Today in Mississippi August 2024 Local Pages by American MainStreet Publications

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES

GO SIMPLE WITH RICE BOWLS

NRECA seeks halt to EPA’s mercury, air rule for power plants

NRECA has joined with other member cooperatives to urge a federal appeals court to halt implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new mercury and air rule before it can cause “substantial, irreparable, and immediate harm” to electric co-ops.

If the rule is not paused, co-ops will su er “exorbitant” costs to bring their power plants into compliance with standards that may later be deemed unlawful, according to a motion for a stay of the ﬁnal rule that NRECA and others ﬁled in June with the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Co-ops would never be able to get that money back, even if the rule is later thrown out by a court amid legal challenges to the EPA’s authority, the motion says. If the court grants NRECA’s request for a stay, the rule would be put on hold until the courts can evaluate its legality.

It’s also questionable whether the new standards are even achievable, according to NRECA and other petitioners. NRECA has urged the EPA

to rescind the new mercury rule — which has “no appreciable public health beneﬁts” — and keep the previous standards in place.

The new rule requires plants burning lignite coal to slash their mercury emissions by 70% compared to EPA’s 2012 standard. The chemical di erences in lignite prevent emissions controls from achieving the same level of reductions as in other types of coal, NRECA says.

The rule — which plant operators must comply with by July 2027 — also requires a 67% cut in ﬁlterable particulate matter for all coal-ﬁred plants but does not identify any new cost-e ective technologies to meet that goal.

If the standards can’t be met, power plants would be forced to shut down, which NRECA warns would threaten reliability at a time when demand for electricity is growing.

“The premature shutdown of plants will cause electricity costs to skyrocket,” the stay request warns. “Without generation, utilities must purchase power at unsustainable prices to meet demand.” – NRECA

NRECA asks feds to relax cyber reporting proposal

Proposed regulations for reporting cybersecurity incidents impacting critical infrastructure go beyond what Congress intended and should be re-drafted to be less of a burden for electric cooperatives, the NRECA told the Department of Homeland Security.

The NRECA ﬁled comments July 3 to the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) calling its proposal to carry out the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) counterproductive for electric co-ops’ cyber e orts.

“NRECA supports CISA’s goal of improving the nation’s cybersecurity posture, but the agency needs to adhere to congressional intent and avoid requirements that are overly broad and will strain our cyber workforce,” said John Ransom, NRECA director for cybersecurity regulatory a airs.

NRECA asked the agency to raise its threshold for reporting a cyber incident to include only incidents that impact operations. It also asked the agency to take a risk-based approach to identifying entities rather than expanding authority over a wide number of utilities.

“Requiring all electric utilities to report incidents exceeds Congress’s intent and would create signiﬁcant new costs for cooperatives and the communities they serve,” Ransom said. “Further, this proposal has the potential to increase cyber risk to cooperatives by stretching their cyber resources to focus on compliance activities rather than incident response.”

A ﬁnal rule to implement CIRCIA is due in 2025. – NRECA

“Improving the quality of life for all those we touch.”

Electricity provides powerful value

If you’re like me, there are aspects of your life that become sort of a daily routine. I get ready for work, get in my car and drive to the co ee shop on the way to the o ce. At lunchtime, I sometimes make my way to an area restaurant. Once I ﬁnally end the day at home, I spend time with the family, stream an episode or two of my favorite show and head to bed.

As we all look for ways to save money in this age of increasing inﬂation, I began to think about my daily routine and how much value it provided me compared to the money I spent. A morning co ee and donut break was costing me about $6; a fast-food combo with a burger, fries and a drink was setting me back $10, and my streaming subscription is about $16 each month. All these daily expenses totaled around $85 a week, or about $340 monthly. And what was the real value — short-term satisfaction and a larger waistline? Even as I started packing my own lunch, my co ee/donut breaks were still costing me about $120 a month. This got me thinking — is this the best value for my money?

The average daily cost of electricity is about $4.57, and the average monthly electric bill for members of 4-County is about $140. You could power your entire home every day for the price of a medium co ee. I could brew my own co ee, cook my own meals, binge a series and run on a treadmill for less than the cost of that drink. Now to me, that’s real value.

Electricity provides beneﬁts that we often take for granted. It goes well beyond short-term satisfaction by allowing us to charge devices and have cold food and hot water, all in a comfortable indoor climate. Besides the privilege it a ords, electricity has also remained relatively cost-stable even amidst rising inﬂation.

As a member-owned cooperative, 4-County does everything in our power to ensure your costs stay reasonable and that electricity remains a great value for our members. It’s not always easy, as there are several factors beyond inﬂation that impact the price of electricity — some within our control but most beyond it.

The cost of electricity can ﬂuctuate due to supply and demand, infrastructure investment, maintenance and operational expenses. Weather patterns also contribute, a ecting both demand and generation capabilities, with extreme conditions leading to heightened energy use or disruptions. Government policies, such as subsidies for renewable energy or taxes and regulations on emissions, shape electricity costs as well. Your electric co-op considers all these aspects when adjusting rates, and because we’re a cooperative, we consider the impact of those costs on our members as well (see sidebar below for more information).

As our community continues to rely on electricity for nearly everything in our homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, we need it to be reliable and a ordable. You can be assured, 4-County always puts you top of mind and works each day to ensure electricity remains the best value for your money.

by Brian Clark

CEO/General Manager

Be proactive as rate adjustments likely

As costs of purchasing power rise along with other essential elements of doing business as an electric cooperative, 4-County Electric Power Association rates will likely undergo an adjustment later this year.

4-County o cials say that while the Association has been able to successfully avoid a signiﬁcant rate adjustment over the past decade, the time may have ﬁnally come. Again, costs for doing business continue to rise. Basic items like poles, wire and transformers are extremely expensive right now. The cost to replace a bucket truck is staggering.

With that said, 4-County will continue to work daily on keeping your rates as low as possible. What can you do? Take a look at the cost-saving adjustments here:

3 WAYS

In addition to increased comfort, weatherizing your home is an excellent way to save energy and lower your cooling and heating costs. Here are three ways you can seal in comfort and savings.

37th

4-County Electric Power Association delegates Maggie Martin, Gaby Baumbach, Tyler Phillips and Liv Gundy recently joined a group of 81 rising high school seniors from across Mississippi at the 2024 NRECA Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.

The June 15-21 trip was the culmination of the students’ participation in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s youth leadership program.

Learn, grow, experience. That’s what the Cooperative Youth Leaders program is all about. EXPERIENCE is the third component in the program. Our Mississippi students experienced all facets of their nation’s capital city.

They joined nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour. The program, which instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, builds conﬁdence in decision-making, and introduces students to lawmakers that represent their communities.

the students met and spoke with their U.S. senators — Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith.

While in Washington, D.C., the students and adult chaperones visited historic sites, monuments, museums, and had an opportunity to learn about the impact electric cooperatives have on their communities.

The students also had an opportunity to tour the U.S. Capitol, sit on the ﬂoor of the House of Representatives, and visit the Library of Congress as guests of former U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

The students were chosen in the fall of their junior year of high school through interviews, where they LEARNed about their electric cooperative and the electric power industry.

During a March workshop in Jackson, which is the GROW component of the program, the students had the opportunity to meet and hear from state legislators. During the trip to Washington, D.C.,

The Cooperative Youth Leaders program is fully funded — including the trip to D.C. — by the local electric co-ops as a commitment to molding future leaders for Mississippi, so they can impact the state and local communities.

Our favorite part of the Youth Tour was the connections we made with other students from not just our state, but from around our country. – Maggie Martin, Tyler Phillips, Liv Gundy, and Gaby Baumbach

GABY BAUMBACH

HERITAGE ACADEMY

LIV GUNDY

FRENCH CAMP ACADEMY

MAGGIE MARTIN

STARKVILLE ACADEMY

TYLER PHILLIPS

COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Clark solves mystery of customer service

“I love old mystery television shows like ‘Murder She Wrote’ and ‘Columbo’ – entertainment from the 1970s and 1980s. I’m just an old soul,” Marquetta said.

The 4-County/FASTnet member service representative enjoys watching her favorite shows while eating home-cooked meals. “I love to cook soul food: candied yams, macaroni and cheese, greens and fried chicken. I particularly like fresh vegetables right out of the garden,” she stressed.

Clark is a self-described “country girl” that grew up in Oktibbeha County working and playing with her siblings and cousins. “We jumped on hay bales and learned how to drive tractors at an early age. We worked hard and played hard. I was always the one to get the fun started,” she said.

That raised-in-the-country work ethic has served her well at 4-County/FASTnet. “I want to make our members and customers smile. It’s important to be empathetic, have the right information and give them some light at the end of the tunnel. That makes them happy, and that makes me happy,” Marquetta said.

She joined 4-County/FASTnet in November 2022. Prior to 4-County, she worked three years for Impression Solutions as an account representative. She attended East Mississippi Community College.

Marquetta and her husband, Rodrigues, live in Starkville. Marquetta has one son, Delontae Hatchett, three stepdaughters, and four stepsons. She also has one grandson. She and her family attend Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Starkville. “I love my family and my church family.”

Known as the snack lady in her neighborhood, Marquetta is a favorite among the local kids on the block. “I spoil them. They come see me every day for freeze pops. I open the door with a smile,” she said.

That willingness to serve extends to her place of business. She describes her relationship with her immediate co-workers as a sisterhood. “We bond, connect, and support each other.”

Marquetta says 4-County/FASTnet as a place she can grow — a real home away from home. “It’s a great place to work. We provide a valuable service to our customers, and I appreciate our volunteer e orts in the communities we serve.”

CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

A tradition of dependable, hometown service since 1937

107 EAST MAIN STREET • CARTHAGE, MS 39051

CARTHAGE: 601-267-5671 | PHILADELPHIA: 601-656-2601 | RANKIN: 601-829-1201 | SEBASTOPOL: 601-625-7422

CEPA DIRECTORS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE

Credentialed Cooperative Direct Certification

Two directors of Central Electric Power Association recently received the Credentialed Cooperative Director certiﬁcate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

To earn the certiﬁcation, each director must complete ﬁve courses designed to provide basic knowledge and skills required of cooperative board members. The curriculum includes Director Duties and Liabilities; Understanding the Electric Business; Board Roles and Relationships; Strategic Planning; and Financial Decision Making.

An ever-changing business environment has imposed new demands on electric cooperative directors, requiring increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and a solid knowledge of the cooperative principles and business model. Central Electric has a commitment to work through the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi and NRECA to sharpen this body of knowledge for the beneﬁt of their electric cooperative consumer-owners.

Central Electric congratulates Kenneth Hagan and Jackie Harpole on their CCD Certiﬁcation.

Kenneth Hagan, board of director serving Newton County

Jackie Harpole, board of director serving Leake County

37th

EXPERIENCE is the third component in the Cooperative Youth Leaders program. Eighty-ﬁve rising high school seniors from across Mississippi traveled to Washington, D.C., to experience all facets of their nation’s capital city.

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The trip was the culmination of the students’ participation in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s leadership program, which instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, builds conﬁdence in decision-making, and introduces students to lawmakers that represent their communities.

During a March workshop in Jackson, which is the GROW component of the program, the students had the opportunity to meet and hear from state legislators. During the trip to Washington, D.C., the students met and spoke with their U.S. senators — Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

The students were chosen in the fall of their junior year of high school through their local Cooperative University and interviews, where they LEARNed about their electric cooperative and the electric power industry.

Our tour of the Capitol with former Congressman Gregg Harper made me more motivated to pursue my dreams. My Youth Tour experience was transformative and inspiring. – Katie Sockey

ABREALE LEFLORE

LEAKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

MITCH PUCKLITSCH

LEAKE ACADEMY

KATIE SOCKEY

LEAKE ACADEMY

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Foundation was created by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi in 2005. In an e ort to give back to the communities they serve, the Foundation provides scholarships for post-secondary and vocational education to accredited institutions for qualifying high school seniors. For the fall of 2024, the Foundation awarded scholarships to dependents of employees of participating electric cooperatives. Six Central Electric employees’ children who are entering college this fall were awarded the ECM Foundation Scholarships. Central Electric wants to congratulate each recipient on receiving this scholarship.

Dalton Graham, Newton County High School

Dalton Graham is the son of Christina Graham and Pete and Yancy Graham. He is a graduate of Newton County High School. Dalton enjoys hunting, ﬁshing, baseball, and golf. He plans to attend Pearl River Community College to pursue a business degree. Dalton plans to play baseball throughout college.

Carrington Dexter Myrick, Velma Jackson High School

Carrington Dexter Myrick is the son of Dexter and Felicia Myrick. He is a graduate of Velma Jackson High School. Carrington enjoys football, track, and bowling. He plans to attend Holmes Community College and Mississippi State University to pursue an accounting degree.

Cary Wilkinson, Union High School

Cary Wilkinson is the daughter of Andy and Leann Wilkinson. She is a graduate of Union High School. Cary’s love for her family and her church inspired her to want to pursue an education career to create a safe place for future students. Cary plans to attend Southwest Mississippi Community College where she will be a cheerleader and pursue a degree in elementary education.

John Michael Donovan II, Leake Academy

John Michael Donovan II is the son of Mike and Ginger Donovan. He is a graduate of Leake Academy where he was on the baseball and football teams. John Michael enjoys hunting, ﬁshing, and ﬁtness training. He plans to attend East Central Community College to pursue a degree in the electrical industry.

Lakynn Kelly Pickett, Neshoba Central High School

Lakynn Kelly Pickett is the daughter of Darrin and Lynda Pickett. She is a graduate of Neshoba Central High School. Lakynn enjoys performing in theatre and drama, spending time with her family and friends, and ﬁshing with her dad. She plans to attend East Central Community College where she will be part of the band, chorus, theatre, and captain of the color guard. Lakynn will further her education at a university to pursue a degree in music, arts, and acting.

Meah Pinter, Leake Academy

Meah Pinter is the daughter of Martin and Shay Pinter. She is a graduate of Leake Academy. Meah enjoys riding horses and making beaded jewelry. She plans to attend the University of West Alabama on a rodeo scholarship and pursue a degree in nursing.

by Qua’Shara Monix

Planting seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love

Cotton, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, rice, and wheat are the primary crops grown in the Mississippi Delta. Cotton is Mississippi’s most valuable crop, and typically ranks Mississippi as one of the top cotton-producing states.

Every farm is unique, especially in the Delta. It’s July on the farm, and we are in wake up, pick, weed, plant more, repeat mode. Motivation is what gets you started, and habit is what keeps you going. These days life can get a little repetitive, but now is when you start to see the rewards for all the hard work. Grapes must be CRUSHED to make wine. Diamonds are formed UNDER PRESSURE. Olives are PRESSED to make oil and seeds grow in dark places. The rain may even spoil our picnic, but ultimately can save a farmer’s

crop. Whenever you feel CRUSHED, UNDER PRESSURE, or PRESSED just know you are in a powerful place and things are about to change. As we navigate toward healthy crops, let’s also shower bountiful blessings and prayers over our children entering the new school year. Whether it be small inquisitive minds or mature graduating seniors preparing for new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges. Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen. Students, you have an incredible journey waiting for you, full of knowledge and achievements. Embrace every opportunity and challenge that comes your way. We believe in you and are here to support you every step of the way. Have a blessed and healthy school year.

the Crossroads

See ya at the Crossroads

The 36th annual Sunﬂower River Blues and Gospel Festival will take place August 9, 10, and 11. The full event schedule can be found at the festival’s website, www.sunﬂowerfest.org.

This is a free festival in downtown Clarksdale that celebrates and features our talented local blues and gospel musicians.

QMy heating system is 10-plus years old, and I want to switch to a heat pump. Can you help me choose the best option for my home?

Aby Miranda Boutelle

The name heat pump does not highlight the beneﬁt of air conditioning that comes with the technology. Heat pumps are highly e cient because they don’t use energy to create heat. Instead, they use energy to move heat — into the home in the winter and out of it in the summer. They typically produce about three times more energy than they use.

The most common types of heat pumps are air source and ground source. Air source heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air, even

Heat pumps have been around for decades, and in that time, the technology has come a long way. In my opinion, they could use a rebrand.

if it isn’t particularly warm outside. Ground source, or geothermal heat pumps, transfer heat between your home and the ground. With a lower upfront price tag, air source heat pumps are more common.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air source heat pumps can reduce heating use by about 65% compared to an electric furnace. They come in a variety of styles and conﬁgurations to ﬁt di erent homes. Air source heat pump technology has been popular in warmer climates for decades. There are now cold climate versions available, too.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating o cer at E ciency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy e ciency company.

Here’s an explanation of how each type operates:

Ducted air source heat pumps

are ideal for homes with existing ductwork or homes where ductwork can be feasibly added. Replacing an aging central air conditioning system with a heat pump can significantly reduce heating costs.

Geothermal heat pumps

transfer heat from the ground to your home. They are even more efficient than air source heat pumps, reducing energy use by 70% to 80%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. They can also heat water for use in the home, which saves on water heating costs. From a user experience perspective, heat pumps are a little different because the heat from the register doesn’t feel quite as warm as oil, electric, natural gas or propane heat. That can take a little getting used to, but the efficiency gains and energy savings make the investment worthwhile. Before buying a heat pump, compare equipment ratings. The higher the rating, the more efficient the equipment. If it is time to replace your heating system, I recommend making the switch to a heat pump to conserve energy and potentially save on your electric bills.

Ductless heat pumps

or mini-split heat pumps, also draw heat from the outside air. They are a great solution for homes that do not have existing ductwork. There are many configurations to suit different home layouts. New options on the market allow for coupling with gas or propane backup heat, which might be a good fit for your home. Ductless heat pumps can be a great option for homes with wood stoves. This can help home air quality, heat the home without gathering wood and provide air conditioning in warmer months.

Understanding the backup heat feature

Most heat pump systems are installed with a backup or auxiliary heat for cold weather. This auxiliary heat can be electric coils, gas, propane or oil, which is usually more expensive to operate. This helps keep your home warm on cold days, but you don’t want to use it if you don’t need it. For some heat pumps, turning up the thermostat too quickly or too high can trigger the backup heat. Typically, your thermostat will display emergency or auxiliary heat when using this feature. Speak to your HVAC technician to ensure your thermostat is set to maximize efficiency.

Ductless heat pumps have increased in popularity significantly over the past 10 years. They are a great solution for homes that do not have existing ductwork.

Air source heat pumps can reduce heating use by about 65% compared to an electric furnace, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tips to BeaT the

When we all work together to lower energy use during peak hours, we can lock in lower electricity rates, so everyone saves. Here are a few simple ways to save during peak summer hours.

1 2 3 4 5 1 2

Raise the thermostat a few degrees.

Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.

Avoid using major appliances.

Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.

Turn o and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.

Where our members have the power

Operation Round Up

Twice each year, we open our Operation Round Up (ORU) application process to charities that work on behalf of our local community. The ORU program is funded by the generous contributions of members who round their bills up each month to make our community a better place. We can’t thank you enough for supporting your community through ORU. This month, applications are available on www.coastelectric.coop.

