ERECutility escambiariverelectric
Your Monthly Newsletter
ISSUE 04 | JAN 2026 www.erec.com JAY OFFICE 3425 Highway 4 P.O. Box 428 (mail) Jay, FL 32565 850-675-4521 or 800-235-3848 WALNUT HILL OFFICE 4950 Highway 99A Walnut Hill, FL 32568 850-327-4122 NEW OFFICE HOURS BEGINS JAN 2 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every other Friday Closed on alternating Fridays Walnut Hill is closed from 12 :00 - 1:00 p.m. STAFF Ryan C. Campbell, P.E., CEO Sonya Dooley, Director of Finance and Administration Lanie Sells, Director of Engineering Glenn White, Director of Operations Cortney Owens, Manager of Marketing Communications Derek Bridwell, Manager of Information Technology Crystal George, Manager of Accounting TRUSTEES Escambia County Brian Davis James E. Hall Ernie Hester Sam Walker (Vice President) Gary Wiggins Santa Rosa County Mickey Diamond Rick Hunsucker (President) Philip Marshall Wesley Scott Dale Westmoreland (Secretary/Treasurer) The board of directors meets at 5 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the cooperative’s Jay office. FOR POWER OUTAGES Call 877-OUT-EREC or 877-688-3732. For emergency conditions, call 911. Contact Cortney Owens (cowens@erec.com) regarding this monthly publication.
NEW YEAR. NEW HOURS. SAME COMMITMENT. Ryan Campbell, P.E. Starting January 2, EREC will be extending our office hours at both our Jay and Walnut Hill locations. While considering our members’ work schedules and commutes, the EREC Board of Directors and leadership team concluded this change will be a beneficial adjustment for the members we serve. After the new year, our offices will be open Monday–Thursday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, giving members an extra half hour in the mornings and afternoons for added convenience. In order to accommodate the longer hours, both offices will be closed every other Friday. Office hours on our open Fridays will be 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Here to Serve Most importantly, your service experience and the reliability you count on will remain unchanged. The EREC Operations department will be operating five days a week and we will continue to provide 24/7 outage monitoring and response, with crews always prepared to restore power quickly and safely whenever disruptions occur. We believe these updated hours strengthen our ability to serve you, ensuring convenience for members while supporting a team that is fully prepared to meet your needs.
Beginning in 2026, our office will operate on an alternating schedule: Monday–Thursday: Open 7:00 AM–4:30 PM every week Fridays: Open every other week from 7:30 AM–4:00 PM; closed on alternating Fridays (see page 3 for listing of dates we will be closed)
Thank you for your understanding and support.
SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS Escambia River Electric Cooperative is proud to support local students by offering two scholarships to graduating seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
DUE BY MAR 1!
These scholarships are designed to help students achieve their educational goals, whether pursuing a fouryear degree or training for a vocational career. Herman D. Johnson Scholarship • Award: $1,000 per year for four years. • Eligibility: must be a graduating senior with a GPA of 2.5 or higher; and requires a two-part essay and three reference letters. • This scholarship is for students attending a four-year college. Trade/Vocational Scholarship • Award: $1,000. • Eligibility: must be a graduating senior with an unweighted GPA of 2.0 or better; and requires high school transcripts and a personal reference letter from a teacher or community member. • Funds can be used for program costs, books, tools or other materials needed for vocational education.
87th
Annual Meeting OF THE MEMBERS
April 25 Ernest Ward Middle School
Application Information Applications for both scholarships are open, and guidance counselors at local high schools have the forms available. To apply, students must reside in a home served by EREC. Completed applications are due by March 1 and must indicate on the envelope which scholarship they are applying for. Scholarship recipients— one from each county for each scholarship—will be recognized during the EREC Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 25. This is a fantastic opportunity for local students to receive financial support for their education. Don’t miss the chance to apply. For more information, contact your guidance counselor or EREC directly.
