October 2023

Lighting contributes to a sense of well-being and enables us to engage many activities during nighttime hours. If you have an outdoor light on your property that is not working or see one on West Florida Electric Cooperative's (WFEC) system, please contact the cooperative to report it. When reporting a problem, please provide the information below so that we can make repairs and contact you if needed.

• Provide your member account number or meter number, just like when you report a power outage. Some members have multiple yard lightswhen reporting the outage you might be asked where the light is located on the property.

• Describe the nature of the problem - is the light blinking? Is the bulb burned out?

• Provide contact information like the name, address, email address, or phone number of the person reporting the outdoor light so you can be contacted if needed. Providing as much information as possible ensures the proper response to the request.

To report a broken or malfunctioning outdoor light, contact the co-op at 800-342-7400 during normal business hours. If you experience any other types of damage at your home - such as leaning poles, broken meter bases/meters, damaged surge equipment or other related items, please contact us.

If you’re aware of a malfunctioning light on our lines, let us know. Simply inform us of the location, and we’ll make sure it’s repaired.

Decrease Damage from Spikes & Surges

"point-of-use" surge protectors at the receptacles that your electronics are plugged into.

Every device and appliance powered by electricity is vulnerable to damage from spikes and surges while it's plugged in. We've all heard the stories of (or maybe even experienced for ourselves) the inconvenience and financial strain caused by the sudden loss of an appliance, computer, or television. Luckily, there is a rather simple and inexpensive solution: Surge Protection Devices (SPD).

What is a surge protector? A Surge Protector is a device made to protect anything that is "downstream" on the electrical circuit from the harm caused by increases in the flow of electricity.

What is an electrical surge? Transient Voltage (AKA a surge or spike) is a sudden, unexpected increase in voltage on an electrical circuit. Most surges last only a thousandth of a second, but that's all the time it takes to fry your electronics.

What causes an electrical surge? Power lines can send surges into your home when they are struck by lightning, downed by car accidents, etc. This is why it's advisable to have a "whole house" surge protector at your meter. Large appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators draw a lot of power while running. What happens to that extra electricity when the motor cycles off? It creates a small surge that searches for ground. While these small surges go unnoticed, over time they degrade the circuit boards, shortening the lifespan of your electronics. This is why it is advisable to have plug-in

Surge protectors and power strips: What is the difference? While some types of surge protectors resemble power strips, they also provide the valuable service of guarding anything that's plugged into them against transient voltage. Quality surge protectors will also have protection for cable and phone lines, which are more ways that nearby lightning can find its way into your home and your valuable electronics. Power strips merely provide more receptacles for more plugs.

How does a surge protector work? Under normal conditions, a surge protector does nothing but allow electricity to flow through it. An increase in voltage will trigger the surge elements to activate and redirect the excess power to ground, while allowing a safe amount through to keep powering your devices/appliances. In the event of a catastrophic surge that exceeds the design parameters of the unit, the SPD will redirect the surge to earth ground.

Why do you need surge protectors? Protect your appliances and save money - it is much less expensive to replace a surge protector than your appliances or electronics.

help with your Medicare questions.

WFEC Offers EV Rebate

We’ve got some exciting news for EV owners living on West Florida Electric Cooperative’s (WFEC) distribution system. You may qualify for our $100 EV rebate.

Applying for your rebate is easy at westflorida.coop/electric-vehicles. When you register your vehicle, you’ll help us get a better understanding of how - and - when members are using electricity to charge EVs. This information will help guide planning for our power delivery system, as well as additional EV programs and rebates that benefit you.

The average range of today’s fully electric cars is around 275 miles. Some can go up to 330 miles on a full charge. That’s well above the average daily commute. The price for that charge is about half as much as filling up a gasoline-powered vehicle, and EV owners can do about 80 percent of the vehicle’s charging from home. With gains in the amount of energy these EV batteries can store, drivers can go further on each charge. As battery technology increases, EV prices will continue to come down and as more consumers go electric, automaker’s competition will increase.

Consumers can already choose from a variety of attractive and affordable models, including electric SUVs. Manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, GMC, and Dodge are following suit and planning to bring electric pickups to market through 2024.

