CURRENT LIGHT
FLASHES
OCTOBER 2026 | VOL. 76 NO. 10 | www.westflorida.coop Shining a Light on our Co-op’s Adminstrative Team Keeping the lights on and the cooperative Penny Bryan running VP Administrative Servces smoothly takes more than the linemen you see in the field. As cooperatives across the country celebrate National Co-op Month, we’re taking the opportunity to recognize those who work behind the scenes to keep our cooperative moving forward and the lights on. 105760001 “From Accounting and Human Resources to Purchasing and Member Services, every person on our administrative team plays an important role in serving our members and supporting the work of West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC). No matter their job, all of these employees are an essential part of the equation,” said Penny Bryan, WFEC’s Vice President of Administrative Services. continued on page 2
I nside
Accounting:
Helen Davis
Katie Herrington
Anita Seaborn
Human Resources, Purchasing & Admin:
Page 2: Shining a Light on our Co-op’s Administrative Team (cont.) Page 3: Stop Energy Dollars from Going Down the Drain
Amanda Evans
Shannon Holton
Holley Brown
Somer Smith
Member Services, Billing, Energy Services, Comms & IT:
Page 4: 2026-2027 Youth Tour Applications Now Available
ROW U pdate Manda Barnes
Melissa Birge
Morgan Owen
Tara Newcomb
WFEC Right-of-Way Crews will be cutting & trimming in the following area(s) during Gretta Simpson
Tawana Bowers
Candace Howell
Cassie Seaman
Stacy Turner
Charlis White
Amy Adams
Sharon Curry
Vivian Daniels
Shakela Dickens
Kim Hall
Christa McWhorter
Janet Watson
Judy Acuff
Mary Neal
Donna Pittman
Rhonda Byrd-Lee
Candace Croft
Jose Verduzco
OCTOBER: Malone, Bascom & Grand Ridge When ROW crews are trimming in your area, there may be several days between ROW cutting & clean-up crews due to inclement weather, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Spot your WFEC account number & earn a $25 bill credit! Find your account number inside the articles in this publication and give us a call or send an email to clf@westflorida.coop with your name and account number to verify.
The accounting department keeps the cooperative financially healthy and operating efficiently. They make sure the cooperative’s bills are paid accurately and on time, and they oversee month and year-end balancing, which includes reconciling accounts, closing work orders and ensuring materials and other costs are charged to the appropriate accounts. This team manages WFEC’s budget on a monthly and annual basis, and maintains the cooperative’s cash flow. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but it provides the financial foundation WFEC needs to serve its members. 47749001 Just as accounting guarantees the cooperative’s financials are in order, West Florida Electric’s Human Resources department ensures the people working at the co-op have the support and resources needed to do their jobs. HR plays a key role in recruiting and onboarding new employees. They administer compensation, payroll, health insurance and retirement benefits, keep the co-op in compliance with federal and state employment laws, support training and development, and more. From welcoming new employees to supporting them throughout their careers, HR helps build a safe, knowledgeable and dedicated workforce. “While HR supports the people who make up WFEC, Purchasing makes sure those employees have the equipment, materials, and supplies needed to do their jobs,” said Bryan. This department works alongside warehousing to review bids and quotes from vendors, and issues purchase orders for electrical equipment, hardware, vehicles and other supplies. They ensure purchases follow cooperative policies and Rural
Utilities Service (RUS) specifications. The Purchasing department ensures WFEC has the equipment it needs for routine work and is prepared whenever storms strike. “While Accounting, HR and Purchasing work largely behind the scenes, WFEC’s Member Services team are the most familiar faces to members,” Bryan said. HR plays a key role in recruiting and educating future employees by including attending career fairs within the cooperative’s service “They answer quesarea with other departments from the cooperative. tions, process payments, manage billing, and employees have the reliable techhelp members start or stop service.” nology and tools they need to serve Member Services employees conmembers effectively. duct energy audits and work with members experiencing high bills Our cooperative employees’ committo identify ways to improve energy ment to serving members takes on a efficiency. This department also different meaning when major storms handles monthly utility billing and strike, extending beyond their daily processes payments received at offresponsibilities. When storms strike, site locations. “Our Member Services department lines disappear. Everyone employees make sure our members comes together with one goal: restorreceive the personalized service that ing power to members as quickly and is at the heart of the cooperative safely as possible. Employees from difference.” Accounting, HR, Purchasing, Communications and Member Services WFEC Communications and IT step outside their normal roles to departments keep the cooperative support line crews and members. connected, informed and running They prepare meals, secure lodging, smoothly. Communications coordideliver supplies and meals to crews nates school and youth programs, working in the field, assist with storm including Youth Tour, shares news and communications, answer increased information through social media, member calls, track expenses and newsletters, and coordinates events help manage the logistics that come such as the cooperative’s annual with power restoration efforts. Times meeting. Behind the scenes, the IT like these serve as reminders that department keeps WFEC’s technolwhile each department has its own ogy running smoothly and securely. important responsibilities, everyone From maintaining computer systems is part of the same team, and when and networks and protecting against members need us most, that team cybersecurity threats to managing comes together. software and equipment and providing technical support, IT ensures
2 • Current Light Flashes • October 2026 • To Report Outages: (800) 342-7400
Stop Energy Dollars from Going Down the Drain Water heating can account for up to 18 percent of your household energy costs, the second-largest expense in the average home, trailing only heating and cooling. West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is here help you find simple ways to keep your hard-earned energy dollars from going down the drain. These tips can also help extend the life of your water heater and prevent accidents. Set the water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, setting your water heater temperature too high can waste $36 to $61 a year in standby heat losses, plus more than $400 in overall demand and energy losses. This temperature is also safer for your family, preventing burns and scalding. To adjust the temperature, unscrew the plate that covers the thermostat on your water heater and manually adjust the setting. Take shorter showers. Hot water is money, and every drop you don’t use is money saved. Shorter showers
Light Out?
