May - June 2021 TCEC Newsletter

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Rural Living

Friendly Faces in the Field Page 9

May & June 2021 Vol. 25 • No. 3

Storm Season Preparation & Safety Page 6

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Rural Living Vol. XXV No. III May & June 2021

Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) is here for you, and given the challenging times we’ve all experienced the last year, I’d like to share some information and ideas to help you save energy and money.

Board of Trustees

Bobby Dodd

Donnie Waldrep

Catherine Bethea

District 2

District 3

District 5

President

Vice President

Secretary/Treasurer

Junior Smith

George Webb

Ann Herring

Benny Bishop

Johnny Edwards

Elmer Coker

District 1

District 7

District 4

District 8

District 6

District 9

TCEC Staff

Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Brewer, Vice President of Engineering Eileen Herndon, Manager of Administrative 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, Manager of Administrative Services Kaitlynn Culpepper, Community Relations Director

Publisher

Joanna Forrester Printed on Responsibly Forested Paper Tri-County Electric Cooperative 2862 West US 90 Madison, FL 32340 www.tcec.com 1-800-999-2285

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We’re Here to Help You Save

Summer is a great time to conduct an energy audit of your home and identify ways to boost energy efficiency.

Understanding how your home uses energy can help you determine the best ways to modify energy use and keep more money in your wallet.

An energy audit is one of the best ways to determine how energy efficient your home is––an audit can also identify areas for potential energy savings. Residential energy audits are available to our members at no cost. This service is designed to assist our members in improving their homes so that they become more energy efficient.

There are many factors that may trigger high energy use, the most often of which is extreme temperatures. If common explanations for high energy consumption still leave you perplexed, we recommend you allow TCEC to perform an energy audit at your home. Call 800-999-2285 to schedule an Energy Audit today!

If you’d prefer to do an energy audit yourself, try ENERGY STAR®’s online audit. Visit www.energystar.gov, then enter “home energy yardstick” in the search box to get started. But keep in mind, an online audit won’t be as thorough as an in-home audit.

Putting power in your hands

Julius Hackett, CEO period you’ve paid for, you will receive regular feedback on your balance. Daily account notifications via text or email will keep you in touch with your usage and available balance. By downloading the TCEC FL mobile app, members can review usage for a certain time period, make payments, and even report an outage.

Industry studies show that consumers who participate in prepaid metering plans use up to 10% less electricity.

Lastly, if you have recently purchased a new ENERGY STAR®-rated appliance or product, make sure you are taking advantage of any special offers or rebates that are available.

As your trusted energy advisor, we’re here to help. If you have questions about your bill or additional ways to save energy, please let us know. We’re only one click or phone call away. Check out the Summer Energy Saving Tips graphic on page 8 for quick changes you can make today to be more energy efficient.

Prepaid metering is intended to aide in budgeting your monthly energy costs.

TCEC members can pay for electricity before it is used, then use the electricity until the credit expires. During the time

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.

May & June 2021

Upcoming District Meetings Democratic process. Authority to vote. That is what makes cooperatives different than traditional businesses. Each year, Tri-County Electric Cooperative members elect their leadership.

TCEC’s board consists of nine trustees who are also TCEC members. The board meets monthly to make decisions regarding budget, policy, rates and other co-op business.

To be elected to a board seat, you may only run in the district in which you reside. To place your name on the ballot, submit a Notice of Intent at least 21 days before your district meeting. To learn more about the qualifications for becoming a candidate for trustee, call 1-800-999-2285 or email eherndon@tcec.com.

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District 2: Thursday, July 29 Steinhatchee Community Center

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Legend DISTRICT 1 JUNIOR SMITH

MADISON COUNTY

DISTRICT 2 BOBBY DODD - PRESIDENT

TAYLOR COUNTY

DISTRICT 3 DONNIE WALDREP - VICE PRESIDENT

MADISON COUNTY

DISTRICT 4 GEORGE WEBB

MADISON COUNTY

DISTRICT 5 CATHERINE BETHEA - SECRETARY - TREASURER

TAYLOR COUNTY

DISTRICT 6 ANN HERRING

JEFFERSON COUNTY

DISTRICT 7 ALBERT THOMAS, JR

JEFFERSON COUNTY

DISTRICT 8 JOHNNY EDWARDS

TAYLOR COUNTY

May & June 2021

District 2 Thursday, July 29 Steinhatchee Community Center Steinhatchee, FL Trustee Bobby Dodd

1.) Be a full-time resident of the district

Steinhatchee

DISTRICT 9 ELMER COKER

District 1 Thursday, July 22 Pinetta Volunteer Fire Department Pinetta, FL Trustee Junior Smith

To run for trustee, members must:

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All district meetings start at 6:00 p.m.

