The Bryan-College Station Eagle

Table of Contents
From the General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Windstorm No Match for BTU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Key to a Successful 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ensuring Reliable Electricity at Affordable Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Transmission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Qualified Scheduling Entity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Information Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Sound Management and Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
“Hard Work by Good Folks” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The BTU Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
BTU Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
New Customer Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Great Customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Involvement with the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Texas Co-op Power and Messina Hof Winery and Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
BTU Calendar Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Tri-o de Mayo Triathlons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Food For Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
George Bush Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Efficient Use of Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Government-In-Action Youth Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
BTU Linemen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Texas Lineman’s Rodeo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Fire Rescue by Linemen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Assistance to San Augustine, Texas.
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
City Electric System Condensed Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
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Rural Electric System Condensed Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
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From the General Manager
From the General Manager
Keeping the Lights On
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n the thirty or so pages of this report we try to highlight the people at BTU who keep the lights on. There is a lot
of planning, a little luck, and just plain hard work by good folks who really care about the people we serve in the
Brazos Valley. Our business plan is literally a fifteen year plan and for the last several years we have put more money
back into the system than was earned in that year. As you can see on page 31 we are using bond funds to make many
of these improvements and we will continue to do so for several years. This preventative maintenance is targeted
at the areas which have demonstrated the poorest reliability. Additionally, BTU, Texas Municipal Power Agency,
College Station Utilities, and Brazos Electric have worked with the transmission planners of the Electric Reliability
Council of Texas to lay out a three year construction agenda that will strengthen our ties and ensure our needs are
met through 2020.
This was a tragic year for those living in Louisiana, Mississippi, and east Texas. Linemen from all over Texas
converged on the areas devastated by Katrina and Rita and helped restore power. BTU’s linemen joined their
counterparts from College Station, Denton, Garland, Greenville, San Antonio, Kerrville, New Braunfels, and other utilities to work
almost around the clock to get power restored. Other BTU linemen stayed at home and worked double duty to serve BTU’s customers.
The key for all BTU employees is that we care about people. Look for us this next year and tell us where we can improve our service to
you.
Sincerely,
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Windstorm No Match for BTU
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t is not often an annual report includes a newspaper column about the company but The Bryan-College Station Eagle Editor and
Publisher, Donnis Bagget summed up the key to BTU’s successful year beautifully in one column. It was a proud moment for
BTU employees when the local paper recognized their efforts. The column, which ran on April 3, 2005, follows in its entirety.
Windstorm No Match for BTU
Originally Published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle, April 3, 2005.
The wind was gusting so hard that it was tricky to walk, much less drive a vehicle with the aerodynamics of an apple crate.
Donnis Baggett
Editor & Publisher
I was fighting to keep the company van from being blown off the road as I drove to a lunch meeting on Friday. I found myself wondering what it must be
like for an electrical lineman working in a fiberglass bucket 50 feet above the ground.
I also thought about how grateful we should be that the folks of Bryan Texas Utilities are on call 24/7 to do exactly that, no matter the weather. So
when I returned to my well-lighted office — where the power never blipped once during the gale, incidentally — I called BTU to see how the guys on the
line were faring in the windstorm.
I was surprised to learn it was just another day at the office.
“It’s actually been relatively quiet today,” said Roy Trotter, division manager for distribution for BTU. “We have performed so much maintenance on our lines
recently, to upgrade the lines and replace any failing components, that we’ve been lucky. Last night [Thursday] we were lucky with all the storms. We’ve had
relatively few calls last night and today.”
Roy said BTU spends a great deal of time, effort and money to prevent problems before a storm cloud ever looms on the horizon. Aging switches, transformers
and other components are routinely replaced, and trees are trimmed on a scheduled basis. Because of this, the system has few weak links vulnerable to a storm’s
fury.
When the thunderstorms swept through the Brazos Valley about 8 p.m. Thursday, BTU fielded only six trouble calls. All the problems were fixed and the
linemen were on their way home by midnight.
And how do BTU’s finest manage to get the lights back on in the teeth of the storm?
“They just contend with it,” said Roy. “Linemen are a unique lot. They’ll contend with whatever Mother Nature throws at ’em. They’ll just ignore it, and
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they’ll just go to work. That’s just part of their job.
“When everything is at its worst, we should be at our best,” Roy said. “The linemen believe that.”
It’s easy for us to take reliable electric power for granted today. Outages are so rare that we get snarly when there’s a momentary power spike that causes our
e-mail to flicker. Reliability like that hasn’t always been the case.
