Today in Mississippi March 2019 Local Pages

News for members of Electric Cooperatives in Mississippi

Traveling back in time to BOLER’S INN in Union

Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)

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Broadband... what’s next

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We just had an EARTHQUAKE!

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Sweetie Pie blackberries

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March 2019

Central Electric Power Association

A tradition of dependable, hometown service since 1937

Annual meeting set for March 19 Central Electric Power Association will hold its 82nd Annual Meeting of the Membership on March 19 at the Carthage Coliseum on Highway 16 East in Carthage. Registration will begin at 9 a.m.

In accordance with the laws of the state of Mississippi and the bylaws of the association, four directors will be elected for three-year terms. Members will elect one director from Leake County, one director from Neshoba County, one director from Newton County, and one minority member at large. There also will be reports given on the operation of the association for the past year, and other matters of business will be conducted.

The Nominating Committee for 2019 consists of Wayne Upchurch from Leake County, Ricky Cleveland from Neshoba County and Kenneth Hagan from Newton County.

Candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee for re-election

OFFICIAL NOTICE of the

to the board are Joe R. Sanders (2085 Red Dog Road, Carthage, MS 39051) from Leake County, Max L. Loper (16370 Road 505, Philadelphia, MS 39350) from Neshoba County, J. Don Howington (2460 Pleasant Grove Road, Little Rock, MS 39337) from Newton County, and W. Phillip Crosby (3742 Harmony Road, Carthage, MS 39051), minority member at large.

Central Electric, with the cooperation of Sta-Home Health Agency in Carthage, will provide a health fair at the annual meeting. Nurses will offer free blood pressure screenings. Services provided at the health fair will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 10:20 a.m., when the business meeting begins. 2nd Mile will provide the musical entertainment before the meeting.

Immediately following the meeting, the health fair will re-open and continue as long as interested participants remain.

Each Central Electric member who registers at the annual meeting will receive a free light bulb and will be eligible to win one of the following prizes: slow cooker, coffee maker, clock/radio, electric skillet, electric can opener, toaster, coffee percolator, iron or electric clock. The grand prize for members who are present at the meeting will be an electric smoker.

Central Electric will give away a special prize this year for any member who registers in person at the meeting or who sends in his or her proxy or ballot from this publication in the attached postage-paid envelope. You do not have to be present at the meeting to win the special prize, a 2008 Ford F150. The truck has been retired from Central Electric’s fleet of vehicles and will be given away as is with no guarantees.

Remember, mail in your proxy or ballot for this year’s meeting. You do not have to be present to win. If your name is drawn at the annual meeting,

we will notify you.

Central Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative based in Carthage with branch offices in Philadelphia, Sebastopol and Rankin County. The co-op maintains more than 4,000 miles of distribution line and serves more than 36,000 memberowners in central Mississippi. Central Electric’s service area includes parts of Leake, Neshoba, Attala, Scott, Newton, Rankin and Kemper counties.

The bylaws of the association provide that any person, firm or corporation may become a member of Central Electric by making written application, paying the membership fee, purchasing electricity from the co-op and abiding by the rules and regulations as prescribed by the board of directors.

Central Electric’s annual meeting is for you, the member-owner. So mark your calendar for March 19, and we’ll see you at the annual meeting!

Statement of nondiscrimination

Annual Meeting of Members

Pursuant to Article III, Sections 3.01 and 3.03, of the association bylaws, notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of members of Central Electric Power Association will be held in the Carthage Coliseum, Highway 16 East, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Registration will begin at 9 a.m.

In accordance with the laws of Mississippi and the bylaws of the association, members will elect four directors for three-year terms: one director from Leake County, one director from Neshoba County, one director from Newton County, and one minority member at large. Reports will be given on the operation of the association for the past year, and other matters of business will be conducted.

If you cannot attend, fill out the ballot or proxy (see next page) and mail immediately in the attached postage-paid envelope.

Each member who attends will receive a free light bulb. Many other valuable door prizes will be given away by drawing names from those registered. Please try to attend.

This year, six names will be drawn from the mail-in votes and prizes will be awarded to them.

Danny Thornton, Secretary

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you wish to file a Civil Rights Program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or by email at program.intake@usda.gov.

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Carthage 601-267-5671 • Philadelphia 601-656-2601 Rankin 601-829-1201 • Sebastopol 601-625-7422

2019 Annual Meeting Program

Central Electric Power Association

BALANCE SHEETS ASSETS Electric Plant In service – at cost Construction work in progress Total electric plant Less: accumulated provision for depreciation Electric plant, net Other Assets Investments in associated organizations CSA stockholder loan receivable Economic development loan receivable CoBank membership Total other assests Current Assets Cash and temporary investments Accounts receivable - members Accounts receivable - others Materials and supplies Prepaid expenses Other current assets Total current assets Deferred Charges TOTAL ASSETS EQUITIES & LIABILITIES Equities Memberships Earnings reinvested in system assets Total equities

2018

2017

$169,039,712 $164,827,403 3,373,763 880,869 $172,413,475 165,708,272 78,953,677 83,574,645 86,754,595 88,838,830 888,327 33,481 2,379,345 1,000 3,302,153

888,327 34,475 2,840,826 1,000 3,764,628

21,491,864 6,234,148 75,453 1,753,644 307,971 516,080 30,379,160

23,022,703 5,366,263 74,696 1,562,927 506,779 517,189 31,050,557

715,954

729,792

$123,236,097 $122,299,572

$780,325 85,025,306 85,805,631

$774,300 81,914,131 82,688,431

Long-Term Liabilities Notes payable Total long-term liabilities

25,508,089 25,508,089

28,763,747 28,763,747

Current Liabilities Current maturities of notes payable Accounts payable - trade Customer deposits Accrued taxes Accrued unpaid vacation Other current liabilities Total current liabilities

883,660 6,864,600 2,719,337 123,017 531,370 81,639 11,203,623

526,703 6,193,333 2,599,049 119,809 576,417 86,033 10,101,344

Other Liabilities Advances from TVA Post-retirement benefits Total other liabilities TOTAL EQUITIES & LIABILITIES

9:00 a.m. Registration 9:30 a.m. Entertainment by 2nd Mile 10:20 a.m. Call to Order, Brian Long, General Manager; Invocation; Welcome, Mayor Mary Ann Vivians; Report of Manager, Brian Long; Engineering and Operations Report; Awarding of Door Prizes; Transaction of Business; Election of Directors; Awarding of Door Prizes 12:15 p.m. Adjournment 2:00 p.m. Report of Election Committee If you do not plan to attend the annual meeting, please mark the ballot or proxy below, cut it out and return it in the attached, INSTRUCTIONS postage-paid envelope.

By mailing in your ballot or proxy, you will be eligible to win the Special Prize, a 2008 Ford F150 retired from Central Electric’s fleet of vehicles.

You also will be eligible to win one of the following prizes: Grand Prize: electric smoker Other Prizes: slow cooker, coffee maker, clock/radio, electric skillet, electric can opener, toaster, coffee percolator, iron or electric clock.

You do not have to be present to win, so please remember to mail your ballot or proxy.

VOTING

PROXY

I, the undersigned member of Central Electric Power Association, do hereby constitute and appoint

______________________________________________________ (Name of person appointed agent)

my agent and attorney infact to represent me at the annual meeting of members of said Cooperative to be held at 9:00 a.m. at the Coliseum in the city of Carthage, Mississippi, on the 19th day of March, 2019, and my said agent and attorney is hereby authorized to cast my vote on any and all matters coming before said meeting, or any adjournment thereof, with the same force coming before said meeting for a vote.

Witness my signature this the ________ day of __________________ 2019.

Signature ___________________________________________________ (Each member is urged to attend the meeting, but if for any reason you cannot be present, you are requested to sign the proxy and deliver it to a member who will attend. But remember, no one can vote a proxy who is not a member of the cooperative, and no member can vote more than three proxies. So be present if possible, but if you cannot be present, be sure to sign your proxy and send it by someone to the meeting, or mail it if you prefer.)

BALLOT Annual Meeting Central Electric Power Association

March 19, 2019 716,015 2,739 718,754

743,052 2,998 746,050

$123,236,097 $122,299,572

Note: For your ballot to count, you must vote for four directors: one director from Leake County, one director from Neshoba County, one director from Newton County, and one minority member at large

Leake County 1. Joe R. Sanders ( ) _____________________________ ( ) Neshoba County 2. Max L. Loper ( ) _____________________________ ( ) Newton County 3. J. Don Howington ( ) _____________________________ ( ) Minority member at large 4. W. Phillip Crosby ____________________________

( ) ( )

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March 2019

Look for Coahoma Electric’s Bylaws in your mailbox in March!

Our Board of Directors recently updated the Association’s Bylaws to correct grammar and reflect modern language standards. Though the Bylaws are published on our website and are always available, we realize that our membership has not received a hardcopy in several years.

There have been no major changes in the Bylaws, with the exception of modernizing the language.

Please look for your copy of the Association’s Bylaws in your mailbox later this month.

Programmable lighting options In the past, the ability to easily control a home security system or dimmed to enhance lights within the home has been fairly rudientertaining. mentary. You flipped a switch on or off.

Connected LEDs require a central conPerhaps you had a dimmer switch. To turn troller or hub, like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple lights on when you were on vacation, you HomeKit. The hub can control other smart plugged a lamp into a gadget with a dial and it devices and become the center of a smart turned the lamp on and off. But today, conhome system. sumers have more options than ever before.

Consumers can choose from a variety of The growing use of LED bulbs and the manufacturers when purchasing connected proliferation of LEDs. Some bulbs smartphones are compatible and Wi-Fi with different have brought hubs or systems, lighting but if you’re options to a planning a major new level. In overhaul to your addition to home lighting, using less it’s best to buy energy, many one brand and LEDs can be stick with it.

Consumers have many options for smart lighting systems. controlled from Smart lightShown above is the Phillips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit. a smartphone ing options Photo Source: Signify.com app, making aren’t necessarily the LED more about saving of a consumer electronic than a light bulb. energy, but if they can help you remember to When shopping for new LEDs, you essenturn the light off when you are not in a room, tially have two options. then a small amount of energy savings can be A less expensive LED still offers longer life, achieved. lower energy use and will work for most fixAs technology continues to advance, more tures. However, consumers with older dimmer smart home products will become available. switches often find that they must replace Many of these products will include features switches to work with newer LEDs. that focus on home security and quality of life.

The second and more expensive option is a If you’re interested in smart technologies “connected” LED. These LEDs offer features for your home, the key will be to research like controlling lights remotely from a smartyour options and understand how the system phone app or via voice control through an in- works with the other devices within your home speaker. They can also be connected to home.

Spring is nearly here!

TIP of the

Month

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer.

Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

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A Mississippi Electric Cooperative

Three Easy DIY Projects to Save Energy

By Abby Berry Winter weather can have a big impact on your energy bills, hitting your pockets a little harder than you would have liked. Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to tackle a few DIY efficiency projects for your home. The good news: You don’t have to be an energy expert to do this!

There are several easy ways to save energy, but if you’re willing to take a hands-on approach, here are three projects you can do now to start saving.

Make the Most of Your Water Heater.

brush or solvent. The area should be dry before you apply the new caulk.

Apply the caulk in one continuous stream, and make sure it sticks to both sides of the crack or seam.

Afterwards, use a putty knife to smooth out the caulk, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

Weather Strip Exterior Doors.

One of the best ways to seal air leaks is to weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs.

Let’s start with one of the easiest projects: insulating your water heater. Insulating a water heater that’s warm to the touch can save 7 to 16 percent annually on your water heating bills. It should also be noted that if your water heater is new, it is likely already insulated. But if your water heater is warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation.

You can purchase a pre-cut jacket or blanket for about $20.

You’ll also need two people for this project. Before you start, turn off the water heater. Wrap the blanket around the water heater and tape it to temporarily keep it in place. If necessary, use a marker to note the areas where the controls are so you can cut them out.

Once the blanket is positioned correctly tape it permanently in The average American family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much of that money is wasted through air leaks in the home. place, then turn the water heater Applying caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring and plumbing can back on. If you have an electric save energy and money. Photo Credit: Rare Form Properties water heater, do not set the thermostat above 130 degrees, which can cause Weather stripping materials vary, but overheating. you can ask your local hardware or home store for assistance if you’re unsure about Seal Air Leaks with Caulk. the supplies you need.

The average American family spends $2,000 When choosing weather stripping annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much of materials, make sure it can withstand that money is wasted through air leaks in the home. temperature changes, friction and the Applying caulk around windows, doors, electrical general “wear and tear” for the location wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. of the door. Keep in mind, you will need There are many different types of caulking comseparate materials for the door sweep (at pounds available, but the most popular choice is silithe bottom of the door) and the top and cone. Silicone caulk is waterproof, flexible and won’t sides. shrink or crack.

Before applying the new weather Before applying new caulk, clean and remove any stripping, clean the moulding with water old caulk or paint with a putty knife, screwdriver,

and soap, then let the area dry completely. Measure each side of the door, then cut the weather stripping to fit each section. Make sure the weather stripping fits snugly against both surfaces so it compresses when the door is closed.

By completing these simple efficiency projects, you can save energy (and money!) while increasing the comfort level of your home. And you can impress your family and friends with your savvy energy-saving skills.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.

2019

National Ag Day: March 14, 2019

AGRICULTURE:

Food for Life

American agriculture is the foundation of our country. It’s the backbone of a healthy and prosperous nation that’s made possible by the hard work of America’s farms and farm families.

The Agriculture Council of America is proud to celebrate the nutritious and plentiful contributions of our country’s farms on National Agriculture Day. You’re invited to join the celebration. Join us for Ag Day 2019.

American agriculture is Food for Life—good for life!

Find out more about high-profile sponsorship opportunities from jennyp@nama.org.

www.agday.org Ag Day PARTNERS PLATINUM PARTNERS

Hosted by the Agriculture Council of America in recognition of Ag Day.

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March 2019

Communicators: April Lollar and Merilee Sands For Today in Mississippi information, call 877-7MY-CEPA (877-769-2372) www.coastepa.com

Where our members have the power

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CEO’s message

The survey says Each December, a sampling of Coast Electric members are asked to participate in a satisfaction survey. We use experts in market research from our national trade organization, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, to conduct the research. We do this every year because your feedback is important to us. Of course, as member-consumers and owners of this cooperative, our doors are always open, and we always welcome your feedback.

This survey, however, gives us a scientific sampling of member opinions and allows us to learn more about what’s important to you and how we can improve our service to you.

While we are pleased that our members’ responses (detailed on pg. 11) have put us in the top tier of utility providers in the country, we want you to

know that we don’t look at these results, pat ourselves on the back and move on.

Survey results help Coast Electric employees deterRon Barnes mine if we should make President and CEO changes to existing programs or offer new ones. Your feedback helps us sharpen our focus for the future. We are proud that the majority of our members are satisfied with our service, but we won’t rest on that fact. We won’t let being good stop us from being great. It is my promise to you as the CEO of your local electric cooperative that we will work safely to bring you superior service at the lowest possible price and to improve the life of the communities we serve.

CoBank and No Barriers USA Coast Electric is a customer of CoBank, a company that sponsors a program for rural veterans. Coast Electric members are eligible to apply for the program.

To honor these veterans, CoBank partners with No Barriers USA, an organization that offers an expedition experience for veterans with disabilities both visible and invisible, like PTSD. This program gives veterans the chance to challenge themselves physically and mentally with activities such as rafting, rock climbing

TIP of the Month

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helping our

and hiking. The expedition helps participating veterans build a support network for themselves that can last a lifetime.

Any Coast Electric member interested in applying for this all-expenses-paid expedition can email communications@coastepa.com for more information.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Reduce Your Use

contest Power cost decrease

TOU Time change

Meet your Advisory and Community Trust committee

Mississippi co-ops reduce carbon use Member satisfaction survey results

SCORE OF

88

Turn off kitchen, bath and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you’re done cooking or bathing. When replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models. Source: energy.gov

Reduce Your Use

contest

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Twice each year, Coast Electric makes a power cost adjustment. Power cost adjustments occur because of changes in the cost of generating power. Costs paid to Coast Electric’s power supplier, Cooperative Energy, are typically higher in the winter and lower in the summer.

Coast Electric is able to pass along these decreased costs to members.