District 4 Monday, July 26 Lee City Hall Lee, FL Trustee George Webb

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District Meeting Dates & Times

TAYLOR COUNTY

2.) Submit your signed Notice of Intent at least 21 days prior to the District Meeting and meet all qualifications as outlined in the by-laws 3.) Attend the district meeting Questions?

Call 1-800-999-2285

DISTRICT MAP

more information on Page 4 3

SUMMARY OF THE BY-LAWS 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 By-Laws of the Cooperative, and

any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of

Trustees; and

d. Paying the membership fee provided by the By-Laws of

the Cooperative, and being accepted for membership by

the Board of Trustees or the members. No member may

hold more than one (1) membership in the Cooperative,

and no membership shall be transferrable.

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

ANNUAL MEETINGS

1. 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 County, Florida. 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 By-Laws 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. Is not a current employee and if a former employee who

was not in good standing at time employment ended, a

minimum three years must have elapsed;

c. Has been subjected to a criminal background check and

credit check;

d. Is a member in good standing of the cooperative without

any disconnections for non-payment of utility services

within last five years;

e. Be a bona fide full-time resident of the district which

member plans to represent for at least 12 months

preceding nomination;

f. Has the capacity to enter into legally binding contracts;

g. Does 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

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the ability of the trustee to serve the best interests of the cooperative; and annually complete and sign a conflictof-interest certification and disclosure form; h. Is not related to a current trustee as defined in the Conflict of Interest Board Policy; i. Has not been previously removed as a trustee, or has not resigned as a trustee while a proceeding to remove member was pending; j. Has not been convicted of or have plead guilty to a felony or first degree misdemeanor; k. 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.

2. Not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the annual meeting of the members, the Board of Trustees shall call a separate meeting of the members of each district at a suitable place in each district for the purpose of electing one person as Trustee to represent the members located within such district.

3. In order for a member to be nominated at a district meeting for the position of trustee (including incumbent trustees) his or her name and intent to run for such position must be received by the Cooperative in writing at its headquarters in Madison, Florida at least 21 days before the district meeting at which nominations for trustee are to be made. After receiving such written notice, the Cooperative will confirm that the member is a resident of the district for which he/she intends to be a candidate for trustee, and is otherwise qualified to be a trustee. In the event that the member is not qualified to be a trustee, the Cooperative will notify the member of this in writing prior to the district meeting at which elections for trustee are to be made. The Secretary of the Cooperative shall, prior to the district meeting, certify the names of all prospective candidates who shall satisfy the said requirements.

4. Fifteen members residing in the District present at such duly called district meeting shall constitute a quorum provided, however, that members casting votes during voting hours in an election of trustees shall be counted as present in person for the determination of a quorum as provided by law.

5. Voting shall be by ballot. Each member may vote for one candidate. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the trustee of the district.

6. Not less than ten days before an annual meeting of the members, the Secretary of the cooperative shall mail to each member a list of the trustees elected at all district meeting, the names to be arranged by districts. This list may be included with the notice of the meeting.

7. In the event of the election of a trustee does not occur on the date designated herein for the district meeting due to being unable to establish a quorum at the district meeting, the election of those qualified candidate(s) for trustee shall occur at the annual meeting of the members.

May & June 2021

Introducing Get paid to help your community save energy!

TCEC is teaming up with Seminole Electric Cooperative (Seminole), our wholesale power provider, to launch a new smart thermostat pilot program called Cooperative Rewards. The program is designed to help save money on energy costs, and contributes to the reliability of our grid.

During the Cooperative Rewards pilot program, Seminole will use smart thermostats to control energy usage in participating homes.

Seminole will make brief adjustments to the thermostats enrolled in the Cooperative Rewards program during times of high demand or critical need. Participants must be year-round residents, agree to participate in cooling and heating adjustments, have a qualified smart thermostat, and be accepted into the program to be eligible for Cooperative Rewards.

Qualified smart thermostats control air conditioning, heat pumps, or other electric heating sources, and are connected to the internet. Only the following brands qualify:

Controlling your thermostat reduces strain on the power grid and saves all of us money. In most cases, you won’t even notice the adjustments. Participants in the program will have ultimate control, and can opt out of controls using their thermostat. However, participants opting out of more than 25% of the pilot program control minutes will not be eligible for some program incentives.

