NEC recognized as a StormReady® Supporter by NWS and NOAA Trace McCuan, CEO
Nueces Electric Cooperative has been officially recognized by the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a StormReady® Supporter. NEC received this distinction for enhancing public safety through promoting the principles and guidelines of the StormReady® program in the Cooperative’s awareness and preparedness plans. We are extremely proud to have been named a StormReady® Supporter, as being prepared for hurricanes and large storms is vital to supporting NEC’s mission of continually providing reliable and cost effective electric service. This makes Nueces Electric Cooperative the only electric utility in the state of Texas to be recognized as a StormReady® Supporter. More than 190 sites in the state of Texas are StormReady®. In the Coastal Bend area, Nueces Electric Cooperative has joined the Texas State Aquarium, the Cities of Kingsville and Corpus Christi, the Naval Air Stations in Kingsville and Corpus Christi, and both TAMUCC and TAMUK in the StormReady® program. A full list of StormReady® sites can be found at https:// www.weather.gov/stormready/tx-sr. John Metz, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, helped recognize us in this designation as well. “On behalf of the National Weather Service and the StormReady® Advisory Board, I would like to congratulate you on the designation of Nueces Electric Cooperative in Robstown, Texas as a StormReady® Supporter. This success is clearly a result of your leadership, hard 18
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work and commitment at your facility.” Being prepared is always a priority here at NEC, so we are proud to have completed the necessary steps to become StormReady® certified. A big thank you to all of our employees that contributed to this recognition and that work hard every time a storm comes through our service area. This is just another step in fulfilling our mission of continually helping our members improve their quality of life by providing reliable and cost effective electric service. Depicted in the photo below: During the tour of the NEC facilities as the final step in the recognition process, NEC COO Avan Irani, Nueces County Office of Emergency Management Deputy Coordinator Melissa Munguia, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Metz, NEC CEO Trace McCuan, and NEC CCO Sarah Fisher.
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www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT
Accepting NEC Member Satisfaction Surveys As a member of a Nueces Electric Cooperative, you are a member of a Cooperative. Your feedback is greatly important to us and your voice truly has an opportunity to be heard. Your feedback will help us evaluate the value of our membership offerings to ensure we’re providing the best professional and technical support possible to all NEC members. Without the active involvement and commitment of our members, NEC would not be the successful cooperative it is today. So please take our survey at https://nueceselectric.org/survey If you would prefer a paper copy, please visit our offices to obtain a hard copy of this survey to submit by mail or at an NEC location. For other questions about this survey, please contact communications@nueceselectric.org.
How to take advantage of Back-to-School Energy Savings
Adjust the Thermostat:
Readjusting your thermostat for your family’s fall school and work schedules can save plenty of energy. Make sure your central air conditioner doesn’t kick in until someone is actually home. If you have a window unit and/or ceiling fans, turn them off when you’re out. HVAC systems and fans comfort people, not empty homes.
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Smart Power Strips:
Nonessential electronics, such as TVs, Blu-ray players, game consoles and chargers, can eat electricity even when on standby. Thankfully, there’s another option than scouring the Earth for off buttons: smart power strips. These outlet hubs ensure that electricity isn’t drawn from electronics and appliances that aren’t in use.
Overall Energy Efficiency:
There are many things you can do when you are home to save energy. This can include grilling instead of using the oven and keeping the refrigerator door shut. NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
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Back-to-school time can bring a lot of changes after the more laid-back days of summer. As you start up your schoolyear routines, don’t forget to include daily energy savings in your plans!
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www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT
Common Causes of Outages and Blinks You know NEC is committed to providing reliable, uninterrupted electrical power to its members. But sometimes storms, car accidents and even squirrels can cause power outages. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of power outages: Animals: Critters—especially squirrels—can cause power to fail when they come into contact with specific parts of the electrical system. The co-op installs guards and barriers to protect sensitive equipment, but sometimes critters still find a way in. When an animal contacts this equipment, it creates an abnormal current, which can disrupt the flow of power. Weather: Mother Nature can be a tough opponent. Severe weather such as thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, or the accumulation of ice and snow, can cause tree limbs to fall on power lines, resulting in outages. Vehicles: A power outage also can occur when a vehicle or farm
equipment crashes into a utility pole, which easily can bring down power lines and damage other electrical equipment. Blinks: Has your power ever blinked off and on for a few seconds? This is known as a power blink. It happens when an animal, vegetation or another object comes into contact with a power line that serves your home. When this happens, protective equipment that acts such as a circuit breaker interrupts the flow of power for a split second to reduce the possibility of damage to the electrical system. Many times, the problem on the power lines can be isolated, which often limits the number of members without electricity. Regardless of what causes a power outage or blink, you can rest assured that Nueces Electric Cooperative always works to get your power restored as soon as possible. Our top priority is to provide you with the safe, reliable electricity you depend on.
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Happy Labor Day Nueces EC will be closed Monday, September 4, for Labor Day. Crews will be on standby in case of outages.
Squirrels can cause power outages by coming in contact with sensitive equipment.
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Power Tip
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Setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.
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Get Ready!
