Tommy Brandt, winner of 29 gospel country music awards, is our

Peace River Electric Cooperative
M A R C H 2016
MARCH 2016
Tommy Brandt, winner
of 29 gospel country
music awards, is our
special musical guest
at PRECO’s Annual
Meeting in Wauchula.
See page 4-5 for more information.
Tommy Brandt, winner of 29
Christian music awards, is the special
musical guest at Peace River Electric
Cooperative’s annual meeting in
Wauchula on Saturday, March 19.
See page 4-5 for more information.
New Right-of-Way Contractor PAGE 7
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Reporting Outages PAGE 28
PRECO Park
220 Knight Road
Wauchula, Florida
Saturday, March 19th
10:00 am: Registration opens
1:00 pm: Business Meeting
FREE:
Tommy Brandt
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Inspirational Country Music Award winner!
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www.TommyBrandt.org
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Food
Games & Fun
Face Painting
Exhibits
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Kids Activities
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Door Prizes
Live Music
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Boiled Peanuts
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Snow Cones
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Popcorn
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Hotdogs
Ice Cream
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French Fries
Fried Donuts
Funnel Cakes
You must provide photo ID, such as a
driver’s license, in order to register.
SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST
Tommy Brandt, gifted singer/songwriter, tours
the country with a message of faith, hope and
love. Tommy is a leader in his field winning
multiple Inspirational Country Music Awards,
including Male Vocalist of the Year five times and
New Artist of the Year. The Christian Music Hall of
Fame recognized him in 2010 with a “Visionary
Award” for his contributions to Christian Music
using inspirational country music.
4
M A R C H 2 016 To register on behalf of a business,
you must provide signed authorization
from the company president
on company letterhead.
No smoking. No pets. Be advised that
photos will be taken at this event for
publications/social media.
Peace River Electric Cooperative
Door prizes
awarded after the
business meeting!
PRECO Members:
Come enjoy your
Cooperative’s
76th Birthday!
Important Information
For faster registration at PRECO’s
Annual Membership Meeting, bring your
electric bill with scannable
QR code (see left) and your photo ID.
The meeting will be held on Saturday,
March 19th, at 220 Knight Road, in
Wauchula. Registration begins at 10 am.
www.preco.coop
M A R C H 2 016
5
PO Box 1310
210 Metheny Road
Wauchula, Florida 33873
1.800.282.3824
MARCH 1, 2016
O F F I C I A L
N O T I C E
Dear Member:
The 76th Annual Membership Meeting of Peace River Electric Cooperative Inc. will take place Saturday,
March 19, 2016, at 1:00 pm. The meeting will be conducted at PRECO Park, 220 Knight Road, located
1.5 miles north of Wauchula, Florida.
T H E A N N UA L M E M B E R S H I P M E E T I N G I S T H E M O S T I M P O R TA N T DAY O F T H E YE A R F O R
T H E CO O P E R AT I V E. AT T H I S YE A R ’S E V E N T:
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The Board of Directors will be officially seated,
Cooperative Officers and Directors will present their annual reports,
Members will be asked to approve a proposed bylaws revision, and,
Any other appropriate business will be considered by the membership.
Food and refreshments will be available to registered members and their immediate families from 10:00 am
until the business meeting officially opens at 1:00 pm. At the conclusion of the business meeting, door prizes
will be awarded by random drawing to registered ticket holders.
F O R E F F I C I E N T R E G I S T R AT I O N:
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The member of record must register immediately upon arrival.
Furnish a form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, for verification of membership.
If registering for a business, bring written authorization on company letterhead.
Registration closes at 1:00 pm. We sincerely hope you will join us in conducting the business of your
Cooperative.
O F F I C I A L
N O T I C E
P R O P O S E D BYL AW S R E V I S I O N
Sam Rawls, Secretary
6
M A R C H 2 016 At the Annual Meeting on March 19, 2016, members will be asked to approve a
proposed revision of the Cooperative bylaws. The complete set of bylaws is included
in this issue of Florida Currents magazine, along with proposed deletions, insertions
or changes, including an explanation of why the changes are necessary.
The complete text of the proposed changes was posted in October. The Cooperative
received no comments, objections or suggested changes from our members. Your
Board of Directors recommends approval of the revised bylaws.
For questions or more information, please contact our Member Services
Department at 1-800-282-3824. The proposed bylaws are also
available online at www.preco.coop.
