It Begins with Electricity - Bandera Electric Cooperative

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BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
It Begins with Electricity
MESSAGE FROM
CEO BILL HETHERINGTON
20 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC April 2016
BanderaCE_April 2016.indd 20
Groundman Drew Perez and
Line Foreman Andy Rios
assist with setting poles on
Highway 46 in Boerne.
BE C | RU BY HIN OJOS A
I apologize in advance for the length of this
month’s article, but the topic is of such
importance to me that I feel obligated to expand on it a bit. As
Winston Churchill once said, “I apologize for the long letter as
I didn’t have time to write you a short one.”
Last fall, three of our linemen; John Hernandez, Garrett
Clark and Jay Rasberry — volunteered to travel to Haiti to
build power lines to villages and orphanages where no power
currently exists. There are still more than 1.3 billion people
living in the world without the benefit of electricity, and less
than 15 percent of the people in Haiti have access to electricity.
This experience was not only life-changing for the villagers but
also for the linemen themselves.
On December 9, 2015, U.S. Congressman Lamar Smith read
into the official congressional record a recognition of thanks
to these linemen. In part, the acknowledgment said “the
service and sacrifice of these linemen will impact thousands of
Haitians resulting in improvements in healthcare, education
and economic opportunities.”
The significance of this, aside from the individual gratitude
of the linemen, is the recognition of the impact electricity
has on improving the quality of life through safer healthcare,
educational opportunity and economic development. Hence,
the pathway to economic stability, both individually and
globally, begins with the delivery of electricity. The delivery
of safe, reliable and affordable electricity begins with our
linemen.
When the power goes out, we ask our linemen to urgently
respond regardless of the time of day, current workload
or weather conditions. Without question, they respond
because they understand the importance of the restoration of
electricity. It is about restoring stability and security.
April 11, has been recognized by National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association Lineman Appreciation Day, and I
would like to recognize all of the men and women linemen who
work to keep our economic engine running reliably. I would
especially like to thank and honor the Bandera EC linemen
who work long hours in adverse conditions to keep the power
on.
I came across this poem in a 1928 version of the The
Lineman’s Handbook authored by Edwin Kurtz. The poem was
written by Chan Gardiner. Although I cannot find anything
about the author or when it was originally written, I feel that it
captures the essence of being a lineman.
The Lineman
They sings of the men as goes down to sea;
Of the heroes of cannon and swords;
An’ writes of the valors of dead chivalry,
An’ the bravery of old knights n’ lords.
They sighs ‘cause the romances of knighthood is past,
‘Cause there ain’t no ideals any more;
They says that this old world’s a rollin’ too fast
To develop that “esprit de corps.
But them as complains are the ones as don’t know,
Who sits loose where it’s warm and then kick
They ain’t never seen a line saggin with snow
An’ had to get service back – quick!
They ain’t never struggled with death at their side,
A-snappin’ and hissin’ and pale –
Nor clung to the towers and grimly defied
The assaults of the blizzards and gale.
They sit and are served with never a thought
Of the fellers out pluggin’ like Hell –
To supply at their touch the service they’ve brought
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Bandera Electric
Cooperative, Inc.
With a light, or the sound of a bell.
These fellers ain’t togged out all shinin’ in steel,
3172 Highway 16 N. • P.O. Box 667
Bandera, TX 78003
They don’t ride around on no horse –
They don’t sing no songs about how they feel
1-866-226-3372 (1-866-BANDERA)
BanderaElectric.com
In the gales when the feeders may cross.
They don’t wave no banners embroidered in gold,
Operating in Bandera, Bexar, Kendall,
Kerr, Medina, Real and Uvalde counties
In Latin nobody can read;
They don’t do no braggin’ of deeds that were bold
Their motto is “service and speed.”
CE O
Their armor ain’t nothin’ but slickers an’ boots
William “Bill” Hetherington
Their weapons are climbers and pliers,
BO A RD O F D IRE CTO RS
Their battles are fought up where hi-tension shoots
District 1
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
An’ death lurks unseen on the wires.