September is National Preparedness Month, reminding us all to prepare for disasters, whether they’re weather-related (storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, or floods) or human-created (acts of terrorism, wildfires or collisions). All require planning and action to withstand them safely.There are several steps you can take now to better prepare for any disaster.
Document and Insure Property
Having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to ensure that you can repair, rebuild or replace whatever is damaged. Make sure you understand your coverage. Coverages to consider include the dwelling and personal property; loss-of-use compensation for temporary relocation; personal liability; and medical protection for anyone injured on your property. A detailed inventory of belongings can speed claim processing. Take photos and write down descriptions, including years, makes and model numbers.
Create and Test Communication Plans
Your family might not be all together if a disaster strikes, so take steps to form an emergency communication plan: 1. Equip household members to receive emergency alerts. Check with local emergency management or learn more by visiting ready.gov/alerts. 2. Choose a safe and familiar (and, if necessary, accessible and/or animal-friendly) emergency meeting place, where your family can go for protection or to reunite. 3. Create a paper copy of contact information that includes phone numbers and email addresses, and names and addresses of family members, medical facilities, doctors, service providers, schools and workplaces. Make sure everyone carries a copy and post a copy in your home. 4. Have regular household meetings to review plans and travel routes—and then practice, just like a fire drill.
Access Alerts and Warnings
Local police and fire departments, emergency managers, national agencies and private industry work together to provide alerts through several
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National Preparedness Month offers reminder to plan ahead
technologies. Most disaster-related apps can be downloaded to mobile devices for free. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System provides nationwide notifications for presidential, Amber Alerts and imminent threats. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards notifies the public about weather events, technological incidents such as chemical spills, Amber Alerts and national emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency app offers emergency updates, methods for staying safe from 20 types of hazards and directions to open shelters. The American Red Cross app combines 35 types of weather and emergency alerts, and lets you check to see if loved ones are safe.
Safeguard Documents
Keep vital information in a secure, convenient location. Include your insurance company’s contact info with your policy numbers and claim filing instructions. Store paper copies in a waterproof and fireproof box or safe. Secure electronic copies with strong passwords and save them on a flash or external hard drive in another, similar container.
Assemble or Update Supplies
Assemble a disaster supplies kit well in advance. Collect enough food and water to last at least 72 hours, and include communications, hygiene and first-aid supplies. Basic services such as electricity, gas, water and telephones may be cut off for days or even longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages. Visit ready.gov/kit to see a list of emergency kit supplies. www.nueceselectric.org
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MOVIE RENTALS • HOTELS • HOME IMPROVEMENTS • SPORTSWEAR • RENTAL CARS • APPLIANCES • OFFICE SUPPLIES • WATER PARKS •
TIRES
• CEL
MOVIE RENTALS • HOTELS • HOME IMPROVEMENTS • SPORTSWEAR • RENTAL CARS • APPLIANCES • OFFICE SUPPLIES • WATER PARKS •
PRINT OUT THE COUPONS, ADD UP THE SAVINGS. GET BIG SAVINGS ON GROCERIES THROUGH COUPONS.COM WITH YOUR CO-OP CONNECTIONS CARD. ANOTHER MEMBER BENEFIT BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.
FIND ALL THE WAYS TO SAVE AT
www.NuecesElectric.org/ConnectionsCard
• CELLPHONE • LOCAL BUSINESSES • DAY CARE • INSURANCE • LEGAL SERVICES • HOME REPAIRS • FUEL www.nueceselectric.org
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PIZZA • INTERNET • GIFTS • FLOWERS • CRAFTS • FITNESS CLUBS • PRESCRIPTIONS • PET FOOD • MUSEUMS • CONCERTS • TOOLS •
TIRES • GROCERIES • OIL CHANGE • FROZEN YOGURT • DINING OUT • EYEWEAR • LAWN CARE • BRACES • www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT
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Tips To Prevent Wildfires More than 65,000 wildfires burned 5.4 million acres of land in the United States in 2016, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The worst part? Many of these disasters could have been prevented. Although some wildfires are caused by lightning, approximately 90 percent are caused by human error. Many times, wildfires occur when campfires are left unattended, debris is burned improperly or cigarettes are carelessly discarded. Such fires can grow rapidly out of control. Here are a few tips to help campers and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the sights of nature without causing a wildfire.
• Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure you completely extinguish the fire when you’re done. Completely drench the fire with water and stir the ashes until they’re cold. • Play it safe when using fueled lanterns, heaters and stoves. Lighting and heating devices should be cool before you refuel them. Keep flammable liquids and fuel away from appliances. • Never discard cigarettes, matches or smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them in an appropriate trash receptacle. • When burning yard waste, obey local ordinances. Avoid
burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check. • If you see a wildfire and haven’t received evacuation orders yet, call 911. Don’t assume that someone else has already called. • If you find yourself in the path of a wildfire, evacuate immediately. Listen to local emergency notifications for the most up-to-date information. Better yet, make a wildfire plan for yourself and your family before a fire occurs. Visit ready.gov/wildfires for more information about wildfire safety.
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Extinguish your campfire when leaving, and keep flammable materials away from the fire.
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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 HINO ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL MPOWER /MP2 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY NEC CO-OP ENERGY 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 V247 RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUST
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