nec retail member connections newsletter sept 2014

www.necretail.com20 Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail September 2014

MEMBER CONNECTIONS855-NEC-RD4U | necretail.com Powered by People

John L. Sims, NEC CEO

The Story of NEC

Next month, October 9th to be exact, Nueces Electric Cooperative will be celebrating our 75th Annual Meeting of the membership. I look forward to this meeting every year. I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meet-ing new members. I look forward to informing you of our success and see-ing the democratic Board of Director election process in action. I appreci-ate seeing children running around enjoying the activities while they learn about electricity and youth opportuni-ties.

Cooperative life has not always been as easy as it is today. I would like to take a moment to remind you of our story and how Nueces Electric Coop-erative came to be.

Close your eyes and think what it would be like if the only electric utility in the area refused to serve you? Or, what if they would only serve you if you paid thousands of dollars up-front, and then, they’d charge you 25 cents for each kilowatt-hour you used?

Step back to the 1930’s and you’d see people in the cities who had enjoyed the advantages of electricity for decades, while rural people were still making do without it or paying these exorbitant rates to get electricity. In

those days, the big, for-profit power companies had little interest in pro-viding this essential service to people in sparsely populated communities. It simply wasn’t profitable.

On May 11, 2035, rural America took a giant step forward when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act which gave Congress the authority to initiate a rural electrification pro-gram as a depression relief agency. Thus began the Rural Electrification

Administration (REA) which admin-istered the loans to groups of rural citizens working together to bring electricity to non-urban areas. These organized groups of citizens were called Electric Cooperatives. At that time only 2.3 percent of rural Texans had electricity.

Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc. was chartered December 7, 1938, by a group of farmers and ranchers who truly exemplified the pioneer spirit joined together to bring this rural area out of the dark ages. The originally

signed 355 members selected W. F. L. Lehman, F. C. Wolf, August Wisian, Roy Barlow, Fred G. Lowman, Emil Hinze, John H. Bolland, O. F. Brendle, and C. A. Eggleston as the first Board of Directors and to carry on the nec-essary work to begin the process of building an electric central station for the area.

The 355 members all had electricity by January 1940. In 1946, the Co-op expanded service lines to include Jim Wells, Kleberg, and Live Oak counties.

Our cooperative has always, and will always, be a democratic, member-owned utility. We are proud of those who came before us; and as we move into the future it is vital that we never forget where we came from. We were built out of determination to have a better life. When for-profit utilities refused to serve our homes, our com-munities banded together and fought for a resolution. Can you imagine pulling a string and seeing that light bulb come on for the first time?

Today, NEC is a thriving entity. The Co-op has worked hard to diversify through deregulation and navy base contracts. We pave new roads and have overcome great obstacles. Through it all, the Co-op has persevered and we are continuing to change and adjust to the rapid technology advancements and the increased demand for electric-ity. We work everyday to carry on the legacy of our founders and we hope we make you proud to be a member-owner of your electric cooperative.

At the Annual meeting on October 9th, each member who attends will receive a special copy of the Nueces

Electric Cooperative 75th Anni-versary Book. This book is a glance

back at our rich history and will enlighten you on some of the behind the scene hard work that goes into

making our Co-op successful.

www.necretail.com NEC Retail September 2014 Texas Co-op Power 21

www.necretail.com 1.855.NEC.RD4U


*Voting closes at 7:00 p.m.

S a v e T h e D a t e

• BBQDinner• $10billcreditforattending• VoteforBoardofDirectors• Doorprizesincluding$75billcredits• 75thAnniversaryco-opgoodybag

• Free75thAnniversarycommemorativebook

• Learnaboutco-opprograms• Kidsactivities&fun!

*Voting closes at 7:00 p.m.

