BEC Lighting the Way - Bandera Electric Cooperative
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1. the refrigerator and keep the condenser coils clean if you have an older model Read the user s manual to learn how to safely clean coils Check the door seals Make sure the refrigerator seals around the door are airtight If not replace them If you buy a new refrigerator be sure to recycle your old one Many appliance retailers will pick up and recycle your old refrigerator when you purchase a new one 24 Texas Co op Power BANDERA EC June 2015 Using energy at the right time costs your co op and you much less mr k gt Tai a lt lt n uu n oO oO lt lt a lt a a oO bea lt lt VY oO n Efficient Timing Why the time you use energy matters to your co op JUST AS YOU CAN GET A CHEAPER AIRFARE by catching a red eye flight using energy when fewer folks are pulling power out of the electric grid generally costs your co op much less That price filters down to you and your neighbors There s a certain amount of energy we all use whether we re at home or away Air conditioners refrigerators and other steady appliances make up baseload power requirements the minimum amount of power your co op needs to supply all of its members And then there are peak periods when many consumers are using lots of power at the same time such as in the morning getting ready for school and work Why Timing Matters Bandera Electric Cooperative carefully monito2. power lines always call professionals for the job instead Myth It is safe to remove the third prong from a plug Fact The third prong is a safety feature designed to reduce the risk of shock or electrocution That prong grounds the electrical current If the outlet is only fit for a two pronged plug replace the outlet with a three pronged one or even better a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet which prevents electric shocks Myth Tires insulate my car from electrical dangers Fact If a wire falls on your car while you are in it the tires do not keep you from being injured by the electricity The vehicle is the path to ground for the electrical current so while you remain in the car you are safe As soon as you step out of the car you become the path to ground and are in immediate danger If you find yourself in a situation where your car has hit a utility pole or power lines have fallen onto or near it stay in the car and warn others to stay away Wait for a utility crew to cut the power to the lines Only exit the car if it is on fire Make sure to not touch the ground and the car at the same time Jump from the car keeping your feet together and hop away from the scene always treat h downed wire l it it s energized because there sno way for yo to know by Tboking wheter itis hot or not ISTOCK COM JEFF HOCHSTRASSER BanderaElectric com 1 866 226 3372 BANDERAELECTRIC COM Putting Safety Fir
3. Co op News BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE A Touchstone Energy Cooperative KE BEC Lighting the Way MESSAGE FROM WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE METROPOLITAN Ta GAS Act of 1860 London became the first city to have designated gas lighting districts In order to establish a reference for comparing light energy in the new lighting districts the term candlepower was coined Candlepower as defined by EncyclopediaBritannica com is the light given off by a candle of pure spermaceti burning at a rate of 7 776 grams 120 grains per hour Spermaceti a natural substance found in the heads of sperm whales was once used to make high quality candles For nearly 50 years candlepower was a standard measure of luminous output for bulbs Edison also used candlepower for rating his generators However around 1910 the term was abandoned for watts as the rating system for light bulbs At that time other than electric lights there were very few electrical appliances in most homes and light sockets and other equipment were also rated in candlepower rather than watts This provided a rather simple method of comparison since the only devices anyone would generally power were 8CP or 16CP lamps If you are living in an older home that was built in the early 1900s you may have some candlepower rated sockets One way to identify these light sockets is to check for an imprint that says 50CP rather than 250W As the 1930s rolled around
