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April 2013 Flipbook PDF
April 2013
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LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EDITION Composting This BLT is A-OK
Texas at See Level • Paddling Boquillas Canyon • Butterflies in Mission • Utopia in Spring
APRIL 2013 Cotton Gin Museum
UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES A MONTHLY INSERT FOR MEMBERS OF UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES
There’s no BAG LIMIT on Energy Savings.
And we can show you where they like to hide! Request your FREE Home Energy Audit today! www.united-cs.com
United Cooperative ServiCeS
Power Talk
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Seeking Member Feedback
Busy Season of Community / Focus Group Meetings Opens at Morgan Mill
T
he face value United places on its face time with members is invaluable and immeasurable. No cooperative initiative better defines the grassroots aura of the cooperative business model (people helping people) or its stark comparison to other retail business relationships today. And there is no better place to revisit the unique rural heritage and kinship United shares with it membership than in a community anchored by an estimated population density of about 7.3 people per square mile. As grassroots go, the Morgan Mill/Bluff Dale area is flush with good folk, real Texas characters and an abiding faith that community
business is best served over a home-cooked meal and lively conversation. A typical Morgan Mill community meeting, like the one United was invited to attend at the Morgan Mill Community Center in February, makes the cooperative's annual outreach to member-owners throughout United's service territory each year an enjoyable endeavor. To a person, the crowd is always forthcoming, engaged, constructive and supportive of United's continuing operational efforts—notedly, endearing traits worn naturally by most cooperative member-owners. But beyond those pluses, the hearty, homePlease see COMMUNITY MEETINGS, PAGE 24
COOL ROOFS: SHELTERING COOLING COSTS WITH ROOF IMPROVEMENTS, PAGE ..... 22 BEAVERS ELECTED SECRETARY-TREASURER OF COOPERATIVE FINANACE CORPORATION ..... 22 BURLESON CUB SCOUT PACK GETS AN ENERGY EDUCATION, PAGE ..... 22
Debut of new prepaid electric service marks another alternative for members in billing options ..... PAGE 26
MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE: “SETTING THE STANDARD,” PAGE ..... 26 RATE WATCH PROVIDES RATE COMPARISON OF NORTH TEXAS PROVIDERS, PAGE ..... 28
: go online www.united-cs.com APRIL 2013 UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES
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United Cooperative ServiCeS► P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
Sheltering Cooling Costs W ENERGY INNOVATION By JEFF PANNELL As new energy efficiency technologies continue to emerge, and the consumer demand for electricity steadily rises, United will continue to monitor any technologies that could potentially help its membership waste less energy. While cool roofs and radiant barriers are not necessarily the newest technologies on the scene, they are still two of the best retrofits for reducing attic temperatures. “Any product that can be promoted to our membership as a money-saving investment is a product that United must research,” stated United Field Service Agent Phil Silva. “We are obligated as a co-op to educate our members on such products, so that they can make informed decisions about their energy usage,” added Silva. Before a discussion about either cool roofs or radiant barriers ensue, it is important to understand a few other terms relating to heat transfer:
Heat Gains, Heat Losses, and Thermal Insulation
Heat flows naturally from a warmer space to a colder space. Heat that flows into the building is called heat gain, while heat that flows out of the building is called heat loss. When too much heat gain (loss) occurs, an air conditioning system operates for a greater length of time to keep the space comfortable. A large amount of heat can be gained (or lost) through a building’s roof. Cool roofs reduce heat gains throughout the year. This can save members energy on cooling, but it can also increase the energy needed for heating. Often, the annual cooling energy cost savings is substantially higher than the heating penalty. This is especially true for warmer climates such as North Central Texas. Thermal insulation can greatly reduce the amount of heat lost or gained through a roof system. Even though cool roofs reduce solar heat gains, they are never a substitute for using sufficient thermal insulation. Insulation reduces heat losses and heat gains through the roof in ways a reflective surface cannot.
