Co-op News
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
VE NCAV | AD OBE S T OCK
A BRIGHT NEW FUTURE
MESSAGE FROM
CEO/GM BILL HETHERINGTON
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE that your board of
most solar installations that interconnect with the grid, but operate
directors voted last month to return $1.5 million to
independently, the BEC solar solution is designed to maximize the
our 2016 active members. Later this month, you will be receiving a rebate,
benefits for the homeowner and cooperative because of software
just in time for holidays.
developed by BEC that allows the member to see their generation output,
As the year comes to a close, I want commend our employees on
load usage and the price of energy in real time. This allows you to easily
their commitment to keep the lights on and costs down. Most notably
review the energy used and generated reconciled with your BEC bill.
was their responsiveness during the Memorial Day weekend storms and
If you are ready to become a solar user, but don’t have space on
their tireless efforts on the launch of our new enterprise-wide software
your roof or your property, then BEC’s community solar project is the
system. Not only does this new software
solution. BEC has begun construction on
provide our members improved access
a 1.5-megawatt (AC) solar farm that will
and functionality of their accounts but also,
deliver almost 3 million kilowatt-hours
“The BEC solar solution is designed
it includes the latest security upgrades to
to BEC members. BEC members can
to maximize the benefits for both the
keep your information safe and secure.
buy solar energy directly from BEC at a
homeowner and cooperative.”
What about next year? In 2014, we
competitive, low fixed price. — Bill Hetherington, CEO/GM
conducted a member survey to better
Whether you want a ground or roof
understand how we could improve our
mounted solar installation for your home
service. To my surprise, the highest
or business, or if you just want to purchase
requested service was related to “selling
solar energy directly from our community
and installing of a cost competitive solar, wind or renewable energy
solar farm near Leakey, we have a solution that will fit your needs and
alternative.” In 2015, we started evaluating the residential solar and wind
requirements. With the added benefits of tax credits for homeowners and
alternatives and a key aspect of program design was that all members be
accelerated depreciation for business owners, the decision to install solar
able to participate in our alternative renewable energy program.
makes sound economic sense. These installations will save you money on
As a result of our research, we concluded that a number of our
your energy costs and help BEC reduce costs by decreasing our summer
members are overpaying for the solar installations. Sadly, some of our
energy peak demand.
members they were being misled about the economic benefits of these
I encourage you to contact us to learn about the benefits of solar
systems. We developed a low-cost, modular, made-in-the-U.S. solar
installations and our community solar farm. In 2017, you can expect the
energy system for the homes and businesses.
same commitment by the BEC board and employees to keep the lights on
The standard design for the home is 5 kilowatts, which will produce
and costs down, but you can also expect to read more about the benefits
enough energy to reduce your electric bill by about 50 percent. Unlike
of new and improved BEC programs.
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BanderaEC_ December 2016 .indd 18
BanderaElectric.com
11/9/16 11:43 AM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Bandera Electric
Cooperative, Inc.
3172 Highway 16 N. • P.O. Box 667
Bandera, TX 78003
1-866-226-3372 (1-866-BANDERA)
BanderaElectric.com
Operating in Bandera, Bexar, Kendall,
Kerr, Medina, Real and Uvalde counties
CEO
William “Bill” Hetherington
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
IS TOCK. COM
Just in Time for the Holidays
MEMBER REBATES
JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, the
Bandera Electric Cooperative board
of directors has approved a $1.5
million rebate back to active members.
The cash rebates, a direct result of
operational improvements and lower
energy costs from BEC, will be given to
members this December.
“This year, we are all the
beneficiaries of lower-than-expected
fuel costs and operational expenses”
said William Hetherington, BEC CEO.
“As tangible evidence of these benefits,
the board of directors agreed to return
excess margins to all of our active
members.”
Members who have active accounts
on December 1 qualify; the individual
rebates will be based on the total
amount of energy purchased by each
member through September 2016.
Anyone qualifying for a rebate of
more than $25 will receive a check,
and members who qualify for a rebate
less than $25 will see a credit on their
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaEC_ December 2016 .indd 19
December bill. A typical residential
member using the average of energy of
1,300 kilowatt-hours per month will
receive $40.
“We want to ensure our members
get their rebates in time for the
holidays; it is important that we have
accurate mailing addresses on file. I
encourage our members to update their
information right away,” Hetherington
said. “This year, that is easier than ever
using our new SmartHub online and
mobile account management tools.”
Bandera EC currently serves
nearly 24,000 members and provides
electric service to approximately
34,000 meters in a seven-county
territory in the Texas Hill Country.
As a member-owned cooperative,
BEC continually searches for new,
innovative programs to promote energy
efficiency, cost savings and quality
service. For more information about
BEC, visit BanderaElectric.com or call
866.226.3372.
Jerry N. Word Sr.
