PEC MEMBER NEWS
www.pec.coop
Power interruptions: 1-888-883-3379
Interested in serving on PEC’s Board?
Nominations being accepted for Board districts 1, 6 and 7
P
EC membership has unique
benefits different from what
you’ll find at for-profit, investorowned utilities. Our members
nominate and elect fellow members
— through annual democratic
elections — to serve on our Board
of Directors.
Lampasas
183
Members will elect directors for
Board districts 1, 6 and 7 this year.
Members from those districts who
are interested in running for a threeyear term on the Board are required
to complete a petition process
to get on the ballot. This process
includes completing application
forms, undergoing a background
check, meeting qualifications and
getting 50 verifiable signatures
from members living in the director
district for which election is sought.
District 1
183
typical residential account could
see savings of more than $5 per
month and $60 per year, and the
lower PCA is reflected on bills
mailed in March.
The PCA is reviewed monthly
and reflects the cost of the
electricity acquired from the
Cooperative’s power suppliers.
This reduction follows the
December reduction of the
Cooperative’s delivery charge,
which amounted to a savings
of $5 per 1,000 kwh used for
residential members.
Residential
1,000 kwh
Existing
March 1
1,275 kwh
Existing
March 1
Service Availability Charge
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50
Delivery Charge
$27.12
$27.12
$34.58
$34.58
Base Power Cost
$72.08
$72.08
$91.90
$91.90
Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)
$1.00
-$3.00
$1.28
-$3.83
$122.70
$118.70
$150.26
$145.15
35
Bertram
29
Liberty Hill
Marble Falls
District 2
Leander
Round
Rock
1431
1431
Cedar Park
71
281
Lake
Creek
District 5
620
Lake
Travis
620
District 3
183
Total
Austin
$4.00
Total Monthly Savings
Springs
PEC Board Districts 6 & 7
290
$5.11
290
Manchaca
Basic maps of these districts are
available at right. Nomination
petition materials and detailed
maps of all districts are available
at www.pec.coop/nomination or in
PEC offices.
Blanco
District 6
32
35
12
Wimberley
Kyle-Buda
District 7
281
Canyon Lake
46
This year’s director candidates
will be announced April 20, and
member voting will begin in May.
Check www.pec.coop/election for
the latest election information.
Bulverde
Certain areas within the
boundaries shown do not
receive PEC electric service.
Candidate forum April 23
2015 PEC ELECTION TIMELINE
January
20
April
6
April
20
April
23
May
21
June
12
June
20
Nomination
period opens
Nomination
deadline
Board director
candidates
announced
Candidate
forum in
Johnson City
Online &
mail-in voting
begins
Online &
mail-in voting
ends
PEC annual
meeting;
in-person
voting &
election winners
announced
20
ffective March 1, PEC
reduced its Power Cost
Adjustment (PCA) for all
rate classes. For residential
members, the PCA changed
from $0.001 to -$0.003 per
kilowatt-hour — a $4 savings
for every 1,000 kwh used. The
PEC Board District 1
281
PCA reduction to lower bills effective March 1
E
Texas Co-op Power PEDERNALES ELECTRIC March 2015
PEC members are invited to
the Co-op’s candidate forum
to learn more about this year’s
Board candidates. Candidates
will speak and take questions
submitted by members in a
moderated format.
When: April 23, 5:30 p.m.
Where: PEC headquarters,
201 S. Ave. F, Johnson City
www.pec.coop
Record number provide
feedback in PEC cost-ofservice/rate design study
P
EC continues to work with the
independent firm of Burns &
McDonnell to complete a costof-service/rate design study. The
purpose of the study is not to raise
rates, but rather to help the Coop build a more innovative rate
structure that uses advances in
technology, improves efficiency and
offers options that will help PEC
better meet the current and future
energy needs of its membership.
Thousands of members provided
valuable feedback in the member
engagement portion of the study,
www.pec.coop
System inventory,
vegetation
management continue
which closed Feb. 28. Members
weighed in on how they’d like to
see the Cooperative move forward
via an online survey, by attending
forums at PEC offices and through
local stakeholder interviews.
Burns & McDonnell plans to
present the results of the member
engagement portion of the costof-service/rate design study to the
PEC Board of Directors at its
March 16 meeting. You’re invited
to tune in — all regular board
meetings are live-streamed online
at www.pec.coop.
PEC continues to undergo
a comprehensive field
inventory that will help
improve the safety, reliability
and efficiency of the Co-op’s
electric system.
The Cooperative is notifying
members via phone
messages, postcards and
local newspapers when
contract crews will be coming
through an area to complete
the inventory and clear
vegetation from around PEC
underground equipment.
March 2015 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC Texas Co-op Power
21
PEC MEMBER NEWS
www.pec.coop
Power interruptions: 1-888-883-3379
Plant the right tree
IN THE RIGHT PLACE
T
lines,” said PEC Vice President of
Operations Wayne McKee.
he heart of the Texas Hill
Country is its scenic landscape
populated with native trees.