: go online www.united-cs.com
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UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES APRIL 2013
Cool Roofs
Cool roofs are roofs that are designed to maintain a lower roof temperature than traditional roofs, especially when the Texas sun is bearing down on them. Sunlight (solar energy) is the primary factor that causes roofs to become very hot. Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep a person cool on a sunny day, cool roofs use solar-reflective surfaces to maintain lower roof temperatures. Cool roofs have surfaces that reflect sunlight and emit heat more efficiently than roofs with dark colors, keeping them cooler in the sun. Solar reflectance and thermal emittance are the two key material surface properties that determine a roof’s temperature, and they each range on a scale from 0 to 1. The larger these two values are, the cooler the roof will remain in the sun. Since most dark roofs absorb 90 percent or more of the incoming solar energy, the roof can reach temperatures higher than 150°F (66ºC) when it’s warm and sunny. Higher roof temperatures increase the heat flow into the building, causing the air conditioning system to work harder and use more energy in summertime. In contrast, lightly-colored roofs absorb less than 50 percent of the solar energy, reducing the roof temperature and decreasing air conditioning energy use. Reducing the roof’s temperature with a cool roof can also increase the need for heating during heating seasons. Cool roof products exist for virtually every kind of roof and, contrary to popular belief, are certainly not all white. Although white materials tend to be very good solar reflectors, colored roofing materials can also be made to reflect more sunlight. More than half of the sunlight reaching the earth is invisible to the human
United Cooperative ServiCeS P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
With Roofing Improvements eye, and this invisible sunlight heats the roof. A colored surface that reflects more of the invisible sunlight is called a cool, dark color, or cool color roof. A cool dark color roof reflects more sunlight than a similar-looking conventional darkcolored roof, but less than a lightly-colored surface. For example, a conventional dark-colored surface might reflect 20 percent of incoming sunlight, a cool dark- colored surface, 40 percent; and a light-colored surface, 80 percent. But cool roofs aren’t for everyone. Homeowners who live in hot, sunny climates, where air conditioning is used more often, will reap the biggest benefits. In other regions, a cool roof could end up increasing heating costs in the winter. Therefore, members should consult the Department of Energy (DOE) website calculator to asertain whether such a roof makes economic sense. It is also important to note that cool roofs may add only marginal energy savings to buildings that are already highly energy efficient. Highly efficient buildings are often insulated well enough to minimize heat transfer through the walls and roof of the structure. This helps the occupied space stay cool in summer and warm in winter, regardless of the roof’s surface temperature. However, dark roofs on well-insulated buildings can become very hot, so cool roofs help achieve the environmental benefits associated with lower roof temperatures. Keeping a roof cool may also extend its expected service life. The advantages of reflectivity has been successfully proven in the fleets of United Parcel Service (UPS). By installing white fiberglass directly over the cargo area of the carrier's trademark brown vehicles, UPS was not only able to increase the interior lighting quality in a truck's cargo area, but also
greatly reduced the temperatures within each confined work environment. This concept was praised by Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who proclaimed, “If UPS can set aside its trademark brown color scheme for the sake of a cooler cargo area, hopefully more businesses and consumers will begin to ask themselves: ‘What can white roofs do for you?"