4. HE BANDERA ELECTRIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION is proud to announce the inaugural board of directors that will oversee Operation Round Up The board is comprised of one member from each of BEC s nine service districts District 1 Ken Finley District 2 Cindy Harrington District 3 Curtis Kosub District 4 John Watson District 5 Mary Lou Aylesworth District 6 Betty Jo Bates District 7 Loy Ed Alanis District 8 Tanya Edwards District 9 Shirley Solis The board will be responsible for administration of the Operation Round Up program which encourages BEC members to support their local communities and neighbors The program is of BEC members for BEC members and is solely funded through member donations Operation Round Up is voluntary and members have the option to round their electric bill up to the nearest whole dollar per meter or donate a set amount BanderaElectric com For example if your monthly electric bill is 52 73 Bandera Electric will automatically round the bill total up to 53 with the additional 27 cents going to the Operation Round Up fund When members opt in to Operation Round Up they are choosing to help local families and nonprofits in the BEC service area Donations will support Community service projects Education and youth programs Environment Disaster relief Health initiatives Individuals families and nonprofit organizations may apply for the grants Once donations are in place
5. N DAY JUNE 21 gt Make sure heat producing appliances like televisions and lamps are located away from ae ier esrar They can false the temperature at the thermostat and My father gave me the greatest gift cause the air conditioner to run when it is not needed gt Plan to do hot work washing and drying clothes cooking and baking during anyone could give another person cooler morning and evening hours He believed in me Jim Valvano gt Keep your kitchen cooler by cooking in a microwave oven or grilling outdoors Energy Efficiency Resource Center HAPPY BanderaElectric com June 2015 BANDERA EC TexasCo opPower 25
6. and limiting use during peak periods BanderaElectric com 1 ISTOCK COM OXFORD 866 226 3372 BANDERAELECTRIC COM Beat the Heat at Your House ENERGY USE AND COSTS typically rise as the mercury rises but there are a number of simple economical ways to boost comfort save energy and reduce electric bills A substantial portion of total residential energy costs is spent on cooling homes You can reduce future energy costs and ready the air conditioner with a preseason cleaning and tuneup And during the cooling season clean or change filters monthly If you re purchasing a new unit check the efficiency rating or SEER The higher the SEER number the more efficient the air conditioner For greater operating efficiency install the unit in a shady area and keep it free of plant overgrowth and debris ISTOCK COM IMAGESBYBARBARA Most of the summer s heat buildup inside homes D comes through the win O W 2 f O dows Simply closing the curtains blinds and shades Having your AC inspected by a can reduce this heat gain by professional before you fire it up to 40 percent and SANG up for the summer can save you big dollars in cooling costs money and headaches in the Installing awnings or shut future A service person should ters over windows exposed check the motor blower drain to direct sunlight can i i line coils operating pressures reduce indoor heat gain by up to 70 percent Outdoor and temperatu
7. and the program is funded the board will accepting and reviewing applications Anyone wishing to donate should stop by BEC sign up online at BanderaElectric com operation roundup or call 1 866 BANDERA 226 3372 to opt in to the program All members who choose to donate will see their contributions on their next electric bill Bandera Electric Cooperative Inc 3172 Highway 16 N P O Box 667 Bandera TX 78003 1 866 226 3372 1 866 BANDERA BanderaElectric com Operating in Bandera Bexar Kendall Kerr Medina Real and Uvalde counties GENERAL MANAGER William Bill Hetherington BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael D T Edwards President Douglas R Rob Sandidge Vice President Kurt Solis Secretary Treasurer Jeremy Diller Richard Dick Earnest Lee Kneupper Jerry S Pierce Charles J Jack Wilson Jerry N Word Sr OFFICES BEC Headquarters 3172 Highway 16 N Bandera Comfort Office 739 Front St Highway 27 Comfort Leakey Office 485 W Ranch Road 337 Leakey MEMBER BENEFITS e Paperless billing e Online bill payments e Online outage map available e Get information on Twitter BanderaElectric on Facebook face book com banderaelectric or on Insta gram ourBEC e smartWATCH with budget alerts e Co op Connections card e Heat pump rebates PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS e Online bill pay e Bank draft e Automatic credit card payment e Level billing e Visa Discover a