Over a period of 12 months, your power costs remain the same. However, members will see a decrease of about $6 for every 1,000 kWh used in the summer.

Mississippi typically has milder winters, like this one, and long, hot summers so Coast Electric members will have more opportunities for comfort in the months when it’s needed most. Temperatures greatly impact member-consumers’ bills since heating and cooling typically use the most energy. That means you will see higher bills in extreme hot or cold weather.

We recommend managing your energy use every season, even with a power cost decrease. For tips on how you can manage your use and save, visit www.coastepa.com.

Who will the power coast decrease affect?

March Reduce Your Use

When will this power cost adjustment take place?

Have you ever wondered how much power the small appliances in your home use? This month’s Reduce Your Use contest giveaway is a Kill-A-Watt meter. This device allows you to monitor and record any 110V-appliance in your home.

Just plug the Kill-A-Watt meter into the socket the appliance currently uses and then plug the appliance into the meter. Once plugged in, the Kill-A-Watt meter will give you the current voltage and amperage of the appliance.

You can also use the Kill-AWatt meter to record how many kilowatt hours the appliance uses over a given period (just press the purple button on the meter and let it run).

Many appliances and devices can have phantom load, meaning the item consumes power even you aren't using it. From smartphone charging blocks to your TV and other appliances, the Kill-A-Watt meter can help you track down these “energy phantoms.”

If you would like more information on energy savings or to learn about Coast Electric’s energy and money-saving Time of Use rate, call 877-769-2372 or email call@coastepa.com.

Remember to like Coast Electric on Facebook and follow us at @coastelectric on Twitter to stay informed about upcoming events and next month’s Reduce Your Use giveaway!

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Summer power cost decrease begins April 1

Coast Electric wants you to reduce your energy use and see savings on your monthly energy costs! Each month, you will have an opportunity to register to win a prize that will help you reduce the energy consumption in your home. All you have to do is visit www.coastepa.com and fill out our entry form. It only takes a few seconds and you could win a prize that helps you save!

prize announcement

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The decrease affects all member classes but industrial members.

The summer power cost adjustment will begin April 1.

If you are a member who is taking advantage of our energy and money-saving Time of Use (TOU) rate plan, remember that the summer period begins April 1. If you have water heater timers, pool pump timers or programmable thermostats, make sure to change the settings to reflect the summer peak hours – 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you have not taken advantage of our TOU rate plan, what are you waiting for? The plan comes with a six-month guarantee, so if you don’t save, you haven’t lost a penny.

That’s a great deal!

Tips for the TOU time change: Make sure programmable thermostat settings reflect the new times.

Make sure those early-morning showers aren’t costing you more. Change water heater timers to avoid peak hours.

Still running a pool pump? Make sure you adjust the times your pump runs.

If you want to start the dishes before you leave in the morning, use the delayed start option on your machine.

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March 2019

Meet your Advisory and Coast Electric Community Trust Committee One benefit of cooperative membership is that coops like Coast Electric are governed by the members we serve. You may already know that Coast Electric has three board members from each county we serve – Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River – but you may not know that we also have another committee of Coast Electric members that serve as our eyes and ears in the community. Coast Electric’s advisory committee members serve three consecutive one-year terms and spend time learning about our business and giving us new perspectives on our programs and services.

Advisory committee members have a new role

since we’ve made changes to Operation Round Up and serve as the advisory committee for Coast Electric’s Community Trust. Funds collected from Operation Round Up are divided three ways – 25 percent of funds go to the Share Your Blessings program that provides energy assistance, 65 percent of funds go into the community trust to be distributed to local charitable organizations that apply for grants that will benefit the three-county area and the remaining 10 percent goes into an endowment for future grants and community projects.

When local charitable organizations apply for

grants, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) reviews grants to ensure they are eligible for funding and passes along applications that meet funding requirements. (For information about funding requirements and restrictions, visit www.coastepa.com.) Once the GCCF makes sure grant applications meet the requirements, those applications are passed along to members of the Advisory Committee/Community Trust Committee for review.

These men and women will work to determine which grants will be funded to making lasting, positive impacts in our local communities.

Your Coast Electric Advisory/Community Trust Committee Billy Joe Lee Pearl River County Keith Cavaliere Pearl River County

EJ Roberts Harrison County Anderson Hill Harrison County

Pearl River County Paul Guichet Hancock County

Harrison County

Ross Watkins Pearl River County

Hancock County

Raymunda Barnes Harrison County DuJuan Bosarge Hancock County

Lloyd Ramirez Jr. Hancock County

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Operation Round Up

By the numbers

Total donated in Dec. - $37,936.66 Total donated in Jan. - $36,680.76 Total donations from Coast Electric members - $74,617.42

*Data collected from Dec. 1, 2018 - Jan. 31, 2019

Where the money is going: *Amounts shown reflect the donated amounts for Dec. 1, 2018-Jan. 31, 2019. While we track donations monthly, and Share Your Blessings funds are distributed monthly, grants are awarded quarterly. We will share numbers for the first quarter and details about the grants awarded in future issues.

Coast Electric Community Trust - $48,501.30 These funds will be distributed quarterly to charitable organizations whose projects and efforts make an impact in Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties.

Share Your Blessings energy assistance - $18,654.35 Endowment fund to be used for future charitable grants - $7,461.74 Goes to the Coast Electric Community Trust that will award grants of up to $10,000 to charitable organizations that help our local communities.

Operation Round Up news you should know: Grants are awarded to local charitable organizations quarterly. The first grant recipients will be announced in April. If you know of a deserving organization that works to improve the quality of life in our communities, let them know about our program!

Grants will be available again on coastepa.com in May! For more information about Operation Round Up and how Coast Electric members are making an impact on our local communities, visit www.coastepa.com.

Goes to Share Your Blessings for energy assistance.

Goes to an endowment for future charitable projects.

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Mississippi co-ops reduce carbon use Behind the power lines, poles and transformers, electric cooperatives are community-focused organizations that work to efficiently deliver affordable, reliable and safe energy to consumermembers. Beyond the business, though, electric cooperatives are strong partners in the local communities they serve.

For Coast Electric, these communities are where our consumer-members live and work, but also the place our 240+ employees call home.

“At Coast Electric, our business is not about making profits,” said President and CEO Ron Barnes. “Our business is also more than providing electricity or providing local jobs. We strive to make the communities we serve better places to live. After all, this is the place we all call home.”

Coast Electric, and our wholesale power

provider Cooperative Energy, have a broader role in supporting the communities we serve.

Cooperative Energy provides all the electricity required by Coast Electric members and the members of 10 other local electric distribution cooperatives across Mississippi. Coast Electric purchases the electricity from Cooperative Energy then delivers it to members.

“Woven into our mission of delivering safe, affordable and reliable energy is a sense of responsibility to the communities we serve,” said Jim Compton, president and CEO of Cooperative Energy. “We view our cooperative as duty-bound to monitor and lessen the environmental and societal impact of our business because this is where our members live and also where we live. We also strive to enhance our local economies and provide good, stable employment

opportunities. These efforts are a direct result of our community focus and show how tightly we are integrated with the communities we serve.”

Cooperative Energy has taken significant steps in recent years to lessen the impact of power generation on the environment. Among 19 electric generation and transmission cooperatives rated by Moody’s rating agency, Cooperative Energy was one of the three least dependent on coal in 2017, with coal supplying only 13 percent of the electricity the Cooperative produced that year.

A further reduction in that number occurred in 2018 as a result of the cooperative’s decision to retire its only owned coal-fired units and replace them with more efficient, lower emission natural gas units. The R.D. Morrow Sr. Generating Station was officially retired as a coal burning facility in November 2018.

CO2 TONS PER YEAR Cooperative Energy Owned-Generation Fleet

Partnering with Renewable Energy Systems At the same time Cooperative Energy was reducing its dependence on coal, the cooperative increased its dependence on clean energy by partnering with Renewable Energy Systems on a 100MW solar facility in the Mississippi Delta. The Delta’s Edge solar site will produce enough solar energy to power nearly 20,000

homes a year. As a result of the ongoing work at the R.D. Morrow Sr. Generating Station and the addition of the Delta’s Edge facility, Coast Electric and the other 10 electric cooperatives served by Cooperative Energy can provide consumer-members with more clean energy than ever before.

The commitment to community exhibited by Cooperative Energy, Coast Electric and the 10 other electric cooperatives across the state demonstrates that business at these cooperatives is anything but business as usual.

“We value our ability to efficiently and effectively power the lives of

our members,” said Barnes.

“However, we feel we have a higher calling than that. Electric cooperatives are in a unique position to positively impact our communities.

With all 12 of us working in unison, we bring about positive change statewide.”

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Member satisfaction survey results Each year, Coast Electric uses a market research group to conduct a satisfaction survey with Coast Electric members. A scientific sampling of members are contacted via phone or online and asked questions about various aspects of their service and member experience. Results are used to determine future projects and areas of focus for your cooperative. For example, past survey results have brought about programs such as Cooperative Solar, rate plan options and much more.

ACSI Measures

National ACSI Benchmarks

SCORE OF

88

Coast Electric members had an overall satisfaction score of 9.11 on a 10-point scale and received an average score of 8.77 to the extent in which Coast Electric lived up to member expectations.

ACSI Measures

While a majority of members indicated that they would choose Coast Electric if they had a choice in service provider, your cooperative won’t only focus on those who are likely to choose Coast Electric; we will make sure to focus on improving service for those who stated they would make a different choice.

This chart shows other utilities’ satisfaction scores to give Coast Electric an idea of where we stand in relation to those businesses. Coast Electric’s overall satisfaction score of an 88 is significantly higher than that of other similar businesses.

Key Drivers of Satisfaction

This data shows the key drivers that determine success for Coast Electric members. Items related to cost, member service, electric service and social responsibility topped the list. Coast Electric employees will use this data to determine how we can improve satisfaction for every member in the service area.

Coast Electric is going red for heart awareness Coast Electric employees are going red this year to support the efforts of the American Heart Association. Each Friday in February, employees wore red as a visible symbol of their support of those who battle heart disease. Throughout 2019, employees will focus on heart health and raising funds for this worthy cause.

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Today in Mississippi

March 2019

Delta Electric Reminder

Special capital credits early retirement program

Greenwood • Winona Cleveland • Indianola

for former members and estates Capital credits allocated to a Delta Electric Power Association member always belong to that member, even if they move outside the cooperative’s service territory, or if they pass away. Former members and estates of deceased members have the option to request a special early retirement of their capital credits. An early retirement offers a one-time payment of capital credits on a discounted, net present value basis. Any debts owed by the member to Delta Electric are deducted from the payment.

Pursuant to Mississippi law and Delta Electric’s bylaws, Delta Electric may retain a member’s capital

credit allocation to meet the capital needs of the cooperative, which may ultimately be paid through a general retirement process.

Former members and estates of deceased members have the option to request a special early retirement of their capital credits.

“However, some former members may find it more convenient to receive their capital credits earlier at a

Delta Electric Power Association

Annual Meeting of Members Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 10 a.m.

Leflore County Civic Center, Highway 7, Greenwood All Delta Electric members are urged to participate in person or by proxy All members of Delta Electric Power Association are urged to attend the Annual Meeting of Members on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the meeting to follow at 10:00 a.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center on Highway 7 in Greenwood.

Participation of Delta EPA members in the annual meeting is important to elect directors, receive and pass on reports covering the operation of the association and to transact other business that may come before the meeting.

With a few exceptions provided by the bylaws, only members will be admitted to the meeting.

Seating, however, will be available for members’ families who wish to attend.

What to do if you can’t attend the meeting

It is important to the successful operation of the association that its members either attend this meeting in person or sign, date and send in the original proxy form that will be mailed March 1 to each member. The proxy must be executed and mailed in or delivered in person to the secretary of the association at the association’s office on Highway 82 West in Greenwood.

The proxy must be received by the secretary of the association no later than April 1, 2019, to be valid.

Members must vote on the original printed forms; copies will not be accepted. Any member who has misplaced the original proxy may request another by calling the nearest Delta Electric Power Association office.

Under the bylaws of the association, each member is entitled to one vote.

discounted rate rather than waiting to receive the payment through the general retirement process,” said David O’Bryan, general manager.

“Since March 2018, we have been offering this special early retirement program to former members and the estates of deceased members. Since inception, we have refunded $541,702 under this program. We want to continue to get the word out to all former members and estates that might be interested in this special retirement,” O’Bryan said.

If you know of a former member or estate of a deceased member that might be interested in this early retirement program, please direct them to our website, www.deltaepa.com, where applications for an early capital credit retirement can be found and downloaded.

Documentation and verification requirements for former members and estates of deceased members are also found on the website. Please email Delta Electric at capitalcredits@deltaepa.coop if you have questions about the early retirement program. If the former member has no internet access, he or she should contact Delta Electric at 662-453-6352, extension 1128, for an application and assistance.

“This special capital credit early retirement program applies to former members and estates of deceased members who maintained either residential or commercial accounts, so we encourage our active members to reach out to their friends and relatives who are former members of Delta Electric,” O’Bryan said.

The early retirement program does not apply to current members who receive electric service from Delta Electric.

March 2019

Today in Mississippi

Three easy DIY projects to save energy

By Abby Berry Winter weather can have a big impact on your energy bills, hitting your pockets a little harder than you would have liked. Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to tackle a few DIY efficiency projects for your home. The good news: You don’t have to be an energy expert to do this!

There are several easy ways to save energy, but if you’re willing to take a hands-on approach, here are three projects you can do now to start saving.

Make the Most of Your Water Heater.

Let’s start with one of the easiest projects: insulating your water heater. Insulating a water heater that’s warm to the touch can save 7 to 16 percent annually on your water heating bills. It should also be noted that if your water heater is new, it is likely already insulated. But if your water heater is warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation.

You can purchase a pre-cut jacket or blanket for about $20. You’ll also need two people for this project. Before you start, turn off the water heater. Wrap the blanket around the water heater and tape it to temporarily keep it in place. If necessary, use a marker to note the areas where the controls are so you can cut them out. Once the blanket is positioned correctly tape it permanently in place, then turn the water heater back on. If you have an electric water heater, do not set the thermostat above 130 degrees, which can cause overheating.

make sure it sticks to both sides of the crack or seam.

Afterwards, use a putty knife to smooth out the caulk, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.

Spring is nearly here!

TIP of the

Month

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer. Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

2019

Seal Air Leaks with Caulk.

The average American family spends $2,000 The average American family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much of annually on energy that money is wasted through air leaks in the home. Applying caulk around windows, doors, elecbills, but unfortutrical wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. Photo Credit: Rare Form Properties nately, much of that materials for the door sweep (at the botmoney is wasted through air leaks in the home. tom of the door) and the top and sides.

Applying caulk around windows, doors, electrical Before applying the new weather wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. stripping, clean the moulding with water There are many different types of caulking comand soap, then let the area dry completepounds available, but the most popular choice is silily. Measure each side of the door, then cone. Silicone caulk is waterproof, flexible and won’t cut the weather stripping to fit each secshrink or crack. tion. Make sure the weather stripping fits Before applying new caulk, clean and remove any snugly against both surfaces so it comold caulk or paint with a putty knife, screwdriver, presses when the door is closed. brush or solvent. The area should be dry before you By completing these simple efficiency apply the new caulk. projects, you can save energy (and Apply the caulk in one continuous stream, and

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money!) while increasing the comfort level of your home. And you can impress your family and friends with your savvy energy-saving skills.

Weather Strip Exterior Doors.

One of the best ways to seal air leaks is to weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Weather stripping materials vary, but you can ask your local hardware or home store for assistance if you’re unsure about the supplies you need.

When choosing weather stripping materials, make sure it can withstand temperature changes, friction and the general “wear and tear” for the location of the door.

Keep in mind, you will need separate

National Ag Day: March 14, 2019

AGRICULTURE:

Food for Life

American agriculture is the foundation of our country. It’s the backbone of a healthy and prosperous nation that’s made possible by the hard work of America’s farms and farm families.

The Agriculture Council of America is proud to celebrate the nutritious and plentiful contributions of our country’s farms on National Agriculture Day. You’re invited to join the celebration. Join us for Ag Day 2019.

American agriculture is Food for Life—good for life!

