Sam Houston Electric Cooperative

COOPERATIVE LAUNCHES DISCOVERY "GET CHARGED!" PROGRAM

25 April 2008

LIVINGSTON - Sam Houston Electric Cooperative is making it easier for area schools to teach students about electricity and electric cooperatives. Through a partnership with Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives and Discovery Channel School, the Co-op is proud to launch the "Get Charged! - Electricity and You" educational campaign.

"Providing our local schools with an effective educational resource on electricity and the vital efforts rural electric co-ops put forth in bringing power to the people all across America exemplifies our commitment to community," said Keith Stapleton, Sam Houston EC's Chief Communications Officer. "By investing in our local students' education, we gain the promise of a brighter future and a stronger community."

The strength of this educational campaign is in how it streamlines the vast amounts of information on electricity - from its beginnings to its importance in today's world - into easy to digest lesson plans. "Get Charged!" was developed by teachers, scientists, science educators and other experts to meet the standards set forth by the National Academy of Science's National Science Education Standards (NSES) for students in grades K-12.

Each "Get Charged!" kit contains the following educational materials:

• Poster for classroom use
• Two Videos: "Understanding: Electricity" and "Touchstone Energy's Our Story"
• Interactive CD-ROM featuring electricity
• Lesson Plan: Get Power - The Cooperative Way
• 10-Student Activity Books
• Electricity Teachers Resource Guide
• Customizable letter to parents and schools explaining the educational program

The Cooperative is in the process of distributing the kits to middle school classrooms throughout its 10-county service area via its "Safety Crusaders Neon Leon and Lighting Liz" electrical safety program.

"Lots of kids are still in the dark about electricity," said Paul Thomas, vice president of Discovery Education. "We're delighted to partner with the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to help get kids energized about power."

KEEP YOU IDENTITY AND FINANCES SAFE FROM THIEVES

2 April 2008

Identity thieves are getting pretty crafty with how they gain access to your personal information. Recently, several Sam Houston Electric Cooperative members reported receiving phone calls from a bogus collection agent, who demands a payment be sent by check directly to the scam agency.

Sam Houston Electric DOES NOT initiate such calls. Additionally, Sam Houston EC does not use a collection agency to pursue outstanding late balances on members with active accounts. This is to ensure the privacy and safety of our members. Nor do we ask to enter member homes unless the member has specifically requested a service call such as an energy audit.

All Cooperative-initiated correspondence with active members occurs via mail and will have the Sam Houston EC logo or is printed on Co-op letterhead. Under no circumstances should an active member send a payment by mail, over the Internet or by phone to any other entity other than Sam Houston Electric Cooperative.

“Should you receive such a call, take down as much information as you can,” said Lieutenant Craig Finegan of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. “Get their name, phone number, address and any other important identifying information. That will help the Office of the Attorney General pursue an investigation into scams such as these.

“Right now, were working with the Houston district office in pursuit of this current scheme.”

Said Susie Eastepp, Member Services Supervisor: “One way to protect yourself from these predatory calls is to register your home number with the Texas and Federal Do Not Call lists. Also, if a business call seems suspicious, file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Office (www.texasattorneygeneral.gov) by going to the online site and visiting the consumer protection section.”

Sadly identity theft isn’t just a problem we hear or read about that happens to other people – we’re all at risk. Following these tips for avoiding fraud can help you avoid the frustrating situation of having to reclaim your identity and, usually, your money.

• Never give your credit card number over the phone unless you have initiated the call and trust the business you’re talking to.
• Always examine the charges on your credit card statements before paying them to be sure the charges are yours.
• Guard your Social Security number. Only give it out when necessary and to companies you trust. Your Social Security number is the key to your credit report and banking accounts. For this reason, it’s not a good idea to print it on your personal checks where anyone can have access to it.
• Photocopy both sides of everything in your wallet and place it in a secure place. This way you have the phone numbers and information necessary to cancel credit cards in the event your wallet is stolen.
• Do not mail bill payments from your home mailbox. They can be stolen from your mailbox along with your account and bank information.
• When paying bills online, be sure the site is secure. Sam Houston EC utilizes the GeoTrust System to ensure the security of our members who choose to pay online.

