nueces electric member newsletter sept 2014

www.nueceselectric.org21 Texas Co-op Power NEC September 2014

Cooperativeth Anniversary

14353 Cooperative Ave ~Corpus Christi, TX 78380

John L. Sims, NEC CEO

The Story of NEC

Next month, October 9th to be exact, Nueces Electric Cooperative will be celebrating our 75th Annual Meeting of the membership. I look forward to this meeting every year. I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meet-ing new members. I look forward to informing you of our success and see-ing the democratic Board of Director election process in action. I appreci-ate seeing children running around enjoying the activities while they learn about electricity and youth opportuni-ties.

Cooperative life has not always been as easy as it is today. I would like to take a moment to remind you of our story and how Nueces Electric Coop-erative came to be.

Close your eyes and think what it would be like if the only electric utility in the area refused to serve you? Or, what if they would only serve you if you paid thousands of dollars up-front, and then, they’d charge you 25 cents for each kilowatt-hour you used?

Step back to the 1930’s and you’d see people in the cities who had enjoyed the advantages of electricity for decades, while rural people were still making do without it or paying these exorbitant rates to get electricity. In those days, the big, for-profit power companies had little interest in pro-

viding this essential service to people in sparsely populated communities. It simply wasn’t profitable.

On May 11, 2035, rural America took a giant step forward when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act which gave Congress the authority to initiate a rural electrification pro-gram as a depression relief agency.

Thus began the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) which admin-istered the loans to groups of rural citizens working together to bring electricity to non-urban areas. These organized groups of citizens were called Electric Cooperatives.

At that time only 2.3 percent of rural Texans had electricity.

Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc. was chartered December 7, 1938, by a group of farmers and ranchers who truly exemplified the pioneer spirit joined together to bring this rural area out of the dark ages. The originally signed 355 members selected W. F. L. Lehman, F. C. Wolf, August Wisian,

Roy Barlow, Fred G. Lowman, Emil Hinze, John H. Bolland, O. F. Brendle, and C. A. Eggleston as the first Board of Directors and to carry on the nec-essary work to begin the process of building an electric central station for the area.

The 355 members all had electricity by January 1940. In 1946, the Co-op expanded service lines to include Jim Wells, Kleberg, and Live Oak counties.

Our cooperative has always, and will always, be a democratic, member-owned utility. We are proud of those who came before us; and as we move into the future it is vital that we never forget where we came from. We were built out of determination to have a better life. When for-profit utilities refused to serve our homes, our com-munities banded together and fought for a resolution. Can you imagine pulling a string and seeing that light bulb come on for the first time?

Today, Nueces Electric Cooperative is a thriving entity. The Co-op has worked hard to diversify through deregulation and navy base contracts. We are paving new roads and have overcome great obstacles. Through it all, the Co-op has persevered and we are continuing to change and adjust to the rapid technology advancements and the increased demand for electric-ity. We work everyday to carry on the legacy of our founders and we hope we make you proud to be a member-owner of your electric cooperative.

At the Annual meeting on October 9th, each member who attends will receive a special copy of the Nueces

Electric Cooperative 75th Anni-versary Book. This book is a glance

back at our rich history and will enlighten you on some of the behind the scene hard work that goes into

making our Co-op successful.

www.nueceselectric.org September 2014 NEC Texas Co-op Power 21

www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

S a v e T h e D a t e

• BBQDinner• $10billcreditforattending• VoteforBoardofDirectors• Doorprizesincluding$75billcredits• 75thAnniversaryco-opgoodybag

• Free75thAnniversarycommemorativebook

• Learnaboutco-opprograms• Kidsactivities&fun!

*Voting closes at 7:00 p.m.

75Annual Membership Meeting

th

Thursday,October9,2014RichardBorchardRegionalFairgrounds

Robstown,TX

5:30Registration,Voting*,KidsActivities&Dinner

7:00BusinessMeeting&DoorPrizes

JoinUsForTheMeetingAndReceive:



Orange Grove Service Center Open House & 75th Anniversary Celebration

July 15, 2014



Attention Ben Bolt & Ricardo

Area Members

Come help us celebrate 75 years of service to your community!

Ricardo Wednesday, September 17th 11 a.m.-2 p.m. @ the Ricardo office

Ben Bolt Wednesday, September 24th 11 a.m.-2 p.m. @ the Ben Bolt office

Join us for a hot dog lunch, a cold drink, & cool 75th anniversary goodies

So everyone can celebrate, please plan to attend only one event (not both)

Member Satisfaction Survey

Have Your Say About Your Co-op

2014 Member Satisfaction Survey

Let us know how we are doing by participating in the annual Member Satisfaction Survey. The leadership of the Co-op depends on your feedback through this survey to help guide operational decisions and Co-op policies.