They’re fightin’ on gales and the blizzards an’ ice,
Protectin’ the towers and span
With effort not measured in hours or price –
For one cause – service to man!
Jerry N. Word Sr.
Douglas “Rob” Sandidge
Jeremy Diller
Jerry S. Pierce
Richard “Dick” Earnest
Zeda Alvarado
MIchael D.T. Edwards
Kurt Solis
So here’s to the Lineman – the son of a gun
That can do without sleep for a week!
OFFICES
That sticks to the job ‘til it’s every bit done
BEC Headquarters
3172 Highway 16 N., Bandera
And the feeders can carry the peak.
For his is that Knighthood that’s noblest by far
Comfort Office
739 Front St. (Highway 27), Comfort
That highest and mightiest clan,
Leakey Office
485 W. Ranch Road 337, Leakey
That’s fightin’ the battles of things-as-they-are
In the cause of the service of man. MEMBER BENEFITS
• Paperless billing
• Online bill payments
• Online outage map
• Follow Us!
Twitter:
@BanderaElectric
Facebook: BanderaElectric
Instagram: BanderaElectric
Pinterest:
BanderaElectric
• Co-op Connections discount card
• Heat pump rebates
Lineman Second Class II
BJ Angermiller works in
a bucket truck building
power lines to a new
Boerne subdivision.
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BEC | RU BY H I NOJOSA
PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS
• Online bill pay
• Bank draft
• Automatic credit card payment
• Level billing
• Visa, Discover and MasterCard
accepted
• ECheck payment by phone or online
• Cash or check payment in our offices
• Payments accepted at Fidelity Express
locations
• PrePay Program
• Time-Based Usage Plan
April 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
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BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Getting a Kick
Out of Life
BY TONY TUCCI
BEC Writer
formidable fighter and won numerous fights including the
championship Big D Nationals. His last fight was in 1993.
martial arts, but there is no meanness in Kevin Durio.
His more practical side was moving right along, too. After
At the Boerne YMCA, where he is a personal trainer and
high school, he got a degree in architecture from the University
physical fitness instructor, he is known for his cheerful
of Louisiana at Lafayette and went to work for HKS architects,
demeanor and unrelenting sense of humor. In contrast,
an international firm that designed both the Texas Rangers
when directing physical fitness seminars for police and
and Dallas Cowboys stadiums.
military personnel, he might be teaching a police officer how
“I was out of school, living in Dallas and teaching karate
to “take out” a suspect with a crippling kick to the knee cap.
classes, but I wanted a job where I could be of more service.”
Durio’s credentials are impressive. When it comes to
So, he enrolled in Emergency Medical Services courses and
physical fitness, he can do it all. He’s a certified boxing
got a job with the Grand Prairie EMS. Martial arts remained
coach; a specialist in law enforcement fitness; a trainer in
his No. 1 interest, however, and he quit EMS after three years
one-on-one boxing, kickboxing and martial arts; a personal
to concentrate on his company, Urban Defense Training. His
trainer and an experienced public speaker. When he’s not
company’s motto, “In Service to Others,” says a lot about the
working at the YMCA, he’s training police and military
man.
personnel in cities all over the
He works mostly with
state.
police
departments, traveling
“I do what I do because I
“I’d like to see a change in physical
to various communities to
love what I do,” he said, and
requirements for police that will make it
hold weeklong seminars. Durio
that explains how he has
enjoys working with policemen
been successful despite some
mandatory for them to stay fit.”
who need to be in top physical
difficult times.
— Personal Trainer Kevin Durio
shape to perform their jobs
Nicole Richard, personal
safely.
trainer coordinator at the
He teaches them self defense and offensive maneuvers such
YMCA who hired Durio, said “I knew within the first five
as hand-to-hand combat, kickboxing, stick fighting, ways to
minutes that this man was not only well educated in his
take down or disarm a suspect and what he calls “last resort”
fitness field but he also had an energy and humor about him
techniques.
that drew me to him. Even though he is physically rugged,
“We teach a program called the Tactical Athlete—how to be
he has a beautiful, gentle spirit. He serves others well and is
fit,” he said. “I’d like to see a change in physical requirements
making a difference.” for police that will make it mandatory for them to stay fit,” he
Durio was born in Baton Rouge, La., but his dad’s military
said.
kept the family on the move. Eventually, he wound up in
When he’s not teaching, he’s a mainstay at the YMCA,
Longview, Texas. His interest in the martial arts began when
teaching self-defense to everyone from school students to
he was a boy watching Bruce Lee and the Green Hornet’s
seniors. He’s also a personal trainer to individuals trying to
sidekick Kato, played by Jay Chou, on television.
recover from injuries or build strength.