Find out more about high-profile sponsorship opportunities from jennyp@nama.org.

www.agday.org Ag Day PARTNERS PLATINUM PARTNERS

Hosted by the Agriculture Council of America in recognition of Ag Day.

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Dixie Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Providing broadband has hurdles...

but it is possible!

On Jan. 30, 2019, Governor Phil Bryant signed a bill into law allowing Dixie Electric and the other electric cooperatives in the state to provide broadband or high-speed internet service. We have received a number of questions about this, so I wanted to bring you, our members, up-to-date on what this means and how it affects the electric cooperatives in the state, specifically Dixie Electric.

The potential is significant. According to some Randy Smith reports, Mississippi ranks No. General Manager 49 in the U.S. in broadband availability. By allowing electric cooperatives to provide the service, and other companies stepping up, Mississippi could begin to move up in the rankings. Education and remote health care are just a couple of the areas that could benefit as availability is potentially expanded into the rural areas of the state.

There are obstacles, namely cost. If it were easy and inexpensive to do, the telecommunications companies would have already provided broadband service to rural areas, and the electric cooperatives would not need to get involved. But it’s not easy, nor is it inexpensive.

There are also questions. Are there enough households and businesses in our service area? How many of those will it take to make this venture feasible? If so, what type of business structure do we form? Do

we create a subsidiary or form partnerships? Will we hibits an electric cooperative from providing the need to hire additional employees and how many? service through the cooperative itself. It must be Are there people available to hire with the necessary done through a separate company, maintaining sepatechnical skills? These are just a few of the questions rate accounting books. A cooperative cannot use that will need to be addressed as we consider moving electric revenue to provide broadband service, again forward with broadband. limiting the risk to the electric cooperative and its Yet electric cooperatives are uniquely positioned members. in the state to take broadband further into the The law also requires the cooperative, if it decides rural areas because we are already there. And our to provide broadband service, to commit to making business model is different so we should be able to broadband available to all its members at some point. provide broadband service in a manner similar to Importantly, it does not require a cooperative to how we provide electric service now. Over the next offer broadband and it prevents a cooperative from several months or longer, electric cooperatives requiring a member to take the service. around the state will begin conducting studWhat does this mean for Dixie Electric ies to answer these questions and others and its members? First, we think proto determine if this is a venture that viding broadband service to our makes economic sense for the members is a worthwhile endeavor Importantly, cooperative and its members. and could have immeasurable it does not require a Not every electric cooperative benefits. It will be very expencooperative to offer in the state will be able to offer sive. We plan to do multiple broadband. They simply will feasibility studies to ensure, to broadband and it prevents not have enough households the greatest extent possible, a cooperative from or businesses who will take the that providing the new service requiring a member to service for it to be feasible. can stand on its own. If the take the service.

What exactly does the new studies show that it is financially law do? It requires that electric viable, we would begin developing cooperatives do a feasibility study to business plans to determine the best determine if this can be done without putmethod for deploying the service. ting the electric cooperative at significant risk. It Finally, we will need patience from our members. allows the cooperative to provide the service through The studies will take time to do and verify. It will several options. Cooperatives may form subsidiaries, take time to develop business plans. And it will take enter partnerships, or form other types of affiliates to years to make it available to all our members if we provide broadband service. However, the law procan do it at all.

BROADBAND ENABLING ACT House Bill 366 Clears Public Utilities Committee Jan. 14, 2019

Passed the Mississippi House of Representatives Jan. 15, 2019

Passed the Mississippi Senate Jan. 23, 2019

Gov. Phil Bryant signs the bill into law Jan. 30, 2019

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

M

artin Luther King said it best when he stated, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.”

Dixie Electric employees rolled up their sleeves and put words into action by serving in different areas of the cooperative’s service territory. Dixie Electric, along with other electric cooperatives in the state, participated in an organized day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For Dixie Electric employees, that meant volunteering at local food pantries.

• On Thursday, Jan. 17, Waynesboro employees Dan Wooten and Julie McKee, along with Community Relations Coordinator Pollyanna Magee, served at the Samaritan’s Closet and Pantry. The volunteers packed grocery sacks with food to be given out to local citizens the following day.

• On Friday, Jan. 18, Petal employees Eric Bryant, Courtney Davis, Ryan Boutwell and Pollyanna Magee served at the Petal Children’s Task Force. The team prepared food boxes for the community and stocked food on the shelves as it was donated.

• On Monday, Jan. 21, Laurel employees Kim Beech, Sheila Richardson, Mitzi Walley, Pat McCarthy, Brandon Buckley, Joe Donald and Pollyanna Magee served at the Christian Food Mission. This group chopped vegetables, deboned meat and prepared hot meals that were delivered to local residents.

Cooperative Community Day of Service was held in conjunction with Coast Electric, Singing River Electric and Yazoo Valley Electric, as well as Cooperative Energy, Dixie Electric’s wholesale energy provider. Dixie Electric, along with these other cooperatives, was founded on Seven Cooperative Principles; a key principle is concern for community.

“Cooperative Community Day allows our employees the opportunity to directly give back to the communities we serve,” General Manager Randy Smith said. “This is a small way for us to serve our communities.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Building a new home Dixie Electric Power Association offers the Comfort Advantage program for members who are building new homes or replacing their heating/cooling system, in an existing home, with a heat pump.

Comfort Advantage provides guidelines and incentives for energy efficient home construction. “Comfort Advantage makes recommendations for your new home, so you have the confidence in knowing that your home is energy efficient,” Energy Advisor Joe Donald said.

Building a new home requires numerous decisions. Comfort Advantage makes the decision process easier when choosing windows, insulation and heating/cooling systems.

“Our members can take comfort in knowing that the home they are building meets energy efficient standards for our local area,” Donald said.

The specific criteria and the rebates for the program are available online at dixieepa.com or available at Dixie Electric’s three office locations.

This is a joint program with other electric cooperatives in Mississippi through Dixie Electric’s wholesale power provider, Cooperative Energy.

Joe Donald, who administers the Comfort Advantage program at Dixie Electric, conducts an inspection with the Breland family in Runnelstown in order to certify their new house as a Comfort Advantage home.

Updating your heating/ cooling system The Comfort Advantage energy efficient heating/cooling program is focused around the use of energy efficient heat pumps.

Members have several types of heat pumps to choose from and can work with a professional heating and air dealer about the brand and size of unit that serves them best. It is best to contact Dixie Electric before the new unit is installed to capture the appropriate information on the new and old units.

Comfort Advantage is a recognized standard for energy-efficient construction and quality products for the home. The benefits of Comfort Advantage and Comfort Advantage Plus are promoted by electric cooperatives who provide electric service to more than 430,000 Mississippi homes and businesses. Comfort Advantage is designed to help members minimize their energy consumption and to reduce peak power use, lowering power costs for everyone.

Visit us at dixieepa.com to find out more about Comfort Advantage.

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601 Graphics & Gear, located in Laurel, is a family owned and operated printing business dedicated to making their customers happy. Services include screen printing, vinyl sign printing, monograming, banners, applique and more. They also carry t-shirts, aprons, bags, dish towels, burp cloths, baby gowns, onesies, RTIC cups and other small gifts. Next time you need that special gift for a wedding, a new baby or just a special occasion, visit 601 Graphics & Gear to customize something special, just for you.

Dixie Electric members receive 10% off any monogram, stitched name or initials when presenting your Co-op Connections card.

Gatlin Building Supply is more than your local hardware store. Located on Woodard Switch Road in Waynesboro, Gatlin Building Supply can provide many of your household needs, and their local friendly staff is waiting to help you find exactly what you need.

Dixie Electric members receive $50 off the purchase of a large Big Green Egg when providing your Co-op Connections card.

Chili’s Grill & Bar is a family-friendly restaurant conveniently located in Petal. Opening at 11 a.m. each day, Chili’s offers a variety of lunch and dinner options with a classic Tex-Mex & American flare. Chili’s mission is to deliver burgers, ribs, fajitas and ‘ritas like no place else.

Chili’s friendly staff are waiting to serve you today!

Present your Co-op Connections card and receive a free chips and salsa order with the purchase of an entrée. Limit one per table.

Windy Hollow Farms & Nursery, located at 10 Landrum Oaks Road in Ellisville, has a variety of options for your landscaping needs. From potted plants to hanging plants, vegetables and herbs, Windy Hollow has something special in the greenhouse just for you. From your home to your business, local owner Melinda Bradshaw can custom create to fit your specific needs. She also offers store front arrangements for businesses that are changed seasonally. Call for business times and availability, 601-319-9465.

Present your Co-op Connections card and receive a free succulent arrangement with any purchase of $50 or more.

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Plant the right tree in the right place Trees beautify our neighborhoods, and when planted in the right spot, can even help lower energy bills. But the wrong tree in the wrong place can be a hazard... especially to power lines.

LARGE TREES 40-45 feet from lines • Red Maple • Spruce • Lacebark Elm • White Oak • Hemlock • Shagbark Hickory

SMALL/MEDIUM TREES 30-35 feet from lines • Bradford Pear • Golden Raintree • Saucer Magnolia • Sourwood • Winter King Hawthorne • Flowering Dogwood • Ornamental Crabapple • Dogwood

• Carolina Silverbell • Ornamental Cherry • Serviceberry • Fraser Fir • Redbud • Japanese Lilac • Kousa • Stewartia

For more tips on smart tree planting in your community, visit dixieepa.com or www.ArborDay.org.

Avoid planting anything within

20-25 feet of the power lines.

Easter Bunny MAINTAINING photos!

RELIABLE SERVICE This ad is an updated version according to Dixie Electric’s tree planting guidelines.

70 ft.

6 0 ft.

50ft.

Right-of-way clearing projects underway Dixie Electric Power Association clears trees, limbs and underbrush from the area around and below the power lines, called the right-of-way.

Right-of-way clearing decreases the number of outages and reduces the risk of someone coming in contact with the power lines.

Here are the substations and surrounding communities that are either currently being cleared or will be cleared soon: • Shelton substation – Sanford, Glendale and airport areas

Clearing the right-of-way protects individuals from the hazards of electricity and makes power restoration quicker and safer for both Dixie Electric’s members and personnel.

4 0 ft.

30 ft.

Tuesday, April 9

Dixie Electric’s Waynesboro Office 618 Azalea Drive, Waynesboro (601) 735-2072 Noon – 7 p.m.

20ft.

10 ft.

Thursday, April 11

Dixie Electric’s Petal Office 1312 Highway 42, Petal (601) 583-1131 Noon – 7 p.m.

0

Friday, April 12

Dixie Electric’s Laurel Office 1863 Highway 184, Laurel (601) 425-2535 Noon – 5:30 p.m.

First child: $10 Each additional child: $5 Pets are welcome.

You will receive your photos on a USB drive.

Proceeds benefit

Small Heaters can lead to BIGGER Bills

March 2019 Today in Mississippi

During winter, for many of us, comfort at home means heat.

While a good central heating system is designed to meet whole house needs, sometimes consumers turn to space heaters for additional warmth. Some people use one to boost temperatures for a single room where the available heat is inadequate, but their widespread use, over extended periods, can boost winter heating bills.

“In some cases, small space heaters can be less expensive to use if you only want to heat one room or supplement inadequate heating in one room,” according to analysts at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

“However, a space heater is not necessarily an economical source of longterm warmth. It is not an alternative to a whole-home heating system.”

Right Type for the Job According to DOE, two types of space heaters are generally available for the residential market.

Most can deliver between 10,000 Btu and 40,000 Btu of heat per hour and commonly run on electricity, propane, natural gas or kerosene. Wood and pellet stoves are also increasingly available for many applications.

Convective heating circulates air within an enclosed space, while radiant heating transfers warming energy directly to objects or people near its

source.

If central heating is unavailable or inadequate, a convective heating unit can distribute heat relatively evenly throughout an enclosed space. For garages, workshops, workout rooms or laundry areas, used for a few hours a day or each week, a convective heater could be a good fit.

Many convective electric heaters contain some type of sealed heat transfer liquid. They allow heat generated by the devices to store energy as heat, so they cycle less while providing consistent performance.

Radiant electric heaters typically include infrared heating elements. Nearby surfaces—including people— absorb the heat. Air in immediate proximity to the unit’s enclosure or cabinetry also aids in the transfer of conductive warmth.

Safe Not Sorry Space heaters get seasonal use, but they are responsible for 25,000 residential fires a year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which pegs the annual mortality rate at 300 a year. Burn injuries associated with surface contacts with room heaters send about 6,000 people to emergency rooms every year, and most of those incidents don’t result in fires.

Because the devices are designed to

give off heat, they should always be set in locations clear of all flammable materials and out of reach of small children, pets or anyone with impaired mobility.

In recent years, many space heaters have been designed with tip-over safety features, which automatically shut off the power source in the event that the unit tilts beyond its upright position.

Because space heaters are designed specifically to produce heat, they should be plugged directly into a wall whenever possible. If an extension cord is used, it should be heavy duty, and made of 14-gauge wire or larger.

Given a choice between high, medium and low, or an adjustable thermostat, choose the latter. A unit that heats your space to the desired temperature will cycle less, saving you energy, and never overheat the room.

And buy the right size heater for the right size space––too small and the warming results could be disappointing; too large or powerful and you’ll be uncomfortable. Any time you open doors or windows to vent away warm air, you are wasting energy you’ve already consumed to produce heat.

Getting More for Less “Space heaters are not the ideal solution for heating homes,” said Brian Sloboda, a senior program manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “For every unit of electricity that is consumed by these devices, they produce one unit of heat.”

While adding several space heaters to supplement your central heating system is also likely to drive up your ener-

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gy costs, selective use can help you save money.

According to analysts at the Environmental Protection Agency, the key is using space heaters in smaller rooms that are occupied infrequently, in conjunction with lower thermostat settings on your central system.

Lowering thermostat settings from 70 to 65 degrees and using a thermostat-controlled space heater to heat 10 percent of a home’s conditioned floor space will save a heat pump user $67 a year. But the EPA cautions that space heaters are most efficient when used in small spaces for limited periods and can actually waste energy if consumers try to heat too much area with the devices.

There are currently no space heaters among the EPA’s list of ENERGY STAR®-rated products. Agency officials said they have evaluated several models but have no plans to include such products in the labeling program in the near future.

Still, high-end space heaters are heavily marketed during the autumn and winter months.

“Most of these units are very similar in design, but the cabinetry or packaging is a major selling point,” said Sloboda. “Consumers should consider the wide range of heaters available and their own taste in features and design before buying one.”

Slobada said, “Other alternatives, like sealing air leaks, adding insulation or tuning up your heating system so it operates more efficiently are just a few of the options that won’t increase your overall energy use.”

Dixie Electric’s Charity Golf Tournament benefitting the American Cancer Society will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019

dixieepa.com

Laurel Country Club For more information, call Pollyanna Magee 601-425-2535 • FAX: 601-399-5255 • email:pollymagee@dixieepa.com

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East Mississippi Electric Power Association Louisville Meridian 662.773.5741 601.581.8600

Quitman 601.776.6271

DeKalb 601.743.2641

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

The Three Ps of Broadband On January 30, 2019, Governor Phil Bryant signed into law the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act. As I CEO Randy Carroll have written in past articles, our enabling legislation limited rural cooperatives to providing electricity, and like services, only. Recently we have been encouraged to look at using the same model that brought electric service to rural areas to provide broadband service to these same areas. Permission from our legislators was the first step, and they did so in record time and with almost no opposition. The bill passed in the House 115 in favor and 3 opposed. The Senate passed the bill 52 in favor and none opposed.

EMEPA is now tasked with developing a Plan.

We have divided our Leadership Team into three subteams: a communication team, a business development team and a technology and facilitation team. Each team was given specific challenges and tasks to help

prepare the foundation of any plan we develop. Years ago, I heard a fellow employee question a contractor about why he spent so much time working on the foundation of a house. The contractor’s response rings clear in my mind today. “If I mess this up, everything that follows will be wrong.” We must take the time to determine the type of soil we would build on, if it is even appropriate to build and if the structure would be useful once built.

The final P represents Patience.

Please be patient with us as we research, analyze and develop options. It is our sincere desire that anything we do be beneficial to the distribution system that so many worked to construct over the past 80 years, and that any broadband solution will be affordable to our

Reporting a power outage can be EASY!