After applications are received, they go through a vetting process with our partners at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and our Community Trust Committee to ensure that our members’ contributions are being utilized in ways that reﬂect the mission and vision of Coast Electric.

President and CEO by Ron Barnes

Potential applicants should visit www.coastelectric.coop and look for Operation Round Up under the “My Community” menu option to learn more about the program. We look forward to learning more about the work these organizations are doing to serve our community and to using Operation Round Up funds to further their missions.

AVAILABLE NOW! GRANT

Charitable organizations that serve Hancock, Harrison or Pearl River counties could be eligible for a grant of up to $10,000!

Charitable organizations that serve Hancock, Harrison and/or Pearl River counties could be eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 from Coast Electric’s Operation Round Up program. Grant applications are available online through Aug. 31.

Grants are made possible by generous contributions from Coast Electric members who round their bill up to the nearest dollar each month. These contributions are responsible for funding more than $1 million in grants in our community!

Since 2019, Operation Round Up has given back more than $1 million in grants thanks to the generosity of our members. We thank you for supporting your local community and we are excited to share that grant applications are available for the month of February.

Coast Electric works with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to process and administer grants. Those who have questions about the application process can email roundup@coastelectric.coop or call 228-363-7259.

37th

The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Cooperative Youth Leaders program has three components that encourage young leaders in our state to enhance their potential. They LEARN about their local cooperatives and the cooperative business model, they GROW at a leadership workshop in Jackson and they EXPERIENCE our nation’s capital with other young leaders from around the country. This summer, students experienced the third component of the program during a weeklong tour of Washington, D.C.

Eighty-ﬁve rising high school seniors visited D.C. in June along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

Washington, D.C., the students met and spoke with their U.S. senators — Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith.

While in Washington, D.C., the students visited historic sites, monuments, museums, and had an opportunity to learn about the impact electric cooperatives have on their communities.

The students also toured the U.S. Capitol, sat on the ﬂoor of the House of Representatives and visited the Library of Congress as guests of former U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper.

The students attended a Washington Nationals baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

Coast Electric’s representatives were chosen their junior year of high school through the co-op’s Cooperative University selection process. During Cooperative University, students learned about the electric power industry and the cooperative business model.

During a March workshop in Jackson, the students had the opportunity to meet and hear from state legislators. During the trip to

The Cooperative Youth Leaders program is fully funded by local electric cooperatives like Coast Electric as a commitment to molding future leaders for Mississippi, so they can impact the state and local communities.

Learning about the great nation we live in has ignited a ﬂame of curiosity, hope and courage. – Ella Fontan

ELLA FONTAN

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

MARLEY FREEMAN

WEST HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL

SATVIK KOMPELLA

SAINT STANISLAUS

JACKSON PEARCE

GULFPORT HIGH SCHOOL

CONTEST

Coast Electric wants you to reduce your energy use and see savings on your monthly energy costs. Each month, you will have an opportunity to register to win a prize that will help you reduce energy consumption in your home.

Congratulations to Geo rey Boatner, the winner of our June Reduce Your Use prize.

Visit www.coastelectric.coop and ﬁll out our entry form. It only takes a few seconds, and you could win a prize that helps you save!

ANNUAL MEETING Registration

LABOR DAY

OFFICE CLOSING

You can report outages by:

Registration is open for our 2024 Annual Meeting! We hope to see you at the meeting on Nov. 7, but if you are unable to attend, you can register in one of three ways:

1. Return the registration card that was mailed to your home.

2. Register online through Oct. 31. Visit www.coastelectric.coop.

3. Register at any Coast Electric o ce by Oct. 31.

Those who attend the meeting and those who register will be entered for a chance to win up to $1,000 in electricity credits!

Coast Electric’s business o ces will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, for the Labor Day holiday. We hope you have a safe and fun holiday weekend! Dispatchers will be on duty, and crews will be on call throughout the holiday weekend.

You can pay a bill by:

• Texting “Outage” to 352667 if you have a mobile number associated with your account.

• Using the CE on the Go mobile app.

• Reporting it online: https://outages.coastelectric.coop/

• We CANNOT take outage reports on our social media accounts. Trying to report your outage on social media does not put your outage into our system or report it to dispatchers or crews.

• Texting “Pay” to 352667 if you have a mobile number associated with your account.

• Using the CE on the Go mobile app.

• Visiting a kiosk located at each of our o ces.

• Calling 877-769-2372 to use our automated payment system.

For all after-hours inquiries, CoastConnect subscribers can chat with tech support on www.CoastConnect.com or call 877-969-3884 and speak to our 24/7 tech support team.

Electricity Provides POWERFUL VALUE

by Maura Giles

If you’re like me, there are aspects of your life that become sort of a daily routine. I get ready for work, get in my car, and drive to the co ee shop on the way to the o ce. At lunchtime, I drive to the nearest fast-food location and get lunch. Once I ﬁnally end the day at home, I stream an episode or two of my favorite show before bed.

As we all look for ways to save money in this age of increasing inﬂation, I began to think about my daily routine and how much value it provided me compared to the money I spent. A morning latte was costing me about $6; a fast-food combo with a burger, fries and a drink was setting me back $10; and my Netﬂix subscription is about $16 each month. All these daily expenses totaled around $85 a week, or about $340 monthly. And what was the real value—short-term satisfaction and a larger waistline? Even as I started packing my own lunch, my latte was still costing me about $120 a month. This got me thinking — is this the best value for my money?

The average daily cost of electricity is about $4.57. You could power your entire home every day for the price of a medium latte. I could brew my own co ee, cook my own meals, binge a series, and run on a treadmill for less than the cost of that drink. Now to me, that’s real value.

Electricity provides beneﬁts that we often take for granted. It goes well beyond short-term satisfaction by allowing us to charge devices

Where Do You Find Value?

and have cold food and hot water, all in a comfortable indoor climate. Besides the privilege it a ords, electricity has also remained relatively cost-stable even amidst rising inﬂation.

As a member-owned cooperative, we do everything in our power to ensure your costs stay reasonable and that electricity remains a great value for our members. It’s not always easy, as there are several factors beyond inﬂation that impact the price of electricity — some within our control, but most beyond it.

The cost of electricity can ﬂuctuate due to supply and demand, infrastructure investment, and maintenance and operational expenses. Weather patterns also contribute, a ecting both demand and generation capabilities, with extreme conditions leading to heightened energy use or disruptions. Government policies, such as subsidies for renewable energy or taxes and regulations on emissions, shape electricity costs as well. Your electric co-op considers all these aspects when adjusting rates, and because we’re a cooperative, we consider the impact of those costs on our members as well.

As our community continues to rely on electricity for nearly everything in our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses, we need it to be reliable and a ordable. You can be assured, we always put you top of mind and work each day to ensure electricity remains the best value for your money.

Did you know the average daily cost of electricity is $4.57 or about $140 per month?

Electricity fuels our daily life essentials, from heating/cooling equipment to entertainment devices and appliances. Think of how vital power is compared to other everyday purchases. That’s real value.

QMy heating system is 10-plus years old, and I want to switch to a heat pump. Can you help me choose the best option for my home?

Aby Miranda Boutelle

The most common types of heat pumps are air source and ground source. Air source heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air, even

Heat pumps have been around for decades, and in that time, the technology has come a long way. In my opinion, they could use a rebrand.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating o cer at E ciency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy e ciency company.

Here’s an explanation of how each type operates:

Ducted air source heat pumps

are ideal for homes with existing ductwork or homes where ductwork can be feasibly added. Replacing an aging central air conditioning system with a heat pump can significantly reduce heating costs.

Geothermal heat pumps

Ductless heat pumps

Understanding the backup heat feature

Ductless heat pumps have increased in popularity significantly over the past 10 years. They are a great solution for homes that do not have existing ductwork.

Air source heat pumps can reduce heating use by about 65% compared to an electric furnace, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tips to BeaT the

When we all work together to lower energy use during peak hours, we can lock in lower electricity rates, so everyone saves. Here are a few simple ways to save during peak summer hours.

Raise the thermostat a few degrees.

Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.

Avoid using major appliances.

Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.

1 2 3 4 5 1 2

Turn o and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.

3 4 5

The Power of Connection: Engaging with your Electric Co-op

At Dixie Electric, we believe the foundation of a thriving electric cooperative is strong member engagement. In an era where technology connects us in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago, it’s crucial for our members to utilize these advancements to stay connected with us. We believe the power of connection extends far beyond providing electricity; it’s about building and maintaining meaningful relationships with our members. Here’s why keeping in touch with us is essential and how you can make the most of our resources.

Keep your contact information up to date

One of the simplest yet most vital ways to stay connected with us is to ensure your contact information is current. Accurate information allows us to provide timely updates about your service, inform you about upcoming maintenance, and share important news. Whether it’s your email address, phone number, or mailing address, keeping these details updated ensures that you won’t miss out on any critical communication from Dixie Electric.

To update your information, access your contact information inside your SmartHub account or give our member service team a call at 601-425-2535. It only takes a few minutes, and the beneﬁts are immense.

Social media platforms are not just for socializing—they are powerful tools for staying informed and engaged with what’s happening at Dixie Electric. By following us on Facebook or Instagram, you’ll gain access to real-time updates, helpful tips, and community events.

Your feedback, comments, and messages help us better understand your needs and improve our services. Social media is a two-way street, and your participation strengthens our community.

Visit our website

Our website is a comprehensive resource designed to meet your needs. It’s more than just a place to pay your bill; the site is updated regularly with news, event announcements, and insightful articles that can help you manage your energy use more e ciently. It’s the go-to hub for all things Dixie Electric.

