View NNEC`s pages in the January Co

Northern Neck
Electric Cooperative
Looking Ahead
Story and photo by
Andrew Packett, NNEC Local Pages Editor
T
helma Winstead Riley has
experienced many changes
throughout her 101 years. She
has witnessed the early days of the
automobile and airplane, television,
computers and NASA’s space program to
the technological “breakthroughs” of
today with cellphones, Internet and
robotic surgery. Riley has experienced
major events going back as far as World
War I, the Great Depression, the rural
electrification movement, World War II,
the Cold War and the Korean War. Riley
has lived during the administrations of
18 U.S. presidents. Perhaps one of the
most important changes during Riley’s
life has been her role as a successful
businesswoman.
Born the youngest of 13 children to
Keturah and Hiram Winstead, Riley lived
in Quinton Oak until her farmer father
died when she was a young child. She
was raised by her sisters in Washington,
NORTHERN NECK
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
85 St. Johns Street
P.O. Box 288
Warsaw, VA 22572-0288
804-333-3621 • 1-800-243-2860
www.nnec.coop
Office Hours: M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
President & CEO
Greg W. White
Local Pages Editor
Andrew Packett
18
D.C. Although Riley took
business classes, she did not
finish school but went to work
for a laundry and dry-cleaning
establishment. This job
provided the background for
Riley’s career as a businesswoman. She met her
husband, Phillip Riley, at the
end of World War II when he
went to Washington for work.
In 1947, Phillip and Thelma
Riley moved to the Northern Neck
to build and open the Northern
Neck Cleaners the next year. She had
the experience to run the business while
Phillip picked up and delivered clothes,
along with other jobs. She also opened a
Naturalizer Shoe store in the cleaners’
side office. As a businesswoman in
Callao, Riley was active in the Chamber
of Commerce and the PTA for her two
children, Phyllis Riley Thomas and
Donald Riley.
In 1959 Riley closed the shoe store
and sold the cleaners to the J.W. Harper
Corporation. She and her husband
moved to Richmond in 1960 to manage
the Hamlet Apartments off Staples Mill
Road. Riley was active in the garden clubs
during this time and all the apartment
residents put flower boxes on their
balconies. Riley was featured in a
Richmond Times-Dispatch article about the
growing trend of flower gardening and
flower boxes.
The Rileys returned to Callao where
Thelma opened The Fashion Shop, a
dress and boutique store. Ever the
businesswoman, she sold The Fashion
Shop to run other businesses and work
Thelma Winstead Riley sits with her daughter
Phyllis Riley Thomas and granddaughter
Debra Thomas Bingham.
with the Callao Chamber of Commerce to
promote Callao. One of her promotions
was a radio call-in program featuring
Callao businesses with prizes, entitled
“Callao Calling.” Another time, Riley
sponsored a Miss Teenage Pageant with
the girls in evening gowns and used the
loading dock of the Southern States as the
stage. In later years Riley bought and
managed the Callao Motel until retiring
to waterfront property she owned near
Heathsville. The Rileys enjoyed their
retirement together until Phillip died
in 1993.
What is the secret to being a successful
businessperson and living to be a
centenarian? Thelma Winstead Riley
continued on pg. 20
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
Best Wishes
for a Safe, Happy and Healthy New Year
from Directors, Management and Employees
of Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
NNEC board of directors, L-R, front row: Ralph E. Sutton, Elnora F. Tompkins
and J. Steve Thomas, Sr. Back row: Hunter R. Greenlaw, Jr., A. Wayne
Saunders, James A. Wise and Russell G. Brown.