Local electricity was sold by a private company from 1889 to 1909. Service was so poor that by 1895, residents were calling on the city to take over the water
and light systems. In 1905, when the city of Bryan was forced to turn out the street lights because of high electric rates and poor service, The Eagle ran an
editorial headlined: “Lights! Lights!” The paper decried both the cost and the quality of local electricity.
Bryan began assuming control of local power, water and sewerage services by contract in 1909, and in 1919 the city purchased a diesel-powered plant to serve
the town’s 768 customers. Things have been getting bigger and better ever since.
Today, service reliability is tracked according to the frequency and the duration of power failures. For 2003, our frequency of outage was .904. This means
that on average, each customer in the BTU system experienced less than one outage that year. The average duration of outage was 68.22 minutes.
Pat Kasper, BTU’s division manager for electrical transmission, said those kind of numbers put BTU among the nation’s most reliable utilities.
“We’re probably in the top 10 to 20 percent,” Pat said. Like Roy, he attributed the good report card to a lot of hard work by good folks — and to healthy
investments in preventive maintenance.
“We have 19 substations, and each one of these substations has on average three to five feeders coming out of them. Each one of those feeders is monitored,”
he said. “We figure out what our worst feeders are every year and go out and invest a lot of money and effort into making those worst feeders more reliable.
We’ve done some extensive work out in some of the rural areas.”
Last year, BTU’s focus on service was recognized by the Texas Public Power Association, which granted the System Achievement Award to our local utility.
“BTU is not only one of the leading municipal systems; it is widely recognized as being among the best electric utilities in the state,” said Mark Zion, executive
director of the state power association.
That wasn’t the only kudo BTU received last year. Three of the nation’s most reputable rating services — Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s — gave
exceptionally high bond ratings to BTU in March 2004. The analysts commended BTU’s fiscal management and business plan.
The bottom line: The folks at BTU are darned good at keeping the light on for us. And we should be very, very thankful for that.
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The Key to a Successful 2005
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t was a banner year at BTU. Once again BTU put its mission first—“to give its customers exceptional service with
reliable, competitively priced electricity while acting as a responsible and caring member of the community”—and
succeeded. The key to BTU’s reaching its goals was a combination of doing everything possible to ensure reliable electricity
at affordable prices, sound planning and fiscal management, “hard work by good folks,” great customers, and community
involvement.
Ensuring Reliable Electricity at Affordable Prices
Production
In 2005, BTU’s Power Production Division, which operates the
Dansby and Atkins power plants, maintained a high level of plant
availability and responded to unprecedented hours of operation as
instructed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) due
to local transmission constraints in the Bryan/College Station area.
BTU’s output from these solely owned plants, in conjunction with its
partnership in the Texas Municipal Power Agency’s Gibbons Creek
Plant, provided BTU with reliable generation resources to meet its
needs for 2005 and into the future.
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Transmission
The Electric Transmission Division controls and
operates BTU’s electric systems, ensuring a reliable,
continuous supply of energy to our customers.
Throughout the year, the Transmission team worked
hard to upgrade existing equipment and collaborated
with outside contractors and clients to improve
delivery.
Service reliability is tracked according to the
frequency and the duration of power failures. For
2005, our frequency of outage was 0.621. This
means that on average, each customer in the BTU
system experienced less than one outage in 2005.
The average duration of the outage was 33.33
minutes.
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Distribution
Our Distribution Division installed 1,812 new meters, supplied service to 27 new
subdivisions, completed 211 new commercial projects, performed system protection
and coordination on 12 circuits, and reworked seven feeder circuits in 2005. In addition
to keeping up with the growth in the Brazos Valley by completing these tasks, we
undertook 29 major system improvement projects including beginning the major task
of replacing streetlight poles and placing all BTU wiring underground for a four mile
stretch of Texas Avenue. In 2005, work was completed on a one mile stretch from
Sulphur Springs Road to Carson Street and phase two of the project, from Carson
Street to Burnett Street, was begun.
The overhead lines that fed into the streetlights were moved underground and
mismatched wooden poles were replaced with uniform metal ones with fourteen foot
arms. The look of the street was much improved and with the new brighter lights (250watt heads were used instead of the old 100-watt ones) and Texas Department of Transportation-approved breakaway bases (that will
give if hit by a car), so was the safety. The bases for the new poles were constructed by digging holes five and a half to six feet deep
that were lined with rebar and then filled with concrete.