While trees and vegetation may
beautify your property and provide
much needed shade, they are a
natural hazard to PEC electric lines.
Trees caused 296 power outages in
2014.
“Our tree maintenance program
helps ensure safe and reliable
electric service, with the goal
to maintain a balance between
providing safe service and keeping
trees healthy.”
PEC relies on tree trimming to
help with that balance. Crews
and contractors are trained in
safe trimming techniques and
practices.
“When trees grow too close to
power lines, they can interrupt
service when windy conditions
or storms cause contact with the
LEAVE TREE TRIMMING TO THE PROS
T
o deliver the most
reliable service possible,
PEC incorporates proactive
tree trimming to minimize
the possibility of trees and
vegetation coming into
contact with power lines.
Dry branches and leaves
can interrupt service and
increase the risk of fire if
they interfere with lines.
You can help reduce the need for
tree trimming by planning before
you plant and avoiding PEC’s
easements. Co-op easements are
structured to provide adequate
distance to keep members, staff
and electric lines safe from trees.
If you’re planting trees this spring,
plant with overhead lines in mind,
and use our easy safe-distance
guide pictured below as a resource.
You also can find a variety of safe
landscaping tips at www.pec.coop/
landscaping.
If you see trees or foliage
near PEC power lines that
should be trimmed, please
Tree planting guide
do not attempt to do
it yourself. PEC crews
and contractors are
extensively trained to trim
trees safely, and PEC
also has two ISA-certified
arborists on staff.
You can quickly, easily
and safely report the issue
by calling 1-888-554-4732
or you can request tree
trimming by logging
in to our website,
www.pec.coop.
Small trees
Less than 25’ mature max
height/spread
25’ from pole
Native tree options
American Smoketree, Goldenball
Leadtree, Mexican Buckeye
60’
from pole
Medium trees
25’-40’ mature max height/spread
40’ from pole
40’
from pole
Native tree options
Lacebark Elm, Lacey Oak
25’
from pole
Large trees
Larger than 40’ mature max
height/spread
60’ from pole
Native tree options
Bur Oak, Cedar Elm, Chinquapin Oak
22
Texas Co-op Power PEDERNALES ELECTRIC March 2015
www.pec.coop
www.pec.coop
Landscaping can help
reduce electric costs
I
n addition to beautifying your
landscape, trees can help reduce
your home’s heating and cooling
costs. Simply shading your air
conditioner can increase its
efficiency by as much as 10 percent.
Consider planting deciduous trees
on the west or south sides of your
property. These trees provide
excellent shade from the sun during
hot summers, but allow a lot of light
in during the winter when the trees
drop their leaves.
Planting dense evergreen trees to
the north and northwest of your
property also can block cold winter
winds near your home, which can
help reduce heating costs.
March 2015 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC Texas Co-op Power
23
PEC MEMBER NEWS
www.pec.coop
Power interruptions: 1-888-883-3379
Landscaping can be dangerous
Clear URD access keeps PEC crews safe, your power reliable
Stay safe by calling
811 BEFORE YOU DIG
Staff must be able to safely access PEC’s underground residential distribution (URD) equipment at all times. This photo was taken in our
service area and shows the difficulty of working around intrusive landscaping. The Co-op reserves the right to remove any obstruction.
P
ower is brought to some PEC
members via thousands of
miles of underground electric line.
In areas with underground service,
pad-mounted equipment housed in
green metal boxes is placed along
main electric lines, and it’s critical
that landscaping and structures be
kept away from this equipment.
When access to these important
pieces of equipment is limited,
it slows down power restoration
efforts and creates unsafe working
conditions for PEC crews.
The National Electric Safety Code
and the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration require that
PEC crews must maintain a safe
distance and have an area clear
of obstructions while working on
or near energized equipment. Our
linemen need five feet of clearance
around the back and sides of padmounted equipment and 10 feet of
clearance in front. These distances
allow linemen to safely make any
repairs or inspections.
24
B
efore you begin a project
that requires digging in your
yard, call 811. Underground
utilities may be buried on your
property, and injury or death
can occur if your body or a
metal tool come in contact with
an underground electric line. A
damaged line could also result
in a service interruption to your
home or possibly your entire
neighborhood.
Keep PEC URD facilities clear
Rules for URD clearance
•
Keep five feet of clearance
from the sides and back of
transformer boxes.
•
Keep 10 feet of clearance from
the front of boxes so crews can
safely open them. Some large
pad-mounted switchgear will
require 10 feet of clearance in
the front and back.
•
Do not plant ivy or other climbing
plants — they can grow into
metal enclosures.
•
Never build walls, fences or other
structures around boxes.
•
Keep landscaping rocks clear of
transformers.
•
Prune shrubs and small trees so
they don’t obstruct equipment.
Texas Co-op Power PEDERNALES ELECTRIC March 2015
Calling 811 before you dig
is easy, and it’s the law. Call
at least two working days
before starting your project,
or submit your request online
at www.texas811.org. The
representatives there will
determine which utilities
should be notified about your
project and will handle those
calls. They’ll also provide you
with a reference number and
maintain a record of your call
or online request to verify your
compliance with the law.