Radiant Barrier
Radiant barriers and attic ventilation are also two residential energy innovation enhancements that could potentially improve a home’s efficiency. Understanding how radiant barriers and attic ventilation work to offset temperature extremes in a home’s attic could seem somewhat complex at first, but a little thoughtful analysis can go a long way toward understanding the benefits. Radiant barriers are simply a thin barrier of highly reflective material that are installed in the attic to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. During the summer, they are designed to reflect external thermal radiation away from the insulation located on the attic floor. Like the cool roof, it’s essential that members understand that radiant barriers are only marginally effective unless there is adequate insulation in the attic. If a homeowner is determined to install a radiant barrier, United still recommends an insulation R-value of 38 to prevent heat from entering the home. During winter months, radiant barriers reflect heat generated from the home back towards the attic floor, which in theory helps to contain heat within the home. According to the Department of Energy, the actual amount of benefit that the radiant barrier provides during the winter months is not known, and is still being closely studied. There are several different installation applications for radiant barriers. The first method is to cover the existing loose-fill insulation with reflective metal chips. Optimum performance with this application is achieved only when multiple layers of the material have been applied. Dust settling on the attic floor will render the barrier less effective unless there are multiple layers below to help reflect the heat back away from the attic floor. Another more common method for retrofitting a home is to use one thin coat of radiant barrier reflective paint. This reflective paint is sprayed on the bottom of the roof decking material, and is much less susceptible Please see ROOFS, PAGE 18
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United Cooperative ServiCeS P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
Co-op Hits the Road, Again ► Area meetings provide vital link to current member views
COMMUNITY MEETINGS continued from PAGE 21
spun potluck meal the community provides as staple fare at every gathering shows that, in the richest sense of southern hospitality, those folks were raised right. The Morgan Mill meeting kicked off a busy 2013 season of member meetings scheduled for the Burleson, Possum Kingdom Lake and Cranfills Gap areas.
Beyond the personal fellowship each venue offers, the meetings provide essential feedback for the cooperative in gauging member awareness of trends and swings in national and statewide electric industry sectors, as well as to enlist candid member views about United's future planning, operations, technology, communications and member services commitments. “Receiving our members’ perspectives on the work we do on behalf of the entire membership helps us keep our focus on aspects of the business that they feel are important and beneficial to the cooperative and its members,” said United CEO Ray Beavers. “These meetings give us an opportunity to personally interact with our members, to hear their candid views about whether their cooperative is today meeting their service expectations and whether they feel we are guiding the organization in the right direction for the future. We’ve found no better way to share our common purpose and commitment than through these community meetings,” he said. “They are fundamental to our continued service success.”
Typically, randomly selected United Cooperative Services members are invited to weigh in on a range of topics that will almost assuredly have an impact on United and its members. To ensure the cooperative obtains a cross section of members representative of the varied classes of membership. The objective of every meeting is to learn how to improve service, determine what’s important for United’s members when it comes to their electric power needs, and to inform the membership on challenges that must be addressed to ensure reliable electric delivery now and well into the future. “As a member-owned organization, it’s essential that we know how much our members understand about the challenges facing our industry, including the state of Texas’ electric generation capacity to meet the rising demand,” said United CEO Ray Beavers. “Through our research and focus groups, we are learning that these types of issues are not on a lot of folks’ radars,” said Beavers. “We feel it’s our moral obligation to put these issues on our members’ radars and help them prepare for the future.”
Roof Treatments Cool Summer Energy Costs ROOFS
continued from PAGE 23
to dust accumulation. Roll-out, foil-type radiant barriers can be attached to the rafters or decking directly under the roof. If this type of application is going on the decking, an air gap should be left between the decking and the radiant barrier to increase ventilation. Roll-out, foil-type radiant barriers can also be installed directly on the attic floor, although this is not recommended. The barrier will be more likely to collect dust and become less reflective. Also, if any insulation is compressed in the process, the R-value will be compromised. While some members may choose to invest in radiant barriers, it is very important to realize that the largest energy savings will be realized by having adequate attic insulation levels (R-38). While proper attic insulation is extremely important, it isn’t the only piece of the puzzle in home energy conservation. It is equally important to have adequate attic ventilation, and as is the case in many : go online www.united-cs.com
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homes United energy experts analyze, ventilation is often insufficient. The purpose of attic ventilation is two-fold. During the summer, attic ventilation removes heated air from the attic to help lower the overall temperature, thus reducing the cooling load. On the flip side, attic ventilation helps disperse moisture build-up in the attic. If moisture collects in the attic space, condensation will reduce the effectiveness of the attic insulation and could also create an environment for mold growth and decay on the building structure. Insulation, proper ventilation, and radiant barriers all work together to help keep the attic cool and dry, thus decreasing the cooling and heating loads; as well as helping consumers eliminate potential mold and rot. Making considerations for these energy efficiency measures will likely lead to lower energy consumption and money saved; something everyone can appreciate in these uncertain economic times. Call a local United office today to request a free home energy audit. It costs nothing, but it could save plenty.
