Tri-County Rural Living Newsletter

July District Meetings Update — Back Cover July & August 2016 Vol. 19 • No. 6

Members Nora & Tom Bryan

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Cooperative Solar

General Manager Julius Hackett As curiosity about solar energy continues to grow, and as the price of utility scale solar projects continues to decline, Tri-County Electric Cooperative and our wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative (Seminole), are coordinating efforts to expand our cooperative’s renewable energy portfolio.

On Monday, March 21, 2016, Seminole announced its plan to add a 2.2-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) solar facility adjacent to its natural gas-fired power plant in Hardee County. The project was approved by Seminole’s Board of Trustees, which includes Tri-County Electric’s General Manager Julius Hackett, Board President Gary Fulford, and Board Member Malcolm Page.

“I am proud to announce that

we are adding a new solar facility to our renewable energy mix,” said Lisa Johnson, Seminole’s CEO and General Manager. “Seminole’s solar facility and our ‘Cooperative Solar’ approach will further demonstrate our strong commitments to our members, to their end-use consumers, and to the environment. Seminole works to be good stewards for all three.”

The solar facility will feature more than 8,400 single-axis tracking solar photovoltaic panels, which rotate to follow the movement of the sun throughout the day. This rotation will allow for approximately 20 percent more output, compared to fixed solar arrays, or panels that do not move.

PV panels are composed of numerous PV cells made of silicon and other semiconducting materials that convert solar rays from sunlight into electricity.

Solar projects such as Cooperative Solar are optimal for consumers who want solar power but live in multifamily dwellings, do not have a suitable roof or installation site, or do not have the finances for the upfront costs associated with installing solar panels on their homes or businesses.

Construction will begin in the second quarter of 2016, and the output from the solar facility is scheduled to come online before the end of the year.

Cooperative Built, Community Supported

Tri-County Electric’s Board and management team are working to finalize details to roll out the Cooperative Solar project to you, our members. For our members who are interested in participating in solar energy, you will soon have an affordable opportunity with Cooperative Solar. We will keep you informed on developments through our website, social media, and the newsletter.

Good Stewardship

Cooperative Solar demonstrates that Tri-County Electric and Seminole continue to maintain a strong commitment to our members, our communities, and renewable energy.

Seminole currently provides Tri-County Electric with renewable energy from a variety of sources including wasteto-energy, landfill gas-to-energy, and biomass. Tri-County Electric and Seminole are proud to announce this project to expand our diverse renewable portfolio with the addition of Cooperative Solar.

Seminole Electric Cooperative sells a portion of the renewable energy credits associated with its renewable generation to third parties. The third parties can use the credits to meet mandatory or voluntary renewable requirements.

Co-op Delivers Solar Energy

Your Home 78146009002

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS All Tri-County Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, July 4, 2016, in observance of Independence Day. We will have standby crews available if needed. Please see “To Report Electrical Problems or Outages” on Page 11 in this issue if you need to report an outage or other major electrical problem on this day.

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July & August 2016

$3,000 in Scholarships Awarded to Class of 2016!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Tri-County Electric Cooperative recently awarded six deserving seniors who plan to attend North Florida Community College in the Fall with $500 scholarships.

The Tri-County Electric Energizing Education Scholarship has been made possible through the Energizing Education Program, in which Tri-County Electric members elect to have their monthly statement rounded up to the next whole dollar amount, and those added cents are set aside to fund education scholarships.

This scholarship through the NFCC Foundation provides education support for qualified members and their families in Jefferson, Madison and Taylor counties. Seniors of those qualified member families

with a 2.0 GPA or higher were eligible to apply.

The scholarship can be used for tuition or books at NFCC for the Fall 2016 term. Each scholarship winner was honored at their school’s senior awards program, where they were presented with a certificate.

Congratulations to these students. TCEC wishes them continued success in their educational endeavors.

Tri-County Electric provides safe, reliable and affordable electric service to 17,900 meters in Taylor, Madison and Jefferson counties. As a member, you can contribute to the Energizing Education Program.

If you are interested, please contact a member service representative at (850) 973-2285.

The recipients of the 2016 Tri-County Energizing Education Scholarships are:

My’Asia Arnold

Madison County High School

Carlie Ann Ginn

Madison County High School

Erica Hampton

Madison County High School

De’Shayla Straughter

Madison County High School

Kyle Rogers

Aucilla Christian School

Timothy Walker

Taylor County High School

July & August 2016

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Rusty Smith and Allen Welch teach over 100 local 2nd graders how to play it safe around electricity with the Power Town interactive display. If your school, civic organization, or public service group is interested in this safety demonstration, please give us a call today!