TCEC participants will receive a one-time $25 bill credit (limit one per electric account) after successfully enrolling in the program. In addition, if you stay enrolled and participate in at least 75% of event minutes, you may be entered for a chance to win a $250 VISA/MasterCard gift card (one per household) at the conclusion of the program pilot in 2022.

You may be contacted by TCEC or your thermostat vendor in May to enroll in the Cooperative Rewards Pilot program*. By participating in programs like Cooperative Rewards, we can contribute to the reliability of the grid and help the environment.

If you have additional questions about the program, please visit http://www.tcec.com/smart-thermostat or the Frequently Asked Questions page at https://www.seminole-electric.com/cooperativerewards/ or contact us at support@cooperativerewards.com. Enrollment in Cooperative Rewards will not begin until May 2021. * Cooperative Rewards is a pilot program that will run from May 2021 through April 2022. It is not guaranteed that this program will continue after April 2022.

While Cooperative Rewards offers direct savings for you, everyone wins when the result is a more efficient electric system. You’ll save energy and money without sacrificing comfort - and help TCEC keep electric costs down for all members in our community.

May & June 2021

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Storm season prep & safety D

id you know you can track power outages on our website www.tcec.com? If you lose power, use your smart phone or other mobile device to check our outage map for more information about your outage, the extent of the outage, and if a crew has been assigned to your location.

Knowledge is power, and when it comes to outages, knowledge is also a comfort because it can tell you when the lights are coming back on. With this knowledge, you can take any steps necessary to protect your family and your property. Outage maps are a great example of how co-ops work to keep their members informed about their service.

TCEC provides outage information as part of our ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality of service at the lowest possible cost. This is just another benefit of being a co-op member, all with the click of a button.

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May & June 2021

Do you Qualify for the Medical Essential Service Program?

At TCEC, we know that electric service is important to our members. For those individuals with a medical condition that requires the use of lifesustaining equipment, reliable power is a vital necessity. That’s why the Medical Essential Service program provides special consideration for their accounts.

This program is designed to provide TCEC members with reasonable prior notice of power interruption due to scheduled service maintenance which in turn, will allow them time to secure back-up power for their medical equipment.

Medical Essential Service accounts are so identified to serve as a reference for determining priorities in the effort to restore service in the event of widespread or prolonged outages affecting the cooperative’s system. We do advise all members to provide for an alternate source of care or electricity in the event that electrical service in their location is interrupted.

You must obtain verification from your physician regarding your medical condition, type of equipment, and length of time the equipment is needed.

Contact a Member Service Representative for more information or visit www.tcec.com to download the application packet.

Examples of qualifying equipment include: oxygen concentrator, heart monitor, controlled medication, and controlled atmosphere.

Powering Up After an Outage When the power goes out, we expect it to be restored within a few hours.

But when a major storm or natural disaster causes widespread damage, extended outages may result. Our line crews work long, hard hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of members in the shortest time possible. Here’s how we get to work when you find yourself in the dark:

1. High-Voltage Transmission Lines:

Transmission towers and cables supply power to transmission substations (and thousands of members), and they rarely fail. But when damaged, these facilities must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate.

2. Distribution Substation:

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A substation can serve hundreds or thousands of members. When a major outage occurs, our line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself or if problems exist further down the line.

3. Main Distribution Lines:

If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of members in our local communities.

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4. Tap Lines:

If local outages persist, supply lines (also known as tap lines) are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground service, outside businesses, schools and homes.

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5. Service Lines:

If your home remains without power, the service line between a transformer and your residence may need to be repaired. If you experience an outage, please give us a call so we can isolate the issue.

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Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Meetings Summary for November 9, 2020 With all Trustees present except one, key cooperative personnel and the attorney present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, November 9, 2020, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, Florida. Reports to the Board included the Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, and CEO. Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the November 9, 2020 Board Agenda; the October 19, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes; and Consent Agenda items as written and recommended by the CEO, which included: the WPCA for November 2020 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for September 2020; the list of new members for September 21, 2020 – October 18, 2020; and Work and Accident Report for September 2020 along with the System Outage Reports. Other action taken by the board included approval of Work Orders (RUS Forms 219) for the period of April 2020 through June 2020. Several board members reported on their participation in the NRECA Director Education opportunities during October.