The BTU Engineering and Line Design department had considered
all the details so the least possible disruption occurred to the
businesses and individuals who use this part of Texas Avenue.
Perhaps the best part was there was not a minute of lost streetlight
service. When the new lights were energized, the old ones were
dismantled.
This work is being done as part of a four-year Capital
Improvement Project. The BTU Engineer and Capital
Improvement Projects Committee (CIP) plans ahead for
improvements so that every year it has a list of projects that are
intended to improve our system. That it works with a 10-year plan
to update and upgrade the system, taking a proactive approach
instead of waiting for a problem to arise, helps BTU ensure reliable
service every day.
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Qualified Scheduling Entity
The Qualified Scheduling Entity (QSE) and Wholesale Power Marketing areas
contributed to BTU’s success in 2005 by providing significant savings to our customers.
The QSE lowered BTU customers’ fuel bills by $8.4 million by buying and selling
excess capacity, energy and ancillary services on a daily basis. Wholesale Power
Marketing contributed $8.5 million in revenue to BTU from selling excess generation
capacity and ancillary services to other municipals and entities under long term
contracts.
The QSE continues to actively participate in ERCOT committees and working groups
including the Texas Nodal Market design meetings and is evaluating the impact of a
new market design on our customers’ cost of electricity. The Nodal Market is currently
expected to begin in January 2009.
During 2005, the QSE helped reduce the customer’s monthly electricity bill, on average, by $14.76. BTU’s rates continue to be among
the lowest in the state due to its fuel-diversified, generation portfolio as well as its active QSE marketing and scheduling efforts.
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Information Technology
The Information Technology (IT) Division at BTU was busier than ever in 2005. The Network and Telecommunications Support
group of IT provided direct support for the hardware assets and 120 miles of fiber optic cable linking 195 employees at six
geographically separate office locations and 20 electrical substations serving BTU. Additional support was provided for maintaining
190 workstations, 42 servers, voiceover IP telephone system, and 150 telephone devices. The Operations & Technology Group
provided system administration, backup, and analysis as well as programming and Help Desk support. Without IT’s work behind the
scenes, reliability would not be possible. It ensures everyone is able to work efficiently and effectively.
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Sound Management and Planning
Another key to BTU’s success in 2005 was sound fiscal management and planning. In 2004, three of the nation’s most
reputable rating services — Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s — gave exceptionally high bond ratings to BTU.
The analysts commended BTU’s fiscal management and business plan. This tradition of excellence continued in 2005.
The Fiscal Services Division keeps records for both the City of Bryan’s Electric System and the Rural Electric System.
Its monthly financial reporting allows BTU to constantly monitor and plan for the future.
Every year BTU has a list of tasks to complete to improve our system. We are constantly at work updating and
upgrading our equipment. The projects are submitted with the budget to the board of directors. It is a proactive way
to approach the system instead of waiting for failures.
In 2005, Operations Superintendent, Chick Herrin, with the assistance of BTU Engineer and CIP member,
Shawndra Green, wrote an article for Transmission & Distribution World discussing BTU’s “take charge” approach.
BTU created a 10-year program that provided a means by which to identify problem areas and weak links within the
system. Field service personnel were asked to give
feedback on problems they had been experiencing
in the field in their areas.
As a result of this process, BTU has identified
areas for upgrading and already made many
improvements that will greatly enhance reliability
and the level of service we provide our customers.
The jobs are prioritized by the committee,
allowing BTU to deal with the most problematic
issues first.
As Mr. Herrin stated, “Field personnel are no
longer just waiting for something to break so
they can run and fix it. They are now actively
participating in upgrading and improving the
system and they are working diligently alongside the CIP committee
to help prevent problems before they occur.”
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“Hard Work by Good Folks”
There is no doubt that the primary part of the key to BTU’s success is its loyal, hard working and exemplary board members and
employees.
The BTU Board of Directors
Knowledgeable oversight is the province of the BTU Board of Directors who share their expertise without compensation to ensure
BTU customers have reliable and affordable electricity. The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the utility’s rates and
operating policies. Our current board members have provided a combined total of 28 years of service to BTU and its customers.
