www.nueceselectric.org20 Texas Co-op Power NEC January 2015

John L. Sims, NEC CEO

PAYING MONEY TO PARTICIPATE in a business might not seem like a privilege, but it is—when that business is an electric cooperative. The money you put in to become a member of Nueces Electric Cooperative not only helps us light your homes and businesses, but it also helps to improve the quality of life for everyone in our service area.

The text below is from the International Cooperative Alli-ance’s summary of the third cooperative principle, Members’ Economic Participation:

“Members contribute equitably to, and democratically con-trol, 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 sub-scribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate sur-pluses 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 NEC, you paid a membership

fee of $15. That fee 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, your paid-in share ensures that you have a say in co-op business through your elected board of directors. The board sets the strategic direction of the cooperative, then the

management and staff put that direction into action. At the end of the fiscal year, if the co-op has received more

money from members than it needed to cover expenses, a por-tion is set aside for reserves—which is like a savings account for the co-op. If a storm or flood comes through, the co-op will have the funds to do the needed repairs.

Any remaining amount is allocated to each member based on how much electricity they used during the year. Once the board decides the co-op is financially sound enough to release these allocated margins, members receive them as capital credits checks or credits on their bills.

This is just one way your co-op gives back to its communi-ties. Although the safe, reliable and affordable provision of electricity is our primary mission, the co-op also values its members and finds many other ways to enrich the quality of life in our service area.

Nueces Electric Cooperative is not some large power com-pany headquartered in a far-off state with stockholders from around the world. We are right here in the Coastal Bend of Texas. We were formed in 1938 by neighbors and friends who came together and contributed their own money with the goal of bettering their lives with electricity. Our goal is to continue to do that—improve the quality of our members’ lives—with the same neighborly approach.

Our Seven Cooperative Principles guide us. And your eco-nomic participation helps us make sure our focus is always on you, the member-owner.

For big businesses, small businesses, farms and homes, electric cooperative memberships provides benefits beyond reliable electricity.

FAC TO RY: © I STO C K .CO M | B L E N D _ I M AG E S . G R O C E RY: © I STO C K .CO M | AS I S E E I T. : © I STO C K .CO M | RAC H E L D E W I S

Supporting Us Helps You Members’ Economic Participation is the third of our Seven Cooperative Principles

www.nueceselectric.org January 2015 NEC Texas Co-op Power 21

Roxanne ElizondoAccounting: 5 Years

Cynthia GarzaReceptionist: 5 Years

Richard PadillaApprentice: 5 Years

Jesus OlivarezFacilities Supervisor: 5 Years

John L. SimsCEO: 20 Years

Albert PenaJourney Lineman: 25 Years

Pete RamirezJourney Lineman: 25 Years

Mary PavelkaWork Order Clerk:

35 Years!

Sylvia GarzaMember Care Rep: 5 Years

Dedicated Employees Are The Cooperative DifferenceOn December 5, 2014, Nueces Electric Cooperative employees gathered for the annual Awards Dinner and, among other awards, honored nine employ-ees for their years if service to the members of the Co-op.

Among the recipients was Mary Pavelka, who was honored for 35 years of service to members. In her 35 years at the co-op Mary has worked under four General Managers, numerous direct supervisors, and has rolled with the flow during several transi-tions and departmental reorganizations. She was originally hired as a cashier before becoming a new service representative and then a work order clerk.

Of her 35 years of the Co-op Mary says, “It has not always been easy and, at times, it has been very chaotic. But I have learned a lot and have had the opportunity to work with some great people.”

Congratulations to Mary and thank you for 35 years of service to the Co-op!

Also recognized was CEO John Sims. When asked to answer some questions in order to write a bio, John answered the call and gave employees some very nice insight and good words of wisdom. He says, “My greatest accomplishment has been devel-oping the best and most professional staff in the state... and then attracting the best workforce in the state to the benefit of the co-op members. I enjoy knowing this place can go on without me and knowing co-op members will be well taken care of when the change comes.” He added, “Humility is our greatest asset. Always remember that when dealing with our members. Without our members, we would not have the opportunities we now enjoy. As long as we earn their god-honored respect, this organization will continue to grow and prosper.”

The co-op is indeed fortunate to employe great tal-ent and dedicated individuals who strive to meet and exceed the co-op’s expectations everyday. NEC employs 84 full-time positions in eight co-op departments who have a combined total of over 840 years of combined work experience.

Congratulations and thank you to all recipients!

Supporting Us Helps You Members’ Economic Participation is the third of our Seven Cooperative Principles

www.nueceselectric.org22 Texas Co-op Power NEC January 2015

www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

Welcome Dominique!Please give a warm co-op welcome to our newest team member, Dominique Cortez, or “Dom” for short. Dom is joining the NEC team as the head-quarters dispatcher. In this role, Dom handles all radio traffic and directs line crew assignments to maximize their efficiency and to minimize job-related expenses and travel.