Update your phone number.

members for years to come. If we can’t accomplish these two simple goals, we shouldn’t move forward. If we can, it won’t be quick, easy or without challenges but few things that empower us come without hard work and great effort.

How to update your phone number: • Call any EMEPA office to change the number associated with your account.

Louisville 662-773-5741 Meridian 601-581-8600 Quitman 601-776-6271 DeKalb 601-743-2641 • Email your contact information to contactus@emepa.com with “Verify Contact Info” in subject line of email.

• Visit any EMEPA office.

EMEPA’s outage reporting system will automatically recognize your account if your phone number is correct.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10

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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT

Programmable lighting options

Many LEDs, like the Phillips Hue line, can be controlled from a smartphone app, making the LED more of a consumer electronic than a light bulb.

Photo Source: Signify.com Consumers have many options for smart lighting systems. Shown at right is the Phillips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit. Photo Source: Signify.com

In the past, the ability to easily control lights within the home has been fairly rudimentary. You flipped a switch on or off. Perhaps you had a dimmer switch. To turn lights on when you were on vacation, you plugged a lamp into a gadget with a dial and it turned the lamp on and off. But today, consumers have more options than ever before.

The growing use of LED bulbs and the proliferation of smartphones and Wi-Fi have brought lighting options to a new level. In addition to using less energy, many LEDs can be controlled from a smartphone app, making the LED more of a consumer electronic than a light bulb.

When shopping for new LEDs, you essentially have two options.

A less expensive LED still offers longer life, lower energy use and will work for most fixtures. However, consumers with older dimmer switches often find that they must replace switches to work with newer LEDs. The second and more expensive option is a “connected” LED. These LEDs offer features like controlling lights remotely from a smartphone app or via voice control through an in-home speaker. They can also be connected to a home security system or dimmed

to enhance entertaining.

Connected LEDs require a central controller or hub, like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple HomeKit. The hub can control other smart devices and become the center of a smart home system.

Consumers can choose from a variety of manufacturers when purchasing connected LEDs. Some bulbs are compatible with different hubs or systems, but if you’re planning a major overhaul to your home lighting, it’s best to buy one brand and stick with it.

Smart lighting options aren’t necessarily about saving energy, but if they can help you remember to turn the light off when you are not in a room, then a small amount of energy savings can be achieved.

As technology continues to advance, more smart home products will become available.

Many of these products will include features that focus on home security and quality of life.

If you’re interested in smart technologies for your home, the key will be to research your options and understand how the system works with the other devices within your home.

This policy is in conformance with the requirement of Presidential Executive Order 11246, the Age Discrimination Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Equal Pay Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and all other civil rights related to laws and regulations that have or may be enacted, as amended.

It is the policy of East MS EPA not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or because he or she is a protected veteran. It is also the policy of East MS EPA to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, pay secrecy, disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.

Employees and applicants of East MS EPA will not be subject to harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or because he or she is a protected veteran. Additionally, retaliation, including intimidation, threats, or coercion, because an employee or applicant has objected to discrimination, engaged or may engage in filing a complaint, assisted in a review, investigation, or hearing or have otherwise sought to obtain their legal rights under any Federal, State, or local EEO law is prohibited.

As Chief Executive Officer of East MS EPA, I am committed to the principles of Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity. In order to ensure dissemination and implementation of Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action throughout all levels of the company, I have selected Sherry Wallace, Director of Human Resources, as the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Manager for East MS EPA. One of the EEO Manager’s duties will be to establish and maintain internal audit and reporting systems to allow for effective measurement of East MS EPA’s programs.

In furtherance of East MS EPA’s policy regarding Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity, East MS EPA has developed a written Affirmative Action Program which sets forth the policies, practices and procedures that East MS EPA is committed to in order to ensure that its policy of nondiscrimination and affirmative action is accomplished. This Affirmative Action Program is available in the Human Resources office for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment upon request, during normal business hours. Interested persons should contact Sherry Wallace for assistance.

We request the support of all employees in accomplishing Equal Employment Opportunity. ___________________________ Randy E. Carroll, Chief Executive Officer East MS Electric Power Association Dated: 01/28/2019

Spring is nearly here!

of the

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer. Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Month

Source: energy.gov

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www.4county.org • 1-800-431-1544

Board of Directors John E. “Jay” Gilliland Jr., President • Mike Banks, Secretary/Treasurer • Ernest H. “Bud” Tumlinson

Johnny Johnson, Vice President Bill Bell • Kenneth Seitz • Marty Crowder

HERE’S AN IDEA

YOUR COOPERATIVE

This spring, think summer

By Brian Clark, CEO/General Manager

Talking broadband covers a really broad spectrum Let’s talk broadband. Late last month, Governor Phil Bryant signed the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act into law, and just like that, Mississippi’s 25 electric cooperatives now have the ability to provide high speed internet to their members. So, when can 4-County members connect to the information super highway courtesy of fiber optics?

Tomorrow? Next week? That seems to be the expectation of lots of people out there. Well, expectations are one thing, but reality is a whole lot different.

4-County is taking a long, hard look at broadband. We have conducted a feasibility Brian Clark study on the matter and will shortly begin another to help us make what may be one of the most important decisions this cooperative has ever made. I say that because if we were to travel down this road, the first study says that it would be at a cost of somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million dollars. That amount is nearly half of our total electric plant after 80 years of being in business. And it would have to be borrowed by 4-County to fund a potential fiber to the home (FTTH) system. That means that ultimately, 4-County members are responsible for guaranteeing the loan.

But let’s say we do decide to offer broadband services to our members. The fact of the matter is that it would be several years before the service would be available to everyone. And it would most likely be that the people in the most rural parts of our system would be among the last ones

to get the service. To top it all off, we were not legally able to even do this until the governor put his signature on the bill.

There are also scenarios where we aren’t the ones who actually provide the internet service, but we find partners who will. Then we become part of the solution by putting in a fiber “backbone” which supports our needs as an electric cooperative in areas like AMI, SCADA and other uses, and then those partners can tie into our backbone and take internet service out to the membership.

There are many, many other considerations that go into making the decision to undertake a project like this. Unfortunately, most folks have very unreal expectations of what happens now that the governor has signed the bill. They think that we’ll just flip a switch and inexpensive, high speed internet will appear. People use the cooperative in Alabama as an example that it is possible. Remember, they’ve been at this for several years, they got a lot of grants and subsidies to help pay for it and the FIRST places they served were NOT in their territory.

We deliver electric power. Our mission is to do so reliably and at the lowest feasible cost. We are good at that job. We never want to compromise that. Any decision we make will come after very careful consideration as we work to ensure that we do the right thing for our members and 4-County.

We will keep communicating with and updating our members.

Warm temperatures this spring make it a great time to think about how warm it could get this summer. A rise in temperature can also mean a rise in energy bills as well.

Give your air conditioner a fighting chance at keeping your home cool in the months ahead, without using more electricity than necessary.

Here are some tips to keep energy bills low this summer: • Trade your traditional incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). The new generation of CFLs uses far less energy.

• Call a service technician to give your air-conditioning system – and any window units – a thorough once-over before the weather gets hot.

• Change air conditioner filters monthly from now until October.

Try these hot ideas to cool off your summer months!

Ceiling fans can cool off energy costs Ceiling fans can be a great way to increase the energy savings in your home while providing a comfortable living environment.

A decorative alternative to typical light fixtures, ceiling fans can cut summer energy use.

Ceiling fans do not lower the temperature in a room. The cooling effect occurs when air from the ceiling fan blows across a person’s skin. “When you leave the room, switch the fan and its lights off. You’ll save energy and money,” said Ronnie Vernon, 4-County marketing specialist.

Co-op Connections Card saves Since the Co-op Connections Card was unveiled in September 2011, 4-County members have saved over $709,000 on prescription drugs through January.

Look here each month to see the savings total!

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History being made every day 4-County Electric Power Association has a rich history, as evidenced by the early photos, above. But, we continue to make history each and every day.

4-County members, do you recognize any of these early 4-County pioneers?

If so, call Brad Barr or Jon Turner at 1-800-431-1544. You may just win a prize!

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March 2019

Foundation hands out big checks

By Brad Barr

Twelve area organizations received awards this week from the 4-County Electric Power Association Foundation. Over $45,000 was distributed at the Foundation’s Feb. 11 meeting at 4-County’s Corporate Center.

Since the Foundation’s inception in February 2015, nearly $900,000 has been dispersed to organizations in 4-County’s service area.

Those receiving Foundation awards Monday were: Clay County Habitat for Humanity ($2,500 for roof and flooring repairs); Starkville High School Jobs for MS Graduates ($1,185 for computers for post-graduation use following successful program completion); Crawford Volunteer Fire Department ($4,139 for a grain bin rescue kit); Rainwater Observatory at French Camp ($3,000 for public programs showcasing professional lectures on astronomy); Starkville High School RoboJackets ($5,320 for travel expenses for travel to competition); Chickasaw County 4-H ($2,500 for travel expenses associated with program competitions); Starkville Fire Department ($2,000 for smoke detectors for distribution to area residents); Town of Artesia ($7,405.16 for community playground equipment); Friends of Choctaw County Library System ($5,013.60 for various educational electronic devices); Girl Scouts Heart of the South ($855 for program supplies); Lowndes County Fire Services District 2 ($4,100 for a thermal imaging camera); and Macon Lions Club ($7,049 for a vision screening device and associated accessories).

4-County believes in helping the communities it serves.

That’s why the cooperative launched the 4-County Foundation, a community service program. Since February 2015, participating 4-County members’ utility bills have been rounded up to the nearest dollar; a $125.78 bill, for example, becomes $126. Now, that’s an average of only 49 cents per member, per month. That may not seem like much. But when you multiply those contributions by the thousands of member participants, that’s a lot of pennies!

For more information on the 4-County Foundation, call 1-800-431-1544.

Rainwater Observatory

Macon Lions Club

Lowndes County Fire Services District 2

Starkville Fire Department

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Chickasaw County 4-H

Friends of Choctaw County Library System

Clay County Habitat for Humanity

Girl Scouts Heart of the South

Crawford Volunteer Fire Department

Starkville High School Jobs for MS Graduates

Starkville High School RoboJackets

Town of Artesia

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PAYMENT OPTIONS INCLUDE KIOSKS

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March 2019

4-County Electric Power Association looks for ways to make doing business with the cooperative easier for its members. One of those easy payment options is kiosks located throughout the 4-County service area. The co-op has 18 kiosk locations(two others, located at McKee’s Kwik Stop in Pheba and the Tenn-Tom 1 Stop in Brooksville, have been removed for inactivity).

Kiosk locations at the 4-County Corporate Center in Lowndes County and the coop’s Starkville office are available 24 hours a day. Other kiosks are available at various times throughout the co-op’s service area. The kiosks will accept check, credit cards or cash. The payment machines do not give change. Money taken in that exceeds the payment total will go toward the member’s next bill.

The kiosk payment method is but one option. Members can continue to pay their bills in person, by mail, bank draft or online.

Choctaw County

The cooperative now has

Zippin – 1000 W. Main St. in Ackerman Piggly Wiggly – 24844 Miss. Hwy. 15 in Mathiston

Noxubee County

18

Tem’s Food Market – 179 N. Oliver St. in Brooksville Tem’s Food Market – 101 W. Pearl St. in Macon

kiosk locations:

Clay County

Watts Happening This listing of area events is compiled from information provided by area chambers of commerce and visitors bureaus. The events listed are subject to change. Please call to confirm dates, times and additional details.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 Music by Women Festival; Mississippi University for Women, 1100 College St. in Columbus; continues through Saturday, March 9; details, 329-1191.

Tara Warfield, soprano, and Amy Neal, piano; Old Main Academic Center, 560 Barr Avenue on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; details, (662) 324-3080.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 Dulcimer Group; Louise Campbell Arts Center, (662) 295-0461 in downtown West Point; 2 to 3 p.m.; details, (662) 295-0461.

West Point Shell – 1443 Hwy. 45 N. in West Point Knox Grocery – 9672 Brand Una Road in Prairie Sprint Mart – 631 W. Main St. in West Point

Oktibbeha County University Hills Shell – 1125 Hwy. 82 E. in Starkville Sprint Mart – 200 N. Jackson St. in Starkville Walmart – 1010 MS-12 in Starkville

Lowndes County Dutch Village Shell – 1245 Lehmberg Road in Columbus Sprint Mart – 3101 Hwy. 45 N. in Columbus New Hope Shell – 5780 Hwy. 182 E. in Columbus Sprint Mart – 1313 Hwy. 69 S. in Columbus Walmart – 1913 U.S. 45 in Columbus Sprint Mart – 111 Lehmberg Road in Columbus

4-County locations Starkville office – 9776 Mississippi Hwy. 25 S. Corporate Center – 5265 S. Frontage Road in Mayhew

THURSDAY, MARCH 14 Library: Book & Authors Reading; Starkville Public Library, 326 University Drive; 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.; details, (662) 324-3080.

AiPP Show – Laurie Burton; Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 200 E. Main St. in Starkville; 5:30 to 6:50 p.m.; details, (662) 324-3080.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19 Saxophone Quartet and Ensemble; Old Main Academic Center, 560 Barr Avenue on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; details, (662) 324-3080.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 Student Recital: Ronnie Bullock, saxophone and Dr. Karen Murphy, piano; Old Main Academic Center, 560 Barr Avenue on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; (662) 324-3080.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22 New Narrative Festival and Conference; BThe Mill Conference Center, 100 Mercantile Lane in Starkville; continues through Saturday, March 23; details, (662) 324-3080.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 Charles H. Templeton Ragtime & Jazz Festival; Mitchell Memorial Library in McComas Hall Auditorium on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville; continues through Saturday, March 30; details, (662) 324-3080.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29 CMSU Opera Production Suor Angelica

by G. Puccini; First United Methodist Church, 101 E. Lampkin St. in Starkville; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; continues through Saturday, March 30; details, (662) 324-3080.

Hee Haw Variety Show; Louise Campbell Arts Center, in downtown West Point; 7 p.m.; details, (662) 295-0461.

Take the You’ve all heard it. You’ve probably even sung it. The 4-County jingle.

It’s catchy. It’s hip. It’s fun. Well, it’s catchy and fun, anyway.

4-County Electric Power Association is inviting you to have a little extra fun with the jingle.

Look for details on the 4-County Facebook page in March. Basically, you can submit your own video and audio version of the jingle and win a prize/prizes! We’re calling it the 4-County Jingle Challenge.

You don’t have to be an instrumental or vocal star to submit. Have fun! Who knows – you may win a cool prize and get to appear in a commercial and/or appear at a 4-County event!

Take some cues on how to do your video from the Facebook post/announcement in March.

GUIDELINES

Ji ngle Challen g e ! to: not limited, re a t u b , e d clu s Prizes may in tional goodie o m ro p ty n u o • A bag of 4-C winning entry) per try) r (one vouche r winning en e p r e h c u o v (one zes are • A gift card ideo, but pri v a it m b su Anyone can . nty members u o -C 4 to d e limit

For more information on the 4-County jingle challenge, call 1-800-431-1544 and ask for Brad or Jon.

• The video must be 30 seconds or under • You must introduce yourself/group at the beginning of the video.

• The jingle must be featured (of course).

• No inappropriate video/audio is allowed.

We reserve the right to remove/edit anything deemed inappropriate or not fitting criteria.

Congratulations, March 2019

Thrill of the hunt drives 4-County’s Caldwell For years, Bill Caldwell has been on his own personal treasure hunt. The treasure is not lost, he insists, it just hasn’t been found yet.

“You never know what you’ll find,” said Bill, an avid collector of this and that. His penchant for collecting began as a child in West Point. “When the comic books came out on Thursday, I was headed to the store to get the latest issue of Spider Man,” he said with a grin.

Bill, a veteran 4County employee based in the Starkville office, describes himself as a collector of “smalls,” items that can be easily stored or displayed, such as comic books, marbles, bottles, etc. He appreciates the historical significance of the items he collects. But, a big part of the allure to collect, he said, is the thrill of the chase. “It’s my own little treasure hunt. It doesn’t have to be a search for a big ticket item. It’s just looking for something unique and neat. The workmanship is so good in items from those early years,” Bill explained.