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Dr. Wendell Davis
Board Member
Lonnie Stabler
Board Member
Frank Thurmond
Board Member
Dr. Richard Alexander
Board Member
Bill Atkinson, Vice Chairman
Hank McQuaide, Secretary
Ronald Hale, Chairman
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General Manager
Dan Wilkerson has used his expertise to successfully direct
the overall management of BTU for 26 years. He holds a
BS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Previously, he had responsibility for all generation facilities
for BTU and for seven years was a field service engineer
for General Electric. He has served on a variety of electric
utility industry committees, offered consulting services and
testimony in regulatory and legal proceedings, and also
negotiated contracts for energy service for commercial
clients.
BTU Personnel
BTU is also fortunate to have excellent Group and Division
Managers with a wealth of experience to ensure each area
runs smoothly. They work closely with the BTU staff in
each division guaranteeing that we have the best employees
possible. All our people work hard to make certain we are
as good as we can possibly be.
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Customer Service
In addition to the managers, BTU’s everyday operations are conducted by individuals whose
primary goal is not only to provide affordable, reliable energy but also to do it with as much
expertise and courtesy as possible. Every year, BTU’s Customer Service Division strives to
better serve our customers.
In 2005, we went the extra distance to assist our customers with options for saving money on
their electricity bills. We performed energy audits throughout their buildings and furnished
them with a final report outlining action items that provided a clear step-by-step energy
savings plan they could use to lower their annual energy usage.
Our New Ventures Division offered the opportunity for all of our qualifying residential
customers to receive low interest rate loans to purchase high efficiency heating and airconditioning equipment. Added to the potential 20% to 40% cost savings off their summertime electrical bills was the additional $300
to $500 tax credit from the Department of Energy. BTU also offered its customers other loan programs for appliances and insulation
and a monthly fee for whole house surge protection. With our wide array of
programs we were able to help our customers make the most of their energy
dollars.
In 2005, BTU Customer Service processed:
• Over 545,000 customer bills
• Completed over 100,000 customer phone interactions
• Reduced customer wait time on the phones by 30%
As with other divisions of BTU, Customer Service always looks for ways
to do a better job and plans ahead. In 2005, Customer Service completed
and implemented a comprehensive training program for all new personnel
and transitioned to a new handheld meter reading system that increased the
accuracy and efficiency of BTU meter reading. With the exceptional problems
presented by families displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, BTU Customer
Service contributed by identifying over one hundred families by FEMA
identification numbers and waiving deposits for temporary and permanent
placement within the community.
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New Ventures
BTU works hard, not only for individual customers, but also for our
commercial and industrial clients. In May, BTU implemented a new pricing
program for its commercial and industrial customers. The program prices
electricity based on a customer’s load factor instead of kW demand which
reflects the method by which electricity is priced in the ERCOT deregulated
market. The price is a flat, energy-only rate that eliminates the demand
charge and allows customers to use electricity without the concerns of setting
demand ratchets. There are four different prices available to customers,
depending on their load factor: 20-29.9%, 30-39.9%, 40-59.9%, and 60% and
above. Customers with a load factor below 20% were not eligible for the new
program and remain on the standard demand and energy prices. These new
energy-only rates have been welcomed by customers because it enables them
to save on their electricity costs.
New Customer Survey
Every year BTU surveys new customers to see if they
are pleased with our service. In 2005, the data once again
warranted the conclusion that BTU’s new customers are
satisfied and, in most cases, extremely satisfied with BTU’s
service. The percentage of satisfied customers was 97%
this year. One factor which clearly stands out again from
the 2005 survey is that BTU personnel are exceptionally
courteous and helpful. There was not a single complaint
about BTU personnel.
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Great Customers
Another part of the key to a successful year in 2005 was BTU’s customers. There is nothing average about our customers. Our
residential and commercial customers are incomparable not only in their dealings with BTU but also in their participation in and
contribution to the community. Over the years, BTU has highlighted as many as we have been able to in Texas Co-op Power magazine.
This year, we also wanted to profile several of our commercial customers in our annual report.
Blinn College, 2423 Blinn Boulevard, Bryan, TX 77802
Blinn College is the oldest county-owned junior college in Texas. Founded in 1883, in Brenham, Texas,
Blinn is entering its 123rd year of providing education services in south central Texas and currently is
ranked 10th in size among the fifty college districts in the state. The Bryan branch of Blinn began in
1970 and in 1997 opened a main Brazos County campus near Villa Maria Road at East 29th Street. The
Bryan campus is now the largest in the Blinn system with over 10,000 students. Blinn boasts the highest
academic transfer rate in the state and the highest percentage of students who earn bachelor’s degrees. It
transfers more students to Texas A&M University than does any other community college. And Blinn’s
technical programs have among the highest pass rates in the state on board and licensure exams.
