Nec retail april 2014

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Member ConNECtions www.necretail.com

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More Powerful Together John L. Sims, NEC CEO

Why join Rural Friends/ACRE?

Look at the results in 2013: 1.

As we head toward elections this fall, I want to take a moment and introduce you to Rural Friends/ACRE. Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives is the non-partisan political action committee (PAC) that supports electric cooperatives in Texas. The national affiliate is the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE). Founded in 1966 by the 1,000 cooperatives of the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA), ACRE supports candidates for state and federal office - those in office now and those running for office - who will speak for and protect the interests of electric cooperatives and their member/owners. Participation in Rural Friends/ACRE ensures that the voice of electric cooperatives remains strong at the nation’s capital and with the Texas Legislature. Maintaining a strong grassroots presence in the political process is instrumental to the long-term success of electric cooperatives. Rural Friends/ACRE follows established procedures for making contributions to candidates: the candidate’s position on issues critical to electric cooperatives; their votes and public statements on these issues; the candidate’s financial need and the strength of his or her opponent. The candidate’s political affiliation is never taken into account. Recently several NEC employees made the commitment to join Rural Friends/ACRE. I encourage you to take a moment to join as well. After all, the dedication of member/owners to stand together forms the backbone of a powerful grassroots network.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Established legal protections for co-op linemen against prosecution for criminal trespass. Kept co-op linemen out of unnecessary state licensing requirements. Targeted unscrupulous metal dealers for prison time to curb copper theft. Returned to National Electric Safety Code road clearance standards for co-op distribution lines. Protected co-ops from PUC regulation of pole attachments and unfair business practices by big cable companies. Kept the PUC running without increasing regulatory costs for co-ops. Kept co-ops from being put under PUC regulation for net metering. Protected and defended our service areas and our right to be governed locally. Authorized a bill payment assistance program for military veterans severely burned in combat.

Yes! I want to help keep the voice of rural electric cooperatives heard in the political process by participating in Rural Friends/ACRE. ___ $500 Presidential

___ $50

___ $150 Century Club Plus

___ $25 Contributions to political action committees are not tax deductible.

___ $100 Century Club

Name: _______________________________________________ Account Number: ____________________________ Address: _______________________________________ City, State, Zip: _____________________________________ Telephone Number: ______________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____

Enclosed are my membership dues of $______. (Make payable to Rural Friends/ACRE.)

____

Please add my Rural Friends/ACRE dues to my next electric bill.

Detach & Mail to: NEC Cooperative Ave Christi, TX 78380 Mail to: Medina Electric Cooperative • ~ 14353 PO Box 370 • ~ Corpus Hondo, TX 78861 20 Texas Co-op Power NUECES EC April 2014

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“She has always been a very positive and hard working employ that never turned down a task and was always the first to work to find innovative ways to make the system work better. She will be missed.” www.necretail.com

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John Sims, NEC CEO

Since July 1977, Linda Johnson has been a backbone for the Co-op. Linda retired at the end of February after 36 years of service to members.

Linda Johnson Retires After 36 Years She is known at the co-op for her amazingly delicious brownies and her dedication to the Nueces County Livestock Show, but more importantly, Linda Johnson is known for her hard work and diverse knowledge of all departments at NEC. For the past 36 years, Linda has helped pave paths for new Co-op ventures and for the past 15 years as the office manager, she has ensured things are functioning properly in the Co-op business office. Linda began her career with NEC in July 1977 as a Work Order Clerk and soon advanced to the Warehouse supervisor. In 1995 she became a Collections and Purchasing Manager followed by being placed as an Assistant Office Manager and has served NEC as the Main Office Manager since 1998. Her current supervisor Robbie Sorrell, NEC CFO, says “Linda has worked in almost every area of the Cooperative, and for such, she is greatly respected and admired. Linda’s diligence and work ethic ensures that what Linda doesn’t know immediately, she will darn sure find/and figure it out post haste. Linda, too, is actively involved in the community, and people know her from miles around. She reflects well on NEC and has been one of the foremost faces of NEC since many of you were even able to walk. Linda epitomizes the cooperative role. We should all strive to emulate the example she has set.”