mean less work for your water heater and more hot water for the next person. Wash clothes in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water can reduce energy use by more than half. If you are concerned about using the cold setting, newer detergents contain enzymes that work just as well in cold water. Cold temps are also gentler on clothes and helps protect them from fading, bleeding, and shrinking. Give your water heater a vacation. Turn off your water heater when no one will be home for an extended period of time. You can just flip its switch off in the breaker box. 96168001
Tap into savings 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.
$330
Use faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads. Using less water means you’re using less hot water. You can achieve savings of 25 to 60 percent by installing these low-flow fixtures.
We need to know.
To Report an Inoperable or Malfunctioning Yard Light:
Call (800) 342-7400 or your local district office 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. 3 • Current Light Flashes • October 2026 • To Report Outages: (800) 342-7400
Purchase a highefficiency water heater and save an estimated
per year.
Helping you reduce energy use and improve your home’s efficiency is one of the things WFEC, your locally owned and operated electric cooperative is here to help you do.
WFEC Offices Closed October 12
2026-2027 Youth Tour Program Applications Now Available West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) Youth Tour applications are now available from your school’s guidance counselor. Youth Tour is a leadership program for local students. This program is sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA) and West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC). It connects high school juniors with opportunities to grow as leaders, explore civic engagement, and experience our government in action. Local students who are chosen to represent their high schools will enjoy a two-day trip to Tallahassee, where they meet with state leaders and gain firsthand insight into public
service and government. From this group, two students are selected to represent WFEC in Washington, D.C., joining peers from across the nation for a week-long trip. The two Washington Youth Tour winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for college or trade school, and the alternate winner will receive a $500 scholarship. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this experience. 84964004 If you are a high school junior whose parent or guardian is a member of WFEC, ask your school’s guidance counselor how to apply today. Youth Tour is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow, lead, and represent your community.
WFEC Board of Trustees
DAVID TATUM
TIM ALFORD
JACKIE POOSER
JOHN ADAMS
DAVID CORBIN
GEORGE C. OWENS
RANDY BUSH
LANCE MEDLEY
MYRON HUDSON
WILL MELTON
District 1/President
District 3/Treasurer
District 5/Vice President
District 2
District 4
District 6
Apply for Youth Tour Today!
Youth Tour (YT) is a once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity for high school juniors, sponsored by WFEC. YT connects outstanding students with opportunities to grow as leaders and explore civic engagement.
See Counselor to Apply • Deadline: Dec. 9, 2026
District 7
District 8
Use the QR code for more info
or Contact Candace Croft, ccroft@westflorida.coop
R ecipe of the M onth Oatmeal Cookies Submitted by: Mary Dewees Submit your event by email clf@westflorida.coop. Visit the link below to view a list of events. Find this recipe and more: www.westflorida.coop/recipes 4 • Current Light Flashes • October 2026 • To Report Outages: (800) 342-7400
District 9/Secretary
Interim Executive VP & CEO
Notifications 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 at 1:00 PM, unless special circumstances warrant a change. If a change is warranted, it could include changing the time or date of the meetings. It is best to verify the details by calling (800) 342-7400. If you would like to address the Board of Trustees, please consult Board Policy 114 (located on the co-op website).
This Institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.