Tri-County Rural Living Newsletter

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Tri-County Rural Living

TCEC Safety Standards Continue to Climb!

Linemen Practice Poll Top Rescues.

Also:

TCEC Annual Safety Day

Capital Credits Explained

A Healthier You in 2015

Ambassador Meetings

January & February 2015 Vol. 18 • No. 3

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skin in the game

Message from the Desk of General Manager Julius Hackett Members’ Economic Participation is the Third of Our Seven Cooperative Principles

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following is from the International Cooperative Alliance summary of the third cooperative principle, Members’ Economic Participation: Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative.

At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

So what do those words mean? Let’s take a closer look. Chances are when you joined Tri-County Electric Cooperative you paid a membership fee of $5. That is your part of the equity or your share of ownership. You also do something else every month that allows your co-op to keep the lights on: you pay your bill.

As a member, you have a say (democratically control) through your elected board of trustees. The board sets the strategic direction of the cooperative, then the management and staff put that direction into action through the operations of the co-op.

At the end of the fiscal year, if your co-op has received more money than it needed for the expenses to operate your cooperative, the remaining amount is allocated to each member based on how much electricity they used during the year. This is the amount you will see as a capital credits check or a credit on your bill. Your Board of Trustees approved the retirement of $853,162 in capital credits that will be distributed to our members who had active electric service in 1987 and 1988. This is the largest annual distribution of capital credits in the history of your cooperative.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative is not some large power company headquartered in a far-off state with stockholders from around the world.

We are right here in Dixie, Jefferson, Madison and Taylor counties. We were formed by neighbors and friends who came together with the goal to improve the quality of our lives through electricity. Our goal is to continue to do that by improving the quality of your life with the same neighborly approach.

Our cooperative principles guide us, and through your economic participation (a.k.a. “skin in the game”) we make sure our focus is on you, the member-owner.

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January & February 2015

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Fight the Winter Chills

colderthannormal winter is predicted for much of the country this year. Frigid temperatures can cause heating systems to work overtime, and since heating and cooling can make up nearly half of your electric bill, you may experience sticker shock when you open that first bill of the winter. Instead of waiting until after a potentially high bill is in your mailbox, be proactive.

There are things you can do now to help ensure you are managing your energy use and spending less.

These simple steps can help you manage your use: • Wrap exposed pipes and water heaters that are in unconditioned spaces.

• Make sure to change your air filter once a month.

• Keep drapes closed at night and keep those that don’t get direct sunlight closed during the day, too.

• Keep the fireplace damper closed when it is not in use. Keeping it open can bring cold air into the room.

• Caulk around the fireplace hearth, and caulk or weather strip around doors and windows.

• Log on to your Tri-County Electric Cooperative (www.tcec.com) account to keep up with your use. If we’ve had a few days of frigid temperatures, see how you can try to save on days that are milder.

• Dress for the weather, even if you are inside.

Wearing proper clothing like long sleeves and pants, or wrapping up in a cozy blanket will help combat the temptation of bumping up the thermostat.

So, when temperatures fall this winter and you hear your weatherman talking about bringing in pets and plants, take the steps above to help manage your use.

Using the tips above can certainly help you manage your energy use, but your bill may still be higher than normal in winter months. Why? • The weather makes a big impact on electric bills, accounting for nearly half of your bill.

• Even those with the most efficient HVAC systems will see more use in extreme weather.

• When extreme, cold temperatures hit, our heaters work overtime.

• For example, even if you set your thermostat to our recommended 68 degrees in the winter, when it is 19 degrees outside, your system has to work hard to make up that 49-degree difference.

• Your heater works harder and cycles on and off more often, making your use much higher. That means your bill will be much higher.

• Remember: There is value in comfort. For us to be comfortable in our homes, our heaters are going to work harder, but it may be worth the additional cost to you.

January & February 2015

Additional tips: • Call Tri-County Electric; we offer many options to help manage your electric costs: Pre-pay Plan, Time of Use Plan and Levelized Billing. One of these options might be right for you.

• Speak to one of our energy efficiency experts. They can help you understand how weather and your use patterns affect your bill.

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Employees Honored for Years of Service

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STABILITY AND SECURITY: Good reasons to start and stay with cooperatives

Tri-County Electric Cooperative, it’s not uncommon for employees to start and end their careers with the cooperative. Ellis Anderson started working for the co-op 40 years ago as a groundman moving onto apprentice, then lineman and now serves as a crew leader.