SUBSTATION UPGRADES IMPROVE SERVICE IN S. POLK COUNTY

24 March 2008

The new Menard substation is ready for action.

Located off F.M. 943 just northeast of the old site, the new substation began serving the needs of members the week of Feb. 25.

On Feb. 22, Sam Houston Electric Cooperative and Entergy worked together on switching orders so that Menard could be energized. Once the final checks were completed, the new substation began supplying power to south central Polk County.

Menard features three feeders and one backup feeder and there’s plenty of capacity for future growth in the area. It is a major upgrade over the old substation, which was bisected by Holly Grove Road and did not feature all the bells and whistles needed to provide the level of service Co-op members deserve.

In Goodrich, the Rich substation is undergoing substantial upgrades to accommodate growth in southwest Polk County.

The substation is gaining an additional 12,000 square feet, a new power transformer and feeder to supply a new 5,000 hp load in the area. Sam Houston EC contractor North Houston Pole Line Company has spent several weeks installing the steel poles needed to connect the new portion of the substation to the nearby 138-kV transmission line to upgrade it from radial to loop.

The new power transformer is in place as is 380 feet of new fence. The overhead structure that will house the feeders, regulators and circuit breaker and other protection devices will be constructed soon.

Then there’s the matter of setting 100 steel poles along 1.5 miles of right-of-way and across US 59 to reach the facility. Steel poles pose a particular challenge, as holes must be drilled to exact locations to attach cross arms.

According to Doug Kouba, plant engineer, the upgrades at Rich are scheduled to be completed near the end of May or early June.

DROP EXPERIMENT A HIT AT LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL

28 February 2008

If two people are on a platform 42 feet in the air, and one shoots an arrow straight out horizontally while the other person drops an arrow at the same time, which arrow hits the ground first?

Here’s a hint, gravity accelerates all objects at a constant rate of 32 feet per second per second.

Mull over it a bit before we revisit that thought in just a moment.

With an assist from Line Technician Joel Prothro, Paul McLendon’s Livingston High School physics classes got to test mathematician Galileo Galilei’s famous experiment of dropping objects of different sizes and masses. According to tradition (or myth if you prefer) Galileo dropped two cannon balls of different masses from atop of the Leaning Tower of Pisa to determine the factors that affect objects accelerating to the ground.

The location on Feb. 20 was not nearly as exotic, but the scene was just as intense as McLendon and Prothro used a Sam Houston EC bucket truck to elevate 42 feet in the air in order to conduct the experiments that have become an exciting annual event at LHS. Everything from baseballs, tennis balls, modeling clay, paper balls, sheets of paper and stuffed animals were pushed out of the nest in the name of science.

As the race to hit earth unfolded, cheers of excitement and groans of disappointment were heard every few minutes as hypotheses were confirmed or denied.

In the end, the students learned what Galileo had deduced some 500 years earlier prior to dropping the cannon balls – absent of a perfect vacuum, shape, not mass, determines how fast an object falls to the ground. The object’s shape plays a big part in how much wind resistance it encounters toward its final destination.

Galileo was proved right that fateful day – both cannon balls hit the ground at the same time.

Back to our previous question – did you figure out which arrow hit the ground first?

GARESS ASSISTS LIT LINE PROGRAM

21 February 2008

WOODVILLE – Mike Garess, an Operations Supervisor at Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s Woodville office, recently was on a panel of industry experts charged with the task of critiquing Lamar Institute of Technology’s Line Technician program.

Over the course of Feb. 20, Garess and several of his colleagues reviewed LIT’s fast growing program to ensure it stays current with industry standards.

“LIT has a program called DACUM (Developing a Curriculum), where they invite professionals to assist the school updating its curriculum every other year,” Garess said. “There’s a lot of new technology being deployed in the field and new techniques as well.

“Because we hire a lot of our field personnel from this program, we want to make sure all the students are exposed to these changes.”

Garess and the panel said the program’s overall presentation was sound.

“We probably added and tweaked less than 20 percent of the course work,” Garess said. “Most of it was just adjusting procedures, what aspects to focus on in training and some of the new things we do in the field."

