Tri-County Electric Cooperative Newsletter

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Tri-County Rural Living

GET PREPARED

Hurricane Season is

June 1-Nov. 30

Track outages and obtain useful safety information online at www.tcec.com.

Special inside:

Unclaimed Capital Credits May & June 2015 Vol. 18 • No. 5

A

voluntary and open membership: why this principal still applies to your electric co-op

When

Message from the Desk of General Manager Julius Hackett

members of Tri-County Electric look at the seven co-op principles, many may question if we really live up to the first principle: Voluntary & Open Membership. It is a fair question. There is a two-part answer.

First, it is important to remember that when Tri-County Electric was first being formed back in 1940, every potential member had the option to refuse service. While it may be hard to believe today, there are numerous stories from electric coops throughout the country where the farmer said, “No thanks.

We are doing fine with kerosene.” Of course over time they changed their minds and eventually became members of the co-op.

Due to the incredible cost of offering electric service, the vast majority of people and businesses only have one choice if they want to connect to “the grid” and receive electricity. While that may change in the future due to rooftop solar or other generation sources, the best option for most people for safe, reliable and affordable power is from your electric co-op.

Today, your electric cooperative focuses on the second part of the principle, “Open Membership.” All residents and businesses in the service territory of TCEC are welcome to receive power. We continually strive to ensure that your membership has value to you not just through the service of electricity but by being an active part of our community.

Tri-County Electric welcomes your participation in the governance of the Cooperative through a democratically elected board of trustees. As a locally owned and controlled utility, your Cooperative is in a better position to understand

the needs of members and can be quicker to react to help ensure you, the member, receive the best service possible.

Members are welcome to suggest improvements to the Co-op’s operations and, unlike large investor-owned utilities often with millions of customers, you can be assured your ideas will actually be read and heard by a real person in real time.

All co-ops, whether it is your credit union, farm co-op, telephone co-op or any other of the 29,000 co-ops that exist in the U.S. today, live by these seven co-op principles: 1. Voluntary and Open Membership 2. Democratic Member Control 3. Members’ Economic Participation 4. Autonomy and Independence 5. Education, Training and Information 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives 7. Concern for Community Tri-County uses all of these principals integrated together to serve our members’ needs daily.

Our mission is simple: Provide Quality - Safe - Affordable Electric Service - Powered by Members.

Roasted Tilapia and Vegetables Ingredients • ½ lb fresh asparagus spears, cut in half • 2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, cut into ½-inch pieces • 1 red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch strips • 1 large onion, cut into ½-inch wedges, separated • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 teaspoons Montreal steak seasoning • 4 tilapia fillets (about 1½ pounds) • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted • ½ teaspoon paprika Directions 1. Heat oven to 450°F. In large bowl, mix asparagus, zucchini, bell pepper, onion and oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the steak seasoning; toss to coat. Spread vegetables in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan. Place on lower oven rack in oven; bake 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Pat tilapia fillets drying with paper towel. Brush with butter; sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon steak seasoning and paprika. Place in baking dish.

3. Place baking dish on middle over rack in oven. Bake fish and vegetables 17 to 18 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with fork and vegetables are tender.

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May & June 2015

Keeping you safe during and after spring and summer storms summer are wonderful times of the • 82363003001 Spring and year for people to be outdoors enjoying the We have served our local community since 1940, and safety warm weather. They are also times that we need to be alert and pay attention to the changing weather conditions. Severe thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain, hail, high winds and even tornadoes are possible during this time of the year. Here are some suggestions for staying safe during and after a storm: • Develop a Family Communication Plan in case you get separated during severe weather and have a plan for getting back together. Consider having an out-of-state relative or friend serve as the family contact. Make sure everyone knows the name and number of the contact person. Plan a place where your family will meet, both inside and outside of your immediate neighborhood.

• Have an Emergency Supply Kit which includes non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights and extra batteries, a portable radio, a first-aid kit, prescription medicines, a non-electric can opener, baby-care items, blankets and a fire extinguisher.

• Seek shelter indoors. Avoid taking cover under a tree, picnic gazebo or golf cart.

• Remember the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

• Do not use wired telephones, touch electrical appliances, or use running water during a thunderstorm.

