2016 September GCEC Florida Currents

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

S E P T E M B E R 2016

A Sweet Family Legacy Ben Lanier of Wewahitchka has worked the family beehives his entire life, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Read more about Ben and his special tupelo honey on page 10.

PHOTO BY PAM BLAIR

Warning, Pokémon Go Players PAGE 5 Open Usage Available Online PAGE 6 n

Gulf Coast

Winning starts here.

Members acknowledge that $3.96, plus actual postage, is the cost to publish 12 issues a year of Florida Currents (USPS8300). Published by Ruralite Services Inc., 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—the magazine serves the communications needs of consumer-owned electric utilities in Florida. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, OR 97123 and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Please send address corrections to 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124.

HOW TO CONTACT FLORIDA CURRENTS

Have a problem receiving your edition of Florida Currents? Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover.

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Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $12 (U.S.) per year; $25 (foreign) per year. Prepayment required. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive. Order online at www.floridacurrents.com.

Extra copies: $2 each, prepayment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Contact Ruralite Services.

Football rivalries, baseball playoffs, a tennis match ... whatever the activity, our members rely on dependable energy from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative.

We value your membership. We value you.

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www.gcec.com (800) 568-3667

Inside

September 2016 Vol. 5, No. 11

Solving Real-World Problems 12

STEM programs aim to engage students through hands-on learning designed to equip them with critical-thinking skills.

Also In This Issue Side Roads 10 In the Kitchen 16 Travel Journal 20

Great Picture Hunt 21 Festival Roundup 22 Parting Shot 30

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

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Gulf Coast

Help Reduce Demand for Electricity H2O Plus, a program available to you from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, has the potential to dramatically reduce the demand for electricity. But we need your participation.

Using energy wisely has never been easier. A device that allows our power supplier to cycle your unit for short periods is installed on your electric water heater.

By managing energy use when demand is high—when you and your neighbors use the most electricity—our supplier can reduce demand when electricity is most expensive, putting off the need to build facilities to generate more power, alleviating or postponing those costs.

An added benefit is the reduction of greenhouse gases, which helps our environment. You still will have enough hot water for showers and household chores. In fact, you shouldn’t even notice a difference in the amount of hot water available.

For more information, please call GCEC Energy Services Representative Manuela Heyn. She will take your information and, after ensuring the program is a good fit for your household, schedule someone to come to your home and install the device at no cost to you. For your participation, GCEC will make a one-time $25 credit to your electric bill. We look forward to hearing from you soon. n

Three Locations to Serve You XX

Southport 9434 Highway 77 (850) 265-3631; (800) 568-3667

XX

Wewahitchka 722 W. Highway 22 (850) 639-2216; (800) 333-9392

XX

Panama City 6243 E. Highway 98 (850) 481-1188

Accounting Employee Earns His CPA License

Hassan Abdelhalim

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Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is proud to announce Hassan Abdelhalim, a member of the accounting department, recently received his certified public accountant license.

Hassan earned a degree in accounting and finance from Florida State University.

To sit for the CPA exam, he had to complete an additional 30 semester hours of education in excess of the baccalaureate degree. He also had to have one year of work experience verified by a licensed CPA. In this case, that was provided

by GCEC Chief Financial Officer John Bartley.

The CPA exam is 14 hours and consists of four sections: XX Auditing and attestation. Knowledge of and the skills needed to apply that knowledge to auditing procedures, generally accepted auditing standards and other standards related to attest engagements.

XX Financial accounting and reporting.

Knowledge of and the skills needed to

apply that knowledge to generally accepted accounting principles for business enterprises, not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities.

XX Regulation. Knowledge of and the skills needed to apply that knowledge to federal taxation, ethics, professional and legal responsibilities and business law.

XX Business environment and concepts.

Knowledge of general business environment and business concepts candidates need to understand underlying business reasons for and accounting implications of business transactions, and the skills needed to apply that knowledge.

To maintain his license, Hassan must complete continuing education requirements.

“We are proud of Hassan for obtaining his CPA licnese,” said GCEC CEO/General Manager Michael White. “This makes him even more of an asset to our staff.” n

GCEC Tree-Trimming Program Ensures Safety, Reliability

Warning, Pokémon Go Players Don’t lose sight of electrical safety in your pursuit of the smartphone-based characters Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative reminds players of Pokémon Go to stay away from electric substations, power plants and other electric equipment when trying to catch characters.

