1935 - 2015 - VEC · Volunteer Energy Cooperative Newsletter JUN 2015 On May 29, 1935, a group of...

POWERLINES JUNE 20155 6 1

Volunteer Energy Cooperative Newsletter

JUN2015

On May 29, 1935, a group of 500 Meigs County Citizens met at the Meigs County Courthouse with the intention of bringing electric service to the county. For-profitpowercompanieshaddeclinedtotakeontheexpenseofbringingelectricity toMeigsCountyandmanyotherruralareasintheregionbecausetheyfelttheyhadto run too many miles of line to serve too few customers andcouldnotmakeaprofitontheproject.Thisgroupof500 citizens formed the Meigs County Power Association–theorganizationthatisnowknownasVolunteerEnergyCooperative. ThefirstlineswereenergizedonAugust6,1936.SincethattimeVEChasgrowntoservemorethan113,000membersinallorpartof17differentcounties. Throughallthatgrowthandthemanychangesthathaveaffectedtheelectricitydistributionindustry,somethingsremainthesame. First and foremost, as the founders expected, VEC remains a not-for-profitcooperative.Owned and operated solely for thememberswho get their electricityfromVEC, thecooperativehasnevermadeasinglepenny inprofits.Our foundersdemandedthatVECchargeonlywhatitcoststodeliverserviceandVECremainstruetothatmandateafter80years. Ourmissionstatementremains“Todeliverthebestpossibleserviceatthelowestpossible price.” VEC’sfoundersalsorequiredthattheirpowercompanydomorethanjustdeliverelectricity–theyinsistedthatVECgetinvolvedinthelocalcommunitiestheyserve.In other sections of this edition of Powerlines you’ll see articles about how VEChas sponsored high school students and young adults in leadership developmentconferenceswiththegoalofequippingyoungleaderstoservetheircommunities.VECalsosponsorscollegescholarships,4-HElectricCampScholarships, theWashingtonYouthTourforhighschooljuniors,safetydemonstrations,ProjectDeservewhichhelpsthe needywith their electric bills, and theVECustomers Share programwhich hasdonatedmorethan$5.2milliontolocalcommunityserviceorganizations. Throughout our 80 years VEC has also remained committed to employing thelatestproventechnologiesinordertoprovidesuperiorserviceinthemosteconomicalfashion.Thathaspromptedacultureofconstantlyevaluatingthetechnologywehaveatworkinourdistributionsystemandcontinuallyreviewingequipmentandsystemsthatwillimprovesystemreliabilityandhelpusoperateinthemostcost-effectivewaypossible. In next month’s issue of Powerlines I plan to introduce VEC’s latest system-widemajorimprovementplanforthenextfiveyears.Wecallit“Vision20/20”andit

includes significant technologyand equipment upgrades alldesigned to provide morereliable service and moreeffective communications. I’mlooking forward to sharing thedetailswithyou.

