May 2012 - Pedernales Electric Cooperative

Pedernales Electric Cooperative
WWW.PEC.COOP • POWER INTERRUPTIONS: 1-888-883-3379
PEC members have
a voice and a vote
Meet the
candidates
To help you become more
familiar with this year’s Board
candidates, the Co-op is hosting
five “meet the candidates”
events throughout May and
June where candidates
can present their views
and credentials. Candidate
information is available online.
Members may vote for three director
positions, proposed Articles of
Incorporation amendments
Our Cooperative is rooted in
democratic member control, and as
a member, you play an important
role in selecting Board directors who
help guide the Co-op. Beginning this
month, member voting opens for
candidate positions on our Board
of Directors in districts 1, 6 and 7.
Our Board provides leadership and
oversight on behalf of the entire
membership.
Official election ballots and
candidate biographies will be mailed
by May 9, so you should receive your
election packet soon. An independent
election services company will
distribute, receive and tabulate all PEC
election ballots.
There are several convenient ways to
participate in the Co-op’s election:
• Mail in your ballot by June 15.
• Vote online May 9 to June 15.
• Vote in person at the PEC Annual Meeting June 23 in Kyle.
Also on the ballot: Articles of
Incorporation amendments
The Board also is seeking members’
votes regarding proposed amendments
to our Articles of Incorporation.
Article VIII, Section 1 requires PEC
to set aside funds each year in a reserve
to pay any interest and principle that
may be owed during the next year. This
reserve is to be set aside after PEC pays
all costs — including principle and
interest on borrowed funds.
Because PEC already pays all owed
interest and principal each year, our
Board and management propose
eliminating the Article VIII, Section 1
mandate and adding the payment of
interest and principle as an allowable
use of the general reserve required by
Section 2. This would give PEC the
flexability to use extra funds to pay
back or avoid debt, distribute member
capital credits, or to use toward other
necessary Co-op expenses.
May 3: PEC headquarters,
5:30 p.m.
May 15: Kyle office, 5:30 p.m.
May 16: Bertram office,
5:30 p.m.
June 5: Marble Falls office,
5:30 p.m.
June 6: Canyon Lake office,
5:30 p.m.
Maps and directions to our
offices can be found online at
www.pec.coop.
For complete coverage of
the 2012 Board election, visit
us online at www.pec.coop/
election.
We’ll see you at the PEC Annual Meeting!
Join us Saturday, June 23, for our annual meeting!
Doors open, registration and voting begins at
8 a.m. The business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.,
with registration and voting ending at 11 a.m.
There will be a number of family-friendly activities
and conservation demonstrations. There will even be
health screenings from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.
It’s a meeting you won’t want to miss. We hope to
see you there!
PEC Annual Meeting
Hays CISD Performing Arts Center
979 Kohler’s Krossing
Kyle, Texas
May 2012 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC TEXAS CO-OP POWER
17
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
WWW.PEC.COOP • POWER INTERRUPTIONS: 1-888-883-3379
Safety
First
Safety is part of the culture at Pedernales Electric. PEC prepares employees for a multitude of emergency
situations with training that includes pole safety, CPR, first aid and electric safety.
Employee training benefits Co-op, members, public
At PEC, we are committed to safety.
We take great effort to ensure reliable
electric service is delivered as safely
as possible, and we are proud to
support organizations that provide
critical emergency support to our
communities.
But at our Co-op, the safety efforts
don’t end there.
PEC believes in comprehensive
employee safety training, which helps
prepare staff for emergency situations
they may face in the office and out
in the field.
“The most important aspect of our
safety efforts and training is protecting
18
our people,” the Co-op’s Safety
Manager Ben Morrow said. “Our goal
is to protect our staff and equipment,
and as a result, protect our members.”
Our staff attends quarterly training
sessions on a variety of topics, which
are taught by the Co-op’s five safety
instructors. Last year, around 600
employees completed defensive driving
courses and CPR training.
PEC employees are encouraged
to use their workplace training —
including regular first aid, CPR and
electrical safety knowledge — in
emergencies on and off the job. In
fact, employees driving PEC vehicles
T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R P E D E R N A L E S E L E C T R I C M a y 2 0 1 2 are instructed to stop when they come
upon an accident, help individuals and
render aid until emergency personnel
arrive. Many employees stop and help
even when they aren’t in company
vehicles.