8. cts the lighting facts label helps consumers understand what they are really purchasing The label clearly provides the lumens or brightness of the bulb the estimated operating cost for the year and the color of the light from warm yellowish to white to cool blue The DOE has more information about LED lights at lightingfacts com While BEC no longer offers replacement light bulbs we are providing our members with the energy information and options to reduce their light bill Visit waw lightingfacts conm for the Libel Aeference Guide Ail merh er ee ig ie eA L i bee Meo for oe Doe et ete Gp ot ee ee Laie Source U S Department of Energy Bandera Electric Town Hall Meetings Comfort June 25 6 p m Immanuel Lutheran Church 318 High St Utopia July 23 6 p m Sabinal Canyon Senior Center 1037 N Main St Leakey September 24 6 p m Leakey ISD Cafeteria 429 U S Hwy 83 N 18 Texas Co op Power BANDERA EC June 2015 BanderaElectric com 1 866 226 3372 BANDERAELECTRIC COM Operation Round Up ym i A H j l x An Y H The Bandera Electric Charitable Foundation board members will oversee the Operation Round Up program across the BEC service area The board members are front Secretary Treasurer Tanya Edwards Chairman Ken Finley back L R Betty Jo Bates Shirley Solis John Watson Cindy Harrington and Mary Lou Aylesworth Not pictured are Loy Ed Alanis and Curtis Kosub T
9. electric utilities had begun installing watt hour meters in homes and residential lighting was measured in watts of power rather than the amount of light Electric Engineer Steve O Bannon of Rexophone com notes that electric utilities generally recommended a 40 watt lamp for the living room and a 20 watt light for hallways Many electrical utilities provided lamps for their customers Indeed some early electrical utilities did not sell bulbs at all customers simply brought in burned out bulbs fora replacement This tradition persisted in some Texas utilities GENERAL MANAGER BILL HETHERINGTON well into the 1990s Because Lighting Facts early electric LED Product utilities generally uate 1 Output Lumens powered lights Watts only many Lumens per Watt Efficacy customers referred to their sina esate a bill as the light ines a Light chor 3013 Bright White ow with the development of light emitting an diode lights for a SS boas pics use in homes and their superior performance in energy efficiency we have come full circle With the arrival of LED lights on the market we are back to measuring the amount of light emitted rather than power to the light However instead of candlepower light is now measured in lumens To help consumers better understand the switch from watts to lumens the U S Department of Energy has developed new product labels for light bulbs Like the helpful nutrition label on food produ
10. g mixture to saucepan Cook about 2 minutes stirring constantly until mixture is thickened and smooth Remove from heat Stir in marshmallows until melted 4 Pour mixture into pie shell Press plastic wrap directly onto filling and refrigerate at least 4 hours 5 Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls Find this and more delicious recipes online at TEXASCOOPPOWER COM June 2015 BANDERAEC Texas Co op Power 23 _ ISTOCK COM STOKKETE BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Cool Down Refrigerator Costs AS WARM TEMPERATURES settle in for the summer refrigerators are set to get a workout keeping food and drinks cool for hot and thirsty friends and family members Follow these tips to reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator uses Minimize the number of times you open your refrigerator Plan accordingly so you don t have to leave the door open for prolonged periods of time An open door allows warm moist air to enter which makes the compressor work harder Set the appropriate temperature Keep your refrigerator at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit ae Keep your refrigerator s temperature set at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure the seals around the doors are airtight Place your fridge in a cool place Position the refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven a dishwasher or direct sunlight from a window Allow air circulation behind the fridge Leave a few inches between the wall and