United Cooperative ServiCeS P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
inside/out
Beavers Tapped as Board Officer of Cooperative Finance Corporation United CEO Ray Beavers was elected to serve as secretary-treasurer of the board of directors of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) following the CFC 2013 Annual Meeting on Feb. 18 in New Orleans.
RAY BEAVERS
► Exploring New Frontiers
CFC is a nonprofit finance cooperative created and owned by America’s electric cooperative network to serve cooperatives’ needs in what is a considerable capital intensive industry Beavers was first seated on the CFC Board of Directors in 2010, but his leadership has been sought by other industry organizations during his career at United. In addition to his role at CFC, Beavers has served as President of Texas Electric Cooperatives and as the chairman of a national energy innovation task force charged with the mission to explore new avenues within the industry to help consumers manage and conserve electric energy effectively. Since 1999, Beavers has also been widely courted as a veteran electric cooperative spokesman and speaker because of his leadership in best practices within the industry. Before joining United in 1999, Beavers had 22 years of experience in the electric cooperative industry and served as CEO of Southwest Rural Electric Cooperative in Tipton, Okla. He also worked in positions with Cotton Electric Cooperative in Walters, Okla., and the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives.
The POWER of the SUN & WIND The Bear Den from Cub Scout Pack 620 in Burleson recently received a lesson in Energy Innovation at the cooperative’s Eastern District Office. The program included a presentation on renewable energy output from United’s wind and solar lab units, lessons on the basics of electricity and the efforts made by United operations and dispatch employees to ensure that our members have the most reliable service possible.
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United Cooperative ServiCeS P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
Convenient New Prepaid Billing Option Now Offered
”
Cooperatives have brought a sense of balance to the electric utility sector of our country, meaning that even those who do not receive electric service from cooperatives have reaped the benefits of cooperative existence. Ray Beavers is the CEO of United Cooperative Services
: go online www.united-cs.com
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UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES APRIL 2013
A new pre-paid electric service option made its official debut in March after the cooperative first tested functionality of the new process among a group of member employees, and then on a spot basis since the fall of 2012 with other members. Registered under the trademark brand of prePower, the new payment plan opens a new avenue to members who would prefer to “pay-as-they-go” by loading their account in
advance of their electric usage during a monthly billing cycle—a point-to-point retail transaction that is similar to filling up the family car when and if it needs more fuel, or when more fuel consumption is planned or expected. The plan will also offer an alternative payment solution to members who are challenged with credit issues. With prePower, participating members
–POWER TALK
RAY BEAVERS
Setting the Standard Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10 -
An exciting time in my life came when, at the age of 12, my Dad allowed me to work for another farmer after we got caught up on work around our place. All I could think about was making enough money to buy what I wanted without asking for permission. I imagined owning my own gun or buying candy when we went to town, or even purchasing a gift for my folks with my own money. Yes, I was about to be self-reliant financially. Before I set out on my bike for my first day’s work at the neighbor’s house, my dad had a talk with me that still rings in my ears. He said, “When you work for someone, it doesn’t matter how much you’re paid; what matters is putting all you got into doing a good job.
You said you would work, and now your boss is expecting to get your best.” As I look back on it, what Dad was actually telling me is that working for someone is a privilege and my responsibility was to use my talents and some sweat equity to meet the expectation my boss had for me. It soon became a habitual discipline to do my best—not only using my abilities to do what my job required (whatever that might be), but also to please God in my work. After all, He gave me my abilities and, in turn, enabled me to establish a standard I would live by for a lifetime. When I joined the cooperative program in 1977, I found that the true purpose of the cooperative model was very much in line with what I was taught as a child; to perform to the best of my abilities and to make a difference in the lives of those for which I work. Since its beginnings, the Rural
United Cooperative ServiCeS P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
avoid having to post a large security deposit to receive electric service from United, but in exchange for that waiver they must agree to service terms that require maintaining a positive account balance. Establishing a $50 minimum credit balance is required to open a prePower account. An account becomes subject to automatic service disconnection at the meter when there is a negative balance. Members select the notification method they prefer (automated telephone message, email or text message) and a predetermined level at which they wish to be alerted when a account’s reserve balance is running low.