Utilize the Today in Mississippi magazine

Another valuable resource for staying connected is our monthly publication, Today in Mississippi. This magazine is not only packed with entertaining stories and community highlights but also serves

as a vital communication channel between Dixie Electric and our members. Through its pages, you’ll ﬁnd updates on co-op initiatives and community engagement e orts, as well as practical tips on energy e ciency. By enjoying this magazine each month, you stay informed and connected with the broader Dixie Electric family.

Vote in our annual board elections

Engagement with your co-op extends beyond staying informed — it involves active participation in our governance. One of the most impactful ways to make your voice heard is by voting in our annual board elections. This year, the elections open online on August 19. Your vote helps shape the leadership that guides Dixie Electric. By participating, you ensure that the board represents your interests and that our cooperative remains member-driven and focused on community needs.

Staying connected isn’t just about technology; it’s about you — our members. It allows us to respond quickly to your needs, provide better service, and create a community where everyone feels heard and valued. By engaging with us, you’re playing a crucial role in the cooperative’s success and in your own satisfaction as a member.

Thank you for connecting with us and being an integral part of the Dixie Electric family.

by Randy Smith General Manager

DE Fastlink's Learning Labs:

MASTERING THE WORLD OF STREAMING

Switching to streaming can be overwhelming and even a little scary. The multitude of options, services, and technical jargon can make anyone hesitant to cut the cord. That’s why DE Fastlink is here to help with our Learning Labs, which are designed to guide you through the process with conﬁdence.

Our Learning Labs are in-person interactive sessions where we break down everything you need to know about streaming. We cover topics such as choosing the right television and devices, understanding the di erent streaming services available, and choosing the right one for your needs. Our team is here to demystify the process, and our goal is to empower you with the conﬁdence to go home and choose a streaming service that ﬁts your lifestyle and preferences. We don't o er television services ourselves, but we provide the tools and knowledge to help you make the switch with ease.

We understand that the transition to streaming can feel like a leap into the unknown. That’s why we’re committed to being your partner every step of the way.

To further support you, our website features the StreamNow tool, a comprehensive resource ﬁlled with information on various streaming services and how to make the transition smoothly. Whether you're a

seasoned techie or a complete novice, StreamNow is your go-to guide for everything streaming. You can utilize this tool at defastlink.net by clicking the Streaming tab.

We're gauging interest in hosting more Learning Labs in the future, and we’d love to hear from you! Scan the QR code below to take our quick survey and sign up to be notiﬁed about upcoming sessions. Join us at DE Fastlink’s Learning Labs and make the switch to streaming simple and stress-free.

Learning Labs

CAN’T DECIDE WHERE TO GO WITH

STREAMING?

Our StreamNow Website Helps You Navigate Through Your Streaming Options.

For example, if there are certain live TV channels you can’t live without, check out StreamNow’s side-by-side comparison chart. It shows at a glance which of these streaming services carry which channels — and their monthly prices — so you can take the right route for you:

• YouTube TV

• DIRECTV STREAM

• Hulu + Live TV

• Fubo

• Sling Blue

• Sling Orange

• Philo

• Frndly TV

• Paramount+

• Peacock

Scan the QR code to visit gostreamnow.com/defastlink.

DIXIE ELECTRIC’S

commitment to convenience

Dixie Electric’s free SmartHub app is easy to use, convenient, and valuable. Once downloaded to your smartphone or tablet, it will help you better understand and improve your energy habits in a variety of ways. Best of all, if you are also a DE Fastlink subscriber, you can manage your devices, change your password, and pay your bill through SmartHub.

The app allows you to easily report a power outage or view our live outage map.

SmartHub gives you access to your energy use and allows you to see where your energy dollars are going. It provides graphs to illustrate energy use in an easy-to-read format. This near real-time data lets you see how household demands correspond to outdoor temperatures and helps you better manage power use.

Paying your bill through the SmartHub app is simple and e cient. You can view and pay your bill, sign up for autopay or paperless billing, and view your payment history.

For more information about the SmartHub app, visit dixieepa.com and click the SmartHub app button at the top of the screen.

For DE Fastlink subscribers, you can easily manage your devices through the SmartHub app. You can check the status of your connection, change your Wi-Fi password, run a speed test, and reboot your router. password, run a speed test, and reboot your router.

free SmartHub app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

Electricity provides powerful value

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

If you’re like me, there are aspects of your life that become sort of a daily routine. I get up each morning, take a hot shower, put on clean clothes, make my co ee and breakfast and watch the news of the day. If I’m rushed for morning meetings, I may run through the fast-food breakfast line for a biscuit. At lunchtime, I drive home for a sandwich or to the nearest fast-food location and get lunch. Once I ﬁnally end the day at home, I may stream an episode or two of my favorite show before bed.

As we all look for ways to save money in this age of increasing inﬂation, I began to think about my daily routine and how much value it provided me compared to the money I spent. A morning biscuit and a cup of co ee can cost me about $3.50; a fast-food combo with a burger, fries and a drink will set me back $10, and if I end up eating on the road at night, I’m looking at a minimum of $12. All these daily expenses can total around $128 a week, or over $500 monthly. And what was the real value—shortterm satisfaction and a larger waistline? This got me thinking—how do these choices compare to the comfort provided by electric service?

The average daily cost of electricity on our system is about $3.50 per person, and the average monthly electric bill for members of East Mississippi Electric Power Association over a 12-month period is about $108 per person per month. You could power your entire home every day for the price of one week’s fast food. Now to me, that’s a value.

Electricity provides beneﬁts that we often take for granted. It goes well beyond short-term satisfaction by allowing us to charge devices and have refrigerated food and hot water, all in a comfortable indoor climate. Besides the privilege it a ords, when service is interrupted, our employees respond day or night to turn the lights back on.

As a member-owned cooperative, EMEPA does everything in our power to ensure costs stay reasonable and that electricity remains a great value for our members. It’s not always easy, as there are several factors beyond inﬂation that impact the price of electricity — some within our control but most beyond it.

The cost of electricity does ﬂuctuate due to supply and demand, infrastructure investment, maintenance and operational expenses. Weather patterns also contribute, a ecting both demand and generation capabilities, with extreme conditions leading to heightened energy use or disruptions. Government policies, such as subsidies for renewable energy or taxes and regulations on emissions, shape electricity costs as well. EMEPA considers all these aspects when adjusting rates, and because we’re a cooperative, we consider the impact of those costs on our members as well.

As our community continues to rely on electricity for nearly everything in our homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, we need it to be reliable and a ordable. You can be assured, EMEPA always puts you top of mind and works each day to ensure electricity remains the best value for your money.

by Randy Carroll

CEO — East Mississippi Electric Power Association

Don’t forget to complete the 2024 proxy either by mail or online for your chance to win a $500 electricity credit. Due date for proxy return is Tuesday, Oct. 1. For more information visit emepa.com/annualmeeting.

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

All together this whole experience has been one huge blessing. – Christian Hopson

LILLYANN COOPER

RUSSELL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

CHRISTIAN HOPSON

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

PAISLEY IVEY

CLARKDALE HIGH SCHOOL

ERIAL MAYS

NOXAPATER ATTENDANCE CENTER

CLAY MILES

KEMPER ACADEMY

SAM NANCE

NANIH WAIYA ATTENDANCE CENTER

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Your Ultimate Digital Tool Navigate the New School Year With EMC Wi-Fi

As back-to-school season kicks o , the rush of new schedules, homework assignments and extracurricular activities can feel overwhelming. At East Mississippi Connect, we understand the challenges parents face in ensuring their children’s online safety while they make the most of online educational tools and resources. The EMC Wi-Fi app can help you navigate this school year with ease and conﬁdence.

Monitor Internet Usage and Sites

The EMC Wi-Fi app o ers a comprehensive suite of tools that allow you to monitor your family’s internet usage e ortlessly. With the app, you can:

● Track data usage: See how much data each device is consuming. This feature is particularly useful for identifying high-usage periods and devices, ensuring that your internet plan meets your family’s needs.

● Activity logs: View detailed logs of online activity, which can help you understand your children’s browsing habits. This transparency allows you to have informed conversations about responsible internet use.

Block Harmful Sites

Protecting your children from harmful content online is a top priority. Our app makes it simple.

● Parental controls: Set up custom ﬁlters to block websites you deem inappropriate. The app allows you to create speciﬁc rules for each device, so you can tailor the online experience to suit the age and maturity of each family member.

● Scheduled internet access: Establish time-based controls to limit internet access during certain hours, such as study time or bedtime, ensuring your children stay focused on their homework and get a good night’s rest.

Navigating With Ease

The EMC Wi-Fi app is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for parents to manage their home network.

● Intuitive dashboard: The app features a clean, intuitive dashboard that provides a snapshot of your network’s status. From here, you can quickly access key features like device management, usage reports and parental controls.

● Easy setup: Setting up the EMC WiFi app is a breeze. Download the app from your device’s app store, follow the on-screen instructions to connect it to your Blast router, and you’re ready to start managing your network.

● Real-time notiﬁcations: Stay informed with real-time notiﬁcations about new devices connecting to your network, usage spikes or attempts to access blocked sites.

Tips for Using EMC Wi-Fi E ciently To help you get the most out of your EMC Wi-Fi app, here are some other handy features:

● Enable guest network: If your children’s friends are coming over for study sessions, enable a guest network. This keeps your main network secure while still providing internet access to visitors.

● Educational content ﬁlters: Utilize the app’s ﬁlters to allow access to educational content while blocking entertainment sites during homework hours. This helps keep your children focused on their schoolwork.

Ready to take control of your home network? Visit eastmsconnect.com and start enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing your family’s online activities are safe and well-managed. Here’s to a successful and connected school year!

