Make the Roads Safe. Don t Hang That Sign! Co-op News HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MESSAGE FROM CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER RICK HAILE

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1 Co-op News HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Make the Roads Safe MESSAGE FROM CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER RICK HAILE SAFETY IS, WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A PRIORITY AT HEART OF TEXAS Electric Cooperative. This includes the safety of you, our members, as well as that of our employees. We are proud of our safety record and the measures that we put in place to safeguard those who work to bring you a steady supply of electricity. That especially goes for our lineworkers and support crews, who have some of the most dangerous jobs around. Our constant focus on safety includes meetings and classes in which employees receive training in staying safe around dangerous equipment and in hazardous situations. Our co-op s strategic plan always contains a strong safety component designed to keep our workers and the public out of harm s way. Working around electricity, often far above the ground and in all weather conditions, is inherently dangerous. But not all the dangers our employees face come from the weather, climbing or power lines. If you are not paying attention when While some of our crews most dangerous work is high in the sky, distracted drivers on the ground also pose a significant risk. you are behind the wheel, the danger might come from you. Sometimes the job of building a line or restoring power places our crews at the sides of narrow roads that run through our service territory. It s in these situations that you can help keep your electric cooperative workers safe. If you see utility vehicles and line crews working, give them and the road ahead all of your attention. Slow down and, if it is safe, move over to give crews as much space as possible. Respect traffic cones, flashing lights and other signals. They could be the only thing between your car and workers or equipment. With your cooperation, the dangers of line work don t have to be increased by traffic. There is much our crews can do to enhance their safety, but there s not much protection from a distracted driver. Please be careful, be aware, slow down and help protect Heart of Texas EC s most valuable asset: our people. BURWELL AND BURWELL PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK Don t Hang That Sign! THERE ARE MORE THAN 130 MILLION wooden utility poles in the United States, estimates the North American Wood Pole Council. That ample vertical real estate may look appealing when you need somewhere to hang your sign, deer stand, basketball hoop, clothesline or satellite dish. Don t make that mistake. Attaching items to utility poles is not only illegal, it s dangerous, too. It may seem innocent, but one pinhole from a tack, nail or staple lodged in a pole can pierce a lineworker s glove, stripping away critical protection from thousands of volts of electricity. Obstructions also can impede lineworkers ability to climb and inspect poles. Anyone placing items on poles also risks exposing themselves to thousands of volts of electricity. This is especially true of structures anchored to poles. It s always wise to keep any structure at least 10 feet away from utility poles. Please help Heart of Texas EC keep our linemen and our community safe. Don t attach unauthorized, dangerous items to our poles. SLOBO ISTOCK.COM 18 Texas Co-op Power HEART OF TEXAS EC February 2018

2 (254) HOTEC.COOP Operation Round Up Neighbors helping neighbors OPERATION ROUND UP IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM IN WHICH HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC Cooperative bills are rounded up to the nearest dollar each month. These additional pennies, nickels and dimes are added to a special fund to be distributed back to local community organizations. The Operation Round Up Trust Board, composed of HOTEC members, meets once each quarter to review applications and to decide how the funds are to be allocated. The next scheduled board meeting is March 5. Applications for funds must be received by February 19. Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for funds should visit our website at or call to request an application. Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative Operating in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, McLennan and Milam counties CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER Rick Haile DIRECTORS Garland Cook, District 1 DeWayne Draeger, District 6 Kermit Dreyer, District 7 Paul Edge, District 2 Dan Foster, District 9 Kenneth Hollas, District 3 Bobby Nawara, District 4 Allen Shows, District 5 Larry Stock, District 8 RECENT OPERATION ROUND UP RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: Davilla Community Center $2,500 Chilton Volunteer Fire Department $2,500 EOAC $2,500 Valley Mills Library Association $2,500 Co-Partners for Christ $1,000 McGregor ISD Education Foundation $500 Midway ISD Education Foundation $500 Mosaic $500 McGregor Youth Vocational Ag Booster Club.... $250 Stampede 4-H Club $250 World Strides Club Cameron Junior High $250 Ben Milam Classroom Libraries Project $250 Old Town Cameron Model & Railroad Museum... $250 Feathers & Fur $250 Contact Us McGREGOR OFFICE (254) local toll-free 1111 S. Johnson Drive P.O. Box 357 McGregor, TX OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Drive-thru 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. ROSEBUD OFFICE (254) local toll-free 159 Loop 265 P.O. Box 598 Rosebud, TX OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. CREDIT/ DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS Online at By phone at Ever wonder what your hometown looked like back in the old days? This Old Town Cameron model was crafted by Cameron resident John Johnson to reflect his hometown during the 1940s. He donated the 18-by-40-ft. model to the Milam County Museum. With the help of a group of volunteers led by Jamie Larson, the miniature town and model train set were on display during the holiday season. An Operation Round Up grant provided funds for the purchase of creative arts materials for use in restoration and preservation of the project. FIND US ON THE WEB February 2018 HEART OF TEXAS EC Texas Co-op Power 19