• Stay away from downed power lines and avoid walking through flooded areas. Assume a downed wire is a live wire and report it to us at 1-800-9992285.

• Make sure backup generators are well ventilated, and never connect a generator to household wiring. Power from generators can back-feed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including co-op line workers making repairs.

for our members is our No. 1 concern. To learn about our safety programs and tips, visit www.tcec.com.

Josh Thomas and Clint Nash, linemen

Your Account Number=a Credit on Your Light Bill!

Located somewhere in this issue of Tri-County Rural Living is a member account number. Look carefully; it might be yours! If you do find your account number exactly as it appears on your bill for electric service, your account will be credited in the amount of $150! You have until June 27, 2015, to claim your credit by calling Carol Timmons at (850) 973-2285, Ext. 203, from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. You must contact the TCEC representative before the deadline to collect the prize!

Congratulations to Doris Everett of Pinetta, Fla., who was last issue’s winner. * Total credit on bill will not exceed $150.00. This one-time credit valid only on the current balance. Any balance remaining after the $150.00 applied credit is the member’s responsibility.

May & June 2015

3

In

Stay connected by updating your contact information

the utility business, we know rough weather will occur, and sometimes power outages simply can’t be avoided.

But did you know there are steps you can take to ensure your electricity is restored as quickly and safely as possible? By keeping your contact information up to date, you can take full advantage of the services Tri-County Electric offers.

Remember when you had to speak to a customer service representative in order to report a power outage? Waiting on hold could be frustrating and time consuming. Today, with the press of a button, you can easily report an outage. At TCEC, we use the phone number you provide to link your service address to our outage management system. For example, if you call us to report an outage, our automated system instantly recognizes your phone number and can determine the particular service address from which you are reporting an outage. Once you give our system a response, your outage is reported. It’s that simple! But remember: This only works if your current phone number is linked to your service address.

Updating your contact information is helpful because it also speeds up the power restoration process. With correct

Longtime Cooperative Employee Retires After 20 Years of Service

information, our outage management system can predict the location and the possible cause of an outage, making it easier for our crews to correct the problem.

Visit www.tcec.com or call 1-800-999-2285, and make sure you’re up to date.

Amy Straka, Lead System Operator, and Marvin Johnston, System Operator

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Trey Barrs

Michael Downing, System Operator, retired from TCEC on Feb. 13, 2015.

Michael’s career with Tri-County Electric began on Sept. 1, 1994. He was first hired as a mechanic and later served as a system operator for the Cooperative.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and employees of TCEC, we offer our congratulations to Michael on his achievements through the years and wish him much success in his retirement.

Thank you, Michael, for your service to the Cooperative.

We are pleased to announce the March 21, 2015, marriage of Brooke Williams and Trey Barrs, Staking Technician for Tri-County Electric. TCEC congratulates the happy couple on their wedding and wishes them a lifetime of happiness.

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May & June 2015

May & June 2015

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$76,941.78 in Unclaimed Dollars.

As a member of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, you are entitled to a portion of any profit made by the company.

Following approval by the Cooperative’s Board of Trustees, patronage capital refund checks for a percentage of allocation accrued from 1987 and 1988 were mailed in December 2014.

We make every effort to ensure you receive the patronage capital that is rightfully yours. To accomplish this, it is very

important for us to have your current mailing address.

Many patronage capital checks have been returned to us marked as undeliverable.

To help you determine if you are entitled to one of these unclaimed checks, a listing is included below. If you see your name, please call us at 1-800-999-2285, Ext. 203 to claim your check.