LABOR DAY OFFICE CLOSING

CONEXON CONNECT

celebrates ﬁrst customer connected in Walthall County

Celebrating a historic milestone for Walthall County, Conexon Connect has announced the ﬁrst customer connected to its high-speed ﬁber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.

On June 18, 2024, Kathy Brubaker of Tylertown became the inaugural recipient of this innovative service, marking a new era for internet connectivity in southwestern Mississippi.

For Brubaker, the days of struggling with unreliable internet are over. “I can’t believe I can join everyone else in streaming shows and movies now,” she said. “Before Conexon Connect, we just didn’t have reliable options in our area. I’m loving the service, and it has exceeded my expectations.” Her words capture the excitement and relief felt by many residents who have long awaited dependable high-speed internet.

The introduction of Conexon Connect’s FTTH network is a gamechanger for the region with connectivity that opens doors to opportunities previously out of reach to rural communities. This advanced technology provides faster streaming, improved productivity for those working from home, and access to essential services such as telehealth.

and Wilkinson. This extensive project aims to transform the digital landscape of southwestern Mississippi, ensuring that both homes and businesses can thrive in an increasingly connected world.

Conexon Connect’s commitment to bridging the digital divide is evident in its ambitious plan to extend high-speed internet and voice services to over 20,000 residents across 13 counties, including Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Hinds, Je erson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Warren,

Randy Klindt, founder and co-CEO of Conexon, expressed his excitement about this pivotal moment. “We are excited to bring our state-of-the-art fiber-optic technology to the doorstep of our first customer, marking a new era of high-speed internet access for southwestern Mississippi. This milestone is just the beginning of our journey to transform how residents and businesses experience internet connectivity, and we are confident it will drive progress and opportunity in the region.”

The impact of this project will be extensive. As Conexon Connect’s network expands, it promises to fuel economic growth and foster innovation throughout the region. Reliable, highspeed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and Conexon Connect is dedicated to making it accessible to all.

This ﬁrst customer connected milestone in Walthall County is a testament to Conexon Connect’s vision and dedication. As more households and businesses come online, the positive impact on the community will continue to grow, paving the way for a more connected future.

For more information about Conexon Connect or to sign up for the service, visit ConexonConnect.com.

Brent Woods, Conexon Connect project manager, (far left) and Joshua Graves with Vonalas (far right) stand with Kathy Brubaker (center) one of the ﬁrst Conexon Connect customers to be connected to ﬁber internet in Walthall County.

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The trip was the culmination of the students' participation in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s leadership program, which instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, builds conﬁdence in decision-making, and introduces students to lawmakers that represent their communities.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

I loved the baseball game and the Capitol tour. – Trent Owens

EMME BARRETT

BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY

DA’MYA EDWARDS

BROOKHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL

ANN ELISE GATLIN

PARKLANE ACADEMY

TRENT OWENS

BROOKHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL

ARIYANNA SIMMONS

NORTH PIKE HIGH SCHOOL

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Tips to BeaT the

You have the power to control your electric bill. Here are a few simple ways to save during peak summer hours.

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Raise the thermostat a few degrees.

Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.

Avoid using major appliances.

Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.

Turn o and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.

Electricity Provides POWERFUL VALUE

by Maura Giles

As we all look for ways to save money in this age of increasing inﬂation, I began to think about my daily routine and how much value it provided me compared to the money I spent. A morning latte was costing me about $6; a fast-food combo with a burger, fries and a drink was setting me back $10; and my Netﬂix subscription is about $16 each month. All these daily expenses totaled around $85 a week, or about $340 monthly. And what was the real value—short-term satisfaction and a larger waistline? Even as I started packing my own lunch, my latte was still costing me about $120 a month. This got me thinking — is this the best value for my money?

Electricity provides beneﬁts that we often take for granted. It goes well beyond short-term satisfaction by allowing us to charge devices

Where Do You Find Value?

and have cold food and hot water, all in a comfortable indoor climate. Besides the privilege it a ords, electricity has also remained relatively cost-stable even amidst rising inﬂation.

QMy heating system is 10-plus years old, and I want to switch to a heat pump. Can you help me choose the best option for my home?

Aby Miranda Boutelle

The most common types of heat pumps are air source and ground source. Air source heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air, even

Heat pumps have been around for decades, and in that time, the technology has come a long way. In my opinion, they could use a rebrand.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating o cer at E ciency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy e ciency company.

Here’s an explanation of how each type operates:

Ducted air source heat pumps

are ideal for homes with existing ductwork or homes where ductwork can be feasibly added. Replacing an aging central air conditioning system with a heat pump can significantly reduce heating costs.

Air source heat pumps can reduce heating use by about 65% compared to an electric furnace, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Geothermal heat pumps

Ductless heat pumps

Ductless heat pumps have increased in popularity significantly over the past 10 years. They are a great solution for homes that do not have existing ductwork.

Understanding the backup heat feature

When we all work together to lower energy use during peak hours, we can lock in lower electricity rates, so everyone saves. Here are a few simple ways to save during peak summer hours.

1 2 3 4 5

Raise the thermostat a few degrees.

Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.

Avoid using major appliances.

Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.

Turn o and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.

Let’s connect

As predicted, the summer heat came early and is hanging around. William Faulkner reminds us that there are several days in the middle of the month that remind us of fall. It lasts for a day or two and is gone. If only for a day or two, I’m still looking forward to it.

July was a tough month for heat as well. July also begins a highly competitive season followed throughout our nation that leads to a climatic end in November. I’m talking, of course, about the Major League Baseball World Series.

I had the privilege of attending St Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins spring training this past March. The two teams and their fans shared the same venue. As they played, fans cheered for their teams but still applauded the e orts of the others. Attendees from all over the country talked to each other about the hopes for their teams, but also the positives they saw in their rival. I very much wish our country would return to this connected culture.

Go Cardinals. Go Candidate of Your Choice.

Stay cool. Be safe.

As we approach the World Series and our November election, I hope we’ll take that to heart. In the meantime, go to a ballgame. Eat a hot dog. Have a soft drink or a beer. Get ice cream in a helmet (the best way to eat it.) Score the game. Talk to the people around you. We’re all pretty good folks, you know? Let’s connect and remind ourselves of that.

by Kevin Doddridge General Manager/CEO

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

The students were chosen in the fall of their junior year of high school through Northcentral’s essay contest and interviews, where they LEARNed about their electric cooperative and the electric power industry.

The buildings I saw in D.C. are more than just buildings. They’re living, changing conductors of the American way. – Derreneé Coleman

DERRENEÉ COLEMAN

LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL

ALEXA COOPER

DESOTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

EPPS DYE NORTHPOINT

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

GRIFFIN ENGLAND NORTHPOINT

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

JOHN HADDAKIN

BYHALIA HIGH SCHOOL

SAMARA HOPPER

CENTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL

GERROMIE JONES

BYHALIA HIGH SCHOOL

KAYLEE LODEN

CENTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL

SARAH GRACE NIBLETT

OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL

SYDNEY PERSON

MARSHALL ACADEMY

ZION RUCKER

KILEY WARD

LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL

JP WOODS NORTHPOINT

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

DESOTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Election 2024

The Northcentral Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting of the Members will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in the Northcentral Electric auditorium at 4600 Northcentral Way in Olive Branch.

Besides reporting on the ﬁnancial condition of the cooperative and highlighting current and future projects, the major business task at the Annual Meeting is the election of three members of the Board of Directors. This year, board members are to be elected to serve a term of 3 years from District 2, District 6, and District 9 of our service area. More detailed descriptions of each district can be found in Section 4.02 of the bylaws, under the “Cooperative” section of Northcentral’s website at northcentralelectric.com. A copy of the bylaws can be provided upon request at Northcentral’s o ce.

Current board members representing these districts are Don Dickerson of District 2, Morris Thompson of District 6, and Julie Niblett of District 9. Nominations to the Board of Directors, whether incumbent or new candidate, will be made by the membership. Any twenty-ﬁve (25) or more members from the district of which a director is to be elected shall make a

nomination by signing a nomination form with the nominee’s name and district stated on the form. Nomination forms can be picked up from the reception desk in the Northcentral Administrative Building. A list of the valid nominations will be posted at the Northcentral o ce.

The deadline for submission of nomination forms, as well as the schedule of meetings and deadlines for the Elections and Credentials Committee can be found under the “2024 Annual Meeting” link on the home page at northcentralelectric.com.

Members can vote either by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting or in person at the Annual Meeting. Proxies will be mailed to the membership on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, and must be received in the Northcentral o ce no later than 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. The Elections and Credentials Committee will review the proxies for validation beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.

For more details on the Board of Directors elections, the Annual Meeting, bylaws, or the nomination process, visit the “2024 Annual Meeting” link on the home page at northcentralelectric.com.

601-928-7277 Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference.

Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association is pleased to once again announce that members will be receiving annual patronage capital returns in August.

Patronage capital, or capital credits, represents members’ investment in their not-for-proﬁt electric cooperative. Each year, rates are set so that the Association has enough funding to operate throughout the year, and any year-end revenue above the cost of providing electric service is assigned to members as margins based on their share of electricity use. A portion of those margins is then returned to members each August. This year, Pearl River Valley Electric’s Board of Directors has authorized $3.6 million be returned to members.

“Capital credit returns are one of the advantages of being a member of a cooperative,” said Matthew Ware, CEO/general manager. “Our members share in the cost of doing business and beneﬁt from any returns as well.”

Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association prides itself on keeping outages to a minimum. However, when strong storms hit our territory, like the ones in May, outages are unavoidable. As we enter the height of hurricane season, we’d like to share with you a look into what goes on when we restore power.

Here are 10 things you might not know about restoration.

