The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized a new power plant rule that unfairly targets coal and natural gas plants by forcing a rapid reduction in carbon dioxide emissions through the use of technology that is costly and speculative. The rule will lead to plant closures, higher power prices and significant reliability challenges as demand for electricity grows.
USPS: 702-990 | ISSN: 1042-7767 | VOL 75, NO 2
Current Light Flashes is the official voice of West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., a member-owned Touchstone Energy® cooperative serving Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties. It is published as a service to the Co-op’s members. Periodicals postage is paid at Tallahassee, Florida.
Board of Trustees
Who Runs the Cooperative Business A 4 Part Series
Cooperative management is often incorrectly thought of as including only the manager hired by the board of trustees and the manager's key staff. This is far from the truth. Cooperative management should be regarded as a team consisting of four (4) elements.
• members as the owner-users,
• board of directors, as the policy making body,
• hired management, as the General Manager, and
• employees as the work force.
Each part of the team has its own distinctive duties and responsibilities for performing management functions at the cooperative. This allows them definite, reserved rights in the ownership and control of the business. These important rights give them the privilege of taking an active part in the management of the cooperative. To be effective, each must exercise rights; otherwise, they will have no voice.
Successful management of a cooperative is based on intelligent and active cooperation of the members with the board and with the manager/employees with each group shouldering its own responsibilities to the best of its ability.
Part 1, General Manager/CEO:
In a cooperative, the board of directors decides what the cooperative will do; the general manager and immediate staff decide how it can best be done (subject to board review)so as to achieve the basic objective of serving members effectively. Under ideal conditions, the general manager's principle tasks are planning, reporting to the board of directors, conferring with key supervisors, maintaining good organizational relations, and controlling the cooperative's operations.
Responsibilities of the General Manager:
• Supervises and coordinates (under board direction) the business activities of the co-op by managing people, capital, and physical resources.
• Oversees the detailed operations of the cooperative, within the policies established by the board of directors and recommends changes and additions when necessary. Management's job is to implement those policies. For example, the purchase of inventory and sale of commodities, the general appearance of the co-op, and employees of the cooperative.
• Hires, trains, supervises, and sets compensation for employees. He/she also needs to review the performance and replaces those employees not meeting acceptable performance levels. This reinforces the need for having clear job descriptions for all employees.
• Maintains and revises as necessary an adequate bookkeeping and accounting system; develops for board approval a financial budget annually; prepares proper financial reports regularly for board review; and presents to the co-op membership at the annual meeting, a report of the cooperative's operational highlights.
• Furnishes information needed for long-range planning. This will bring matters such as fixed asset additions or revisions to the board's attention for review. He/she also should make recommendations that assist in reviewing the organization's objectives and goals establishing policies, regulations, and programs, and making related plans. Based on those objectives, the manager sets goals and makes short-range plans involving the daily business of the co-op, subject to board approval.
continued on page 4
Tim Alford, WFEC Board President
• Represents the cooperative and portrays a positive image to members and others in the community. He/she needs to: 1) encourage membership and active patronage; 2) communicate developments of the cooperative to members; 3) educate the general public about the co-op and its activities; and 4) keep current on issues, local, state, and federal regulations, and pending legislation affecting cooperatives.
Next month I will discuss the responsibilities of employees. I pray everyone has a safe month.
Sincerely,
Board of Trustee Nominations
Due Feb. 14
In accordance with Article IV, Section 5, of West Florida Electric Cooperative’s bylaws, WFEC has appointed a nominating committee to identify interested and qualified members to be candidates for the board of trustees in the co-op’s upcoming elections. WFEC’s members will elect trustees to represent the following districts:
District 1: That part of Calhoun County served by the cooperative.
District 2: That part of Jackson County lying east of the Chipola River and between the north line of Calhoun County and the south line of Township 6 North.
District 3: That part of Jackson County lying east of Marshall Creek, north of the south line of Township 6 North.
To be eligible to serve as a trustee, a person must be a bona fide WFEC member residing in the respective district and meet certain other requirements set forth in WFEC’s bylaws. Desired qualifications include the ability to become bonded, the capability of receiving and sending electronic mail transmissions and successfully meeting all requirements to become a National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Credentialed Cooperative Director within 36 months. All candidates must agree to abide by Board Policy No. 126: Board Election Campaign Policy. Any WFEC member living in Districts 1, 2, or 3 and interested in running should contact a committee member in the appropriate district. All completed documents must be mailed or delivered to the Graceville office and submitted to Penny Bryan or her designee by noon on February 14. The deadline for submitting nominations by petition is February 25.
