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April 2017
Communicators: Melissa Russo and April Lollar For Today in Mississippi information, call 877-7MY-CEPA (877-769-2372) www.coastepa.com
Watt’s up this month
Where our members have the power CEO’s message
Our mission and member focus remain unchanged Hello! I’m Ron Barnes and I am honored to be writing my first monthly column as the CEO of Coast Electric. While I might be new to this job, I am not new to our cooperative. I’ve been a proud part of the Coast Electric family now for 21 years, serving as your Vice President of Marketing, Member Services and Public Relations. I have met many of you throughout the years at our Annual Meeting and community events, and I am looking forward to getting to know even more of you in my new role as CEO. I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what my vision is for Coast Electric and why I think it’s important for you to understand what it means to be a member. You probably hear us use the word member instead of customer, and you might be wondering what that’s about. Is there a difference? What does being a member mean to you in a practical sense? First of all, Coast Electric is a not-forprofit company. That means that our decisions are not profit-driven, they are people-driven. We are governed by a board that is made up of members and elected by members like you. That means your friends and neighbors are our board members. If a storm damages a line and your power is out, it means they might be in the dark too. They pay the same rates you do and benefit from the same programs and services you do. Cooperatives treat all members equally, and that means not only do you have the same benefits
our board members have, but you get to vote for the board members who represent you. I think that’s a pretty good system for ensuring fair treatment for Ron Barnes ratepayers. President and CEO What’s my vision for the future of our co-op? I think our leaders have laid a strong foundation for the past 80 years, and I want to build on that. Here are the things you can expect from Coast Electric and our employees: • We want to provide you with reliable and affordable electric service. • We want highly-trained, professional and friendly employees to serve you and we want to be responsive to your needs. • We will continue to work to improve the quality of life in our communities— through economic development, by giving back to those we serve through volunteerism and through environmental stewardship. • We want to foster an environment of open communication with you. Our doors are always open for your comments and suggestions. The co-op system works best when members are involved, so we are asking you to be involved. Thank you for supporting me and your co-op during this transition. I believe we have a bright future and I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
I Getting to know your new CEO I Youth leaders meet in Jackson
I Lineman
Appreciation
April 18, 2017
#ThankALineman
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I April is Earth Month!
Energy Fairs Our energy efficiency experts are always available to help you.
Offices Closed for Good Friday Coast Electric offices will be closed
Friday, April 14 in observance of Good Friday.