Kent Moore Cabinets, 1460 Fountain Avenue, Bryan, TX 77801
Kent Moore Cabinets has been a vital part of the Bryan business community for the past 35 years. With
annual sales exceeding $36 million, they continue to strive to build the best custom cabinets specifically
designed for discriminating homeowners. The Fountain Avenue plant houses their cabinet construction
process and the new facility on 38 acres in the Brazos County Industrial Park houses their Giardina
flatline finishing system that has allowed for increased capacity along with a high-end furniture finish
that is environmentally friendly. With showrooms and sales offices located in seven cities across the state,
Kent Moore Cabinets has more than four hundred employees.
18
Saint-Gobain NORPRO, 1500 Independence Avenue, Bryan, TX 77803
Saint-Gobain NorPro has a distinguished history in offering traditional and high-technology ceramic
products and services for use in various refining, chemical, petrochemical, and environmental
applications. They produce the widest range of commercially available catalyst carriers in the world. In
the middle of an expansion project that will add additional production capabilities to the Saint-Gobain
NorPro product line, BTU has been assisting them in providing service to their new facilities and also
improving their overall electric reliability.
Sanderson Farms, 2200 Shiloh Drive, Bryan, TX 77803
Sanderson Farms is ranked among the top seven poultry producers in the country, with seven processing
plants and six hatcheries located in four states. The company had over $1 billion in net company sales in
fiscal 2005 and over 8,500 employees and contracts with more than 600 independent growers. Locally,
with its feed mill, hatchery, and processing facility, Sanderson Farms is BTU’s largest customer in terms
of both revenue and kWh consumption. BTU took a proactive step to improve service to the facility by
upgrading transformers and installing a new loop-feed distribution system to increase reliability.
19
Involvement with the Community
BTU feels another essential component to the key to our success has always been our
involvement with our community. We contribute countless hours of volunteer work to local
service organizations such as the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, Downtown
Bryan Economic Development Association, Lions Club, and Rotary Club as well as the major
religious and nonsectarian charities such as Habitat for Humanity. BTU also steps up to help
KAMU, the local Public Broadcast Station, host its annual broadcast auction by sending
volunteers to assist with all aspects of the work.
We work hard to coach and teach our youth and make individual donations to the United Way.
BTU also makes major corporate contributions to a myriad of local charities including the
African American Heritage Museum, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Brazos Valley, Brazos County
Youth Livestock Association, Hospice of Brazos Valley, St. Joseph Foundation of Bryan, Texas
and The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley.
In addition to the individual donations of time and effort and the company’s monetary
donations, BTU sponsors, participates and/or organizes many events as a company.
20
Texas Co-op Power and Messina Hof Winery and
Resort
BTU always strives to have a positive effect on our community. One
way in which we do this is to highlight all the wonderful companies
and good causes and people there are in our service area each month
in Texas Co-op Power (TCP). One company that received special
honors from TCP in 2005 was Messina Hof Winery and Resort. Its
restaurant, the Vintage House, won the prestigious Best of “Dining
Worth the Drive” award in Texas Co-op Power’s “Best of Co-op
Country” contest. Members of 60 cooperatives across Texas were
eligible to vote in the contest held by the magazine, which has a
circulation of one million.
On September 1, 2005, Chairman of the Bryan Texas Utilities
Board, Ronald Hale, presented the
Messina Hof owners, Paul and Merrill
Bonarrigo, with a framed copy of
the award while City of Bryan mayor,
council members and staff, city
leaders and members of the media
joined BTU board members and staff
at a victory celebration at Messina
Hof.
As Texas Co-op Power stated it, “The
Vintage House is an unexpected jewel
tucked away in Central Texas’ version
of Tuscany.” And on September 1,
that jewel shown to full brilliance to
the pleasure of all those who attended
the ceremony.
21
BTU Calendar Contest
This year we saw our BTU Calendar grow into a colorful and bright
canvas for the children of the Brazos Valley. The artwork was full
of electrical safety tips and energy conservation information. Every
elementary school age child in our service territory was eligible to
enter and the winners spanned across numerous schools, both public
and private.
The BTU Calendar grabbed more media attention than ever before.
The young artists were featured in The Eagle and appeared on both
local television stations (KBTX-TV and KRHD-TV) to share their
message of safety with an even larger audience.