The popular app uses a player’s smartphone camera and GPS technology to guide him or her to real locations to “collect” Pokémon, or “pocket monsters.”

Players point their camera and virtual characters appear against the real-world backdrop. To capture the characters, players toss a virtual ball.

The game draws crowds to parks, boardwalks and promenades in search of rare Pokémon. Pokémon characters turn up everywhere: from grocery stores to hospitals.

They also appear at electric substations,

drawing players into dangerous situations.

Players have found themselves targets of assailants or witnesses to crimes.

“Electric utilities cannot control where the Pokémon appear,” says Kristin Evans, vice president of marketing and communications for GCEC. “Players should make sure they catch their Pokémon from a safe distance.

“Any game or activity that distracts people from the possible dangers around them and potentially brings them in proximity to our electric equipment and lines is a major concern for all us.”

Remember these important electrical safety tips as you try to #CatchEmAll: • Never touch electric equipment, including transformers and power lines.

• Never touch a downed power line.

Assume all lines are energized and dangerous.

• Never climb utility poles.

• Never enter an electric substation. n

Do you live in the Crystal Lake or Fountain areas?

During September, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative crews will clear trees and plants from rights-of-way that threaten access to safe, reliable power.

GCEC has about 2,600 miles of distribution line. If vegetation comes into contact with power lines, it can interfere with your electric service and cause a dangerous situation.

Vegetation must be cleared from power lines to provide reliable electric service and prevent a hazardous condition.

When a person signs up to be a member of the cooperative, there is an agreement between the member and GCEC to allow right-of-way maintenance.

The agreement gives GCEC the legal right to remove from the right-of-way anything that could interfere with safe, reliable electric service for all members.

The co-op realizes most people regard trees as an asset, but if the cooperative’s right-ofway clearance is not maintained, tree limbs and other growth coming into contact with power lines could increase the number of power outages.

GCEC tries to work with landowners to preserve landscaping when maintaining rights-of-way. However, federal law requires GCEC to eliminate hazardous conditions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you quality, reliable service. n S E P T E M B E R 2 0 16

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Gulf Coast

Open Usage Available Online Track and manage your energy use with this tool Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative offers a tool to assist members in tracking their energy use. Open Usage is available at www.gcec.com.

To access the program, log on to our website and click the “Account Access” link on the left side of the homepage. From there, you will be prompted to enter your email address and password.

If you are not registered to view your account(s) and pay your bills online, you must click the “Register Now” link to access Open Usage. Once signed in, select “Open Usage” from the menu on the left side of the screen. If you have multiple accounts, you can select the account you wish to view from the dropdown menu at the top of the screen.

Enter a date range for the data you wish to view, or select a timeframe of the last two weeks, a month, three months or yearto-date. Once you make your selection, a chart will appear that shows both the high and low temperatures and your energy use in relation to the weather. If you hold your mouse over each bar on the chart, your daily energy use will appear. Weekdays are depicted by blue bars. Weekends are shown in gray.

You also can view this information in a list format at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down to see your average consumption, total consumption, lowest use and highest use during the selected timeframe, as well as the highest and lowest outdoor temperatures. Data can be saved as a PDF or exported to a spreadsheet for your records.

“Open Usage is a great tool available to GCEC members,” said GCEC Vice President of Member Services Justin Barnes. “By combining crucial weather and meter data, members can better track and manage their usage.” n 6

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1234567- Electric- 1111 Main St (Residence)

1234567

1234567- Electric- 1111 Main St (Residence)

Electric

1111 Main St (Residence)

Current

$162.92

1234567- Electric- 1111 Main St (Residence)

1234567

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Gulf Coast

A Change That Pays Over Time Rebate program rewards members for heat pump upgrades

A heat pump provides heating and cooling in a single, efficient unit.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 16

What is the SEER rating of your home’s heating and cooling unit? If you are like most homeowners, you have no idea what that means. However, knowing what SEER is—Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio— and how to improve it can lead to lower energy bills.

SEER is a measurement of the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling unit. As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling, so making smart decisions about your home’s system can make a big difference on your utility bills.

