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

John L. Sims, NEC CEO

It seems like there’s a designated day or week for everything. We honor administrative assistants on a particular day, bosses on another. Other ideas, like customer service, are important enough to merit an entire week. Although we think National Customer Service Week is a fine idea, we don’t need it: We celebrate customer service every day of every year. It’s that important to us.

Designated week or not, we at Nueces Electric Cooperative pride ourselves on our customer service all the time. From our receptionist at the front door to each lineworker or right-of-way trimmer, we make every attempt to ensure that you have a positive experience with your electric co-op.

To us, customer service encompasses all we do. It certainly begins with a cheerful face when you stop by our office, and a friendly voice when you call on the phone. It continues with the folks who make service calls to your house or business.

Customer service also includes the programs and services we offer our members, such as alternate payment plans and bill-ing options. If you want tips on how to make your home more energy efficient, or if you’ve heard about renewable energy

options and need more information, give us a call. Our employ-ees spend time at area schools educating students about elec-trical safety. Co-op employees on the road are always ready to assist in any emergency, even those that are not electricity-related.

We also have a major obligation to our members when their power goes out. We wish we could just flip a switch and turn those lights right back on, but unfortunately, most of the time the repair isn’t that easy. But please know that our crews work to find the problem and fix it as quickly as they possibly can. This is a commitment each one of us takes very seriously.

The next time you’re in one of our offices or on the phone with one of our employees, please let us know if you’re happy with the customer service you receive. We want to offer you the best service we can.

Here at Nueces Electric Cooperative we are proud of our rela-tionship with our member-owners. Cooperatives are all about working together, and we try to uphold that philosophy as we work for you.

Our Greatest Value

PresidentBrian Menking, Alice

Vice PresidentBill Hartman, Orange Grove

Secretary-TreasurerDavid Rosse, Kingsville

Assistant SecretaryTommy Ermis, Agua Dulce

DirectorsGladys Lippincott, RetailMaxine Stewart, FreerJohnny Alvarado, RicardoDonald W. Herrmann, RobstownGregg Truesdale, RobstownRumaldo Z. Juarez, Corpus Christi

Chief Executive OfficerJohn L. Sims

Chief Financial OfficerRobbie Sorrell

Chief Operating OfficerVarzavand Irani

Chief Compliance OfficerSarah Fisher

Manager, Retail DivisionFrank Wilson

Line SuperintendentManuel Mayorga

Manager, Safety, Environmental& Job Training ServicesCassy Hill

Director of Information TechnologySergey Seryogin

Nueces Electric Cooperative Leadership

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To say goodbye to seasoned employees is always a tough pill to swal-low, especially when they have a combined work experience of 76 years of service to members. 76 years that includes sleepless nights spent on a power pole to get the lights back on, miles and miles of line built and maintained, and 76 years of dispatching and working to ensure members are getting the most and the best out of NEC.

To say Adolf Aleman and Demetrie “Dee” Molina will be missed is an understatement.

Adolf Aleman was hired January 21, 1972 as a serviceman for the linecrew. Adolf worked his way up to be the Construc-tion Line Foreman and ended his career as a quality control technician. Adolf was responsible for reviewing the quality of newly built and serviced power lines to ensure they met industry and co-op stan-dards.

When asked what the biggest change had been in 43 years, Adolf said, “The bucket trucks. When those bucket trucks came to the co-op it changed everything.” He added, “after climbing poles day after day, the bucket truck was a blessing.”

Thank you Adolf for your 43 years of ser-vice! We hope the fishing is good and pray your boat always has gas.

Dee Molina’ began her career on August 10, 2981 as a night dispatcher. She later moved to a day dispatcher where she took the radio home with her at night and took weekend dispatch shift. She then moved to the front desk and served as the cashier before moving to her final posi-tion as a Member Care Representative.

Dee mentioned the upswing in technol-ogy in the 90’s as the biggest change. She said, “Since then we have gone through several new systems. Technology changes so fast and machines go obsolete.”

Thank you Dee for your 33 years of ser-vice to the Co-op and the members of the Co-op. Safe travels and drop us a post card now and then.

Arbor Day FREE

Tree Give Away

Friday, April 24, 2015 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Pick up a tree at the Calallen, Ricardo or Ben Bolt office.

1,500 trees will be

given away to NEC members!*

*Must bring your most recent bill to prove membership

3rd AnnualTwo Class Acts Retire

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IT COSTS MORE ThAN $2,200 A yEAR in energy bills to run the average American home, and more than half of that is for heating and cooling.

The experts at personal finance resource WalletHub have this advice for lowering those bills:

1. Get an energy audit. You’ll have an easier time sealing energy leaks if you know where they are, and an auditor can show you.

2. Replace all of your incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs—even if they’re not burned out yet. They’re wasting more money in energy costs than you’ll waste by replacing them before they’re spent.

3. Use caulk to seal cracks and gaps around windows.4. Add attic insulation and make sure it’s properly attached.5. Learn about the energy use of your appliances. The more you understand about

energy, the less of it you’ll waste.6. If you’re planning to move into a newly built home, choose an architect or builder

who is committed to “green building” and energy efficiency. Many green building strategies don’t cost any more when they’re incorporated during construction—like making energy-efficient choices for the direction the house faces and where the win-dows are placed.