“I started jumping off the couch and doing all kinds of
“They need the skills that I can give them, and I’m grateful
crazy stuff,” said Durio. His parents had to decide whether
for the opportunity to help,” he said.
to buy new furniture or pay for some karate lessons. He
Durio said the relationships with his trainees — the young,
immersed himself in karate and advanced to a black belt.
the old, those in uniform and those who simply need a helping
By the time he got to high school, he was ready for some
hand—have given him a sense of community.
competition and decided to try kickboxing. He was a
HE LIVES IN THE ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE WORLD OF
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BanderaElectric.com
3/8/2016 4:48:08 PM
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Saturday, May 21 | Mansfield Park | Highway 16 North | Bandera, Texas
improvements. There will be information for those willing
to take the next step and make a significant investment in
Annual Meeting, Saturday, May 21, in Bandera. At the 2016
new construction or energy generation, such as solar, rain
annual meeting BEC members will also be able to take part in
catchment, energy storage and green-building renovations.
our first energy fair. The energy fair is intended
As a member-owner of
to help members realize
Bandera EC, each person
how investments in energy
receiving service is invited
Board of Director election ballots will
conservation can pay for
to take an active part in the
arrive in the mail beginning April 27.
themselves over time. The
business of the cooperative by
Be sure to vote online or by mail.
energy fair will showcase the
attending the annual meeting.
latest technology in the fields
Each year, the CEO and board
listed below:
president present the annual
report and future plans of the cooperative. This event is not
•
Lighting efficiency
only a chance to visit with members but it’s also a great
•
HVAC systems and controls
opportunity to learn about programs offered at BEC.
•
Energy efficiency and energy management
This year, Bandera EC is also hosting an energy fair during
•
Renewable energy
the meeting for members to seek information, services and
•
Energy storage
products that encourage energy efficiency, conservation
•
Integrated building automation and energy
and sustainability all under one roof. BEC has invited local
management
contractors, designers, and suppliers to offer their expertise,
•
Thermal storage
and showcase their products and services.
•
Boilers and combustion controls
The goal of the energy fair is to help members find
•
Green building and net zero architecture
opportunities to reduce electric consumption, while
•
Water conservation
maintaining their preferred comfort level at home. BEC
will structure the energy fair to include multiple levels of
Subject matter experts will be on hand to explain their
investment. Members, with no monetary investment, can
products so members can make informed decisions. The
learn how to reduce their bill by simply changing their
vendors invited to the energy fair are local and have
energy usage patterns.
performed work in our service area. To be a vendor at the
For members willing to make a small investment, BEC
Annual Meeting Energy Fair, please call 1-866-226-3372 or
has invited experts to offer information about reducing
email EnergyFair@BanderaElectric.com.
consumption with energy-efficient appliances and home
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE IS PREPARING FOR the 2016
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April 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
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BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Capital Credits Benefit You—and Us, Too
One of the many benefits of being a co-op member
Triple Tomato
Chicken
¼ cup oil for frying
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
thighs (about 8 thighs)
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup red wine (substitute broth or
water)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 can (14.5 ounces) chopped tomatoes
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
Salt to taste
¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
Cooked pasta or rice to serve
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over
medium-high heat for about a minute, then add chicken.
2. Fry until done on one side, about
3 minutes, then flip and add garlic.
Continue cooking until second side
is done.
3. Deglaze pan with wine, broth or
water. Reduce heat to medium-low.
4. Add seasoning, chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, and stir.
5. Cover pan with lid and allow to
simmer about 10 minutes or until
chicken is cooked through. Taste
sauce and add salt as desired.
