Beyond the WireCentral Valley Electric Cooperative Dedicated to Our Communities April - June 2014

In this IssuePage 2 ..Power Outages & Gas Generators

Page 3 ....................Customer Satisfaction

Page 3 .......................................SmartHub

Page 4 ...................Letters from Members

Page 4 ..................................Co-op Tidbits

Board of Trustees•Darrell Atkins, President

District 3 - Lake Arthur/Cottonwood•Chuck Wagner, Vice President

District 6 - North of Roswell•Wesley Pilley, Secretary/Treasurer

District 4 - Dexter/Hagerman•Jack Case, Trustee

District 1 - Artesia/Lakewood•Jason Ciempa, Trustee

District 2 - Loco Hills•Larry Benedict, Trustee

District 5 - South of Roswell•Michael Bennett, Trustee

District 7 - Hope

Central Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

PO Box 2301403 N. 13th Street

Artesia, NM 88211-0230(575) 746-3571 Artesia/Dexter/Roswell

(575) 752-3366 Hagerman(575) 746-4219 Fax

www.cvecoop.orgOffice Hours

8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.(Monday - Friday)

CVE Annual Meetingin ReviewCentral Valley Electric Cooperative held its

annual meeting of the membership on Saturday, March 8, at the Artesia High School Auditorium.

Election of TrusteesTwo members of the board of trustees were

re-elected for a three year term. They are Wesley Pilley - District 4 Dexter/Hagerman, and Michael Bennett - District 7 Hope.

Co-op GrowthChuck Pinson, CVE General Manager, reported

on the growth in the oilfield. He explained that because of this growth, the co-op has upgraded several substations, built two new substations, and is currently building another substation and an autostation. In addition, the co-op upgraded and built approximately 79 miles of transmission line to accommodate delivery of power.

Co-op HeadquartersPinson discussed the cooperative’s new

headquarters facility, new mechanic shop and the remodel of the warehouse and meter department. He stated that all construction projects at the cooperative were designed to be energy efficient and will be more cost effective to operate.

Co-op Returns Capital CreditsDarrell Atkins, president of the board of trust-

ees, let members know that one of the benefits to being a member of the co-op is the return of capital credits. Atkins stated that the board approved the

retirement of capital credits that were earned in the year 1994, in the amount of $909,995. Capital credit checks and/or bill credits were issued in February.

Co-op FinancesPinson reported that the co-op is financially

strong and positioned well to meet the needs of all members. In 2013, kilo-watt hour (kWh) sales increased by approximately 4.2 percent from 2012. Operating revenues were $62.8 million, which was an increase of $8.6 million more than 2012.

Cooperative Action NetworkOne of the major themes of the annual meeting

was the Cooperative Action Network (CAN). Through the Cooperative Action Network, CVE is asking members to fill out cards with their contact informa-tion. The co-op would then use the information to contact members on important issues that could potentially increase electricity rates.

One major issue CVE would like members to respond to is the proposed rule, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that would limit the carbon dioxide emissions of new coal based power plants. The EPA has abandoned the "all-of-the-above" energy strategy and embraced an "all-but-one" approach that effectively prevents construction of new low cost coal-based generation. CVE would like to encourage all members and non-members to go to www.action.coop and tell the EPA that New Mexicans pay enough for electricity and to reconsider the proposed rule.

Thank YouCentral Valley Electric Cooperative would like to

thank everyone that attended the annual meet-ing. CVE would also like to give a special THANKS to Horner Farms, Arc Powerline, SGS Engineering, Amarillo Electric, Techline, Xcel Energy, Texas Electric Cooperatives and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative for donating door prizes.

Michael BennettWesley Pilley

Central Valley Electric Cooperative 2

How Your Co-op Works

Power Outages & Gas GeneratorsOccasionally a power outage may occur in the Central Valley Electric Cooperative service area. Members may

want to use a gas generator during these times.CVE offers recommendations to members when considering the use of a generator. A permanently installed,

backup generator that is established for a home or business must be installed by a licensed electrician. Along with the generator, a transfer switch must be installed. This transfer switch disconnects your home or office from the power lines while the generator is running. This prevents the generator from backflow on CVE's lines, thereby protecting the CVE linemen who work on the lines, and it also protects the generator.

If a member is interested in the temporary use of a generator and a transfer switch has not been installed, CVE recommends that you contact the co-op in an emergency and request a temporary disconnection of power. CVE will be responsible for removing the meter as to not risk injury to anyone while the outage is in effect. CVE person-nel may be delayed in removing a meter depending on the circumstances on the system at the time of the outage. Additional charges may be incurred by the member, again depending on the circumstances of the event. When the power comes back on, the meter will be replaced by CVE as promptly as possible.

For questions about generators or transfer switches, contact your preferred electrician.

CVE Scores High in Customer SatisfactionThe results of a recent American Customer

Satisfation Index − the ACSI − confirms that electric cooperatives once again were the highest rated electric utility group in the country. Electric cooperatives provide unmatched service in the electricity market and superlative service when compared to other industries.

On average, electric cooperatives scored an 81 (out of 100), which is a full six points higher than investor owned utilities.

Central Valley Electric Cooperative was among 12 cooperatives in the country that scored a 91 or higher in customer satisfaction. CVE is dedicated to personal-ized quality service for its members and would like to thank co-op members for the high marks in customer satisfaction.

The ACSI is a uniform and independent measure of household consumption experience. As an economic indicator, the ACSI tracks trends in customer satisfaction and provides benchmarking insights of the consumer economy for companies, industry trade associations, and government agencies.

A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative 3

Convenience at Your Fingertips

Central Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. has transitioned its online billing to SmartHub. SmartHub provides convenient access and two-way communication online or via your mobile device.

You can now manage your account from your Smart Phone with SmartHub.

With SmartHub, the power of data is in your hands through convenient account management and detailed usage information. SmartHub, a mobile and Web app, delivers accurate, timely account information and allows you to make payments in a secure environment with a touch of a button, right from your mobile device or on your PC.

With SmartHub You Can:• Check your usage• Pay your bill• Contact our office• Check our news feed• And much more

Download TODAY and manage your account from anywhere.

Did You Know?The strength of an electric current is measured in volts. The higher the voltage number, the more force there is pushing the electric current through the wire.

WelcomeNew Employees

Don't ForgetScholarship Applications

Due April 15

Get an application @www.cvecoop.org

Co-op Tidbits

Central Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The following are letters that CVE received from members. The first is in regard to the ice storm, that occurred in the mountanious area of Hope in 2013. The second is in regard to the calendar planner that CVE mails out each year.

Dear CVE:

My name is Patricia O. Olsen and I live in Hope. My

home is all electric, so when it goes out, I worry.

I think your company has done a wonderful job so far,

with all the snow and ice everywhere. This weather might

be beautiful, but it is murder on electric lines.

So thank you and keep up the good work trying to get

every ones electricity back on. We want you to know that

two of your customers (my sister also lives in Hope) appre-

ciate your hard work.

Sincerely,

Patricia O. Olsen &

LaVerne Wilson

Central Valley Electric:

If I shouldn' t receive any other

Christmas gift this year, your CVE

desk calendar for 2014 has made me

happy.

For many years I have used the

calendar to keep track of the days

appointments and special occasions.

I still keep several of the calendars

to help me remember times past that

I might otherwise forget. They are

special keepsakes.

Thank you one & all,

Martha Anne Booth

Caleb SmithIT/GIS Assistant

Stephen CarreraGroundman

Letters from Members