There are various types of EVs available; these three are the most common:

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs or AEVs) Battery Electric Vehicles have a battery and an electric motor instead of a gas tank and an internal combustion engine. Sometimes BEVs are also referred to as “All Electric Vehicles” or “Plug-in Vehicles” (not to be confused with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles). They run entirely on electricity and do not produce any exhaust from burning fuel.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles have an electric motor AND a gas-powered internal combustion engine. Some PHEVs operate exclusively, or almost exclusively, on electricity until the battery is nearly depleted, then the gasoline-powered engine turns on to provide power. Like Battery Electric Vehicles, PHEVs can be plugged in to charge the battery when the vehicle is not in use.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) Hybrid Electric Vehicles have an electric motor AND a gas-powered internal combustion engine, and don’t plug-in for charging. HEVs can have substantial range on a single tank of gas, but they still burn fuel, produce carbon emissions, require trips to the gas station and scheduled engine maintenance. An HEV may be an ideal choice for those with extended commutes and limited charging system access.

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While visiting our website, check out all the helpful information about the benefits of driving electric, from home and public charging to available offers and incentives, like tax credits. There is also useful information about charging options, battery information, operating costs, maintenance, and more available online. If you’re interested in purchasing an EV, you can also use the savings calculator to estimate your monthly savings potential. You can also search for public charging locations using the online tool.

Whether you’re already behind the wheel of an EV or considering one for your future ride, we’re here with a road map of resources to help. To find out more about our EV rebate program, call 800-342-7400 or visit www.westflorida.coop.

Quick, Easy & Convenient. Text Us.

ext time you find yourself in the dark due to a power outage, use West Florida Electric Cooperative's (WFEC) outage texting service to report it. The Text Power service is a fast and easy way to report any outage. This convenient way of outage reporting will provide peace of mind that your outage has been reported successfully and it also eliminates much of the traffic that overloads the co-op's phone lines during major outages impacting hundreds or thousands of members. If you've yet to try this way of reporting power outages, give it a try - we think you'll like it. You can receive updates about the status of your outage and get text notifications when power is restored. Using the Text Power outage reporting system is quick and easy. Just follow these steps to get started:

1. Text WFEC to (800) 342-7400.

2. You will receive a welcome message with instructions about how to report future outages.

3. When you need to report an outage, text OUT to (800) 342-7400.

4. Text STATUS for updates, HELP for more info, and STOP to unsubscribe to the service.

That's all - it's as simple as that! Once power is restored, a text will be sent to confirm your power has been restored. If your phone number is not recognized, you will be prompted to contact the co-op by phone to report your outage using WFEC's outage management system. This means you will need to update your phone number with us. The number you're texting from must be listed as the mobile number on your account. Here are some other things you should note when using the Text Power service.

• Your cell phone's standard data charges apply.

• If you text OUT to report an outage, but do not respond to the questions the system asks, it will say your outage was not reported and ask you to respond to the questions or call the office.

• When you have multiple meters, you'll be asked if they are all out.

• To use the outage texting feature, you must have a mobile number associated with your account on the cooperative's billing system. Only one mobile number may be listed on each account to report outages via text.

WFEC also offers outage reporting features on its mobile apps for both Android and Iphone users, on its website, and on the member portal. Call WFEC at (800) 342-7400 if you need help signing up or to update your contact information. Remember, the best time to make any updates to your account or change phone numbers is before an outage happens. Enroll today and be ready to text us next time you happen to be in the dark.

Text "OUT" to (800) 342-7400

Which address: (a) [account number] [address]? Reply a or other. A

[account number]

[address]

Thanks. Your outage has been reported.

Once power is restored, you will get a text confirming restoration.

Apply for Youth Tour!

Youth Tour (YT) is an annual contest sponsored by West Florida Electric Cooperative that gives high school juniors the opportunity to compete for a FREE week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Everyone who participates in WFEC’s Youth Tour program will earn a trip to our state's capital for two days.

Deadline to apply: December 1, 2023

2 winners will receive a $1,000 college scholarship & 1 alternate will receive a $500 college scholarship!

See Your guidance counselor to apply

To appLy sTudenTs musT be high schooL Juniors and Their parenTs or guardians musT be members of WesT fLorida eLecTric cooperaTive.

