May-June 2024 - TCEC Rural Living Newsletter

REACHING MORE & ACCOMPLISHING MORE

District

Meetings pg. 3

Rural Living

May & June 2024

Board of Trustees

TCEC Staff

Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Brewer, Vice President of Engineering

Eileen Herndon, Vice President of Corporate Services

John Tuten, Vice President of Operations

Wendell Williams, Vice President of Finance

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

Publication Team

Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer

Eileen Herndon, Vice President of Corporate Services

Kaitlynn Culpepper, Community Relations Director

Publisher

Joanna Forrester

Printed on Responsibly Forested Paper

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

www.tcec.com

1-800-999-2285

POWER IN YOUR HANDS

What makes electric co-ops different than other types of utilities?

Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s decisions are made locally, by directors who also live right here in our community. Everyone who pays to receive electricity from the co-op is a member. When you pay your electric bill each month, your money stays here – to pay for the electricity used, or to make improvements to our local system to strengthen service reliability. The money you pay the co-op doesn’t line the pockets of shareholders five states away. We’re a co-op, and we exist to provide a service to you, our local members.

Julius Hackett, CEO

You may notice that throughout the year, we schedule opportunities for you to attend co-op events, like District Meetings (see page 3) and Annual Meeting. We also prioritize being present in the community through our involvement in various civic organizations to information booths at local festivals and community events. All so we can hear from you. We also offer our Annual Meeting virtually and provide regular co-op updates on social media and our website, www.tcec. com, for those who can’t join us in person. We conduct surveys to gather your feedback on co-op programs and services so that we can plan and adjust for the future.

Our success lies in your satisfaction, which is why we offer these opportunities to engage and listen to what you have to say.

Because you’re part of an electric cooperative, you can count on our team to maintain local jobs, at-cost electricity and first-class service, no matter what the economy–and supply chain issues–throw at us.

TCEC is striving to keep our costs as low as possible so we can keep more money in your pocket. We want to help you maximize the value you can get from our services and offerings. For example, we can help you save on energy bills through our free energy audit program and smart thermostat incentive program.

If you want to receive important information from TCEC such as power restoration updates and tree trimming crew alerts, contact the co-op and verify we have your correct mailing address and phone number. Stay connected to your co-op anywhere, anytime by signing up for text message updates and email alerts, downloading the TCEC FL mobile app, and following us on Facebook.

For more energy savings tips, storm/outage preparedness and safety around electricity visit our website, give us a call at 850.973.2285 or continue reading this co-op newsletter.

Please know that you––the members of TCEC are at the heart of everything we do. Co-ops adhere to seven guiding cooperative principles that reflect core values of honesty, transparency, equity, inclusiveness and service.

We exist to serve you and provide the quality, reliable, friendly service you expect and deserve. While we’ve grown over the years, we’re still driven by the same guiding principles to serve our community. We hope to see or hear from you soon. This co-op was created for you, the members. The power is in your hands.

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.

Bobby Dodd

Junior Smith

Benjamin White

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND YOUR DISTRICT MEETING

To run for trustee, a member must:

1. Be a full-time resident of the district

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

4. Get elected by members in that district at the meeting

Questions?

Call 1-800-999-2285

Schedule

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

Early voting begins at 5:00 p.m.

District 1

Tuesday, July 23

Pinetta Volunteer Fire Department

Pinetta, FL

Trustee Junior Smith

District 2

Wednesday, July 24

Steinhatchee Community Center

Steinhatchee, FL

Trustee Bobby Dodd

District 4

Thursday, July 25

Lee City Hall

Lee, FL

Trustee George Webb

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.

How do I run for the board of trustees?

Each year, Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) holds trustee elections in three districts. Those elections are the members’ opportunity to select someone to represent them on TCEC’s nine-member board. Elections are held during district meetings and typically during the month of July.

TCEC’s by-laws require that potential trustees must be natural persons receiving service at their “primary residence” and be named member on their TCEC account. That means you must be living in a home that receives electricity from the co-op. Potential trustees must file their Notice of Intent seeking to be a candidate for trustee at least 21 days in advance of the district meeting.

Notices are available at the Tri-County Electric Cooperative offices in Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor Counties.

If I do run, what’s the time commitment?

TCEC board of trustees must become knowledgeable about the electric industry. They also must make decisions regarding the strategy and operation of the co-op.

To do this, the board meets on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are held at the Main Headquarters Office Building in Madison, Florida and last a good portion of the afternoon.

In addition to monthly meetings, TCEC trustees often attend meetings and conferences of the statewide association, Florida Electric Cooperatives Association (FECA) and national association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), and TCEC’s generation and transmission cooperative Seminole Electric Cooperative.

If you have an interest in becoming a Tri-County Electric Cooperative trustee, obtain a Notice of Intent by contacting Eileen Herndon at 1-800-999-2285 or email eherndon@tcec.com.

Medical Essential Service Program

At your electric cooperative, we know that electric service is important to our members.

For those individuals with a medical condition that requires the use of life-sustaining equipment, reliable power is a vital necessity. That’s why we’ve established the Medical Essential Service Program to provide special consideration for their accounts. As Hurricane Season quickly approaches now is the time to get signed up.

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 flagged in the TCEC system and 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 service territory.

We strongly recommend all members to have an alternate source of care or electricity in the event that electrical service in their location is interrupted. TCEC cannot and does not express or imply that it provides uninterrupted electrical power.

Any member with an account that is certified as a Medical Essential Service account shall remain solely responsible for any backup equipment and/or power supply and a planned course of action in the event of interruption of service due to outages, disconnect for non-payment, etc.

Verification from a physician regarding the medical condition, type of equipment, and length of time the equipment is needed is required. Visit www.tcec.com/medical-essential-service or stop by any TCEC office to sign up.

