21 minute read
co-op news Information plus energy and safety tips from your cooperative
MESSAGE FROM BEC CEO
WILLIAM "BILL" HETHERINGTON
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DESPITE THE PROLIFERATION of LEDs, which became commercially available for residential homes almost 40 years ago, incandescent lights are still the most widely used in residences. About 60% of residences in the U.S. still use incandescent bulbs for lighting.
A recent study, published by the National Academy of Sciences, reveals the genuine lack of understanding of home energy use. Nearly 20% of approximately 500 study participants listed turning off lights as the best way to save energy.
Overall, participants were more willing to somewhat curtail their actions rather than invest in real efficiency, even if the latter would save more energy and money in the long run. If you follow that reasoning, incandescent lightbulbs are usually cheaper than LEDs, so the incandescent lightbulb wins.
Although the study had some limitations, including a moderate sample size and lack of incentives for correct answers, the conclusions are stark. “Many people's concerns about energy are simply not strong enough, relative to their other concerns, to warrant learning about energy conservation," the study authors write.
So how do we encourage energy efficiency, and how do you get people to care? For one, we should stop telling people to turn off lights when they leave the room. Our lives have become much more distracted and complex. Technology contributes to both increasing this distraction and complexity, but this same technology allows us to be much more efficient and better manage the complexities.
We have become more in need of instant gratification in all that we do, and investing in energy efficiency for the long term doesn’t seem to fit that instant gratification mold—until now.
Introducing our Apolloware Saver program, which offers the technology to save you money, including a smart thermostat and Apolloware, BEC's energy management software, which will provide you alerts, notifications and real-time visual validation of how much money you are saving every five seconds. Along with this technology comes an energy audit and of course, LED lightbulbs. You get all of this and an energy bill that will save the average member up to $120 a year without any change of behavior or curtailment of action.
More money can be saved through our Energy Saver program, which allows you to upgrade and replace inefficient appliances like your HVAC system, water heaters and ranges, and with our on-bill financing, no upfront costs are required. Just drop us an email or visit us online because we already know you're too busy to call.
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA GLEASON
i Cr b tation icat in onor of tir BEC ir ctor
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently dedicated its Pipe Creek substation to retired BEC Board Director Jerry Word (pictured below). “Mr. Word has shown tremendous dedication and served the cooperative well in his 39-year tenure,” said Bill Hetherington, BEC CEO. “BEC is delighted to dedicate the substation in his honor.” Word was raised in Bandera County and owns a local construction company. Word joined the BEC board in February 1981. He served as board president from August 1982 until May 2010 and retired in September 2020. He represented District 1 and the members of the Pipe Creek area. Word is pictured with his wife, Opal, below.
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA GLEASON
CONTACT US
P.O. Box 667 • Bandera, TX 78003 Mas@BanderaElectric.com
1.866.226.3372 (1-866-BANDERA)
BanderaElectric.com
Board of Directors
District 1 VACANT District 2 Frances “Fran” Laue District 3 Jeffery “Jeff” Slocum District 4 Jeremy Diller, Vice Chairman District 5 Jerry S. Pierce District 6 Richard “Dick” Earnest District 7 Christopher “Chris” Blakemore District 8 Michael D.T. Edwards, Chairman District 9 Kurt Solis, Secretary-Treasurer
S
William “Bill” Hetherington, CEO Becky Bradburn, CFO
MISSION STATEMENT
At Bandera Electric Cooperative, our mission is lighting the grid to empower our members.
VISION STATEMENT
Reimagining Rural America
Report Outages
24/7
O FREE
1 (866) 226-3372
myBEC
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OFFICES
Bandera • Headquarters
Visit BanderaElectric.com/Hours for information. 3172 Highway 16 N.