Replacing your existing unit with a high-efficiency air-source, dual-fuel or geothermal heat pump with a SEER rating of 15 or higher is an excellent way to lower costs.

Many homes have 10 SEER air-conditioning systems because that was the standard set by the federal government in 1987, and most units last 15 to 20 years. The standard was raised to 13 SEER in 2006.

Anyone replacing an older system with a 13 SEER unit will see energy savings of about 30 percent.

But you have other options. Systems rated 16 SEER or more are becoming common. For each higher SEER, you save an extra 5 percent to 10 percent on cooling costs, as long as everything is installed correctly.

While an investment may be required in the short term to upgrade to a high-efficiency unit, reducing your energy consumption will result in lower energy bills and pay dividends over the long term.

Put simply: Savings on energy costs from an older unit replaced with an energy-efficient, modern one with a higher SEER add up over time.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s Heat Pump Rebate Program offers members up to $600 a ton to upgrade their heat pumps to a more energy-efficient model. The program is our way of rewarding your efforts to be more energy efficient.

Why not upgrade today and start enjoying savings? For more information, call us at (850) 2653631 or visit www.gcec.com. n

Gulf Coast

Trading Post For Rent Horse barn with five stalls, paddock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall, with discount for multiple horses. (740) 334-0341.

Three-bedroom, 2½-bath, 1,650-sq.-ft. home in Lynn Haven. Fireplace, two-car garage, privacyfenced backyard, private tree-shaded patio.

Recently painted and on a low-traffic street. $1,265 a month. (850) 271-0289.

Three-bedroom, two-bath home in Lynn Haven.

Living room has cathedral ceiling and fireplace.

Separate dining room and eat-in kitchen. Twocar garage and privacy-fenced backyard. More than 2,000 sq. ft. on dead-end street. $1,550 a month. (850) 271-0289.

For Sale Wood chipper with less than five hours. Needs minor repairs. Cost $2,300 new in 2013; asking $1,000. (850) 855-7690.

2008 L3240A Kubota tractor with root rake, front end loader 514 quick disconnect box blade, bush hog and 20 ft. tilt factory built trailer. Less than 400 hours. $22,500. (850) 814-2600.

Two 2002 PT Cruisers. Limited editions with leather, sunroof and AC. One has automatic transmission and one is a five-speed manual.

Mileage: 156K and 111K. Good transportation and clean with maintenance records. $2,500 each. (850) 814-9943.

1997 28 ft. Class C four-star motorhome in very good condition. $7,000. (850) 762-8386.

Quarter horses. Ride well on trails, gentle, good for lessons. (850) 773-1957.

20’ pontoon boat, $1,100. 20’ lift trailer with new axle, pins, tires and spare in excellent shape, $2,000 negotiable. 17’ Sylvan aluminum bass boat with 75 hp Suzuki, trolling motor with 54 lb. foot control, new stereo, fish finder, bilge pump, circulated fish box, bimini, trim and tilt

three locations, interior lights, multiple storage compartments, trailer with new spare, $3,200.

Two-person Jacuzzi with cover, $500, negotiable.

Antique Westinghouse sewing machine, $35.

(850) 639-3266.

Tall table with four stools, $100. Beautiful glass china cabinet, $100. Two wooden barstools, $30.

(850) 303-9023.

Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, gray and paints. All ages. $300 and up.

Make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Betty, (850) 899-7424.

Blue recliner with drink and storage in the armrests and massager in the seat. Purchased new from Badcock. $250. (850) 768-9157.

Miscellaneous Home service installations: child protection devices, pet doors, closet and garage shelving/ organizers, flat-screen TV mounts, surround sound, surveillance equipment, washer and dryer, digital thermostats, whole-house water filters, showerheads, weather-stripping, curtain rods and blinds. (850) 722-4619 or (850) 5962788; proactivems@outlook.com.

Home maintenance: replace filters; flush water heater; clean dryer vent/drains/AC coils; lubricate hinges, locks and doors; inspect home equipment including fireplace, fire extinguisher, garage door opener/motor, well pump and sprinkler system. Free estimates. (850) 722-4619 or (850) 5962788; proactivems@outlook.com.

Real Estate FSBO: 3.45 acres on deep waterway leading to the intercoastal with access to Panama City, Port St. Joe and Apalachicola. Highway frontage and seven minutes to Mexico Beach. Excellent fishing, hunting and boating. Private with no neighbors. Possible owner financing. (850) 648-4214. ½-acre corner lot. (850) 639-2220.

Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative. GCEC reserves the right to edit or reject ads. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE.

Two- or three-bedroom cabin. About 1,200 sq. ft. with large screened porch. 150’ on West Arm Creek in Meeks subdivision. (850) 271-9040.

FSBO: Nice five-bedroom, two-bath doublewide manufactured home on ½ acre (739 Alpine Way, 32404). Move-in ready. Reduced for quick sale, $49,900 cash. (850) 481-6639.

13+ wooded acres with 624’ on a paved road.

Five miles north of Wewahitchka off Highway 71, minutes from Dead Lakes. Ready to sell. $29,050 (half off appraised value) OBO. (850) 832-1726.

FSBO. Two adjacent lots, about 2.5 acres on paved road, 10 miles north of Wewahitchka, 45 minutes from beaches. Borders the Chipola River and Cypress Creek. Cleared and ready to build.

Quiet and peaceful; no neighbors. Deeded restrictions. Underground utilities, deep well and many fruit trees. $69,900. (850) 648-4214.

Lot and two-bedroom, one-bath mobile home at River Ranch Retreat in Washington County near Millers Ferry. Membership in River Ranch Retreat Homeowners Association included and assures access to boat ramp and pavilion on Holmes Creek. $40,000. (850) 773-4781 or (850) 819-2132.

Camp on Brothers River, 1 mile from Willis Landing. Partial owner financing available. (850) 628-7055.

10 40’x100’ adjoining lots in northwest corner of Calhoun County on a paved road. Farmed for the last six years, now in grass. $10,000 for all 10; no owner financing. (850) 303-1460.

Two acres for sale at 8101 S. McCann Road in Southport off Kingswood Road. Cleared with new 20’x20’ Bestway storage building and county water meter. Linda, (850) 814-1644, or Lottie, (850) 874-2535.

Wanted In good shape, high-rise conversion van with four captains’ chairs and a backseat that makes into a bed. (850) 814-2600.

Please circle the category that applies: For Rent For Sale Real Estate Free Miscellaneous Trade Wanted

Items:

Name: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone:

Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com. ** Due to press deadlines, expect up to 60 days from submission for your ad to appear.

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Gulf Coast

You can buy surge protection equipment off the shelf, but you cannot see what is inside. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative has researched the industry and offers multistage utility-grade equipment to protect your valuable electronics.

Check Out GCEC’s Surge Protection Program Storms can happen any time of the year, so consider surge protection from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative today.

Ten years ago, our lives were less complicated. We had computers at home, but they were used to send notes to friends and family, and to occasionally “surf the net.” We had video games, but these often were simple systems or handheld devices used to entertain the kids on trips.

Today, our lives revolve around technology through advanced computer networks, home automation systems and innovative ways to watch movies directly from the internet through game systems.

Internet download speed, wireless 26

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 16

routers and internet bandwidth are common discussion topics. Our day-to-day lives and finances are controlled and managed by our computer system.

New technology and electronic equipment can make our lives easier, but can be seriously damaged or destroyed by storms.

GCEC can install a surge protection system at your home that virtually eliminates opportunities for a storm-related surge to damage your home and sensitive electronics.

An important disclaimer: We are still researching a solution to handle a direct lightning strike at or near your home.

Fortunately, such strikes are rare.

The system includes a heavy-duty surge protector that plugs in behind your electric meter and special plug-in surge protectors for your sensitive electronics.

Once installed, the system will provide you with peace of mind knowing you have 24/7 protection for your home and sensitive electronics—except in the event of a direct lightning strike.

Unfortunately, many customers wait until after they have had surge damage to protect their sensitive electronics.

We want to help you. Don’t wait until after you have damage. Call today or visit www.gcec.com now to sign up before the next storm. n

Gulf  Coast After a Major Power Outage

Steps to Restoring Power Step 1.

Transmission towers and lines supply power to one or more transmission substations. These lines seldom fail, but they can be damaged by a hurricane or tornado.

Tens of thousands of people could be served by one high-voltage transmission line, so if there is damage here, it gets attention first.