We are pleased to be able to bring the talent of our young citizens
and the important information that our calendars contain to our
customers. Educators and students alike are committed to this annual
endeavor and 2005 was no exception.
22
Power Pedal
On October 8th and 9th BTU, in keeping with more than 2,000 other
electric utilities across the country, commemorated Public Power Week.
The conclusion of BTU’s celebration was the hosting of the 13th Annual
Power Pedal Races at beautiful Lake Bryan. Close to 1,000 cyclists, men,
women, boys, and girls from across the state and region came to compete
in the 2005 State Championship Road and Mountain Bike Races. The
Power Pedal Road Race is a United States Cycling Federation event and
was, once again, the deciding competition for the state championships.
For the third time in Power Pedal history, this course was the final battle
in the Texas Cup Series and determined the Texas Road Race Champions.
Off-road bikers also pedaled up some dust in the Power Pedal Mountain
Bike Race; the fifth of the BMW X3 Texas Fall Cup Series. In 2005, the
growing importance of Power Pedal was celebrated with a cover on Racing
Post magazine.
23
This year 5k and 10k runs were added to the festivities which started on Saturday
morning. BTU was pleased to have 40 participants for this first year and hopes to
watch it expand as rapidly as the cycling contests. Bryan Texas Utilities takes a great
deal of pleasure in sponsoring, planning and staffing the Power Pedal Celebration
each year because it encourages a healthy lifestyle for our community and offers us
the opportunity to share information about our utility, its services, and how we are
working to enhance the lives of our customers.
Tri-o de Mayo Triathlons
Also with an attempt to encourage a healthy lifestyle, BTU has started a pair of
triathlons where not only biking but running and swimming added to the participants’
challenges. BTU’s 2nd Annual Tri-o de Mayo Triathlons, the largest triathlons in the
Brazos Valley, were a huge success. On Sunday, May 1, 2005, at Lake Bryan, over 300
entrants competed in either a 500-meter, open-water swim along the lake’s beachfront, a 28km bike course featuring rolling hills and
short climbs and a 5km run through the lake’s park or the off-road triathlon with the same swim, a 17km bike trail ride and a 5km trail
run.
Both triathlons were sanctioned by USA Triathlon and to the delight of the participants included free post-race massages, a mariachi
band, delicious free food for the
contestants from The Hook restaurant,
individual photos taken when they crossed
the finish line, prize drawings, cash prizes,
hand-painted ceramic plaques and other
awards.
24
Food For Families
Bryan Texas Utilities employees volunteered
in the predawn of December 14, 2005 to
sort food items and load trucks in KBTXTV’s Food For Families drive to fill up the
Brazos Food Bank’s cupboard for Christmas.
BTU supplemented the volunteer effort
with a check for $1,000 on behalf of BTU
employees.
25
Efficient Use of Resources
Our goal at BTU is to make the most of our available resources.
Therefore, each department makes an effort to use what we have
as efficiently as possible. During ongoing right-of-way maintenance
operations, BTU’s line clearance contractor cuts and chips large
volumes of tree limbs and brush. Our arborists do their part by
donating the wood for use as organic mulch.
This year BTU employees received certificates of appreciation in a ceremony at Rock Prairie Elementary School for their “Outstanding
Support of The Cabbage Corner Garden” where the elementary students raised vegetables and then donated them to the Brazos Food
Bank. This year the students contributed 668 pounds of
vegetables for those in need.
George Bush Scholarships
Bryan Texas Utilities partnered with the George Bush
Presidential Library for a second year in a scholarship
program which recognizes Bryan-College Station area
high school seniors for their community service. The
scholarships honor the career of President George Bush
and his dedication to public service and seek to inspire
future generations to engage in public service.
The 2005-06 recipients are Benjamin Kleckley of Bryan
High School, Ryan Rogers of Brazos Christian School
and Sara Rogers of A&M Consolidated High School.
These scholars will receive a $2000 one-time payment
to the college of their choice. Additionally, each of their
high schools will receive a $2500 grant for academic
purposes to be used at the discretion of their respective
administrations.
26
Government-In-Action Youth Tour
BTU awarded four area high school students an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
in June. Winning students wrote a 750-1000 word essay exploring the topic “What America
Means to Me.” The four winners were Walter Bauer and Benjamin Kleckley from Bryan High
School and Rebecca Anderholm and Morgan Hines of A&M Consolidated High School.