Bobby Dodd, President

Catherine Bethea, Secretary/Treasurer

Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Meetings Summary for December 14, 2020 With all Trustees present, key cooperative personnel and the attorney present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of TriCounty Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, December 14, 2020, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, Florida. Reports to the Board included the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association December 2020 Board Meeting, Seminole Electric Cooperative December 2020 Board Meeting, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, and CEO. Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the December 14, 2020 Board Agenda; the November 9, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes; and Consent Agenda items as written and recommended by the CEO, which included: the WPCA for December 2020 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for October 2020; the list of new members for October 19, 2020 – November 16, 2020; and Work and Accident Report for October 2020 along with the System Outage Reports. Other action taken by the board included approval of the 2021 Budget; approval of the 2021 Board of Trustees meeting dates; authorization for the third quarter 2020 electric receivable accounts for appropriate accounting designation; adoption of a Resolution approving and accepting the Emergency Restoration Plan for 2020; and approval of a Christmas gift for employees. The Board approved revised Policy 802 “Use of Cooperative Business Equipment and Telephone Systems” and revised Policy 111 “Election of Cooperative Trustees” effective immediately. The Cooperative Attorney gave a report on the approval process underway by the Public Service Commission of the territorial agreement between Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Duke Energy, as well matters related to the Cooperative’s RUS loan.

Bobby Dodd, President

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Catherine Bethea, Secretary/Treasurer

May & June 2021

DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT Friendly Faces in the Field

At TCEC an important part of serving our members is meeting members and consumers where they are. Employees in the Field Services Department, an arm of Member Services, do just that. Meeting with members at their homes to help them understand their energy usage, perform energy audits, report and change faulty meters, and more. These employees play a crucial role in preparing members and the cooperative for long summer days and stormy nights.

Tom Rucks and Lucas Miller are the friendly faces in the field forging positive relationships with our members and teaching energy efficiency practices to consumers across our service territory.

With 22 years of experience with the cooperative Tom Rucks, Field Service Representative, wears many hats while serving members from Dixie County to the Madison County line. His daily tasks range from meter connects and disconnects, conducting home energy audits as well as inspecting lines, poles, and meters for illegal activity. Tom says his goal every day is to serve each member as if they are the only one, dedicating his time with members to ease their concerns, ensure their needs are met, and leaving them with a smile on their face. With Tom’s many years of experience and diverse skill set, he is also able to assist in power restoration efforts when needed.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, though he admits that with a 21-year-old and an 18-year-old; getting the whole family together is a challenge. Tom also plays the drums for a band in Perry.

May & June 2021

Lucas Miller, Energy Services Technician,

joined the TCEC team in 2017 with a primary focus on energy audits and educating members on energy efficiency practices. Certification in HVAC systems from Wiregrass Technical College, and experience in TCEC system operations and member services, have equipped Lucas with the necessary skills to give members the most comprehensive review of their energy usage and TCEC service, as possible.

Lucas is always willing to lend a helping hand to his fellow employees and can sometimes be found assisting with maintenance or covering a shift in member services and system operations.

Helping members reduce their usage and arm them with the knowledge needed to prevent future runaway utility costs is very important to Lucas, and he feels he has finally found his “place” at TCEC and we all agree!

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Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados Yields: 4 servings

Recipe and photo source: www.delish.com

by Ethan Calabrese

Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

Directions

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2 avocados, pitted

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2 c. shredded rotisserie chicken

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1/4 c. red onion, minced

1. Scoop out avocados, leaving a small border.

Dice avocado and set aside.

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1/3 c. mayonnaise

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2 tbsp. Greek yogurt

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Juice of 1 lemon

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1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

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Kosher salt

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Freshly ground black pepper

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Chopped parsley, for garnish

2. Make chicken salad: In a large bowl, mix together chicken, onion, mayo, greek yogurt, lemon juice, and mustard. Fold in diced avocado. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Divide salad among 4 avocado halves. Garnish with parsley.

GO GREEN & WIN SOME GREEN!

SIGN UP FOR

E-BILL! $75

Holiday Schedule Reminder All Tri-County Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day. Crews will be standing by if needed.

Please see “Connect to your Co-op” on page 11.

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This Publication’s Inspirational Moment The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10

May & June 2021

Congratulations

Mr. & Mrs. Zack Sprenkle

TCEC Tree Timmer, Zack Sprenkle married Kelsey Odom on Saturday March 13th 2021. In the presence of family and friends they shared their vows and are now husband and wife. We wish the happy couple many years of health and happiness.

May & June 2021

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Upcoming District Meetings - Pg 3 Cooperative Rewards - Pg 5 TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Rural Living

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