The convenient new payment option allows members to customize their payment schedules to fit personal household budgets, to buy enough energy to last until the next payday or to pay in any dollar increment they wish, at or above a $20 minimum payment. Members can make payments to a pre-paid account at any time of the day through the cooperative’s online bill pay feature at www.united-cs.com and the co-op’s automated bill pay phone service, or they can make payments in person to a member service representative during regular business hours. PrePower accounts are not calculated
differently than conventional monthly billing accounts; there are no extra, hidden costs or fees. Rather than paying the conventional electric bill they would normally receive at the close of the month, members pay-as-they-go for the electricity they consume daily. By accessing the convenient My Account feature in United’s online bill pay section, members are also able to monitor real-time usage information for their electric account. Interested members can call or visit their nearest local cooperative office to receive more information about the new payment alternative.
Electrification Program not only brought economic growth and prosperity to rural America, it also has given people an opportunity to move outside the heavily populated areas so that they could find a way of life that was more in tune with their values and standards. Some people sought out the less-populated areas to raise their children, while others simply wanted to immerse themselves in the beauty of God’s countryside. In a sense, the cooperative program, too, has set a standard that kept electric service and its costs throughout this country in check because the cooperative business model is rate sensative versus profit motivated. This is accomplished because people working in the cooperative program do their jobs well—not only with passion, but with compassion, as well. This standard of performance is one that I see every day at United through awesome employees who take special pride in their service commitment to cooperative members and the communities within our service territory. My good friend Mike Williams, the CEO of our Texas Electric Cooperative Association, recently headed a nationwide committee to look at the cooperative program in the 21st Century. Because of his passion and strong work ethic, there couldn’t have been anyone who would have done the job any better than Mike because he’s always made it a point to see that the right things get done for the right reasons. The premise the committee worked from in that study was this: that if the cooperative
program went away, would anybody recognize it was gone. From the report that Mike and the committee produced, the answer was a resounding yes! However, I would hasten to say it should have carried one caveat. The cooperative program’s sustainability depends greatly on remembering that our only reason for existence is to use the collective talents and skills that God has given us in the fulfillment of our mission to honor the trust the membership has placed in us. In other words, when your mind and heart are in the right place, the foundations for setting standards of trust and reliability are already set. In my view, cooperatives have brought a sense of balance to the electric utility sector of our country, meaning that even those who do not receive electric service from cooperatives have reaped the benefits of cooperative existence. You see, your cooperative’s rates reflect the cost of bringing the best possible service while meeting member expectations safely and affordably. Other utilities, especially investor-owned utilities, are motivated to gain as much profit as possible to meet investors’ expectations. To me, that is the big difference. I’m not saying that investorowned utilities don’t want to please their customers; I’m just saying their purpose is simply different. Cooperatives also invest in the communities they serve; benefiting schools, fire departments, civic organizations and many other community groups. Our primary purpose and focus is on people—using the cooperative business model to make their quality of life better.
Simply put, the cooperative model paves the way for us to enhance the lives of others because we’re focused on establishing greater standards within our industry. When you get down to it, we all have been inspired though different influences to work hard and to make a difference. For me, that inspiration comes through my Lord. To do anything less, I believe, would be a disappointment to the One who made me all that I am. As you might have already noticed, I used the verse from Ecclesiastes, which has always had so much meaning to me. Ecclesiastes is considered by some to be the book from the Bible that conveys the meaning of life, and “the best way to lead a life,” as said by author Thomas Wolfe. From that lesson, we can find our path to establish standards by which we live. As you can probably tell, my Dad still talks to me even though he is in heaven, enjoying the fruits of his labor. Dad was right in so many of his teachings, because he was inspired his entire life to work hard and put others first—setting a standard that made us all so proud of him. By the standard I have set, I hope my sons will say the same about me some day.