75Annual Membership Meeting

th

Thursday,October9,2014RichardBorchardRegionalFairgrounds

Robstown,TX

5:30Registration,Voting*,KidsActivities&Dinner

7:00BusinessMeeting&DoorPrizes

JoinUsForTheMeetingAndReceive:



The refrigerator is one of the home’s big-gest energy hogs. But you can help it run more efficiently by:KEEpiNg iT LEvEL. A fridge on an uneven floor can lean forward enough to prevent the door gasket from sealing tightly when the door is closed.ChECKiNg gaSKETS. A refrigerator’s door gasket can wear out over time. If your door isn’t closing tightly, replace the gasket.FiLLiNg iT up. A full refrigerator and freezer work more efficiently than a half-empty one. If you don’t have enough food and beverages in the refrigerator, fill it with jugs of water until about two-thirds of the empty space is taken. Same goes for the freezer: Pack bags full of ice and scatter them around in the freezer so it’s at least three-quarters full.

COOLiNg FOOd BEFOrE rEFrigEraT-iNg iT. Putting hot food into a refrigerator or freezer forces the unit to adjust tempera-ture to compen-sate for the heat.

COvEriNg FOOd BEFOrE STOriNg iT iN ThE FridgE. Uncovered food and liq-uids release moisture and force the com-pressor to work harder.MOviNg iT OuT OF SuNLighT aNd away FrOM ThE OvEN. A fridge has to work harder to keep everything cool when the outside of it is exposed to heat.LEaviNg iT SOME BrEaThiNg rOOM. So it can properly ventilate, the top and sides of a refrigerator need clearance between walls and cabinets around them. CLEaNiNg iT. Regularly wipe dust, dirt and cobwebs from the coils behind or under it.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Home Energy Yardstick provides a simple assessment of your home’s annual energy use compared to similar homes. The Home Energy Yardstick is a basic, performance-based home assess-ment that looks at the actual energy use of your home (based on your last 12 months of utility bills) compared to that of similar homes.

By going to energystar.gov and answering a few questions, you can get:• Your home’s Home Energy Yardstick score (on a scale of 1 to 10)• Insights into how much of your home’s energy use is related to heating and

cooling versus other everyday uses like appliances, lighting and hot water• Links to guidance from Energy Star on how to improve your home’s score,

increase comfort and lower utility bills• An estimate of your home’s annual carbon emissions

To ensure that homes across the country can be properly compared, the Yardstick uses a statistical algorithm to take into account the effects of local weather, home size and number of occupants on your home’s energy use.A home that scores a 10 on the Yardstick scale used less energy over the past 12 months and performed well compared to its peers, while a home that scores a 1 used more energy and performed poorly compared to its peers.You can increase your Yardstick score by improving the energy efficiency of the features and/or equipment in your home, or by making changes in the way you operate your home to use less energy. You can revisit the Yardstick

each month (when your bills arrive) to see the effects of the energy-efficiency improvements you make to your home or changes in the way you operate it.The Home Energy Yardstick is not meant to replace a home energy audit con-ducted by a professional. The best way to assess the root causes of high energy bills or uncomfortable spaces is to have a home energy professional assess your home.The Yardstick score is based on data obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Because only single-family detached homes, mobile homes, townhouses, row houses and duplexes are used in the Yardstick analysis, entering apartment energy-use data may not result in a valid comparison.

Getting StartedTo calculate your Yardstick score, you will need some basic information:• Your ZIP code• Your home’s square footage• Number of full-time home occupants• A list of all the different fuels used (e.g., electricity, natural gas, fuel oil); • Your home’s past 12 months of utility totals (usually found in the 12-month

summary provided on your bill)

To test your home, go to energystar.gov and click on the Home Energy Yardstick box.

Home Energy YardstickKeep YourFridge Humming

co u rt e sy h o m e d e p ot

© m o n k e y B u s i n e ss | d o l la r p h oto c lu B



halogen floor lamps are fashion-able and they produce a clean, intense white light, but they also operate at much higher temperatures than lamps using standard CFLs or incandescent lightbulbs. here are some rec-ommendations about halogen floor lamps that will help you reduce the risk of fires or burns.• Never place a halogen floor

lamp where it could come in contact with draperies, cloth-ing or other combustible materials.

• Place halogens, torchieres and all other lamps and appliances on a level surface to keep them from tipping over.