1. We need members’ cooperation. When your power goes out, it might be just at your home or a small section of a neighborhood. There is a chance we may not know about it, and no one has reported it. Call 855-2PRVEPA or visit www.prvepa.com to report your outage.

2. Our employees might be a ected too. Because Pearl River Valley Electric is a local cooperative owned by the members we serve, our employees are local too. When our members are without power, our people might be too.

3. It’s a team e ort. Every one of Pearl River Valley Electric’s employees is working to get power restored as soon as possible. Our member services representatives are taking member calls; engineers and ﬁeld sta are surveying damage; our vegetation management team is clearing hazards; dispatchers are organizing crews, and communicators are keeping everyone informed of progress or potential dangers.

4. We assess the situation first. Every outage is di erent, and we don’t know how dangerous it is or what equipment might need to be replaced. When responding to outages, we first need to see what happened, then figure out what materials we need and plan how to fix the problem(s) without compromising electric flow for the rest of our members.

Members to receive $3.6 million in capital credit returns

While investor-owned utilities return a portion of any proﬁts back to their investors, electric cooperatives assign margins to memberconsumers as capital credits and pay them when the co-op’s ﬁnancial condition permits.

“Conservative management of the cooperative’s money by our Board of Directors has helped keep the Association ﬁnancially sound,” Ware continued. “We have returned capital credits for 60 years, totaling nearly $75 million.”

Each qualifying active member will receive their return as credit applied to their power bill mailed in August. For former members who qualify, checks will be mailed in September.

In addition to annual patronage returns for members, Pearl River Valley Electric also o ers discounted capital credit returns to the estates of deceased members and to former members. A total of more than $19.3 million has been distributed overall through these programs, including $1,059,000 in 2023.

10 things you might not know about power restoration

5. Restoration is normally prioritized by the largest number of members we can get back on in the shortest amount of time. Our crews focus on responding ﬁrst to public safety issues and critical services like hospitals. Then we complete the work that impacts the largest of number of people ﬁrst.

6. Our employees face many dangers. Besides working around high voltage electricity, our crews are on alert for wild animals, weather elements, falling trees, and fast-moving cars.

7. Flickering lights are a good thing. Often people will mistake ﬂickering lights for outages, but these “blinks” are important because they indicate our equipment worked and prevented a possible outage, likely caused by wayward animals or stray tree limbs on the lines.

8. You need a backup plan. We do our best to help those who need it, but those who depend on electricity for life support purposes must have a back-up plan. Remember, we don’t always know how long restoration e orts will take.

9. Our employees have to plan and eat. If you ever see our trucks in a restaurant parking lot while power is out, know that sometimes our employees huddle in a safe, common area to map out their plan for getting power back on. Also, our crews work long, hard hours during outages and need to take time for meals just like everyone else.

10. Sometimes it’s a waiting game. We maintain positive relationships with Cooperative Energy, our power provider. If our outage is due to an issue from their feed into our system, we must let them do their repairs and be mindful of what they’re going through to ﬁx it.

37th

EXPERIENCE is the third component in the Cooperative Youth Leaders program. Eighty-ﬁve rising high school seniors from across Mississippi traveled to Washington, D.C. to experience all facets of their nation’s capital city.

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

STEVIE THOMPSON

OAK GROVE HIGH SCHOOL

MARY XIE

OAK GROVE HIGH SCHOOL

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

The power of working together and how it beneﬁts you

As a member of Pearl River Electric, you can take comfort in knowing that you are part of a large network of power companies that work together to provide you with affordable, reliable power. Here’s how it works:

Cooperative Energy operates the power plants that produce electricity, as well as the transmission lines that move electricity to you.

These companies work together to produce electricity for everyone from Mississippi to Manitoba at the lowest possible cost, and to make sure electricity is readily available. 1 3

Pearl River Electric and 10 other electric cooperatives across the state are partners with another electric cooperative known as Cooperative Energy.

Because these 11 cooperatives are joined as one mutual source of power, your service is more affordable and reliable than it would be if each system operated alone.

Cooperative Energy is part of MISO, an even larger network that joins it with other power companies in the U.S. and Canada.

TIPS FOR SUMMER safety POOL

Carefully consider where you’ll put your pool. Underground and overhead power lines can pose potential hazards.

Make sure you are using Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets in any location that is subject to water. They should also be tested regularly for functionality.

When possible, consider using battery-operated devices around pools, like cordless fans, battery-operated speakers, etc.

Make sure your pool is bonded and grounded properly. Always use a professional electrician when installing electrical equipment around your pool.

Be cautious when using a pool skimmer pole around electric lines. Never put any object that conducts electricity near power lines.

Our o ce will be closed Monday, September 2, in observance of

To report outages or emergencies, please call 662-489-6711 for Pontotoc or 662-983-2727 for Bruce. A Pontotoc Electric dispatcher is on duty 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Provided by PEPA Safety and Environmental Director Cody Martin

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

Being able to sit on the house ﬂoor really drove home the fact that that can be us one day. Youth Tour will be an experience that I will look back on forever. – Jonah Uithoven

JOHN ALLEN SHAW

BRUCE HIGH SCHOOL

JONAH UITHOVEN

NORTH PONTOTOC HIGH SCHOOL

ELLA WASHINGTON

SOUTH PONTOTOC HIGH SCHOOL

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Enjoy these great recipes from our employees and retirees!

no bake lemon pie

Mary Williamson, PEPA Collections Manager

INGREDIENTS

1 small carton cool whip

6 ounce can frozen lemonade, thawed

1 can sweetened condensed milk graham cracker pie shell

lemon slices

Mix cool whip, lemonade, and sweetened, condensed milk. Pour into pie shell. Chill several hours before serving. Add sliced lemon for garnish.

marinated vegetable salad

Lavonia Lackey, PEPA Manager of Customer Accounts

INGREDIENTS

2 cups fresh broccoli ﬂorets

1 medium cucumber, halved and thinly sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

½ cup fat-free Italian salad dressing

2 cups fresh cauliﬂower

1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms

1⁄3 cup ﬁnely chopped red onions

In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cauliﬂower, cucumber, mushrooms, tomatoes, and onion. Add dressing; toss to coat. Cover. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

freezer caramel drizzle delight

Jennifer Johnson, PEPA HR Manager

INGREDIENTS

2 graham cracker pie crusts

1 7 ounce package shredded coconut

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 16 ounce container cool whip, thawed

6 tablespoons butter

1 cup chopped pecans

1 8 ounce package cream cheese

1 12 ounce jar caramel topping

Place butter in medium skillet and melt over medium heat. Add coconut and pecans, stirring to coat with butter. Saute until coconut and pecans are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, whip together condensed milk and cream cheese until ﬂu y. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon 1/4 of cream cheese mixture into each crust. Drizzle each pie with 1/4 of caramel topping. Repeat layers. Top each pie with coconut and pecan mixture. Freeze overnight.

strawberry salad

Jeanna Sorto, PEPA Director of Accounting and Finance

INGREDIENTS

1 can strawberry pie ﬁlling

1 medium can crushed pineapple, drained

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

In Memoriam LEE HOBSON

Retiree Andrew Lee Hobson, 42 years of service with PEPA, passed away June 27, 2024.

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

BRIAN HUGHEY General Manager & CEO

NEELY MCLEOD Marketing Specialist

Thank you for participating in our Annual Membership Meeting A

Member participation at Singing River Electric’s recent Annual Membership Meeting was outstanding. Thank you to all members who voted online or on the SmartHub app, by proxy, or in person at the annual meeting. Your participation is vital to the success of our cooperative. Four directors were elected to serve three-year terms. Along with the directors election, the meeting focused on system upgrades, costs associated with providing reliable electric service, how your cooperative is minimizing outage response times, a change in member bill structure allowing itemized viewing, and the continued focus on community involvement.

The success of our fiber internet subsidiary, Singing River Connect, was also noted. The o ering of this unparalleled high-speed fiber-tothe-home service has members across our service territory excited. As the number of fiber internet subscribers continues to soar, our employees

and contractors place emphasis on providing the same level of service that members of the electric cooperative have come to expect.

A highlight of the Annual Membership Meeting was hearing from our three Cooperative Youth Leaders who were selected to represent Singing River Electric at a leadership workshop in Jackson and a week-long tour of Washington, D.C. These young people, now entering their senior year of high school, shared their experiences from the past six months and thanked Singing River Electric for providing this experience.

Again, thank you for being active participants in your electric cooperative. Voting and attending the annual meeting fulﬁlls the 2nd Cooperative Principle: Democratic Member Control. Your input is always valued as Singing River Electric continues to provide safe, reliable, and a ordable electricity to our membership.

by Brian Hughey

General Manager and CEO

AMANDA PARKER, CCC Manager of PR and Marketing

SAMUEL GOFF PR and Marketing Coordinator

Energy Tips

Smart thermostats help manage energy use

Saving money without compromising comfort is key. Smart thermostats help optimize energy consumption from your HVAC system and reduce your electric bill. Through advanced technology, Wi-Fi, and algorithms, you can control your thermostat through apps on smartphones and tablets. Smart thermostats also learn your behavior and schedule to help reduce energy use.

• Precision Temperature Control – Smart thermostats can maintain a consistent temperature by learning your schedule. Traditional thermostats rely on manual control, often leading to wasted energy.

• Personalized Scheduling – Set speciﬁc temperatures based on daily routines, allowing your HVAC system to work more e ciently when you are at home and even when you are not.

• Geofencing Technology – Thanks to GPS, once your smart phone is within a certain distance of your home, the thermostat can adjust the temperature to ensure a comfortable environment when you arrive.

• Energy Use Reports & Insights – This data provides a clear breakdown of energy consumption patterns, peak energy use, and ways to improve these.