Boerne
Visit BanderaElectric.com/Hours for information. 2 Spencer Road, Suite 103
Comfort
Visit BanderaElectric.com/Hours for information. 739 Front St. (Highway 27)
Leakey
Visit BanderaElectric.com/Hours for information. 485 West Ranch Road 337
PAYMENT OPTIONS
• myBEC online or mobile app bill payment • Free bank draft service • Paperless billing • Level billing • Automatic recurring credit card payment • Visa, Mastercard and Discover accepted • ECheck payment by phone • Cash or check payments in office • 24/7 payment kiosks at select offices • Payments accepted at Fidelity Express • Time-Based Usage program • PrePay program
Members Begin Their Mission To Save Energy
BY DAN OKO
WHEN ANNEGRETH NIEMANN AND her husband, Leif Glensgaard, decided to build their retirement home on a little piece of land near Tarpley, sustainability and energy efficiency were on their minds. Originally from Denmark and recently relocated from Houston, the couple installed underground reservoirs for rainwater harvesting and selected doors and windows to keep their HVAC system from working overtime heating and cooling. So when they spotted the Energy Saver Program banner outside the BEC office, Glensgaard who has done most of the construction himself, took interest.
The voluntary Energy Saver Program, which launched in January, has a goal of enrolling 300 members before the end of 2021. BEC aims to improve systemwide energy efficiency, saving members money in the process. According to BEC program manager Michelle Preston, businesses and homeowners can also expect lower energy costs to help pay for improvements.
Because their house is new construction, Neimann and Glensgaard had an opportunity to work with BEC on home design recommendations. They arranged BEC financing for a 40-panel solar array and installed Apolloware, BEC’s state-ofthe-art energy monitoring software. Even so, several typical Energy Saver retrofits were not required. “As we are on a fixed income we looked at what made sense,” says Niemann. “We have just so many years left, so we can break-even, or it will be value-added if we ever decide to sell.”
According to Preston at BEC, qualifying homeowners enroll after a BEC certified efficiency audit. The comprehensive audit includes a blower test on doors and windows to find leaks, room-by-room heat scans, and analysis of past consumption levels. The program is also available for business members and offers three saver “missions.”
The Apolloware Mission provides an Apolloware meter, which tracks and reports real-time energy use; an Ecobee thermostat that can be controlled remotely and has the capacity to learn daily heating and cooling demands; weatherizing blankets for water heaters; a low-flow showerhead; and energy-efficient lighting. Costs for this mission level are amortized over 10 years and are included on monthly bills. The base cost for Apolloware is less than $15 each month, with projected monthly savings of $26.
The BEC monitoring hardware is a behind-the-meter device that affixes directly to property wires and measures energy generation and consumption. The energy analytics allow members to see when an appliance, like an old refrigerator, needs replacing, or to discover leaky pipes that could lead to irregular water pump action, as happened to one member, according to Preston.
“We function as an electric utility, so people don’t always expect us to want to help save our members money, but as a member-owned cooperative, that’s exactly what we do want,” says Preston, adding that member interest in the program is high. Members have the option of qualifying through an online energy audit as well.
It takes about a week to get approved for the program, which will help BEC achieve its goal of improving long-term sustainability across the service area. To that end, BEC verifies that all improvements, no matter the mission level, will reduce energy waste, lower overall electricity consumption and ultimately save money.
Once a home or business is certified and recommended improvements are adapted, members are eligible for two higher levels, the Energy Saver, or Mission II, and the Solar $aver, or Mission III.
Mission II, the Energy Saver, allows members to upgrade their appliances, install new HVAC systems, replace window and doors and more. The approved upgrades come with no down payment and interest-free financing. Payments are made on members’ monthly electric bills.
Solar Saver offers members a chance to generate renewable energy with BEC-financed solar installations including panels, energy-storage batteries and an electric vehicle charging station (commercial members can even receive a high-speed EV charger). To qualify, a BEC-approved specialist must install the solar devices, and they are warranted by BEC through the life of the loan; as with the other mission levels, the no-interest payments and program fees are reimbursed to BEC on monthly bills. “It really depends on your needs and wants,” says Preston.