• Keep halogen lamps and their cords away from high-traffic areas, where they could be easily tipped over.

• Always turn off the lamp whenever you leave the room for an extended period of time.

• Carefully read all instructions and warnings that accompany the halogen lamp.

• Never use torchiere lamps in children’s bedrooms or play-rooms. Children may play with lamps or place combustibles such as stuffed toys or clothing too close to the bulb.

• Make sure all the lightbulbs in your home are the appropriate size and type for the respec-tive lamps or fixtures.

Source: ESFI

Halogen LampSafety

If you’re planning to get a jump on fall planting, building or other outdoor home improvements, make sure you keep yourself and your neighborhood safe by calling to locate underground utility lines, pipes and cables before you start digging. Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether they need to get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call—even small projects like planting trees and shrubs. The depth of utility lines varies, and there may be multiple utility structures buried in a common area.

Why Should I Call?Digging without calling can result in damage to utility structures—whether gas, water, electric, cable or other utilities. Even a little damage can bring a lot of unin-tended, and costly, consequences: disruption of service to an entire area, injury to you or those around you, and potential fines and repair costs for you to pay. Calling 811 before every digging job gets your underground utility lines marked for free and helps prevent undesired consequences. These marked lines show you the approximate location of underground lines, so you’ll know what’s below—and where NOT to dig.

How Does It Work?Call 811 a few days before to digging, and your call will be routed to your local One Call center. Tell the operator where you’re planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing, and they will notify the affected local utilities of your location and your intent to dig. Within a few days, a locator will come by to mark the approximate loca-tion of your underground lines, pipes and cables. Then you can proceed with your project, knowing you’re in the clear.Remember: Always call 811 before you start any digging project. You’ll avoid injury, expense, embarrassment—and some very inconvenient time in the dark.

Whom Do I Call?For more information, or to make an online request for utilities to be marked, con-tact either of the following agencies.

Texas811: Call 811 or 1-800-545-6005, or visit texas811.org.Lone Star 811: Call 811 or 1-800-669-8344, or visit lonestar811.com.

Call 811 Before You Dig



L e t ’ s B e

F r i e n d sBe in the know ~ Like us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/necretail

Call, NEC Retail before the 20th of the month to receive your

electric bill credit!

1.855.NEC.RD4U

Lite Up Texas NoticeIf you are a current participant in the LITE-UP TEXAS program, the discounts you have been receiving in 2014 on your electric bill will end with your September 2014 electric bill. If you are self-enrolled in the program, continue to self-enroll at every eligibility period. The 2015 discount period is May 2015 thru August 2015. For additional infor-mation and program requirements you can call 1-866-454-8387 or go to the Public Utility Com-mission of Texas website at http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/low income/Assistance.aspx

Si usted participa actualmente en el programa de descuento en la electricidad para personas de bajos ingresos (LITE-UP TEXAS), el descuento que usted ha estado recibiendo en su factura de electricidad en el 2014 terminará con su factura de electricidad de Septiembre 2014. Si usted se matriculó por sí mismo en el programa, debe con-tinuar matriculándose en cada período de eligibi-lidad. El período de descuento para el 2015 es de Mayo 2015 a Augusto 2015. Para más información y para verificar los requisitos del programa puede llamar al 1-866-454-8387 ó visitar el sitio web de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos en http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/lowincome/Assistance.aspx

Did you know AC or heating usage accounts for 50% of your monthly

electric bill.

If you are at home, try to keep your thermostat set to 78 degrees or higher.

If you are still feeling the heat, use ceiling fans to cool down. Ceiling fans can lower the inside of

a home by four degrees and use less energy than

your AC unit. So you can stay cool and save on

your electric bill!

If Your Account Number is:

Play & Win!

3 8 1 7 5 - 0 0 1

YOU WIN $25 off your

electric bill!



Member Satisfaction Survey

have your Say about your Co-op

2014 Member Satisfaction Survey

Let us know how we are doing by participating in the annual Member Satisfaction Survey. The lead-ership of the Co-op depends on your feedback through this survey to help guide operational deci-sions and Co-op policies.