UNCLAIMED CAPITAL CREDIT PAYMENTS Acree, Russell Adams, Chris Adams, Samuel Adamson, Frazier Adderley, James Adleburg, Jack c/o Linda Smith Albritton, Gary Albritton, Michael Alexander, Leroy Alexander, Jr., Nathaniel Anderson, C. F. Anderson, Edward Anderson Group Contract Angelmyer, Darlene Arthur, George (Kaub Boat HSE Pkg & Lou) Arundel, Sherry Bailey, Alton Bailey, James Bailey, Morgan Bajalia, Mike I. Baker, Billy Baker, Linda Bancalari, Gene Barfield, Toni K. Barnett, Tommy J. Bass, Sally T. Basse, Luther Beach, Angela Beagent, Russell Bell, Bradford W. Bell, Scott Benedict, Daniel Bentley, Charles Big Bend Outreach, Inc. Binkley, Jerry K. & Jean M. Bishop, Burton Bishop, Rex C Black, W. E. Blackman, Mavis Blackshear, Janet Blair, Rex Bone, Omer 6

Boozer, Wilson Boule, David Bragg, Genie Brannen, Jody Bridges, Lorene Brooks, Frances Broom, Lawrence Brown, Linda Bryan, Reina Bryant, Johnny Bryant, Larry Bucher, Francois Buckhalter, Bumgarner, Tammy Brunham, Larry Bush, Evelyn Cabbage Grove Mining Co. Cagles Farms, Inc. Cannon, Dianne Cannone, Mary c/o John Alford Carden, Millard Carlton, Donna Carroll, Deborah Carruth, R. W. Carter, Brad Carter, James Cassidy, Joanne Cawood, Dale Cherry, Katherine Chewning, Jamie Clark, Regina Clark, W. C. Claverie, J. Lincoln Coblentz, Ben & Rose Cochran, John L. & Audrey Collins, Brian Collins, Chris Collins, Henry Collins, Leslie Colston & Stewart Combee, Wayne Congdon, Lavonne Connell, Mary Ellen L.

Corbin, Teresa Courtney, Tom Cox, Chester Crain, Linda Cramer, J. J. Crawford, R. S. Crowder, Timothy Cullen, Frances Curtis, Betty Cuyler, Semore & Willie Davis, Alan L. Davis, Bill Davis, Dick Davis, Harvey Davis, William Day, Francis Deer Run Pub & Restaurant c/o Armand & B. McKinney Dennis, Joel c/o Dave’s Truck Stop Di Beradino, Louis Donaldson, Stan Dowdy, James Drake, Don Driggers, Windal Duke, Edwin Durbin, Donald C. Eades, Royce Eckdahl, Jack Eckert, Frank Edens, Keith Edmonston, Danny El Destino Plantation / O’Conner Development Ellenburg, Paul Elsberry, Beth Ann Elsberry, Marvin Ennis Jr., Bob H. Erle, John T. Erley, Juanita Everett, Charles Faircloth, James Faller, Elizabeth

Feacher, Ellen Fedrick, Leroy Fee, E. L. Feid, Don Fernandez, Demetrio A. Fiffie, Pamela FL Investors Mortg Flythe, Dale Forte, Charles R. Fountain, Luther Fowler, Hilton Freeman, Thomas Garner, Willie Gaston, Yeager c/o Cheryl Gaston Gentle, Lillie Gentry, Frances Gerner, H. William Gerry E. H. – River Venture c/o Pinckney Hill Pltn.

Ghentt, Runett Gibbs, Juanita Gibson, Dave Ginger Pond Development Glass, William Gleason, Gary Glenn, Freddie Goodman, Bernice Gore, William Gray, Ralph Grossnickle, Aubrey Guenthner, Donald Haak, Dollie Hamby, Susan Hamilton, L. & D. Bo Hampton, Pauline Hancock, Daisy Handy, Philip Harden, Beverly Harden, Colon Harrington, Jerry Harris, Daniel Harris, Martha May & June 2015

Could Some of This Be Yours?

Hartley, Theresa Hassell, Marvin Haston, Gerald Hatcher, Hershel J. Hawkins, Karen Haynes, Alvin Hendrix, Harvey Hendry, Alton N. Hester, Rossell A. Hickox, Daniel Hickox, Richard Hill, Donald Hill, Gerald Hill, John Hilson, Rhonda Hilson, Sheila Holmes, Elizabeth c/o Robbie Tootle Hooppell, Steven Hughes, Ricky c/o Lad Dairy Farms Hull, Chuck Humphrey, Mike S. Hunter, Martha Hurst, Don & Melissa Huston, Michael Jackson, Wanda Jenkins, William Jennings, Tom Jernigan, Harold Jewell, Laura Johns, Ray Don Johnson, Barney Johnson, C. J. Johnson, Deborah Johnson, Joseph H. Johnson, Paul Joiner, Bobby Jones, Carmen Jones, Drew Jones Jr., J. D. Jones, Kathleen Jones, Thomas Joseph, Nancy c/o Rosa Brown Joyce, James Karsmizki, Pamela Kaub, George Kaub, Lani Keeling, Robert Charles Keller, Frank Kelly, David L. Kelly, Doris A. Kemuel, Allen Kerns, Merlin May & June 2015

