March - April 2025 TCEC Rural Living Newsletter

Lineworkers are Wired for Service

Lineworkers are Wired for Service Rural Living

Rural Living

March & April 2025

Board of Trustees

TCEC Staff

Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Brewer, Vice President of Engineering

Eileen Herndon, Vice President of Corporate Services

John Tuten, Vice President of Operations

Wendell Williams, Vice President of Finance

Tri-County Electric Cooperative Rural Living, the voice of your member-owned electric cooperative, is published bimonthly — more if necessary — at no subscription cost to the membership. The publication team is comprised of TCEC employees. Postage is paid at Tallahassee, Fla.

Publication Team

Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer

Eileen Herndon, Vice President of Corporate Services

Kaitlynn Culpepper, Community Relations Director

Publisher Joanna Forrester

Tri-County Electric Cooperative 2862 West US 90 Madison, FL 32340 www.tcec.com 1-800-999-2285

In the quiet hours before dawn breaks, while many of us are still nestled in our beds, lineworkers begin their day, often clad in flame-resistant clothing, safety goggles, rubber gloves and thick, heavy boots.

They are the individuals who epitomize dedication to service in its purest form.

As we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 18, this is an important moment to reflect on the essential role they play in our daily lives.

They are the individuals who epitomize dedication to service in its purest form. As we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 18, this is an important moment to reflect on the essential role they play in our daily lives.

Amid towering utility poles and power lines, lineworkers exhibit a strength that goes far beyond the physical. Whether battling inclement weather, troubleshooting technical problems or navigating treacherous heights, lineworkers demonstrate resilience and a quiet determination to keep our lights on, our homes comfortable, and our communities connected.

TCEC crews travel across our service territory, building, maintaining and repairing parts of our local system. Their extraordinary skills ensure our homes remain connected to the grid, businesses stay operational, and emergency services remain accessible—a lifeline that connects us all.

In moments of crisis, when the lights go out and we find ourselves in the dark, lineworkers emerge as beacons of hope. Their swift response restores normalcy, offering reassurance in times of uncertainty. Whether repairing storm-ravaged power lines or ensuring continuity during emergencies, their unwavering commitment illuminates life when we need it most.

TCEC lineworkers also answer the call beyond the boundaries of home. Our crews travel to fellow co-ops, near or far, when widespread outages occur and additional support is needed. Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our seven guiding principles, and no one embodies this core commitment better than lineworkers.

This month, as we celebrate the remarkable men and women who ensure reliable power, let’s recognize their unwavering dedication to the local communities they serve.

The next time you flip a switch, please take a moment to remember those who make it possible—lineworkers, who are wired for service and dedicated to illuminating life.

Julius Hackett, CEO

Benjamin White District 7

Bobby Dodd President Donnie Waldrep Vice President George Webb Secretary/Treasurer

Junior Smith District 1 Catherine Bethea District

Johnny Edwards District 8 John Cruce District 9 Ann Herring District 6

TCEC Trustees Achieve Credential in Today’s Electric Utility Competencies

District 7 Trustee, Benjamin White, recently received his Credential Cooperative Director certificate from the National Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

An ever-changing business environment has imposed new demands on trustees, requiring increased knowledge of the cooperative principles and business model.

The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses:

• Director Duties and Liabilities

• Understanding the Electric Business

• Board Operations and Process

• Strategic Planning

• Financial Decision Making

Mr. White was elected to the board during the district 7 members meeting in July 2023 and this past December he completed all the required courses which earned him this CCD certification.

District 3 Trustee, Donnie Waldrep, District 2, Trustee Bobby Dodd, and District 4 Trustee George Webb recently were recognized for earning their Director Gold Credential. They previously earned their CCD and Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) through NRECA.

The Director Gold certificate is geared toward trustees who are committed to continuing their education beyond CCD and BLC and who desire a tangible credential that reinforces their stature as part of an experienced and educated group of trustees.

For a trustee to earn the Director Gold certificate, they must have already earned the CCD and BLC and earn three additional credits from the BLC series of courses. Unlike the CCD and BLC certificates, Director Gold includes a continuing education requirement which calls for trustees to earn three credits of approved course work and/or conferences every two years to maintain their Director Gold status.