During the trip, these young adults met with elected officials and visited historical buildings
and monuments. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has coordinated the
Government-In-Action Youth Tour since 1964, with nearly 1,500 students and chaperones
participating each year. This contest is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to visit
our nation’s capital and tour sites they might normally only read about in text books. BTU is
proud to take part in the Youth Tour and we hope our participants not only come away with
a new perspective on government, but also with a better understanding of the part played by
rural electrification in our nation’s history.
27
BTU Linemen
In 2005, the BTU linemen, as a group, made special contributions to the company, our local community, and those in need. The
linemen epitomize what people think of when they think of an electric company and our linemen made us proud they were an integral
part of our company again in 2005.
Texas Lineman’s Rodeo
On July 16, 2005, it poured as the BTU linemen began their pole ascents at the ninth annual Texas Lineman’s Rodeo on Nolte Island
in Seguin, Texas. But it would take more than a heavy rain to dampen their spirits. Looking up as they made their climbs, they could see
nothing but water but they never let it hamper their determination. It perhaps gave some of the teams that would start later, in better
weather, a bit of an edge, but an edge would not be enough to
beat BTU’s linemen on that day.
BTU’s awards in 2005 were so prolific it was difficult to get them
all in one photograph. Out of a field of 175 contestants from 24
utilities including one from New Mexico, BTU finished with five
1st places, two 2nd places and two 3rd places. The 1st place overall
Journeyman Team was composed of Chris Callaway, Joe Lapaglia,
and Raymond Tidwell while 3rd place was won by another BTU
team of Kevin Lee, Leroy Thomas and Terry Toole. Chris
Callaway, Joe Lapaglia and Raymond Tidwell also placed 1st in the
Municipal Division, overall Journeyman Team competition and
1st in the Downed Primary, overall. In the Senior Division, for
competitors 45 years and older, the team of Kevin Lee, Leroy
Thomas and Terry Toole won 1st place, overall Journeyman Team,
and 2nd place in the Municipal Division, overall. Derek Pusser
won Best Overall, Apprentice Division, in competition with
linemen from across the state and scored 2nd in the Apprentice
Hurt Man Rescue and 3rd place in the Written Test, Apprentice
Division.
The Texas Lineman’s Rodeo is a chance for those whose
profession is high voltage linework to showcase their pride in
28
their profession. The rough conditions they faced in the early
hours of the competition perhaps made it even a little more
realistic since these rugged linemen are frequently required to do
their work in stormy weather. The events necessitated climbing
slippery 40-foot poles and feats such as rescuing 150-pound
dummies.
Dan Wilkerson, our General Manager summed it up best when
he said, “It is hard to believe our linemen could improve on
what they accomplished last year, but they went out there again
and showed themselves to be even better. These men and their
skills reflect the pride and work ethic of our whole company. We
couldn’t be prouder of their wonderful achievements in the 2005
Texas Lineman’s Rodeo.”
Fire Rescue by Linemen
Not only are our linemen prepared to compete in the Texas Lineman’s
Rodeo, they are ready for bad weather and dangerous situations in their
everyday job. This year saw two of our linemen, John Eiman and Mike
Ferro, hailed as heroes by the local press. En route to a job, they saw
a building on fire and immediately jumped out to help. As they neared
the barn, they saw a man lying in the grass and Mike Ferro pulled him
further away from the barn to a safer place. Meanwhile, John Eiman
rescued the man’s dog, which was confined in a nearby pen. As Mike
Ferro said, “In our type of business, you are always ready.”
29
Assistance to San Augustine, Texas
For BTU and its employees, the community is larger than just
Bryan. In the true Texas tradition of helping our neighbors, a
crew (James Brown, John Eiman, Rodney Jackson, Raymond
Tidwell and Matt Zavodny and crew boss, Chick Herrin) of
six BTU linemen traveled to San Augustine, Texas to assist in
restoring power to the town of about 2,500 in the aftermath
of Hurricane Rita. BTU preceded its crews with a pole truck,
driven by Keith Gresham, packed with material including
poles, transformers, cross arms, line hardware, service wires,
and other repair items. Upon their return, the headline in
the October 3rd story in The Bryan-College Station Eagle read
“Linemen Return as Heroes.”
The volunteer linemen left Bryan on the afternoon of
September 26 and worked through the night after their arrival
in San Augustine, putting in a 36-hour shift. Their schedules
did not get much easier. They worked from 5 a.m. to 10
p.m. going from street to street, stringing up new lines and
replacing downed poles. Their off hours were spent sleeping
at the City Manager’s house.