Use the QR code for more info or contact Candace Croft at ccroft@westflorida.coop

Pecan Squares

Ingredients:

Crust:

2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

1 stick unsalted butter

1/2 cup light brown sugar

6 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

8 oz. pecan halves plus a few extra pinch of salt

Submitted

by: Donna Dykes

Directions: For crust, cream together the unsalted butter and light brown sugar, add the 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix in the flour (makes a crumbly dough). Spread & press down into a 9x13 pan. Press dough up the sides. Chill 20 minutes, then prick holes into crust and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. For filling, mix all filling ingredients and cook about one minute. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 8 oz. pecan halves and a pinch of salt. Put some nuts on top of crust mixture and pour filling on the crust. Bake 15-20 additional minutes at same temperature.

Community Calendar

120th Annual Andrew Elton Williams Family Reunion

October 7 • Registration @ 9:00 a.m. & Program @ 10:00 a.m.

Galilee United Methodist Church, Galilee Road, Graceville

For more information, contact Lamar Faircloth at 850-547-2275 or 850-326-3045.

40th Annual Graceville Harvest Festival

October 21

Hwy. 77 South, across from Graceville Civic Center

Live entertainment, arts, crafts, activities for kids, food vendors, and one of the area's largest car shows. The Harvest Hustle 5K run begins at 7 a.m. The parade begins at 9:00 a.m. Musical entertainment begins at 9:30 and lasts until 3:00 p.m. For more info about the 5K, musical guests and other festival info, or to join in the parade visit gracevilleharvestfestival.com.

Pioneer Day

October 21 • 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Panhandle Pioneer Settlement, Blountstown

Artisan demos including blacksmithing, quilting, wood carving, butter churning, spinning, crackling cooking, knitting, cooking on a wood stove, hands-on activities, crafts, a hayride, and more. Cabins will also be opened and staffed. For more info, call 850-674-2777 or online panhandlepioneer.org.

Heart & Sole 5K Walk/Run & Bicycle Rodeo

October 27 • 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Citizen's Lodge Park, 4574 Lodge Drive, Marianna

Get your steps in at our 5K walk/run. Bring the kids to participate in the Optimist Bike Rodeo and get a free helmet. Registration for the 5K is $10. Find out more online: JacksonCountyFCS.Eventbrite.com or call 850-482-9620 or 850-526-2412.

Water Bath Canning Class

November 4 • 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Jackson County Agricultural Offices, 2741 Penn Ave., Marianna

Get a refresher or learn how to preserve food with canning. Cost is $20 per person and participants will take home a sample jar prepared in class. Pre-registration is required. Call 850-482-9620 or visit JacksonCountyFCS.eventbrite.com to register. UF is an Equal Opportunity Institution. Require assistance? Call 800-955-8771 at least 10 working days prior so proper consideration may be given the request.

Holmes Co. Council on Aging Golden Dayz Fall Festival

November 4 • 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 2490 Development Circle, Bonifay

Vendors welcome, kid's activities, arts & crafts, live music, food trucks and more. Call Kim Drummond at 850-547-2345 for more information.

Home Buyer Education Class

November 6 • 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Jackson County Agricultural Office, 2741 Penn Ave., Marianna

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. For more info call 850-638-6265 or 850-482-9620. UF is an Equal Opportunity Institution. Require assistance? Call 800-955-8771.

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE

Animals/Livestock

Red Angus bulls; 850-209-7919.

Black SimAngus & Red Angus bulls, registered with papers, $2,750 each; 850-573-0949.

Home/Farm

RK KingKutter 6’ sub compact disc, excellent condition with attached weights, lightly used, great for garden use with small tractor; 850-573-5117.

Bahia grass hay, 5x4 rolls; 850-573-5145 or 850-579-2732.

Coastal hay, 5x5 roll, excellent quality, fertilized and barn stored, never been wet; 850-592-4798.

Miscellaneous

Homelite Ranger chain saw, 36”/40cm/33cc; 251-979-5971.

New Baldwin digital DVP 50 piano, ebony, w/piano bench, perfect for beginners, must see to appreciate, $1,400 cash, you move; 850-547-7493.

Zinger motorized wheel chair, practically new, with rechargeable battery, $1,600; 850-569-1076.

Honda 5 HP pressure washer, new tires, spray gun, 25’ of hose and all nozzles, works fine; 850-573-5117.