Kinard, Dale King, Catherine Kleber, Leon Kling, Wayne Knight, Patsy Koon, Cleason Koon, Sheila Krystofik, Dawn Lancaster, L. F. Lane, Thomas Laplante, Richard Larry, Debra Latch, Mark H. & Birkitt, Bev Latner, Lynn Lawrence, Hilbert Lawson, Carmen Ledford Jr., Tommy L. Ledger, Robert Lee, Ronnie Lewis, Linda Littlefield, Russell Littlepage, Scott Livolsi, Mark Loper, William B. Lott, Jo Ann Lott, Juland Lough, Myron Lucas, Robert Lynn, Debbie Maddox Auto Sales c/o Wayne Maddox Maddox, Christine Mallick, John Mangum, Gary H. Marshall, Donald Martin, Kenneth Martinez, Tranquilino Marushia, Teresa c/o Doris Davis Maryland Assemblies, Inc. Masingale, Tom Massey, Jan Mather, Denise McAdams, Martin McCann, Nessan McCarley, Blanche McClamma, Austin McClendon, Ruth McCray, Gloria McCoy, Teresa c/o Phillip Mann McDonald, Tracy E. McDaniel, Melanie McIntyre, Lois McKenna, Lawrence McLeod, James

McPherson, Barbara McRae, David Meeks, Elizabeth & Donald Melear, Mark Merrill, Carolyn Merry, Joann Miller, David Miller, Jeanett Miller, Ray Mitchell, Pearl Mock, Jim Mock, Wayne Modert, Clyde Moore, Donald Morgan, Curtis Morgan, Joyce Morris, Doshie c/o Raymond R. Morris, Sr. Morrison, Tammy Moses, James & Bettye Murray, Curtis Murray, Flavius Nelson, Irene Nichols, Danny Nichols, Virginia Oates, Kathryn O’Connor, Gary Oeth, Norman Omans, Bobby Ooley, Randall O’Steen, Nathaniel Padgett, Billie Padgett, Thelma Parker, Donna B. Parker, G. W. Parrish, Kay L. or Ella Mae Patterson, Emma or Calvin Patterson, Ray Pauley, Don Payne, Mark Payne, Raymond Penley, Tommy Penny, Julian Pike, John c/o Kathleen Pike Pionessa, Thomas Powell, Donald Pritchard, John A. Pumphrey, Sidney Quail Valley c/o Van Collins Quinn, Johnny Ray Ramsay, Edwin Reams, Robert Register, Herbert Rhodes, Jack

Richardson, Frank Richardson, Patricia Richbourg, Jeffrey Brian Riggins, David Roberson, Earnest c/o Herman English Roberts, Estella Roberts, Kathleen Roberts, Mark Robidoux, Ann Robinson, F. L. c/o Pauline Williams Roderick, Ron Rogers, Dale or Tracy Ross, Wesley Roth, Ronald Rowe, Sylvia Rowell, Mike & Renee Sadler, Betty Sadler, William C. Sammons, William Sagonia, John Scherwinski, Harry Schmitt, Chris Seabolt, Verner Seese, Raymond Shaffer, James & Tammy Sharpe, Louise Shelnutt, Daniel Sherman, Gary & Sue Conte Sherrill, Carole Shiver, Bruce Shiver, Robin C. Simmons, Wavery Simon, John Simpson, Bobby Skinner, Oneta Slater, Iva M. Smen, Gregory Smith, Edward Smith Sr., J. B. Smith, Miles Smith, Neal Smith, Ronald Smyrnios, Karen Sneed, David Snyder, Gale Sojack, B. R. Solomon, Kelvin Southeast Bank of Perry Snell, William Sprenger, Bryan Continued on Next Page 7

Unclaimed Capital Credit Payments Continued from Previous Page Spy Town Farms Steinmeyer, Red Stephens, Loretta Stevens, Paul A. c/o A & A Salvage St. Luke Church c/o Mary A. Jackson Straughter, Billy Sturdivant, Sharlen Sutton, Stephen Swan, Abe Swan, Lyn Swilley, John Tadlock, Ronald Talley, Virginia Tanner, William Tatum, Jean Taylor, Ronald K.