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As you can imagine, in the 36 years Linda was with the Co-op, there have been plenty of changes and technology advancements in the ever-changing energy industry. She has had a front row seat for the implementation of advanced computer systems, the NEC deregulation process, she has seen extensive membership growth and played significant roles in developing business practices and procedures. During her tenure, Linda helped establish the Ramiro De La Paz Scholarship program, she has maintained the Co-op’s reporting statistics, and kept the company up-to-date on all of our corporate insurance policies. Linda has certainly been a valued part of the NEC leadership. As a co-worker, Linda will be greatly missed as she has always been up front and center during community events and employee gatherings. She was always one of the first to volunteer to help make it great! Her creativity and excellent cooking skills have inspired employees time and time again. In her retirement, Linda plans to spend time with her beautiful grandchildren, volunteer in the community, and make plenty of trips to their family get-away in Leakey. Thank you Linda for your 36 years of hard work and dedication to Nueces Electric Cooperative.

Co-op Power April 2014 Texas ­­

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Prepare for Summer Heat, Increase Energy Savings BY B. DENISE HAWKINS Adding a few items to your list of spring chores can help make your home more energy efficient and deliver electric bills that won’t make you sweat when temperatures soar.

Start with Your Air Conditioner Spring and early summer are good times to make sure that your air-conditioning unit is ready to work when you flip the switch. 1. Have a professional inspect and service your unit. The service should include a thorough check of wiring and electronic and mechanical systems, lubrication of all moving parts, and calibration of the thermostat. 2. Give your air conditioner a do-it-yourself cleaning. Shut the unit off and clear away weeds, leaves and yard debris from the outside condenser. Inside the unit, clean or replace filters. Dirty filters can restrict airflow and reduce overall efficiency by making the air conditioner work harder on hot summer days. Dust the fan blades if you can do so safely. Make sure air can flow freely over the inside and outside coils. Vacuum registers to remove any dust buildup. 3. When using window units, ensure that weathIf your thermostat still looks like this, you should consider erstripping is in place. upgrading it to a programmable model to increase efficiency. Placement should be between the middle of the top and bottom window panes.

Examine Your Roof See how well your roof has weathered the winter. Few things can shorten the life of your home faster than a roof leak. Even a minor one can damage your attic insulation before you know it. A roofing professional can assess the roof’s condition and repair loose or missing shingles, plug leaks and clear gutters.

Make Your Electric Cooperative a Resource Visit TogetherWeSave.com to find out how little measures around the house can add up to big energy savings as temperatures outside climb. B. Denise Hawkins writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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Texas Co-op Power April 2014

Seal Air Leaks; Save Energy Heating and cooling your home costs money, yet most homes let some of that conditioned air escape to the outdoors through tiny leaks, like cracks around windows; doors that don’t close quite tightly enough; and holes in walls that allow cable, telephone, sump pump and electrical lines to enter the building. Those same holes and cracks allow hot air to seep into your air-conditioned home from the outside during the summer and cold air to sneak in during the winter. No matter if conditioned air is getting outside or fresh air is coming in, the result is the same: Your air-conditioning or heating system has to do extra work to keep the indoor air at the temperature you like. Remove old, cracked caulking and replace with new caulking designed for the application. Caulking can be designated for exterior, interior and bathroom applications, and you don’t want to use bathroom caulk on the outside of your home. Also, make sure the caulk can be painted if you want it to blend in with colors used in the rest of your home. So find those leaks and seal them. Here are some tips: - On a windy day, light a stick of incense or a match indoors, blow it out and hold it near the interior of each window, door, electrical box, plumbing fixture, electrical outlet, ceiling fixture, attic hatch and anywhere else where you see an opening that lets something from the outside in. If the smoke moves, you have found an air leak. - Plug the leaks. You can do that by applying caulk right into the hole or crack. You also can install weatherstripping around doors and windows.

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Safely Responding to an Electrical Accident Traffic accidents, high winds and other events can bring down power lines within range of pedestrians and vehicles. Electricity can be an unforeseen hazard, particularly when overhead power lines fall and make contact with vehicles, the ground, or anything that conducts electricity. The wire may not be sparking or making signs that it is live, but it may be sending deadly voltage into whatever it’s touching. Therefore, always assume the power line is energized, and never touch it or even approach it. If responding to an accident scene involving a vehicle and downed lines, stay back and warn others to stay away. Make sure the occupants of the car stay inside until the utility has arrived to de-energize the lines. In a rare circumstance, a vehicle may catch fire. The only way the occupants can safely exit is to jump free and clear without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Advise them to jump and land with feet together, then hop away to safety. If someone has been in contact with electricity, there are not always obvious injuries. These are the symptoms to look for: changes in alertness; headache; problems with vision, swallowing or hearing; irregular heartbeat; muscle spasm and pain; numbness or tingling; and breathing problems. If you come upon someone who may have suffered an electrical shock, do not touch the person. He or she may still be in contact with the source and may be energized. If there is water involved, do not get in the water. Call 911 and the electric utility immediately. If it can be done safely, turn off the electricity at the source (the circuit breaker or breaker box). Otherwise, wait for the help of emergency responders. Once the source of electricity is off, then it is OK to check vital signs. However, do not move a person with an electrical injury unless he or she is in immediate danger. Anyone who has come in contact with electricity should see a doctor to check for internal injuries even if there are no obvious signs or symptoms. At the scene of an accident, looking out for electrical hazards until an electric utility crew cuts off the power is vitally important for professional first responders and bystanders. For more information on staying safe around electricity, visit SafeElectricity.org. www.necretail.com