KUNTZ NAMED PRESIDENT OF SAM RAYBURN G&T

3 January 2008

NACOGDOCHES – Kyle J. Kuntz, CEO and general manager for Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, was recently named board president of the Sam Rayburn G&T Electric Cooperative. Sam Rayburn G&T supplies power to three East Texas Co-ops: Sam Houston EC, Jasper-Newton EC and Houston County EC. Together, these three Co-ops serve more than 101,000 meters in 17 counties.

SAM HOUSTON EC JOINS TOUCHSTONE ENERGY® ALLIANCE

3 January 2008

Sam Houston Electric Cooperative on Jan. 1 joined the ranks of member-owned utilities across the country as a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative.

Developed in 1998,Touchstone Energy is a nationwide branding alliance that complements the local connection co-ops have with their member-owners. It also provides the resources of a vast, integrated network of cooperatives. The Touchstone Energy consortium now includes 658
co-ops in 45 states. Those cooperatives all share the Touchstone core values of integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to communities.

"Sam Houston EC has done a good job of communicating our cooperative message locally over the years,” said CEO Kyle J. Kuntz, P.E. “But we realized that the message of a single cooperative can be made even stronger.

“The resources of Touchstone Energy will allow us to communicate that message in a much more powerful way. We believe it's the best of both worlds – strong local efforts working hand in hand with Touchstone Energy to create the power of human connections."

Some of the exciting features of Touchstone Energy include local and national member communications campaigns, community outreach programs, economic development resources, energy efficiency education materials and employee engagement tools.

Touchstone Energy’s national advertising campaigns have been seen on ESPN, Lifetime, Discovery Channel, HGTV and The Weather Channel as well in national print such as Life Magazine, Time Magazine and USA Today.

Sam Houston EC will introduce various aspects to the program in the next few months. The Cooperative will also integrate the Touchstone Energy logo with its star logo. Placement and location of the Touchstone Energy logo have yet to be determined, although it will be prominent enough that members will associate the Co-op as a member of Touchstone Energy. The program will be formally introduced to members in the March issue of Texas Co-op Power magazine.

“Sam Houston EC remains locally owned and operated by its member-owners,” said Keith Stapleton, Chief Communications Officer. “Becoming a Touchstone Energy Cooperative only strengthens our commitment to our all our members to deliver reliable, affordable electricity and to be an advocate for their energy and community needs.

“We believe our local presence is one of our strongest assets, and our affiliation with Touchstone Energy will reinforce our cooperative values to our members.”

SAM HOUSTON EC 2007 ANNUAL MEETING BIGGEST YET

15 November 2007

2007 was filled with progress for Sam Houston Electric Cooperative. So, too, is the future.

A record setting crowd of 1,223 was in attendance for the Co-op’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Members at the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s Multipurpose Center. And with more than 6,000 proxy votes received, Milton Purvis, Robert C. Boyd, W.E. Miles and Thomas Lucher were each reelected to three year terms on the Board of Directors.

Although there was business to tend to, the Annual Meeting was not all work and no play. Inspectors escorted members from their cars in golf carts to the Multipurpose Center, where they were greeted with smiles and handshakes from Cooperative Line Technicians.

Once inside, members were met by friendly Member Services Representatives. The MSRs registered attendees and handed out Sam Houston EC gift bags, which included a compact fluorescent light bulb. Members then loaded up on cookies, sodas and popcorn before finding a seat in the auditorium to enjoy entertainment by the multi-talented Walter Plant. Plant is a familiar face to attendees — he’s been providing music at Sam Houston’s meetings for 19 years.

Members who sent in their proxy cards prior to the meeting were eligible to win several impressive prizes, including $500, $250 and $100 credits on their electric bills. Prior to the start of business, there were plenty of greetings and introductions to make the crowd feel at home. Chief Communications Officer Keith Stapleton kicked things off, and Sam Houston EC staff welcomed the crowd via a video greeting. As a special treat, Alabama-Coushatta Chief Oscola, Clayton Sylestine and Second Chief Colabe the Third, Clem Sylestine, were introduced. Then Public Relations Director, Sharon Miller welcomed members and guests in English and in the native Alabama-Coushatta language. Board President Truitt Thomson then called the meeting to order.