Taylor, Wyatt Thacker, Thomas Triple S. Kennels, Inc. c/o S. J. Edwards, III Thomas, Allen Thomas, Grace Thome, Theodore Thominson, Sonny Thompson, Oscar Thompson, Tami Tomlin, Ben Trudgeon, Michael Truelove, Hoyt Tucker, Mary C. Tuten, Amy Turlington, Oscar Tyson, Jay Usry, James T. Vann, Wesley Villar, Andres Wade, Ralph Wagner, Beverly

Wainwright, Ralph Walker, Herman c/o Alex D. O’Quinn Walker, Linzy Wallen, Edward Wambolt, Michael Warf, Angela Warren, Tommy Watkins, Dana Watson, Beverly Watson, Collis Watson, Jerry Watson, Martha Weatherly, Lisa Weathers, Charles Welch, Cordie / Welch, L. B. Whitfield, Howard Whitehurst, Don Williams, Frank Williams, Jim Williams, Julius Williams, Lee

Williams, Marie Williams, Timothy Williamson, Kevin Willingham, Sammy Willoughby, J. R. Wilson, Albert Wilson, Annie Wilson, Davis Wilson, Eugene Wilson, Joe Wimberly, Sadie c/o C. Thompson Wingler, Johnny Wingo, Louis Wood, Lucinda Wooley, Walter Woop-FM c/o Ed Winton Wryals, Charlie Yeatman, William R. Young, Gloria Zerbst, Bonnie

ALWAYS

CALL BEFORE YOU

DIG

ALWAYS

CALL BEFORE YOU

DIG

Whether it’s a dreamed up deck addition or a landscaping masterpiece, summer weather is a great time for outdoor markedimprovement plans to actually play out.

But if your planned projects include digging, like planting a expense. tree or bringing in a backhoe for trench work, you’ll have to wait a few more days so the job can be done safely. Underground utilities, such as buried gas, water, and electric lines, can be a e you dig. shovel thrust away from turning a summer project into a disaster.

To find out where utility lines run on your property, dial 811 ion. from anywhere in the country a few days prior to digging. Your call will be routed to a local “one call” center. Tell the operator where you’re planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing, and affected local utilities will be notified.

In a few days, a locator will arrive to designate the

approximate location of any underground lines, pipes, and cables with flags or marking paint so you’ll know what’s below. Then the safe can begin.

Onedigging free, easy call gets your utility lines marked Although light gardening typically doesn’t call for deep AND helps protect you from andshrubs expense. digging, other seemingly simple tasks injury like planting or installing a new mailbox post can damage utility lines. A severed line can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm diggers, Know what’s result below.

Always call costs.

811 before you dig. and potentially in fines and repair Never the location depth of underground utility Visitassume call811.com foror more information. lines. There’s no need; the 811 service is free, prevents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted, and can help you avoid serious injury.

For more information about local services, visit www.call811.com.

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May & June 2015 INSERT

O A

K

Summary of the Bylaws of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Pertaining to Membership, Annual Meetings, Board Representation, and Qualification, Nomination, and Election to the Board of Trustees MEMBERSHIP 1. Any person, firm, association, corporation, or body politic or subdivision thereof may become a member of the Cooperative by: a. filing a written application for membership; b. agreeing to purchase electrical energy from the Cooperative; c. agreeing to comply with and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Cooperative, and any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees; and d. paying the membership fee provided by the Bylaws of the Cooperative, and being accepted for membership by the Board of Trustees or the members.

