Co-op News BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE 2012 ANNUAL REPORT As Bandera Electric Cooperative s District 4 director and board president, I would like to begin this report by extending an invitation for you to attend BEC s 74th Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 11. The annual meeting will be held at Mansfield Park, just 2½ miles northwest of Bandera. During our annual meeting, you will have an opportunity to learn more about your Cooperative and its 2012 achievements. As Bobby Waid indicated in his April column in Texas Co-op Power, BEC will be adjusting its rates in the near future. You will have an opportunity to find out more about the purpose of this rate adjustment at this meeting. We will also provide an update on the search for a new CEO. This year s director elections at the annual meeting are a little unusual. Normally there are three directors elected in any given year. However, last May, Kerry Sweatt stepped down from the board after serving as BEC s District 6 director for 8½ years. Texas law dictates that directors selected to fill a vacancy on an electric co-op board are only allowed to serve until the next general election of directors. Therefore, in addition to the election of directors for Districts 7, 8 and 9, a director election will also be held for the District 6 position. To fill the vacancy of the District 6 director position, all members of District 6 were notified that BEC sought a new director for this district and requested that anyone interested in serving as a BEC director submit a résumé. BEC received 10 résumés from District 6 members. A Director Candidate Review Committee composed of members of District 6 reviewed all 10 résumés. This committee selected three finalist candidates for BEC s board to consider when filling the vacant director position. After interviewing the three finalist candidates, BEC s board selected Richard D. Dick Earnest to fill the unexpired term. Earnest is retired from the electric industry and also serves on the boards of the Concan Water Supply Corporation, his property owners association and the Concan Volunteer Fire Department. In December, BEC notified all members in Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 that these positions were up for election in May 2013 and, if they were interested in becoming a director candidate, they could do so by securing at least 100 valid signatures on a petition. No petitions were submitted, so all current directors are running unopposed this year. Nevertheless, we ask that you please exercise your right to vote by either attending the annual meeting, or completing and returning the ballot attached to the outside of this magazine. As mentioned previously, BEC will be adjusting its rates in the near future. Let me assure you that this was done only after significant consideration, discussion and engagement. This is being done to keep your Cooperative financially sound. Early in 2012, a rates workshop was held to provide board members with a better understanding of how rates are developed as well as various rate structures to consider. Subsequently, BEC s board developed and adopted a Rate Policy Statement that states that rates should recover costs in an equitable manner across all of the accounts we serve, eliminating rate subsidies within and between rate classes. Last fall, BEC engaged the services of a highly qualified consultant to examine its rates. This consultant evaluated BEC s financial forecasts, load forecasts, growth rate, etc. The consultant then provided BEC with several rate options to consider that would provide BEC the revenue necessary to fund operations, reach our targeted equity level and provide the funds needed to return outstanding capital credits to you, our member-owners, on a consistent, methodical basis. After considering the various rate options, BEC s board voted to implement new rates that would be aligned with the recently adopted Rate Policy Statement. Before these rates are implemented, we will provide you with formal notice of when the adjustment will take place, provide you with the means to compare your bills under the current and new rates, and hold member meetings to discuss the details of the rate adjustment. During last year s strategic planning session, the board determined that it needed to develop a policy defining the process for the review and approval of capital expenditures. This policy, which has since been adopted, requires that all capital expenditures be properly budgeted, fully justified and monitored for cost containment, and be completed in a timely manner. Again, this ensures that BEC s board is watching out for your investment. In closing, we again encourage you to attend the annual meeting on Saturday, May 11. We believe you will find the meeting very informative, and we look forward to seeing you there. DONALD R. ENDERS President banderaelectric.com May 2013 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power 19
