Capital Credits On the surface, it might be difficult to understand what makes an electric co-op different than another type of business. Because a cooperative is a business, but it operates differently than many other types of businesses. The most important difference is that you and everyone else that receives electricity from the cooperative are not just customers—you collectively own the business as members. One of the most important differences between electric cooperatives and for-profit utilities is that co-ops are headquartered right here and hire local people. Co-ops are also locally managed and overseen by boards made up of members just like you. The electricity we provide may be generated further away, but the people who do the administrative and technical work necessary to serve you live here. The directors who make the long-term decisions about how the business is run are from here. And you elect those board members to represent you. Another difference is that cooperatives are nonprofit entities. There are no stockholders and no dividends paid to investors who don’t live in our service territory. When the co-op collects more revenue in a year than it takes to pay its bills, what’s left after covering operating expenses will eventually be refunded to members. But first, the co-op uses that money, referred to as capital credits, to invest in the business and maintain an emergency reserve. A few years down the road, when financial circumstances warrant, the co-op may opt to return that excess capital to its members in a capital credits refund. Those refunds are given back to members in proportion to the amount of business they did with the co-op in a given year. 20
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This year, $650,000 will be distributed back to Nueces Electric Cooperative wires members in the form of capital credits. Because capital credits can exist on the books for several years before the retirement of those dollars, it’s important to update NEC with your new address if you move. The refunds are still yours, even if you are no longer a member. Electric cooperatives exist to serve communities in our territories with reliable, affordable power. But we also act to enhance the quality life in those communities. That’s the cooperative difference.
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2017
Christmas Card Contest RULES:
Entries must be hand-drawn and follow the contest theme of combining electricity or lineworkers with a Christmas or holiday component. All entries must be received by 5 p.m on Friday, January 13. All submitted works must be an original concept and not a copy of anyone else’s copyrighted material. If your image infringes upon another’s copyright, it will be disqualified. Upon submitting your work to NEC for this contest, you are solely responsible for any infringement on copyrighted materials. Artwork must be delivered to the NEC offices or emailed in a JPG format that does not exceed 1MB. This page must also be completed and returned with the artwork submission to be considered a complete entry. All artists must be dependents of a current member of Nueces Electric Cooperative. Children 18 and under are eligible to participate. One grand prize winner and one runner up will be determined in each of the three age categories, listed below. Winners will be annouced in the March edition of Texas Co-op Power magazine. The three grand prize winners will each receive a $100 electric bill credit and a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. The three runner ups will each receive a $50 electric bill credit and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. NEC will also determine which of the winners’ artwork will be featured on the 2017 NEC Christmas Cards. Visit NuecesElectric.org for the submission form.
Three $200 GRAND PRIZES
Christmas Card Categories 6 & Under
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7 - 12
13 - 18
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2017
Youth Leadership Tour Win the trip of a lifetime!
The Govenment-in-Action Youth Leadership Tour 2017 is an all-expense-paid trip for high school students to learn about different aspects of the government, meet their members of Congress and visit historical sites. Each year, NEC sends four delegates from the cooperative to participate. This year’s trip will begin in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, June 7 and continue on to tour sites in Washington D.C. before the trip concludes on Friday, June 16. The travel package, valued at $3,000, includes air transportation to and from Washington D.C., hotel stay, meals, admission fees, and $250 cash for extra expenses.
Essay Topic: Choose one of the Seven Cooperative
Principles and explain how NEC embodies that principle.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2017
Complete the 2017 Nueces Electric Cooperative Youth Leadership Tour Application form which can be found on both nueceselectric.org and necretail.com. Submit a 400-600 word essay on the topic “Choose one of the Seven Cooperative Principles and explain how NEC embodies that principle.” Finalists will interviewed to determine the final four winners that will take this Youth Leadership Tour trip of a lifetime. Applicants must have consent of and reside in the home with a parent or legal guardian who is a current Nueces Electric Cooperative member. 22
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Apply Today!
How to apply:
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www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT
Ramiro De la Paz Memorial
SCHOLARSHIP Nueces Electric Cooperative awards high school seniors of cooperative members scholarships each year. This year, there are three different types of scholarships that will be awarded. Students planning to attend a 4-year college or university in Texas are eligible to apply. Two Grand Prize scholarships of $4,000 and ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Students planning to attend a 2-year college or vocational school in Texas for a career related to the electrical industry (GIS mapping, communications, engineering, etc.) are eligible to apply. Ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Students planning to attend a Texas lineman’s college are eligible to apply. Two $5,000 scholarships.
s e nt r a s p ur mber , o y If e me o - op ar he C win d o f t co u l s h i p ! r yo u h o l a c as
Applicants must reside in the home with a parent or legal guardian who has been a Nueces Electric Cooperative member for a minimum of six months as of the application deadline date.
