How You Fit Into GEC PAGE 4 n Redevelopment Plans in Moore Haven PAGE 28

Healing Vets With Rod & ReelAnnual fishing excursion in the Florida Keys offers participants three days of camaraderie and excitement. Read more on page 12.Photo by Brandon Pomrenke

Glades Electric Cooperative

N OV E M B E R 2018

J U LY 2018

FKEC Returns $1.6 Million PAGE 4 • Apprentice Program PAGE 6 • Hurricane Michael Help BACK COVER

If we use Brandons photo mention FKEC

FKEC ReturnsOver $1.6 Millionto MembersWhen you sign up for electric service with FKEC, you become a member and an owner of this not-for-profit electric cooperative. As a member, Capital Credits are your piece of our success, both now and in the future. As a member owned utility, FKEC calculates our annual margins by taking the total revenue and subtracting all operating costs. Those costs include paying for power supply, improving electrical infrastructure, ensuring continuity of service, as well as providing an emergency reserve. Any resulting revenue, or margins as they are also called, are then allocated to each member based on their patronage, which is the amount of electricity he or she purchased during that year in proportion to the total amount purchased by all members. Once these margins are allocated they are called Member Capital Credits. This November, FKEC will be returning 100% of the Member Capital Credits from the year 2000. If you were an FKEC member in 2000, you will receive either a refund check in the mail, or a bill credit on your November electric bill. The total refund amount is $1,692,471. If you have an active account and are due a refund less than $100, you will receive

a credit on your November 2018 electric bill. If your Capital Credit refund is $100 or more, you will receive a check. Capital Credit checks less than $20 will only be mailed to former members if it’s the final balance pay-out. Checks are valid for 90 days. Like other electric cooperatives, FKEC retains its Member Capital Credits for a number of years to invest in improvements and maintain the electric system. This also helps to offset the amount of money the Cooperative borrows, which in turn helps lower the rates on your electric bill. If you move out of FKEC’s service territory or are no longer an active member, it is your responsibility to keep FKEC informed of your current mailing address. This enables us to properly forward your payment to you when Member Capital Credits are retired for the year or years of your membership. FKEC has cumulatively returned 44.8% of members’ equity, which ranks first among Florida’s 16 electric cooperatives and is in the top 10% among the nation’s 900+ electric cooperatives.

SCOTT NEWBERRY Chief Executive Officer

November 2018 www.FKEC.com

FKEC NEWS

FLORIDA KEYSELECTRIC COOPERATIVEASSOCIATION, INC.Member Owned Since 1940

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJames J. BoiliniDistrict 1, Key Largo President

Karl WagnerDistrict 4, Marathon Vice President

Cale SmithDistrict 3, Islamorada Treasurer

Michael H. PutoDistrict 4, Marathon Secretary

David C. RitzDistrict 1, Key Largo

Gretchen HollandDistrict 1, Key Largo

Craig BelcherDistrict 2, Tavernier

Joseph RothDistrict 2, Tavernier

George D. HertelDistrict 3, Islamorada

CONTACT US:(305) 852-2431 (800) 858-8845 Pay by Phone 1-855-385-9912 www.FKEC.comMailing Address:P.O. Box 377, Tavernier, FL 33070

MEMBERS SHOULD KNOW:If you want to know more about the benefits of being an FKEC member-owner check out our consumer guide at www.fkec.com/pdf/ConsumerGuide.pdf

Unless otherwise noted, “FKEC NEWS” writing, design & photography by:Nikki Dunn Cullen news@fkec.comEdited by: Rebecca Callahan Newman

4 N O V E M B E R 2018

Capital Credits: Your Slice of the Co-op PieWhat are MEMBER CAPITAL CREDITS?Each year, FKEC calculates our annual margins by taking our total revenue and subtracting all operating costs. The resulting margins are then allocated to each member based on their patronage, which is the amount of electricity he or she purchased during that year in proportion to the total amount purchased by all members. Once the margins are allocated to each current member for that year, they are then called Member Capital Credits. Capital Credits are your piece of the pie.

Why do we PAY Member Capital Credits?FKEC is a not-for-profit cooperative, owned by its members. As you pay your electric bill each month, FKEC uses that money to pay for power supply, improve electrical infrastructure, ensure continuity of service, make payments on any loans and provide an emergency reserve. Any revenues left over after covering FKEC’s operating expenses (also known as margins) are allocated back to you as Member Capital Credits.

What YEAR are these refunds for?This year’s refunds represent the margins that were allocated to our members in 2000. If you were an FKEC member in that year you will receive either a refund check in the mail or a credit on your November bill.