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION Escambia River Electric Cooperative Inc. has filed with the federal government a compliance assurance in which it assures the Rural Utilities Service it will comply fully with all requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; all requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; all requirements of the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and all requirements of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the end that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, or solely by reason of such person’s disability, or on the basis of age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the conduct of its program or the operation of its facilities. Under this assurance, this organization is committed not to discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, color or national origin, solely by reason of such person’s disability, or on the basis of age, in its policies and practices relating to applications for service or any other policies and practices relating to treatment of beneficiaries and participants, including employment, rates, conditions and extension of service, admission or access to or use of any of its facilities, attendance at and participation in any meetings of beneficiaries and participants, or the exercise of any rights such as beneficiaries and participants in the conduct of the operations of this organization. The person responsible for coordinating the nondiscrimination compliance efforts of this organization is CEO Ryan C. Campbell. Any individual or any specific class of individuals who feel subjected by this organization to discrimination prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, by the Age Discrimination Act, or by the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture may personally, or through a representative, file a written complaint with the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250; the Office of Advocacy and Enterprise, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250; or this organization, or all, a written complaint. Such complaint must be filed not later than 180 days after the alleged discrimination, or by such later date to which the secretary of Agriculture of the administrator of the Rural Utilities Service extends the time for filing. Identity of the complainants will be kept confidential except to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
You? Is this
You could win a $10 Bill Credit! If the account number below matches yours, call us at (850) 675-4521 to claim a $10 credit on your next electric bill!
316105-001
A TASTE OF HOME PINWHEEL STEAK POTPIE Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 1-1/4 pounds beef top sirloin steak, cut into 1/2inch cubes 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 package (16 ounces) frozen vegetables for stew 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 jar (12 ounces) mushroom or beef gravy 1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls Nutrition Information Per Serving : 365 calories, 18g fat (6g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 716mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 22g protein.
FRIDAY CLOSURES OF EREC OFFICES Listed below are the Fridays our offices will be closed in 2026. These dates are also listed in the EREC Wall Calendar available for pick up at either EREC location. January 9 & 23 February 6 & 20 March 6 & 20 April 3 (holiday) & 17 May 1, 15, & 29 June 12 & 26 July 3 (observing holiday), 10, & 24 August 7 & 21 September 4 & 18 October 2, 16, & 30 November 13 & 27 (holiday) December 11 & 25 (holiday)
Preheat oven to 375°. In a 10-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, heat butter over mediumhigh heat. Brown beef in batches; remove from pan. Sprinkle with pepper; keep warm. In same skillet, combine vegetables, water and thyme; stir in gravy. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are thawed. Stir in beef; remove from heat. Unroll crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles. Starting from the wide end of each triangle, roll up a third of the length and place over beef mixture with pointed ends toward the center. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 16-18 minutes.
HELP EASE GRID PRESSURE THIS WINTER
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS Escambia County
Santa Rosa County
Donald Farm Honey 8358 Hwy 97 McDavid, FL Email: billy.donald87@gmail.com Check them out on facebook.
Caraway Electrical & Plumbing 850-390-5082 Email: carawayelectrical@gmail.com Check them out on facebook.
Donald Farm Honey, located in Walnut Hill, is a small, family-run business specializing in raw, unfiltered honey straight from the hive. Known for its pure taste, rich quality, and careful craftsmanship, the farm takes pride in traditional beekeeping methods. You can also find Mr. Donald on YouTube, where he shares behind-thescenes videos on making comb honey frames, building a warming cabinet, and offering helpful tips for both beginners and seasoned beekeeping enthusiasts.
Caraway Electrical & Plumbing, located in Jay, FL, is a trusted local business known for treating every customer like family. From fixing water leaks and wiring issues to installing septic tanks and generators, their team is committed to high-quality service. Recently accredited by the BBB, Caraway continues to build its reputation on honesty, craftsmanship, and genuine hometown care. Their dedication to the community shines through in every job they take on.