2. No member may hold more than one (1) membership in the Cooperative, and no membership shall be transferrable.

3. A husband and wife may, if they desire, apply for a joint membership.

ANNUAL MEETINGS The Annual Meeting of the members of the Cooperative is held on the third Saturday in September of each year, in either Madison, Jefferson or Taylor counties, Fla. The place at which an Annual Meeting is to be held is designated in the notice of such Annual Meeting given to the members of the Cooperative prior to each Annual Meeting.

BOARD REPRESENTATION 1. The territory served by the Cooperative is divided into nine (9) districts. Each district is represented by one (1) Trustee. The Trustees from the nine (9) districts constitute the Board of Trustees of the Cooperative.

2. The Board of Trustees manages the business and affairs of the Cooperative. The Board of Trustees exercises all the powers of the Cooperative except such powers as are conferred upon or reserved to the members by law, or the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Cooperative.

QUALIFICATIONS OR ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS A TRUSTEE 1. To serve as a Trustee of the Cooperative, a person must: a. be a natural person; b. not be a current employee; c. have been an employee in good standing at time employment ended if a former employee with a minimum of three years since employment ended; d. have been subjected to a criminal background check and credit check; e. be a member in good standing of the Cooperative without any disconnections for non-payment of utility services within last five years; f. be a bona fide full-time resident of the district the member plans to represent for at least 12 months preceding nomination; g. have the capacity to enter into legally binding contracts; h. not have a financial interest in or relationship with an outside organization or individual having business dealings with the Cooperative if it would likely impair the ability of the trustee to serve the best interests of the Cooperative, and annually complete and sign a conflict-of-interest certification and disclosure form; i. not be related to a current Trustee as defined in the Conflict

May & June 2015

of Interest Board Policy; j. not have been previously removed as a Trustee and must not have resigned while a proceeding to remove the Trustee was pending; k. not have been convicted of or have pleaded guilty to a felony or first degree misdemeanor; l. attend at least two-thirds of all Board meetings each year while a Trustee.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION PROCEDURES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. A person may be nominated as a candidate for Trustee at a District Meeting of the members of a district or at the Annual Meeting of the members of the Cooperative.

2. Not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days before any meeting of the members of the Cooperative at which Trustees are to be elected, a separate meeting of the members of each district comprising a part of the territory served by the Cooperative shall be called at a suitable place in each district for the purpose of selecting two (2) persons as candidates for Trustee to represent the members located within such district. If more than one candidate is nominated, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the official candidates of the district. The names of the candidates selected at the District Meeting as the official candidates for each district shall be placed in nomination for the office of Trustee of such district by the Secretary of the Cooperative at the next meeting of the members of the Cooperative at which Trustees are to be elected. At such meeting of the members, additional nominations for Trustee for a particular district may be made from the floor, provided that the person making such additional nomination must reside in the same voting district as the person whom the member desires to nominate as a candidate for Trustee; and provided further, that any member desiring to make an additional nomination for trustee from the floor must, at least fifteen (15) days prior to an Annual or Special Meeting of the members at which trustees are to be elected, file at the main headquarters building of the Cooperative in Madison County, Fla., with the Secretary of the Cooperative or a person designated in writing by the Secretary of the Cooperative, a written statement of the intention of such member to make such additional nomination from the floor and list in such written statement the name of the member he/she intends to nominate from the floor.

3. After all nominations are made, an election is held by printed or photocopied ballots, with the names of the candidates arranged by districts. Each member of the Cooperative present at the meeting is entitled to vote for one (1) candidate from the district in which the member receives service. a. No voting by mail or proxy is permitted. b. Each member is entitled to only one (1) vote. c. For a joint membership (allowed only for a husband and wife), the vote of either separately or both jointly shall constitute one (1) joint vote. d. The candidate from each district receiving the highest number of votes is elected Trustee from such district.