3 HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Distributed Generation 101 Know the rules before you invest in DG power DISTRIBUTED GENERATION, OR DG, REFERS TO THE SMALL-SCALE PRODUCTION OF ELECtricity on-site, near the end user. For consumers, distributed generation with a typical capacity of no greater than 10 megawatts can stand in as emergency backup power, provide greater independence and make an environmental statement. Examples of distributed generation include an emergency diesel generator servicing a hospital, a solar panel on the neighbor s roof and a wind turbine on a farm. These miniature power plants are located at or near where electricity gets used and make up about 1 percent of all electricity generated in the United States. Heart of Texas EC supports and encourages wind, solar and other DG projects. Producing green power is important to everyone. But not everyone can afford to install DG equipment. It is just as green to reduce electric consumption as it is to install DG equipment, said Member Services Manager Ron Poston. Options for energy conservation can include something as simple as wrapping your water heater with a thermal cover or caulking around doors and windows. More involved procedures include installing an air filtration system or adding roof vents if none exist, or upgrading the insulation in your home. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Work With Your Cooperative Before investing money in a personal power source, there are a number of considerations you should take into account, especially if you re expecting to receive credit for the energy you don t use. The installation of renewable DG equipment must be approved by the co-op during every phase of the project, from beginning to end. An approved interconnect must follow certain safety and electric reliability guidelines essential to the protection of co-op members and employees. The guidelines also ensure that the electric distribution system performance is not jeopardized. You can familiarize yourself with these requirements by downloading Distributed Generation Procedures and Guidelines Manual for Members at our website,. The guidelines are also available at our offices in Rosebud and McGregor. This manual provides the procedures, guidelines and requirements to interconnect a DG facility. A visit to our website also will provide you with a list of government organizations that can provide information on various types of DG. The list also includes the names of several companies that provide DG services and equipment. Please be aware that there are scammers and dishonest installers hoping to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Before you sign a contract, please call Heart of Texas EC and verify that the company you are dealing with is reputable. If you are interested in learning more about safe, distributed generation options for your home or business, Heart of Texas EC is ready to help you through the process. For more information, please contact Ron Poston at PLX Meter Upgrade Is Complete! HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERAtive has completed its state-of-the-art advanced meter-reading system upgrade. PLX meters have been installed and have replaced the outdated Turtle meter system that had been in service since The installation and transition to this new technology went well and was completed ahead of schedule. All HOTEC substations have been commissioned, and the meter deployment is 99 percent complete. These new PLX meters from Landis+Gyr allow the cooperative to remotely perform many functions, such as reading meters in a more timely manner and on a daily basis, monitoring voltage, and reconnecting or disconnecting power at some locations. In addition, these meters provide more accurate information about outages and restoration times, allow for faster response times to outages, and ultimately lead to fewer outages. Improved power quality and more efficient power distribution will help keep costs down for members. Better detection of power theft will be an additional benefit. If you have any questions, contact our offices in McGregor at (254) , in Rosebud at (254) or toll-free at Texas Co-op Power HEART OF TEXAS EC February 2018