Peace River Electric Cooperative
Call Before You Dig!
One toll free call could
mean the difference between life and death.
If you fail to call Sunshine 811 before digging around your home, you or a loved one could suffer serious injury, horrible
disfigurement or even death! Simply dial 811 at least two business days before your
digging project and every utility’s lines, pipes and cables will be marked — FREE.
Because it’s the law, you could also be slammed with hefty fines — up to $5,000
per citation — and costly repairs for neglecting to call 811 before digging. The
State of Florida established the Sunshine 811 network to ensure protection of our
vital utilities.
Since PRECO’s underground lines run from the transformer to your home, you
should never dig anywhere in your yard without first calling 811 to find out where
lines exist. Also, never plant trees or shrubs near an underground transformer —
those big, green metal cabinets found in neighborhoods.
PRECO needs your help to ensure your personal safety and the reliability of
electric service for everyone. Practice safe digging by calling 811.
Call 811 before starting any digging project.
It’s the law.
For more information visit Sunshine 811 at www.Sunshine811.com.
PRECO Hires New Right-of-Way Contractor
Protecting the lines helps us keep the lights on
Georgia Right of Way is PRECO’s new contractor of choice to
clear trees, limbs and brush away from our poles and power
lines. You may see them working
on the side of the road, in your
neighborhood or on your property.
GAROW employees and trucks can be
identified by a simple green and brown
Georgia Right of Way contractors work to keep
PRECO lines clear of tree limbs and brush
w w w. pre co.coo p logo featuring a tree graphic with the
words “Georgia Right of Way” on a white
background.
“Just like Peace River Electric, GAROW
operates as a not-for-profit cooperative
business,” explains Van Crawford, PRECO
vice president of operations. “Even though
their headquarters is in Forsyth, Georgia,
GAROW is equipped to serve utilities in
neighboring areas, such as Florida.”
Georgia Right of Way maintains a fleet
of top-of-the-line equipment designed for
clearing right-of-way with the goal
of minimizing environmental impact.
“Florida’s climate allows trees to
grow nearly year round, and when
tree branches mesh with power lines,
reliability of electric service and safety
is compromised,” adds Crawford. “This
is why we maintain an ongoing 3-year
cycle to clear our 3,500 miles of line of
potential hazards.”
For more information, visit
www.preco.coop.
M A R C H 2 016
7
PRECO’s Operation Round Up
Grant Bolsters the Blind
SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS, IN PALMETTO,
RECEIVED A $2,500 GRANT TO HELP PROVIDE MEALS
FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
Southeastern Guide Dogs is
internationally accredited and one of
the most respected guide dog schools
in the U.S. Their mission is to create
and nurture a partnership between
a visually impaired individual and a
guide dog, facilitating life’s journey with
mobility, independence and dignity.
Students train with their new service
dog on campus for 26 days. During the
training period, SEGD provides for all
their needs free of charge. Everything,
including services, equipment,
instruction, housing, food and even the
animal, is free to the recipient.
“Through our programs, Paws
for Independence, Paws for Patriots
and Gifted Canines, Southeastern
has created nearly 3,000 guide dog
teams since its inception in 1982,”
shares Andy Kramer, vice president
of philanthropy. “And, we continue to
place more than 100 dogs annually as
guides and in other areas of service.”
Paws for Independence is SEGD’s
core program, partnering visually
impaired students with professionally
trained guide dogs.
“Through Paws for Independence, we
help students learn the 40 commands
needed to interact effectively with their
animal partner,” explains Kramer. “We
also provide lifetime follow-up services
for all graduates.”
In 2006, SEGD added the Paws for
Patriots program to serve the increasing
number of veterans returning home
with conflict-related vision loss.
Everything is provided at no charge to
veterans.
Visit www.guidedogs.org for more
information.
Funding for Operation Round Up is
made possible through the generosity
of PRECO members who voluntarily
allow their electric bills to be rounded
up to the next dollar for charitable
purposes. For more information about
Operation Round Up or to download
an application, visit www.preco.coop.
Left: Paws for Independence is SEGD’s core program, partnering visually impaired
students with professionally trained guide dogs.
Below: Southeastern Guide Dogs provides all services – including training for the dogs,
on-campus instruction for students and lifetime follow-up for graduates – at no cost.