SAVE THE DATE! (L–R) Kaitlynn Culpepper, Cody Holden and Antonio Richardson spent the day sharing with middle grade students at Madison County Central School all the different career opportunities at their local cooperative!

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July & August 2016

Your Co-op: mitted to Your Community!

Kisha Tolar (back, right) and Kaitlynn Culpepper (back, left) enjoyed some fun in the sun with 3rd–5th graders at Junior Auxiliary’s Fitness Fair, an annual event helping to teach young people the importance of fitness and fun! 2839002

Kisha Tolar, TCEC billing assistant, spends 2–3 nights a week in the spring coaching 6U girls softball for Madison County Babe Ruth.

I scream, you scream, we all scream ... for summer! TCEC’s “adopted class” at Jefferson Elementary School enjoyed an ice cream party to celebrate a great school year. We have really enjoyed getting to know the students in Mrs. King’s and Mrs. Roddenberry’s classes and wish them a wonderful summer!

July & August 2016

(L–R in blue) Eileen Herndon, Carol Timmons, and Kaitlynn Culpepper presented representatives from the American Cancer Society with a $3,000 donation — raised by Tri-County Electric Employees — at the Madison County Relay for Life event.

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Never before has solar power been so available to American households. The solar market in the U.S. is seeing a significant increase for many different reasons: interest is up, cost is down, and the options are plenty.

Many of today’s homeowners installing solar are looking to decrease their carbon footprint, generate their home’s energy needs, or even increase the value of their home.

Today’s systems come with the technology that allows its users to monitor what the panels are generating from a laptop or smart phone and almost instantly see the benefits.

There are a few things to keep in mind before making the solar leap. Though some rebates and tax credits exist, it will take time and a good bit of paper work before the returns begin to roll in.

Also, going solar doesn’t mean you can go “off

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the grid.” Virtually all home systems will still need to be connected to the grid, and will need to be shut down if the grid is down so utility workers can safely work on distribution lines without the potential of a back feeding condition. And the biggest uncontrollable variable is the weather.

Cloudy days and Florida’s infamous hurricane season can cause systems to stop producing for days at a time.

For those who have decided to go solar, these factors are not enough to change their minds when it comes time to install solar panels; the many benefits outweigh the few drawbacks in their eyes.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative has several members who have taken the plunge and installed solar panels. We recently spent some time with a couple of our members to get their perspective on the experience.

July & August 2016

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n 2008, Tom and Nora Bryan made an investment in not only their future, but their children’s future, and their children’s children’s future. An investment with an immediate monthly return and positive impact on their family’s environmental footprint. The Bryans took advantage of the extra space and sparkling sunlight on their 10 acres in Steinhatchee, Fla., and installed a 24-panel solar array.

The initial investment on the solar array was $35,000.

“At the time, we were able to receive a 30% tax credit and a substantial rebate,” said Tom. “We see about a 7% yearly return on investment.”

As Tri-County Electric members, the Bryans participate in net metering, which routes the power through a single meter that measures the TCEC-delivered electricity they receive and subtracts the amount of electricity exported by the

Tom and Nora Bryan, Steinhatchee, Fla. equipment. This saves them the expense of purchasing an additional meter and allows them to receive a credit for any surplus electricity generated by the equipment.

Tom and Nora were the very first Tri-County members to install a solar array and tap into net metering. They both agree their experience has been a positive one.

“It all started with a hot water heater solar panel, and

we learned a lot from that,” said Nora.

The Bryans made the investment into solar with the goal to be more “green” and self-sufficient. And at the time, they both agreed it was a good deal with the rebates and credits being offered.

A few years later, Tom and Nora installed another solar array on their property with 16 panels that is connected to their barn. This array can

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ed and Monteze Walker of Lee, Fla., also took advantage of federal tax credits and state rebates when installing solar panels at their home. Ned and Monteze are both recently retired. Monteze taught home economics in Madison for 40 years.

The Walkers began looking into the possibility of solar when they were trying to find ways to conserve energy around their home. Ned is a retired commercial electrician with the perfect skill set to complete his “honey-do” list to get the Walker home more energy efficient.