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TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. BOARD MEETING NOTES - feb. 9, 2015

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. BOARD MEETING NOTES march 9, 2015

With

With

eight trustees, key Cooperative personnel, guests and the attorney present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, Fla. Reports to the Board included those of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association Board Meeting, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, General Manager and attorney. The Policy Committee recommended and the Board approved revised Policy 516, “Education Assistance Program,” and revised Policy 527, “Employee Benefits,” and revised Policy 602, “Medically Essential Accounts.” Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the Feb. 9, 2015, Board Agenda; approval of the Jan. 12, 2015, Board Meeting minutes; Consent Agenda items as written and recommended by the General Manager which included the WPCA for February 2015 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for December 2014; the list of new members for Dec. 29, 2014–Jan. 25, 2015; Safety and Accident Report for December 2014 along with the System Outage Report. Other items reported included inspection report on the Madison communications tower; local economic development events; the NRECA Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., and a discussion of Policy 528, “Social Media.” The attorney updated the Board on the Steinhatchee Ancient Oaks case and potential Department of Revenue refund claims.

all trustees, key Cooperative personnel, guests, auditor and the attorney present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, March 9, 2015, in the TriCounty Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, Fla. Reports to the Board included those of the Seminole Electric Cooperative Association Board Meeting, Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, General Manager and attorney. Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the March 9, 2015, Board Agenda; the Feb. 9, 2015, Board Meeting Minutes; and Consent Agenda items as written and recommended by the General Manager which included the WPCA for March 2015 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for January 2015; the list of new members for Jan. 26–Feb. 15, 2015; Work and Accident Report for January 2015 along with the System Outage Report. Other action taken by the Board included the following: acceptance of the 2014 audit and approval to engage the services of Nichols, Cauley & Associates, LLC to perform the Cooperative’s audit for an additional year; authorized the Board President and Secretary to sign RUS Certificate of Authority to Grant Access to Data and Secretary’s Certificate; authorization for the electric receivable accounts for the fourth quarter 2014, which appears to be uncollectible, for the appropriate accounting designation. Other items reported included NRECA Annual Meeting held Feb. 22–25, 2015; completion of initial territorial boundary discussions with Duke Energy; and discussion of Policy 528, “Social Media,” and Policy 503, “Personal Leave.” The attorney briefed the Board on the Steinhatchee Ancient Oaks hearing and other matters.

Malcolm V. Page Albert Thomas, Jr.

President Secretary-Treasurer

This Publication’s Inspirational Moment “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’”

John 8:12 (NKJV) 10

Malcolm V. Page Albert Thomas, Jr. President Secretary-Treasurer

BOARD MEETINGS The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri‑County Electric Cooperative will be held the second Monday in each month at 3:00 p.m. in the central office building of the Cooperative located at 2862 West U.S. 90, approximately two (2) miles west of the city of Madison.

May & June 2015

Local.

Trusted.

Serving You. As a co-op, Tri-County Electric has a special responsibility to support the areas in which our members live and work. From sponsoring local youth athletic teams to supporting new jobs and industry through our economic development efforts, we stand as a driving force in our community.

Halie Wetherington, granddaughter of Sharon Boothe, TCEC Fiscal Assistant.

Tri-County Rural Living Vol. XVIII No. V May & June 2015 TRI-COUNTY RURAL LIVING, the voice of your member-owned, taxpaying electric utility, is published bimonthly—more if necessary—through the auspices of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. as a service to its member-owners. Postage is paid at Blountstown, FL.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Junior Smith D-1 Bobby Dodd D-2 Neal Brown D-3 George Webb D-4 Catherine Bethea D-5 Gary Fulford Vice President, D-6 Albert Thomas, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer, D-7 Malcolm V. Page President, D-8 Elmer Coker D-9

EDITORIAL OFFICES 2862 West US Hwy. 90 Madison, FL • (850) 973-2285 PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Julius Hackett General Manager Eileen Herndon Executive Assistant Kaitlynn Passmore Community Relations Specialist Michael Curtis, Madison Media Group Writer STAFF Jeff Brewer Manager – Engineering Darrell Tuten Manager – Operations Wendell M. Williams Manager – Finance Stephanie Carroll Manager – Corporate Services

Send CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICES to: Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2862 West US Hwy. 90 Madison, FL 32340

May & June 2015

Keep cool this summer!

ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators are about 9–10 percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard.

Source: EnergyStar.gov

To Report Electrical Problems or Outages Please Call:

850-973-2285 or 1-800-999-2285 24-HOUR SERVICE THANK YOU

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Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2862 West US Hwy. 90 Madison, FL 32340