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: OFFICIAL CANDIDATES DISTRICT 6 CANDIDATE RICHARD DICK EARNEST Appointed to the board in September 2012 (to fill a vacancy), Earnest retired from Central Power & Light (now American Electric Power) after 35 years of service. Most of his career at CP&L was in the marketing and customer services groups. He had 19 sales representatives in eight locations from Abilene to Brownsville. Earnest reported to Central & Southwest Services in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was in management for more than 25 years. He took numerous management courses at various universities during his career and later formed and managed a service company for 10 years. He also serves as a board member/officer of Concan Water Supply Corporation and the Concan VFD. DISTRICT 7 CANDIDATE CHARLES JACK WILSON Appointed to the board in 2006 (to fill a vacancy), Wilson lives near Medina Lake, southeast of Bandera. He is the former CEO and board chair of Rohmann Services, Inc., a government service contract firm in San Antonio. RSI is also the managing partner of a joint venture with another company. Wilson is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel with 14 years of prior experience as a director with East Mississippi Power Association. DISTRICT 8 CANDIDATE MICHAEL D.T. EDWARDS Appointed to the board in October 2011 (to fill a vacancy), Edwards is a retired Navy captain. He was a career intelligence officer, with 31 years of service. He has eight years of experience working with congressional committees concerning policy and resourcing issues. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor s degree in business management, Edwards now resides northwest of Boerne. DISTRICT 9 CANDIDATE KURT SOLIS Appointed to the board in October 2011 (to fill a vacancy), Solis retired as vice president of international sales and technical support for the Ruska Division of General Electric. He was directly involved in strategic planning and a member of the Management Executive Committee. He was also responsible for sales and marketing strategies. Solis is a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He lives in Comfort. 20 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC May 2013 banderaelectric.com
1-866-226-3372 BANDERAELECTRIC.COM FINANCIAL REPORT banderaelectric.com May 2013 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power 21
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FACTS AND FIGURES YOUR COOPERATIVE AT A GLANCE MEMBERS 23,435 MILES OF LINE 4,488 CONNECTED METERS 32,684 METERS PER MILE 7.28 REVENUE PER MILE $13,288 } Just how much line is that? Enough to stretch from Bandera to Alaska. The average investor-owned utility, or IOU, has 34 consumers per mile and takes in $75,498 of revenue per mile; the average municipality has 48.3 meters per mile and takes in $113,301 of revenue per mile. *As of June 2011 AVERAGE COST TO MEMBERS PER KWH (IN CENTS) How does that compare to wages and other common prices? IN 1952 Cost per kwh at BEC 2.7 cents Loaf of Bread 16 cents Postage Stamp 3 cents Gallon of Gas 25 cents Minimum Wage 75 cents/hour IN 2012 Cost per kwh at BEC 10.17 cents Loaf of bread $1.88 Postage stamp 45 cents Gallon of gas $3.91 Minimum wage $7.25/hour THE INCREASE? Cost per kwh 277 percent Loaf of bread 1,075 percent Postage stamp 1,400 percent Gallon of gas 1,464 percent Minimum wage 867 percent 22 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC May 2013 banderaelectric.com
1-866-226-3372 BANDERAELECTRIC.COM FACTS AND FIGURES AVERAGE MONTHLY KWH USE (RESIDENTIAL) SEVEN COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES As your Cooperative, Bandera Electric is different from many other businesses. We are owned by you, our Members, and use the money that you pay each month on your bill to operate. We are not-for-profit, so we are motivated to serve the interests of our Members, not those of outside investors. As a Co-op, BEC has a set of values that drives our operations and our participation within our communities. These seven principles guide cooperatives worldwide. 1. Voluntary and Open Membership 5. Education, Training and Information 2. Democratic Member Control 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives 3. Members Economic Participation 7. Concern for Community 4. Autonomy and Independence banderaelectric.com May 2013 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power 23
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FACTS AND FIGURES TOTAL KILOWATT-HOURS PURCHASED TOTAL KILOWATT-HOURS SOLD How can kilowatt-hours sold and kilowatt-hours purchased be different? Some of the kilowatt-hours purchased are lost to line loss. Line loss occurs when electricity experiences resistance as it travels over transmission and distribution lines to get to our homes and businesses. Your cooperative purchases the remaining kilowatt-hours for use in its day-to-day operations. 24 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC May 2013 banderaelectric.com
1-866-226-3372 BANDERAELECTRIC.COM FACTS AND FIGURES YOUR 2012 DOLLAR HOW IT WAS EARNED Residential 63.88% Small Commercial 13.03% Large Commercial 11.65% Other 7.21% Seasonal 3.97% Public Lighting and Irrigation 0.26% HOW IT WAS SPENT Purchased Power 61.14% Operations, Maintenance and Other 19.41% Depreciation 10.61% Interest 5.85% Margins 2.99% banderaelectric.com May 2013 BANDERA EC Texas Co-op Power 25