A recent find, however, enforces his belief that through hard work and a little divine intervention, an unexpected treasure may land at your doorstep. In what he describes as a one-in-a-million discovery, Bill was reunited with some family heirlooms. A fellow collector came across a box of love letters from the early 1900s. The catch? They were from Bill’s great grandfather to his great grandmother. “The wild thing is that they were at an estate sale,” Bill said, “but they found their way back to me.”

He and his wife, Dede, live in Mathiston with their two sons, Nash, 18, and Easton, 11. Their daughter Molly, 23,

is married and lives in Hattiesburg.

Assisted by Bill, Nash and Easton are carrying on the family tradition of comic book collecting. Easton takes part in another of Bill’s hobbies, drawing and painting. “I enjoy seeing the boys take part in these hobbies,” he said.

Working with wood may be his favorite hobby, however. “It’s neat to make something out of nothing,” he said. Take a saw, a drill, mineral oil and a little skill, Bill said, and you get something interesting. He makes wooden spoons, wall hangers and lanterns, giving away some and selling a few of them.

He also enjoys his time at 4-County. Bill began his career as a part-time employee in the summer of 1987, working on hand-drawn maps for the cooperative. He became full-time in 1988, working in mapping at the 4County Corporate Center. He later had stints in staking at the Corporate Center and Starkville offices. He was promoted to district engineering and construction coordinator in 2006 (a position now known as senior service coordinator).

Bill has two associate’s degrees from East Mississippi Community College: one in line drafting and survey, and one in supervision and management. At 4County, he serves on committees studying line extension, lighting and construction practices.

He enjoys his job, orchestrating details on the front end of getting power to members where they need it.

But whether it’s working a storm or answering a member question, quality service remains the top priority, Bill stressed. “I love it. The longer I work here, the more I appreciate my job.”

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Kenny l e a h c i m Car 37 Years of Service

Kenny Carmichael recently retired. Over 100 people attended his retirement event. He began his 4-County career April 19, 1981, as a Groundman. He advanced through the ranks and became a journeyman lineman in 1988. He later became a crew leader and, in 2015, began serving as a Meter Technician 1.

“What makes 4-County is the people. We’re a family.”

– Kenny Carmichael

Thanks for the memories!

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March 2019

2019 Annual meeting to be held in MEP auditorium

Magnolia Electric Power’s 2019 Annual Meeting date has been set for Thursday, March 28, 2019, and will be held in the auditorium at the office building, which is located at 3027 Highway 98 West, Summit.

The schedule of events for the meeting is that registration will start at 6 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. The business portion of the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Entertainment, prizes and a business session highlight the meeting.

The entertainment, which is The Bridge Band of Brookhaven, will perform for members and guests from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

The business meeting includes an election of three of the Magnolia Electric Power Association’s directors.

Running unopposed for their districts are: Jerry Sisco, District 3; Carl Fuller, District 6; and Odell McKenzie,

District 8.

Jerry Sisco, a retired dairy farmer, raises row crops consisting of soybeans, winter wheat and hay at his farm in the West Lincoln community of Lincoln County. He has served on Magnolia Electric’s Board of Directors for 23 years.

Carl Fuller of the Friendship/ Felder’s Campground area in Pike County currently serves as a NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director on Magnolia Electric’s Board of Directors. He has served on the board for 14 years. He is a contract poultry grower for Sanderson Farms in the McComb Division and also has a cattle operation. Fuller has served on the Pike County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 25 years.

Odell McKenzie is a retired businessman from the Enon community of

Walthall County, but continues to work with his family in the cattle, hay and tree farming industries. He currently serves as a NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director on Magnolia Electric’s Board of Directors.

McKenzie has been on the board for 21 years.

Two ways to win

Magnolia Electric members can participate in the Annual Meeting by signing and returning a proxy or by attending in person. Separate prizes are awarded to both those who attend the meeting and those who participate by returning their proxy. (Annual meeting notices, which include proxies, were mailed to members in mid-February.)

A grand prize of $500 in electricity credit is awarded by random drawing to some lucky member who attends the

Magnolia Electric Power 3027 Highway 98 West Summit, Miss.

meeting and a separate $500 in electricity credit will go to a member who participates by sending in the proxy. A member cannot win in both drawings.

An additional five names will be drawn from those sending in their proxy and five names will be drawn from those attending. Each will receive $50 in electricity credit.

To be eligible, the signed proxy must be received at Magnolia Electric Power by March 21 to be used at the Annual Meeting and be included in the drawing.

A proxy is valid only for members who do not attend the meeting. Do not send in your proxy if you plan to attend the meeting. You can be eligible for only one drawing.

Other business includes a financial report and reports from officers and the general manager.

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EETING M L A U N AN MENT N I A T R E T EN

8 2 H C R MA pm 6:30 - 7:00

The Bridge Band will be performing at the 2019 Magnolia Electric Power

Annual Meeting The band members include Ron Donegan, Nick Bridge, Tyler Bridge and Shelley Smith.

The band, based in Brookhaven, plays at lots of festivals, churches and other venues.

By sending in your proxy, you are still participating in Magnolia Electric Power’s Annual Meeting. As a member of an electric cooperative, that is one of many things that make us different from other electric companies. If you do not think you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, please take the time to fill out the proxy and mail it in.

Here is a checklist to help you understand the proxy: Three candidates have been nominated from their respective districts by a nominating committee. For anyone who wants to know more about the candidates, please see the brochure that is enclosed in the proxy envelope for additional information, or read more about them in our Annual Meeting story. If you leave the representative’s name line blank, then the Board of Directors will serve as your proxy. They will cast your vote for you. If you wish to direct the board to vote for a certain nominee, then you would need to check that name. Don’t forget to sign the proxy before you drop it in the mail. There is an envelope provided to mail it to an accounting firm who will oversee all the proxies.

If you wish to name someone who is attending the meeting to be your proxy then you need to put their name in the representative’s name blank. Then sign the proxy and drop it in the envelope that was provided and mail it to the accounting firm.

But above all matters, regardless if you let the board serve as your proxy or you designate a proxy, you MUST SIGN your proxy before dropping it in the envelope provided or it will be invalid.

Your proxy or attendance at the Annual Meeting includes you in a drawing for prizes.

Leave b if you wa lank nt to serve a the board s your pro xy.

Magnolia Electric Power

2019 ANNUAL MEETING

March 28, 2019

If you wo ul represen d like to designat ea ta ti put their ve to serve as pro xy, name he attend th re. They must e meetin g.

Sign yo

ur nam

Remember, you must sign the proxy for it to be valid.

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March 2019

Achord

spends first season on staff with Patriots

By Elissa Fulton nator. Judge, a Philadelphia, Penn., Cameron Achord is no stranger to native, had played football at Mississippi Magnolia Electric Power. His father, State University. Although Cameron Aaron Achord, is the Manager of only worked with him a short time, Engineering, and Cameron grew up Judge went on to accept a job in the learning about the cooperative and how New England Patriots organization, but it serves the members of the community. Cameron kept in touch and fostered the He went to Brookhaven Academy where relationship for several years after the he played six sports during his senior two met. year. He played baseball, soccer, basketAfter the graduate assistant internship ball, ran cross country and ran track. But was over, Cameron went to work for growing up in a die-hard LSU family, Southwest Mississippi Community his passion was always football.

College (SMCC) as a recruiting coordiCameron was a receiver and played nator and a special teams coordinator, defensive back for the Brookhaven where he coached the receivers and the Academy Cougars and went on to tight ends for the SMCC Bears in Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., Summit, Miss. During his last two years where he played defense there, he was the offenand free safety on the sive coordinator where college team. He knew he coached the quarterhe wanted to work in backs and running the sports industry and backs. went to college with This year, Cameron broadcasting in mind. received a call early in After he tore ligaments the season that changed in his ankle, he was everything. His profesgiven the opportunity sional relationship with to work closer with the Judge recommenced coaches, even coaching when he was asked to some after his injury. interview for the assisAchord with the Vince Lombardi trophy That’s when he knew tant special teams coorafter the Patriots Super Bowl victory he wanted to coach against the Rams. Photo courtesy of the dinator with the New players as a career.

England Patriots when New England Patriots/Eric J. Adler Cameron went on to the position opened. earn bachelor’s degrees in Computer “Relationships are important, and it’s Science and Sports Administration. He all about the first impressions we give worked his way through college working that make a difference,” said Cameron. summers at Magnolia Electric Power in “I kept a really good relationship with the staking department and even spent Joe through the years. We stayed in some time assisting a crew from North touch, and he brought me up for an Carolina as a foreman’s guide after interview earlier this year.”

Hurricane Katrina devastated much of After a quick meeting, Cameron the Southeast. found himself packing up everything to After he graduated from Belhaven, he move to Massachusetts in early April. assumed a graduate assistant position “I took the job on a Monday, and I with the Golden Eagles football team at was there [Massachusetts] on Wednesday the University of Southern Mississippi in starting work,” said Cameron. “I had Hattiesburg. It was there that he met Joe about 24 hours to move up there and Judge, who was the special teams coordi- get started.”

Achord during a practice with the Patriots. Photo courtesy of the New England Patriots/David Silverman.

recruiting.

“These days, people are on their phones 24/7, and if you are not talking to the players from high school, someone else is,” he said. “I spent so much time on the phone at the college level and now I never have to learn to play Fortnite.”

Although Cameron was modest about his Super Bowl experience, he admitted that it was Achord reviewing plays with Patriots players during practice. certainly a great experience.

Photo courtesy of the New England Patriots/Eric J. Adler.

“There are so many coaches and players that will never expeCameron has been very humble about rience this their whole career, even starting a job in the NFL with the though they may be great. This is not Patriots organization, and especially something that happens every day. You about the Patriots recent Super Bowl have to accept it, enjoy it and move on.

LIII win against the Los Angeles Rams on February 3. With the Patriots organi- I tried not to look around because I did not want the anxization, he works hand-in-hand with ety to get to Judge coaching six units of me. I took it in teams. “ during the “The easiest way to pregame while say it, any time the are important, and it’s all throwing the ball is kicked, ball around with that’s the teams about the the other coaches. we are coachwe give that But once you step ing,” said on that field, you’ve Cameron. .” really got to block “You have - Cameron Achord everything else out and kickoff, kickfocus on the game. Focus on off return, what you have to do, and really try punt and punt return and field goal and field goal block not to make it bigger than it is.”

As for Cameron’s life in New team. Those are the six different units England, he is really adjusting to life in we are coaching.” the North and has managed to miss the The main coaching differences that Cameron has found between junior col- harsh winter so far. For now, he’s about to focus on starting the new 2020 season lege and the NFL are on the recruiting while the team waits on their Super end. While he spent a lot of time keepBowl LIII rings. Only time will tell if ing up with trends of high school stuthe Patriots will step on the field for dents, he spent the majority of his time talking on the phone late each night for Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

Relationships

first impressions make a difference

Phone scam alerts!

March 2019

Today in Mississippi 10c

Beware ... the bad guys are getting smarter

By Lucy Shell Jay King, owner of King’s Packing Company of Summit, knows his business dealings, but even knowing what is going on in his business made him question himself very seriously after receiving a disturbing phone call.

Around 11:30 a.m. one day in mid-January, a phone call was made to King’s Packing Company and the information shared with his employees made them so worried, they shared King’s cell phone number with the caller. In turn, the caller phoned King, who was away from the premises at the time.

When King answered the phone, he was told his electricity was about to be cut off for nonpayment at 12:30 p.m. that day. King quickly assured the caller that his payments were drafted out of his accounts. At that time, he was thinking of his personal accounts.

“Oh no, you are mistaken” he said. But, then he thought about the business and asked which account they were talking about. Even as he was talking to the caller, King KNEW he had paid the business account, too.

The caller, a female, assured him that his payment was not showing up on the computer and even shared with him that she had called on Monday and he had not returned the call.

King arrived at King’s Packing Company by this time and headed straight to his office, where he pulled up his bank account online.

He told the lady, “I mailed you a check on the 4th, and the bank shows that the check was deposited on the 7th.” But, she had an answer for that…

She asked King, “Who had cashed the check?”

King explained he could not see the back of the check, but he would investigate it.

At that point, he explained, “She told me, ‘Well, you have until 12:30 to prove it because they had already dispatched someone to cut the power off and

that the power would be off for 24 hours.’”

King said, “I believed it,” meaning he was believing what the female was telling him.

King said he knew that it would be detrimental to his business to be without power so that is why, after getting off the phone, he went immediately to the bank to see who had signed the back of the check and then he drove to the Magnolia Electric Power office to double check that his account was up-to-date.

It was at this time MEP Head Cashier Yvonne Dillon listened to King and explained to him that he had received a phone call from a scammer.

In the meantime, Dillon called up King’s account and verified that he had paid the King’s Packing Company account and it was up-to-date.

Looking back, King said he saw some red flags that he did not see while on the phone with the woman.

“She never told me an amount,” he said. “I gave her that information. She never asked for a credit card, but I feel that is because I was on the defensive and saying that I had paid my bill.”

He also said, “She called the business King’s

Packaging Company and like a number didn’t show up on the cell phone, but I had just answered the call when the phone rang and didn’t really see that until afterwards.”

King described the caller. “She was good, profes-

Jay King, owner of King’s Packing Company in Summit, was recently a victim to scam callers. Luckily, King saw the signs and talked to Magnolia Electric Power employees before the scammers were able to recieve any money.

sional,she even comforted me,” he said.

King believes she was perhaps targeting small businesses. He might not be wrong.

Another MEP member, who shall remain anonymous, was not as lucky as King.

A phone scammer informed the member that MEP had changed their name to Mississippi Electric Power and convinced the member to pay through a money pack card from Kroger in McComb, after telling them that the closest place to pay in person was in Hammond, La. The same thing happened to this member in the fact that she was caught off guard and thought maybe she had not paid her business account. She was so worried that she did not want her power turned off that she sent the money to the scammer.

“Please be assured, Magnolia Electric Power does not have operators that call and ask for payments from our members,” said Amanda McKenzie, manager of billing.

“We do send out automated phone calls to remind members of payments, but you will never receive a call from a person asking for money.”

“Also, please know that if you are ever in doubt, hang up the phone and call the office and ask for the information,” said McKenzie. “We will gladly answer all your questions. We do not want our MEP members to fall for any scams.”

The phone scammers are getting more creative with their stories. Beware if you receive a phone call asking for money from someone saying they are from Magnolia Electric Power.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10

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Account Management

Today in Mississippi I March 2019

Outage Reportin g a

Made easier!

SmartHub lets you manage all aspects of your Magnolia Electric Power account.

t your fin

SmartHub allows you to view your daily use and manage your account right from your mobile device. With SmartHub, you have the tools you need to manage your accounts with mobile and Web apps fully integrated with Magnolia Electric Power. SmartHub delivers account information, mobile payments and more in a secure environment.

When temperatures vary, SmartHub is a convenient way to manage your daily power use.

MANAGE WEBSITE VERSION My Account Visit www.mepcoop.com Click on MANAGE my Account.

This will direct you to our SmartHub site.

MOBILE APP VERSION A mobile version of SmartHub is available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Search for “smarthub” to install.

With SmartHub you can: View billing history • Check your use • View a bill comparsion Pay your bill • Set up automatic notifications • Outage reporting

gertips!

March 2019

Today in Mississippi 11

Three easy DIY projects to save energy

By Abby Berry Winter weather can have a big impact on your energy bills, hitting your pockets a little harder than you would have liked. Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to tackle a few DIY efficiency projects for your home. The good news: You don’t have to be an energy expert to do this!

There are several easy ways to save energy, but if you’re willing to take a hands-on approach, here are three projects you can do now to start saving.

Make the Most of Your Water Heater.

Let’s start with one of the easiest projects: insulating your water heater. Insulating a water heater that’s warm to the touch can save 7 to 16 percent annually on your water heating bills. It should also be noted that if your water heater is new, it is likely already insulated. But if your water heater is warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation.

You can purchase a pre-cut jacket or blanket for about $20. You’ll also need two people for this project. Before you start, turn off the water heater. Wrap the blanket around the water heater and tape it to temporarily keep it in place. If necessary, use a marker to note the areas where the controls are so you can cut them out. Once the blanket is positioned correctly tape it permanently in place, then turn the water heater back on. If you have an electric water heater, do not set the thermostat above 130 degrees, which can cause overheating.

make sure it sticks to both sides of the crack or seam.

