Manager’s Comments
Looking back, moving forward Daryl Jones, Manager of Black Warrior EMC
OFFICE LOCATIONS Demopolis Office
1410 Hwy. 43 South Demopolis, AL 36732 P.O. Box 779 Demopolis, AL 36748 1-800-242-2580 Butler Office
403 East Smith Street. Butler, AL 36904 Eutaw Office
Finches Ferry Road Eutaw, AL 35462 Greensboro Office
647 Centerville St. S Greensboro, AL 36744 Linden Office
Main Street Linden, AL 36748
Office Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
4 DECEMBER 2016
Well here it is, December, the last month of the year and we are wondering where 2016 went. Some of us look even farther back and wonder where all those other years went, too. This is the time of the year I enjoy the most. Most everyone has settled in to spend time with family and friends for the holidays. A new year typically begins with high expectations to accomplish new goals and projects. Often, plans change quickly as other situations and issues arise that have to be addressed. 2016 was much like this. Black Warrior EMC had a great year for our members. Rates were the lowest in many years, thanks to a very low wholesale fuel adder. There was no extreme cold in January and February or any excessive heat during the summer months to cause abnormal usage by our members. The spring months of March, April and May were so mild that sales of kilowatt hours were the lowest in ten years for that period. I guess the only weather downside would be the record temperatures during October and November. I can’t say I have ever witnessed a continuation of summer that long. The fall months actually had considerable additional usage than previous years. Again this year, the Lord spared our system from devastating hurricanes, ice storms and tornadoes. So many have forgotten the expense and hardship caused by the likes of Frederick, Dennis, Ivan, Katrina and the Blizzard of 1993. Our employees on several occasions throughout the year volunteered to leave their families to help other cooperatives restore power to their members following just such events. Looking ahead to 2017, we have completed our work plans, budgets and proposed program and projects schedules. As I said before, something will certainly come up that will have to be addressed that will delay our efforts just like last year and the year before. I am looking forward to the Automated Outage Reporting System going on line next year. It is presently being tested in-house as our
employees are being trained. Our staff is excited about our new website and the options for future additions in 2017. This one project has enabled Black Warrior EMC to keep our members better informed. In this day, many rumors and misleading information are circulated by various groups in the promotion of their individual efforts to create confusion. This website will allow us to keep our membership informed about the facts of any such issues going forward. We will soon be posting information of a Capital Credit Retirement Program. Our board and management have been working for over three years to develop and have this program approved that will allow any excess margins to be returned while maintaining one of the lowest rates of our area, state and nation. Despite what you may have heard, this is not a refund for overcharging or a “surplus” that was accumulated. It actually involves capitalized assets accumulated since 1930 such as transformers, wires, plant and the value of all the items used to distribute electricity to you, the members. Enough about that; more details will be furnished from Black Warrior EMC about this process once it has been finalized. As always, we will strive to provide accurate communications with our membership. In closing another year of “Manager’s Comments,” I would personally like to thank my entire staff of very dedicated employees. The Black Warrior “Family” consists of our Board of Directors, the 63 employees, our loyal right-of-way and line contractors (Southern Clearing, J.P. Utsey Contractors and Harper Electric), project attorneys, professional engineering consultants (Stewart Engineering) and our group of CPAs from Jackson Thornton Utilities who prepare our annual audit, tax returns and provide financial advice throughout the year. I know everyone I mentioned on a very close basis as does everyone here at your cooperative. From all of us, have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays as you spend time with your family and friends. n www.alabamaliving.coop