Local Substation

Transmission Substation

Step 2. A utility may have several local distribution substations, each serving

Local Substation

thousands of consumers. When a major outage occurs, the local distribution substations are checked first. A problem here could be caused by a failure in the transmission system supplying the substation. If the problem can be corrected at the substation level, power may be restored to a large number of people.

Step 3.

Main distribution supply lines are checked next if the problem cannot be isolated at the substation. These supply lines carry electricity away from the substation to a group of consumers, such as a town or housing development. When power is restored at this stage, all consumers served by this supply line could see the lights come on, as long as there is no problem farther down the line.

Restoring power after a major outage is a big job that involves much more than simply throwing a switch or removing a tree from a line. The main goal is to restore power safely to the greatest number of members in the shortest time possible.

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The major cause of outages is damage caused by fallen trees. That’s why most utilities are involved in ongoing right-of-way maintenance programs.

While restoration priorities differ by utility, repairs generally follow a plan similar to this one.

Step 5.

Sometimes, damage will occur on the service line between your house and the transformer on the nearby pole. This can explain why you have no power when your neighbor does. Your utility needs to know you have an outage so a service crew can repair it.

Area enlarged: The consumer—not the cooperative—is responsible for having damage to the service installation on the building or the meter pole repaired. Your co-op cannot fix this.

Call a licensed electrician.

Other Co-ops

During a major outage, neighboring utilities help one another by providing line crews, equipment and supplies to assist with restoring power.

Tap Line

Local Substation

Step 4.

The final supply lines, called tap lines, carry power to the utility poles or underground transformers outside houses or other buildings.

Line crews fix the remaining outages based on restoring service to the greatest number of members.

Report your outage to the cooperative office.

Employees or response services use every available phone line to receive outage reports. Remember, a major outage can affect thousands of other customers. Your co-op appreciates your patience.

Co-op Office

Tap Line

Individual households may receive special attention if loss of electricity affects life support systems or poses another immediate danger. If you or a family member depend on life support, call your cooperative before an emergency arises. When a significant outage occurs, your co-op will fix your problem as quickly as possible, or will call to let you know to seek shelter elsewhere.

DANGER! Stay clear of fallen lines.

Illustration by Katherine Fowler, Carolina Country (North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives)

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FL-154

Offices 722 West Highway 22 P. O. Box 220 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392

9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370 Southport, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667 6243 East Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32404 Phone: (850) 481-1188 www.gcec.com

CEO/General Manager Michael E. White

Trustees President Waylon Graham Vice President Jimmy Black Secretary Eddie Jones Treasurer Rupert Brown Doug Birmingham Robert Byrd Gary Cox Kinneth Daniels Betty Moore Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November).

The mission of GCEC: Fulfilling the changing needs of our membership and communities by providing cost effective, reliable and safe utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce.

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GCEC President’s Message

Labor Safely During late summer and early fall, many of us work outdoors before the weather turns cooler. Outdoor chores around electricity require care. Faulty extension cords and metal ladders coming into contact with overhead power lines pose a danger.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests following these safety guidelines when working outside.

Waylon Graham

Extension Cords and Power Tools • Check power tools and electrical cords to make sure they are in good repair, and only use power tools outside that are designed for outdoor use.

• Extension cords should be designed for outdoor use.

They are thicker, more durable and have features for preventing moisture damage.

• Use three-wire extension cords with three-pronged plugs.

• Check the amperage rating of the extension cord to make sure it is large enough to meet the power demand of the tool.

• Do not plug one extension cord into another. Use the proper length for the job.

• Unplug extension cords when you are finished using them.

Never leave an open extension cord plugged into an outlet.

Ladders • Use fiberglass or wooden ladders when working around overhead wires or other electrical sources. Metal ladders conduct electricity and can kill anyone who is touching the ladder if it comes into contact with electricity.

• If you must use a metal ladder, carefully check the location of all overhead power lines to avoid contacting the wire or touching the ladder to something that touches the electrical source, such as a tree branch.

• Lower a ladder before carrying or moving it.

• Never work on a windy day near power lines, as a gust of wind could shift a ladder into an overhead line.

• When placing a ladder on the ground, make sure the distance to the nearest overhead power line is at least twice the length of the ladder.

• Always place a ladder on solid level ground to prevent sliding. n

Gulf Coast Electric offices will be closed Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.