After Board Member Don Boyett’s invocation and Plant’s stirring rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” Thomson began by thanking the Cooperative employees. “It is a privilege to be a part of such an outstanding organization,” he said. He also thanked all attending members and introduced the members of the Board and management staff, as well as other Cooperative representatives who were on hand.

In his state of the Cooperative address, CEO Kyle J. Kuntz noted Sam Houston EC is in sound financial condition. While other electric utilities are still adding surcharges due to Hurricane Rita, Sam Houston EC has fully recovered from the 2005 storm — without adding surcharges. “Rita is behind us,” he said. “Recovery is complete.”

Kuntz emphasized that Sam Houston EC continues to look for ways to reduce costs for its member-owners. The Co-op returned $2 million in capital credits in September and held energy costs steady through 2007, resulting in additional savings of $1 million for members.

Sam Houston EC also spearheaded the effort to stop Entergy Texas from joining the deregulated ERCOT grid. The Public Utility Commission of Texas ruled in favor of the Cooperative in October, saving East Texas cooperative consumers at least $15 million per year in increased rates and the state ratepayers $1 billion in infrastructure costs. “I’m proud of our work with our state representatives and senators to fight Entergy’s proposal,” Kuntz said.

Kuntz also let members know that the Co-op is working to maintain reliability and is preparing for increased growth and demand by investing $17.5 million into system improvements in 2006 and continuing to strengthen the system throughout 2007.

These improvements are just the tip of the iceberg. He explained that the costs of natural gas and coal continue to increase, thus driving up the cost of generating electricity. That trend is expected to continue in 2008. In response to those increased costs, Sam Houston EC is working with its generation and transmission cooperative ETEC to develop two new 168-megawatt peaking plants to be located near Kountze and Shepherd. The Cooperative is also working with ETEC to build a new 24-megawatt hydroelectric generation facility at the Lake Livingston Dam, which will provide enough electricity to power 12,000 homes when it is completed in 2012.

As the business portion of the meeting adjourned, Stapleton made his way to the stage to announce the winners of the coveted door prizes. Co-op employees handed out televisions, DVD players, Wal-Mart gift cards and small appliances to lucky ticket holders while the eager crowd waited to hear their names called. Three members who sent in proxy cards won the exciting proxy drawing grand prizes: a 42-inch LCD HDTV, a laptop computer and a $1,000 electric bill credit.

At the end of the meeting, the members filed out of the facility — with their gift bags in hand and smiles on their faces.

THE RISKS OF COPPER THEFT OUTWEIGH THE COSTS

1 August 2007

Copper theft is bad news for Sam Houston Electric Cooperative and its members. Because the Cooperative uses copper to connect and ground its electric distribution system, stealing copper could cause lethal shock.

Adding insult to injury, copper crooks can cause power outages and create added expenses for Sam Houston EC members. In 2006, thieves caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to several Cooperative substations. Early this summer thieves broke in to one of the Cooperative’s contractor storage yards and stole several spools of copper from a locked bucket truck and stripped the metal off several poles.

While most copper thieves may get a few hundred bucks from a scrap dealer, it’s the victims that truly foot the bill. At the residential level, repairing a damaged heating and cooling system can cost thousands of dollars, an added burden in the heat of summer.

Local and state governments have taken notice. The Texas Legislature recently increased oversight of the secondary metals markets and increased penalties up to state jail felonies for certain cases of copper theft. Copper criminals are not only breaking the law, they’re endangering their lives and others.

“Electricity is always seeking ground and once a copper wire is cut, the electricity is going to take the next available path,” said Sam Houston EC Plant Engineer Bernard Henderson. “People who break into substations to steal copper and people who cut copper grounds from poles are very lucky to be alive. They could easily be electrocuted.”

Copper theft has become so common that the Houston Police Department has assigned a full-time detective to address the more than 150 cases being filed a month. Unfortunately this isn’t just a local problem. In Nevada, copper thieves pulled thousands of feet of copper utility wire, leaving entire subdivisions without lights, telephone and cable service. A Kentucky man was electrocuted in June trying to steal copper from the top of an electric distribution line. A Maryland father of nine was electrocuted in July while attempting to steal wire from a warehouse.

Stealing copper is clearly risky business. However, more and more people are willing to take a gamble on their lives just to make a quick buck. This is not a victimless crime - copper theft affects everyone. We’re all in this together, so please report copper theft to your local law enforcement agency.

