Electric Vehicles

R. Gary Harrison

DISTRICT 1

Thomas Ellis

Tom James James Sikes

DISTRICT 2

Helena Duncan

Kim Jackson, Vice Chairman

John Livings

DISTRICT 3

Andrew Callaway, Chairman

Jimmy Ellis, Secretary/Treasurer

Albert Perry

If you drive around EastChase Shopping Center in Montgomery very often, you have probably seen an abundance of electric vehicles. If you aren’t familiar with which models are electric just look for a tailpipe. If there is no tailpipe, it is an electric vehicle.

I recently read a report that said 7.2 percent of all vehicles currently sold are electric vehicles, and that number is steadily climbing. One major reason for the increase in electric vehicle ownership is the fact that prices have fallen to make them more affordable and competitive with traditional gasoline fueled vehicles. The market also offers a much wider variety of electric vehicles than in previous years to give buyers more options. In anticipation of this influx of electric vehicles, our board of trustees passed an electric vehicle rate and a traditional time-of-use rate in late 2021 to help promote energy use during certain times of the day that we refer to as off-peak.

You may be asking yourself why it is important to the cooperative what time of day energy is used. Well, electric utilities like Dixie must make sure we have enough generation capacity to supply the electric load being demanded on our system on any given day. That means we must be able to anticipate how much energy is necessary on the coldest day of winter and the hottest day of summer. For example, at Dixie, our peak in the spring and fall may approach only 70,000 kilowatts while the peak on that hot afternoon in August may reach 140,000 kilowatts.

Now, imagine If we applied the national average of 7.2 percent mentioned earlier to our 26,000 active electric service locations. This would result in 1,872 electric vehicles being added to our electric system. If you start adding an abundance of electric vehicles coming home at 5 p.m. and plugging in to charge, that extra 10 to 15 kilowatts of electric load from every vehicle (18,000 to 28,000 kilowatts total) could have a significant impact on our peak demand.

This would ultimately require substation and distribution upgrades on our electric system, along with the construction of additional generation facilities for our power supplier. However, if our members are encouraged to delay the charge of these vehicles until after 9 p.m., it will no longer impact our peak and no new distribution facilities and generation sources would be needed. So far, we have 61 members currently on this rate which offers a financial incentive for off-peak charging in the form of a reduced cost per kilowatt-hour. We also offer a rebate for those members who register their electric vehicles with us. This rebate is intended to help us locate vehicles on our system so we can better understand the usage patterns to plan for our system’s future electric needs.

We haven’t forgotten about our members who do not own an electric vehicle. We have a time-of-use rate that also incentivizes the off-peak use of electricity. The rate charges more for on-peak kilowatt hour use, but much less for any kilowatt hours used during off-peak periods. While some families may find it difficult to adjust their kilowatt-hour use during peak hours due to air conditioning load in the hottest portion of the day, there are some who are willing to be very strategic in their consumption to see a cost savings. For me personally, I know that my family would not benefit from the timeof-use rate because they love the cold air conditioning too much to make that sacrifice. But, with so much technology available today, it is possible to program thermostats and other devices in a manner that fits the rate structure.

For those of you who are already taking advantage of our electric vehicle or time-of-use rates, thank you for your efforts to reduce our electric demand during on-peak times. This will greatly benefit us in the future. If you have an electric vehicle, or are considering the purchase of one, be sure to visit our website for valuable information about various makes and models as well as details about our rebate and rate program. You can also contact a member services representative for more details by calling 1-888-349-4332 or emailing rebates@ dixie.coop

Most importantly, we want our members to understand that we are focused on our mission of safely providing reliable, economical electric service. At Dixie, we are always looking out for you! 

Gary Harrison is President/CEO of Dixie Electric Cooperative, a member-owned electric utility serving more than 25,000 businesses and homes in portions of eight Alabama counties.

Annual members meeting of Dixie Electric Cooperative

The members of Dixie Electric Cooperative are hereby notified under the provisions of Section 3.01 of Article III of the bylaws of Dixie Electric Cooperative that an annual meeting of the members will take place on Thurs., September 21, 2023 at the cooperative’s Arrowhead office located at 9100 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Ala. Registration and voting, for those who do not vote by mail, will be open from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. The meeting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. with the results of the trustee election being announced during the meeting. Reports will also be presented by cooperative management and trustees during the meeting. Members with disabilities or special needs who will attend the annual meeting should contact the cooperative at (334) 288-1163 prior to the annual meeting. Although the annual meeting is intended to be held in person, the cooperative hereby reserves the right to hold the annual meeting solely by mail balloting, virtually or other permissible means without any members physically present other than trustees and officers present, if necessary in order to comply with applicable public health guidance at the time of the decision including after taking into consideration any applicable health measures and their respective costs, such as social distancing, mask requirements, prohibitions on size of gatherings, or otherwise or if the board of trustees otherwise determines, in its sole discretion, that permitting in person presence of members in a large gathering is not in the best interests of the health, safety, or welfare of the cooperative’s employees or members, in which case matters will be approved solely by mail balloting. If the cooperative determines to hold the meeting through means other than an in person meeting at which the members may be present, the cooperative shall notify the membership of such decision and details of the change by posting to the cooperative’s website or through email or other method of notice as determined by the cooperative. Please make sure to submit your ballots.