We thank him for his 40 years of service, and would like to recognize additional co-op employees who recently celebrated significant anniversaries: Carol Timmons, Billing Supervisor, 35 years; Darrell Tuten, Manager of Operations, 35 years; Mark Burnett, Purchasing Agent, 35 years; Terry Barrs, Serviceman, 30 years; Bobby Lundy, Serviceman, 30 years; Mike Downing, System Operator, 20 years; Angela Eastabrooks, Member Service Specialist, 15 years; Tom Rucks, Field Service Representative, 15 years; and Trustee Albert Thomas, Jr., 10 years of service.

We thank these employees for their dedication and years of service, and

appreciate the entire team of colleagues who work together efficiently to provide

affordable and reliable electric service to our member-owners.

Back to front: Ellis Anderson; Carol Timmons; Darrell Tuten; Mark Burnett; Terry Barrs; Bobby Lundy; Mike Downing; Albert Thomas, Jr.; Angela Eastabrooks and Tom Rucks.

Baked Teriyaki Chicken Bowls Ingredients • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch • 2 Tbsp. cold water • 1 c. sugar • 1 c. lite soy sauce • ½ c. apple cider vinegar • 1–2 garlic cloves, minced or put through a garlic press • ½ tsp. ground ginger • ¼ tsp. black pepper • 5–6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1 bag pre-cut, fresh stir-fry vegetables, steamed • Steamed rice • Sesame seeds (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 425° F. In a small saucepan over low heat, mix the cornstarch, water, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger and pepper. Let simmer a few minutes, stirring until thickened.

Spray the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of pan and pour the teriyaki sauce over chicken. Cover pan with foil.

Bake for 25 minutes and then remove foil and continue cooking for additional 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.

Meanwhile, have your rice steaming in a rice cooker and cook your stir fry vegetables. Remove chicken from oven and let cool while you prepare the bowls: add rice to the bottom of bowls, then a layer of vegetables. Slice up chicken and layer on top. Drizzle with remaining sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

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January & February 2015

Take Five Minutes (or less) for a Healthier You in 2015 Take five for your health! Being healthy and safe takes commitment, but it doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Most things are so simple and take so little time, you’ll wonder why you’ve been avoiding them. Taking just a few of the 1440 minutes in a day is worth having a safer and healthier life for you and your family.

One Minute or Less for Health Wash hands.

Wash hands to lower the risk of spreading germs and getting sick. It’s best to wash hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds.

Prevent poisonings.

Follow instructions, and keep potentially harmful products out of the reach of children. Make sure all family members know when to call poison control.

Read food labels.

See how much fat, sugar and other ingredients are in the product. Note what the serving size is to make sure you don’t eat more calories than you think you’re getting.

Protect your skin.

Wear sunscreen, seek shade, and cover up to help lower your risk for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear insect repellent to protect against mosquito and tick bites, which can cause disease.

Buckle up.

Make sure everyone is properly restrained in safety seats or safety belts. Placing children in age-appropriate and sizeappropriate restraint systems lowers the risk of serious and fatal injuries by more than half.

Protect your hearing.

Use hearing protectors such as ear plugs or ear muffs when you can’t lower noise to a safe level.

Five Minutes or Less for Health Eat healthy.

Just take an extra minute to make better food choices.

Eat more fruits and vegetables, less saturated fat, and healthy grab-and-go snacks.

Do a skin and body check.

Check your skin and body regularly for changes in appearance or function. If you find or experience anything suspicious, see your health care provider.

Test smoke alarms.

Every month, check your smoke alarms to ensure they work properly.

Know the signs and symptoms for heart attack and stroke.

If you or someone you know is having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. With timely treatment, a person’s chance of surviving a heart attack is increased, and the risk of death and disability from stroke can be lowered.

Keep foods safe.

Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature, so refrigerate leftover foods if they are not going to be eaten within four hours.

More Than Five Minutes and Worth It Be active.

Adults should get 30 minutes and children should get 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most, preferably all, days of the week. If you can’t do the total amount at once, do it in shorter, more frequent intervals throughout the day.

Be prepared.

Practice drills at home to make sure everyone knows what to do in a case of an emergency. Have an escape plan, and practice it.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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 Feb. 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! * 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.

January & February 2015

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Safety for All

Co-op Lineworkers Complete Annual Pole Top and Bucket Rescue Course

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crowd gathers, all eyes raised to the sky. A man, equipped with hook-like additions to his boots, races up a towering utility pole. His feet dig into the wood — one side, then another — arms pulling his weight ever upward as he stretches himself to reach the top.