“I can’t tell you how many phone
calls I’ve gotten from employees
recounting stories of how and when
they’ve used their training,” said Mary
Lou Hale, a safety representative who
has been with the Co-op more than
30 years. “At PEC, helping each other
and helping our members is just what
we do. And we are proud to do it.”
Power of Community
Employees share
when training
helped others
Leslie West
Member Services Coordinator
While exiting her neighborhood,
West was the first at the scene of a
car accident involving a woman and
her young daughter.
“She had already pulled her
daughter out of the car, which I
knew from training could cause
neck and head injuries,” West said.
West consoled the child and kept
her neck still. The child regained
consciousness after EMS arrived.
“I didn’t know if she was going to
make it, but my training helped me
keep my cool and help others.”
Belinda Creswell
Correspondence Representative
Recently, when Creswell’s
11-month-old niece began choking,
she knew what to do. “I showed
my sister what to do if my neice
ever choked again. Thanks to our
CPR training, I remained calm and
jumped to action with no question.”
Fred Cortez
Lineman A
Last Halloween, Cortez was
running an errand on his day off
when he saw a car drive by, then
a plume of dust. Driving was PEC
Administrative Assistant Melissa
Nodecker’s 16-year-old son, Cody.
He was going to football practice
when he swerved to avoid a deer
on CR 272 in Bertram. His car rolled
four times, landing about a foot
from a telephone pole.
Cortez checked the car, called
911 and stayed with Cody. “That’s
what we’re trained to do,” he says.
After EMS had taken Cody,
Cortez even went back to the
accident to check on the family.
“It wasn’t until I saw Fred’s PEC
hat that I realized he worked at the
Co-op too,” Nodecker said. “I’m so
thankful he was there with him.”
May 2012 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC TEXAS CO-OP POWER
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Pedernales Electric Cooperative
WWW.PEC.COOP • POWER INTERRUPTIONS: 1-888-883-3379
Cody Jennings
takes employee
training to heart
For Co-op Electrical Safety
Instructor Cody Jennings, teaching
linemen proper safety procedures isn’t
just part of his job. It’s a passion.
Jennings served as a lineman for
more than 24 years in our Canyon
Lake district, where he routinely
mentored younger linemen. Three
years ago, he was asked to bring that
cooperative
attitude and
expertise to the
Co-op’s safety
department,
where today
he trains 300
linemen across
our entire
service area.
Electrical Safety
Instructor
Cody Jennings
provides
direction as a
new pole is set.
Co-op highlights and industry news
Member comment on proposed
revised goals open through May 10
PEC’s Board is seeking member
feedback on proposed revisions to
the Co-op’s 2008 goals for energy
efficiency and renewable energy.
The proposed revised energy
efficiency goal calls for reductions of
15 percent of future demand growth
for the years 2013 and 2014 and
20 percent for the year 2015 and
subsequent years.
The proposed revised renewable
energy goal calls for a minimum
30 percent of the Co-op’s annual
system peak demand be satisfied
from renewable generation resources,
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including renewable generation
equipment installed by members
interconnected to PEC’s distribution
system, by the year 2020.
Members may submit comments
at www.pec.coop/feedback or mail
their comments to:
PEC Feedback
P.O. Box 1
Johnson City, TX 78636
Help your Co-op Beat the Peak!
Power costs account for the majority
of PEC’s total operating expenses,
and a large part of our power costs is
determined by the amount of energy
used during “peak periods,” when
TEXAS CO-OP POWER PEDERNALES ELECTRIC May 2012
Faces
of
PEC
“I realized I could share my
experiences and what I knew with
two or three guys, or I could help the
entire Co-op,” Jennings said. “I have
the benefit of seeing both sides, having
been a lineman myself. I can roll
real life experience into the training
sessions that keep our line crews safe.”
In addition to his duties in our
safety department, Jennings is actively
involved in training the Co-op’s
lineman rodeo team and even serves as
a Texas Lineman’s Rodeo Association
assistant chief judge.