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UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES P.O. BOX 16 • CLEBURNE, TEXAS • 817-556-4000
RATE WATCH: This comparison illustrates one of the two options Texas consumers can select at www.powertochoose.org to compare retail rates at different usage levels. The above chart, for the month of MARCH shows where United’s rate stacked up in comparison to other North Texas providers for 2,000 kWh of use.
United Cooperative Services Bylaws: Director Elections SECTION 4.02 Qualifi cations. To be eligible to become or remain a director of the Cooperative, a person: (i) must be of at least legal age required in Texas to contract and conduct business; (ii) must have been a Cooperative member in good standing for the previous twelve months; (iii) cannot be a close relative of an incumbent director, an employee, or a close relative of an employee of the Cooperative; (iv) must be receiving Cooperative Services at his primary residence located within the district he does or would represent; (v) while a director and during the three (3) years immediately prior to becoming a director cannot be employed by, control, serve as a director or offi cer of, or be fi nancially interested in a competing enterprise, a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliances, fi xtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative; (vi) cannot hold an elected public offi ce in connection with which a salary is paid, unless in the board’s determination such salary is de minimus; and (vii) cannot previously have been convicted of or have plead guilty to (a) a felony or (b) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. For purposes of these bylaws, to be "fi nancially interested" in an enterprise or business which is publicly traded, such interest must be ownership of more than 1% of the business or enterprise. No employee will be eligible to serve as a director of the Cooperative for a period of fi ve (5) years after termination of employment with the Cooperative. Nothing in this Section 4.02 shall, or shall be construed to, affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board. SECTION 4.03 “Close Relative” Defi ned. As used in these Bylaws, the term “close relative” shall be defi ned as an individual who (a) through blood, law, or marriage is a husband, wife, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, aunt or uncle of the principal or (b) resides in the same residence (collectively “close relative”). The term is intended to be broadly c onstr ued to inc lude adoption and step and half relationships. SECTION 4.04 Election. At each annual meeting of the members, directors shall be elected by secret written ballot by the members and from among those members who are natural persons. The election of a director from any particular Directorate District shall be decided by a : go online www.united-cs.com
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plurality of the members voting thereon. Drawing by lot shall resolve, where necessary, any tie vote. SECTION 4.07 Nominations and Campaigning. In the month of March, the Board shall appoint a Committee on Nominations, consisting of a number of members equal to the number of Directorate Districts of the Cooperative. Members of the Committee on Nominations shall not be current Cooperative employees, agents, offi cers, directors or known candidates for director, and shall not be close relatives (see “close relative” defi nition at Section 4.03 of the Bylaws) or members of the same household of such current employees, agents, offi cers, directors or known candidates for director. Members of the Committee on Nominations shall be selected such that each of the Cooperative’s Directorate Districts shall have representation thereon. On or before May 1, the Committee shall prepare and post at the principal offi ce of the Cooperative a list of nominations for directors to be elected, listing separately the nominee for each Directorate District. If, before the scheduled election, a nominee chosen by the Committee dies, becomes incapacitated, ceases to be qualifi ed to be a director, or declines the nomination, the Members of the Committee on Nominations may reconvene and nominate another individual. If such a nomination of another individual follows the posting of the list of nominations, the Committee shall prepare and post at the principal offi ce of the Cooperative a revised list of nominations for directors to be elected, listing separately the nominee for each Directorate District. Any one hundred (100) or more of the members of the Cooperative, acting together, may make additional nominations in writing over their signatures, listing their nominee(s) in like manner, such petition for nomination to be delivered on or before July 1, to the General Manager at the Cooperative’s headquarters in Cleburne. SECTION 4.08 Voting for Directors; Validity of Board Action. Each member shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for director for each Directorate District for which a director is to be elected. Ballots marked in violation of the foregoing restriction with respect to one or more Directorate Districts shall be invalid and shall not be counted with respect to such District or Districts. Notwithstanding the provisions contained in this Section, failure to comply with any of such provisions shall not affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken by the Board after the election of directors.