There are several ways you can take the survey, but please only take it one time:

• Take the Survey online using the NEC website below

• print a paper copy of the survey from the NEC website

• Call the office and have a paper copy mailed to you

• pick up a paper copy at any NEC office located in Calallen, Ben Bolt, ricardo, Orange grove or robstown.

Take the survey now at:

www.necretail.com1-855-632-7348

Survey responses will be collected Tuesday,

September 30th at 5:00 p.m.

Play & Win!

Thank You Members!Conservation CallsThis summer we experienced cooler than normal tem-peratures, but nonetheless, we felt the heat! Conserva-tion calls went out each week for the full month of July. Members responded positively and enthusiastically to the calls. NEC Retail would like to thank you for doing your part to save small amounts each day. Your small amount adds up to great savings for our membership.

Did you know we forecast each year and agree to pur-chase a certain increment of power each day? Based on NEC’s past average usage, the power plants take our forecast, along with all of the other co-ops they gener-ate power for, to forecast their level of operation and the amount of fuel they need to operate. At the pres-ent time, there is no economical way to store generated electricity, so what is being generated at that moment is all we have. If we go over our foreste amount, we run the risk of paying extremely inflated prices for the extra power demanded by our members.

For example, let’s say we normaly purchase one Mega-watt (MW) of power for $100. In the event we exceed our forecasted generation needs, NEC Retail will pay $7,500 per MW. As you can see, we are extremely grateful for those of you who answered the call to action and made small adjustments to conserve electricity. After all, this extra charge dips into our margins, which dips into your capital credit returns.

NEC retail is growingNEC Retail broke our enrollment record this summer! Even with the heat, NEC Retail welcomed a record num-ber of members since August 2012.

This past June, NEC Retail implemented online enroll-ment. New members have enjoyed the convenience of the system and it is helping our local enrollment office work more efficiently. So even as our enrollment num-bers rise, NEC Retail will continue to provide you with the excellent customer service we are known for.

Member referral program doublesThe past few months you may have noticed the new Member referral coupon in several places. Thanks to this easy-to-use tool, the program has grown 100% and more members than ever are enjoying $60 off their bills. Don’t forget: this program is unlimited! So keep referring and continue to receive $60 for each person you refer.



NEW WAYS TO CON T

NEW WEBSITEPay your bill, look up service areas or get details co-op offers and perks on your desktop or mobile device.

EASIER ENROLLMENTWe’ve improved our online enrollment so new members can start enjoying all the benefits of the a co-op even faster.

MEMBER REFERRAL PROGRAMGet a $60 credit off your electric bill each time you get a new member to sign up.


www.necretail.com 1.855.NEC.RD4Urefer A friend

EARN $60It pays to be a member of an electric cooperative. Get a $60 credit on your next electric bill for every person you get to sign up for NEC Retail. There’s no limit to how many referrals you can get! Find completed rules at necretail.com

necretail.com

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SO MANY REASONS TO SWITCH:• Get your electricity AT COST for home or for business• No hidden fees or rate surcharges• NEC Retail is a not-for-profit retail electric provider• NEC Retail is member-owned, much like a credit union• NEC Retail gives back to its members• NEC Retail consistently has the fewest customer complaints

referring member name: account number

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Switch today!

start spreading the joy

60$ Just fill out these cards, cut them out and hand them to your closest friend, family member or co-worker. You’ll receive a $60 bill credit for each new member you get to sign up.

necretail.com 855-nec-rd4u

For Business or Home

SO MANY REASONS TO SWITCH:• Get your electricity AT COST for home or for business• No hidden fees or rate surcharges• NEC Retail is a not-for-profit retail electric provider• NEC Retail is member-owned, much like a credit union• NEC Retail gives back to its members• NEC Retail consistently has the fewest customer complaints

referring member name: account number

Powered by People

Switch today!necretail.com 855-nec-rd4u

For Business or Home

nec retail member connections newsletter sept 2014

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