Frances Laue
Douglas “Rob” Sandidge
Jeremy Diller
Jerry S. Pierce
Richard “Dick” Earnest
Zeda Alvarado
Michael D.T. Edwards
Kurt Solis
OFFICES
BEC Headquarters
3172 Highway 16 N., Bandera
Boerne Office
1201 S. Main St. Ste. 101, Boerne
Comfort Office
739 Front St. (Highway 27), Comfort
Leakey Office
485 W. Ranch Road 337, Leakey
MEMBER BENEFITS
• Paperless billing
• SmartHub
• Online outage map
• Follow Us!
Twitter:
@BanderaElectric
Facebook: BanderaElectric
Instagram: BanderaElectric
Pinterest:
BanderaElectric
• Co-op Connections discount card
• Heat pump rebates
PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS
• SmartHub and SmartHub App
• Bank draft
• Automatic credit card payment
• Level billing
• Visa, Discover and MasterCard
accepted
• ECheck payment by phone
• Cash or check payment in our offices
• Payments accepted at Fidelity Express
locations
• PrePay Program
• Time Based Usage Plan
December 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
21
11/9/16 11:43 AM
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
COU RTE S Y OF U . S . AIR F ORCE
Doolittle’s Raiders
Crew No. 1 in front of B-25 no. 40-2344 on the deck of USS Hornet. On April 18, 1942 are front row from left Lt.
Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, pilot; Lt. Richard E. “Dick” Cole, copilot; and back row from left Lt. Henry A.
Potter, navigator; Staff Sgt. Fred A. Braemer, bombardier; Staff Sgt. Paul J. Leonard, flight engineer and gunner.
BY TONY TUCCI
AMY ZI NK | BEC
BEC Writer
IT WAS FATE THAT
PUT LT. COL. JAMES
H. “Jimmy” Doolittle
into the same plane as
Lt, Richard E. “Dick”
Cole for their flight
into history. Cole, now
101 years old and the
last surviving member
of the Doolittle Raiders, recalls the time as
though it were yesterday.
“He didn’t pick me,” Cole said. “He had
a copilot that he preferred, but he had a
problem and couldn’t go. Our pilot got sick,
and he [Doolittle] just took that seat. He
started flying with us, and he didn’t fire us,
so we stayed,” Cole said with a smile and a
twinkle in his eyes.
It is one of many tales that Cole tells
about April 18, 1942, and the bombing raid
on Tokyo. There were 80 men, bold and
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BanderaEC_ December 2016 .indd 20
brave members of the U.S. Army Air Force,
in the days before the Air Force became a
separate branch. They had volunteered for a
“top secret” mission.
“The first time Doolittle showed up, he
told us it would be dangerous, and if anyone
wanted to back out that was the time,” Cole
said.
Not one of them did. They didn’t know
it then, but their mission was to bomb
Tokyo and other targets in Japan, and
show the Japanese, just four months after
Pearl Harbor, that they were vulnerable to
American air attacks.
It was a plan that defied imagination.
Nothing like it had ever been done before.
Sixteen B-25B bombers, modified to reduce
weight, were to be loaded aboard an aircraft
carrier, which would take them as close
to the Japanese coast as possible without
being spotted. But first, the pilots had to
learn to get airborne in just 500 feet—the
length of the carrier’s deck, and far short of
the 3,000 feet it normally took to get a fully
loaded plane aloft. All 16 crews made it back
safely, one way or another, although their
planes were lost. They were supposed to fly
to Chuchow, China. One ended up in Russia,
where the crew was imprisoned. Cole’s
plane ran out of fuel, and the crew had to
bail out. Cole’s parachute drifted over a pine
tree, and that’s where he spent the night.
He later joined the rest of his crew, and they
walked to safety. Cole has been profiled in
numerous newspaper and magazine articles
detailing his life.
He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and
became interested in flying as a boy, visiting
air shows and paying $1 for a plane ride.
Dayton is now the site of the National
Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the world’s
largest military aviation museum. Cole
attended Ohio University for two years,
then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in
November 1940. Cole flew about 50 missions
in all, and was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for his participation in the
Doolittle Tokyo Raid. He retired as an Air
Force lieutenant colonel in 1967. By then, he
was flying jets, including the T-33 training
jet.
He remains active to this day. He travels
all over the country, speaking at air shows
and raising money through the sale of
lithographs and books for a scholarship fund
that he runs. Students in space and aviation
schools between their junior and senior years
and with a 3.0 or better GPA are eligible for
financial aid. He said he prefers the question
and answer format when he takes the
speaker’s stand, which he does a couple of
times a month. His duties take him far and
wide including, places like Oregon, Florida,
Minnesota and Utah.