We congratulate all four trustees for their recent achievement which demonstrates each trustee’s ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.

Ben White

George Webb

Donnie Waldrep Bobby Dodd Julius Hacket, CEO

Capital Credits: TCEC Refunds $546,516 to Members

TCEC’s Board of Trustees voted to refund $546,516 to TCEC members in Capital Credits in December 2024. More than 3,774 refunds were issued. Active account holders due less than $25 received a credit on their December 2024 electric bill, and those due $25 or more, received a check.

This year’s Capital Credit refund represents 75% of our members’ Capital Credit accounts from 1995. Refunds are based on the amount of electricity each member purchased that year, so refund amounts vary in proportion to the amount of electricity each member used during 1995.

As a not-for-profit cooperative electric utility, TCEC allocates its margins (the revenues earned in excess of the cost of doing business) to its members in the form of Capital Credits.

Since December, more than 120 of those checks have been returned by the post office because of incorrect address information. TCEC wants to make every effort to return this money to its rightful owners. We have listed on the following pages, names of members whose check were undeliverable.

Maybe you received your check in the wrong name, or the name of a deceased member? If you recognize a name and can provide an upto-date address, please call us at 800.999.2285 or visit our website at www.tcec.com/capital-credits.com.

Your cooperative is greatly appreciated.

A ARNOLD, JIM

ARONG, GLENDA S

ARUNDEL, JOSEPH G

ATKINS, CATHREN A

B

BAILLIE, F E

BARBER, ERIC

BELCHER, GARY L

BELL, CHARLES E

BENTON, EDNA LOREN

BLAIR, JIMMY C

BOLEN, JAMES

BRINSON, ANGELA V

BROOKS, PAUL III & AMANDA

BROWN, FREDRICK A

C

CANNON, RANDALL EARL

COLEMAN, J L

COLLINS, ELBERT N

COLLINS, WADE & SHIRLENE

CONE, DREDGE

CORBIN, W N

COTHRAN, WALTER R

COTHREN, JIMMY W

CRAIGHEAD, RICHARD

CRUMITY, MARY FRANCES

CUPPETT, JOHN

D

DANIELS, PATRICIA H

DILL, SHERRELL

BETTY

DOPSON, OPHELIA D

E

EALY, SHAYNE

ECKWEILER, ETHEL A

EDWARDS, BENNIE SR

F

FLOYD, SHELIA

FOLSOM, RENEE

FRISBIE, DARRELL

FROW, EVELINE

G

GAMBLE, HUBERT

GAMBLE, JIM D

GANDY, CASTELLO

GIBSON, T WILKIE

GREEN, MYERS

GULF & OHIO

RAILWAYS

H

HAMILTON, CAROL HAMILTON, ROY A HANDEX OF FLORIDA INC

HANEY, BETTIE J HARPER, MERRY L HARRISON, ROBERT HART, SUE A

HARVEY, EDWARD HENRICH, LOUISE HIGGINS, JANET HIGHTOWER, SHERRY

L

HILL, LARRY G

HINSON, BARRY C & TAMMY

HOLLAND, KEITH

IINGRAM, J RICKEY & JULIA

J

JACKSON, CURTIS JACKSON, DENNIS C JERRAM, COLIN W JOHNSON, APRIL C JOHNSON, THELMA

K

KERSEY, VAN KINNEY, LARRY N

L

LASSETER, WAYNE LEONARD, JAMES LEWIS, GERALD T LEWIS, JOE C LLOYD WATERWORKS

AUTH INC

LOCKHART, MICHAEL LUCAS WARING ENTERPRISES, INC.