Will I receive a CHECK or a CREDIT on my bill?If you have an active account and are due a refund less than $100, you will receive a credit on your November 2018 electric bill. If your Member Capital Credit refund is $100 or more, you will receive a check. Capital Credit checks less than $20 will only be mailed to former members if it’s the final balance pay-out. Checks are valid for 90 days.

Why is my neighbor’s refund MORE than mine?If your neighbor purchased more electricity than you in 2000, his or her refund will be larger.

My NAME has changed, what do I need to do?Contact FKEC to change the name(s) on the account. We will begin to reissue new checks in May 2019.

Member Capital Credits

are your piece of FKEC’s success,

both today and in the future.

Need more HELP?Call FKEC Member Service

at 305-852-2431 or visit www.FKEC.com

for more information and related forms.

N O V E M B E R 2018 5

Becoming a lineworker doesn’t happen with the submission of a job application. For aspiring lineworkers at Florida Keys Electric Co-op, it starts by working hard and showing an interest and aptitude for the job, and then requires a commitment to four years of academic work and thorough on-the-job training before someone can say they are a Journeyman Lineman. The most recent greenhorns to start on the path to becoming lineworkers are David Bogue, Isaiah Leake, and Ralph Medina. Also currently enrolled in the FKEC apprentice program is Jordan Izaguirre who is nearing the end of his four years of education and training, and should complete the program in 2019. For the newest apprentices their journey to becoming lineworkers began where it generally does at FKEC: on the Right-of-Way Tree Crew. Under the supervision of Tree Crew Leaders and veterans in this department, new crewmen learn the fundamentals of working around electrical equipment, gain a thorough understanding of our power system, and experience the hard work and safe practices required to do the job right. With this experience under their belt, interested employees can apply to be considered for FKEC’s apprentice program. Once tapped for the apprenticeship, FKEC sends the aspiring lineworker(s) to the 15-week Electrical Lineworker Program at Northwest Lineman College in Edgewater, FL. There, the students are immersed in the world of linework receiving extensive and intense training in all areas of the job and power systems. In August, FKEC’s current apprentices completed the linemen college. All three received high praise from their instructors, and Apprentice David Bogue even earned the Outstanding Skills Award for the class which consisted of 32 students. “At the Northwest Lineman School we learned so much and put in a lot of hard work

The Making of a LineworkerFKEC apprentices start down the road to becoming Journeymen Linemen.

From left, FKEC’s newest apprentice linemen and Upper Keys natives Isaiah Leake, David Bogue and Ralph Medina recently completed a 15-week linemen college and officially entered the FKEC Apprentice Program. Photo by Darrell Birkhimer

Top, apprentice linemen David Bogue (right) with a fellow lineman college classmate. Bottom, FKEC apprentices with their Northwest Lineman College instructors who gave all three students high praise.Photos contributed

6 N O V E M B E R 2018

mentally and physically,” said Bogue. “From what we learned at the college and already at FKEC I feel prepared to take on the next four years of training for my career.” Following the successful completion of the college, a graduate is formally enrolled in FKEC’s Lineworker Apprentice Program — A four-year academic and 8,000 hour on-the-job intensive training regimen. And this is where FKEC’s three budding greenhorns are now. During the four-year apprenticeship, the linemen in training will rotate between the Tavernier and Marathon Line Departments training under each Line Crew Leader. “Our FKEC veteran Line Crew Leaders play a critical role in educating and training our apprentices,” explained Darrell Birkhimer, Marathon Manager & Director of Distribution Operations. “Their commitment to cultivating the next generation of successful lineworkers is invaluable to the students, this company and the industry overall.”

Twice a month the Line Crew Leaders share the progress of each apprentice with the FKEC Apprentice Committee. The committee is charged with making sure the proper training and education is being provided and achieved and consists of employees from both management/super-vision and the labor force. During their apprenticeship the trainees will return to the Northwest Lineman College annually for academic testing and skills evaluation. They will also attend training at the Mesa Hotline School in Colorado — A school attended by apprentices and journey-level workers from nearly all 50 states. For those who work hard and apply themselves, they are rewarded with a promising career as a United States Department of Labor Certified Lineworker capable of working on any electric utility system.

h Completion of the 15-week Electrical Lineworker Program at Northwest Lineman College

h 8,000 hours of on-the-job training

h 4-years of course work

h Annual attendance to Northwest Linemen College

h Annual attendance to Mesa Hotline School

h Tutelage under each Lineman Crew Leader

h Bi-monthly reviews by the FKEC Apprentice Committee

The FKEC Apprentice Committee currently consists of seven co-op employees — three from management and four from the labor force. Those members are: Darrell Birkhimer, Walt Stephens, Billy Goodwin, Chris Zischka, Will Heaton, Mike Black, and Steve Horne.