When he’s not on the speaker’s circuit
or running his scholarship program, he’s
enjoying life on his 5-acre farm near
Comfort in Kendall County. His son Andy
raised exotic animals, including buffaloes
and zebras. Andy died three years ago
and the exotics are gone now, but “there’s
plenty to do,” Cole said with a smile. This
remark comes from a man who has done
it all.
BanderaElectric.com
11/9/16 11:44 AM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Richard “Dick” E. Cole, retired Lt.
Col., co-pilot for Doolittle Raider
crew 1, from Dayton, Ohio enlisted
in the U.S. Army on November 22,
1940. Cole completed pilot training
and was commissioned as second
lieutenant, July 1941.
Cole, 101. is the last living Doolittle
Raider, and he resides near Comfort.
BanderaEC_ December 2016 .indd 21
December 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
23
COUR TESY O F D OOLI TT LERAID ER.C OM
BanderaElectric.com
11/9/16 11:44 AM
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Bandera
Visit Bandera on any Saturday and experience
the Cowboys on Main project hosted by
the Bandera Business Association. Holiday
shopping, cowboy style!
Holiday
Happenings
E . CAS TLE P HOTOGRAPH Y
25th Annual Christmas in the Hill Country
December 3, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Christmas Open House at Country Accents
Antiques located approximately 5 miles south
of Bandera on Highway 16.
Cowboy Capital Campfire Christmas
December 3, 5-9 p.m.
Bandera City Park
Gather on the banks of Medina River at the City
Park to enjoy displays of Christmas lights, then
gather around the campfire for hot chocolate,
coffee and cookies.
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!
We’re all busy planning and shopping and cooking. But, it’s also a time
to have fun and enjoy time with family and friends. To help with your
holiday planning, here’s a calendar that will help you save the dates to
make your holidays warm.
Bandera Trail of Lights
November 25 - January 1, 6-9 p.m.
Bandera City Park
Bring the whole family to drive through and enjoy the spirit of
Christmas.
Boerne
Sounds of the Season
December 2, 8-10 p.m.
Boerne Community Theater
Boerne Performing Arts, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Kerrville
Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol
December 2, 7:30 p.m.
Hill Country Arts Foundation
A grown-up Tim tells what really happens behind the scenes that
changed Ebenezer Scrooge all those years ago.
Weihnacht’s Parade
December 3, 6-10 p.m.
Main Street
The Weihnacht Parade is a longstanding Boerne Christmas tradition.
2016 will be the 30th anniversary. Up to 100 lighted entries travel in the
parade.
Oma’s Christmas Craft Fair
December 3-4, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Kendall County Fairgrounds
Boerne Concert Band Christmas Concert
December 11, 6-8 p.m.
Boerne High School Auditorium
Cowboy Christmas Market
December 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Main Plaza
Finish your last-second Christmas shopping at the Cowboy Christmas
Market Days on the Main Plaza.
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Christmas at the Kroc
December 10, 10 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center
Free community wide event featuring bouncy houses, cookie
decorating, pictures with Santa, games and free food.
Let’s Go Caroling
December 12, 2 p.m.
Museum of Western Art
Bring the kids for an old-fashioned fun event including crafts, games,
food, fun and caroling.
Leakey
Funky Christmas Follies
December 3, 5:30- 11:30 p.m.
Frio Pecan Farm
Enjoy a social hour with pizza and chicken wings, Dance at 8 p.m.
with live music of Bret Mullins Band, Ugly Sweater and Best Eggnog
contests and more.
BanderaElectric.com
11/9/16 11:44 AM
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
IN ARIK | ADOBE S TOCK
Breakfast With BEC
BY TONY TUCCI
BEC Writer
CHRISTMAS MORNING IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR CHILDREN.
The Christmas tree aglow, the presents all wrapped and
tied with ribbons, and yes, the cookies left for Santa are
gone. The delight can be heard in homes all over the Hill
Country, but none more clearly than in children’s homes.
Hopefully, Santa didn’t spoil his appetite with cookies
because the children at Arms of Hope Children’s Home in
Medina have invited him to breakfast.
The breakfast is sponsored by Bandera Electric
Cooperative and is one of the highlights of the Christmas
season. “We’re very blessed to have the support of
organizations like Bandera Electric Cooperative,” said
Troy Robertson, president and CEO of Arms of Hope,
which includes the Medina Children’s Home and the
Boles Children’s Home near Dallas. It also has four
outreach ministries in Denton, Dallas, San Antonio and
Houston that help disadvantaged children.
“We don’t receive any money from state or federal
governments,” said Robertson. It relies entirely on
financial support from about 500 churches, businesses
and individuals to meet a budget that totals between
$8 million and $8.5 million a year. The Arms of Hope,
which combined was formed in 2009. Before that, the two
homes operated separately. Medina Children’s Home was
established in 1958. “This partnership brings more than
135 years of combined experience in caring for children,”
the organization said in announcing the merger.