In return for their efforts, the linemen were amazed by the hospitality they received. Residents were constantly offering food, water,
and even their own beds. One woman opened up her cafe two hours early each morning in order to make the men breakfast at 5 a.m.
The Mayor gave the linemen the key to the city, only the third one given by the city in its 168-year history. It now has a place of honor
in a trophy case in BTU’s lobby. The linemen, for their part, felt the new friends they made while they worked in San Augustine were
the best tribute they received.
“We are happy to help our fellow municipal electric systems restore electricity,” said Dan Wilkerson. “We also need to remember
to give special praise to the linemen who stayed behind to shoulder the extra native workload so the others could help in the storm
ravaged area of San Augustine. That’s the value of the cooperative way.”
30
Financial Statement
City Electric System Condensed Financial Statements
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
Condensed Statement of Net Assets
2005
Current assets
Capital assets, net
Restricted assets
Other
2004
$ 49,309,541
109,383,804
45,327,879
177,136
$ 26,327,295
102,234,124
41,710,441
75,774
204,198,360
170,347,634
Current liabilities
Current liabilities payable from restricted
assets
24,343,324
10,452,887
3,345,896
2,565,612
Noncurrent liabilities
Total liabilities
18,613,220
46,302,440
6,159,047
19,177,546
90,396,097
53,903,419
13,596,404
96,052,011
45,982,190
9,135,887
$157,895,920
$151,170,088
Total Assets
Net assets:
Invested in capital assets, net if
related debt
Restricted
Unrestricted
Total net assets
Condensed Statement of Revenues, Expenses, & Cash Flows
2005
2004
Operating Revenues
Operating expenses
Depreciation
Operating Income
Net adjustments and changes in financial
position
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net transfers
$198,750,537
181,285,659
6,195,654
11,269,224
$115,005,480
100,663,667
5,769,811
8,572,002
(2,529,589)
8,739,635
(5,245,000)
(1,041,846)
7,530,156
(5,640,000)
Capital expenditures
Proceeds from capital debt and other
financing activities
Net cash provided by investing activities
Net (decrease) increase in cash
Balance—beginning of year
Balance—end of year
(13,345,332)
(9,724,124)
12,249,610
4,851,747
7,250,660
10,149,649
$ 17,400,309
(710,454)
1,402,201
(7,142,221)
17,291,870
$ 10,149,649
31
Rural Electric System Condensed Financial Statements
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
Condensed Statement of Net Assets
Current assets
Capital assets, net
Restricted assets
Total Assets
2005
2004
$ 14,440,121
22,931,543
333,002
$ 10,758,356
21,228,365
312,055
37,704,666
32,298,776
Condensed Statement of Revenues, Expenses, & Cash Flows
2005
Operating Revenues
Operating expenses
Depreciation
Operating Income
Net adjustments and changes in financial
position
Net cash provided by operating activities
Current liabilities
Current liabilities payable from restricted
assets
Noncurrent liabilities
Total liabilities
5,704,338
2,427,385
333,002
51,485
6,088,825
312,055
45,213
2,784,653
Capital expenditures, net of financing
Net cash provided by investing activities
Net increase in cash
Balance—beginning of year
Balance—end of year
Net assets:
Invested in capital assets, net if
related debt
Unrestricted
Total net assets
32
22,931,543
8,684,298
$ 31,615,841
21,228,365
8,285,758
$ 29,514,123
2004
$ 24,406,821
21,468,000
986,245
1,952,576
$ 22,332,873
19,424,005
952,962
1,955,906
3,172,045
5,124,621
(2,689,423)
1,410,717
3,366,623
(1,906,199)
149,142
2,584,340
6,686,621
$ 9,270,961
44,082
1,504,506
5,182,115
$ 6,686,621
Address
Bryan Texas Utilities
205 East 28th Street
Bryan, TX 77803
Website
www.btutilities.com
Office Hours
Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-6:00 pm
General Phone Numbers
(979) 821-5700
(877) ENERG4U (363-7448)
Important Phone Numbers
Billing/Collections/Connects
(979) 822-3777
Electrical Outage/Lines Down
(979) 822-3777
Energy Audits/Conservation
(979) 821-5772
Distribution/Line Design
(979) 821-5770
Power Track Cards/Service
(979) 821-5820