Afterwards, use a putty knife to smooth out the caulk, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

projects, you can save energy (and money!) while increasing the comfort level of your home. And you can impress your family and friends with your savvy energy-saving skills.

Weather Strip Exterior Doors.

One of the best ways to seal air leaks is to weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Weather stripping materials vary, but you can ask your local hardware or home store for assistance if you’re unsure about the supplies you need.

When choosing weather stripping materials, make sure it can withstand temperature changes, friction and the general “wear and tear” for the location of the door.

Keep in mind, you will need

Seal Air Leaks with Caulk.

The average The average American family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much of American family that money is wasted through air leaks in the home. Applying caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. Photo Credit: Rare Form Properties spends $2,000 annually on energy separate materials for the door sweep (at bills, but unfortunately, much of that money is wastthe bottom of the door) and the top and ed through air leaks in the home. Applying caulk sides. around windows, doors, electrical wiring and plumbBefore applying the new weather ing can save energy and money. There are many difstripping, clean the moulding with water ferent types of caulking compounds available, but the and soap, then let the area dry completemost popular choice is silicone. Silicone caulk is ly. Measure each side of the door, then waterproof, flexible and won’t shrink or crack. cut the weather stripping to fit each secBefore applying new caulk, clean and remove any tion. Make sure the weather stripping fits old caulk or paint with a putty knife, screwdriver, snugly against both surfaces so it combrush or solvent. The area should be dry before you presses when the door is closed. apply the new caulk.

By completing these simple efficiency Apply the caulk in one continuous stream, and

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.

Spring is nearly here!

TIP of the

Month

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer. Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

2019

National Ag Day: March 14, 2019

AGRICULTURE:

Food for Life

American agriculture is the foundation of our country. It’s the backbone of a healthy and prosperous nation that’s made possible by the hard work of America’s farms and farm families.

The Agriculture Council of America is proud to celebrate the nutritious and plentiful contributions of our country’s farms on National Agriculture Day. You’re invited to join the celebration. Join us for Ag Day 2019.

American agriculture is Food for Life—good for life!

Find out more about high-profile sponsorship opportunities from jennyp@nama.org.

www.agday.org Ag Day PARTNERS PLATINUM PARTNERS

Hosted by the Agriculture Council of America in recognition of Ag Day.

10

Today in Mississippi

March 2019

Providing affordable, reliable electricity to our members since 1936.

MONROE COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Programmable lighting options

In the past, the ability to easily control lights within the home has been fairly rudimentary. You flipped a switch on or off. Perhaps you had a dimmer switch.

To turn lights on when you were on vacation, you plugged a lamp into a gadget with a dial and it turned the lamp on and off. But today, consumers have more options than ever before.

The growing use of LED bulbs and the proliferation of smartphones and Wi-Fi have brought lighting options to a new level. In addition to using less energy, many LEDs can be controlled from a smartphone app, making the LED more of a consumer electronic than a light bulb.

When shopping for new LEDs, you essentially have two options.

A less expensive LED still offers longer life, lower energy use and will work for most fixtures. However, consumers with older dimmer switches often find that they must replace switches to work with newer LEDs. The second and more expensive option is a “connected” LED. These LEDs offer features like control-

Many LEDs, like the Phillips Hue line, can be controlled from a smartphone app, making the LED more of a consumer electronic than a light bulb. Photo Source: Signify.com Consumers have many options for smart lighting systems. Shown at right is the Phillips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit. Photo Source: Signify.com ling lights remotely from a smartphone app or via voice control through an in-home speaker. They can also be connected to a home security system or dimmed to enhance entertaining.

Connected LEDs require a central controller or hub, like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple HomeKit. The hub can control other smart devices and become the center of a smart home system.

Consumers can choose from a variety of manufacturers when purchasing connected LEDs. Some bulbs are compatible with different hubs or systems, but if

you’re planning a major overhaul to your home lighting, it’s best to buy one brand and stick with it.

Smart lighting options aren’t necessarily about saving energy, but if they can help you remember to turn the light off when you are not in a room, then a small amount of energy savings can be achieved.

As technology continues to advance, more smart home products will become available. Many of these products will include features that focus on home security and quality of life.

If you’re interested in smart technologies for your home, the key will be to research your options and understand how the system works with the other devices within your home.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10

March 2019

Today in Mississippi

Three easy DIY projects to save energy

By Abby Berry Winter weather can have a big impact on your energy bills, hitting your pockets a little harder than you would have liked. Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to tackle a few DIY efficiency projects for your home. The good news: You don’t have to be an energy expert to do this!

There are several easy ways to save energy, but if you’re willing to take a hands-on approach, here are three projects you can do now to start saving.

Make the Most of Your Water Heater.

Let’s start with one of the easiest projects: insulating your water heater. Insulating a water heater that’s warm to the touch can save 7 to 16 percent annually on your water heating bills. It should also be noted that if your water heater is new, it is likely already insulated. But if your water heater is warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation.

You can purchase a pre-cut jacket or blanket for about $20. You’ll also need two people for this project. Before you start, turn off the water heater. Wrap the blanket around the water heater and tape it to temporarily keep it in place. If necessary, use a marker to note the areas where the controls are so you can cut them out. Once the blanket is positioned correctly tape it permanently in place, then turn the water heater back on. If you have an electric water heater, do not set the thermostat above 130 degrees, which can cause overheating.

make sure it sticks to both sides of the crack or seam.

Afterwards, use a putty knife to smooth out the caulk, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

money!) while increasing the comfort level of your home. And you can impress your family and friends with your savvy energy-saving skills.

Weather Strip Exterior Doors.

One of the best ways to seal air leaks is to weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Weather stripping materials vary, but you can ask your local hardware or home store for assistance if you’re unsure about the supplies you need.

When choosing weather stripping materials, make sure it can withstand temperature changes, friction and the general “wear and tear” for the location of the door.

Keep in mind, you will need separate

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.

Spring is nearly here!

TIP of the

Month

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer. Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

2019

Seal Air Leaks with Caulk.

The average American family spends $2,000 The average American family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much annually on energy of that money is wasted through air leaks in the home. Applying caulk around windows, doors, bills, but unfortuelectrical wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. Photo Credit: Rare Form Properties nately, much of that materials for the door sweep (at the botmoney is wasted through air leaks in the home. tom of the door) and the top and sides.

Applying caulk around windows, doors, electrical Before applying the new weather wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. stripping, clean the moulding with water There are many different types of caulking comand soap, then let the area dry completepounds available, but the most popular choice is ly. Measure each side of the door, then silicone. Silicone caulk is waterproof, flexible and cut the weather stripping to fit each secwon’t shrink or crack. tion. Make sure the weather stripping fits Before applying new caulk, clean and remove any snugly against both surfaces so it comold caulk or paint with a putty knife, screwdriver, presses when the door is closed. brush or solvent. The area should be dry before you By completing these simple efficiency apply the new caulk. projects, you can save energy (and Apply the caulk in one continuous stream, and

11

National Ag Day: March 14, 2019

AGRICULTURE:

Food for Life

American agriculture is the foundation of our country. It’s the backbone of a healthy and prosperous nation that’s made possible by the hard work of America’s farms and farm families.

The Agriculture Council of America is proud to celebrate the nutritious and plentiful contributions of our country’s farms on National Agriculture Day. You’re invited to join the celebration. Join us for Ag Day 2019.

American agriculture is Food for Life—good for life!

Find out more about high-profile sponsorship opportunities from jennyp@nama.org.

www.agday.org Ag Day PARTNERS PLATINUM PARTNERS

Hosted by the Agriculture Council of America in recognition of Ag Day.

10

I

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2019

Don Dickerson, Secretary Olive Branch • Finance Executive • Member of Goodman Oaks Church of Christ • Serving District 2 since 2011 • Credential: CCD

For more information on Today in Mississippi, contact Michael Bellipanni at 662-895-2151.

A message from the CEO To many in our community, the organizational structure of Northcentral can be confusing. Yes, we are a corporation; and, yes, we are a not-for-profit.

Contrary to some belief, we are not a government entity.

Most importantly, Northcentral is a coop Kevin Doddridge General Manager/CEO erative owned and controlled by the membership/ratepayers that we serve.

A very important principal of being an electric cooperative is the fact that we are indeed governed by a Board of Directors, which is elected by our members. When formed in 1950, many people in rural areas were so content to receive affordable electric power, the governance of their cooperative was of little importance. As time goes by, expectations of more transparency and an increased awareness of our governance is needed.

This month’s issue of Today in Mississippi will introduce you to our board: who they are, the areas they represent, and their district’s location.

We’ll also discuss the initial and continued education required to be an effective cooperative director. This will be a topic of conversation over the next few months, and we invite comments at nepa@northcentralepa.com, as our board reviews all practices of governance to assure that we are the trusted and transparent cooperative that our members demand.

As for high speed internet, we now have

permission. We are currently developing our business model and initial operational and financing plan to get us in the game in an attempt to provide access to high speed internet service in North Mississippi. Please keep up with our progress by following our social media channels and especially tuning in to our monthly podcast, Northcentral Nfused.

Always, as your electric cooperative, we will continue to explore more cooperative services that can better our community.

CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST

Phil Lachaussee Olive Branch • Independent Insurance Agent • Member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church • Serving District 3 since 2015 • Credential: CCD

D C Hernando

fused Video and audio episodes can be found on Apple podcasts, Podbean, and our social media channels.

We’re coming soon to Stitcher!

Director Gold credential has been created to recognize directors committed to continuing their education beyond the CCD and BLC and who desire a tangible credential that demonstrates their ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.

The second part of the director education program, the BLC program, consists of a series of courses focusing in greater depth on industry and governance issues. These include issues such as risk management, power supply, parliamentary procedure, tech policy development. A director can earn the BLC if they have: (1) completed the CCD and (2) earned 10 credits from a choic courses.Directors may attend BLC courses at any time but the BLC will not be awarded until the CCD program requiremen

The first part, the CCD, is a set of five courses that focus on basic governance knowledge and the essential skills r directors. The CCD prepares directors to fulfill their fiduciary duty as elected officials serving on behalf of their completion of all five CCD courses, directors are awarded the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate

Northcentral’s board members go through extensive industry training to serve our membership. The Director Certificate Programs are offered in three parts, taken in progre

March 2019

Tony Taylor Olive Branch

• Retired Educator • Member of First Baptist Church of Byhalia • Serving District 5 since 1998 • Credential: CCD

STATELINE

Olive Branch

Ricky Jones Chulahoma Community • Funeral Home Operator • Chairman of Deacons at Chulahoma Missionary Baptist Church • Serving District 8, Marshall, Tate and Lafayette counties at-large, since 2003 • Credentials: CCD, BLC, DGC

Pat Woods, President (2013) Byhalia

Pleasant Hill

• Farmer, Agribusiness Owner • Member of Byhalia United Methodist Church • Serving District 1 since 2008 • Credentials: CCD, BLC, DGC

Byhalia Lewisburg

Victoria Red Banks

Julie Niblett DeSoto County

Today in Mississippi

Jerry Nichols, Vice President Marshall County

• Logistics Owner/Operator • Ordained Minister at New Mount Gillian Missionary Baptist Church • Serving District 4 since 2016 • Credentials: CCD, BLC

DESOTO COUNTY

I

MARSHALL COUNTY Holly Springs

Watson

• Retired Manager, MC Herrington Distributors • Member of Maples Memorial United Methodist Church • Serving District 9, DeSoto County at-large, since 2015 • Credential: CCD

Morris Thompson Watson Community • Cattleman • Member of Emery Independent Methodist Church • Serving District 6 since 2013 • Credentials: CCD, BLC, DGC

Chulahoma

TATE COUNTY

Joan Childress Marshall County • FedEx Retiree, Volunteer • Member of Wyatte Baptist Church • Serving District 7 since 2004 • Credential: CCD

specific hnology and ce of over 20 BLC nts are completed.

Harmontown

required of cooperative r membership. Upon

by NRECA.

ssion from fundamental to advanced.

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

I

11

10 Today in Mississippi

March 2019

Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference.

PRVEPA Contact Information: Columbia: 601-736-2666 Hattiesburg: 601-264-2458

Purvis: 601-794-8051 Wiggins: 601-928-7277

To pay bills or report outages:

Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference.

855-2PRVEPA (855-277-8372) Visit us on line at www.PRVEPA.com

A message from your general manager

Rural Broadband Service: What PRVEPA members should know The Mississippi legislature passed the Rural Broadband Enabling Act earlier this year, and Governor Phil Bryant signed it into law in February.

There has been Randy Wallace much discussion and General Manager news coverage about the new law and I know many of our members are wondering what it might mean for all of us.

Without doubt, the need for reliable, affordable access to the internet and other modern communications is vital for all Mississippians, wherever they live.

It is important in terms of the educational, economic and social aspects of our lives. Unfortunately, the availability of broadband service in rural areas of our state has been limited, mainly due to the cost of providing the service where there are very low population densities and fewer possible consumers.

Under previous state law, electric cooperatives were only allowed to pro-

vide electric service to their members.

The new act removed that prohibition, so now the state’s 25 electric cooperatives have the option to consider branching out to provide broadband internet service—but if they do so, it must be throughout their entire service area. Such a project would likely be more involved and costly than anything PRVEPA or the other cooperatives have ever undertaken.

Our preliminary economic studies indicate the cost of developing a systemwide broadband delivery network to all 50,000 member-consumers throughout our 12-county service area would be approximately $135 million. That total is more than half of all the infrastructure currently invested in the co-op’s overall electric distribution system, which has been 80 years in the making. Such a project would also take many years to complete.

Based on the law as it is written, any broadband service would have to be offered by a separate, stand-alone company or subsidiary. There might be possibilities of a partnership, but overall the

new company would need all the operational and financial resources of a major service provider, including installation and maintenance technicians, sales and customer service employees, enough customers to pay for the costs of building and operating the company, etc.

However, in order to finance such a project, the assets of PRVEPA’s existing not-for-profit electric business would ultimately have to guarantee any loans needed to create such an organization and operate it over the long term. The financial risk of such an endeavor for an electric cooperative is a significant consideration, because if the broadband company fails to meet its financial obligations, any shortfall would become the responsibility of PRVEPA. Of course, there are already numerous companies operating in Mississippi that offer broadband services and have done so for many years. However, the fact that there are still such large pockets of people throughout the state who don’t have access to such services indicates how difficult the problem is.

Simply put, it is a significantly expensive

and complex undertaking.

As we also know, technology continues to provide new, rapid developments.

The potential that some breakthrough in the near future could make such a massive investment less viable in ten or 20 years also calls for careful consideration.

Here is what I can tell you for now.

This is an extremely complicated issue, and one that requires us to look at potential long term opportunities, as well as risks. Based on preliminary studies regarding economic and operational aspects of building a broadband delivery network throughout our service area, it would be extremely difficult for Pearl River Valley Electric to undertake such a project at this time.

We will continue to do our due diligence, however, and explore as many options as possible to see if anything develops which might make such a project more feasible. I will also keep you updated as we move forward, and I ask for your continued support as we strive to serve our members in the best possible way we can.

Applications for Community College Scholars program due August 9, 2019 Funded by members who are rounding up their monthly bills, these scholarships are intended to assist students who will attend a Mississippi community college as a freshman this fall.

Applications are available at PRV offices and online at www.PRVEPA.com.

Completed applications must be postmarked or emailed by August 9.

Scholarship recipients must be a PRVEPA member, spouse or child of a member participating in the Round Up program.

Recipients must be full time (12 hours or more per semester) freshmen students enrolled in academic or career-technical programs.

Scholarship funds will be credited to each student’s college account—no checks will be issued to individuals.

Scholarships should be awarded by the end of September. Students must be enrolled in good standing at the time funds are released to the colleges.

More information is available at our website, www.PRVEPA.com.

March 2019 Today in Mississippi

11

Local students selected for Youth Leadership program and volunteering at her church. at Columbia High, including an award from Two local high school juniors will represent Pearl Johnson, 17, is the son of Mike and Kristi Johnson Woodsmen of the World, and has attended several River Valley Electric this year in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Youth Leadership proof Columbia. He has won numerous scholastic honors youth leadership events. He participates in football and baseball as well as student council, and is in the gram. Hannah Phipps of Oak Grove High School and National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish National Eli Johnson of Columbia High School are the winners Honors Society and Key Club. Eli also enjoys playing of this year’s essay/interview contest. As a result, each other sports and fishing, and is active in church youth student earns the opportunity to participate in a leadership conference in Jackson and a week-long trip to activities.