The following are the names and telephone numbers of the nominating committee members:
Scammers will try anything to deceive utility customers, including a tactic that claims customers have overpaid their bill. If you receive a call, text or email from someone claiming you overpaid a utility bill and need to provide your banking or credit card information to receive a credit, it’s likely a scam. In most cases, your utility will apply a credit to your account to cover future charges or refund an overpayment with a mailed check.
Source: Utilities United Against Scams
Easy Ways to Keep Energy Dollars from Going Down the Drain
ew things are better than hot water - whether it's for dishwashing, showering or laundry. While it's a convenience, water heating can account for up to 18 percent of your household energy costs.
Set your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees. Setting the temp on your water heater too high can waste $36 to $61 per year in standby heat losses, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy. The magic 120 number also helps reduce mineral buildup in tanks and pipes. This temperature is safe for your family, too, preventing scalding or burning accidents. Simply unscrew the plate covering the water heater's thermostat and manually adjust the setting.
Opt for short showers. Hot water is money, and every drop you don't use is money saved. Shorter showers mean less work for your water heater and more hot water for the next person who needs it.
Wash clothes with cold water. Using cold water can cut a load's energy use by more than half. Still concerned about washing on the cold setting? Newer detergents contain enzymes that work just as well in cold water. Gentler on your clothes, cold water helps protect them from fading, bleeding and shrinking.
Give your water heater a vacation when you take one. Turn off water heaters when no one is home for extended periods of time, like vacations. Simply flip its switch in the breaker box.
Tap into savings with faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads. When using less water, you use less hot water, too. Low-flow fixtures will save 25 to 60 percent.
Insulate hot water pipes. This easy improvement can save money and raise water temperature 2-4 degrees.
Tap into savings on hot water costs. Set your water heater temp to 120° F to save energy and help prevent scalding.
Wash clothes in cold water to cut each load's energy use by more than half.
Purchase a highefficiency water heater and save an estimated $330 per year.
Wrapped in Savings
Ensuring your home is properly insulated can improve energy efficiency and make your home more comfortable. Insulation acts like a cozy coat that reduces heat loss during winter months and a protective layer that reduces heat gain during summer months.
Many older homes have less insulation than newer homes, but even newer homes can benefit from additional insulation. While it's not the least expensive efficiency improvement, adding insulation and air sealing your home can provide the biggest bang for your buck in energy savings and overall comfort.
The most common areas to insulate are attics, ceilings, crawl spaces, exterior and interior walls, floors and duct work located in unconditioned spaces.
The amount and effectiveness rating of insulation required for each area varies by climate but The Department of Energy website provides easy-to-follow recommendations. You can learn about recommended R-values by visiting energy.gov/insulation.
It's important to understand how insulation effectiveness is measured. Insulation is rated in R-value, which measures the material's resistance to conductive heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value you need depends on factors like climate, type of heating and cooling system and which area of the home your plan to insulate.
Insulation is offered in a wide range of materials from bulky fiberglass rolls to cellulose materials made from recycled paper products. If you're considering installing additional insulation, talk to an expert who can offer guidance on the right materials for your budget, climate and comfort needs.
Investing in proper insulation for your home not only enhances comfort but also reduces energy consumption.
For optimal efficiency, your home should be insulated from the roof to the foundation. Adding insulation to weatherproof your home is an investment that adds comfort to your life and money to your wallet.
Understanding Factors that Impact Energy Bills
January
and February bring some of the coldest weather of the year, and as our home heating systems work harder and longer to keep us warm, we typically see higher energy bills. There are a few key factors that affect electricity prices, as well as a few ways you can make a meaningful impact on home energy savings.
When you receive your monthly energy bill from West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC), you're provided with a summary of how much electricity you used during the billing cycle. You can even see how electricity use may have spiked on days when you used more electricity, such as a particularly chilly day or when relatives were staying with you.
But you might be surprised to learn that beyond your monthly energy consumption, there are external factors that can impact the cost of electricity.
Purchased Power
WFEC purchases electricity from our power generation partner, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, at a wholesale cost, then we deliver that power to our local communities. The cost of generating and transmitting electricity from our generation partner accounts for a significant portion of the cost to provide electric service to local homes and businesses - and the cost of fuels that are used to generate that electricity, such as natural gas and coal, fluctuate based on supply and demand. While these fluctuations can impact the cost of electricity, we work closely with PowerSouth to plan ahead and help stabilize electricity prices for our members.