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M A R C H 2 016 Peace River Electric Cooperative
The Weather and Your Electric Bill
As the “Sunshine State,” Florida is well known for its warm winters and even warmer summers. While we
might catch the occasional “cold front,” Floridians can usually enjoy shorts and flip-flops year-round. This
warm weather brings a need for well air-conditioned homes. While many folks enjoy Florida’s warm climate,
even the most heat-tolerant residents prefer to relax in the cool indoors. As spring and summer approach, now
is a good time to evaluate your home energy use. Weather plays a significant role in your home energy use,
both hot and cold. But, staying comfortable inside your home doesn’t have to lead to higher electric bills.
Here are a few energy saving
tricks for Florida weather:
FA N S
Ceiling fans do more than just move
air, they can be money savers if used
correctly. In summer, make sure the
fan is spinning counterclockwise. This downward
airflow causes a windchill effect, making you
feel cooler. On cool days,
reverse the motor so the fan
spins clockwise at a slower speed. This
will move the warm air, trapped near
the ceiling, downward.
PLUG LEAKS
The greatest sources of heating and
cooling losses in your home are often
invisible air leaks. To keep cool air
inside, and warm, humid air outside,
weather-strip or caulk windows and
doors. Check electrical outlets and
S O U R C E : D E P T. O F E N E R G Y
WINDOWS
Curtains and blinds offer protection
from direct sunlight entering through
windows, heating up your
home. Direct sunlight causes
your air conditioner to work
harder to keep you cool.
On hot, cloudless days, keep
blinds and drapes closed to help
reflect the sun’s rays. Add landscaping
to provide shade for your home. On
cooler, cloudy days, opening your
windows can help cool your home and
give your air conditioning unit a welldeserved break.
even light fixtures for cracks where
air could escape. Controlling air leaks
provides the best way to extend the
life of your home, conserve energy
and increase comfort while saving
you money.
C H A N G E F I LT E R S
To ensure proper airflow in your
home, check your a/c filters monthly.
Changing the filter in your
air conditioner monthly
can save you up to 5
percent in cooling costs.
Setting monthly reminders
in your phone or on your
calendar is a helpful way to keep track
of filter changes.
A D D I N S U L AT I O N
Improving your attic’s insulation
is one of the best ways to save
money while increasing
the energy efficiency
of your home. Before
adding insulation to
your attic, determine how
much insulation is already
installed, what type it is and how thick
it is. The type of insulation your home
needs will be based on the design of
your home and your budget. With
adequate attic insulation, your heating
and cooling system will operate more
efficiently, keeping you cooler in the
summer and warmer in winter.
W H I L E T E M P E R AT U R E S CO N S TA N T LY C H A N G E A R O U N D T H E CO U N T RY, F LO R I DA’S C L I M AT E H A S I TS OW N AG E N DA.
P R E CO A N D O U R W H O L E S A L E P OW E R P R OV I D E R, S E M I N O L E E L E C T R I C CO O P E R AT I V E, CO N T I N U E WO R K I N G
TO G E T H E R TO F I N D T H E M O S T E F F I C I E N T A N D CO S T E F F E C T I V E WAYS TO H E L P YO U M A N AG E YO U R E L E C T R I C B I L L S.
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B E E N E R G Y S M A R T W I T H H E L P F R O M P E AC E R I V E R E L E C T R I C CO O P E R AT I V E
View outages in real time at http://outage.preco.coop
YO U R V E H I C L E C R A S H E S I N TO A U T I L I T Y P O L E. W H AT S H O U L D YO U D O ?
Knowing what to do saved the lives
of four students.
When teenagers Lee Whittaker and Ashley Taylor saw a power line safety demonstration
at their high school, they never dreamed what they had learned would be tested. Only
days later, Whittaker and Taylor, along with two classmates, were in a car that crashed
into a utility pole, bringing live power lines to the ground.
“When people are involved in a car
accident, electricity is usually the last
thing on their minds,” explains Molly
Hall, executive
director of the
Energy Education
We want to
Council’s Safe
make sure
Electricity
everyone knows program. “We’re
usually more
what to do if
concerned about
they’re in an
whether anyone
accident with
was injured or how
a power pole
badly the vehicle is
damaged. We can
forget that by exiting the vehicle, we’re
risking exposure to thousands of volts of
electricity from downed power lines.”