SAM HOUSTON EC WINS SEVEN SPOTLIGHT AWARDS

1 June 2007

Sam Houston Electric Cooperative earned seven Spotlight on Excellence awards at the Connect 2007 Conference. Sam Houston Electric has won 41 Spotlight Awards in the last seven years, tops among the nation’s 900 co-ops.

A record 830 entries were submitted for this year’s national competition, sponsored by The Council of Rural Electric Communicators. Senior faculty members at the University of Missouri and University of Southern Mississippi judged the entries and evaluated cooperative communications for creativity, design, clarity of writing and quality of presentation.

This year, the Cooperative took home four Awards of Excellence and three Awards of Merit. Winning entries included Sam Houston EC’s advertising program, annual report and member handbook/calendar. Sam Houston EC was the winner of both an Award of Excellence and Merit in several categories. Keith Stapleton, Sam Houston EC’s Chief Communications Officer and Communications Specialist R.J. Enard were on hand at the awards luncheon May 16 in Miami, Fla.

“This competition allows us to measure our communication and education efforts against other co-ops across the nation,” Stapleton said. “Sam Houston Electric has definitely changed the way cooperatives approach communication with their members for the better.”

“Cooperative consumers are among the most educated in the utility industry. We’re proud to have played a part in raising awareness about a business model that has improved the quality of life for millions in rural America and will continue to serve its members’ best interests.”

FIVE STEPS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY

You might have a list of home improvements in mind that could make things look nicer or create ease around the house. But did you know that some home improvements (maybe even some already on your list) are money savers? Looking at home improvements from an energy-saving perspective could save you a bundle. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, there are five areas of home improvement that can really make a difference.

Weatherize and Insulate
Save up to 20 percent of your heating and cooling costs. Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter wastes money. Weather-stripping doors and windows can help eliminate this waste. It’s easy and inexpensive!

Insulating in your attic and exterior walls is also one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to save. Examine your attic. If you have less than six or seven inches of insulation you might consider adding more. Insulation is measured in R-values. In our area, R-38 is recommended for attics and R-15 for walls.

Maintain or Upgrade Appliances and Electronics
Appliances account for about 20 percent of household energy use. Keeping appliances and electronics in good working order can help them operate most efficiently. Have an expert take a look at major items such as your water heater and refrigerator. Also, be sure to keep these items clean. For example, a dirty filter on your fridge can create inefficiencies in its ability to cool.

When it is time to replace appliances and electronics, remember that a lower purchase price may actually cost you over time. When shopping for items such as a refrigerator or dishwasher, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star is the government’s rating program that indicates energy efficiency.

Improve Windows
Efficient windows can lower heating and cooling costs up to 30 percent. Though they’re a fairly large investment, windows can make a big difference in your heating and cooling costs. If your home has only single pane windows, consider replacing them with “low-e” coated windows.

If you’re not ready to replace windows, there are other things you can do. Window coverings can make a difference. Close blinds or drapes in the summer to keep the sun out and inside cool and vice versa in the winter months. Hardware stores also sell plastic film sheeting that’s designed to reflect sun and keep the house naturally cooler.

Improve Mechanical Systems
Up to half of your energy bill goes toward heating and cooling. Installing a programmable thermostat could save you as much as $100 each year. It adjusts the temperature automatically for you, accommodating for times of day when you’re home or away, as well as outside temperature fluctuations.

Water heater efficiency is also simple and effective. Invest in a water heater blanket. The $20 you spend on a blanket will quickly be recouped and will really help you save over time. Adding extra insulation to the first six feet of pipes connected to the water heater can also help.

If it comes to larger improvements such as replacing a water heater or AC unit, look for energy efficiency ratings and evaluate them based on the size of your home/usage. AC units are rated by SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating).

Landscape
You could save $100-250 per year. Smart landscaping can make a big difference on your energy usage. Plant shrubs to shade AC units and create wind barriers. Shade trees that block west sun can help keep your home cool in the afternoons and trees that lose their leaves in the fall give protection from the summer sun and permit winter sunlight to reach and warm your home.

Find these tips helpful? Learn more by visiting Sam Houston EC's Conservation section.