M

MARCH, TRACY L MARTIN, D W JR MARTIN, LAVERNE MELTON, LARRY L MILLS, ANNA J MILLS, RICHARD MONEY, DAVID WAYNE

MULCH

MANUFACTURING INC

MULLIN, NORMAN R

N

NEAL, PHIL

NORRIS, JACK

O OCONNOR, DENIS A ODELL, JOHN P

PARKER, RETHA PATTERSON, LEONA M

PAUL, BARBARA B

PLATA, ALBERTO PLATTEBORZE, LEONARD A

R

RABON, D L SR

RAULERSON, ELIZABETH B

RIAL, ROBERT C RIGGINS, HATTIE

RIVERS, ROBERT R ROBERSON, DOROTHY

S SADLER, DOROTHY M

SAMSON, BARBARA

SAUBLE, JAMES E JR SHARPE, FRANK SHEFFIELD, E VIRGINIA

SHIVERS, KAREN SIMMONS, ROSIE A

SIROIS, BRIAN ROBERT SMITH, WALT SOUTHERLAND, J A SOWELL, CHRISTY SPURGEON, CHRISTINE P

STALVEY, RODNEY L SULLIVAN, KATHY SWEELEY, KENNETH W

T

TANNER, CLARICE J THOMAS, HERBERT TUTEN, ALEX

W

WALKER, DAVID H WARDELL, MARJORIE S

WARREN, LAKCHIA WEBB, DENNIS

WELCH, WILLIAM WHEELER, JERRY D WHITING, NORMA

WILKINS, FRANKIE LEE

WILLOUGHBY, BARBARA LYNN WYNN, TERRY LEE

How to Guide How to navigate the new and improved TCEC member solution.

Your life is busy and managing your account can feel complicated, with our new SmartHub tool it won’t be. Save time and money by managing your account at anytime from anywhere. Access the SmartHub mobile app and web portal to view your bill, make payments, sign up for alerts and notifications, enroll in e-bill, report outages, monitor your usage, request service checks and more! This month all TCEC members will receive their new bill, with a whole new look and helpful information about their TCEC Account. Flip the page and dive into all of the features of the new bill layout.

All TCEC members are required to re-register for Auto Pay in our new SmartHub billing and payment system.

H O W T O R E A D Y O B I L L

1. Your Account Summary

Bill Date The date your bill was issued and/or printed

Service Period The dates during which current charges were accumulated

Rate The rate classification used for billing your service Visit https://tcec com/rates for more information Previous Balance This includes any charges or adjustments of the prior service period Adjustments credit or debit to your balance as applicable

Payment received - Thank you! The previous amount paid and successfully applied to your account Balance Forward Total of any charges or adjustments remaining from a previous service period

Current Charges A detailed breakdown of the individual charges that make up your current bill. Can include base charges, the amount you owe for electricity usage for that service period, wholesale power cost adjustment (WPCA), state and local taxes, Energizing Education contribution (if applicable), and charges for any other services.

Total Amount Due This includes the amount due during the billing period plus outstanding charges, credits, or late fees

2. Account Information

Member Name Name on TCEC Account

Service Address The address where the TCEC is providing service for this bill This may be different than the mailing address

Account Number A unique member account number is assigned to each new account All TCEC members were assigned a new account number with the March 2025 software transition

Board Trustee The Geographic region your service is in determines which memberelected Board Trustee represents your voice in the operation of the Cooperative.

3. Total Due Circle

The most important information regarding your bill is placed inside a circle in the top right of your bill. Accounts that are past due will be flagged with a red circle.

4. Usage History

This graph shows your monthly energy usage over the past 24 months compared with the temperature. You can use this information to track and manage your usage.

5. Your Energy Breakdown

The amount of energy you consumed during this billing period compared with the previous billing period and with the same billing period a year ago.

6. Payment Stub

If you are paying by check or cash please return the stub with your payment to ensure the payment is properly credited to your account. The payment stub also provides you with your account number, account summary, and amount due.

7. Meter Table

This table shows meter data associated with the current bill

Meter Number This unique number physically identifies the electric meter at your location

Meter Type The type of meter at your location, commercial or residential accounts have kWh-Energy meters.

Start and End Reading Subtract the start reading from the end reading to determine the amount of electricity used during this billing period

Meter Multiplier The amount of electricity used is determined by multiplying the difference between the present and previous reading by the multiplier displayed on your electric bill.

kWh Usage The total number of kilowatt hours used during this billing period

kW Usage Specific to our demand meters and will typically read 0 00 for residential members

8.