Appliances account for about 13 percent of your home’s energy use. If they have energy-saving settings, use them! If your appliances are nearing voting age, consider replacing them with new, energy-efficient models. And remember to try smart power strips for smaller appliances and electronics that continue to draw power even when turned off. For more tips, visit EnergySavers.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Give Appliances Breathing Room If your microwave oven, refrigerator, TV and decorative lamps are too close together, they could overheat, cause a fire or die an early death. Appliances need breathing room. Space appliances that create heat far enough away from each other so that air can easily circulate among them. Also, don’t cover them with decorative sleeves or even with knick-knacks. Avoid storing cloth, paper or plastic items on top of the refrigerator, microwave or any other appliance that produces heat. Likewise, keep appliances far away from sinks, bathtubs and other locations with standing water. If you use a hair dryer, electric shaver or another electric device in the bathroom, don’t operate it while on a wet floor. And if your kitchen and bathroom outlets do not have ground-fault circuit interrupters, have them installed immediately.

Co-op Power April 2014 Texas ­­

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Arbor Day Celebration

Nueces Electric Tree Give-a-Way In honor of Arbor Day, NEC is giving away 150 FREE trees to our members. The Italian Stone Pine is an excellent tree for South Texas. They grow moderately fast in a variety of soil conditions and the canopies provide a generous amount of shade. As it reaches maturity, the tree self prunes it’s lower branches. Trees can add value to your home, help cool your home, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs, and provide food for wildlife. We will provide information on how to plant your trees and how to trim existing trees safely.

Friday, April 25th Pick up your FREE tree from the NEC Retail office located in Robstown, TX office (709 E. Main) 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. *You must bring a copy of your electric bill to prove you are a member of the co-op.

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Texas Co-op Power April 2014

1.855.NEC.RD4U

‘E’ Stands for Energy Efficiency This Earth Day Earth Day is April 22, and this year, “E” stands for energy efficiency. It serves as an important reminder that you can care for Mother Earth and reduce your energy bills at the same time. The cleanest, greenest energy is the energy we do not use. So this Earth Day, the Energy Education Council encourages you to discover ways that you can become more energy efficient. An easy first step to learn more is to check out all of the helpful tips and resources on EfficiencyResource.org. The site has a variety of articles, videos, games and educational materials. Many people do not realize just how easy it is to cut their energy bill by replacing their most used incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lamps or light-emitting diodes. Even simpler, just unplugging electronics when they are not in use can save you money. Here are some efficiency actions you can start incorporating into your energy habits this Earth Day: ~ Put a thermal blanket, sold at hardware and homeimprovement stores, on your older water heater to help water in the tank stay hot. ~ Set your thermostat higher in the summer when you can accept warmer conditions. This generally includes nighttime and whenever you leave your home for several hours. Many people find it easier to use a programmable thermostat that can be set to automatically adjust. ~ Separate your electricity and natural gas bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies. ~ Assess your heating and cooling systems and determine whether replacements are justified or whether you should retrofit them to make them work more efficiently and provide the same comfort (or better) for less energy. ~ Insulate hot water pipes and air ducts that run through unheated areas. Unearth the information you need this Earth Day. Visit EfficiencyResource.org and make your energy use more efficient.

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Finish the Fight!

Support Your Local Relay For Life Event.

Relay For Life is an overnight team fundraising event. Because it’s a team event, individual participants are not required to be there the entire time. But it’s so much fun, you’ll find it hard to leave! Funds raised through Relay support the mission of the American Cancer Society by funding research, education, advocacy and patient services.