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE YEARS OF SERVICE NAME POSITION YEARS OF SERVICE 30 YEARS OR MORE Henry N. Schaefer........... Lineman First Class..........................38 James Robert Wagner...... Contract Coordinator........................38 Dianna M. Mazurek......... Accounting Supervisor.......................37 Marvin James Boyd......... Line Foreman................................34 Clare Jo Anderson.......... Member Relations Coordinator.............33 David L. Brice................ Line Foreman................................33 Lee Edward Pressler........ Asset Performance Coordinator.............32 Charles W. Barton.......... Mechanic.....................................32 Andy Rios..................... Line Foreman................................32 William Brad Downum..... Lineman First Class..........................31 Jesus C. Martinez........... Vegetation Mgmt. Specialist.................31 Sandra L. Craddock......... Engineering Office Technician..............30 20-29 YEARS Stacy A. Hay.................. Executive Assistant..........................29 Robert F. Rodriguez......... Line Foreman................................29 Michael Glen Satsky....... Field Service Technician III.................29 Kathryn M. Biermann..... Operations Scheduler........................28 Jimmy Oranday............ Lineman First Class..........................28 Mark A. Jebbia............. Lineman First Class..........................28 David Alan Swint........... Special Projects Manager....................27 Michael David Teich....... Technical Systems Supervisor...............27 Mark W. Busby............. Line Foreman................................27 Judith M. Whitehead...... Member Relations Representative I........26 Guadalupe Martinez....... Engineering Office Technician..............26 Kenneth A. Alf.............. Apparatus Technician II.....................22 H. Raegan Mazurek........ Financial Analyst.............................21 10-19 YEARS Lezlie M. Yurrita........... Member Relations Representative I.........18 Thomas Craig Carter...... Engineering Staking Technician.............18 Erlinda R. Escamilla....... Billing & Banking Representative...........18 Lee W. Brown............... System Operator.............................18 Dody Santos................. Work Order Inventory Analyst..............17 Rhett C. Butler.............. AMI Administrator...........................14 James R. Brown............ System Reliability Technician...............12 Thelia M. Jeffery........... Accounting Associate........................12 Donald Davis................ Lineman First Class..........................11 Andy L. Wilkerson Jr...... Field Engineering Supervisor................11 LESS THAN 10 YEARS Tammy Raab................ Billing & Banking Representative............9 David N. Ross............... System Performance Supervisor..............9 Michelle Falon Preston... Member Relations Representative I..........9 Jonathan M. Barton....... IT System Operator...........................9 Neal H. Crowell............. Engineering Staking Technician..............9 Leslie W. Kramer.......... Finance and Administration Manager.......8 NAME POSITION YEARS OF SERVICE LESS THAN 10 YEARS continued Larry E. Taylor Jr.......... Apparatus Technician II......................7 John Hernandez............ Lineman First Class...........................7 Janet Elaine Vess.......... Member Relations Representative I..........6 Deborah D. Anderson...... Member Relations Supervisor................6 Brian D. Bartos............. Manager of Engineering & Operations.......5 Jeffery Scott Hill........... Apparatus Technician II......................5 Donald C. Rambin.......... Groundskeeper................................5 Garrett M. Clark........... Lineman First Class...........................5 Arnulfo Campos............ Field Service Technician III..................5 Javier Salazar............... Lineman Second Class I.......................5 Timothy C. Landes Sr. Job Training/Safety & Loss Control Coordinator.................5 Christina P. Beard......... Administrative Supervisor....................5 Steven W. Hall.............. System Reliability Technician................5 Chris E. Wilson............. Meter Technician II...........................4 Jon Randon Williams..... Lineman Third Class II.......................4 Trisha L. Love.............. Human Resources Administrator............4 Jesse Salazar................ Lineman Second Class I.......................4 Kathleen Robertson....... Member Relations Representative I..........4 Denise R. Leyendecker.... Staff Assistant.................................4 Richard E. McDonald....... IT Supervisor..................................4 David L. Baker.............. Compliance Coordinator......................4 Sherry J. Matter........... Member Relations Representative I..........4 Jay C. Rasberry............. Lineman Second Class II......................4 Jennifer Q. Evans.......... Accountant....................................3 Peggy R. Vesper............. Program Specialist............................3 James L. Rincon............ Lineman Second Class II......................2 Cheryl L. Smith............. System Operator..............................2 Josh R. Dean................ Meter Technician I............................2 Terry Jones................. Line Superintendent..........................2 Jennifer Lynn Kelm....... Smart Grid Analyst............................1 Brandi M. Rincon.......... Key Accounts Specialist.......................1 Shawna Marie Frerich.... Billing & Banking Coordinator................1 Nathaniel T. Stanaland... System Operator Apprentice..................1 Mellissa E. Vadnais........ Member Relations Associate II...............1 William Scott Downum... Lineman Third Class II........................1 James J. Ellis III........... Engineering Staking Associate................1 LESS THAN 1 YEAR Jason W. Cox................ Lineman First Class Glenn David Kring......... System Operator Trainee Rodrigo Sifuentes.......... Asset Planning & Reliability Engineer Jason Guenther............ Engineering Staking Technician Janette Suhler Springer.. System Operator Trainee Steven Mitchell Chuoke.. Groundman I Erik Rodriguez.............. Groundman I Roderick K. Herring....... Lineman Second Class I 26 Texas Co-op Power BANDERA EC May 2013 banderaelectric.com