Waiting for him, a heavy mannequin hangs limp beside the pole’s crossarm. The climber reaches the “body” and moves quickly, cutting cords binding the theoretically injured individual from the pole, then gently and quickly lowers the prone form to the ground.

“Time!” calls a hawk-eyed judge from the ground below.

The climber relaxes, waiting for a nearby bucket truck to lift the mannequin to the top of the utility pole again. Then he helps reattach it so another would-be rescuer can race to the top.

This practice, called Pole Top Rescue, takes only a minute.

When a co-worker’s life is on the line, linemen know every second counts. Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s linemen and other employees recently completed the annual OSHA mandated pole top and bucket rescue course designed to evaluate each lineman on their ability to properly rescue an injured and/or stranded lineman.

“Our line crews are among the best trained, most dedicated, and hardest working folks you will ever meet,” says Rusty Smith, TCEC’s Director of Safety. “They must work in and around high-voltage power lines in the toughest weather conditions and often in the dark to restore power to

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their neighbors’ homes. Our line crews participate in regular training sessions to ensure that our employees are constantly reminded of the safety aspect of the job and the importance of using equipment in the safest manner possible.”

TCEC has always been dedicated to providing safe, reliable and affordable utility service to you, our memberowners. The lengths we go to keep you, your family and our linemen safe are a point of pride for us and are never taken lightly.

From acquiring new equipment and implementing new procedures — including installation of new circuit breakers that react more quickly in case of a disruption — to supporting the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP), your electric cooperative strives to promote the highest standard of safety.

January & February 2015

TCEC Celebrates its

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24th Annual Safety Day

n Nov. 11, 2014, Tri-County Electric Cooperative celebrated its 24th Annual Safety Day. The annual event is designed for employees to be trained on a wide variety of safety-related and health-related topics.

Mr. Royce Anderson of Colorado Rural Electric Association provided in-depth information and statistics on maintaining personal safety in the workplace.

Mrs. Nanette Hitchcock of Storm Services, LLC in Cairo, Ga., gave a very informative presentation on effective communication and the importance of strengthening relationships at work, at home and in our communities.

A special thank you to our guest speakers, (left to right) Royce Anderson of Colorado REA and Nanette Hitchcock of Storm Services, LLC; and Rusty Smith, TCEC Safety Director.

January & February 2015

Since the event was held on Veterans Day, a portion of the day was set aside to recognize and thank the five Cooperative employees and trustees who have served in our military. By a big round of applause, all of the Cooperative management, staff and employees thanked these men for their service to our country.

These five TCEC men served our country as members of the US military. Left to right: Wendell Williams, Manager of Finance; Neal Brown, District 3 Trustee; Bobby Dodd, District 2 Trustee; Marvin Johnston, System Operator; and Kevin Pryor, Field Service Representative.

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2014 Member Ambassador Meetings months of During the November and December, Tri-County Electric Cooperative members gathered at locations across our service area to meet and greet with TCEC employees and Board of Trustees. Four member ambassador meetings were held this year and with great success. Members provided input on key Co-op topics to ensure future planning included their valued participation.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative is owned by its members, governed by its members, and exists to serve its members.

Member participation is key. We have designed this member forum to educate our members about Tri-County Electric, the electric industry and to enlist support and involvement.

The member forum was held with approximately 35 members in attendance at each of the four venues, for the purpose of discussing the new TCEC website, Coop Connections Discount Card, the 2014 Youth Tour and educating members on the pending EPA regulations. Jennifer Wagner, Director of Corporate Communications & Energy Policy at Seminole Electric Cooperative, was the keynote speaker and was able to answer members’ questions and address concerns about the EPA, coalfired power plants, CO2 emissions, and effects on the environment.

If you would like more information on how to get involved in next year’s member ambassador meetings please contact Kaitlynn Passmore at (850) 973-8036 or kpassmore@tcec.com.

Districts 1, 3 and 4 in Madison.

Districts 6 & 7 in Monticello.

Jennifer Wagner of Seminole Electric with General Manager Julius Hackett.

Kaitlynn Passmore presenting key co-op information.

IS YOUR OUTDOOR LIGHT OUT? WE NEED TO KNOW! We strive to keep all our outdoor lights in good working order. At times, an outdoor light can malfunction or become inoperative. If this happens, please contact Tri-County Electric Cooperative using these three easy steps: 1. Call us (850) 973-2285 or toll free 1-800-999-2285.

