Prepared at every level - Talquin Electric Cooperative

JUNE 2015
Talquin - Prepared
at every level
T
A L Q U I N
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
“The Current”
June 2015
Vol. MMXV No. 6
USPS #356-710
“The Current” is the official newsletter of Talquin
Electric Cooperative, Inc., published monthly as
an informational and educational service to the
members of the Cooperative. Periodical postage
paid at Tallahassee, Florida.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
Cooperative Member $1.50 per year.
Talquin Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.
EDITORIAL OFFICES
P.O. Box 1679
1640 West Jefferson Street
Quincy, Florida 32353-1679
Tracy Bensley, General Manager
Ken A. Cowen, Director of Administrative
Services/Editor
PRINTED BY:
Graphic Press Corporation, Tallahassee, Florida
POSTMASTER
In using Form 3579 please give key
letter and mail to “The Current,”
P.O.Box 1679, Quincy, Florida 32353-1679
OFFICERS
Carrie L. Durden
President
P.O. Box 541
Havana, Florida 32333
William R. VanLandingham
Vice-President
519 Telogia Creek Road
Quincy, Florida 32351
Joseph Alexander
Secretary/Treasurer
507 Deerwood Circle
Quincy, Florida 32352
TRUSTEES
Dr. Clifford S. Bristol
15333 N.W. CR 12
Bristol, Florida 32321
Doug Bruce
P.O. Box 10855
Tallahassee, Florida 32302
Sam Fenn
3539 Lakeview Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32310
Mal Green
7882 Bandits Run
Tallahassee, Florida 32309
Being Prepared - Co-op 101
Being prepared is one of the major responsibilities of an electric cooperative. Just as we make
preparations each year for the upcoming storm season, Talquin Electric prepares every year
for upcoming legislation that could significantly impact our Members. Representatives of
Talquin’s Board of Trustees and management staff join representatives from electric cooperatives across the nation in our nation’s capital every year in May for one purpose: to remind
our legislators that cooperatives serve over 75% of the land mass in the United States and
represent a very important group of people – our Members.This year, three regulatory issues
have the potential to significantly impact our rates and reliability, so this effort was more
important than ever. We identified significant pieces of legislation to Senator Bill Nelson,
Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Gwen Graham and their staff members as vitally important to electric cooperatives.Our first request was that the Legislators support a bill called
the “Ratepayer Protection Act of 2015.” This piece of legislation simply asks for a “safe harbor
period” or “pause” for utility providers while the Clean Power Plan (EPA’s landmark rule to
regulate carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions from power plants) is worked out and finalized.
One deadline in the EPA’s proposed “Clean Power Plan” requires utilities to make large reductions of CO2 emissions by 2020. This deadline will not allow enough time for lawsuits
to be settled, for the rule to be finalized, and for utilities to make necessary adjustments to
avoid power interruptions and continue to meet current demand. We asked our legislators
to vote for a balanced, reasonable approach.
As our Members already know, Talquin understands the need for renewable resources in energy
generation and currently is one of Florida’s leaders in this area. In 2014, about 14% of the
energy provided to our Members was generated with renewable resources.
Our next request was in reference to a new “Waters of the U.S.” rule proposed by the EPA
and Army Corps of Engineers. This rule would allow federal regulation of small bodies of
water, such as ditches and ponds, throughout Florida. As written, this regulation could cost
Talquin Members vast amounts of money in increased permitting and would slow down necessary maintenance on existing infrastructure. Talquin requested that our legislators support
a bill that would require the EPA to drop this current proposal and rewrite their definition of
protected waters.Our final request from our elected representatives was to support a bill that
would permanently designate coal ash produced from electricity generation as non-hazardous.
This product is currently designated as non-hazardous. In fact, coal ash has been evaluated
by the EPA at least three times in the last 10 years and found to be non-hazardous each time.