• Adaptive Learning for Increased E ciency – The more data a smart thermostat accumulates, the better it becomes at predicting occupants' needs and proactively adjusting temperature settings to align with their habits.

Gabe Robbins Energy Services Representative robbins@singingriver.com

2024 Annual Membership Meeting held June 27

Singing River Electric held its 2024 Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 27, at the Lucedale headquarters o ce.

During the meeting, General Manager and CEO Brian Hughey and Board President Kristal Sisson reviewed 2023 highlights, accomplishments, and challenges for both Singing River Electric and Singing River Connect and shared plans for 2024 and beyond. A highlight of the evening featured Makayla-Jade Mendez of Pascagoula High School, Riley Tingle of Perry Central High School, and Vicky Vo of St. Martin High School who shared their experiences from Washington, D.C. as SRE’s Cooperative Youth Leadership students.

Singing River Electric members participated in the board of directors election online through the website and SmartHub app, by mailed-in proxies, and in person at the annual meeting. Four Singing River Electric members were elected to serve three-year terms on the cooperative’s board in the three geographic districts.

• Cary E. Williams – District 1

• Travis Baxter – District 2

• Edward H. Thornton – District 3

• Mark W. LaSalle – District 3

There are traditionally three directors up for election each year, one from each district. However, every third year, two directors are elected for District 3; this district has the most members and is represented by two directors to ensure adequate representation.

For a full list of board members and to view the 2023 annual report, visit singingriver.com/my-coop.

Singing River Electric members Phillip Busby, Linda Eckford, Richard Fleming, and Obie Wells served on the Credentials and Election Committee. This committee reviews the board applicants prior to the election and monitors voting at the annual membership meeting.

Singing River Electric 2023 Highlights

• Commissioned ﬁrst SRE substation for SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) which speeds outage restoration times

• Retired more than $3.4 million in capital credits for the year 1997 - Cooperative Energy retired $1.56 million for the year 1993 and a partial return for the year 2009

• Conducted cost of service study, adjusted the monthly customer and energy charges, and introduced a demand charge to cover increased electric system costs

• Introduced outage reporting texting and member service texting

• Replaced more than 21 miles of aging copper wire and 8.7 miles of aging underground lines

• Introduced itemized billing to be more transparent on member bills

• Awarded 207 heat pump rebates

• Participated in community events such as Renew Our Rivers, Pathways2Possibilities Career Fair, Arbor Day tree plantings, and Cooperative Days of Service

• Awarded $16,730.21 in NHN Community Grants to local non-proﬁts

• Assisted Suwannee Valley Electric in Florida after Hurricane Idalia and helped two Mississippi electric cooperatives after severe weather

• Completed 37 solar panel commissionings

• Marked Singing River Electric’s 85th anniversary on August 31

Singing River Connect 2023 Highlights

• Maintained an overall 45% take-rate for eligible subscribers

• Recognized SRC’s 5,000th subscriber in September

• Opened online sign-ups at singingriverconnect.com/sign-up

• Hosted four learning lab events to explain TV streaming, cybersecurity, and smart home devices

2024 Annual Membership Meeting Prize winners

Thank you to all our members who either voted online or returned their proxy to participate in the board of directors election. Congratulations to these prize drawing winners!

$500 winner

Sidney Reus of Moss Point

$250 winners

Roddy Hinton of Richton, Samuel McClure of Lucedale, David Stanford of Leakesville, Richard Thorp of Gautier, Bethany Willis of Ocean Springs, George Wilner of Hurley

FREE speed upgrade to 300 Mbps for 100 Mbps plan subscribers

Our subscribers are connecting more devices and branching out into cameras and smart home devices. This upgrade to 300 Mbps gives our subscribers the speed to continue expanding their internetbased possibilities.

FREE ProtectIQ and ExperienceIQ enhanced mobile app features for all 1 Gig

plan subscribers

As subscribers connect more devices, the need to protect and control their home network grows. ProtectIQ provides peace of mind protection from viruses, web threats, and intrusions across all devices on your network. ExperienceIQ allows you to manage screen time, ensure kid-friendly content, prioritize devices, and monitor internet use in your household.

Singing River Connect is owned by Singing River Electric, a cooperative, which means we focus more on people than proﬁts. When we saw the opportunity to upgrade our subscribers, deciding to do it was easy.

Visit singingriverconnect.com/products-pricing-a for full package details.

Step 1: Make-ready engineering Examine. Design.

Fountainbleu, Singing River Mall, Gautier, and Hamill Farm substation areas

Step 2: Make-ready construction

Step 4: Splicing

Connecting the dots.

Benndale substation area

Planning the most eﬃcient approach to ﬁber deployment.

Ocean Springs, Gulf Park Estates, and Sunplex substation areas

Step 3: Construction

Building a network from the ground up.

St. Martin, Fort Bayou, Martin Bluﬀ, Hickory Hills, Forts Lake, Helena, Helena Industrial, Escatawpa South, Wade, and Tucker Road substation areas

The last outdoor step. Almost there…

Step 6: Installation

Rocky Creek, Leakesville, Lucedale North, Joe Batt, Vancleave, and all previously opened areas

Step 5: Service drop & drop splicing The speed of light, right to your home.

Rocky Creek, Leakesville, Lucedale North, Joe Batt, Vancleave, and all previously opened areas

37th

EXPERIENCE is the third component in the Cooperative Youth Leaders program. Eighty-ﬁve rising high school seniors from across Mississippi traveled to Washington, D.C. in June along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

While in Washington, D.C., the students and adult chaperones visited

While in Washington, D.C., the students and adult chaperones visited historic sites, monuments, museums, and learned about the impact electric cooperatives have on their communities.

The students also toured the U.S. Capitol, sat on the ﬂoor of the House of Representatives, and visited the Library of Congress as guests of former U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 FDR MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Cooperative Youth Leaders: An Investment in Our Future

At Southern Pine Electric, we know that the future of Mississippi and our cooperative lies in the hands and minds of our young people. That’s what drives our commitment to investing time, resources, and money into programs that prepare our kids for the future. Through di erent initiatives, we strive to help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed and become valuable contributors to our state’s bright future.

One of the cornerstones of our investment in youth is our Cooperative Youth Leaders program. It begins at Southern Pine with Cooperative University. This interactive leadership experience brings together students from throughout our service territory. Each high school can nominate two students to participate. The students spend a day at our headquarters o ce learning about electric cooperatives and Southern Pine and participating in hands-on leadership activities. Thirty-eight students participated in our most recent event, and we selected our youth leaders through observation and interviews.

This year, we sent ﬁve youth leaders to Jackson in late February to participate in Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Cooperative Leaders Workshop. These students had the opportunity to engage in teamwork and leadership experiences, tour the state capitol, and meet with state legislators. They also formed friendships with 80 other high school juniors from all over Mississippi, a testament to the program’s success.

In June, this group of new friends went to Washington, D.C., for NRECA’s Youth Tour, a weeklong trip that included meeting students from across the country. The 85 students representing Mississippi and our electric cooperatives did an outstanding job telling students from all over the United States what makes Mississippi unique. In addition, they toured monuments and museums, attended a professional baseball game, spent an evening on a riverboat cruise, visited Arlington National Cemetery, and so much more.

The Cooperative Youth Leaders program provides once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the students. If you have a child entering their junior year of high school, please talk to their school counselor about the program. Southern Pine will begin taking applications from the counselors in September. We hope to see your child soon.

by Chris K. Rhodes

President/CEO Southern Pine Electric

Brandon District

The Brandon District serves the most populated areas in the Southern Pine service territory. Led by District Manager Wes Lee, it serves parts of six counties and provides electricity to more than 23,000 meters. Brandon already has more meters than any other district, and because of population growth in the area, that number continues to climb. In addition to densely populated areas like Brandon, Pearl, and Florence, the district serves many rural areas.

Brandon’s 45 dedicated employees are always ready to respond quickly and work together to bring the power. Employees of the Brandon District have over 749 years of combined experience. According to Wes, this team excels because of their exceptional communication and collaboration. “Everyone consistently shares insights and updates, ensuring everyone is informed and aligned.

WES LEE – District Manager

Wes has served as the district manager for two years but has been with Southern Pine for eight years. He previously worked as the safety coordinator before being named director of safety and human resources.

for 10 years and has three chilWells. They live in Brandon. Wes

Wes has been married to Katie for 10 years and has three children: Savannah, John Walker, and Wells. They live in Brandon. Wes is a family man and loves spending time with his family, especially at Mississippi State athletic events and following John Walker around playing baseball.

“I’m very blessed to be a part of Southern Pine,” said Wes. “Looking back, there are so many happy memories, but my favorite

This transparency reduces misunderstandings and fosters a cohesive working environment. Additionally, our collective commitment to teamwork allows us to utilize each member’s unique strengths e ectively, driving innovative solutions, and achieving our goals e ciently. The combination of clear communication and strong collaboration is paramount to our success and what we believe sets us apart,” said Wes.

Like our other district o ces, it is a fully functional facility with the resources and personnel to fulfill our mission. Employees are local people with a vested interest in the communities where they live and work. You can find them serving in the Rotary Club, chamber of commerce boards, volunteer fire departments, coaching their children on the ballfield, or volunteering to make their communities and local schools the best they can be.

will always be the day we hit one million man-hours without a lost time incident. As the architect of that initiative, I believe that is the crowning moment so far.”

Wes said working for Southern Pine di ers from working elsewhere because of the family atmosphere. “The way we all come together when we get hit the hardest is always so impressive to me,” he added.

The combination of clear communication and strong collaboration is paramount to our success.