Current Charges Detail

Basic Facility Charge This monthly fee is designed to recover a portion of TCEC’s fixed costs such as poles, wires, substations, etc

kWh Charge The cost of electricity consumed during the billing period This amount will vary month to month according to the amount of energy consumed.

Wholesale Power Cost Adj (WPCA) This amount is added to or subtracted from your bill based on the changes in the cost of wholesale power and delivering power to your location required to pay this tax.

9. Message Center

This area displays messages related directly to your account or service, and other messages from TCEC

10.

Ad Space

This area displays information on various programs or co-op events.

11.

SmartHub Sign up

Enroll in paperless billing, view energy use data, Receive updates about outages, make address and phone number changes and more!

12. Payment Methods

There are several convenient ways to pay your bill. Each is identified in this section. If you need changes made to your contact information or have comment/feedback for us, complete this section and send back to TCEC

The bill sampled here is a standard residential bill. Some bills may have a slightly different layout and additional information depending on rate structure and required information for a specific location. Information, bill specifications, layout and design are subject to change. For assistance understanding your bill, contact us at 850.973.2285

Congratulations Mark Burnett

After almost 46 years of dedicated service to TCEC, Purchasing Agent Mark Burnett is now looking forward to being a dedicated retiree. Mark joined the cooperative in 1979 working as a tree trimmer and then as the Materials Clerk in the Madison and Monticello warehouses. In 1989 he was promoted to Purchasing Agent. As Purchasing Agent, Mark oversaw the day-to-day operations of all TCEC warehouses, purchasing and inventory of all TCEC materials and supplies. Mark maintained strong relationships with vendors and worked diligently to manage expenses, supply, demand, and quality of materials. His role is vital to co-op operations and our mission to provide quality, affordable, and reliable electricity for our members.

Welcome Amber and Ma’Kayla to the Team

Join us in welcoming Amber Ross to the TCEC team. With the retirement of Mark Burnett, Amber will be filling the role of Purchasing Agent. Amber has over 15 years of purchasing, shipping, and inventory management experience. She is excited to settle into her new position and learn the day-to-day operations of the cooperative. “I have always heard TCEC was a great place to work and build a lasting career, I look forward to building great working relationships with my co-workers and vendors,” says Amber. Amber enjoys fishing in her free time.

Ma’Kayla Fraizer, Member Service Representative, serves members primarily in our Greenville office but works from time to time in our other offices as well. Ma’Kayla has many years of customer service experience from her time at C&E Market and as the Assistant Manager at Tax Pro. New opportunities, experiences, and growth in her career are all reasons why she wanted to work at TCEC. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the co-op and I can’t wait to apply my skills, tackle new challenges, and make a meaningful contribution to the co-op,” says Ma’Kayla. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her 4-year-old son, family, and friends. As well as traveling and going to the gym.

Amber Ross

Ma’Kayla Fraizer

Layered Ham and Cheese Biscuits

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (see Cook’s Note)

• 2 tablespoons baking powder

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

• 1 cup shredded mild Cheddar

Directions

• 1 cup buttermilk, plus more for brushing

• 2 thin slices black forest ham, roughly chopped (about 2 ounces)

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

2. Pulse the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and 1/2 cup of the Cheddar and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter remaining. Add the buttermilk and pulse a few times, until the dough just comes together.

3. Turn the dough out onto a work surface that’s lightly dusted with flour, then pat into a 7-by-7-inch square that’s about 1 inch thick. Scatter half of the ham and 1/4 cup of the Cheddar on half of the dough, then fold the other half of dough over like a book; gently pinch the edges to seal. Pat the dough out again into a 7-by-7-inch square, scatter the remaining ham and 1/4 cup of cheese on top and fold the dough over like a book. Press once more into a 7-by-7-inch square.

4. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the dough into 12 even rectangular pieces. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and brush the tops of each piece with additional buttermilk. Bake until the biscuits are puffed and well browned, 18 to 20 minutes.

Board Meetings

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. will be held the second Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the central office building of the Cooperative located at 2862 West US 90, approximately two miles west of the City of Madison. NOTICE: March meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on March 17th.

2

Holiday Schedule Reminder

All Tri-County Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Friday, April 18, 2025, in observance of Good Friday. We will have standby crews available for power restoration if needed.

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