Co-op News
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
The Cooperative Way
BOA R D O F D IR E CTO RS
MESSAGE FROM GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO DEBRA COLE
Cooperatives believe in the benefits of a community working together. We know we’re stronger and can accomplish
more when we’re united. That’s what makes our country
great. When we cooperate with each other, pool our resources and focus on a
goal, we can do anything.
Together, through co-ops like HILCO, we build a better world.
Electric cooperatives are different from other businesses you deal with, and we’re
not alone. There are 29,200 co-ops of all kinds across America, and more than 1 billon
co-op members around the world. We all share a common set of principles and values,
including self-help and democracy.
Co-ops take many forms, from farmers banding together to get a fair price on
supplies to credit unions delivering low fees and reasonable rates. The business
model works for dairy farmers and small-business owners, financial institutions,
grocery stores and electric companies. Co-ops form to fill a community need, giving a
voice to folks that profit-driven businesses often overlook.
Electric cooperatives may only serve 12 percent of American consumers, but our
lines cover 75 percent of this great nation. By banding together, we deliver power to
42 million Americans in 47 states.
Whenever a community faces a need, a challenge to make life better, the
cooperative business model comes into play. By putting people first and innovating
to meet member needs, cooperative enterprises build a better world. Just as it did
over 75 years ago when no one else was up to the challenge, but HILCO’s founding
members—folks like you and me—took on, tackling the feat of bringing power and
hope to rural America by forming electric cooperatives. Co-ops exist to meet the
needs of our members. Period.
One key to our community’s strength lies with the opportunities our children
have to succeed. That is why we support the Rural Electric Youth Tour, local youth
activities and our scholarship programs. Making communities better and stronger
helps ensure that they will remain in their communities and continue with the
tradition of building a better life for those to follow.
HILCO also offers Operation Round Up funds provided by our members,
discounts to members through the Co-op Connections card, energy-efficiency rebate
programs and free energy audits to members. Co-ops put people first.
I am thankful for neighbors and friends who unite to meet common needs
and cooperative enterprises that build a better world. Co-ops display the spirit of
teamwork and lend help all the time, and that is what makes us different.
George Thiess, President, District 6
Joseph (Joe) Tedesco, Vice President, District 4
Janet (Jan) Smith, Secretary-Treasurer,
District 7
Leroy Huff, District 1
Margaret Hill, District 2
Bill Allen, District 5
Ron Roberts, District 3
Operating in Dallas, Ellis, Hill, Johnson
and McLennan counties
G E NE RA L M A NAG E R A N D C EO
Debra A. Cole
COOPERATIVE OFFICES
Itasca Headquarters
115 E. Main St. • P.O. Box 127
Itasca, Texas 76055
(254) 687-2331
1-800-338-6425
Midlothian
300A Silken Crossing
Midlothian, Texas 76065
(972) 723-2900
Whitney
4581 FM 933
Whitney, Texas 76692
(254) 694-5237
1-888-850-6551
CONTACT US
For information during office hours
and outages after hours:
CALL US
Happy Veterans Day
‘Honor
‘Honor to
to the
the soldier
soldier and
and sailor
sailor everywhere
everywhere who
who bravely
bravely bears
bears
this country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his
brother
brother in
in the
the field
field and
and serves
serves as
as he
he best can, the same cause.’
—Abraham Lincoln
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(254) 687-2331 local or
1-800-338-6425 toll-free
EMAIL
[email protected]
FIND US ON THE WEB
hilco.coop
hilco.coop
10/14/14 4:56 PM
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
BILLING SCHEDULE
Payments are due by close of business at
5 p.m. on the due date.
CYCLE 1
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 4
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 20
CYCLE 2
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 10
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 25
CYCLE 3
Homestead Craft and Children’s Fair
Thanksgiving weekend, November 28–30
A fun-filled, three-day festival with activities for the entire family. Craft and agricultural demonstrations, sustainable-living seminars, make-your-own craft activities,
gift shopping, food court, barn raising, horse-drawn hayrides, live music, farm animal
petting pen, annual barn-frame auction and much more. No admission fee; three-day
parking pass $10 at gate or $7 online. For directions and more information, call (254)
754-9600 or visithomesteadfair.com.