“Originally established as homes for orphans, the homes
have expanded to serve the needs of at-risk children and
BanderaElectric.com
BanderaEC_ December 2016 .indd 23
single mothers,” the organization continued.
Bandera EC began its relationship with the home last
year, when it provided Christmas breakfast and gifts
to the 125 residents. The event was such a success that
it became an annual event. “We’re happy to have the
opportunity to provide a special treat for these children.
It’s part of Bandera Electric’s ongoing community
outreach program,” said Brian Brockel, manager of
strategic products and services.
In addition, “we provide housing and transportation to
34 single moms,” said Joel Derrough, program director.
He said mothers are accepted for an “open-ended” length
of time, but most of them stay about two years. They are
treated for drug and alcohol addiction if necessary, and
can enroll in area colleges or trade schools. One woman is
in her first year of law school.
The home is on 400 acres, so there’s plenty of room
for the children to roam and enjoy the outdoors. The
facility is like a small town, with a chapel, grocery
store and service station. The lists are of equal value,
although some contain three or four items, while others
contain one that costs more. Robertson said the home is
nondenominational but has “a rich heritage in the Church
of Christ.” Residents attend services at the Kerrville
Church of Christ.
For Christmas, each resident has a wish list. “We
want to bless our children with a great Christmas,” said
Robertson. The children are from 5 to 18 years old and
attend Medina schools.
December 2016 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power
25
11/9/16 11:44 AM
TH
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
GO
Empower Yourself If the Lights Go Off
Did You
Know
WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES, preparation is important to be able to stay safe and
warm if the electricity goes out. Bandera Electric Cooperative has some tips to help
you prepare for winter power outages.
If power lines go down because of a winter storm, you could be in for a prolonged
power outage as co-op crews work to get the lights back on. Have an emergency
kit prepared to help you and your family weather the storm and the outage safely
and comfortably. Some of the items this kit should include are bottled water,
nonperishable food, flashlights, a weather radio and extra batteries.
Before a storm ever begins, tune in to your local weather service for the weather
forecast. It is important to know the differences among various watches and warnings.
Winter storm watches signify that a winter storm event, such as an ice storm, is
likely within the next 24–72 hours.
Winter storm warnings are more urgent, calling for a winter storm event to begin
within the next 12–36 hours. Consider canceling plans to travel away from home.
If bad weather is headed your way, it is a good idea to keep your cellphones and
other electronic devices charged and ready for use.
When power is lost, notify your electric co-op of the outage. Unplug all sensitive
electronics to avoid a surge when electricity is restored. Leave one light switched on
as a quick confirmation that the power is restored.
Stay inside. Dress in warm, dry layers and wear a hat, which can help keep in heat.
Close off unneeded rooms and place draft blocks at the bottoms of doors.
If you are using an alternative heating source during an outage, know how to use it
safely. Never heat your home with stoves, ovens or grills.
If venturing out during an outage, be on the lookout for downed electrical lines
or other equipment. Never go near or drive over a downed line because it might be
energized. If you see a downed line, do not get out of your car. The safest place is
inside the vehicle. Contact your electric cooperative immediately.
Animals are more sensitive to
electric currents than humans.
If you notice outdoor pets or
livestock shying away from
objects or hesitating to enter
doorways, call an electrician.
You might have stray voltage
caused by poor grounding or
defective electrical equipment.
Plan ahead for winter storms by keeping flashlights and plenty of warm blankets ready to use.
2016
You
May
but
WE WISH YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
peo
26 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC December 2016
BanderaEC_ December 2016 .indd 24
HAPPY NEW
YEAR!
Start
Our offices will be closed Friday through
Monday, December 23-26, and Monday,
January 2, in observance of the holidays.
FOT OSTOR M | IST OCK. COM
PY OT R021 | I ST OCK. COM
AND A
BanderaElectric.com
11/9/16 11:44 AM
Visit
Scan
App
THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME
1-866-226-3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
Replicas of dinosaurs and
educational play stations
are located on the 8-acre
grounds.
GOVERNMENT-IN-ACTION
YOUTH TOUR
JUNE 7–16, 2017
2016 Youth Tour winners Haleigh Boyd, Emilee Mason, Michah Felkins and Ethan Zinsmeister stand in front of the Capitol steps in June.
You’re a Texas high school student. You’re smart; you have big dreams.
Maybe you’ve never been out of the state, and maybe you’ve never flown on a plane,
but you want to travel—experience a big city, visit historic landmarks and meet
people. Sound like you? Then the Government-in-Action Youth Tour is your tour.
Start your adventure at TexasYouthTour.com
Visit Facebook.com/TexasYouthTourAlumni
Scan the QR code to watch a Youth Tour video
Apply by January 18, 2017. Sponsored by Bandera EC. Call 866.226.3372 or visit BanderaElectric.com.
BanderaElectric.com
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