“The lineman’s rodeo is an incredible
competition and opportunity to
showcase the talent, expertise and
dedication of our linemen,” Jennings
said. “It’s an honor to work and train
with our team.”
Jennings lives in Spring Branch
with his wife, Kathy, and 17-year-old
son Dalton. He is an avid welder who
enjoys spending time with his family
and barbecuing with his neighbors.
members use the most electricity and
energy is most expensive.
Help us “Beat the Peak” again this
summer by shifting energy use from
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more about
peak energy at www.pec.coop.
2013 marks Pedernales Electric’s
75th anniversary
You can help us celebrate, remember
and preserve the memories of
our Co-op by sharing your PEC
experiences, stories and photos.
Learn more about how our Co-op
was formed by members, for
members at www.pec.coop/history.
Call (830) 868-4961 to share your
memories, or email your story and
photos to [email protected].
Power of Community
The Cooperative
Principles
Education, training and
information
At PEC, there are always
opportunities to learn. The best
way to find where we will be is to
check www.pec.coop/calendar.
Interested in our Speakers
Bureau? Message them at
www.pec.coop/speakersbureau.
In honor of the United Nations
declaring 2012 the Year of
Cooperatives, PEC is going back
to its roots and exploring the key
fundamentals that set us apart from
other corporations.
This month, we are highlighting
the cooperative principle regarding
education, information and training:
Cooperatives provide education
and training for their members,
elected representatives, managers
and employees so they can
contribute effectively to the
development of their cooperatives.
We recognize and embrace this
responsibility. As you’ve already seen,
we are committed to ensuring our staff
has the training they need to protect
themselves and our members.
But that’s not the only training they
receive. Our employees, management
and Board are all updated on the latest
Co-op business initiatives, industry
trends and best practices.
However, we are most proud of our
extensive member education efforts.
At PEC, we work hand-in-hand
with our members and community
organizations to spread educational
presentations and information
on a variety of topics, including
conservation and electrical safety.
We don’t just encourage energy
conservation — we give members the
tools and tips they need to make their
conservation goals happen.
In terms of promoting electrical
safety, we don’t stop short with
simple tips. We offer interactive
demonstrations through our dedicated
Speakers Bureau, which presented
over 112 safety messages to more than
4,000 individuals last year!
Upcoming co-op
principles
Each month, we will highlight
a principle that illustrates the
cooperative difference at PEC.
June – Democratic member
control
July – Concern for community
August – Voluntary and open
membership
September – Cooperation
among cooperatives
November – Autonomy and
independence
December – Members’
economic participation
May 2012 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC TEXAS CO-OP POWER
21
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
WWW.PEC.COOP • POWER INTERRUPTIONS: 1-888-883-3379
Congratulations to our graduating
Pedernales Electric presents $500 in support of the Project Graduation efforts at Rouse High School in Leander.
Project Graduation donations help teens celebrate safely
For high school seniors, May marks a month full of
celebrations and achievements, perhaps none as important
as graduation. The Co-op congratulates the Class of 2012
and is proud to join in their celebration by providing $500
donations to 40 local schools’ Project Graduation efforts.
These donations help high schools provide safe, alcoholand drug-free festivities for this year’s graduating seniors.
Project Graduation was established in 1980 in Oxford Hills,
Maine after seven alcohol and other drug-related teen
deaths occurred during the 1979 graduation season.
“Graduation is an exciting time and right of passage for
students,” Co-op Community Services Manager Jeanell
Davis said. “Thousands of our high school seniors are
graduating, and we hope our support can help keep them
safe throughout our 8,100-square-mile service area.”
You too can help keep graduates safe by volunteering to
help with your local Project Graduation activities. A list
of area high schools receiving Co-op support can be found
online at www.pec.coop/projectgraduation.
2 2 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R P E D E R N A L E S E L E C T R I C M a y 2 0 1 2 Teen driving safety awareness
In 2006, a teen died in a traffic crash an average
of once every hour on weekends, and according to
a November 2009 report by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration:
• 56 percent of fatal crashes and 57 percent
of the fatalities involving young drivers (ages
15–20) occur on rural roads.
• 31 percent of young drivers killed in
accidents had alcohol in their systems.