Sailnovo incubator, automatic turners, circulates air, easy to empty tank, humidity, and temperature display w/alarms, holds 35-65 eggs, $80 OBO; 850-573-8196.

Three vacuum carpet shampooers; one 2-drawer legal size filing cabinet; nice computer table; 850-592-2740.

Tree stand, climbing, antique, Warren & Sweat, $100 firm; 850-703-1859.

Sawtooth, Chestnut, Shumard, Swamp Chestnut, and Oak trees, $10 and up; 850-718-8763.

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.

Jazzy Select 2S-C mobility chair, new batteries, flip up arm/foot rests, swivel locking seat, hand control can be right or left hand, 2 hours of use, manual included, will deliver, $1,100 OBO; 904-219-5881.

Endurance 520 stepper, excellent condition, $400; 937-573-7975.

Multiple Listings

Square bale annual peanut grass hay, 5x5 rolls; walk-in cooler; 850-263-3427.

Solid wood dining room set, $175; 1950s custom crafted cedar wardrobe cabinet, $75; 850-326-0335.

1999 Ford 350 diesel truck, with 100-gallon fuel tank, $7,500; 2012 Honda 420 4-wheeler, $5,500; 850-451-5140.

Multiple Listings (cont.) Recreational Vehicles

Golf cart seats, 351/2 x151/2, $69; bull bumper guard, $125; truck step up rails, 3 sets, $125 each, 4’ gates $89; w/wire, $125; 6’, $125; 850-547-0448 or 850-373-3709.

Homemade/handmade quilts, lap quilts, baby quilts, twin, full or queen; two used bathtubs, to be used for water or feed troughs, great price; 850-547-3649.

Two bed frames, one queen size wooden frame and one standard size metal frame w/mattresses; two dressers and tables, nice computer table; call 850-592-4740.

Real Estate

16 acres of land in the Graceville area, portions farmable; 727-403-4463.

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.

Vintage 1981 Honda Goldwing 1100 GL, 6,900 miles, saddle bags, buddy seat, $7,000; with trailer, $8,500, good shape; 850-547-0448 or 850-373-3709.

Vehicles

1967 Volkswagen Beetle "BUG”, original owner, partially re-upholstered and restored w/ VW parts, has been stored under cover, runs great, serious buyers, please contact owner; 407-234-3335.

WANTED

Older Corvette, must be standard shift; 607-349-4844 or 850-579-2453, leave message.

150-500 acres pasture land, in Holmes or Washington County area; 850-234-7070.

Penny through dollar coins, loose, in jars, collections and estates, buy, trade or sell, honest and professional; 850-326-3437.

1971 Monte Carlo front bumper, will buy or will trade 1970 bumper; 850-547-0448 or 850-373-3709.

License plates from any state, mainly Florida, prior to 1980; old motorcycles or parts prior to 1960; 850-557-7030, Greg.

FREE

Red Cattle dog or red heeler, 8 years old, neutered, 50 lbs., has shots, very smart, house broken, perfect for farm or ranch; 540784-0182.

Puppies, born April 25, part black lab and part yellow lab, all shots, wormed, loving & playful; 850-956-2054.

THANK YOU

JCFR, DVFD, GRVFD, SVFD, MVED, JCSO and Joseph Land thank you for your quick response to the Providence Church Road house fire. It was greatly appreciated.

This Halloween, we’re focused on reliability keeping the porch lights on, so you can focus on what matters - the treats. Learn more about how you can help protect our community at voicesforcooperativepower.com/stregister.

Together We Can Stay Safe

Energy Efficiency Tip:

Did you know using your dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing a load of dishes by hand?

To maximize efficiency, wash full loads in the dishwasher and don’t block the arms of other parts that move while the appliance is in use.

For additional savings, turn on the “air dry” setting and use it instead of the “heat dry” setting and use a rinse aid to help dishes dry faster without spotting and streaking.

Digging too close to a pad-mounted transformer like the one above can damage underground cables, leading to electrical shock or interruptions in service. Use caution when landscaping. Call 811 before you dig and stay safe.

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays: All session games pay $250!

Saturdays 7 Sundays: Jackpot games @ 4-5-6-7-9 & 10 PM

Double Action Mini-Session at 4:00 PM

Mondays & Wednesdays: T-shirt night