The proposed bill would simply make the current designation permanent, eliminate the need
to re-evaluate this designation every three years, and provide regulatory certainty for electric
utilities.We would also be remised if we did not mention that we met in person with Congresswoman Gwen Graham’s office to thank her for her help by signing a letter of support
earlier this year for continued R.U.S. funding for the nation’s electric cooperatives. This low
Bobby J. Strickland
108 Coleman Road
Crawfordville, Florida 32327
Dr. David L. Wright
1194 Solomon Dairy Road
Quincy, FL 32352
Talquin Electric and TWWI Board meeting will be held
the third Wednesday of the month at Headquarters Office
in Quincy, Florida, at 7:00 p.m. Notice of any changes
and special meetings will be posted at business offices.
Carrie Durden, Board President
2
Powering Communities/Empowering Members
Tracy Bensley, General Manager
THE CURRENT | June 2015
interest funding is critical for maintaining stable rates for the nation’s cooperatives.
Thank you again, Representative Graham!
As you all know, every year brings new challenges to electric cooperatives, but we appreciate the opportunities provided by our state and federal representatives to meet in
person and discuss the importance of maintaining reliable and affordable electricity
for our Members. What a great country we live in where we are afforded that privilege!
Talquin Members can depend on us to provide reliable, affordable services and keep the
membership informed of important topics. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
and at www.talquinelectric.com to stay updated on issues that matter to you.
Are You Prepared for Hurricane Season?
Even though our area has not recently been hit by a major storm and 2015 is expected
to be quiet, we always want to be prepared for the worst. June 1 marks the official start
of the hurricane season with the peak storm threat occurring from mid-August to late
October.
Talquin Electric wants you to be prepared in the event of any dangerous storms. Keep
your family safe with these handy tips:
Before the Storm:
• Put together an emergency kit and plan. Communicate the plan with your
family. Make sure you have a weather radio that is working with extra batteries.
• Know the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone.
This will help you prepare for the storm surge and any tidal flooding.
• Secure your home – cover all windows with either storm shutters or boards,
clear loose and clogged rain gutters, and bring all outdoor furniture indoors.
• Learn your community hurricane evacuation routes.
During the Storm:
• Listen to the radio or TV for information, if possible.
• Avoid using the phone, unless there is an emergency.
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, keep the refrigerator thermostat on the coldest setting and keep the doors closed.
After the Storm:
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to
Talquin Electric at 850-627-7651 or after hours call 1-866-899-4832 (automated system) or 1-888-802-1832 (live operator).
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads. Watch out for fallen objects,
downed power lines, and weakened walls, bridges, or sidewalks.
Effective June 1, 2015 the Wholesale
Power Cost Adjustment was decreased by 5.5 mills from 3.0 to -2.5
($0.003 to -$0.0025 per kWh). This
will be a savings of $5.50 per month
for Members using 1,000 kWh.
HOW CAN YOU
SAVE MONEY
AND
ENERGY
THIS SUMMER?
As summer starts to heat up and temperatures rise, many of us are cranking up the
air conditioners to stay cool. It should
come as no surprise then that air conditioners use about 5 percent of all the
electricity produced in the U.S., costing
homeowners more than $11 billion a year
in energy costs.
This summer, instead of blasting the air
conditioner (and blowing your electricity bills through the roof ), you can take
simple actions that will help you beat
the heat. For example, replacing a dirty,
clogged air filter with a clean one can lower
your air conditioner’s energy consumption
by 5-15 percent, while using a ceiling
fan will allow you to raise the thermostat
setting about 4 degrees without impacting
your comfort.
With just a few small changes, you can
relax in comfort this summer while saving
some cold, hard cash.
**from energy.gov
DON’T WAIT… Order your filters at a
discounted price by visiting our website at
www.talquinelectric.com .