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

BE PREPARED BEFORE A STORM STRIKES

In the event of a power outage, be prepared by keeping the following items in an easy-to-find emergency supply kit.

WATER

In the event of a power outage, be prepared by keeping the following items in an easy-to-find emergency supply kit. Three-day supply, one gallon per person per day.

TOOLS

Flashlight, extra batteries, manual can opener, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.

FIRST AID KIT AND PRESCRIPTIONS

First aid supplies, hand sanitizer and at least one week’s supply of prescriptions and medications for the family.

BE PREPARED BEFORE A STORM STRIKES

In the event of a power outage, be prepared by keeping the following items in an easy-to-find emergency supply kit.

In the event of a power outage, be prepared by keeping the following items in an easy-to-find emergency supply kit. Three-day supply, one gallon per person per day.

WATER TOOLS

Flashlight, extra batteries, manual can opener, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.

FIRST AID KIT AND PRESCRIPTIONS

First aid supplies, hand sanitizer and at least one week’s supply of prescriptions and medications for the family.

Learn more at www.ready.gov

Learn more at www.ready.gov

METER ACCESS

Having proper access to the TCEC meter on your property is crucial to providing the quality, reliable electric service you expect. In the event of an outage, time is of the essence, and being able to quickly access TCEC meters and service wire makes all the difference. To insure our crews have the access they need please check the following on your property:

• Gates are unlocked or have a TCEC lock

• Pets, livestock, and other domestic animals are secured

• Trees and brush are cleared from the area

• Roads, paths, and driveways on your property are safely passable

A Connected Congregation

Hickory Hill Missionary Baptist Church is doing more, reaching more, and accomplishing more in their effort to share the good news gospel. This is made possible by a dedicated congregation and reliable high-speed internet from Conexon Connect, powered by TCEC. Hickory Hill MB Church connected to fiber internet in December of 2023 and their Tech Team ministry has been hard at work ever since, using new technology to increase outreach, enhance their worship experience, and connect their rural church to all.

Prior to connecting to fiber internet with Conexon, internet service and cell service was challenging at best for their small rural church. A telephone conference call system was the only way members could participate in church worship if not able to attend in person; but at least they could audibly hear the service.

Pastor Reggie Daniels, TCEC System Operator, knew that change was coming for his congregation. “The need for more dependable internet became more apparent during the Covid era. While other churches had a variety of options to connect with each other and the community, our options were limited due to a lack of reliable internet. At that time, we knew fiber was in the works through Tri-County Electric Co-op, therefore, we began to be proactive and visualize how we would implement it within our services when it became available to our area. We waited patiently for a year or so in anticipation before finally having the service installed. I can vividly remember telling the congregation over the course of that year, “Its coming, be ready, be ready, its coming!” It’s funny now because I recall after finally getting it, we went into ‘overdrive’ installing and implementing everything.” says Daniels.

Hickory Hill MB Church and its Tech Team ministry divided their new internet implementation into three phases and put their plans in motion. Phase one included engineering and constructing the physical infrastructure in the sanctuary. Three large monitors, professional streaming cameras, and laptops were purchased and installed. A member of the church, who is a carpenter by trade, built a media center in the rear of the church as a place to manage all the new tech. With the Tech Team ministry members at the steering wheel from their new media center, they were ready for phase two, Outreach. They have created a social media presence, streaming services weekly on Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram. With new monitors in the sanctuary, they are able to display information, bible verses, announcements, worship song lyrics, which has tremendously enhanced their worship experience. Something that was not possible before they had quality, accessible and reliable high speed internet service.

Phase three will consist of hosting events and prioritizing online outreach. They plan to host trainings, workshops, and conferences at the church. They are also looking to get additional cameras and supporting equipment.

“We highly recommend Conexon Connect - Powered by Tri-County to other rural churches. This has been a game changer for us. We have been getting positive feedback since we made the transition. Services have not been the same and we are forever grateful for the speed and reliability of Conexon.

We have a mandate by God to share the good news gospel. The impact we make often depends on the resources we have and how we utilize them. Prior to Conexon, our resources were limited. Now, we are able to do more, reach more and accomplish more, as a result of reliable internet service. We have come a long way from having to rely solely on conference calls to connect with the outside world. Now we have options! Therefore, we are thankful to God, grateful for Tri-County Electric Cooperative, and enjoying Conexon Connect high speed internet.” says Pastor Daniels.

Services every Sunday at 11:00 AM

Early Service2nd Sunday of the month at 9:30 AM

493 Bassett Dairy Road |

Bible Studyevery Wednesday at 6:00 PM

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. + Chilling YIELD: 24 servings.

Recipe courtesy of www.tasteofhome.com

Ingredients

• 1 loaf (10-3/4 ounces) frozen pound cake, thawed

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

• 1/3 cup lemon juice

• 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

• 1 container (16 ounces) frozen sweetened sliced strawberries, thawed, divided

Directions

1. Cut pound cake into 1/2-in. slices; place in bottom of a 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in milk and lemon juice until blended. Fold in 2-2/3 cups whipped topping and 1-1/2 cups strawberries with juice.

2. Spread mixture over pound cake. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup strawberries in juice before serving.

“Go

to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

Proverbs 6:6-8 This Publication’s Inspirational Moment

Welcome Baby!

Welcome to the family, Bubba Kash. Born Monday, March 25th to TCEC Member Service Representative Shelby Williams, weighing 7 pounds. Mama and baby are doing well and we look forward to watching him grow alongside his 3 older brothers!

Holiday Schedule Reminder

All Tri-County Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, May 27, 2024 in observance of Memorial Day. We will have standby crews available for power restoration if needed. Please see “Stay Connected to your Co-op”.