11. nd MasterCard accepted e ECheck payment by phone or online e Cash or check payment in our offices e Payments accepted at Fidelity Express locations e Time based usage plan June 2015 BANDERAEC Texas Co op Power 19 sate De WOer JP HOn lard We Inspir ilunt Fis ind Bel somp yte Hus Awe Ad S nter Vise N Ove 42 n Cari ch Pro gt Tende erstan dtion Dc ug Pop Model 1 king Ins ion Hun 1 Camp t Papa W Mentor L Affectior less Teac rotective der Unde Jlate Dev n Doer H 20p Role Hard Wor g Inspirat Hunt Fist iond Belo Compas iate Hush re Awesor Kind Son ughter Fa i Wise Me r Love Aff ion Caring ach Prote ve Tender derstandi votion Doe dug Pop R Model To yrking Insp tion Hunt h Camp C tPapaW Mentor L Affection ass Tea stectiv er Und te P oe a Re Instead of Anotner lie ets Get Dad something Fell Really Enjoy This Father s Day let s find the perfect gift for our hardworking dads and grandpas Your Co op Connections card helps you save on presents that are perfect for outdoorsmen and gearheads do it yourselfers and tech wizards Find all the ways to save at BanderaElectric com oe ee 1 866 226 3372 BANDERAELECTRIC COM Meet the 2015 BEC Scholarship Recipients BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC is delighted to announce the winners of the 2015 BEC scholarships Again this year BEC awarded ten 2 500 college scholarships to outstanding high school seniors and college students The
12. rds yourself gt Extension cords should not be used to provide power on a long term or permanent basis Have additional outlets installed by a professional to provide power where needed Be Prepared gt Nearly two thirds of fire deaths result from fires in homes without working smoke alarms Smoke alarms should be located on every level of your home inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area gt Test smoke alarms every month Batteries should be replaced at least once a year All smoke alarms should be replaced at least every 10 years The best place fora cord that i looks like this is the trash can U S FIRE ADMINISTRATION RECIPE OF THE MONTH a ie hy tpt ae iy ISTOCK COM BHOFACK2 Chocolate Icebox Pie 2 cups milk divided use 1 cups granulated sugar 4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 7 tablespoons cornstarch 3 extra large egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup miniature marshmallows 1 prebaked 9 inch pie shell Sweetened whipped cream as desired for garnish Chocolate curls or shavings as desired for garnish 1 In a medium saucepan combine 2 cups of milk sugar cocoa and butter Bring just to a boil over medium heat 2 In amedium bowl mix together cornstarch and remaining 1 2 cup milk until cornstarch is completely dissolved Whisk in egg yolks and vanilla extract until well blended 3 Whisking constantly gradually add eg
13. res return and landscaping that includes supply lines refrigerant levels shade trees and insulating and the air filter kan foundation plants can also e reduce energy costs S pl Ts gt a i Ventilate the attic and B mer ten e check insulation Ade Installing ceiling fans is a good way to beat the heat athome quately sized vents and or an attic fan can help keep hot air from building up If your attic has less than 6 to 8 inches of insulation con sider adding more Proper attic insulation can save up to 30 percent on your cooling bill But be sure the insulation doesn t block vents or cover exhaust fans Another inexpensive way to keep cool and reduce air conditioning costs is to use ceiling and oscillating fans to create a wind chill effect The moving air makes the temperature feel cooler and allows a warmer AC thermostat setting while maintain ing comfort For each 1 degree increase in the thermostat setting cooling costs can be trimmed by about 3 percent e e eae Follow these operating tips for greater energy efficiency and reductions in air conditioning costs gt Install a timer or programmable thermostat to raise and lower the temperature automatically Leave it on a higher temperature while you re away and set it to cool AT H F R J S D AY the house half an hour before you return home gt Turn off unnecessary lights fans and television sets you re not using Don t leave computers on when not in use SU
14. rs load patterns because our price for wholesale power rises and falls depending on the type of fuel coal natural gas hydro etc generating that electricity which largely depends on the time of day when power is used For example generating baseload power with coal costs far less than starting up a natural gas peaking plant to meet peak electricity consumption on hot humid summer weekday afternoons Here s a quick look at the types of power plants and fuels used to supply electricity at various times gt Baseload These are large efficient generating stations providing enough dependable electric power at a low cost to meet the minimum level of electricity needed at any given time They run around the clock and do not start or stop quickly Power sources are typically coal hydro and large natural gas fired power plants gt Intermediate Load These plants handle sharp increases in demand filling the gap between baseload plants and peaking plants and typically use coal or natural gas gt Peak Load Though expensive and small these plants can start generating power quickly during times when electric consumption reaches its highest point Power sources are natural gas and diesel fuel Help Us Keep Your Electric Bill Affordable Bandera EC remains committed to providing you with affordable power but there are some costs we can t control As an owner of the co op you can help by keeping an eye on the clock when you use power