Powering Communities/Empowering Members
June 2015 | THE CURRENT3
trading post
Miscellaneous
2 (side by side) funeral plots available at
Tallahassee Memory Gardens (off Hwy 27,
near Lake Jackson). “Peace” section. Lot 125,
section D, spaces 3 and 4. $1,200 each. Sold
as a pair. 524-4432
Dishwasher and wall mounted Microwave
for sale. $175 each or both for $300.00
Ready to be installed and used. White and in
GREAT condition. 539-8383
Housecleaning, reasonable rates, excellent
references,16 years experience. Move ins and
move outs. 321-4181
2007 goodman ac split unit 13 seer 2.5 ton.
Good compressor with new capacitor, and new
blower fan motor. $800 call 566-6435
Tractor work. Call 294-4487
Story & Clark piano for sale asking $600.00,
in very good condition.567-9101 or 574-0026
210 ea Heart pine boards 3/4 x8x12 ft. in
warehouse since 1981. $4.00 each. 544-2288
Limited Edition 2001 G six Kirby Micron
Magic HEPA FILTRATION vacuum cleaner,
all attachments and carpet shampoo system.
Bags and manual included. Excellent condition. $500. 893-6898
Antique sewing cab. w/ Sewmor Electric
machine mounted. $100 OBO. 100 yr old
antique wash pot $150 OBO. JASZY 1133
electric wheelchair used less than 5 hrs $500
OBO 442-4449
4 cemetery lots Tallahassee Memory Gardens
– Garden of Devotion. $1,250 each. 893-3455
Lg and sm aluminum walkers $25/$20;
raised toilet sea w/ handrails $25; adj shower
stool $20; pedal exerciser $15; Regalo safety
bed rail $15; 3x16x16 wheelchair cushion $15;
stnd size wall surround for bath tub (wht/never
installed) $75. 442-4210
Electric hospital bed w/ exercise bar $1,000.
Molift quick riser $1,205. Electric wheel chair
$2,000. Manual wheel chair $400. All items
OBO. 445-3692
Shotgun shell reloaders: 12 ga MEC “Grabber”; 12 ga Pacific progressive DL 366; 28 ga
MEC 600 Jr. $75 ea. 514-3585
Craftsman belt/disc sander 4”x36” belt 6”
disc like new condition $75 OBO. 668-1871
Collectible porcelain dolls and some doll
furniture. Also grandma and grandpa porcelain
dolls. Call for appointment. All for $1,000
firm. 510-1936
50 gal. aquarium w/ stand and accessories.
$130 firm. 766-6472
Real Estate
1964 Home, 4BR, 2BA, Pool, 815 Brent
Drive, Tallahassee Sunroom, Hardwood
Floors, Excellent Family Home Recent bathroom fixtures and paint, Sits on 2 lots, 3/4 Acre
4
Trading Post Guidelines
In order to continue to provide The Trading Post in every issue of The Current, we are asking
Members to adhere to the guidelines listed below when submitting an ad. If an ad does not meet
the new criteria, it will not be published. There is no cost to place an ad in The Trading Post.
• Members may submit one ad every three
months (four times a year)
• Ads must be twenty-five words or less
• Must be typed or printed legibly in ink
• No registered businesses may run an ad
• No changes after ad submission
• Deadlines are the first day of the month
preceding the month of publication (For
example, December 1st is the deadline for
the January edition.)
• Members must provide name, phone
number, and account number. No email
addresses will be published.
Mail ads to: “The Current”, Talquin Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 1679, Quincy,
FL 32353-1679 or e-mail to: tradingpost@talquinelectric.com
$115,000.00 766-5858
Riverfront reduced. $108,000. Recreational
wonderland on beautiful Ochlockonee. Clean and
tight 2BR/2Bath, protected dock, high and dry N
Easy Street, Smith Creek, Sopchoppy. 566-1719
3 bedroom 2 bath MH for rent - date available now. Will except section 8 housing choice
voucher. Monthly rent $959.00. By appointment only 926-4630
Beautiful RV Lot for Sale in N. GA Mountains
– Fantastic RV Park. Great Deal – Ready to Sell
- For pictures and more information, 508-3325
Land for Sale -7.3 acres, 3 beautiful residential
lots. Ft. Braden area adjacent to Nat. Forest,
good for horses. Must see. $9,995.00 per acre.