For the Niemann-Glensgaard house, the Solar Saver was a perfect fit. Their 1,000-square-foot home has a long, southsloping roof, which was ideal for a solar array, and the ability to track energy even when the couple was away from home was attractive, they say. In the end, Niemann says, the price helped seal the deal. “At first, it did not seem like it would work from an economic standpoint,” she reflects. “We only became interested after we heard of the financing offered by BEC.”
Niemann is quick to add that attentive BEC staff made joining the Solar Saver mission straightforward. “The co-op has been very cooperative, and the level of customer service made us very comfortable,” says Niemann. “It really has advantages for us and for the wider society, so if people have questions, we are inviting the community to come take a look at what we’ve done and ask us.”
Hill Country Flavors Found at Farmers Markets
BY DAN OKO
THE AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE of the Hill Country is alive and well at the farmers markets in Bandera and Boerne these days. The Bandera farmers market claims to be the county’s oldest farmers market, and after 10 years is still going strong with vendors specializing in fresh produce, baked goods, jams and boutique offerings like beeswax soap. The Farmers Market at the Cibolo in Boerne is almost as long-standing and is headquartered at historic Herff Farm, part of the Cibolo Center for Conservation.
The Farmers Market at the Cibolo follows a cooperative model. The market collects a small vendor fee in exchange for table space to setup at Herff Farm. The market also spotlights participating famers to help drive visitors and neighbors to the market. “The market was founded to support local farmers,” says Maura Bobbitt, farm programs coordinator at the Cibolo Center. “We wanted to give farmers the ability to sell directly to consumers.”
The busiest season for the Farmers Market at the Cibolo runs from the first weekend of March to the second weekend in December, taking place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Bobbitt says the market was forced to adopt a curbside pickup model in 2020, but ideally, shoppers will be able to return and see the facility in-person this spring beginning March 6. “We encourage people to spend the day at the farm,” says Bobbitt. “Herff farm was started by German immigrants in the 1850s, and the market is one way we invite the community to experience the space.”
The market offers more than just fresh vegetables. Outside ranchers, farmers and other vendors sell at Herff Farm. Thanks to the recently expanded Texas Cottage Food Law,
homemade foods (as opposed to items cooked in a commercial kitchen or restaurant), including items such as desserts and other sweets, coffee, jam, marmalade, and even ice cream can now be ordered online or purchased on-site after the market welcomes back the public. There are also craft vendors, selling pottery, woodwork and jewelry crafted out of minerals and stones found in the region. Bobbitt adds that shoppers can find organic grass-fed beef from Cook Land and Cattle Company as well as local bison from the Apache Spirit Bison Company.
The Bandera Farmers Market operates its booths on Main Street in Bandera on Thursdays from 8 to 11 a.m. and draws many tourists in addition to locals. Heike Westover, a spokesperson for the market as well as a home baker who specializes in German sourdough, describes the Bandera market as smaller but still a lively operation. She and her husband, James, who operate Crazy Lady Farms in addition to Heike’s Beyond Bread Bakery, make cookies and canned items and sell eggs as well. “In good times we have eight to 10 vendors,” she says.“Fresh produce is the big draw.” The Westovers participate in both markets in Boerne and Bandera.
Another vendor, Michelle Stuebing, sells at both markets and represents the next generation of Texas Hill Country farmers. Stuebing sells organic produce and has a group of 40 subscribers who receive weekly produce boxes.
“I really enjoy working at the farmers markets,” says Stuebing. “That’s where I get to talk with people, and they get to see how healthy our produce really is.”
These local farmers markets not only provide fresh nutritious food, they also provide an opportunity for members to connect, stimulate the local economy, promote sustainability and preserve rural America, much like cooperatives.
MARYNA ANDRIICHENKO | ISTOCK.COM
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EVERYONE WONDERS ABOUT power outages, and Bandera Electric Cooperative has the answers to your most frequently asked questions.
Does BEC automatically know when my power goes out?