Once notified, utility staff
will visit your property to
mark underground lines with
color-coded flags. When
you can easily see where all
of the buried lines are, you
can safely move forward with
your project.
Proper clearance
Watch out for wires
Heads up! Before beginning an outdoor
project, look up to check your work area for
overhead electric lines, including the service
drop to your home. Take a moment to make
sure your body and tools, such as ladders
and rakes, will not make contact as you
work. That moment could save your life.
Improper clearance
www.pec.coop
www.pec.coop
March 2015 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC Texas Co-op Power
25
PEC MEMBER NEWS
www.pec.coop
Power interruptions: 1-888-883-3379
PEC scholarship program deadline
approaching soon — details online
I
f you’re a high school or homeschooled senior whose parents
or legal guardians are PEC
members, you’re eligible to win a
scholarship from PEC — and time
is running out for you to apply!
The Co-op is offering 14
scholarships to deserving
seniors, with amounts ranging
from $2,500 to one $10,000
scholarship. You can use the
money to pay expenses at any
accredited university, college,
junior college, technical school or
trade school.
Recipients will be selected
based on their applicant profile,
including academic performance,
community involvement,
extracurricular activities and
financial need.
Canyon High School’s Jacob Traugott earned a
$5,000 scholarship from PEC in 2014. He was
one of 14 seniors who earned scholarships
worth $2,500 to $10,000.
Applicants also will be evaluated
on an essay on the following
topic: Identify the need for a nonprofit program to enrich, educate,
serve or assist the residents of
your community. How would
this non-profit benefit your
community, and how would you
create this organization?
PEC’s Scholarship Committee
selects a panel of independent
judges to determine recipients.
Applications and more details
are available at www.pec.coop/
scholarship.
All scholarship materials must
be submitted online by Friday,
March 27. PEC looks forward to
receiving entries, and best of luck
to all who participate!
ne of PEC’s bedrock
principles has always
been support for member
communities. The Co-op
provides that support through a
number of different programs.
Two upcoming support elements
are PEC’s Light the Way initiative
and the Co-op’s Community
Grants program.
Light the Way recognizes
and supports groups such
as chambers of commerce,
emergency medical services,
libraries, fire departments and
senior citizen centers serving
members in our 8,100-squaremile service area. In 2014, the
Co-op donated $1,000 each to
158 community organizations,
helping them continue to
provide valuable services in their
counties, cities and towns. These
contributions typically occur
in March and April every year,
and a comprehensive list of the
organizations receiving donations
is available on PEC’s web site.
A second upcoming initiative is
the Community Grants program.
MARCH
D
o you have an old phone or
computer no longer in use?
Used electronics are considered
one of the fastest growing areas
when looking at America’s waste.
Consider recycling those old
electronics rather than throwing
them in the trash, because throwing
them in the bin is potentially
hazardous to the environment.
This program was established
in 2010, with the first grants
awarded in 2011. Grants of
up to $1,000 are awarded to
eligible non-profit organizations
located in the PEC service area
through an open and competitive
application process.
The deadline for the first round of
2015 Community Grants is
April 1. For information, go to
www.pec.coop/grants or call
PEC at 1-888-554-4732 and
ask for the Community and
Economic Development section.
Texas Co-op Power PEDERNALES ELECTRIC March 2015
www.pec.coop
See page 26 for details.
APRIL
These products are made from
valuable materials and highly
engineered materials such as
metals, plastics and glass. The EPA
supports electronics recycling as a
way to conserve natural resources
and avoid air and water pollution
caused by the mining of virgin
materials used to make electronics.
The EPA lists e-Stewards and
R2 Solutions as websites that
offer maps of certified recyclers
and refurbishers. Go to www.
sustainableelectronics.org and
www.e-stewards.org for more
information.
04/01
PEC COMMUNITY GRANTS
DEADLINE
Visit www.pec.coop/grants for more
information.
04/23
CANDIDATE FORUM AT
PEC HEADQUARTERS IN
JOHNSON CITY
Board candidates communicate their
credentials, experience and views to
members.
Evolution of the Cook Stove
Hearth cooking
Wood cook stove
Gas stove
Electric stove
For centuries, the hearth
was central to the home as a
heating source and for cooking.
In 1795, British inventor Count
Rumford introduces a woodburning cast-iron stove with a
temperature regulator.
Commercially produced
gas stoves became
available around 1834.
Electric stoves came into
use not long after the
introduction of home electricity.
Canadian inventor Thomas
Ahern filed a patent for an
electric stove in 1892.
SOURCE: Smithsonian magazine
26
03/27
PEC SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
Think twice before you
throw away old electronics
The Environmental Protection
Agency estimates that even five
years ago, in 2009, 438 million
electronic products were sold in
the U.S. and 2.5 million tons were
nearing their end of useful life.
PEC continues support of local communities
O
CO-OP
CALENDAR
www.pec.coop
March 2015 PEDERNALES ELECTRIC Texas Co-op Power
27