Dom is a native to Corpus Christi. She is a graduate of Moody High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas Women’s Uni-versity in Denton, TX. Dom says she chose a degree in Sociology because it is a perfect degree which will allow her to travel and experience different careers and cultures.

She is excited to gain knowledge and work with engineering and mapping while becoming more familiar with rural areas and learning how the NEC crews work.

Welcome to the Co-op Dom!

NEC Battles Copper Theft

Stealing copper may seem like a quick way to make a buck. But it’s illegal, it’s costly, and it’s not worth a life. It’s a crime that results in thousands of dollars in damages ultimately paid for by Nueces Elec-tric Cooperative members. And this holiday season, Nueces Electric Cooperative members are out approximately $19,000 to replace stolen copper. In mid-November, thieves hit co-op powerlines between Bishop and Robstown. The resale value of the stolen copper will be less than $200.

Copper wire is appealing to thieves who look to sell it for scrap and this type of theft happens all over the country. Despite companies who increase security, laser etch, or coat cables with a special detectable liq-uid; costly copper theft, and the lost revenue associated, remain an issue.

To fight back against this persistent threat, for the past several years Nueces Electric has used a copper clad steel grounding wire during all repairs and new installations. It is an electrical conductor that has copper bonded to a solid steel core. Because it is steel inside instead of copper, the wire is harder to cut and has minimal scrap value. In addi-tion, the bonding process of the cop-per and steel does not allow galvanic corrosion, which ensures longevity in service.

CEO John Sims says, “As a coop-erative, all members have equal financial participation and it’s unfortunate that we have to cover these types of losses. It cuts into the margins we give back to members. The associated cost, such as labor

and repair, go beyond materials costs,” he adds, “with over 3,200 miles of line, there is no way we can keep an eye on every mile and there is no type of insurance coverage that will cover open powerline theft.”

So how can members help prevent thefts like this one? “Simply keep an eye out and if

you see any suspicious activity report it imme-

diately,” says Sims.

Stealing the copper is not only costly, it’s very dangerous. Work-ing with any metal and electricity is a dangerous combination, even for trained employees using proper equipment. Burglars may not under-stand that they are risking their lives by taking copper from utility poles or substations, where high transmis-sion voltage is stepped down to a lower current for distribution lines.

Please help us prevent these thefts. If you notice anything unusual with electric facilities, such as an open substation gate, open equipment, or hanging wire, contact NEC immedi-ately at 1-800-632-9288. If you see anyone around electric substations or electric facilities other than uni-formed personnel or contractors, call the police.

NEC uses Copper clad steel instead of pure copper.

Co-op asks members to be on the look-out & report

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www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

Co-op Supports Kingsville EDCNueces Electric Cooperative recently donated $2,500 to the Kingsville Greater Economic Development Council (KEDC). The funds will go toward general operations such as main-taining and expanding the military presence of NASK.

NEC is not a stranger to this community partner. Including today’s donation, the co-op has donated $2,500 a years since 2010 for a total of $12,500 in donations.

KEDC Executive Director, Dick Messbarger, said one of our own, Frank Wilson, has been an excellent Board member for the KEDC for several years Frank brings great value to the table and ensures NEC is well represented in the Kingsville area community expansion efforts. As many of these expan-sions occur within the NEC power distribution territory, the co-op grows due to the opportunity to serve these members by building and maintaining their powerlines.

Messbarger says, “ NEC has been such a great partner because they understand. They understand we look to grow the community population and they support our efforts by ensuring the greater demand of electricity is met.”

In 2014 alone, the Kingsville Greater Economic Development Council was instrumental in growth which brought over 1,000 housing starts to the Kingsville area.

Nueces Electric Cooperative’s focus is not only on housing growth, but as the owner of the powerlines for both NASK and NASCC, the co-op partners with the KEDC to ensure community military needs are being met.

NEC appreciates the Kingsville Greater Economic Develop-ment Council and we look forward to partnering with them further in the future.

Kingsville Economic Development Council Executive Director, Dick Messbarger, and NEC’s Frank Wilson

www.nueceselectric.org24 Texas Co-op Power NEC January 2015

www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

Name ___________________________________________________________Grade _______________________

Address_______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State _______________________________________________T-Shirt Size (Circle one- Unisex) S M L XL

Zip Code ________________ Telephone # _____________________ E-mail ______________________________

High School______________________________City _______________________ County ___________________

To enter the Youth Tour contest, contestant’s legal guardian must be an active member of Nueces Electric Co-op:

Parents/Guardian: Father ______________________________ Mother _________________________________NEC Account Name __________________________________ NEC Account # _____________________________E-Mail: _________________________________ Telephone # __________________________________________

Youth Tour Winner Requirements

Must be able to fly in an airplane, ride in a car, bus, or boat for up to 12 hours (with breaks) in a single day.