2. Identify the outdoor light, give us the six-digit pole identification number or tell us where it is located. If there is more than one light in the area, please tell us which light is not working.

3. Provide your contact information in case our technician has trouble finding the correct light. This helps us make repairs quickly. Account No: 71007200001 8

To report an inoperative or malfunctioning outdoor light on TCEC’s lines, call (850) 973-2285 or toll free 1-800-999-2285.

Every outdoor light has a six-digit pole identification number.

January & February 2015

CFL Charlie’s Summer Maze

Hi kids! CFL Charlie here. One of my favorite things about summer is playing outside! I make sure that the 25 by 25 orthogonal lights are off inside the housemaze before I go out. Can you help me check if the lightswitch is turned off? We have to go through the maze first. Let’s go!

Start! Good Luck!

Finish!

This Publication’s Inspirational Moment January & February 2015

Awesome! Great job!

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; Copyright 2012 JGB Service, http://www.mazegenerator.se/ they shall© mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 www.kidsenergyzone.com 9

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. BOARD MEETING NOTES - oct. 13, 2014

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all 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, Oct. 13, 2014, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, Fla. Reports to the Board included those of the Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board meeting, NRECA regional meeting, FECA Board meeting, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, General Manager and Attorney. Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the Oct. 13, 2014, Board agenda and the Sept. 8, 2014, Board meeting minutes; consent agenda items as written and recommended by the General Manager which included the WPCA for October 2014 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for August 2014; Work Order Inventories (RUS Forms 219) for January–March 2014; the list of new members for Sept. 9–28, 2014; Safety and Accident Report for August 2014 along with the System Outage Report; approval of revised Policy 115, “Cooperative Redistricting,” and extension of the 2014–2019 contract with Bryant Tree Services, Inc. Other items discussed included IT security audit; upcoming events/meetings; territory discussions with Duke Energy; and the TCEC Annual Membership Meeting held Sept.

20, 2014.

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

TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. BOARD MEETING NOTES - nov. 10, 2014

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all 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, Nov. 10, 2014, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, Fla. Reports to the Board included those of the Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, General Manager and Attorney. The Policy Committee asked the Trustees to take proposed revised Policy 607, “Voluntary Contributions for Educational Scholarships,” home for study for possible action at the December 2014 Board Meeting. Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the Nov. 10, 2014, Board agenda and the Oct. 13, 2014, Board Meeting minutes; the retirement of remaining balance of the 1987 capital credits, plus 20% of the 1988 capital credits; consent agenda items as written and recommended by the General Manager which included the WPCA for November 2014 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for September 2014; the list of new members for Sept. 29–Oct. 26, 2014; Safety and Accident Report for September 2014 along with the System Outage Report; approved the bid of Waukesha for the purchase of the new Eridu substation power transformer; and authorized management to pay three Cooperative employees a one-time payment for their excess personal leave balances. Other items discussed included facility upgrades and upcoming events/meetings.

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

STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is the recipient of federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, natural origin, sex, religion, age, or disability (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs) shall be excluded from participation in, admission or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any of this organization’s programs or activities.

The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is H. Julius Hackett, General Manager. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

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BOARD MEETINGS Th e re g u l ar monthly meeting of the Board of Tr uste e s 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.

January & February 2015

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Kyle King We are pleased to announce the Oct. 25, 2014, marriage of Katelyn Annette Scarboro and Kyle Lewis King, TCEC Operations Technician. TCEC congratulates them on their wedding and wishes them a happy life together.

The Newest faces at Tri-County Electric Andrew Pinkard is back!

Andrew worked with the Cooperative several years ago before leaving Madison to attend college at the University of West Florida where he earned a degree in Business Administration. Andrew began working at Tri-County Electric (again) in July 2014 as the Part-time System Operator. When Andrew is off the clock he enjoys spending time with his family and tinkering with cars.

Fun fact: Andrew is a talented trumpet player.

Scotty Henderson is the newest lineman working tirelessly to keep our members’ lights on!

Scotty began working at TCEC in October 2014. Scotty brings several years of lineman experience to the team. In his free time, Scotty enjoys boating and fishing.

Fun Fact: Scotty has two daughters: Cheyene (5) & Dakota (2).

Tri-County Rural Living Vol. XVIII No. III January & February 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-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 Michael Curtis, Madison Media Group Writer STAFF Jeff Brewer Manager – Engineering Darrell Tuten Manager – Operations George L. Webb Manager – Administration Wendell M. Williams Manager – Finance

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

January & February 2015

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