NNEC employees, front row L-R: Wayne Douglas, Pamela Davis, Brenda Kram, Betty Millward, Jane Harcum, Jenny Hayes, Coty
Dameron, Craig Loving, Valerie Hinson, Sheila Balderson, Vivian Diggs, Carey Allen; second row L-R: Shawn Coates, Mark Evans,
Greg White, Bobby Franklin, Casey Hayes, Dawn Green, Denise Sanders, Gabrielle Dawson, Chris Neale, Mike Finerfrock, John
Harhai; third row L-R: Len Usual, Ralph Self, Mike Dunaway, Hunter Beane, Richard McLendon, Mike Hyde, Tony O’Bier, Beverly
Jewell, Jim Moss, David Thomas, Marty Mothershead, Mike Winebarger, Bill Clark, Greg Dove; fourth row L-R: Joey Gay, BJ Walker,
David Jackson, Pat Henry, Edward Courtney, Steve Smith, Davin Brann, Will Schools, Keith Balderson, Derek Pierson, Delacy Dodson,
Harry Smith, Danny Delano, James Kelly, Andrew Packett, Randall Thompson. Not pictured: Scott Smith, Ricky Taylor, Leon Douglas
and Steve Minor.
January 2014
19
LOOKING AHEAD
continued from pg. 18
answered, “Work hard and pay
attention to what you are doing. Take
care of yourself and don’t look back.
Look ahead.” Her response clearly
points to the answer: attitude. Isn’t it
amazing to be looking ahead when you
are 101 years old?
Currently residing in the Lancashire
Nursing Home, Riley’s daughter Phyllis
Thomas (married to Steve Thomas, Sr.)
said of her mother, “My mama was a
businesswoman. She was the driving
force of the businesses and our family.
Mama has always had a wonderful
attitude. She never worried. She has no
worries or complaints even now. She is
just a happy-go-lucky person.” Riley’s
granddaughter, Debra Thomas Bingham
(married to Chris Bingham), remarked,
“She has always been laid back. She
takes things in stride. I cannot
remember her worrying ... about
anything.”
There may be a lesson in this for all
of us as we start the New Year with a
positive attitude to look ahead.
You Have NNEC in the Palm of
NNEC is as close as the palm of your hand with its new mobile website
provided through Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. The website is compatible
with iPhones and Droids. The Report Outages number is directly under NNEC’s
logo for members to speed dial.
The site has a short paragraph About Us, and a web form under Contact
Us to email NNEC. The menu bar includes Make a Payment, News &
Events, Outage Map, My Account, and Local Deals. News & Events
lists the latest co-op happenings, while members can sign up to pay their bills
directly at Make a Payment. The Outage Map keeps members informed
with the location and number of outages. My Account provides a sign-in
portal to view your account information, pay your bill, view kilowatt-hour use for
your home and sign up for email notification of your daily or weekly use of
electricity. By accessing My Account, you understand how increased appliance
use and weather impact your electric bill as revealed through daily or weekly
emails. Understanding electricity use helps you conserve energy while recognizing
the causes of increased kilowatt-hour (kWh) use. The emails are a reminder of
how much electricity you are using and the factors that affect your use. Local
Deals contains the discounts available to you through the Co-op Connections
Card in your area.
As you scroll down you see the link to Together We Save that includes
energy-saving tips, an energy-savings home tour and the discounts available
through your Co-op Connections Card. The Touchstone Energy logo is above
the Twitter, Facebook and YouTube links for NNEC.
NNEC Achieves Safety Milestone
20
From left: Northern Neck Electric
Cooperative’s President and CEO Greg
White and Board of Directors Chairman Steve
Thomas, Sr., accept the No Lost Time Accident
Award from Ken Parks of Federated Rural
Electric Insurance Exchange. Northern Neck
Electric Cooperative has an accident-free
record of 1,068,203 employee-hours since
April 29, 2005. The man-hours represent
eight years of continuous work including
storms and major outages. Greg White
commented on this award, “Creating a safe
work environment requires commitment from
each employee of Northern Neck Electric
Cooperative. We have reached this milestone
through the dedication and continuing efforts
of everyone in our organization. This award is
not an occasion to rest on our laurels but to
continue to focus on safety training and
education at the Cooperative to extend this
impressive record. I want to thank all of
NNEC’s employees for their role in our safety
program and this exciting achievement.”
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
SAFETY CORNER
Your Hand!
DIY Electrical Safety
T
For more tips on treating electricity with care in the home and workplace, visit
www.esfi.org.