6. Top chicken pieces with sundried tomatoes. Serve over pasta
or rice.
As a cooperative, our focus is on providing quality service, not generating profits.
H YNC I | IST OCK .COM
R I C K PA T R I C K
THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS that come with co-op membership, but perhaps one of
the best benefits is capital credits.
What are capital credits, you ask? At the end of each year, Bandera Electric
Cooperative calculates its operating margin, which is the amount by which income
exceeded expenses during the year. We then allocate the margin as “capital credits”
to members based on the amount of electricity that each purchased throughout the
year.
When our board of directors determines it is financially feasible and prudent, and
when we meet the financial requirements stated in our loan documents, we retire the
capital credits.
In the interim, we use the allocated, but unretired, capital credits to improve and
expand our electric system and meet our other capital needs. This reduces our need
to borrow money and helps us provide reliable electric service.
You might wonder why we do this. As an electric cooperative, we are here to
provide at-cost electric service. We aren’t here to make a profit, and we don’t have
shareholders. As a member of an electric cooperative, you invest in the efficient
operation of your co-op. Unlike an investor-owned utility, we don’t pay dividends or
other amounts to shareholders who don’t purchase electricity from us.
Every year, our board of directors evaluates the cooperatives financial position
and capital needs, and determines whether the co-op will retire capital credits.
When capital credits are retired, you might see that retirement on your bill next
to the line item labeled “Capital credits retirement” or a similar phrase, or you might
receive a check. Either way, we will let you know how and when you will receive your
capital credits retirement. To help ensure that you receive your retirement if you
leave the cooperative, please provide us your updated address after you leave.
In 2014, America’s electric cooperatives collectively retired $974 million—that’s
the cooperative way!
Capital credits benefit all co-op members by keeping costs and electric rates as
low as possible. The allocations help qualify us for cooperative status under federal
income tax law. Capital credits also help reduce the amount of money the co-op has
to borrow, which keeps service costs down.
The bottom line: Capital credits are just one of the many benefits of being a
member of Bandera EC.
Find this and more delicious recipes online at
TEXASCOOPPOWER.COM
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BanderaElectric.com
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IS TOCK | AN DR E W_H OWE
Rockin’ Robin
HAPPY
EARTH DAY!
BY TONY TUCCI
BEC Writer
IN THE NORTHERN STATES, WINTER
residents keep a lookout for the first
glimpse of a robin. The red-breasted
bird, while not always a reliable
weather forecaster, is one of the most
recognizable signs of spring.
Many robins pass through Central
Texas on their way north, following the
warm fronts that carry
them from winter homes
in Mexico to northern
states and southern
Canada. They wait just
at the edge of spring to
arrive as the land is soft
and full of earthworms.
Robins don’t come to
bird feeders. Instead,
they hop along the
ground with heads
cocked, as though they
can actually hear a worm Cliff Shackelford
or an insect crawling beneath the
surface. Suddenly one will plunge its
beak downward and come up with a
juicy morsel.
Cliff Shackelford, bird specialist
with the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, said it’s doubtful the birds
can hear that well, but they probably
sense the movement beneath the
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surface. Others say the robins can
see holes in the ground made by the
worms. Of course a robin needs soft,
moist soil like that found on dewy
mornings to avoid a major headache.
One might suppose that’s where the
saying “The early bird gets the worm”
originated.
They travel on instinct,
and small flocks can
be seen on our lawns
as they replenish their
energy stores. “Although
we like to romanticize
that they arrive at the
same date each year,
the date is flexible,” said
Shackelford.
While their arrival date
is uncertain, robins
have an uncanny ability
to arrive at the exact
same nesting site each year, said
Shackelford. So be on the lookout for
these harbingers of spring as they stop
over in the Texas Hill Country on their
way north.
For more information about Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, their
programs and available educational
materials, please visit tpwd.texas.
APRIL 22
XE F S TOCK | IS TOCK. COM
HOCU S - F OCU S | IS TOCK. COM
Power Tip
Close apps on your phone or
tablet when they aren’t in
use. It will save battery life,
which means you’ll charge less
frequently, saving electricity.
