Electricity Remains a Good Value

The cost to power your life – lighting, cooling, heating, refrigeration, cooking, working, communicating, cleaning, washing, entertainment – has risen much more slowly than other necessities.

Over the past 20 years average rent rose 95%, gas rose 125% and eggs rose 189%. A BEMC member using 1,000 kWh per month saw their bill rise 38%, including the Base Facilities Charge.

TEACHERS! Bright Ideas Education Grants Early Bird Deadline is Aug. 15

And electricity from your co-op is extremely reliable. Our maintenance and inspection processes go above industry standards, we build to a higher wind standard than is required, and we use the latest technology to prevent outages and fix them fast when they do occur. More than half of our lines are underground, another investment that pays off in increased reliability and reduced outage expenses.

As you’re getting ready for a new academic year, do you have an idea for a project that will enhance your students’ learning experience, but isn’t in the budget? Don’t forget that you can apply for a grant up to $2,000 for an innovative classroom project that needs funding. Visit bemc.org/ bright-ideas-grants to apply. The deadline is Sept. 15, and applications received by Aug. 15 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card. Last year, Brunswick Electric distributed $34,160 to local teachers, and this year, you could be among the recipients.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Robert Cartrette

Robert started his career in the lineman program in April 2013, and had progressed to a first class lineman when he transferred to facilities two years ago. He is now Supervisor of Facilities. Fun Fact: Robert collects Case knives, his favorite is a 1940-64 Copperhead, and second favorites are his Case Trappers.

è Why the switch from First Class Lineman to Facilities? Well, it felt like it was time to do something different, maybe something a little slower paced. As it turns out, there is nothing slower paced about it! It’s very detail-oriented, and things need to move quickly on various fronts at the same time. I enjoy it. Whether on a line crew or in Facilities, I believe in being a hard worker. As a member myself, I consider myself a dual agent. I work for this company, but am also served by this company. Therefore, as a member, if I expect a certain level of service, I better give that level of service when I’m on the job every day.

è What does time off look like?

My wife and I share a passion for hunting and fishing. My cousins do too, and we lease land together, forming our own kind of hunting club. When we were growing up our families always got together, especially every Sunday at Grandma and Grandaddy’s house. We’d have dinner, play in the yard and have a great time. As we got older and all got so busy, we decided we had to make time for our families to do things as a group, to keep that tradition going. We’re all close, it’s very important to us. Once or twice a year the cousins and nephews go on a guy’s fishing trip. That’s always good for some stories! è So, family is a priority – how many children do you have? We have two girls who are 26 and 30 years old, and a boy who is three. We also have a granddaughter who is two, which means our son is an uncle at a very young age! People ask if I parent differently now, and it’s still about teaching responsibility and respect. I may be a bit more mellow now. He is so easy to raise, with a great appetite and sleeping habits, and he loves to play outside. He’s ready to go outside any time I’m ready. We’re having a blast raising him, enjoying every minute. Every afternoon when I come home he runs to the door, excited to see Daddy, and wants me to pick him up and hold him, and then spend time with him. Same thing with my granddaughter, and they play great together.