Extreme Weather
While we can't control the weather, we can review weather patterns and forecasts to prepare for times of extreme cold or heat, when we know the demand for electricity will increase. But when temperatures become extremely cold and the demand for electricity spikes, the price of electricity can also increase.
continued on page 9
EFFECTIVE WAYS to Lower Home Energy Use
Outside factors, such as fuel & equipment costs and extreme weather, can impact electricity prices. But you have the power to control home energy use by taking proactive steps to reduce energy use.
thermoStat management: The thermostat is one of the best places to lower your energy use because heating & cooling account for a significant part of home energy use. During winter months, adjust your thermostat to 68 degrees (or lower).
uSe off-peak energY timeS: Plan energy-intensive chores & tasks such as running the dishwasher or washing clothes, during off-peak energy hours, when the demand for electricity is lower. Off-peak times are early in the morning or late in the evenings. By scheduling these tasks during off-peak periods, you can keep rates lower, reduce demand & relieve pressure on the grid.
Seal Your home: About 20% of heated or cooled air moving through a home is lost due to proper insulation & air leaks. Ensure your home has sufficient insulation levels and seal leaks around windows and doors with caulk and weather-stripping. This is a simple, effective way to lower energy use and improve comfort indoors.
maintain equipment: The health of your HVAC system is essential for comfort and can greatly impact energy bills. Maintain your system by regularly replacing dirty filters and scheduling annual inspections for maintenance and necessary repairs.
Infrastructure and Equipment
To cover the costs associated with providing electricity to your home or business, WFEC members pay a monthly base charge. This flat monthly fee ensures the cost of equipment, materials, labor and daily operations are covered for all members in West Florida Electric's service area. To ensure the reliable service you expect and deserve, we must maintain the local grid, including power lines, substations and other essential equipment.
Energy Policy and Regulations
Federal energy policies and regulations can have a profound impact on electricity costs. As energy generation shifts to the use of more renewable sources and stricter regulations for traditional, always-available fuel sources, such as natural gas and coal plants, costly upgrades and technologies must be constructed and deployed. These additional costs are ultimately passed to members.
EPA POWER PLANT RULE
Legal Challenges
– National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), states and several utilities are suing the EPA.
– The lawsuit argues that the EPA has exceeded its authority and is unreasonably requiring the use of unproven and costly technologies, placing financial strain on electric utilities.
– All options to comply will force an unlawful shift in generation, putting the power supply at risk and threatening the foundation of communities across the country and here at home.
U.S. power consumption is expected to double by 2050. Across the country, electric cooperatives are working with members of Congress to advocate for smart energy policies that reliably power our local communities. We are urging the Trump Administration to take concrete steps to repeal the EPA's power plant rule and bolster the long-term reliability of the nation's grid.
Jackson Co. Master Gardener Plant Sale • March 2; 7 AM (while supplies last)
2741 Penn Ave., Marianna
Purchase fruit trees, vegetable starts, flowers and more from Jackson County's Master Gardeners. Purchases must be made with cash or checks only.
Homebuyer Education Class • March 5; 9 AM - 4 PM
Washington Co. Ag Complex, 1424 Jackson Ave., Chipley
Understand home buying, analyze personal financial and credit situations & learn basic home care/maintenance to help maintain the value of your home/save money. Pre-registration is required. The Florida Cooperative Extension service is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Completion of the course satisfies the homeownership education requirements for the SHIP and USDA Rural Development program. To register, call 850-482-9620, 850-638-6265 or 850-674-8323.
*UF is an Equal Opportunity Institution. Require assistance? Call 800-955-8771.*
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
February; 2741 Penn Ave., Marianna
AARP Foundation Tax Aide provides in-person and virtual tax assistance to anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate incomes. AARP membership is not required. You must call 850-482-9620 to make an appointment beforehand and to gather information about what documents to bring. Learn more about free income tax preparation services by visiting fl6.taxaide.aarpfoundation.org. When ROW crews are trimming in your area, there may be several days between ROW cutting & clean-up crews due to inclement weather,
Larry Englert Owner Pool cages, screen rooms, car ports, rescreening & repairs.
Larry’s Rescreening, LLC
SURVEYOR
Submitted by: Arlene Cornelius
Ingredients:
2 pound bag of frozen hash browns, thawed
1/2 cup melted butter
1 16 ounce sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until brown.
Hash Brown Casserole
CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE
Animals/Livestock
Black Australop chicks or chickens, female chicks, $5; male chicks, $4.50; unsexed, $3.50; other sizes available with different prices; eggs w/o carton, $3; with carton, $2.50; 850-481-2023.
Chihuahuas, 2 males & 2 females, full blooded, taking reservations now, mom & dad on site; 850-5731239.
Small 9-month-old male & female Shih Tzu/toy poodles, pad trained, inside only, adorable, good home, $175 each; 850-768-0556.