Sources: www.nhtsa.gov; www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Pubs/811218PDF
Power of Community
high school seniors!
PEC awards 30 scholarships to
deserving students
We are proud to recognize this year’s PEC scholarship recipients. Thirty
students have been awarded scholarships that may be applied toward
tuition, fees and expenses at any college, university, junior college,
technical school or trade school.
$5,000 scholarships
Kira Hamilton
James Bowie HS
Jessica Stauber
Leander HS
Rachal Katerle
Junction HS
Caitlyn Valadez
Canyon Lake HS
Rachel Krenek
Dripping Springs HS
$1,000 scholarships
Autumn Allen
Georgetown HS
David Guerrero
Leander HS
Christine Lin
Westwood HS
Joshua Anderson
Vista Ridge HS
Tara Haney
Samuel V.
Champion HS
Brandi Markert
Prairie Lea HS
Andrea Barrick
Rouse HS
Paulina Benitez
James Bowie HS
Emily Blevins
Dripping Springs HS
Taylor Brooks
Lampasas HS
Natalie Casper
John B. Connally HS
Joel Doss
Lago Vista HS
Sean Gajjar
Westwood HS
Marshal Hanzel
San Marcos HS
Ashley Hause
Lampasas HS
Ariella Horner
Burnet HS
Jordan Keeton
Junction HS
Kelsie Kirk
Bracken Christian
School
Allison Kovar
Dripping Springs HS
Andrew Noll
Cedar Park HS
Allison Phillips
Dripping Springs HS
Aimee Portillo
Jack C. Hays HS
Aubrey Swilling
Rouse HS
Mackenzie White
Marble Falls HS
Stephen Wilkes
Lake Travis HS
Energy efficient
incentives
At PEC, we encourage you to
make conserving electricity a part
of your daily lifestyle. Having an
energy-efficient house makes
conserving power even easier,
and our HVAC Rebate Program
is designed to do just that.
PEC members who install new
efficient heating, ventilation
and air conditioning units could
receive rebates between $300
and $500.
And if you are in the market for
new efficient appliances, take
advantage of the state’s fifth
annual Energy Star Sales Tax
Holiday during the Memorial Day
weekend. It’s a great opportunity
to outfit your home without
paying state or local taxes on
qualifying items. The tax-free
holiday runs Saturday, May 26,
through Monday, May 28.
Examples of potential tax savings
include:
• Central or room air
conditioners, $6,000 or less
• Refrigerators, $2,000 or less
• Ceiling fans
• Incandescent and
fluorescent light bulbs
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Programmable thermostats
Visit www.texaspowerfulsmart.org
May 2012 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC TEXAS CO-OP POWER
23
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
WWW.PEC.COOP • POWER INTERRUPTIONS: 1-888-883-3379
Do it
Yourself
Energy-efficient air
conditioner maintenance
1
2
Clean outdoor debris
on and around your air
conditioner unit to ensure
there is adequate air flow
around the system.
Savings
A clogged air filter causes
your system to work
harder to cool your house.
Change filters to reduce
energy use and electric
costs by 5 to 15 percent.
According to the Department
of Energy, heating and cooling
account for about 56 percent
of energy use in a typical U.S.
3
Consider installing a
programmable thermostat
and create an energy
efficient air-conditioning
schedule.
home, making it the largest
energy expense for most homes.
Ensure your HVAC system is
efficient to lower those costs.
Scan QR code to watch this DIY video!
Scan this QR code and watch this helpful DIY video. Simply download a QR reader on your
smart phone to scan the code and go directly to the info on our website, www.pec.coop.
The Power
to Save
Do-it-yourself
workshop
May 18
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Liberty Hill office
24
T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R P E D E R N A L E S E L E C T R I C M a y 2 0 1 2 Take part in our Power to Save DIY Workshop!
Meet one-on-one with conservation reps and see
how small, do-it-yourself changes can give you
better control of your home energy use.
Register for energy-efficient prizes, such as a home
improvement gift card and weatherization kits.
There will also be a grand prize — an iPad 2! The
winner of the iPad 2 will be chosen later from all
eligible attendees from all the DIY workshops held
throughout 2012.