7. Replace outdated furnaces and air-conditioning systems with updated models that are designed to work more efficiently, waste less energy and save you money.

8. When you replace appliances, look at more than the price tag. Consider how much it will cost you each year to operate the equipment. Often, the savings on your energy bill will more than make up for the slightly higher price you pay for more efficient models.

9. If you’re remodeling your home, make energy efficiency as high a priority as more visible upgrades like granite countertops or new cabinets. You can’t “see” energy effi-ciency, so it’s too often out of sight, out of mind.

10. Installing high-performance windows will improve your home’s energy perfor-mance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of functionality, added comfort and improved aesthetics can easily offset the cost.

10 Ways To Cut Energy Bills

Use the energy-saving features on your appliances so they operate at maximum efficiency—using less electricity and saving you more money.

Did You Know?a l e ksa n d r- m a n s u r ov- ru | i sto c k | t h i n ksto c k

A 10-watt compact fluorescent lamp turned on for 100 hours would consume 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity.

A 100-watt incandescent lightbulb would consume the same amount of electricity in just 10 hours.

—national Geographic

© i sto c k p h oto.co m | B lu e _ c u t l e r

Power TipSeal air leaks with weatherstripping

and caulking, and be sure your house

is properly insulated. This could save

you up to 20 percent on heating and

cooling bills while increasing home

comfort.

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How to clean up a broken compact fluorescent lightbulb

1. Close off the room and ventilate it if pos-sible, then wait five to 10 minutes.

2. Scoop up powder and glass fragments using stiff paper or cardboard. Place everything in a sealable plastic bag or jar.

3. Use duct tape to pick up remaining fragments or powder. Put used tape in bag or jar.

4. Seal bag or jar and immediately place in an outdoor trash container. Remember to wash your hands.

DESPITE ThEIR GROWING POPULARITy and presence in the market, compact fluo-rescent lamps are still a bit of a mystery for many. They look and work differently from traditional bulbs, contain different elements and require different steps for disposal. This makes it especially daunting when a CFL breaks—but the steps included here can help you deal with the situation safely.

Why is it important to properly clean up a broken CFL?CFLs and other fluorescent lightbulbs contain a small amount of mercury (less than 1 percent of the amount in a mercury thermometer) sealed within a coil of glass tubing. When a fluorescent bulb breaks, some of this mercury is released as harmful mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, the Environ-mental Protection Agency recommends that residents follow specific steps for cleanup and disposal.

Why use CFLs if they contain mercury?Small amounts of mercury can be released into the environment when CFLs break, or if they are improperly disposed of at the end of their useful lives. Despite these emissions, the use of CFLs actually helps reduce total mercury emissions in the U.S. because of their significant energy savings: Using energy-saving CFLs reduces demand for electricity, which in turn reduces the amount of coal burned by power plants, thus reducing emissions of mercury when coal is burned.

Cleanup tipsAfter a CFL is broken, have other people and pets leave the room. Air out the room for five to 10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoors. Shut off the central forced-air system, if you have one. Collect materials needed to clean up the broken bulb: stiff paper or cardboard; sticky tape; damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); and a sealable plastic bag or a glass jar with tight-fitting lid.

Do not vacuum first. Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. Vacuuming first could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor.

Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder. Scoop up glass frag-ments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape along with all cleanup materials in the sealable plastic bag or glass jar.

Place the sealed container holding all bulb debris and cleanup materials—as well as the vacuum cleaner bag, if you vacuumed afterward—outdoors in a trash container. Wash your hands thoroughly after clean up.

What if I can’t follow all the recommended steps? Or what if I cleaned up a CFL, but didn’t do it properly?Don’t be alarmed. These steps are only precautions that reflect the best practices for cleaning up a broken CFL. Keep in mind that CFLs contain an extremely small amount of mercury.

However, if you are concerned about your health after cleaning up a broken CFL, consult a local poison control center by calling 1-800-222-1222. This num-ber reaches every poison control center in the United States. You can call your local center at this number any time you have questions or an emergency.

—environmental protection agency

Cleaning Up a Broken CFL

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HOPE is in the Air

Imagine you and your family are traveling down the highway. You are off to San Antonio for a family get away to the River Walk, headed to Houston to check out an Astros game or shop in the Galleria, going to the Rio Grande Valley or Corpus Christi for some beach time. Suddenly you are in a ditch, upside down, confused and screaming out to your family to see if everyone is OK. You don’t know what happened; all you know is you are seriously injured. You are in the middle of South Texas and no where close to a hospital.

This is where HALO Flight comes in to save the day and exactly why they are south Texas heroes.

HALO-Flight is a non-profit air ambulance service serving south Texas. Its mission is to provide emergency medical transport for critically ill or injured persons requiring medi-cal or trauma facilities within our south Texas service area. Emergency assistance is provided to all persons regardless of their ability to pay.