Volunteer EnergyCooperative Celebrates 80th Anniversary

VEC Sponsors Meigs High SchoolJuniors to Youth Leadership Summit

CainanHowardandAmberlyBurtz,bothjuniorsatMeigsCountyHighSchoolweresponsoredbyVolunteerEnergyCooperativetoattendtheTennesseeElectricCooperativeAssociation’s2015YouthLeadershipSummitMarch16-18indowntownNashville.Burtz,daughterofRichardandBobbieBurtzofDecatur,andHoward,sonofPatsyHowardofDecatur,wereamong46highschooljuniorsrepresentingthestate’s23electriccooperativeswhoattendedtheannualevent. “TheYouthLeadershipSummitrecognizesthebestandbrightestfromourelectricco-opserviceareasandteachestheseyoungambassadorsabouttheirhometowncooperativesandTennesseestategovernment,”saidToddBlocker,TECAdirectorofmemberrelations.“Localelectricco-ops,schoolofficialsandguidancecounselorschosethesedeservingstudentstoattendthesummitbasedontheirinterestsingovernmentandstrongleadershipabilities.” “AmberlyandCainanarefineexamplesofthefutureleaderswe’reraisinginourlocalcommunities,”saidVEC’sKristyKellywhochaperonedthestudents.“VECispleasedtoprovidemotivatedstudentswiththisopportunitytojointheirpeersfromacrossTennesseetolearnaboutruralelectricco-opsandexperiencethelegislativeprocessintheStateCapitol.” ThesummitbeganMondayevening,March16,atthegroup’shotel,theMillenniumMaxwellHousewithget-acquaintedactivitiesandanintroductiontocooperativesledbyelectricco-opleadersandaleadershipdevelopmentpresentationbyAmyGallimoreofFour16TrainingSolutions. Tuesdaymorning’sbreakfastincludedpresentationsledbyTECAExecutiveVicePresidentDavidCallisandDirectorofGovernmentAffairsMikeKnottsinadvanceofthegroup’svisittoLegislativePlaza.SenatorKenYagerofKingstonandRep.JohnForgetyofAthenswelcomedthestudentstoNashvilleandansweredtheirquestionsaboutlegislativeissues.The11th-gradersthentouredtheCapitolandsawstategovernmentinactionatSenateandHousecommitteemeetingsbeforeposingforphotosinfrontofthehistoricbuilding. BurtzandHowardalsometwithStateSen.MikeBellandStateRep.DanHowell. FollowingthevisittoCapitolHill,thegroupenjoyedlunchandleadershipactivitiesataNashville-areaYMCAcamp,wherethestudentswerealsotreatedtoahot-linetrailerdemonstrationbyTri-CountyElectricMembershipCorporationandSunbeltRentals.TCEMCemployeesshowedthatelectricpowerdoesatremendousamountofworkforus,butbecauseitissuchapowerfulforce,wemustbecarefulnearitandalwaysexercisesafetyaroundpowerlines.ThefuncontinuedwithatourofBridgestoneArenaandaNashvillePredatorshockeygame,andthebusydaywascappedoffbyspecialguestspeakersMissTennesseeHayleyLewisandSgt.MikeMorganoftheTennesseeexecutiveprotectiondetail. Wednesdaymorning,thestudentslearnedmoreaboutelectriccooperativesandtheirdailyoperationsthroughinteractivegames.Thentheyheardanoverviewofthehistoryofelectriccooperativesandansweredtriviaquestionsaboutelectricco-opsandthestateinthe“EnergyBattle”competition. “Thesestudentswillsoonbeourcommunityleaders—andelectric cooperative member-owners,”saidVECPresident/CEORodyBlevins“Wewantthemtoseewhatmakestheirelectriccooperative special, appreciate alltheirco-opprovidesfortheircommunitiesandunderstandwhyit was so important to form electric co-opsinthefirstplace.”

RodyBlevinsPresident/CEO

VolunteerEnergyCooperative

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Volunteer EnergyCooperative Hosts‘Electricity College’

VolunteerEnergyCooperativehostedabout140sixthgradersfromMeigsCountyMiddleSchoolonApril7for“ElectricityCollege.”Thestudentsattendedseveral“classes” on the cooperative businessmodel,electricitygenerationanddistribution,themath of electric company billing, communicationsandoutageresponse,electricalequipment,andsafety. StudentswerealsoescortedtotheirclassesbyVECvolunteerswhosharedtheirowneducationalandcareer paths. ThisisthesecondyearVEChashostedMeigsCountystudents. “Wewantedtooffersomethingthatcomplimentedtheirclassroominstructiononelectriccircuitsandmath,andalsogivethemagoodoverviewofthebusinessofelectricitydistribution,”saidVECVicePresidentofOperationsClydeJolley.“Butwealsowantedtomakesureitwassomethingthatwasgoingtobefunforthestudents.” Jolleysaidthefeedbackfromstudents,teachers,andVECvolunteersafterlastyear’seventpromptedasecondsessionthisyear. Studentsweresplitintomorningandafternoonsessions.Afteranintroduction,anoverviewofelectricitygenerationanddistribution,andabriefhistoryofVEC,studentswereseparatedintothreegroups.EachgrouprotatedtothreedifferentstationswhereVECvolunteerstaughtaboutsafetyandright-of-waymaintenance;alineman’stoolsofthetrade;andoutagemanagementsystemsandcallcenteroperations.Ateachstationstudentsreceivedanswersfortheir“finalexam”thattheyturnedintoearntheirdiplomas.