Antiques/Collectibles
Singer Featherweight sewing machine, very good condition, manufactured April 1947, 221 black, with attachments & case, $1,000; 828-576-2495.
Home/Farm
Brown recliner, like new, $250 OBO, swivel, heat, vibrate; 850-263-3182.
Masonry scaffold frames, pins, casters, jacks, aluminum planks, stored under cover, $1,500; 850-260-5438, will send photos.
CLF Free Ad Policy (Limited to one ad per household)
WFEC publishes free classified ads in the Current Light Flashes as a service to its members. The following limitations apply: 1) Ads must be 20 words or less and must be legible, with an active electric account number at the top. 2) Ads exceeding 20 words are subject to elimination. 3) Submit ads to the Graceville office by the 5th of the month to appear in the following month’s issue. (Example: An ad arriving by Jan. 5 will appear in the Feb. CLF) 4) Ads for services & businesses are not free. Service businesses include, but are not limited to, pet or livestock breeders or stud services, rentals, baby-sitting, etc. 5) Any buying or selling on a regular basis will be considered a business. On-going garage sales & the sale of similar items on a repeated basis do not qualify for free advertising. 6) WFEC may refuse to publish any ad . 7) You may submit your ad online at www.westflorida.coop WFEC will not accept ads over the phone.
Multiple Listings
Three-horse slant trailer; grain wagon; aluminum dog box; barrel, pleasure, roping saddles; tack; treeing Walker coon dog puppies; 850-209-8532 or 850-592-2494.
Homemade/handmade quilts, lap, baby, twin, full or queen; 2 used bathtubs, to be used for water or feed troughs, great price; 850-547-3649.
CLF Free Ad Form Please Type or Print Neatly.
Sale • Wanted • Free • Thank You • Lost (circle one)
LocaL TeLephone prefixes
Multiple Listings (cont.)
125 collectibles, old, a little of everything; 26 old paintings; 1958 Army items, uniforms, helmets, duffle, shave kit, make offer; 850-674-6242.
Real Estate
16 acres of land, in the Graceville area, portions farmable; 727-403-4463.
Recreational Vehicles
14’ Scandy White 25 Mariner, Powertilt and trim, trolling motor, stick steering, live well, good trailer, $4,000; 850-451-5336.
14’ Xtreme boat & trailer, Mercury 30 hp four-stroke Motor Guide trolling motor, $6,000; 850-5692416.
Vehicles
|1994 Isuzu Amigo, $2,000, ideal for farming & hunting, has Great 4WD, everything works, well maintained antique vehicle; 850-527-9380, text.
Horses; ponies; mules; donkeys; 850-209-8532 or 850-592-2494.
150-500 acres pasture land, in Holmes or Washington County; 850-234-7070.
Penny through dollar coins, loose, in jars, collections and estates, buy, trade or sell; 850-326-3437.
20-30 acres of grass, for cattle in Jackson or Calhoun County; someone with a road tractor, to pull 48 pot from areas in the East to the Midwest or Panhandle of Texas; 850-451-1065.
Statement of non-DiScrimination:
License plates from any state, mainly Florida, prior to 1980; old motorcycles or parts prior to 1960; 850-557-7030, Greg.
Looking for pasture land and hunting land, to rent, the closer to Campbellton the better; 850-703-5450.
FREE
Two healthy fostered male cats, 7 months old, need good home, are mostly outdoor cats and friendly; 850-260-0474.
FOUND
Found: Blue Heeler, in Poplar Head Area of Washington County, please describe if yours; 850-535-6433.
Notification Statement
Notice is hereby given that the West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. Board of Trustees regularly meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, unless special circumstances warrant a change.
Main Business and Publications Offices
5282 Peanut Road
Graceville, Florida 32440-0127
(850) 263-3231 or 1-800-342-7400
Subscription Rate
Cooperative members, $2.50 per year
Non-members, $6.00 per year
Change of Address Notices
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Current Light Flashes
P. O. Box 127
Graceville, Florida 32440-0127
DISCLAIMER: Although paid advertisements may appear in West Florida Electric (WFEC) publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, WFEC does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. WFEC reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish any advertisement, article or information.
This Institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
WFEC is a recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Therefore, in accordance with Federal and civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA conducted or filing deadlines by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested on the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistance Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
West Florida Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider, and employer.
– Early retirement of coal and gas plants will hurt reliability, especially during peak times when the most people
– Shifting generation to intermittent renewables, like solar, will make it harder for your electric utilities to maintain reliable power. Renewables like solar are dependent on weather and time of day