Two $5,000 scholarships and
Two $4,000 scholarships and
Ca hig llin h g se sch all nio oo rs! l
For Applications & Details: www.nueceselectric.org
Application deadline: February 10
Twenty $1,000 scholarships
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2016 Annual Memb By Sterlen Kemp
Nueces Electric Cooperative kicked off its 77th annual membership meeting on October 13, 2016 with a packed auditorium under the vibrant Texas sun. Fortunately, the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown, Texas, provided a cool arena for co-op members to celebrate their partnership with NEC. The red- and blue-shirted employees and volunteers opened the doors of the arena as members poured in by the hundreds. Approximately 2,000 people attended the meeting enjoying catered barbecue with family and friends, winning door prizes and fun times for the kids. “I am once again grateful to be with you for this annual meeting as a fellow co-op member and president of NEC’s Board of Directors,” said NEC President Brian Menking. “NEC is a trailblazer in the co-op world and with the acceleration of our technical developments in 2015, our activities continue to position us as a cutting-edge co-op and a leader in our industry.” Once inside, members made their way through the registration lines facilitated by NEC employees to register for their chance to cast their ballots for the board of director’s election. Tickets for deliciously catered barbecue dinners from Corpus Christi’s own Howard’s BBQ and Catering Company were given as members made their way through the venue line.
While folks registered to vote and others ate at tables prepared by co-op event coordinators, the Texas A&M Kingsville Jazz Combo serenaded the crowd with a fully-orchestrated jazz ensemble. Adjacent to the arena, a designated kid’s area was available for children to play and be entertained as parents looked on. The kids participated in arts-and-craft activities, jumped in the inflated bounce house and petted farm animals such a chick-
utes for the 2015 annual meeting were approved and Menking along with NEC CEO Trace McCuan reviewed the co-op’s business performance in 2016. “I was fortunate enough to join the NEC family in November of 2015 as Chief Executive Officer,” stated NEC CEO Trace McCuan. “Thank you to all of the members and employees that help make this co-op great, year after year. Our co-op had a strong 2015. I am committed to continuing to make this a successful, memberdriven co-op.” The total revenue for NEC was $87,371,228 with expenses of $76,954,298 and a net margin of $10,332,365. In 2015, $7.3 million was returned to members in the form of capital credits or an end-of-year credit previously known as the Merry Christmas credit, but known now as the Power Perks Adjustment. After counting all the votes, the election results were finally announced: Incumbent Tommy Ermis remains the director for District 6, incumbent Louis William “Bill” Hartman remains the director for District 7, incumbent Brian Menking remains the director for District 8, and incumbent Gladys Allen-Lippincott remains the director for District 10. At the end of the meeting, Chief Retail Officer Frank Wilson kept the crowd’s attention by announcing names for the electric bill credit drawings. A Yeti cooler and a grand prize of various appliances were also giving to winners.
“NEC is a trailblazer in the co-op world and with the acceleration of our technical developments in 2015, our activities continue to position us as a cutting-edge co-op and a leader in our industry.”
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- NEC Board President Brian Menking ens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, and goats in excitement. As the meeting began, President Menking called the meeting to order by introducing Pastor Jim Craver from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Alice who offered the invocation. The U.S. Navy color guard presented the American colors as the jazz band performed the national anthem in the background. Menking passed the microphone, after reciting the pledge of allegiance, to recognize special guests and NEC employees. The min-
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embership Meeting
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Giving back to communities is the co-op way As some of you might know, co-ops across the globe adhere to the same Seven Cooperative Principles that guide all of our decisions––from how we run the co-op, to how we engage with our local communities. Concern for community is the seventh principle, and it is one that all employees of Nueces Electric Cooperative value year-round. But during the holiday season, concern for community seems especially important. Electric cooperatives have a proud history of giving back. Here at Nueces Electric Cooperative, our duty is to main street, not wall street. Some of our community service initiatives include: Operation Round-Up, NEC’s Youth Programs and the Corpus Christi Relay for Life event. Nueces Electric Cooperative members help us give back, too. Through
the Operation Round-Up program, members can round up their energy bills to the next dollar amount, and the extra change goes toward Nueces Electric Charities which is dedicated to helping those in need, right here in our community. Nueces Electric Charities distributes grants twice a year, and the upcoming deadline to submit a grant application is January 1, 2017. For the application and more information, please visit NuecesCharities.org. We are thankful for the support that our membership gives us to help support these local organizations that benefit members and community on a local level. But the commitment of cooperatives is also global. Co-ops have donated equipment and sent line workers overseas so they can help bring power to thousands of people
Merry Christmas
who have never experienced the benefits of electricity. So many families go without on a daily basis and struggle to make ends meet. This struggle can be especially hard during the holiday season. There are many ways you can give back to the community that go beyond dollar donations. Take some time to go through your closets and find clothes that no longer fit or have lost their use and take them to your local Salvation Army, Goodwill or church clothing drive. Volunteer for a local food or toy drive, deliver meals to the sick and the elderly or simply make a meal for a neighbor in need. No matter how great or small the act, every time we give back, we strengthen our community. So take the time to give back this holiday season. You’ll be glad you did.