Theeventwas also a big hitwiththeVECvolunteers who participated. “Ithinkweallenjoyedtheenergyandtheenthusiasm of thestudents.Itwas contagious.” saidConnieLandrumofVEC’sMarketingandEconomicDevelopmentDepartment.

1935 - 2015

VEC’sYouthLeadershipSummitparticipantsmetwiththeirstatelawmakersinfrontofthe State Capitol Building. Pictured, fromleft, State Senator Mike Bell, CainanHoward, Amberly Burtz, Kristy Kelly, andStateRepresentativeDanHowell.

“Professor” Patty Hurley, VEC’s vice presientofMarketingandEconomicDevelopmentgavestudentsanoverviewofVECoperations.

VEC LinemanTravis Kowanetz taught students about safetyequipmentthatlinemanuseduringthecourseofatypicalday.

TheVECustomersShareprogramfunded$27,340incommunityservicegrantsinApril.SincetheinceptionoftheprograminOctober2001,morethan$5.2millioningrantshasbeenawarded.Thedeadlineforgrantapplicationsisthelastdayofeachmonth.Foradditionalinformation,contacttheofficeofMarketingandEconomicDevelopment,at423-334-7051.Applicationsarealsoavailableonline,atwww.vec.org.

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VECustomers ShareYour Change Changes Things

Organizations receiving grants in April

MidwayAthleticClub $2,500RheaCountyHighSchoolFootballBoostersforCheerleaders $1,500PickettCountySoilConservationClub $1,350RicevilleVolunteerFireDepartment $1,200FentressCountyAgriculturalFair $1,195MendedLittleHeartsoftheUpperCumberland,Cookeville $1,025CumberlandGAPMission,Jamestown $1,000CommonBondChristianWomen’sJobCorps,Cleveland $1,000Third-FifthMathClub,Crawford $1,000FriendsofthePark,SpringCity $1,000SpiritHorseTNatBlackFox,Cleveland $1,000BentonLionsClub $800MendedHeartsChapter127,Cookeville $750MeigsCounty/DecaturChamberofCommerce $700MeigsCountyLionsClub $700MeigsCountyHighSchoolBaseballBoostersClub $600StoneMemorialHighSchoolAutomotiveClub,Crossville $500HarrisonRecreation $500SnowHillRecreationLeague,Ooltewah $500HappyHeartsSeniors,Benton $500FellowshipofChristianAthletes,Crossville $500

OoltewahHighSchoolBandBooster $500HomesteadUMCFoodPantry,Crossville $500PolkCountyHighSchoolClub21 $500GrassyCoveCommunityCenter,Crossville $500BrownMiddleSchoolPTO,Harrison $500McMinnCountyFFA $500NewShepherdHillYouthGroup,Ooltewah $500StoneMemorialHighSchoolDECAMarketingClub,Crossville $500PolkCountyHighSchoolHOSA $500UpperCumberlandEntrepreneurialFoundation,Crossville $500DoubleSpringsSundownersClub $300Mrs.EmilyBilbrey’s5thGradeMathClub,Byrdstown $270CumberlandCountyHighSchoolDECA $250BurksEnvironmentalClubfor3th&4thGrade, Monterey $250BombersTravelBaseballTeam,Crossville $250HelpingHandMinistryonPeavineRoad,Crossville $250Burks7th&8thParentGroup,Monterey $250BurksElementarySchoolScienceClub,Monterey $250TheArtGuildofFairfieldGlade $250EvolutionTravelBasketballClub,Benton $200

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)Residential&OutdoorLightingFuelCostAdjustment

EffectiveMay1,2015

2.494¢For the most current FCA information, visit www.vec.org

VolunteerEnergyCooperativeisanEqualOpportunityproviderandemployer.