If you are in an accident with a utility
pole, your vehicle may be charged with
electricity. If this is the case and you step
out of the car, you become electricity’s
path to the ground and could be
26
M A R C H 2 016 electrocuted. Loose wires
and other equipment may
be in contact with your car
or near it — creating a risk
for electrocution if you leave
the vehicle.
While downed lines
sometimes reveal they are
live by arcing and sparking
with electricity, this is not
always the case. Power lines
do not always show signs
that they are live, but they
are just as lethal.
After an accident, stay
in the car, and tell others
to do the same. If you come upon an
accident involving power lines, do not
approach the accident scene. If you see
someone approaching, warn them to
stay away. Call 911 to notify emergency
personnel and utility services. Do
not leave your vehicle until a utility
professional has told
you it is safe to do so.
The safest place is
almost always inside
the car. Only exit the
vehicle if it is on fire
— and those instances
are rare. If you must
exit the vehicle, jump
clear of it with your
feet together and
without touching the
vehicle and ground
at the same time.
Continue to “bunny
hop” with your feet
Ashley Taylor (above) and Lee Whittaker (below
left), along with two classmates, survived a
vehicle collision with an electric utility pole.
Knowing what to do saved their lives.
together to safety. Doing this will ensure
that you have only one point of contact
and will not have different strengths of
electric current running from one foot to
another, which can be deadly.
Whittaker, Taylor and their friends
survived their accident because they
knew what to do. While they waited
more than 30 minutes for line crews
to arrive and deactivate the power line,
Whittaker and Taylor made sure nobody
left the car and warned those who came
upon the accident to stay far away.
“Knowledge was crucial in keeping
everyone safe,” Hall says. “We want to
make sure everyone knows what to do if
they’re in an accident with a power pole.”
For more information and to see Lee and
Ashley’s story, visit SafeElectricity.org.
Peace River Electric Cooperative
Reporting Outages
For your convenience, PRECO offers a variety
of methods for assistance with questions and
services, such as email, a convenient toll-free
phone number, in person and more. But when
it comes to reporting outages, only two avenues
provide the fastest service: our Outage Hotline
and SmartHub on the web or mobile app.
While sending an email or posting
a message on Facebook are great
communication tools by day, these
methods are not monitored 24/7.
TO REPORT A POWER INTERRUPTION:
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Call the Outage Hotline
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Visit SmartHub on the
at 1-877-282-3656
web or mobile app. Click
“Report an Outage”
In other words, if you report an
outage or dangerous situation on
the power lines using a method
other than the Outage Hotline
or SmartHub, it could delay a
response by hours or even days.
If you see a dangerous situation, such as a downed pole or power line, don’t
approach the area. Call 911 first, then call us on the Outage Hotline.
Help us respond to power interruptions as quickly as possible
by using the correct communication tools.
F I E L D R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S D O N OT ACC E P T C A S H
For your safety and ours, PRECO employees working in the field do not accept cash for any reason.
To make a payment in cash, please do so in person at one of our convenient office locations.
28
M A R C H 2 016 Peace River Electric Cooperative
P R I V A C Y P O L I C Y F O R P E A C E R I V E R E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
Our Commitment to Privacy: At Peace River Electric
Cooperative (PRECO), confidentiality is very important to us.
As we strive to improve and expand our services, we recognize
our members’ need and desire to preserve their privacy and
confidentiality. PRECO recognizes the trust members place
adhere to privacy principles that provide for keeping
in us and is committed to safeguarding member information.
such information confidential.
The following policy affirms our continued commitment to
Limiting Employee Access To Information: PRECO
preserving member confidentiality.
limits employee access to member information to those with
The Information We Collect: We receive and retain
a business reason for knowing such information. All of our
information about our members through many sources:
employees are educated on the importance of confidentiality
information we receive on member applications or other
and member privacy. Any employee that violates the financial
forms; information on usage gathered by our metering
privacy of our members will be subject to appropriate
systems; information through member transactions with
disciplinary measures and possible termination.
us, our affiliates or others; and, information we receive
Protection of Information via Established Security
from consumer-reporting agencies.