575-6968
HOME FOR RENT, furnished, 3 bedrooms,
1 bth, one block from beach at Shell Point
$950.00 month plus utilities 834-2094
Shell Point Mini House complete with bedroom, kitchen, RV hookup, septic, 2 showers,
2 toilets, fire pit. Vacation now or build bigger
home. 478/396-2843
Port St. Joe Vacation Rental: $100.00 per
night Plus $50.00 cleaning fee; 2/1 cozy
1930’s cottage; w/full kitchen; sleeps 6; fenced
yard; grill, screened porches; small dogs ok; 2
blocks from the bay; 539-8055 Automotive
1979 Ford LTD II – 4-Door, A/C, Radio, P/S,
Original Motor/Interior Low Mileage – 26,000
Asking $7,500 766-5858, 9H31F170318 –
VIN Number
One Truck/Van/SUV size battery, bought
but never used Two Dodge Van Seats.(BO)
332-9985
2013 Harley Davidson Anniversary model Trike Low mileage, Like new condition, with HD
cover. $31.900 575-3572
1996 Mazda B3000 V6 PU, Extended Cab
w/A.R.E Topper. Approximately 190,000 miles.
5 good tires. Runs well. AC needs work. $3500
OBO. 322-1283
Powering Communities/Empowering Members
Antique 1955 GMC truck, hydromatic drive
$10,000 OBO 442-4449
2003 Freedom Coachman: 30,000 miles, new
tires and awning, bedroom, bath w/ separate
shower facility, kitchen w/ stove, fridge and
microwave. $20,000 265-1265 or 832-2234
2002 Lincoln Town Car: 85,000 miles, good
condition, one owner, no accidents. $5,000.
556-3942
Farm/Garden
Organically grown heirloom vegetables &
herbs; flowers and plants; free-range eggs. Located in Crawfordville, FL. Delivery to TLH
available 274-7690.
Snapper Lawn Tractor - Model LE14.538H.
38in deck with mulching and bagging kits.
Needs a clutch but runs fine otherwise. Asking
$400 OBO 766-6007
Plants for Sale: roses, herbs, mints, crepes,
cones, evergreens, cherry’s, bottlebrush’s, lilies,
hedges and more. Free cana or crinum lilies.
Indoor also. 339-4381
1997 light blue Ford Windstar. New factory engine Jan. 2012, needs minor work,
good condition, some repair history available.
$2,000. 339-4396
Wanted
Competent certified Christian teacher to
instruct my bright 11 yr old homeschooled
child full-time. Bradfordville area. 544-3370
FREE
Business MBA textbooks: Doing Business
Abroad, Organizational Behavior & Administration, Readings in Organizational Behavior
& Performance, Problems in Marketing,
Management Policy and Strategy, Economics
w/ study guide, Marketing Principals, Management Theory Process & Practice, Practice
of Management Science, Managerial Finance 562-2086
THE CURRENT | June 2015
Watts Happening
Movie Night - Florida Historic Capitol Museum
June 26th – 7:00 PM till movie end.
Get prepared for Summer with this Gazpacho recipe
that you can always depend on to cool you off!
400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee (850)4871902
Join us in the Capitol Complex Courtyard for a movie from the 1980s. Bring
your own chair or blanket and enjoy the
movie on the big screen with popcorn
and sodas.