“We installed new windows, a new air conditioning unit, an on-demand water heater, and invested in new insulation in the attic; all with the goal of decreasing our electricity bill in planning for retirement,” said Ned. July & August 2016

Ned, Monteze, & Butch Walker, Lee, Fla. In 2013, the Walkers made a $18,417 investment in a 36-panel, rooftop solar array.

At the time, they were able to take advantage of the federal tax credits and state rebates and get back a portion of their initial investment. Ned and Monteze, like the Bryans, are Tri-County Electric members and participate in net-metering.

With an electricity bill averaging only about $60 a month for a 2,800 square foot home, they are seeing a monthly return on investment in their savings alone. But, they have experienced a few disadvantages as well.

While the trees on their property provide great shade for their yard and home, once the

actually be plugged into directly if the power goes out and will provide power for a limited amount of time.

Tom and Nora chose to install ground arrays versus a roof array because they had the extra space, and it would be easier to keep the panels clean.

Dirty panels do not produce power at their highest ability.

They also did not like the idea of the holes in their roof from the installation of a roof array.

Tom and Nora are both retired and are looking to live many long years at their home in Steinhatchee. The average $100-a-month savings on their electricity bill is a huge advantage for them.

In 18 months, they reduced their household carbon footprint by 23,113 pounds because of their use of solar energy, which is the equivalent of taking eight cars off the road for one year, and that is what makes the investment really worth it for the Bryans.

shade hits their rooftop solar panels, it reduces the output of the system. This is problematic because the shade cannot be controlled unless all of the surrounding trees are cut down, which would in turn cause an increase in cooling cost for the inside of their home.

“With a rooftop solar array, cleaning can be a bit difficult, but necessary with the Florida pollen. But I get up there about once a year and clean them off,” says Ned. The Walkers’ love of nature is evident when you arrive at their home. Monteze has the most beautiful flower gardens planted all around the property, and she keeps Ned busy helping her take care of them.

The love of and respect for the environment the Walkers share is evident, and the clean energy they are generating on their very own roof is a perfect fit.

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Please Welcome Ken Odom to TCEC!

Take Stock in ChildrenTM

Ken Odom is the newest team member at Tri-County Electric Cooperative. Ken is a part-time System Operator and is already working hard to make sure our members’ power is restored as quickly as possible through prompt communication from the member to our service men during those late weekend nights. Ken has been with the Cooperative since February. He has been married for 21 years and has three daughters (20, 17 and 7). In his free time Ken likes to hunt, fish, spend time with his family, and be outdoors.

Fun fact: Ken plays the guitar.

Two years ago when Take Stock in ChildrenTM mentor and Tri-County Electric Cooperative General Manager Julius Hackett learned he would be matched with a new mentee, he had no idea the inspiration the young man would have on his own life.

Meeting Ja’Quantae Thomas was like meeting a grown man.

He was mature, dedicated, and had a clear vision for his life.

Ja’Quantae has big dreams and a busy schedule, participating in marching band, concert band, honor band, STEM, SSTRIDE, and being dual enrolled at NFCC, all while keeping a summer job at Wild Adventures. The relationship quickly went from what could be taught, to what could be learned from such an inspirational young man.

Ja’Quantae graduated from Madison County High School in May with honors, making his mentor very proud! He is off to do great things with a very bright future ahead of him, and a mentor for life.

To find out more about Take Stock in ChildrenTM, including how you can invest in the life of a student by becoming a mentor, visit www.takestockinchildren.org or contact Executive Director Gina Rutherford at (850) 973-5718.

Find Your Hidden Account Number & Get a $150 Bill Credit!

Hidden somewhere in this issue of Tri-County Rural Living are two member account numbers.

Look carefully, one might be yours. If you find your account number exactly as it appears on your bill for electric service, we’ll credit your bill up to the amount of $150!* You have until Aug. 31, 2016, to claim your credit by calling Carol Timmons at (850) 973-2285, Ext. 203 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You must contact the TCEC representative before the deadline to collect your prize.

Congratulations to last issue’s winner: L. M. Cruce * Total credit on bill will not exceed $150.00. This one-time credit is valid only on the current balance. Any balance remaining after the $150.00 applied credit is the member’s responsibility.