In 1987, HALO-Flight Inc. began their air ambulance service to provide the fastest and safest emergency air transportation and medical care for residents and visitors of south Texas. A small group of concerned citizens, physicians and civic groups aided in establishing this much-needed medical service in Falfurrias, Texas. The base of operations was moved to Cor-pus Christi in 1989, providing a more central location that better served the community.

HALO-Flight provides helicopter transportation for Driscoll Children’s Hospital pediatric and neonatal specialty teams transports. HALO-Flight also supports other local specialty teams with safe air transportation. Since its beginning HALO-Flight has transported thousands of critically ill and injured patients.

Some interesting facts about HALO-Flight:• Your tax-deductible donation ensures 24/7, 365 days per year availability.• All transports are staffed by the most highly trained pilots and medical staff, with the latest technology available to serve you.• Almost 50% of our missions are responding to emergency scenes (i.e. car accidents, rattlesnake bites, strokes, heart attacks, etc.).• We provide the peace of mind knowing help is in the air at your most tragic moment.• At least 1 in every 4 flights transfers a child to a higher level of care.

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Why is Halo Flight Important to NEC? In the mid-90’s HALO Flight lost some vital federal funding. We put out a call to the community for help. Nueces Electric Cooperative members answered the call and began the Opera-tion Round-up fund, where NEC members round-up their bill to the nearest dollar.

To this day, HALO Flight remains the top beneficiary of Opera-tion Round-up funds with a donation of $24,000 a year.

HALO-Flight has continued to see an increase in demand year after year in the amount of requests we receive. So much so, HALO Flight determined the need for a fourth addition to our fleet. In 2014, the new Bell 429 helicopter arrived, which brought some additional capabilities, most importantly being the ability to fly through the clouds using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) instead of only Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

HALO-Flight was able to invest in the community through the purchase of the 429 because of the overflow of community support, including Nueces Charities’ Operation Round-Up. We appreciate your continued support through the past two decades because it has allowed us to get where we are today and helps us continue to grow!

Guardian Program: A Special Benefit for NEC MembersHALO-Flight offers a Guardian Subscription Plan to residents of south Texas. On a voluntary basis, and at significantly reduced pricing, NEC members can enroll for this valuable service at a reduced rate of $1.00 per month, which will appear on your NEC electric bill.

What’s included in the plan? Covered members are charged NO out of pocket expenses for HALO-Flight transport deemed medically necessary, have coverage anywhere in our 26-county service area or one of our reciprocal partner’s San Antonio AirLIFE or Dallas CareFlite, and coverage for all family mem-bers who live in the same household and are listed on the application (including dependent children, custodial, and non-custodial children). For more information or to enroll, please contact HALO-Flight at 361.265.0509.

For more information about HALO-Flight, visit our website today at www.haloflight.org!

nec is partnered with halo-Flight to bring halo-Flight services to nec members, on a voluntary basis, at signifi-cantly reduced prices.

nueces electric cooperative offers you the opportunity to enroll in this valuable service at the reduced rate of $1.00 per month, which will appear on your nec electric bill.

Why Enroll? an average emergency helicopter transport exceeds $15,000. as a Guardian member, if you or your family require our ser-vice, your insurance (if any) would be billed and halo-Flight would accept that as payment in full. if you are a member of the plan and do not have insurance, you won’t receive a bill. it’s that simple!

For More Information or to Enroll today, contact HALO-Flight at 361.265.0509 or apply online at

www.haloflight.org

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LITE-UP TEXAS is back. The Low Income Electric Discount Program will run May 2015 through August 2015. For additional informa-tion and program requirements you can call 1-866-454-8387 or go to the Public Utility Commission of Texas website at http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/low income/Assis-tance.aspx.

Ha regresado LITE-UP Texas. El Programa de Descuento en la Electricidad para Personas de Bajos Ingresos estará en vigor de mayo 2015 a agostó 2015. Para mayor información y los requisitos del programa usted puede llamar al 1-866-454-8387 o visitar el sitio web de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas en: http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/low-income/Assistance.aspx.

Number in Household

Annual Income (125%)

1 $14,588 2 $19,663 3 $24,738 4 $29,813 5 $34,888 6 $39,963 7 $45,038 8 $50,113

Each additional add $5,075

Lite-Up Texas is BackA low income electric discount program

For More Information Call 1-866-454-8387

New Service Center HoursRicardo

8 a.m.-4 p.m.Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Orange Grove 9 a.m. -4 p.m.

Tuesday & ThursdayWhile the hours are changing, we will still be accessible. Mem-

bers will still be able to drop off payments at both locations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, all members have access to our online enrollment and payment options, as well as direct care by calling 1-800-NEC-WATT (800-632-9288) or visiting www.nueceselectric.org.

These hours only affect payment operations. Line crew opera-tions will remain full-time at each location. Member Care and keeping cost down is our top priority as we continue to provide excellent service to members throughout our electric distribution territory.

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BEgins sUndAy, mArCh 8. rEmEmBEr To

sPring ForWArd!

hAPPysT. PATriCk’s

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

If Your Account Number is:

Play & Win!

2 7 2 1 9 0 0 2

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.orgThe easiest way to pay! Access 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