In late February, Hannah and Eli joined more than Washington, D.C. this summer.

80 other students from around the state in Jackson for Pearl River Valley Electric selects the winners from the 33rd annual Mississippi Youth Leadership essays submitted by students throughout its 12-county Workshop, where they met with legislators and took service area, and then through interviews with the part in leadership training sessions (see next month’s finalists. This year’s essay topic required students to Today in Mississippi for more information). They will discuss how PRVEPA has helped benefit Association members since being organized 80 years ago, as well as also meet up with thousands of other students from Hannah Phipps Eli Johnson around the country in June to attend the National how it continues to serve members and the communiOak Grove High School Columbia High School Rural Electric Youth Tour in ties where they live.

Washington. There they will have Phipps, 16, is the daughter of Jamie opportunities to meet their and Stephanie Phipps. An Oak Grove resident, Hannah is an honor-roll stuCongressmen, tour the U.S. Capitol and do lots of other site dent at OGHS and a member of the Spanish National Honors Society, First seeing.

Four other area high school junPriority, National Society of High iors were finalists in this year’s conSchool Honors and Fellowship of test: Ladner Watts of Columbia Christian Athletes. She has participatAcademy; Presbyterian Christian ed in Healthy Teens and Red Cross as School students Jacy Graham and well as numerous council activities and Jacy Graham Ladner Watts Grayson Nocera Andrew Trotter Presbyterian Columbia Academy Presbyterian Oak Grove Grayson Nocera; and Andrew events. In her spare time, Hannah is a Christian School Christian School High School Trotter of Oak Grove High School. competitive dancer and enjoys writing

Comfort Advantage can help you save money One of our goals at Pearl River Valley Electric is to provide members with information about using energy wisely. When building or remodeling a home, energy efficiency should be a high priority. For more than twenty years our Comfort Advantage new home program has helped members save money on their monthly bills and increase the resale values of their homes.

Comfort Advantage energyefficiency standards are based on years of experience, and they are continually being updated.

The program now offers the following benefits for new homes: • Your home will be certified as a Comfort Advantage home, which reflects energy efficient construction.

• Comfort Advantage homes qualify for up to 150 feet of free underground service.

• Comfort Advantage Plus homes qualify for up to 150 feet of free underground service and a rebate of $500.

• Geothermal heat pump installations qualify for an additional $500 rebate.

• Natural gas instantaneous water heaters may now be

used in Comfort Advantage homes (electric instantaneous water heaters do not qualify).

Scott Arinder, member services representative

In addition, upgrading from an existing electric furnace or conventional air conditioner to a 15 SEER or higher heat pump qualifies for a rebate of $400.

The Comfort Advantage program can help make your energy decisions a breeze. We also offer free building consultations and HVAC load calculations. For more information contact Scott Arinder, member services representative, at 601-731-7809.

Key requirements of the Comfort Advantage Program: 1. Flex duct work will be limited to runs of 8 feet or less.

2. Ducts in unconditioned space must be wrapped with R-6 or higher insulation.

3. Wall insulation must have an R-value of 13 or greater.

4. Attic insulation must have an R-value of 38 or greater.

5. A Comfort Advantage home must have double-pane insulated windows with a U-value and an SHGC-value of .60 or less.

6. A Comfort Advantage Plus home must have double-pane insulated windows with a U-value and an SHGC-value of .40 or less.

7. Comfort Advantage homes must have a heat pump of 14 SEER or better.

8. Comfort Advantage Plus homes must have a heat pump of 15 SEER or better. (Homes with geothermal heat pumps automatically qualify for the program.)

Note: Electric instantaneous water heaters will not qualify for either program.

10

Today in Mississippi

March 2019

“Pioneers In America’s Rural Electrification”

Faith leads Elzie’s journey

seized opportunities to learn more about climbing as he worked alongside lineman Sammy Cruse. In fact, Cruse was so impressed with Elzie’s skills, Elzie said Cruse told management, “He needs to be climbing.

By Jennifer Johnson

James Elzie has always relied heavily on his faith. The youngest of eight children, Elzie graduated from Pontotoc High School with a football scholarship to attend Itawamba Community This would be the chance to James Elzie, General Foreman, Pontotoc Electric College in 1986. really jump in there to teach our A year later, he For somePatterson and retired Assistant took a leap of lineworkers and prepare them one who’s Foreman Lee Hobson. faith and joined never done for the skills they need to “They trained me on the dos and the workforce in it, he looks the don’ts and gave me good explanathe furniture eventually become journeymen like sometions of the why behind everything we manufacturing one who has did.” industry. linemen. a lot of Elzie said Hobson was a huge influAlong the ence on his work. “Lee trained me on experience way, Elzie met how to do hot work and to be safe. with it.” and married wife He trained me to always watch how I Elzie said Claudia, and together did a job so it would make things easihe worked they raised a family with er for the next man who came through in a lineman capacity sons James Jr. and Jamar - James Elzie to work on that job.” for Pontotoc Electric and daughter Jamia. (Today, When the position of Safety and when there was no the family also includes grandchilEnvironmental Director became availestablished traindren Rylan and Claudia, and a third able in 2018, Elzie knew this could be ing program to grandchild is due anytime.) his opportunity to help pass along follow. “It took me 14 years to reach In 1999, Elzie’s journey led him to some of the vital information he had top rank as a journeyman. I learned Pontotoc Electric and a job as a received, so he prayed about it and the groundman. He had worked three trade from various linemen, applied for the position. months on a service truck when he was Tennessee Valley Public Power “I knew it was a way I could help asked if he wanted to learn to climb Authority courses, and of course from our newer linemen to grow, along with and become a lineman. Elzie had retired General Foreman Don

“

They are the future of our power system.”

teaching them to work safely. We’re not on production but we want to be productive with our work. I’d like to help our employees achieve that.”

In February 2019, Elzie prayed about the next opportunity that had presented itself. The job of general foreman had recently opened up after Frankie Moorman accepted the position of assistant general manager. “I prayed, and I prayed, and I prayed some more. This would be the chance to really jump in there to teach our lineworkers and prepare them for the skills they need to eventually become journeymen linemen. They are the future of our power system.”

Elzie became Pontotoc Electric’s newest general foreman on February 7.

He’s excited about the future, and with a grateful heart he’s faithfully listening for guidance on this newest bend in the road.

March 2019

Pontotoc Electric wishes to congratulate the following employees on their recent promotions!

Karen Laprade from Payroll Clerk to Plant Accounting Clerk

Today in Mississippi

Watts Cooking?

Jeanna Sorto from Plant Accountant to Assistant Manager of Accounting

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our members!

PONTOTOC ELECTRIC

Warning Customers of Scam Payment Sites Pontotoc Electric is warning customers of scams on the Internet that direct customers to another site to make their electric bill payment.

Some of the websites even use the Pontotoc Electric logo to make them appear official.

These alternate payment sites may hold a customer’s payment for days or even weeks before sending the payment to Pontotoc Electric.

In some cases, payment may not ever reach Pontotoc Electric.

Customers should protect themselves from these scam sites by making payments only through www.pepa.com.

Pontotoc Electric General Manager Chuck Howell said alternate sites may cause unnecessary problems for PEPA members.

“These sites may hold a customer’s money for a period of time causing the customer’s account to fall into

Be safe! use... www.pepa.com.

collections. When a customer pays using a scam site, we don’t know they’ve paid, and that can negatively impact the customer’s bill and possibly even their service. If a customer is presented with a method of payment that is different than how they’ve paid in the past, they should use caution. It could be an effort to send them to another site. As the old saying goes, ‘If something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.’

Pontotoc Electric provides the online payment option through its official website to offer convenience to its customers while safeguarding their information and processing their payments in a timely manner.

Customers who have any questions about making their online payments may call 662-489-3211 (Pontotoc) or 662-983-2727 (Bruce).

Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Betty Armstrong, retiree 4 cups Mexican style shredded cheese 1/2 cup jalapeno slices, diced 4 oz. jar diced pimento 1 1/2 cup mayo salt, pepper, garlic salt to taste Mix all ingredients and serve.

Butter Pecan Pound Cake Jennifer Johnson, Manager of Human Resources 1 box yellow cake mix 1 cup water 1 can Pillsbury coconut pecan frosting 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 1 jar caramel topping

Mix cake mix, vegetable oil, water and eggs. Add 1 can coconut pecan frosting. Beat for 1 minute. Pour into tube pan and bake at 325 for 50 minutes or until done. While cake is still hot, drizzle top with caramel topping.

Spring

TIP of the

Month

is nearly here!

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer. Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

11

10 Today in Mississippi March 2019 Pay Bill Report Outages

Brian Hughey, General Manager & CEO Lorri Freeman, APR, Manager of Public Relations Amanda Parker, Public Relations Specialist For more information, call 601-947-4211, 228-497-1313 or visit our website at singingriver.com. SRE is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Round Up Bill

Check Energy Use Contact Us

CEO’s Message

The groundhog may have called it According to Punxsutawney Phil, we are in for an early spring this year. That is, if you believe that a groundhog seeing his shadow can determine when spring begins. If you prefer the Farmer’s Almanac projection, it predicted a warmer than normal winter followed by a warm spring. This publication also predicted rainfall to be above normal over the last couple of months.

Brian Hughey Well, they certainly hit that one General Manager & CEO Singing River Electric right on target!

Let’s take a step back and look at member billing for January of this year. Compared to the unusually frigid January of 2018, this January brought tem-

MY HOME

MY BUSINESS

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Energy Tips

peratures much warmer than expected. Last January, our area experienced 17 days of freezing temperatures which caused member bills to be much higher than normal. Due to a mild January and February this year, you may have noticed your electric bill being lower than normal over this timeframe.

When looking at an average member bill, one who uses 1,500 Josh Havard Energy Services Representative to 1,700 kilowatt-hours per month, the bill was reduced just joshhavard@singingriver.com over 20 percent this January compared to January 2018. This is a perfect example of how much the weather affects energy use.

While I’m not sure about the legend of the groundhog, I do believe spring is upon us based on the excessive amount of As we move toward spring, now is pollen in the air. Before we know it, we will be experiencing the time to have your HVAC system the heat of summer. With the changing of seasons, I encourage our members to visit singingriver.com/ways-to-save to take serviced, especially if it has been a while since it was inspected. advantage of some seasonal tips to help lower energy use.

Insufficient amounts of refrigerant, dirty coils, or obstructed drain lines can cause any number of issues for your air MY MEMBERSHIP MY COMMUNITY MY CO-OP conditioning system. Neglecting necesSearch... sary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases. Left unchecked, these issues could result in a significant increase in summer power bills or cause the unit to stop working completely.

A quick way to determine if your air conditioning unit is functioning properly is to measure the air temperature at the supply duct (usually in the ceiling or on the floor, closest to your AC unit) and take a temperature reading at the The My Co-op section of the return air grill (located beneath the new website has information indoor unit). On a typical spring day, on SRE’s board members and you should have a 15-18 degree temperature difference between those two readthe geographic districts they ings. If you do not, your unit is likely in represent. Check it out! need of attention.

Now is the time for an AC checkup

DID YOU KNOW?

Live Weather Outage Map

Download Our SmartHub App

Info on Capital Credits

Access

by Bylaws

Your Board of Directors

For more tips on this and other energyefficiency projects visit singingriver.com or join our conversation on social media (SingingRiverElectric on Facebook and Instagram and SRECooperative on Twitter).

March 2019 Today in Mississippi 11

Let’s talk about

solar Cooperative Energy, Singing River Electric’s generation and transmission provider, includes solar energy in their diverse and balanced generation mix. This mix of energy resources includes natural gas, coal, nuclear, water (hydroelectricity) and solar. Having renewables, including solar and hydroelectricity, helps incorporate more green power resources and protects Mississippi’s environment for future generations. Plus, maintaining a mix of diverse energy sources contributes to power availability and affordability, keeping your lights on and your energy bills low.

Solar is a leading form of environmentally-friendly energy. Panels are used to collect sunlight, which is then converted into electricity. Cooperative Energy currently operates five small-scale solar sites in Taylorsville, Lucedale, Kiln, Greenwood and Lyon. Each installation is 100 kilowatts or less. Starting with small solar facilities across the state in 2016 allowed Cooperative Energy to determine the best location, technology and proper configuration for a larger facility. In 2017, a 52 megawatt solar facility was energized in Lamar County. This facility is approximately 208,000 photovoltaic solar panels on 540 acres.

In 2018, Cooperative Energy announced

Power

plans to again grow its renewable energy portfolio through an agreement with Renewable Energy Systems (RES).

Cooperative Energy agreed to purchase all 100 megawatts produced at the energy facility to be built near Greenwood in Carroll County. RES will design, develop, install and operate the 652-acre and 363,000 panel site expected to be operational by 2022.

“Our continued investment in utility-scale solar generation represents a significant commitment to our members to provide them with affordable, reliable and Electric Manager of Energy environmentally-friendly Cooperative Energy, Services Nick DeAngelo. electricity,” said Singing River Electric’s Solar energy is availCooperative Energy presgeneration and transmission able to all Singing River ident and CEO Jim provider, includes solar energy in Electric members Compton. “The new site their diverse and balanced through the generation will be the largest solar generation mix. This includes: mix; however, some generation plant in natural gas, coal, nuclear, water members want more.

Mississippi and will (hydroelectricity) Singing River Electric is your employ the most advanced and solar. trusted source for energy and solar technology available.” information when However, solar energy doesn’t begin considering installing private solar on your or end with utility-scale generation.

Cooperative Energy first approved member- home or business. When doing research for owned or residential solar systems in 2010. your project, there are downloadable take“To date, Singing River Electric has 54 mem- away sheets, frequently asked questions and links to interconnection agreements bers with solar panels on their homes or businesses and answers requests for future and procedures available at www.singininstallations each week,” said Singing River griver.com/solar-energy.

208,000 Number of photovoltaic panels in Cooperative Energy’s newest 52 MW solar facility

62 Private and C&I solar commissionings completed for the SRE membership

100KW Size of the small-scale solar site located in George County

Visit singingriver.com/solar-energy for FAQs, connection agreements, white papers, contact information and more.

SAVE ENERGY FAIRS:

THESE DATES April 10 & April 24 Home Builders Association of the Mississippi Coast presents nd 32 Annual

HOME SHOW • Saturday, March 23 – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Sunday, March 24 – Noon – 5 p.m.

MS Coast Coliseum Convention Center in Biloxi

(Jackson County)

VISIT SRE’S BO OTH

#607

for efficienc and prizeys!tips Free admis sion/pay to pa

rk

10 Today in Mississippi March 2019

Setting the Record Straight Recent media events have attempted to respond to unexpected disasters has a direct skew facts about our cooperative and some impact on you, our member, and also on the comments have been downright false. As the local economy, members’ jobs, our schools, person whose responsibility it is to protect and local businesses. We are not government the entire membership, the cooperative, its subsidized and shudder to think of the infrastructure, and our employees, I feel consequences of poor planning without compelled to set the record straight on thought for future needs of the infrastructure exactly what Southern Pine has been doing or of the needs of our members. We cannot for the past 80 years. predict the future, but we are required to be From 1938, the year Southern Pine ready to respond to whatever comes. was organized, until 1958, we were busy These blindsided building lines and erecting poles to remote attacks on our character areas of Mississippi that no one else wanted represent a call to action to touch. As soon as the young co-op was for Southern Pine. We financially able, the board of directors began will work to ensure returning capital credits to members. Since that our members then, Southern Pine’s board has returned understand that they nearly $86 million to members. That are not just an account includes payments under a yearly rotation number, but instead cycle designed specifically for the purpose make them aware that of getting more money into the pockets of they belong to an Jason S. Siegfried President/CEO members. It also includes payments to organization where we former members and to heirs of deceased all work together for members. For the past 61 years, many of our the common good of our service area and members have used those funds to help bury our state. their loved ones, pay for school, and put In 2019, Southern Pine will launch a new food on the table. We are committed to program, “Member Circle” whereby our return capital to our members when doing members, management, directors, and so will not financially impair Southern Pine, community leaders will meet in areas across jeopardize the infrastructure, or leave us our service territory for one-on-one unable to meet emergency requirements. We discussions on how we can improve services, have always taken this commitment seriously offer more benefits to members, and and we always will. continue to supply electricity at affordable There has been one year when we were rates. Stepping to the plate to make sure unable to return capital credits. That was Southern Pine members are heard and that in 2005 and if you will recall that was the we are listening, board members, who often year that a vicious hurricane by the name contribute their own time and resources to of Katrina swept away much of our help members and our communities, will infrastructure along with most of south give their time freely to the program in order Mississippi. to do what they always do – help Southern Thanks to the wise planning of Pine and protect its members. management and the board of directors, We are excited about what the future Southern Pine was prepared, and life was holds for our members, our children, and back to normal as soon as it was humanly the great State of Mississippi. Bringing the possible. Astronomical amounts of money Power has tremendous responsibility and are required to rebuild after bad weather vast opportunities for us to grow together. events or emergencies. Our ability to I am confident that we will succeed.