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July & August 2016

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Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Meeting Notes for April 11, 2016

Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Meeting Notes for May 16, 2016

With all trustees, key Cooperative personnel, the attorney, and guests present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, April 11, 2016, in the Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. headquarters office building located at 2862 West U.S. 90, approximately two miles west of the city of Madison, Fla. Reports to the Board included those of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association March 2016 Board meeting, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, general manager and attorney. The Policy Committee distributed proposed revised Policy 202, “Check Signing and Signing of RUS Form No. 595,” and proposed revised Policy 607, “Voluntary Contributions for Educational Scholarships,” to the Board for further study and possible action at the May Board meeting. The Policy Committee recommended and the Board approved new Policy 530, “Transfer of Personal Leave Time.” Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the April 11, 2016, Board agenda; approval of the March 14, 2016, Board meeting minutes; approval of the consent agenda items as written and recommended by the general manager, which included the WPCA for April 2016 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for February 2016; the list of new members for Feb. 23–March 20, 2016; and the safety and accident report for February 2016 along with the system outage report. Other action taken by the Board included the following: acceptance of the Waukesha bid for purchase of a transformer for the Hwy. 6 substation.

The Board reviewed and discussed Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange’s Site Audit Report; and Directors, Officers and Manager Liability and Corporate Indemnification Insurance Policy.

With all trustees, key Cooperative personnel, the attorney, and guests present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, May 16, 2016, in the Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. headquarters office building located at 2862 West U.S. 90, approximately two miles west of the city of Madison, Fla. Reports to the Board included those of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association Legislative Conference, Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. May Board meeting, CoBank Southeast Customer meeting, Southeastern Federal Power Administration April Board meeting, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, general manager and attorney. The Policy Committee recommended and the Board approved revised Policy 202, “Check Signing and Signing of RUS Form No. 595,” and revised Policy 607, “Voluntary Contributions for Educational Scholarships.” The Board was asked to take proposed revised Policy 105, “Conflict of Interest and Related Party Transaction,” home for study for possible action at the June 2016 Board meeting. Other action taken by the Board included the following: employee wage and salary plan for 2016–2017; 2015–2024 financial forecast and resolution; resolution requesting guaranteed Federal Financing Bank (FFB) loan; approval of the May 16, 2016, Board agenda and the April 11, 2016, Board meeting minutes; and approval of items as written and recommended by the general manager, which included the WPCA for May 2016 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for March 2016; the list of new members for March 21–April 17, 2016; and the safety and accident report for March 2016, along with the system outage report. The attorney updated the Board on legal matters.

Gary Fulford Catherine Bethea President Secretary-Treasurer

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri‑County Electric Cooperative, Inc. 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 miles west of the city of Madison.

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Gary Fulford Catherine Bethea President Secretary-Treasurer

This Publication’s Inspirational Moment “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”

Psalm 138:3 (NKJV)

July & August 2016

Taco Salad in Baked Tortilla Bowls Ingredients 1 lb. lean ground beef 1 packet (1.25 oz) taco seasoning 2 romaine lettuce hearts, rinsed then chopped 1 c. black beans, drained 1 large tomato, seeded then chopped ½ c. shredded cheddar cheese 1 c. nacho cheese Doritos, broken into bite size pieces 1 c. Catalina salad dressing Instructions 1. Brown and crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain grease.

Add taco seasoning and water called for on packet. Stir until mixture comes to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and let meat cool slightly.

2. In a large salad bowl add chopped lettuce, black beans, tomato and cheese. Add the slightly cooled ground beef and gently toss to combine everything. Chill in

Tri-County Rural Living Vol. XIX No. VI July & August 2016 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 Secretary-Treasurer, D-5 Gary Fulford President, D-6 Albert Thomas, Jr. Vice President, D-7 Malcolm V. Page 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 Culpepper Community Relations Specialist Michael Curtis, Madison Media Group Writer STAFF Jeff Brewer Manager – Engineering Stephanie Carroll Manager – Corporate Services Darrell Tuten Manager – Operations Wendell M. Williams Manager – Finance

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

July & August 2016

refrigerator until ready to eat.

3. When ready to serve, add Doritos chips and Catalina dressing to salad. Toss to coat.

4. Serve in 8" baked tortilla shells.

Use small electric pans, toaster ovens or convection ovens for small meals rather than your stove or oven. A toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

Source: energy.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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District Meetings

In accordance with Article 7, Section A of Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s bylaws, district meetings will be held for the purpose of selecting person(s) as candidates for trustee. This year, members will elect trustees to represent Districts 3, 5, and 6.

District meetings are scheduled as follows:

District 3 Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. Cherry Lake First Baptist Church 1308 NW CR 150—Madison, FL District 5 Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. St. Johns Christian Fellowship Church 6050 Puckett Road—Perry, FL District 6 Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. Mt. Pleasant AME Church 125 Groover Road—Monticello, FL

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