15. scholarship program was established in 1998 to encourage and assist in the educational pursuits of Bandera EC members their immediate family members or applicants who reside in the service area Scholarship funds may be used for the payment of tuition enrollment fees books supplies and or equipment required for courses of instruction at any accredited four year university or college junior college or TEA approved trade school Congratulations to all of our winners Daisy Avalos Gabriella Berger Comfort High School Hallmark University Tyler Buchanan Francis Jacob Herron Samantha Meyer Halley Marie Morgan Medina High School Medina High School Schreiner University Medina High School Joshua Patrick Muehlstein Cecelia Schafer Kenzie Morgan Smith Van Heye Harper High School Utopia High School Center Point High School University of Texas San Antonio BanderaElectric com June 2015 BANDERA EC Texas Co op Power 21 BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Electrical Fact and Myth Know the Difference WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTRICITY you have to know the facts They might save your life one day Here are some common electrical myths proved false Myth Once an electrical line is down it is dead Fact The electric current does not always turn off when a power line is down Even if lines do not show signs of life arcing smoking buzzing popping they can still hold a dangerous electrical current Always treat a downed wire as if it s energi
16. st This Month And throughout the year IT S JUNE AND BANDERA EC is celebrating National Safety Month Safety for our members and employees is our top priority year round and now is a good time to take an even closer look at the importance of safety This year we re focusing on electrical safety in the home Electricity is the cause of more than 140 000 fires each year resulting in more than 500 deaths 4 000 injuries and 1 6 billion in property damage according to Electrical Safety Foundation International There are many measures you can take to ensure the safety of your loved ones Use these helpful tips to safeguard your home In the Kitchen gt Ensure that all countertop appliances are located away from the sink gt Keep all appliance cords away from hot surfaces Pay particular attention to cords around toasters ovens and ranges Cords can be damaged by excess heat gt The top and the area above the cooking range should be free of combustibles such as potholders and plastic utensils Storing these items BanderaElectric com on or near the range may result in fires or burns Light the Way to Safety gt The wattage of the bulbs you use in your home should match the wattage indicated on the light fixtures Overheated fixtures can lead to a fire gt Check lamp appliance and extension cords to make sure they are in good condition not damaged or cracked Do not attempt to repair damaged co
17. zed because there is no way for you to know by looking whether it is hot or not Just stay away and keep others away Myth All power lines are insulated Fact Most power lines actually are not insulated The coating on the lines is mainly for weatherproofing and will not offer any protection from the electrical current Even if a power line is insulated its insulation can crack due to weather reducing its safety No matter the case it is never safe to touch a power line Myth There is no need to worry about power lines when digging a hole Fact Always call 811 before you dig to have a professional come to your home and locate buried public utility lines free of charge No matter the size of a digging project if you come into contact with a buried power line you could be electrocuted or seriously injured Myth It is safe to work around a power line at home as long as direct contact is not made Fact Electricity can jump or arc from a line to the P L a i nhi N j GEM P Ee i af j F J tall y i 4 aT pm 22 Texas Co op Power BANDERAEC June 2015 nearest conductor which could be you Always keep yourself and equipment at least 10 feet from power lines This goes for ladders pool skimmers pruning poles and any other equipment Always be aware of where power lines are so you do not risk electric shock If you are planning to trim trees or attempt any do it yourself project near
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