Procedures: To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data
The Way We Use Information: We limit the use and
accuracy and ensure the correct use of information, we have
collection of nonpublic personal information to that which is
put in place appropriate physical, electronic and managerial
necessary to maintain and administer financial services. We do
procedures to safeguard and secure the information.
not share this information with outside parties unless:
Maintaining Accurate Information: We have established
the information is provided to help complete a member-
procedures so that our members’ financial information is
initiated transaction (such as credit reporting agencies,
accurate, current and complete in accordance with reasonable
document processing companies, etc.); the member has
commercial standards. PRECO will respond to requests to
requested it; the disclosure is required by law (e.g., subpoena,
correct inaccurate information in a timely manner.
investigation of fraudulent activity, etc.); or, the disclosure is
required by banking regulation (e.g., Fair Lending Reporting
Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, etc.).
At PRECO, we value our member relationships. We want
you to understand how we use the information you provide
and our commitment to ensuring your personal privacy.
When member information is provided to any of the third
If you have questions regarding our privacy policy, please
parties mentioned above, that third party must agree to
contact us at 1-800-282-3824.
T H IS IN STI TUTI ON I S AN EQUAL O PPO RT UN IT Y PROVID E R AN D E M PLOYE R.
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992
to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed
complaint form or letter to us by mail at US Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
www.preco.coop
M A R C H 2 016
29
TO REPORT POWER OUTAGE CALL:
1-877-282-3656
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
210 Metheny Road
Wauchula, Florida 33873
Hours 8 am to 5 pm, M-F
Telephone: 1-800-282-3824
FAX: 866-201-1814
MANATEE SERVICE CENTER
14505 Arbor Green Trail
Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
Hours 8 am to 5 pm, M-F
Telephone: 1-800-282-3824
Fax: 941-752-4928
Be Our Guest
PRECO’s 76th Annual Membership Meeting
You are a member of PRECO. That means you belong to a family of folks who
owns the co-op providing their electric service. Once a year family members
meet on a specific day – we call this get-together the Annual Membership
Meeting. On March 19th, we’ll celebrate 76 years of service to our members.
In 1940, a group of rural residents seeking to bring electricity to the area got together
to form this electric cooperative, made possible through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
17363 County Road 630
“New Deal” program. We’ve been bringing electricity to central Florida homes and
Lake Wales, Florida 33898
businesses ever since.
For your convenience, a payment drop
box is located at the front gate. Payments
As a PRECO member, you have a standing invitation to the Annual Membership Meeting,
will be posted on the next business day.
held in March each year. We strive to provide a quality event with a county fair atmosphere.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This day of food and fun officially kicks off at 10:00 am. Free hotdogs, soft drinks, ice
John Martin
PRESIDENT
cream, boiled peanuts, french fries and much more are provided, along with
Hollis Albritton
activities and entertainment for all ages.
VICE PRESIDENT
For your listening pleasure, live music will fill the air during the event.
Sam Rawls
S E C R E TA RY/ T R E A S U R E R
Tap your toes to some tunes by Doug Henderson’s bluegrass band. And, you
Maurice Henderson
A S S T. S E C R E TA RY/ T R E A S U R E R
don’t want to miss our special musical guest, Tommy Brandt, winner of more
Ellen Bachman
than two dozen gospel country music awards, who will inspire you with his
DIRECTOR
celebrated music and message.
Leonard Crawley
DIRECTOR
Supervised children’s activities include a bounce house, climbing wall,
Willie Dawes
DIRECTOR
horse rides and more. Adults will enjoy mingling with the many educational
Chris Portale
Randy
Shaw
booths sponsored by local civic and community groups.
DIRECTOR
General Manager & CEO
Bruce Vickers
At 1:00 pm, we’ll call a brief business meeting of the members.
PEACE RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
DIRECTOR
We especially need your attendance as we ask our members to vote on a
BOARD MEETING
revision of the Cooperative’s bylaws.
ATTENDANCE
Any PRECO member may attend
Following the business meeting, door prizes will be awarded to registered members by a
a Board Meeting. Due to building
random
drawing, so don’t lose your prize ticket.
security requirements and for us
to facilitate attendance, members
Finally, don’t forget to bring your picture ID, such as a driver’s license, to officially register
wishing to attend a Board Meeting
should contact the Cooperative
for voting privileges and for your chance to win door prizes.
INDIAN LAKE ESTATES
in a timely manner for logistical
information regarding the meeting.
UPCOMING BOARD
MEETING DATES
March 22, 2016
April 26, 2016
May 24, 2016
32
M A R C H 2 016
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the Annual Membership
Meeting on Saturday, March 19th, at the cooperative’s park in Wauchula.
See pages 4 – 5 for more information.