April 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
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BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Four Area Students Selected for
BEC’s 2016 Youth Tour
THIS YEAR, BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE will be
sending four students to Washington, D.C., as our 2016
representatives at the Government-in-Action Youth
Tour. Each year, Bandera EC sponsors the Youth Tour
in conjunction with Texas Electric Cooperatives and the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
The four students—Sophomores Haleigh Boyd, Micah
Felkins, Ethan Louis Zinsmeister and senior Emilee Mason—
have been selected by a committee of volunteers as the
recipients of the all-expense-paid trip for an intensive, weeklong tour and leadership program. In addition to visiting
monuments, museums and historical sites, the students will
meet with their members of Congress, hear inspirational
speakers and make lifelong friendships with other Youth Tour
participants from across the country.
All four students answered the essay question, “What
would you like to do or see that will change the world for
the better, and why?” Haleigh said that she would “like to
see a world full of people that care about the effects of their
decisions.” Micah would “like gas powered generators replaced
with wind turbines and solar panels.” Ethan would like “to
become a pediatrician and give medical attention to the people
that are destitute and need relief from their present situation.”
and Emilee would like “to be a math professor so she can teach
our youth.”
Congratulations to Haleigh, Micah, Ethan and Emilee. BEC
is proud to sponsor these four outstanding students for the
2016 Government-in-Action Youth Tour.
Haleigh Boyd
Junior
Utopia High School
Micah Felkins
Junior
Home-schooled
Emilee Mason
Senior
Bandera High School
Ethan Zinsmeister
Junior
Medina Valley High School
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BanderaElectric.com
3/8/2016 4:48:19 PM
As part of your spring cleaning, hire
a professional to conduct annual
maintenance on your AC unit.
MT S ARI D E | S H UT T E RS T OCK.COM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Enjoy Springtime
With Energy Savings
SPRING HAS SPRUNG! Put mild springtime temperatures to work for your energy bill
with these easy suggestions:
BanderaElectric.com
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NATIONAL LINEMAN
APPRECIATION DAY
IS APRIL 11.
THANK YOU, BANDERA EC LINEMEN,
FOR BRINGING POWER TO OUR
MEMBERS.
April 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
BEC | AMY ZIN K
Hire a heating and air-conditioning professional to check out your air-conditioning
system and window AC units. Annual spring maintenance can keep your AC running
smoothly. Ask the pro to change or clean the filters while there.
Open the windows. As soon as it’s warm enough to feel comfortable indoors
without heat, turn it off and invite inside the warm outdoor air. Natural breezes
will freshen a stuffy house that’s been closed up all winter. Keeping the heat and AC
turned off for as long as possible can save you a bundle on energy.
Let in the sunshine. Throw open the drapes or blinds to let bright, warm sun rays
into your rooms on mild days. When summer heat arrives, close those drapes during
the day to keep the sun from overheating your house.
If you have a programmable thermostat, use it. Set it to automatically adjust the
temperature so you’re not cooling an empty house.
Switch the direction of ceiling fans. During spring and summer, fan blades should
rotate counterclockwise, pushing cooler air down into the room. Using ceiling fans
will allow you to increase your thermostat’s temperature setting by up to 4 degrees
without sacrificing comfort.
Have a cookout. Prepare dinner on your outdoor grill on nice evenings rather than
using the stove or oven. Appliances that create heat tend to heat up the whole house.
Run the dishwasher and clothes dryer after dark. No need to add heat to your home’s
air during the day when it’s warm outdoors.
Caulk and weatherstrip windows and doors. You read about this every spring
because you should do it every spring. Caulking doesn’t last forever.
Dress for the weather. Shed the sweaters and socks when it’s warm outside so you
can delay the start of air-conditioning season inside.
Turn down the water heater. If you turned it up a couple of degrees during the
winter to make your showers extra steamy, it’s time to lower it to 120 degrees. Not
only is that hot enough, it’s also a safer temperature than anything higher, especially
if kids or older family members are showering in your home.
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