Odem, Sinton, Taft

Friday, April 18

Willacy County

Saturday, April 19

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff,

Friday, April 25

NAS, & Padre Island Duval County

Friday, April 25

Live Oak—McMullen

Friday, April 25

North Cameron County

Friday, April 25

Victoria County

Friday, April 25

Webb County

Friday, April 25

Bee County

Friday, May 2

Corpus Christi Northwest

Friday, May 2

South Cameron County

Friday, May 2

Mathis Friday, May 9 Aransas Pass—Ingleside

Friday, May 16

Brooks County

Friday, June 20

Corpus Christi Downtown

Friday, June 27

Refugio County

Friday, November 8

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2000

Friday, April 11

2002

Kleberg County

2006

Friday, April 11

While NEC celebrates our 75 years of service to South Texas, we continue to reflect upon our accomplishments. Many proud memories stem around giving back to the community. Throughout the years NEC employees and members have created meaningful partnerships. Relay For Life is one of our proudest.

2010

Jim Wells County

NEC Supports Relay For LIfe!

2012

Below are just a few of the events you can support with donations, by volunteering or by starting a team. If you don’t see your community listed, visit www.relayforlife.org to find your local event so you can register or get more information.

In 1998, Nueces Electric Cooperative heard about an American Cancer Society (ACS) event from other Texas co-ops. It didn’t take long for NEC employees to approach the local ACS office in Corpus Christi, TX to see how we could bring this event to South Texas. In 1999, chaired by our now Chief Compliance Officer, Sarah Fisher, and NEC member Even Kelly, the first Relay For Life was born. The event raised $52,000 with 36 teams. NEC’s long-time team captain and breast cancer survivor, LaRae Martin, now heads up NEC’s efforts each year. NEC encourages you to join the fight against cancer and to honor cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle in your community. Co-op Power April 2014 Texas ­­

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Sign up to receive

$

Saying Thank You is just the beginning. Around Memorial Day, all current & former military enjoy a $25 THANK YOU Gift on their electric bill. Call before April 15th to get your credit on your Memorial Day bill!

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As of March 5th, 956 new and existing members have

Christmas Credit, the unlimited Member Referral program

signed-up to receive the $25 Military Appreciation credit.

(get $60!), and the burned Veteran’s credit. The Co-op

That totals

get’s excited when we are able to offer new opportunities

$23,900 that we are giving back to

members so far! This credit is in addition to the Merry

to give back. Making you proud in our privilege!

NEC Retail is proud to offer a recurring annual $25 electric bill credit to our fellow American Men and Women who currently serve or have served in the military. Verification of status is required prior to a credit being issued and can consist of any of the following: a. Copy of DD214 Form b. Copy of Military ID card c. Copy of Recent paystub from the military in the name of the member d. Copy of a current TX Driver License with, “VETERAN,” designation on the front

Verification can be mailed to: PO Box 260970, Corpus Christi, TX 78426 delivered to: 709 E. Main Street, Robstown, TX 78380 or faxed to: 361-387-2919.

The Veteran’s name must appear on the NEC Retail Account, and only one Veteran per membership will be credited each year. Military status verification can be submitted to NEC Retail up until April 15th of any year for a credit that calendar year. Any verification received after April 15 will be credited beginning the following calendar year.

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Texas Co-op Power April 2014

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For your convenience, there are a number of ways you can pay your bill for FREE:

You Could Win a

25

Pay Online

$

Pay by Direct Draft:

Energy Bill Credit

www.necretail.com Access your account 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from any computer to view usage, make payments or manage your account. Just click on “Pay Your Bill”, on the menu bar of our homepage.

If you prefer to not use the computer, you can still sign up to have your bank account or credit card drafted for your monthly bill. While you are online, you can select to save paper with paperless billing. Simply edit your profile.

Pay by Phone:

If your account number is:

10943-001 Call, NEC before the 20th of the month to receive your electric bill credit!

800-NEC-RD4U (800-632-7348) Monday thru Friday 8-5 p.m.

Pay in Person:

1.800.NEC.WATT

Pay your bill at 709 E. Main in Robstown

Pay by Mail:

PO BOX 260970 ~Corpus Christi, TX 78426

eBill...Now Offering Paperless Billing!

Fidelity Express Pay Stations accept NEC payments for an additional $1.50 service charge.

Pay Your Bill Online For FREE!

Benefits of E-Billing:

NEC Retail eBill

Free detailed bills NEW!! Paperless Billing NEW!! Electronic Bill Notification Schedule Automatic Payments using credit cards or bank accounts Available 24-hours a day for FREE View prior billing information

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Fast. Simple. Smart.

Sign up for free at:

www.necretail.com Co-op Power April 2014 Texas ­­

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