Advanced meters can send outage information to the cooperative. However, we ask that you call the co-op when you have a power outage; do not assume it has already been reported.
What can I do to help get my power back on quickly?
First check your fuses or circuit breakers, making sure they have not blown or tripped. Next open your myBEC mobile app to report the issue or call BEC and have your account number ready if you're calling from a phone not associated with your account. Let us know if you saw or heard anything, such as sparks, loud noises, and trees or limbs on the power lines. This will help our field crews find the problem quickly to get your power restored. Please do not contact us on social media to report outages. Using the myBEC app or calling us are the best ways to reach us regarding outages. View real-time outage information in the myBEC app or at BanderaElectric.com/ OutageMap.
How do you decide whose power to restore first?
The outage restoration process begins at the substation where power feeds into our system. Once that’s in good shape, crews work on lines serving the greatest number of members until electricity is restored to all main lines. Then crews begin repairing lines to individual members.
Why would a crew pass by my house without restoring power?
Our No. 1 goal is restoring power to as many members as quickly and safely as possible. If you see a service crew pass by without stopping, it could be because crews are working to restore main lines, responding to an emergency, or going past your location to access lines and substations serving your area. Why does my neighbor have power, but I don’t?
Outages depend upon the cause and location of the problem. If your neighbor has electricity, but you don’t, it’s likely that you’re on separate lines. Also remember to make sure your power is not out because of a tripped breaker at your home.
What about members with special medical needs?
We maintain a critical care list to identify members who have special medical emergency needs requiring electricity. In case of extended outages, members who require electricity should be prepared with an emergency backup plan, such as moving to an alternative location or installing a battery backup. Please notify us if you have a critical need for electricity. An application can be found on our website at BanderaElectric.com/CriticalCare.
Why can’t you tell me how long it will take to restore my electricity?
During the power restoration process, crews encounter many factors that affect the time it takes to find problems and make the necessary repairs. Our system provides a best estimate which you can find in the myBEC app online or on your smart phone.
Is a generator safe to use when I lose power?
A generator can be a wonderful tool during an outage, but it can also be extremely dangerous if used improperly. Without a transfer switch, a generator is a fire hazard if it’s online when electricity is restored. Improper connection of a generator to your home’s electrical circuits also endangers service crews working to restore power. If used without ventilation, generators can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use a generator indoors. Don't run large appliances off of extension cords if the generator or cord is not rated for the amount of power drawn.
Learn more about our commitment to reliability at BanderaElectric.com/reliability.
BEC in arl . illion in CC Broa ban ction
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE WON $1,689,601 in the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction to deploy high-speed, fiber-optic broadband service to 534 additional meters within its service territory. BEC was one of 180 winning bidders in the auction with the 10-year support totaling $9.23 billion, covering 49 states and one territory. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction is the largest reverse auction to date and is part of the FCC’s effort to bridge the digital divide. The funds from the FCC will help BEC advance its vision of Reimagining Rural America by making broadband access available to more members. “BEC has a fiduciary responsibility to its member-owners, and we are resolute in searching for strategic ways to make the most of members’ resources,” said Shane Schmidt, BEC fiber manager. “Our goal is to have 10,000 members connected by the end of 2021.” BEC currently serves portions of Bandera, Kendall, Kerr and Real counties, and offers fiber service to more than 55% of its members. BEC is on pace to connect 2,500 subscribers this year, expanding fiber availability to 4,200 new locations. To find out if fiber service is available in your area, please visit BanderaElectric.com/FiberService.
BEC VIRTUAL EVENTS
Join us for virtual events! We're offering online events with different topics and a live A session.
Next event: New Apps to Manage Your BEC Fiber Services
Learn more at BanderaElectric.com/VirtualEvents NOMINATE A NONPROFIT
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PEOPLEIMAGES | ISTOCK.COM
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Texas Independence Day
Tuesday, March 2
Daylight saving time begins
Sunday, March 14
St. Patrick’s Day
Wednesday, March 17
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