There are several ways you can take the survey, but please only take it one time:

• Take the Survey online using the NEC website below

• Print a paper copy of the survey from the NEC website

• Call the office and have a paper copy mailed to you

• Pick up a paper copy at any NEC office located in Calallen, Ben Bolt, Ricardo, Orange Grove or Robstown.

Take the survey now at:

www.nueceselectric.org1-800-NEC-WATT

Survey responses will be collected Tuesday,

September 30th at 5:00 p.m.



NEC: Creating A Better Co-op For You Everyday

Payment Availability

During the past few months, NEC has implemented an electronic phone payment system, to eliminate call wait times. Or you can pay with your cell phone, via the SmartHub app, or use the new payment Kiosk. All payments are applied to your bill instantaneously.

Superior ServiceInstead of making the trip to the office, NEC Members are now able to apply for service or con-struction via www.nueceselec-tric.org. While you are there, use the online Contact Us form to e-mail questions our Member Care Department. Finally, log-in to SmartHub, NEC’s online account management system, to not only review your bills, usage an historical information; you can now track your work orders too!

Technology advancements are a daily occurrence at the Co-op. These days, underground services have become popular among developers. NEC has now installed URD indicators to help us locate line issues underground, which reduces the length of outages. Additionally, NEC upgraded the mapping software so line crews can better identify the distance and services in need of construction or repair.

Excellence inTechnology

Member Empowerment

Let’s TalkNEC’s goal is to provide you, the member-owner, with a variety of ways you can access the Co-op 24 hour a day. The newest tool for members is the online outage viewer available at www.nueceselectric.org. This viewer gives members the abil-ity to see the big picture and view all of the outages, how many members are affected, and how many services have been restored.

Do you have Facebook or Twit-ter? If so, let’s be friends! The Co-op is always interested in hearing feedback from our members. If you don’t have face-book, but would like to tell us how we are doing, call us any-time! Or even better, e-mail us at [email protected]. However you choose to contact us, we would love to her from you.



Prize Drawing:Provide Your Latest Contact Information and You Could Win!

NEC is asking all members to submit your latest contact information. Many times members do not realize they forget to change their phone or e-mail address on their account. These are two vital and cost-effective ways the Co-op con-nects with members. Use any one of the below methods to provide the Co-op with your latest contact information and your name will be entered into a prize drawing. Ten lucky members will win cool Co-op prizes! Drawing will be held on Tuesday, September 30th. The Co-op will contact all winners that week.

Ways to enter: ȯ Cut-out this slip and mail it in

ȯ Call 1.800.632.9288 and speak with a Member Care Rep

ȯ E-mail: [email protected]

ȯ Use the Contact Us page at www.nueceselectric.org

Account Number: ___________________________________

Name: __________________________________________

Billing Address: ____________________________________

City, State, Zip: ____________________________________

Cell Phone: _______________________________________

Home Phone: ______________________________________

E-Mail Address: _____________________________________

Get $5 Off Your Bill From August 1 - October 30th, get $5 off your elec-tric bill when you use the NEW NEC Payment Kiosk*. The Kiosk is located at the Calallen office (in the drive-thru) and is accessible to members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s easy to use and your pay-ment is immediately reflected on your account. If all goes well, and the kiosk is well received by mem-bers, NEC could possibly consider installing kiosks at service centers so members can make cash, check or credit card payments outside of normal business hours at any of our facilities. Please note this $5 off is a one-time credit per account.

Use the scanner to scan the barcode on the front of your electric bill or enter your account number

1. Confirm your last name2. Select your payment type. The Kiosk accepts

cash, checks, or credit cards.3. Choose to pay the entire balance, pay part of the

balance or sign-up for recurring payments with your credit or debit card.

4. View your payment history, billing history or cur-rent bill using the kiosk.

5. The payment will process and post to your account immediately.

6. Print the receipt and you are done!

Drive by the Calallen office and see how easy it is to use the payment kiosk. It’s just another way the Co-op is making it easy for you to access us.



Employee Spotlight

When speaking with Distribution engineer, Jason Ramirez, about happenings in the Engineering department, I asked him to tell me what cool things were going on . His response, “Everything we do is cool.” Being a Distribution Engi-neer is a position Jason has only held since this past June, but he has filled the seat well. He is already working hard to knock out large projects and increase efficiency within the department as well as with members.

Jason, a twelve-year Co-op employee, began his career as a part time IT employee before moving to the engineering department in 2003 as a System Distribution Tech. As the Distribution Engineer, Jason is responsible for man-aging a six man team to ensure accurate and efficient grid design, mapping, construction scheduling, and the line maintenance program.

Some of the cool projects the engineering department has worked on recently include a highway expansion project, instillation of URD indicators on underground service transformer boxes, designing a new feeder line for CR 52 in Calallen, and finishing a large reconductor project along CR 303 in the Orange Grove area.

We are happy for you Jason and wish you the best in your new role!