MONICA RENT – O ce Supervisor

TONY BYRD – Field Supervisor

supervisor in Brandon for six years

dedicated employee who works

Monica has served as an o ce supervisor in Brandon for six years and lives in Flowood. She is a dedicated employee who works hard to assist members with whatever they need.

and achieve positive results. When

As someone who has never met a stranger, Monica loves meeting and collaborating with valuable members to understand their needs and achieve positive results. When Monica is not serving our members, she loves watching old sitcoms and shopping.

JIMMY MATHIS – 47 Years of Service

Jimmy has served Southern Pine members for 47 years, including several positions in the last 33 years. He currently serves as a construction supervisor. Before that, he worked as a tree trimmer, groundman, apprentice lineman, and journeyman lineman.

including several positions serves as a construction and live in Florence. They have

Jimmy and his wife, Annette, have been married for 38 years and live in Florence. They have two children, Carrie Hawkins and Ashton Burkhalter, and four grandchildren, Merigrace, Ayden, Brance, and Whittley. Jimmy joked that he enjoys getting ready for hunting and ﬁshing but never goes.

EMPLOYEES

749 Years of combined service

2,511

Miles of line

year but has vast experience in several

Tony has been a ﬁeld supervisor for one year but has vast experience in several roles, which he gained over 31 years with Southern Pine. Before assuming his current role, he worked as a tree trimmer, meter reader, apprentice lineman, journeyman lineman, substation technician, and substation supervisor.

“Whether it’s building a new service or working to restore power from storms, we always work with the members’ best interests in mind,” he said.

we always work with the members’ best

Tony and his wife, Shon, have been

Tony and his wife, Shon, have been married for 11 years and live in Trenton.

He has three grown children: Matt Byrd, Mackenzie Byrd, and Anna Claire Chesnut. He enjoys working on his farm, raising a few cows, gardening, hunting, and ﬁshing when time allows.

HAZE ARINDER – The Next Generation of

Haze has been with the Southern Pine team for seven months as an apprentice lineman and loves what he does to help our members. “The comradery with the other employees is great, and I love how friendly everyone is,” said Haze.

He added that one of his favorite parts of his job is being outside, watching the sun go down, and watching it come up in the mornings. Haze lives in Brandon. When he is not working, he likes to wakeboard, surf, and ride his jet ski.

Service Over

23,000 Meters

48,848 POLES

15,126 TRANSFORMERS LINE CREWS

4 SERVICEMEN Counties

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

Board of Directors Returns Capital Credits

The Board of Directors has voted to return $1,920,135.73 to Members. Active Members who had accounts in 2023 will receive a credit on their August bill. The Current Service Detail example on the right shows how the credit will appear on the August bills. Members with inactive accounts will be mailed a check on August 7. Southwest Electric is a Member-owned electric cooperative. Unlike an investorowned utility, we do not operate to make a proﬁt. By paying electric

bills, Members cover operating

and the

are invested in the utility plant. The Members’ investment is called a patronage capital credit. It is allocated to our Members’ accounts based on how much electricity they used that year. Members who use more electricity will have a bigger investment. Likewise, Members who use less will have a smaller investment. Since 1960, Southwest Electric has returned almost $33.5 million in patronage capital to our Members.

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

The Cooperative Youth Leaders program is fully funded — including the trip to D.C. — by the local electric cooperatives as a commitment to molding future leaders for Mississippi, so they can impact the state and local communities.

This trip has been an absolutely amazing experience. It has furthered our education and helped us grow as proud Americans. We were put on this trip as strangers, and are all leaving as close friends. – Avery Sellers

PEYTON BELL

NATCHEZ EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY

AVA CALCOTE

BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY

XAVIEN FELTON

FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

AVERY SELLERS

LOYD STAR ATTENDANCE CENTER

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

When red lights ﬂash, stop and stay back 20 feet.

Slow down in residential areas and school zones.

Remind students to walk in front of the bus — never behind — when getting on or o the bus.

@twincoepa

Hollandale - 662-827-2262 | Belzoni - 662-247-1909 | Greenville - 662-334-9543 | Rolling Fork - 662-873-4233 | REPORT OUTAGES 866-897-7250

Electricity Provides POWERFUL VALUE

by Maura Giles

INTRODUCING

As we all look for ways to save money in this age of increasing inﬂation, I began to think about my daily routine and how much value it provided me compared to the money I spent. A morning latte was costing me about $6; a fast-food combo with a burger, fries and a drink was setting me back $10; and my Netﬂix subscription is about $16 each month. All these daily expenses totaled around $85 a week, or about $340 monthly. And what was the real value—short-term satisfaction and a larger waistline? Even as I started packing my own lunch, my latte was still costing me about $120 a month. This got me thinking — is this the best value for my money?

Electricity provides beneﬁts that we often take for granted. It goes well beyond short-term satisfaction by allowing us to charge devices

UPCOMING

and have cold food and hot water, all in a comfortable indoor climate. Besides the privilege it a ords, electricity has also remained relatively cost-stable even amidst rising inﬂation.

• JULY 16, 2024 • “Record Date” for Twin County’s 2024 Annual Meeting.

• JULY 17, 2024 • Petitions to run for two directors in the Greenville service area and one director in the Belzoni service area are available at the Hollandale o ce.

• AUG. 2, 2024 • Petitions to run for director must be ﬁled at the Hollandale o ce by 5 p.m.

• ON OR BEFORE AUG. 12, 2024 Annual meeting notices, annual reports, and proxies are mailed to all the members in good standing as of the record date.

• SEPT. 11, 2024 • All proxies must be received by 5 p.m. at any of Twin County’s o ces.

• SEPT. 17, 2024 • Twin County Annual Meeting in Hollandale beginning at 1:30 p.m.

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

This was an unforgettable week and amazing opportunity I will cherish for years to come. – Claire Siebert

HANNAH HOOKER

WASHINGTON SCHOOL

CLAIRE SIEBERT

WASHINGTON SCHOOL

WALKER WINTER

DEER CREEK SCHOOL

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Tips to BeaT the

When we all work together to lower energy use during peak hours, we can lock in lower electricity rates, so everyone saves. Here are a few simple ways to save during peak summer hours.

1 2 3 4 5 1 2

Raise the thermostat a few degrees.

Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.

Avoid using major appliances.

Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.

Turn o and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.

YAZOO VALLEY INSTALLS FLAGS FOR THE FOURTH

Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association recently installed flags on the poles at the Four Points intersection entering Yazoo City. The flags were purchased by the Yazoo County Economic Development District and the Yazoo Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Yazoo Valley volunteered to install them in time for the Fourth of July holiday. Susan Guion with the YCEDD is working to raise funds to have replacement flags available to ensure that the flags remain in good condition. The flags will be placed on the poles during patriotic holidays. Yazoo Valley has received numerous positive comments on the project and appreciates the opportunity to help serve our community.

Cobie McCrory installs two ﬂags on one of the poles at the Four Points intersection entering Yazoo City.

Tanner Evilsizor and James Ellis prepare a couple of ﬂags to be installed.

Cobie McCrory puts up one of 10 new ﬂags in Yazoo City.

Wade O'Briant helps make sure a ﬂag is properly aligned. Previously installed ﬂags can be seen in the background.

37th

They visited, for a full week in June, along with nearly 1,700 student leaders from 44 states for the 2024 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour.

The students attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and had dinner during an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

We have learned about and seen so many of the important parts of our history. We now realize what a truly amazing country this is. We are so blessed from this opportunity. – Adalai, Annabeth, and Avery

AVERY ALEXANDER BENTON ACADEMY

ADALAI BOGGAN MANCHESTER ACADEMY

ANNABETH MERRELL MANCHESTER ACADEMY

SUNDAY, JUNE 16 EINSTEIN MEMORIAL

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 THE WHITE HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 U.S. CAPITOL STEPS

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 THE KENNEDY CENTER

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Tips to BeaT the

When we all work together to lower energy use during peak hours, we can lock in lower electricity rates, so everyone saves. Here are a few simple ways to save during peak summer hours.

1 2 3 4 5 1 2

Raise the thermostat a few degrees.

Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.

Avoid using major appliances.

Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.

Turn o and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.

The game of life

Our August 2024 issue is a special one.

The magazine you are holding in your hand (or reading on your phone or computer) is Today in Mississippi’s ﬁrst Sports issue.

The theme is on purpose, and the timing is perfect since August is the beginning of football season.

Mississippians love their Friday night lights and Saturday tailgating.

In my view, sports and competition are crucial to our lives beyond entertainment. Sports promotes work toward goals, working as a team, and fostering a sense of achievement.

Sports is also something that brings us together during a time when our country’s political divisions seem to push us away from one another further and further.

To kick o our inaugural Sports issue, we tapped the most celebrated and awarded sportswriter in Mississippi — Rick Cleveland — to interview a true home state legend.

Archie Manning is one of the most popular athletes in our state’s history.

Most of us know the stories behind his prowess on the football ﬁeld at Ole Miss and with the New Orleans Saints.

For our cover feature, Archie talked to us about growing up in smalltown, rural Mississippi. The Drew native’s story is something many of us can recognize and identify with, either personally, or via family and friends.

The issue also features a college football preview by our sports columnist, Dale McKee, as well as a story about the state’s youth wheelchair basketball team.

We know many of our members love sports.

We sure hope you love the August issue as well.

by Michael Callahan

Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Send us photos of your front porches. You and your family or friends can be on them, or just shoot us photos of your front porch solo. The photos must be highresolution JPG ﬁles of at least 1 MB in size. Please attach the photo to your email and send it to news@ecm.coop. Each entry must be accompanied by photographer’s name, address, and co-op.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Aug. 30. Select photos will appear in the October 2024 issue.