Our main office will open at 9 a.m. and satellite offices at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13 All offices will be closed Friday, December 23rd, and Monday, December 26th, for the Christmas holiday. We will also be closed Tuesday, January 2nd. We wish you a safe and Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
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www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT
Payment Options: Pay Online www.nueceselectric.org Access your account 24 hours a day from any computer to view usage, make payments or manage your account. Just click on “Pay Your Bill”, on the left side of our Homepage and it will take you to the SmartHub account portal.
Pay With Your Smart Device Download the SmartHub app to your iPhone or Andriod device. View usage, weather impacts, make payments and manage your account any time of the day.
Auto Draft: Sign up to have your bank account or credit card drafted for your monthly bill. You can sign-up via your SmartHub online account.
Equal Payment Plan Through this payment program, a member’s usage is averaged for the year and the member makes equal payments each month. See more information and sign up online under the Member Services ->Payment Options menu tab, or call the office.
Pay by Phone: 800-NEC-WATT (800-632-9288)
Pay in Person: Pay your bill at any one of our Customer Service centers located in Calallen, Ben Bolt, Ricardo or Orange Grove.
Pay by Mail: P.O. Box 659821, San Antonio, TX 78265
Pay at the Payment Kiosk Quick, easy, and accessible 24 hours a day, the Kiosk is located at the Calallen office. Payments post immediately to your account.
Payment Services Pay using any Fidelity Express Pay Stations or for an additional $1.50 service charge. Search online to find a payment station near you.
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Find us on the web at: www.nueceselectric.org Call us at: 361-387-2581 or 1-800-632-9288 Your Elected Board of Directors: Brian Menking: District 8, President Bill Hartman, District 7, Vice-President David Rosse, District 3, Secretary Treasurer Tommy Ermis, District 6, Asst Secretary-Treasure Johnny Alvarado, District 9 Gladys Lippincott, District 10 (Retail) Donald Herrmann, District 4 Maxine Stewart, District 5 Gregg Truesdale, District 2 Rumaldo Z. Juarez, District 1
Main Office / Mailing Address: 14353 Cooperative Ave Robstown, TX 78380 (Calallen) M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ben Bolt Service Center: 5646 S. Hwy 281 Alice, TX M-F 8 - 12/ 12:30 - 4 Ricardo Service Center: 123 CR 1026, Ricardo, TX M-W-F 8 - 12 / 12:30 - 4 Orange Grove Service Center: 5302 W. FM 624 T-Th 9 - 12 / 1 - 4 (FM 624 & Hwy 281)
Use the NEC Outage Viewer to view outages 24-hours a day with any device. The Outage Viewer is located on the homepage our website.
NEC Power Providers
PLEASE NOTE: The (CRs) listed below have completed the process to qualify to serve NEC area members. This provider list is subject to change. For the most up-to-date list of providers, please monitor our website nueceselectric.org or you can obtain a list from any NEC office.
AP GAS & ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL APOLLO POWER & LIGHT COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL BLUESTAR ENERGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL CONSTELLATION ENERGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY CORAL POWER SOLUTIONS LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL DYNEGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ENERGY TRANSFER LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ENERTRADE ELECTRIC LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL GDF SUEZ COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL HINO ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL MPOWER /MP2 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY NEC RETAIL ELECTRICITY RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUST TENASKA LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ENCOA (TERM) COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY SMARTCOM ENERGY SERVICES COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY STARTEX POWER LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SOURCE POWER & GAS COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
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