June 25th – Talquin’s 75th
Anniversary
Golden Gazpacho
2 yellow bell peppers (about 1 lb.
total)
1 cup chilled fat-skimmed chicken
broth or vegetable broth
1/2 cup chilled sour cream
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2/3 cup seedless green grapes, rinsed
and cut in half
2/3 cup diced English cucumber
2/3 cup cherry tomatoes (3/4 to 1 in.
wide), stemmed, rinsed, and cut
into halves or quarters
1/4 cup coarsely chopped salted roasted almonds
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
leaves
Salt and fresh-ground pepper
Join us at any of our Member Service
Offices for some fun and prizes to help
us celebrate 75 years of service!!
1. Rinse, stem, seed, and coarsely chop bell peppers.
Community, God and Country
Celebration
3. Ladle soup into wide bowls. Onto the centers, spoon equal portions of grapes, tomatoes, cucumber, almonds, cilantro, and mint. Add salt and pepper to taste.
June 28th 7:00 PM at Calhoun County
Airport
*Sunset Magazine
2. In a blender, combine peppers, broth, sour cream, and lemon juice. Whirl until
smooth. If making up to 1 day ahead, cover and chill.
There will be free food, music and fireworks at dark.
4TH OF JULY –
INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!
County Emergency
Management
Information
If you have special needs and may
require assistance during a storm,
contact your local County Emergency Management for information
regarding services they provide
during storms.
Gadsden County – (850) 875-8642
Leon County – (850) 606-3700
Liberty County – (850) 643-2339
Wakulla County – (850) 745-7200
Department Highlight
The Talquin Electric Substation Department knows what is involved to make sure
that power is supplied to the power lines that we see running down the road and
into our homes. The Substation Department maintains some of Talquin’s most
critical assets. This department is made up of 7 employees that are responsible for
maintaining 25 substations, approximately 39 power transformers and 84 substation
regulators. The Substation Department also helps maintain the electrical equipment
for approximately 83 well-site and lift stations throughout our service area. The
Talquin Electric Substation Department has a deep understanding of electricity and
what is required to support the Cooperative’s ongoing daily operations. They cover
1,500 square miles of service territory spanning from the northern tip of Gadsden
County all the way to Shell Point on the coast. Electricity is a necessity to most of
us, and this department plays a key role in keeping it on. The Substation team takes
their job seriously and is proud to manage the electrical needs of the Cooperative
and the Members they serve. As they like to call it, “Life on the rocks!”
Powering Communities/Empowering Members
June 2015 | THE CURRENT5
Generator Safety
Be aware of the potential hazards of electric generators.
instructions in the generator’s operating manual.
Use heavy-duty extension cords
from the generator. Overloaded
cords can cause fires or equipment damage. Don’t use extension cords with exposed wires or
worn shielding. Make sure the
cords from the generator don’t
present a tripping hazard. Don’t
run cords under rugs where heat
might build up or cord damage may go
unnoticed.
Electric generators can
keep your lights and appliances running during power outages — but
they can also pose serious safety hazards if operated incorrectly. To ensure
the safety of your family, neighbors
and Talquin Electric Cooperative
employees, please read and follow
the safety, maintenance and testing
Never run an electric generator inside a
building. Always ensure proper ventilation
and airflow around the generator.
Don’t overload the generator. It should
be used only when necessary, and only to
power essential equipment.
Keep children away from generators at all
times.
Plug appliances directly into generator
itself. Connecting the generator directly
to your home’s circuits or wiring must be
performed by a qualified, licensed electrician who will install a transfer switch that
will keep the generator from feeding power
back into the distribution lines. If that happens, the power crews working to restore
your electric service could be put at risk. In
addition, if your generator is still hooked
up when the power is restored, your generator and your household electrical system
may be damaged as well.
Never add fuel to a generator while it’s
running. Avoid spilling fuel on hot components. Put out all flames or cigarettes If you are interested in a GenerLink
when handling gasoline.
transfer switch, contact a Member Services Office to arrange the purchase and
Always have a fully charged, approved fire
installation of a unit for your home.
extinguisher located near the generator.