WATCH
your
WAT T S
LIGHTS OUT
W
like a desk or kitchen sink — so you get
the extra light you need while working,
but you don’t forget and leave it on all night.
There are two types of occupancy
sensors: ultrasonic and infrared. Ultrasonic
sensors detect sound; infrared sensors
detect heat and motion.
Timers make an empty home look
occupied. If kids are still running in and
out, however, timers aren’t as effective as
occupancy sensors. Plug timers into a wall
outlet or install them in the wall, like a
light switch or thermostat. New varieties
are digital.
Photosensors are generally best
outdoors, but new applications have found
they’re also useful for LED nightlights.
When an overhead light is on, the
nightlight shuts off automatically.
hether you can’t train your kids
to turn out lights when they
leave a room or need a better
outdoor lighting scheme, automatic
controls might be a cost-effective solution.
No matter what type you use, “the
most important thing to remember for any
lighting control is to use a type of lightbulb
that doesn’t need to ‘warm up,’” says Brian
Sloboda, a senior program manager
specializing in energy efficiency for the
Cooperative Research Network, the
research and development organization for
the nation’s electric co-ops. “All of the
lightbulbs for residential use now on the
market will work — incandescents,
compact fluorescent lamps [CFLs], and
LEDs [light-emitting diodes].”
Indoors
Occupancy sensors are helpful indoors,
as long as they’re positioned to detect
people in any corner of the room. They’re
also good as task lighting — above places
January 2014
Automatic controls can keep lighting costs in check
Outdoors
If you already have or are thinking
about installing an outdoor security light,
consider combining it with a photosensor
SOURCE: GE
Keep NNEC’s mobile site
handy, we are right
at your fingertips!
he current economic downturn has inspired more homeowners to tackle do-ityourself projects than ever before. Faced with declining home values and aging
properties, homeowners in some cases may choose not to pay for the services of a
licensed electrician.
However, most of us don’t have the training or experience needed to safely perform
electrical work, which increases the risk of injury and electrocution, and potentially
introduces new dangers. Working with electricity requires thorough planning and extreme
care — cutting corners can be a costly mistake.
For example, electrical outlets cause nearly 4,000 injuries every year. And each year,
more than 19,700 people are hurt by ceiling fans that are improperly mounted or
incorrectly sized.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International strongly recommends hiring a qualified,
licensed electrician to perform electrical work in your home. However, if you decide to do it
yourself, consider the following important safety tips:
• Make an effort to learn about your home electrical system so that you can safely
navigate and maintain it.
• Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. Knowing when to call a
professional may help prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities.
• Always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the
circuit breaker in the main service panel.
• Be sure to unplug any lamp or appliance before working on it.
• Test the wires before you touch them to make sure that the power has been turned off.
• Never touch plumbing or gas pipes when performing a do-it-yourself electrical project.
If your kids just won’t turn the lights out when
they leave a room, try automatic lighting
controls to keep lighting costs in check.
to keep it from burning all day. A motion
sensor goes one step further, if you don’t
want continuous light.
Timers are commonly used for aesthetic
or holiday lighting, sometimes in
conjunction with a photosensor — so they
turn on at dusk and turn off at a
designated time.
Visit EnergySavers.gov to learn more
about energy efficiency in your home.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
(EnergySavers.gov)
21
NNEC’s Tools to Stay Informed During a Power Outage
D
uring an outage NNEC has several methods for
members to stay informed. The Outage Map online is
easy to access at outages.nnec.coop with a new mobile
website provided through Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
The website is compatible with iPhones and Droids. The
Report Outages number is directly under NNEC’s logo for
members to speed dial.
The Outage Map shows the outages by county, the volume
of outages in each location per a color chart, and the number
of outages restored. Jim Moss, vice president of Operations,
remarked on the importance of the outage map, “The outage
map on our website provides a convenient way to quickly
check for outages on the NNEC system. Even if your area is
shown on the map, if you are without power we encourage
you to call our outage-reporting number 866-NNEC OUT.
More calls collected into our outage-management system will
more accurately define our outage areas.”