FKEC Apprentice Training

FKEC Apprentice Committee

FKEC apprentice Isaiah Leake “hanging out” at the Northwest

Lineman College in Edgewater, FL.Photo contributed

Apprentices are a part of FKEC’s skilled and dedicated

utility operations team consisting of highly trained

lineworkers, tree crewmen and electricians.

N O V E M B E R 2018 7

Employees Donate to Take Stock in ChildrenFlorida Keys Electric Co-op employees are proud to support Take Stock in Children in various ways. Some employees give to the program by mentoring local Upper and Middle Keys students. Over the years numerous co-op employees have served as mentors meeting with their assigned Take Stock students weekly to guide and help their mentee graduate high school and earn their Take Stock scholarship. Another way FKEC employees give to the program is through the utility’s employee parking lottery. Each year employees names are drawn for the 17 sought-after shaded spots in the Tavernier Operations Center parking garage. Those lucky people chosen then pay a monthly fee for the spot, and that money is donated to Take Stock. “The lottery is a fun way to raise money for Take Stock in Children and also fairly offer the convenient parking to our employees,” said Nicole Kraus, Director of Human Resources. FKEC recently presented Take Stock in Children with a check for $18,000 — The funds raised by the parking lottery over the last several years.

FKEC employees support local students as mentors and donors.

From left, FKEC’s Ashley Arrabal, Veronica Ornelas, Amber Navarrete, Nicole Kraus, Take Stock’s Chuck Licis and Erin King, and FKEC’s Maria

Jones, Sheri Bulkiewicz, Victoria Leonard and Vyviana Rapozo

Taste the Best Key Largo Has to Offer at the

November 8, 2018Holiday Inn MM 100 Oceanside, Key Largo Doors open at 7PM

ADMISSION IS $20 Tickets can be purchased at the Key Largo

Chamber, Jim Boilini’s office or any CenterState Bank location.

ENTERING THE COOK OFF IS FREE! Entry forms for the Key Largo Cook Off

are available online at www.keylargochamber.org

For more information contact the Key Largo Chamber at 305.451.1414 or Jim Boilini at 305.451.1481

100150 Overseas Highway, Key Largo | 91390 Overseas Highway, Tavernier

36th Annual Cookoff

Taste the BEST Key Largo has to offer!

PRIZES, TROPHIES, CASH BAR AND MORE!Amateur and professional categories for soups and chowders, appetizers,

sides & salads, entrées and desserts.

ADMISSION: $20 Tickets are limited and can be purchased at the Key Largo Chamber,

Jim Boilini’s office or any CenterState Bank location.

ENTERING THE COOK OFF IS FREE! Entry forms are available online at www.keylargochamber.org

For more information contact the Key Largo Chamber at 305.451.1414 or Jim Boilini at 305.451.1481

A special THANKS to the Holiday Inn Key Largoand Dr. Jim Boilini!

MEMBER FDIC

SPONSORED BY:

Thursday, December 7, 2017 Holiday Inn MM 100 Oceanside, Key Largo

Doors open at 7PM

37th Annual Cookof fThursday, November 8, 2018

37th Annual Key Largo Cook Off

8 N O V E M B E R 2018

As Hurricane Michael hits Central and North Florida, (top from left) FKEC Linemen Rudy Vega, Andy Baxter, Jason Heller, (front) Mike Black, Jordan Izaguirre, Juan Castano, Eddie Dudley and Rob Christensen head toward the storm to assist electric cooperatives with post-Michael power restoration work.

FL-152

305.852.2431 | 800.858.8845 | www.FKEC.com

On October 10, 2018, as Hurricane Michael was striking the Florida Panhandle, eight linemen from Florida Keys Electric Cooperative headed out to assist with post-storm power restoration. The four two-man teams with five bucket trucks, a utility vehicle and supplies first reported to Central Florida Electric who initially requested the aide. With Central Florida experiencing little impact from the tremendous storm, our crews were reassigned to Tri-County Electric Co-op who serves counties along the northwest coast of Florida. Less than 24 hours after Michael made landfall, FKEC crews were already working hand-and-hand with Tri-County linemen and crews to restore power to the areas devastated by the near Category 5 hurricane. “We know all too the well the value of cooperative assistance in the face of storm restoration work,” said CEO Scott Newberry. “I’m proud our crews are going where they can be of the most help. As we learn more about the extensive damage caused by the storm, we continue to think of everyone impacted by Hurricane Michael.”

Watch a video of the convoy leaving on Facebook @FloridaKeysElectricCooperative

FKEC Crews Head Toward Hurricane Michael

FKEC linemen and management go over the details of the

storm restoration assistance request, the plan, and of

course, safety.