What You Need To Know

At the end of July 2023, we will be mailing packets to our member-owners that include information regarding the election of trustees, a ballot, and a business reply envelope. Samples of the packet contents are shown on the opposite page, and details regarding the enclosed components can be found to the right.

“We encourage everyone to take the time to review the packet when it is received,” says Andrew Callaway, chairman of the cooperative’s board of trustees. “And, most importantly, take the time to complete your ballot and return it in the postage paid envelope provided. In order for your vote to count, a minimum of approximately 635 votes must be received to constitute a quorum. This number can easily be achieved if you, our member-owners, are willing to take action and submit your vote.” Ballots must be received at the office of the independent auditor by close of business on Aug. 31, 2023 in order to be counted. As an incentive to encourage your participation, and a token of our appreciation for your time and effort, each member-owner who votes will receive a $5 credit on his or her October electric bill.

Last year, approximately 26 percent of our member-owners participated in the vote to approve our bylaw revision and to elect trustees. We hope to see even more participate this year in the trustee election vote.

Participation in the democratic process — one more way your cooperative is looking out for you.

How It Works

1. The carrier envelope will be delivered to your mailbox. It contains all of the components shown on the opposite page.

2. This brochure contains information regarding the trustee election process. It also contains biographical information regarding the three individuals running for election shown on Page 8.

3. The ballot is printed on both the front and back. The front contains your name and account number, as well as the name and mailing address for the independent auditor conducting the voting process on behalf of the cooperative. The back contains an area for you to vote for one trustee from each board district.

4. After marking your vote on the ballot, please separate it at the perforation and place your completed ballot in the enclosed business reply envelope. No postage is necessary.

Please note that the ballot CANNOT be accepted in the cooperative’s office, and ballots should NOT be mailed in with your monthly bill. Ballots MUST be returned to the independent auditor listed on the envelope and ballot. Do NOT include payments in this envelope.

Thomas Ellis, and his family, have owned and operated Priester’s Pecans for many generations. He grew up in the business, working as a laborer in the pecan shelling plant, working and supervising on the production side, overseeing customer service, handling computer management, and eventually managing the corporate responsibilities as president of the company. He also owns and operates Triple E Farm, which raises both cattle and poultry. Ellis is very active in agricultural and economic development organizations in the community and throughout the state. He is also actively involved in his church serving in leadership capacities and participating in various mission trips. He has completed the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director program, Board Leadership certification, and Director Gold certification.

Kim Jackson has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and spent his entire professional career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, from which he retired in 2010. As a financial services assurance partner, he specialized in the audit of public company banks, and worked with other industries such as construction and real estate development. He played a leading role in the development of the Firm’s internal audit services practice, and assisted numerous companies in their implementation of the SarbanesOxley internal control requirements. Following retirement, Jackson served as business manager at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School until 2019. He has served on Dixie’s board since 2015, and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board. He has completed the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director program, Board Leadership certification, and Director Gold certification.

Jimmy Ellis served as an active member of the United States Navy for three years, and continued his military service in reserve status for an additional 19 years as a training instructor. He later earned his State of Alabama Trade Teacher Certification and worked as a career tech instructor for the Alabama Department of Youth Services, eventually retiring with 28 years of service. While working as a career tech instructor, he also began serving as fire chief with the Town of Shorter Alabama Volunteer Fire Department, a position from which he recently retired. He has served on Dixie’s board since 2015, and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board. He has completed the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director program, Board Leadership certification, and Director Gold certification.

Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month. Make sure your photo is clear, in focus and not in shadow.

Alabama Living contributors win national awards

Two contributors to Alabama Living were recognized for their outstanding work during the Cooperative Communicators Association’s (CCA) annual awards ceremony in June.

Dennis Auth won a first place award in illustrations for his artwork, “Alabama A to Z,” for the cover of the January 2023 issue. Auth is best known to readers for his illustrations for “Hardy Jackson’s Alabama.”

Writer Emmett Burnett took two awards, a second place in technical writing for “James Webb telescope: the Alabama connection” which appeared in the April 2022 magazine; and a third place for his personality feature, “Eyes on the sky,” on weatherman James Spann in September 2022.

CCA, an organization of 300 professionals who communicate for cooperatives, is the only communications organization dedicated to serving those associated with member-owned businesses.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program continues to grow

Learning outdoors skills – such as rock climbing, camp cooking, shooting sports (including gun safety), fishing, hunting, canoeing, archery and many more – can seem intimidating, especially for women who didn’t grow up exposed to such activities.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, or BOW, is a three-day workshop designed to acquaint women 18 and older with the outdoors in a fun, non-threatening environment.

This year’s event will be Oct. 6-8, but registration opens on Aug. 1 for first-time participants and Aug. 7 for returning participants. Slots always fill fairly quickly.

For more information, including cost and registration, visit outdooralabama.com and click on “activities,” then scroll down to Becoming an Outdoors-Woman or call 800-245-2740.

Support Alabama eateries during Restaurant Week

Alabama Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-27, is a way for locals and visitors to show their appreciation for the state’s restaurants and their staffs. This culinary event unites Alabama’s diverse range of cuisine during the two-week celebration.

The week is marketed by the Alabama Tourism Department, which also produces the popular “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama” listings. The department encourages patrons to dine out and support their local restaurants and offers some other ideas to show their support: buying gift cards, purchasing merchandise, asking small, family-owned places how they can help, and leaving good reviews online and on social media.

Learn more at alabama.travel.