“Like” NNEC on Facebook to keep informed during major
outages from your Cooperative at www.facebook.com/
northernneckelectriccoop. Energy-saving tips, Beat the Peak
alerts and other useful information is posted on Facebook.
Follow NNEC on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NorthernNeckEC.
NNEC tweets a link to the press releases on major outages to
keep members informed. Press releases on major outages are
also posted on NNEC’s website under News and Events.
In order to better serve our members, NNEC has a
dedicated outage number 1-866-NNEC OUT (866-663-2688).
This number is only for outages and it is designed to handle
This is the online outage map. The red arrow is pointing to a blue dot,
which would indicate 1-9 customers are experiencing a power outage.
several hundred calls at one time. This number allows NNEC members
to report their outage information in a timely manner. Report an
electricity outage or an emergency by calling toll-free 1-866-NNEC
OUT (866-663-2688). If there is a high volume of calls for a large
number of outages, please use the automated system. The automated
system recognizes your telephone number and is programmed to
report the outage based on the telephone number identification.
Please make sure NNEC has your correct telephone number.
During normal business hours, customer service representatives
are available for all other inquiries by calling toll-free 1-800-243-2860
or locally 804-333-3621.
Why Is My Electric Bill So High in Winter?
Why Does It Go Up During the Holidays?
f
e
d
inter is here. Electric bills go up
when the temperatures go
down! Cooperative members
also use more energy during the holidays.
During this time of year, it is important
for you to know why your electric bill is
higher and to note ways to reduce your
electricity use.
W
22
Here are a few items that might
contribute to higher bills this time of year:
 Lighting around the home (outside and
inside) is at maximum use with shorter
days and longer nights. Holiday lights
and decorations also use energy.
 Water heaters use more electricity to
heat colder water. Holiday guests mean
more hot water for showers, laundry and
dishwashing.
 Holiday guests mean more heating and
lighting in guest rooms. More cooking is
usually required with holiday guests.
 Clothes cannot be dried outside in
freezing weather, so electric dryers are
used instead.
 In the winter people are inside more
watching television or playing
video games.
 Colder temperatures outside require
more household heating. The colder the
outdoor temperature, the greater the
heat loss from inside your home and the
longer a heating system must operate to
maintain a level of comfort.
 Space heaters are often used in
garages, basements and other places to
provide warmth.
 When the outside temperature is close to
freezing, the auxiliary heat will come on
automatically to maintain the desired
temperature. Many thermostats have a
light that indicates when the auxiliary
heat is in use. The auxiliary heat will also
come on when a person adjusts the
thermostat more than three to four
degrees up at a time. Most newer homes
have heat pumps; therefore, cold
temperatures will activate the auxiliary
heat, resulting in much higher energy
consumption and consequently a higher
electric bill.
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
Powering Up
When an outage occurs, line crews work to pinpoint problems
1 High-Voltage Transmission Lines
Transmission towers and cables that supply power to transmission
substations (and thousands of consumers) rarely fail. But when
damage occurs, these facilities must be repaired before other
parts of the system can operate.
2 Distribution Substation
Each substation serves hundreds or thousands of consumers. When a major outage
occurs, line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from
transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation
itself, or if problems exist down the line.
3 Main Distribution Lines
If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation,
distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large
groups of consumers in communities or housing developments.
5 Individual Homes
If your home remains without power, the service line
between a transformer and your residence may need
to be repaired. Always call to report an outage to help
line crews isolate these local issues.
4 Tap Lines
If local outages persist, supply lines, called tap lines, are
inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either
mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground
service, outside businesses, schools, and homes.
When electricity goes out, most of us expect power will be restored within a few hours. But when a major storm causes widespread damage,
longer outages may result. Co-op line crews work long, hard hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest
time possible. Here’s what’s going on if you find yourself in the dark.
Take the CHILL out of your Winter Electric BILL
 Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees.
Save 3-5 percent for each degree the
thermostat is lowered.
 Lower the water heater thermostat to
120 degrees and insulate all hot water
pipes. Insulate the hot water tank.