Member Spotlight:

Southern Woo Michael Koehn has been creating works of art, out of wood, since he was 16 years old. However, it wasn’t until recently that his love for woodworking went from being a job, to a way of life.

As a teenager, Koehn worked for his dad in the Mississippi Delta building custom homes. He eventually brought his talents, along with his family, to Southern Pine’s service territory when he moved to Magee 13 years ago. His business grew quickly and soon he was building homes alongside his two sons Brent and Anthony. Eventually, his sons moved away and Koehn opened Southern WoodKraft, a workshop specializing in cypress outdoor furniture.

“When I opened Southern WoodKraft I thought I could do it by myself or maybe with another person,” said Koehn. “However, the business has flourished and grown.”

In just a few years, Southern WoodKraft has expanded to include two full-time employees and four part-time employees. Along with this expansion, the business has seen an increase in orders and in requests for specialty items.

Southern Pine annual meeting in rocking chairs on While the cha represent a small workshop.

Newton District Manag chair to a door prize wi

Michael Koehn and lead woodworker Harley Hiebert construct an adirondack chair for a customer.

“We do a lot wood parts for th beetle trap for the Southern Woo boards and birdho at select retailers i If you are inte WoodKraft has to www.southernwo outside of Magee

March 2019 Today in Mississippi

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Southern Pine Electric Donates Socks and Books Southern Pine Electric linemen and board members recently delivered socks, collected by employees, to area nursing homes and the Boys and Girls Club of Covington County. The socks were collected through a campaign called Cold Feet Outreach.

In addition, nursing home residents and students received the book, “Making Life Better: The Story of

Southern Pine Electric,” from author and Director of Executive Services, Jan Collins.

Along with the books, students participating in the Boys and Girls Club were asked to submit essays about what it means to be a member of Southern Pine Electric.

The essay winner, and the prize, will be announced during the month of April.

odKraft

e members who attended last year’s n Taylorsville may remember Koehn’s n display and used as door prizes. airs are his most popular items, they selection of what is produced in his

3 1

2 5

4 1. Yvonne Thompson, Unit Director; Peggy Weary, Executive Director; and student Kaylien Rice, a first grader at Collins Elementary School.

2. Southern Pine Linemen Brandon Stringer, Jeff McCallum, and Dalton Bourgoyne visit with Betty Lee and Mary Taylor.

3. Southern Pine Lineman Fred Haynes with Mary Taylor.

6 4. Southern Pine Director Greg Sullivan recently spent time at the Landmark Nursing Home in Covington County sharing history books and distributing socks to the residents.

5. Children at the Boys and Girls Club in Covington County enjoyed receiving copies of Southern Pine’s history book to share with their families.

6. Lana Entrican, a student at Carver Middle School in Covington County, received her copy of Southern Pine’s history book.

Spring is nearly here!

ger Jamie Baucum carries a Southern Pine rocking inner at the 2018 annual meeting.

of honey bee equipment, including the he hives. We also specialize in making a e hives,” said Koehn. odKraft also sells farm tables, cutting ouses which are sold at his shop and in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. erested in seeing what Southern o offer, you can visit their website at oodkraft.com or visit their shop located , Mississippi.

TIP of the

Month

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer.

Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

10

Today in Mississippi March 2019

P.O. Box 5 • 18671 Highway 61 • Lorman, MS 39096 601-437-3611 or toll-free 1-800-287-8564 • Fax: 601-437-8736

Adams • Amite • Claiborne • Copiah • Franklin Hinds • Jefferson • Lincoln • Wilkinson Southwest Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

www.southwestelectric.coop

Southwest Electric

SWElectricCoop

sw_electric_coop

Q & A about Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act A new law – the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act – was recently passed by the Mississippi Legislature and signed into law by the governor that allows Mississippi electric cooperatives to offer broadband internet service in their local service areas.

Here are some of the questions our Members are asking about this new law, and what it means for our cooperative.

What does this new law change?

Prior to passage of the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, electric cooperatives were limited to the sale of electricity to their Members. Now electric cooperatives can explore the possibility of offering broadband internet service.

Does this new law mean that all Mississippi cooperatives will now offer broadband service?

The new law does not mandate that cooperatives offer broadband service, but rather gives them the option for implementing the service if they choose to do so. Electric cooperatives operate independently, so the decision whether to offer broadband will be determined by each cooperative’s Board of Directors and management.

Will Southwest Electric offer broadband?

Before making a decision on whether to implement broadband, Southwest Electric must first conduct an economic feasibility study to examine the many factors of constructing a broadband system in our service area. Within the next month, after careful consideration, the Board will engage an independent third

party to perform a feasibility study of our entire service area. First and foremost, any decision must be made in the best interest of our Members and must make long-term economic sense for the cooperative.

considerations examined by the feasibility study. Also, cooperatives cannot use revenues from energy sales to subsidize its broadband network, so each cooperative must evaluate the cost and demand for broadband within its service area.

Why is a feasibility study needed, and what factors are examined?

Everyone agrees that bringing broadband service to rural areas is a positive, but the new law requires a feasibility study because it would be a major project requiring a tremendous investment.

Implementing this service means constructing new networks to deliver broadband throughout the Southwest Electric service area. The expense of constructing such a network must be weighed against the likely number of subscribers, along with other considerations, and this will help the Board of Directors determine whether it makes economic sense.

If Southwest Electric does proceed, how long will it take to begin offering the service to Members?

This would vary according to a number of factors. Offering broadband means constructing new networks which are expensive and labor-intensive, especially throughout rural areas. The network build-out may have to be financed in phases, which would take years to complete. Cooperatives must also choose whether to build broadband networks on its own, or partner with affiliate companies to do this.

Why would it take years to build broadband networks?

If implemented, would Members be Unlike other internet providers whose service is concentrated near towns and required to use broadband for their internet service? cities, implementing rural broadband No. Members are not required to purmeans constructing networks covering chase broadband even if they already large geographic areas. Southwest receive their electricity from Southwest Electric currently delivers electricity over Electric. Some rural households use other 4,200 miles of line. The cost of deploymeans for internet service – such as satel- ing broadband fiber over distances must lite service. This is one of the important be carefully considered.

Will some areas be offered broadband access, while other areas will not have access?

If a cooperative decides to offer broadband, even if it is deployed in phases, it must eventually offer broadband to every Member within its entire service area.

Does the federal government offer funding sources to assist with the build-out of rural broadband?

Lack of adequate internet service in rural areas is a national issue, and an impediment to business and economic growth. Because of this, a combination of grants and loans may be available from federal sources to help offset the high cost of broadband deployment.

Now that the law allows cooperatives to offer broadband, they are now eligible to apply for this assistance. This is one of the many factors considered in the economic feasibility study.

Will the build-out of broadband networks impact a cooperative’s ability to deliver electricity to Members?

No. Delivery of broadband service cannot, and will not, diminish a cooperative’s mission to deliver electric service. Nor will it impact the cost of electricity to Members.

Spring is nearly here!

TIP of the

Month

Now is the perfect time to test your A/C and ensure it’s ready for summer. Remember to check the evaporator coil, which should be cleaned annually for optimal efficiency.

Source: energy.gov

March 2019

Today in Mississippi

Cloverdale substation to serve Members in Adams County to the Members and utilize the increased system capacity Southwest Electric is constructing the new Cloverdale provided by the new substation,” explained Darryl Hassell, substation on Lower Woodville Road on the former Manager of Engineering.

International Paper mill site. This new substation will Distribution lines from the Cloverdale substation are As a part of these line upgrades, Southwest Electric is provide enhanced and reliable service to approximately being upgraded. Pictured above is the new distribuconstructing a new dedicated distribution circuit to the 675 existing commercial, industrial and residential meter tion circuit that will serve the Natchez campuses of Alcorn and Co-Lin Natchez campuses to provide for their locations in the Cloverdale community including Delta Alcorn State University and Copiah-Lincoln Energy’s production facility and the Natchez campuses of future power requirements and to improve reliability.

Community College.

Alcorn State University and Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

“The location for the Cloverdale substation was strategically chosen to best serve Southwest Electric’s existing Members and to foster and promote economic development in the area, including the industrial zone located on the old International Paper site,” said Kevin Bonds, CEO. The substation was designed with growth in mind. It has the capacity and flexibility required to provide for the future needs of the area. The substation is approximately 75 percent complete, and it is projected to come on-line in mid-April of 2019. In addition to constructing the Cloverdale substation, Southwest Electric is improving and upgrading its distribution power lines in the surrounding area.

“These line improvements will enhance service The Cloverdale substation is located on Lower Woodville Road. Weather permitting, construction should be complete by mid-April.

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March 2019

TWIN COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

March 2019

Today in Mississippi

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For after-hours outages, call

866-897-7250

A Mississippi Electric Cooperative

Three Easy DIY Projects to Save Energy Winter weather can have a big impact on your energy bills, hitting your pockets a little harder than you would have liked. Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to tackle a few DIY efficiency projects for your home. The good news: You don’t have to be an energy expert to do this!

There are several easy ways to save energy, but if you’re willing to take a hands-on approach, here are three projects you can do now to start saving.

caulk or paint with a putty knife, screwdriver, brush or solvent. The area should be dry before you apply the new caulk.

Apply the caulk in one continuous stream, and make sure it sticks to both sides of the crack or seam. Afterwards, use a putty knife to smooth out the caulk, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

Weather Strip Exterior Doors.

One of the best ways to seal air leaks is to weather strip Make the Most of Your Water Heater. exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you Let’s start with one of the easiest projects: insulating control energy costs. Weather stripping materials vary, but your water heater. Insulating a water heater that’s warm to you can ask your local hardware or home store for assisthe touch can save 7 to 16 percent annually on your water tance if you’re unsure about heating bills. It should also be noted that if your water the supplies you need. heater is new, it is likely already insulated. But if your When choosing weather water heater is warm to the touch, it needs additional stripping materials, make insulation. sure it can withstand temYou can purchase a pre-cut jacket or blanket for about perature changes, friction $20. You’ll also need two people for this project. Before and the general “wear and you start, turn off the water heater. Wrap the blanket tear” for the location of the around the water heater and tape it to temporarily keep it door. Keep in mind, you in place. If necessary, use a marker to note the areas where will need separate the controls are so you can cut them out. Once the blanmaterials for the door ket is positioned correctly tape it permanently in place, sweep (at the bottom of the then turn the water heater back on. door) and the top and If you have an electric water heater, sides. do not set the thermostat above 130 Before applying the new degrees, which can cause overheatweather stripping, clean the ing. moulding with water and soap, then let the area dry Seal Air Leaks completely. Measure each with Caulk. side of the door, then cut The average American family the weather stripping to fit spends $2,000 annually on energy each section. Make sure the bills, but unfortunately, much of weather stripping fits snugthat money is wasted through air ly against both surfaces so it leaks in the home. Applying caulk compresses when the door The average American family spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, but unfortunately, much of that money is wasted through air is closed. around windows, doors, electrical wiring and plumbing can save ener- leaks in the home. Applying caulk around windows, doors, electriBy completing these simcal wiring and plumbing can save energy and money. Photo Credit: gy and money. There are many difple efficiency projects, you Rare Form Properties ferent types of caulking compounds can save energy (and available, but the most popular choice is silicone. Silicone money!) while increasing the comfort level of your home. caulk is waterproof, flexible and won’t shrink or crack.

And you can impress your family and friends with your Before applying new caulk, clean and remove any old savvy energy-saving skills.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 2 a.m. Sunday, March 11

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Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association Manager of Member Services: Dennis McFee For Today in Mississippi information, call 662-746-4251, or email dmcfee@yazoovalley.com

Cooperatives all across the nation operate on seven cooperative principles. One of these seven principles is Concern for Community. Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association and its employees help bring this principle to life every chance we get.

Community involvement has deep meaning for Yazoo Valley. The people we serve are the same people we go to church with, our kid’s share the same schools, and we shop at the same grocery stores and pharmacies.

Whether it’s seeing the excitement on a child’s face when a lineman shows up for a school visit fully Dennis McFee dressed in their personal pro- Manager of Member Services tective equipment (PPE) and climbing gear, or helping a member find ways to save on their electric bill through energy efficiency workshops, being involved in the community is something we all benefit from.

Co-ops are owned by members like you and me. We genuinely care about the communities we serve and the people that live here. Programs like our first responder safety program conducted by Yazoo Valley’s Safety Coordinator Paul Buxton, highlight the concern for the safety and well-being of our members and the general public. There’s a misconception about electric cooperatives and we hope to bring forth the realization of why we exist.

Co-ops are member-owned organizations that were formed to provide electric service to some of the most remote rural areas. Other types of power companies knew that it was not profitable to build and maintain lines out to these rural areas. While the rest of the country was benefiting from having electricity, rural America was left in the dark. Cooperatives were born out of the Rural Electrification Act so that everyone could have power. Over time that fact has been forgotten because the last few generations have always had electricity. The same values and beliefs still hold true since co-ops were formed in the 1930’s. We are still simply here to serve the members we know and love.

Yazoo Valley will continue to work hard to prove that we are committed to the community.

DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL

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VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP

AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE

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CONCERN FOR

While focusing on cooperatives work for the sust communities through policies

Above right: Yazoo Valley participated in the Trunk-or-Treat this past October with the Yazoo Parks and Recreation. Addison McFee was a great helper that day. She passed out treats to children in the community.

Above left: Yazoo Valley participated in a job fair at Yazoo County High School. Jonathon Demita showed Ty Cox about the tools that linemen use.

After high school, Cox started lineman school at Holmes Community College.

Right: Josh Reeves and Trey Lungrin visit the residents at Martha Coker Green Homes.

Top photo: Linemen William Johnson, Jonat Green visit with Layla Jones at Batson Child

Above: Wade O’Briant and Garrett McClellan with Jo Ann Harris for Yazoo County residen

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R COMMUNITY

n member needs, tainable development of their s accepted by their members.

thon Demita, Wade O’Briant and Reggie dren’s Hospital in the spring.

n cook on the grill outside of Manna House nts as part of the Cooperative Day of Service.

March 2019 I Today in Mississippi

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A Mississippi Electric Cooperative

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MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION

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5 COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES

Above left: Wade O’Briant serves members of the community at Manna House.

Above right: Cooperative employees around Mississippi wore the Cooperative Day of Service T-shirts.

O’Briant and Green were happy to be a part of giving back to the community.

Left: William Johnson serves his community neighbors at the Manna House.

Coopertives serving communities “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace.

A soul generated by love.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Electric cooperatives across the state participated in the Cooperative Day of Service in unison with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 21. Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association employees had the privilege of serving the community on two fronts on that day. Employees volunteered to serve lunch at the Manna House. The crew of lineman prepared and helped serve enough hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries for over 60 people. Manna House manager Joe Ann Harris opened the building on this special day to allow Yazoo Valley the chance to serve. She expressed her gratitude and thanked the crew for being upstanding men and positive role models.

“It was a really great experience and I’m glad that I was able to be there,” said Johnathon Demita.

On the other end of the city, employees visited the elderly at the Martha Coker Green House Homes. The employees and the residents exchanged laughs, shared stories and discussed mutual interests and people. Each resident received a treat bag filled with novelties and snacks.

“They enjoyed having us there but I think we enjoyed it more,” said Josh Reeves.

The day was a great experience filled with love and expression of one of the seven cooperative principles, Concern for Community.