Must be able to assist NEC in promotion of the Youth Tour program at the October Annual Membership Meeting.

NEC reserves the right to select the runner up or another contestant for the Youth Tour Trip if the

winner if found to be a poor representative of the Youth Tour program and NEC.

The winner’s guardian must sign a waiver of release for the winner to participate on the Youth Tour.

All essays become the property of Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Contestant’s StatementBy signing below, I attest that I fully understand all of the rules and requirements of this contest and what will be required of me in the event I should win the contest.

Signed ______________________________________ Date _________________________________________

Submit essay entry along with this cover page and a photograph suitable for publication to:

Nueces Electric Co-op, Inc.; Attn: Youth Tour Contest, 14353 Cooperative Ave, Robstown, TX 78380 or e-mail to: jbedsole@nueceselectric.org or fax to: 361.933.1178

Essay Entries MUST be recieved before 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 30, 2015

Grand PrizeAn all-expense paid Youth Leadership trip to Washington, D.C. with approximatly 125 other Texas Youth Leaders, $250 spendingmoney, and clothes for each day you are on the trip.

EligibilityHigh school sophomores & juniors who are dependents of active NEC members.

Contest Rules1. The essay must correspond with the NEC title topic. 2. The essay must be between 300-500 words in length, typed and double-spaced 3. Questions should be addressed to: NEC Youth Tour Contest coordinator, Julie Bedsole 361-767-7321 or jbedsole@nueceselectric.org4. The application, essay, and a photo of the contestant must be recieved bythe deadline. JudgingAll essays will be judged on accuracy of information, grammar, originality, and content. Winner(s) will be notified by March 31st.

2015 Short Essay Topic: As a teenager, what is your one most valued use of electricity?

www.nueceselectric.org January 2015 NEC Texas Co-op Power 25

www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

Download the application and track down your GPA and your SAT/ACT! Any high school senior who is a direct dependent of a Nueces Electric Cooper-ative Member is eligible to apply for the Ramiro De La Paz Memorial Scholarship.

The Ramiro De La Paz Memorial Scholarship is funded by escheated (unclaimed) capital credits that the state of Texas grants back to NEC to utilize for youth education programs.

Download your application at www.nueceselectric.org (under Community) and submit it to Nueces Electric Coop-erative by Friday, February 13, 2015.

Two $4,000 scholarships and

four $1,000 scholarshipsPrint the Application at:

www.nueceselectric.org(Under Community)

Deadline:Friday, February 13, 2015

Mail to:Nueces Electric CooperativeAttn: Scholarship Program

14353 Cooperative AveCorpus Christi, TX 78380

Calling All High School Seniors! NEC Scholarship Program Now Open For Applications

www.nueceselectric.org26 Texas Co-op Power NEC January 2015

www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

1 Clean every appliance in your house. Your refrigerator’s coils can get dusty and clogged, which makes it work harder—and that’s an unnecessary waste of energy.

The inside of your microwave oven should be spotless; if it’s not, then the machine is using energy to “cook” leftover food particles that nobody’s going to eat. Even your dishwasher and washing machine need cleaning—inside and out—to prevent mold and clogs.

2 Snake your clothes dryer vent. Do this at least twice a year to rid it of lint and debris, which can catch on fire if it clogs the vent and prevents airflow. And be

sure to clean the lint screen after each use.

3 Clear the area around your water heater and your outdoor air-conditioning unit. Appliances give off heat and take in air. If you’ve got boxes, suitcases, Christmas

decorations or plants stacked up against them, they can’t do their jobs efficiently.

4 Have your heating and air-conditioning systems checked out by an HVAC profes-sional, who can tell you if they need repairs. Ask the tech to check your filters and

change them if they’re clogged with dust.

5 Change the batteries in all of your home’s smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detec-tors. If you don’t have those devices, move this item to the top of your list of reso-

lutions and install them today.

Five New Year’sResolutions forYour Home

Keeping appliances and light fixtures clean saves energy and reduces fire risk. Resolve to set up a regular schedule to keep them all clean and bright year-round.

It’s becoming more and more common for thieves to target people for scams over the telephone. They call and say they’re collecting on an overdue bill and try to scare their target with threats of disconnecting their electric service.

These scammers ask you to purchase payment or gift cards and to call them back with the numbers on the back of the purchased card; or they are trying to get your bank account or credit card numbers so they can rob you.

Remember that if an authentic employee of your electric cooperative calls you on the phone, he or she will never ask you to pay immediately. So if someone calls and claims to work for the cooperative and asks you to pay immediately, or purchase a pay-ment card, hang up and call the co-op directly using a number you know belongs to the co-op.