AnotherconstantthroughVEC’s80-yearhistoryhasbeenthedemocraticcontrolofthecooperative.SinceourinceptionVEChasbeengovernedbyaboardofdirectorsthathasbeendirectlyelectedbyourmembers.Thisboardsetspolicy,rateschedules,anddeterminesthepoliciesthatgoverntheoperationsofVEC. Thedemocraticcontrolofthecooperativethatwassoimportanttoourfoundersremains an important part of what is so different about being a member of acooperativeinsteadofacustomerofanelectriccompany.Byelectingtheirlocalboardrepresentatives,memberscanmakesuretheirvoicesareheardandtheirinterestsandconcernsarebeingaddressed. Inmanywaysconductingourbusinessexactlyaswedid80yearsagowouldbeunacceptabletotoday’selectricityconsumers.Wehavetoconstantlyadapttohowourmembersuseelectricityandhowtheywanttointeractwiththeirelectriccooperative.Butwhileweworkhardtorespondtoourmembers’ever-changingneeds,wefeellikeit’sequallyimportanttocontinuetoembracetheprinciplesthatweresoimportanttoourfounders.Acommitmenttothecommunitiesweserve,acommitmenttoprovidingthe best possible service at the lowest possible price, and a commitment to thedemocraticcontrolofyourcooperativearevaluesthatnevergooutofstyle.

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Don’t Let ThunderstormsCome as a Shock to You

As temperatures start rising, so do the chances of thunderstorms. And whenthunderstormshit, lightning canbea serious threat topersonal safety. It canalsocausepoweroutagesandcreateseriousproblemsforyourelectronicequipmentandelectric appliances. Thebestatmosphericscientists in theworldcannotdetermineexactlywhenorwherelightningwillstrike,butthereisonethingwecanbecertainof–itwillstrike.Andwhenitcomestothunderstormsandlightning,thebestdefenseistobeprepared. Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) offers Midland weather radios at all itscustomerservicecenters.TheMidlandweatherradiosofferedbyVECcanbesettomonitorseveraldifferentcountiesandprovideanalertwhenthreateningweatherisapproaching.Theyhaveabatterybackupandalsooperateonyourregularhouseholdcurrent. VECalsoofferssurgeprotectionthatcan help protect your homes electronics and appliances from electrical spikesthat often occur during thunderstormseason. For more information about Surge Guard and weather radios, visitwww.vec.org. Lightninghasbeen known to strikemorethan 10 miles from the storm in an area of clearskyabove.Sojustlookingupattheskymaynotprovideatrueindicationofwhetheror not a threat exists. It’salso important topreparea thunderstorm/poweroutagekitthatincludes:

• Canned/packagedfood • Amanualcanopener • Freshwater(bottled) • Blankets • Battery-operatedradio • Flashlight with fresh batteries • Extrabatteries

VECustomersShareBoardMemberJoyceWoods,thirdfromright,presentsaMarchgrantchecktorepresentativesofMeigsCountyMinistries.Picturedfromleftare:MaryTallent,MarleneNorbert,ClydeanLiggett,MichaelKing,Woods,SheilaYarborough,CarolPerkinson,andCarolynR.Norris.

It’salsoimportanttopreparenowbymakingsureVEChasyourcorrect phone numberonfile.Thisinsuresanoutageatyourhomecanberestoredinthemostefficientway.

During a thunderstorm: • Donottakeashowerorbath.Waterandcoppertubingareexcellent

conductorsofelectricity. • Stayawayfromwindows.Acentrallocationinthehouseinanarea

awayfromdoorsandwindowsisthesafest. • Ifyourpowergoesout,immediatelyreportittoVECandthenavoid

usingthephone.(Phonelinesmayalsoconductelectricity.) • Never touch downed power lines. Dial 911 or VEC immediately to

ensurethatthelineisturnedoffsorepairscanbemade.

During a power outage:

• ReporttheoutageimmediatelytoVEC. • Unplugmajorappliancestopreventasystemoverloadwhenpower

isrestored.Graduallyplug inandturnonappliancesafterpower isrestored.

• Avoidopeningyourrefrigeratorand/orfreezer.Theappliancewillkeepfoodfresherlongerifthedooriskeptshut.

• Usebatterypoweredflashlightsratherthancandleswheneverpossibletoavoidthethreatoffire.

Don’t let Thunderstorms Catch You Off Guard

Protect your home, your appliances, and your sensitive electronics with VEC’s new and improved Surge Guard protection system.

Call your local VEC Customer Service Center or get the details at www.vec.org.

Happy Mother’s Day