryers.
Above: Elizabeth Lopez
Right: A hospital worker at the Karoll
Lwanga Nykllbale hospital in Uganda
washed and dried all of the hospital’s
sheets by hand before the completion
of the new laundry facility.
ELIZ ABETH LOPEZ
ether.
Elizabeth’s Mission
March 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
25
2/9/2016 10:57:34 AM
BE C | RUBY H I NOJ OS A
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
BY TONY TUCCI
BEC Writer
or spicy, and that’s why the pickle is
fickle. That’s also why it’s such a success.
Growing from being offered in a single
store on the historic Hill Country Mile in
Boerne, the pickles are now available in
Bandera and Gruene.
“I named it,” said Lisa Obriotti, owner
of Fickle Pickles, and it fits. This pickle,
with its sweet-spicy taste, is different, no
doubt about it. “The name makes sense
because of the pickle’s unique flavor,”
Obriotti said.
It all started 33 years ago when
Obriotti’s mother, Billie A. Shaw, decided
to bring a few jars of her homemade
pickles to her Carousel Antiques store.
She had a special recipe that produced
a sweet and spicy pickle. The recipe is
a closely guarded secret, although the
ingredients are listed on the label.
Customers snapped up the pickles,
and asked for more. Soon, the store was
selling more pickles than antiques, and
Shaw became known as “The Pickle
Lady.” The name of the store was changed
to “Carousel Antiques & Fickle Pickles.”
The Pickle Lady was a fixture in
Boerne for many years. She retired in
2000, and her daughter, Obriotti, and
her husband, Jake Obriotti, took over
operation. The pickles’ fame spread. Jars
of the pickles were being shipped all over
the country and as far away as Japan and
Finland. “People order it by the case,”
Obriotti said.
Opened in 2014, the Bandera store
at 3,000 square feet is by far the largest.
“We’re still selling as much as we
can produce,” Obriotti said. Besides
the pickles’ popularity as a garnish,
customers report using the pickle juice
to marinate meats and add to egg, potato
and other salads.
26 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC March 2016
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 26
BE C | TON Y TU CCI
FANS CAN’T DECIDE IF IT’S MORE SWEET
Lisa Obriotti, owner of the Fickle Pickles, holds a jar of her pickles in Boerne, Texas.
The reputation of this pickle continues
to grow, spread mostly by word-of-mouth.
There has been very little advertising. A
big bowl of pickles sits prominently near
the entrance of the Boerne store, and
Obriotti greets everyone who comes in
the door. “Welcome to Fickle Pickles,”
she says. “Please sample our product,
fick·le [fik-uh l] adj: not firm
or steadfast in disposition or
character: inconstant
handmade for 33 years with my mother’s
recipe.”
Obriotti said, 99 percent of the people
take a sample, and once they get a taste,
they buy some and keep coming back for
more. “Whether they buy or not, I want
them to taste some,” she said.
The pickles come in four sizes: 8
ounces for $5.95, 16 ounces for $9.95,
26 ounces for $13.95 and 32 ounces for
$19.95.
All three stores carry antiques, but
they are not part of the pickle business.
“We lease the space to antiques dealers,”
said Obriotti. The antiques draw people
indoors, where they are introduced to the
Fickle Pickles.
Despite the company’s growth, Fickle
Pickles remains a small family business,
Obriotti said. “We have a home in the
Hill Country and can reach our stores
in 30 minutes or less.” The pickles are
processed in a commercial kitchen
nearby. With family pride, the Obriottis
and a few employees slice the pickles, jar
them, affix the labels and deliver them to
their destinations.
While most of the business is from
walk-in customers, the company will
take telephone orders. Last October they
added a website, FicklePickles.com, for
customers who need their Fickle Pickle
fix but just can’t make it to the Texas Hill
Country to pick up a jar.
BanderaElectric.com
2/9/2016 10:57:39 AM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Outage mapping
technology
is helping
cooperatives and
their members
better manage
power outages.
Outage Maps Keep You Informed
COOPERATIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY use a powerful tool
to aid power restoration and keep you informed during an
outage. Outage maps are just what they sound like: a graphical
representation of a power outage displayed on a map of your
electric co-op’s service area.
The typical map shows where the outage is and, depending
upon the system’s capability, includes information such as the
number of members without power, locations of crews (or their
estimated time of arrival) and expected time of restoration.
Behind the map is a sophisticated system that provides
the data needed to populate the graphic. This technology is
considered to be part of the smart grid because it improves
control, reduces outage length, increases reliability and
provides information to employees, co-op members and the
public.
Maintaining an accurate outage map starts with devices on
the co-op’s lines that can report their status to the cooperative,
meaning that they can report whether there is power at the
meter. This data flows back over the power lines to a computer
at the co-op. There it is analyzed, and the results are presented
to the engineering and operations team for action.
Here’s an example: Something causes a fault in the lines
that blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker. The cause could
be a gust of wind dropping a branch on a line; a furry critter
deciding the brush around the transformer looks like dinner;
or a car hitting a utility pole. Regardless of the cause, the
power is now out for a number of members.
The piece of equipment nearest the fault signals that it
cannot see anything down the line—or that it has “tripped.”
A program now runs to determine the extent of the outage. It
collects information from other devices to determine where
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaCE_March 2016 EDITS.indd 27
the flow of power stops. Once it has completed its detective
work, the system generates a map showing the extent of the
outage. (When the need arises, co-op employees can operate
the program rather than waiting for the computer.)
Because of the power of the information contained in these
maps, co-ops are making them available via the Internet.
Members can consult the map online rather than waiting in
a telephone queue to learn about their power outage from a
member service representative. They can check to see if the
co-op knows whether their power is out, and when the co-op
expects it to be restored—all with the click of a button!
Many people have asked how they can access the Internet
if their power is out. There are a couple of ways to do this. The
first is via a smartphone or cell-enabled tablet. Another is to
ask a friend or family member who has power to check for you.
Or head to a place with power and computers, such as a library
or Internet café. There are many ways you can access crucial
information during an outage and keep yourself informed on
the status of your service.
Knowledge is power, and when it comes to outages,
knowledge is also a comfort because it can tell you when the
lights (and the heat, and the TV) are likely to come back on.
With this knowledge, you can take the steps necessary to protect
your family and your property. Outage maps are a great example
of how co-ops work to keep members informed about their
service.
Bandera Electric Cooperative provides outage information
as part of our ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality of
service at the lowest possible cost. Visit BanderaElectric.com
for more information. This is just another benefit of being a
co-op member.
March 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
27
2/9/2016 10:57:39 AM