Unfortunately, tracking down scammers is difficult for law-enforcement and consumes vast amounts of time they would rather dedicate to street crime. The best line of defense is to use your intuition and educate yourself on the various types of scams.

Don’t Get Scammed

www.nueceselectric.org January 2015 NEC Texas Co-op Power 27

www.nueceselectric.org 1.800.NEC.WATT

Call, NEC before the 20th!1-800-NEC-WATT(800-632-9288)

If Your Account Number is:

Play & Win!

74 9 7 1 0 0

YOU WIN $25 off your

electric bill!

NEC Power ProvidersCompetitive Retailers Qualified To Serve Consumers Located in the

Nueces Electric Co-op (NEC) Electric Distribution Service Area* Updated 07/10/2014

Regardless of the company you choose as your power supplier, remember that your energy delivery needs will always be the responsibility of Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) and you have the right to contact us with questions regarding your electricity needs at any time. PLEASE NOTE: The (CRs) listed below have completed the process to qualify to serve NEC area member-consumers and you may choose one of them for your power supplier.Some of these providers do NOT serve residential services. This provider list is subject to change. Please monitor the Texas Co-op Power magazine (sent monthly to all NEC members) and/or our website at www.nueceselectric.org for updated CR provider lists. These can also be obtained at any NEC office:14353 Cooperative Ave, Corpus Christi, TX 78410 (located at the intersection of CR52 & CR69); 123 County Road 1026 in Ricardo, TX; 5646 S. Hwy 281, Alice/Ben Bolt, TX; or 5302 W. FM 624, Orange Grove, TX

Competitive Retail Power Provider

Phone Number

E-Mail/Website

AFFORDABLE ENERGY, L.P./AP GAS & ELECTRIC 1-877-544-4857 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

BENEFICIAL POWER LLC – APOLLO POWER & LIGHT 1-855-750-5556 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

BLUESTAR ENERGY 866-BLUESTAR (866-258-3782) COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES 1-877-653-5090 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL OVER 40,000 KWH/YEAR CONSTELLATION NEW ENERGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY CORAL POWER SOLUTIONS CORAL POWER, LLC

713-767-5400 LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

DYNEGY

877-4DYNEGY (877-439-6349)

dms@dynegy.com COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

ENERGY TRANSFER

800-375-5702 LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

EVERYTHING ENERGY GDF SUEZ COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

HINO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY 1-866-446-6797 Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm

www.hinoelectric.com COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

MPOWER /MP2 1-888-202-4770 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

NUECES ELECTRIC CO-OP RETAIL DIVISION (NEC RETAIL) 1-855-NEC-RD4U (1-855-632-7348) www.necretail.com

RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL TENASKA LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY ENCOA (TERM) 713-341-7365 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY SMARTCOM ENERGY SERVICES 713-771-7400 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY

STARTEX POWER LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL (50 KW OR LARGER)

SOURCE POWER & GAS COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

V247 POWER 1-855-888-9888 or 1-832-629-1119 RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL WPS ENERGY SERVICES

IMPORTANT: NEC MEMBERS HAVE THE CHOICE TO RECEIVE EITHER 1 BILL -WITH BOTH NEC AND YOUR PROVIDER CHARGES, SENT BY NEC -OR 2 BILLS - A BILL FROM NEC FOR DELIVERY CHARGES AND A BILL FROM YOUR PROVIDER FOR YOUR POWER SUPPLY CHARGES. BE SURE TO DISCUSS YOUR PREFERRED BILLING WITH YOUR CHOSEN PROVIDER.YOUR DELIVERY CHARGES FROM NEC WILL BE THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU CHOOSE AS YOUR PROVIDER, & REGARDLESS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ONE BILL OR TWO BILLS.

Pay Online www.nueceselectric.orgAccess your account 24 hours a day from any computer to manage your account. Just click on “Pay Your Bill”, on the upper left corner of our Homepage.

Pay by Automatic Credit or Bank Draft:If you prefer to not use the computer, you can still sign up to have your account drafted for your monthly bill.

Pay in Person:Use any one of our Customer Service centers located in Calallen, Ben Bolt, Ricardo or Orange Grove.

Pay by Mail:14353 Cooperative Ave ~ Robstown, TX 78380

Pay by Phone:Due to Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance stan-dards, NEC is limited in the ability to take credit card numbers over the phone. These standards are nationally implemented to secure consumers finances and hinder identity theft. To make a payment via the phone you can call 24 /7 and pay via the electronic phone payment system at 800-NEC-WATT (800-632-9288).

Use the Easy Pay KioskQuick, easy, and accessible 24 hours a day, the Kiosk is located at the Calallen office. Payments post immedi-ately to your account.

Pay using a Fidelity Express Pay Station There is an additional $1.50 service charge.

Eight Convenient Ways To Pay Your Bill