Always follow the manufacturer’s
instructions given in your owner’s
manual. (Water heater jackets are not
recommended for all models.)
 Install a programmable thermostat to
lower the temperature when you’re
sleeping or away.
 Run ceiling fans on reverse at the
lowest speed to move warmer air
at the ceiling down toward the
living space.
 Caulk and weatherstrip openings such
as cracks in walls, around windows,
and where doors do not fit or close
properly. Insulate electrical outlets
and switches — they are an often
January 2014
overlooked source of energy loss from
cold air.
 Open your blinds and curtains during
the day. Allowing natural light in from
the sun will warm the air. Remember to
close the blinds and curtains at night.
 Close the doors and vents to rooms you
don’t use daily. Keep them open if you
use a heat pump, because efficiency
depends on proper air flow.
 Replace heating system air filters monthly.
 Check insulation levels in the attic,
crawlspace and basement. Add more
if needed.
 Keep the fireplace damper closed when
not in use.
 Use your oven sparingly. When you do
use it, leave the oven door open after
you are finished cooking to warm up
the room. However, do not use your
oven to heat your home — it will cost
more than running your heating system
and it is very dangerous.
 Use exhaust fans sparingly. Minimizing
the use of these fans will keep the
warm air inside, but use them during
showers to avoid mold.
 Run your dishwasher and your clothes
washer only when they are full.
 Flannel bed sheets and extra covers
keep you warm on cold winter nights
without turning up the thermostat.
NNEC understands that members are
concerned about their electric bills. The
Cooperative offers its members several
payment options including Levelized
Billing. Contact Customer Service at
800-243-2860 or 804-333-3621 for info.
Members are encouraged to go online
to conduct a free energy audit of their
home using the HomeEnergySuite, and to
view many other money-saving resources
under the Energy Conservation area of
the NNEC website at www.nnec.coop.
23
Cooperative Helping Hands Association
Sponsors 5 Stand Sporting Clays Tournament
T
he Cooperative Helping Hands Association (CHH) recently sponsored its
Third Annual 5 Stand Sporting Clays Tournament. The tournament included
five-member teams with individual recognition for the three high guns (top
shooters). The course consisted of shooting 10 rounds from five stations. Winners were
the teams with the highest scores after completion.
Congratulations to all winners and thank you to all who participated to make this
event successful. Cooperative Helping Hands Association is the fundraising
organization established by the Northern Neck Electric Cooperative employees to
donate to local charities.
As the competition concluded,
teammates Jack Reeves and David
Napier were tied for second place in the
high gun award. They were in a shootoff competition with Reeves winning.
High Gun Results:
(accepting High Gun awards from
CHH member Joey Gay)
Team Tournament Results:
Russell Haynie, High Gun award winner –
Score 45.
Second-place team, L-R: Richard Kent, Jack Reeves, Robert Kent, Benny Holiday and David
Napier with Cooperative Helping Hands member and coordinator for the shooting event
Joey Gay – Score 173.
Jack Reeves, Second-Place High Gun
award winner – Score 43.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY ANN GAY
First-place team, L-R: Carvel Whaley, Russell Haynie, Richard Haynie, Richard McLendon
and Joey Gay – Score 186.
Third-place team, L-R: Benny Johnson, Bryan Oliff, Glen Branich, Tony Oliff and Wally
Johnson – Score 122.
24
David Napier, Third-Place High Gun
award winner – Score 43.
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
Special Thanks to:
Wood Preservers for the use of their
facilities.
Peyton Motley and J.R. Fidler, who
helped plan and run the tournament.
Essex Concrete
The NNEC employees (members of
the Cooperative Helping Hands
Association) who helped plan and work
the Sunday event.
Cooperative Helping Hands Association members help with food sales at the event.
Winner of the CZ
Over/Under Raffle:
Colbert Bell
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANE THOMAS
Youth Division Results:
L-R: First place Kyle Thomas – Score 22; Second
place Shane Pittman – Score 14.
January 2014
The course consisted of shooting 10 rounds from five stations.
25