Jason RamirezNEC Distribution Engineer

L e t ’ s B e

F r i e n d sBe in the know ~ Like us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/nueceselectric



Competitive Retailers Qualified To Serve Consumers Located in the Nueces Electric Co-op (NEC) Electric Distribution Service Area*

Updated 07/10/2014 Regardless of the company you choose as your power supplier, remember that your energy delivery needs will always be the responsibility of Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) and you have the right to contact us with questions regarding your electricity needs at any time. PLEASE NOTE: The (CRs) listed below have completed the process to qualify to serve NEC area member-consumers and you may choose one of them for your power supplier.Some of these providers do NOT serve residential services. This provider list is subject to change. Please monitor the Texas Co-op Power magazine (sent monthly to all NEC members) and/or our website at www.nueceselectric.org for updated CR provider lists. These can also be obtained at any NEC office:14353 Cooperative Ave, Corpus Christi, TX 78410 (located at the intersection of CR52 & CR69); 123 County Road 1026 in Ricardo, TX; 5646 S. Hwy 281, Alice/Ben Bolt, TX; or 5302 W. FM 624, Orange Grove, TX

Competitive Retail Power Provider

Phone Number

E-Mail/Website

AFFORDABLE ENERGY, L.P./AP GAS & ELECTRIC 1-877-544-4857 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

BENEFICIAL POWER LLC – APOLLO POWER & LIGHT 1-855-750-5556 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

BLUESTAR ENERGY 866-BLUESTAR (866-258-3782) COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES 1-877-653-5090 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL OVER 40,000 KWH/YEAR CONSTELLATION NEW ENERGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY CORAL POWER SOLUTIONS CORAL POWER, LLC

713-767-5400 LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

DYNEGY

877-4DYNEGY (877-439-6349)

[email protected] COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

ENERGY TRANSFER

800-375-5702 LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

EVERYTHING ENERGY GDF SUEZ COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

HINO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY 1-866-446-6797 Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm

www.hinoelectric.com COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

MPOWER /MP2 1-888-202-4770 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

NUECES ELECTRIC CO-OP RETAIL DIVISION (NEC RETAIL) 1-855-NEC-RD4U (1-855-632-7348) www.necretail.com

RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL TENASKA LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY ENCOA (TERM) 713-341-7365 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY SMARTCOM ENERGY SERVICES 713-771-7400 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

STARTEX POWER LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL (50 KW OR LARGER)

SOURCE POWER & GAS COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

V247 POWER 1-855-888-9888 or 1-832-629-1119 RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL WPS ENERGY SERVICES

IMPORTANT: NEC MEMBERS HAVE THE CHOICE TO RECEIVE EITHER 1 BILL -WITH BOTH NEC AND YOUR PROVIDER CHARGES, SENT BY NEC -OR 2 BILLS - A BILL FROM NEC FOR DELIVERY CHARGES AND A BILL FROM YOUR PROVIDER FOR YOUR POWER SUPPLY CHARGES. BE SURE TO DISCUSS YOUR PREFERRED BILLING WITH YOUR CHOSEN PROVIDER.YOUR DELIVERY CHARGES FROM NEC WILL BE THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU CHOOSE AS YOUR PROVIDER, & REGARDLESS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ONE BILL OR TWO BILLS.

NEC Power Provider List

Lite Up Texas NoticeIf you are a current participant in the LITE-UP TEXAS program, the discounts you have been receiving in 2014 on your electric bill will end with your September 2014 electric bill. If you are self-enrolled in the program, continue to self-enroll at every eligibility period. The 2015 discount period is May 2015 thru August 2015. For additional information and program requirements you can call 1-866-454-8387 or go to the Public Utility Commission of Texas website at http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/low income/Assistance.aspx

Si usted participa actualmente en el programa de descuento en la electricidad para perso-nas de bajos ingresos (LITE-UP TEXAS), el descuento que usted ha estado recibiendo en su factura de electricidad en el 2014 terminará con su factura de electricidad de Septiembre 2014. Si usted se matriculó por sí mismo en el programa, debe continuar matriculándose en cada período de eligibilidad. El período de descuento para el 2015 es de Mayo 2015 a Augusto 2015. Para más información y para verificar los requisitos del programa puede llamar al 1-866-454-8387 ó visitar el sitio web de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos en http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/lowincome/Assistance.aspx

AC or heating usage accounts for 50% of your

monthly electric bill.

If you are at home, try to keep your thermostat set to 78 degrees and use ceiling fans to cool down. Fans can lower the inside of a home by 4 degrees and use less energy than

your AC unit.

If Your Account Number is:

Play & Win!

5750502

YOU WIN $25 off your

electric bill!Call, NEC before the 20th of the month to receive your electric

bill credit!

1.800.NEC.WATT

nueces electric member newsletter sept 2014

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