Summer Storm Safety Tip
Strong summer storms can create
dangerous situations.
Always avoid downed power lines the wire could be live, which could
be deadly for those nearby.
Quickly report downed power lines
to your local electric cooperative.
Call our outage lines 1-866-899-4832
(Automated System) 1-888-802-1832
(Live Operator) or 911
6
Powering Communities/Empowering Members
THE CURRENT | June 2015
Powering UP
When electricity goes out, most of us expect power will be restored within a few hours. But when a
major storm causes widespread damage, longer outages may result. Co-op line crews work long, hard
hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of meters and the most critical infrastructure in
the shortest time possible.
Here’s what’s going on if you find yourself in the dark.
1
1
2
High-Voltage
Transmission Lines
Transmission towers and cables that supply
power to transmission substations (and
thousands of members) rarely fail. But when
damaged, these facilities must be repaired
before other parts of the system can operate.
2
Distribution Substation
Each substation serves hundreds or
thousands of members. When a major outage
occurs, line crews inspect substations to
determine if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, the
substation itself, or if problems exist down
the line.
3
3
Main Distribution Lines
If the problem cannot be isolated at a
distribution substation, distribution lines are
checked. These lines carry power to large
groups of members in communities or
housing developments.
4
4
5
Tap Lines
If local outages persist, supply lines, called
tap lines, are inspected. These lines deliver
power to transformers, either mounted on
poles or placed on pads for underground
service, outside businesses, schools, and
homes.
5
Individual Homes
If your home remains without power,
the service line between a transformer
and your residence may need to be repaired.
Always call or register to text in outage
information to help crews isolate local issues.
Powering Communities/Empowering Members
June 2015 | THE CURRENT7
TRIC COOPER
EC
A
EL
75
, INC.
VE
TI
TALQU
IN
“THE CURRENT”
TALQUIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
P.O. BOX 1679
QUINCY, FL 32353-1679
years
TALQUIN ELECTRIC
COOPERATIVE, INC.
Office Locations
Headquarters
1640 W. Jefferson Street
Quincy, Florida 32351
(850) 627-7651 or
Quincy Member Services Office
1607 W. Jefferson Street
Quincy, Florida 32351
(850) 627-9666
Wakulla Member Services Office
681 Wakulla Arran Rd.
Crawfordville, Florida 32327
(850) 926-7422
Hosford Member Services Office
20557 NE Cooperative Way
Hosford, Florida 32334
(850) 379-8679
Lake Jackson Member Services Office
4808 Portal Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
(850) 562-0125
Bradfordville
Member Services Office
6724 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32312
(850) 893-6853
Service Interruptions (Outages)
Should Be Reported To
1-888-802-1832
(live operator)
Move Over Act
In honor of National Safety
Month, we want to remind
everyone of the Move Over
Act (Florida Statute Section
316.126). When approaching an authorized emergency,
sanitation or utility service
vehicle – don’t forget to do
the following:
• Move out of lane closest
to their vehicle
• Slow speed to 20 miles
per hour less than the
posted speed limit
Thanks for helping
keep our guys safe!!
Member of the Month
1-866-899-4832
(automated systems)
Visit us and report and view
outages on the Web at
www.talquinelectric.com
Sign up for text outage notification
at www.talquinelectric.com to report
your outage quickly and to receive
outage information.
Members of Talquin for 20 years, Ace Home
Center in Crawfordville has made quite an
impression on Talquin employees. They know
the owners, Walter and Beverly Roberts - Mr.
Walter and Mrs. Beverly – and their daughter
Leanne by name, which is not something you
see that often these days. “They have a good
variety, are friendly, and have a hands on approach. And it is always nice to shop local,”
states Susan Vickers. Did you know that every
Ace store is locally owned and is a member of
the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative
in the industry? So the next time you are in
the area, whether it is for something small or
preparing for a storm, make sure to say hi to
Mr. Walter and Mrs. Beverly!