4 (254) HOTEC.COOP Insulate To Feel Great DO YOU EVER FEEL A CHILL, CRANK UP THE HEAT, HEAR THE FURNACE KICK ON then feel no warmer? Your home might need better insulation. Heat flows from a warmer spot to a cooler one until there is no longer a temperature difference. This means that in winter, heat flows directly from heated living spaces in your home to an adjacent garage, unheated attic or outdoors. Properly insulating your home decreases this flow by providing resistance. Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency, you probably can reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. Inspect and Evaluate To determine whether you should add insulation, find out: a Where your home is, isn t and should be insulated. a The type, including R-value and thickness, of insulation you already have. Check the walls, floors and ceilings in unheated spaces such as the attic and garage. Structural elements usually are exposed in these areas, which makes it easy to see the type and thickness of surrounding insulation. To inspect exterior wall insulation through an electrical outlet: 1. Turn off power to the outlet. 2. Remove the cover and shine a flashlight into the gap around the outlet box. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall and possibly how thick it is. 3. Pull out a small amount of insulation, if needed, to help determine its type. Use this method to check outlets on all floors in old and new parts of your house. Just because you find insulation in one wall doesn t mean it s everywhere in the house. Choose the Right Insulation Once you ve figured out the types and thicknesses of existing insulation, consult the U.S. Department of Energy s online insulation fact sheet at energy.gov/ energysaver/insulation to determine the corresponding R-values. Once you find out the R-values of your existing insulation, you then can use the Home Energy Saver tool at hes.lbl.gov to determine how much insulation you need and where to add it for maximum energy efficiency. Select the proper type of insulation for your home once you know where you ll be installing the new stuff and what R-value you want the installation to achieve. DONNICHOLS ISTOCK.COM HOTEC To Attend Home Shows HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERAtive will have a booth at two home shows this month. Members can meet our staff, pick up energy efficiency tips and learn about exciting opportunities for our younger members the Government-in- Action Youth Tour and scholarships. The Heart of Texas Builders Home Products Show is held annually at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. This year s show is February Show times are 10 a.m. 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5. The Temple Area Builders Association Home and Garden Show will be held at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, February Show times are 6 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Saturday and 12 5 p.m. Sunday. The show features homebuilders, landscapers and plants. Admission is $5. Oglesby Hosts Rattlesnake Hunt OGLESBY LIONS CLUB S 49TH ANNUAL Rattlesnake Hunt will be held February Live demonstrations by worldfamous snake handler Jackie Bibby will be presented both days. The demonstration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with another demonstration at 11 a.m. Sunday. Snake hunter registration begins Saturday morning and ends at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Professional hunters are not allowed to register. Prizes awarded include heaviest, shortest and longest snakes caught. The Oglesby Volunteer Fire Department will have barbecue for sale, and the Oglesby 4-H Club will host a concession stand. There will be arts and crafts booths and entertainment throughout the day at the Oglesby Community Center. For more information, contact Charles Walter at (254) February 2018 HEART OF TEXAS EC Texas Co-op Power 21

5 HEART OF TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Statement of Nondiscrimination Win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Youth Tour applications are due February 15. Apply Now for Free Trip to DC NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY FOR THE GOVERNMENT-IN-ACTION YOUTH TOUR, AN ALLexpenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative. Youth Tour, held June 6 15 this year, is an action-packed trip with approximately 145 young people and chaperones from across Texas. The tour will include visits to the Washington National Cathedral, Arlington National Cemetery, Smithsonian Institution, memorials and more. Activities include attending a performance at the Kennedy Center and meeting elected officials. Eligible entrants must: a Be a high school sophomore, junior or senior; a Be a dependent of a Heart of Texas EC member with permanent resident status in the co-op s service area; and a Submit an application and essay on the history of electric cooperatives. Application deadline is February 15. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, by to ronposton@ or by fax to (254) Visit texasyouthtour.com for more information or contact Ron Poston at or ronposton@. Scholarship Apps Due March 1 ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES! DO YOU NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE? IF SO, WE have an opportunity for you. Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative will award five $1,000 scholarships to local high school graduates. Applications are due March 1. To qualify for a Heart of Texas EC scholarship, your student must have graduated high school within two years of the application deadline and reside in the household of a Heart of Texas EC member. The recipient must be enrolled full or part time in an accredited college or technical school. Each scholarship will be divided between the fall and spring semesters, $500 respectively. The funds must be used within one year of issuance. Applications must be received by the Rosebud or McGregor office no later than March 1 to be considered for the scholarship. For an application and a list of qualifications, visit us online at, click on Programs, then on Youth Tour/Scholarships. For more information, contact Ron Poston at or ronposton@. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL CIVIL rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., ; (2) fax: (202) ; or (3) program.intake@usda.gov. Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 22 Texas Co-op Power HEART OF TEXAS EC February 2018

6 10 Quick Tips o Avoid High Winter Bills Looking to lower your bills this winter? Use the 10 tips below to conserve energy Seal air leaks and insulate well to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home. Reduce waste heat by installing a programmable thermostat. Turn off lights when not in use. Lower your water heater temperature. The Dep recommends using the warm setting (120 fall and winter months. Unplug electronics like kitchen appliances and TVs when you re away. Open blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home. Close blinds and curtains at night to keep cold, drafty air out. Use power strips for multiple appliances, and turn off the main switch when you re away from home. Wash clothes in cold water, and use cold-water detergent whenever possible. Replace incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs, which use at least 75 percent less energy. Source: U..S. Dept. of Energy