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Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 18
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 4
CYCLE 13
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 19
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 4
CYCLE 4
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 25
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 11
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10/14/14 4:56 PM
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
2014 HILCO Member Appreciation Picnic
Live music, dancing and barbecue set the stage for the
HILCO Electric Cooperative Member Appreciation
Picnic, August 28.
Members arrived at the Waxahachie Civic Center hearing the
musical stylings of The Fox Family Band, and Michna’s served
690 guests with its mouth-watering brisket and sausage with
all the fixin’s. Children and adults helped themselves to free
crayons, coloring books, pencils and electrical literature.
Members and their guests heard General
Manager/CEO Debra Cole as she welcomed the crowd and
flexed her comedic chops before turning the mic over to Director Ron Roberts to give the invocation. Director Joe Tedesco
led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and gave an update
on Rural Friends/ACRE. Board President Bill Allen took the
opportunity to speak on the benefits of Operation Round Up—
how just a few cents a month can help so many people and
organizations in need and how HILCO Electric appreciates its
members’ generosity. 4709171701
Cole provided an update on the past year and stating that
HILCO had another successful year, and the staff and employees
continue to work hard to maintain a superior level of service for
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its members. She also expressed the gratitude of directors, staff
and employees to the members for attending the picnic.
The evening ended with the highly anticipated prize drawing
conducted by Assistant General Manager–Operations Thomas
Cheek. Names were drawn for a total of 28 great prizes. Thank
you to Anna O’Neal, daughter of Jean O’Neal, and Parker Jordon, son of Melissa Jordon, for assisting with the prize drawing.
The kids did an excellent job and we appreciate their help.
Our vendors and subsidiary also deserve a big “thank you”
for their generous contributions to our big prize drawing.
HILCO US Propane donated two 50-gallon deliveries of propane; T&D Solutions donated a wonderful bike and helmet,
which has become a favorite of the youngsters; and Schneider
Engineering donated a $100 Walmart gift card.
The event is hosted each year by the HILCO Board of Directors—President Bill Allen, Vice President George Thiess,
Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Hill, Director Ron Roberts,
Director Joe Tedesco, Director Jan Smith and Director Leroy
Huff—and staff and employees to show their appreciation to the
members of HILCO Electric. We would like to thank everyone
for coming out, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!
hilco.coop
10/14/14 4:57 PM
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
Tommy Cox Retires from HILCO
Tommy Cox, “TC” to us, was our master comedian and seemed to just attract strange occurrences. Thinking back, we do not recall a day
that TC did not come to work with a smile or a
joke and full of mischief. You better keep your
guard up when he was around because you
never knew what he had in store for you.
TC has been praised many times for his good
deeds performed out in the field, including helping
members with flats, returning lost wallets, rescuing stranded animals and even assisting when
members had emergencies or deaths in their
families. It seems that helping people is what
brought TC the most joy—that and being able to successfully pull a joke over
on someone.
TC always wanted to earn his pay. On more than one occasion he would
report, “I believe I earned all my salary today, so I think I can begin ‘even’ in
the morning.” Being hyper assisted TC in getting through many of those long
days. This man has more energy than a 2-year-old who just learned to walk,
and he was going 90 mph up until quitting time on his last day after 36 years.
If we had to describe TC in a few words, it would go something like this: A
man of strong faith, devoted to his family, loyal to his friends and dedicated
to his job. TC is a man who is always willing to help someone in need even if it
might not be convenient for him at the time.
TC really was not that excited about retirement. He said: “Heck, I’ve
worked my whole life. I’m not sure I will know what to do if I retire.” We are
very certain that Mary Edith, TC’s lovely wife, will find plenty for him to do
during retirement.
Enjoy retirement, TC. It is your time to shine and take some time for yourself. Reach for the moon during retirement, and even if you don’t get that far,
you will climb to the stars. So as we bid you a goodbye from work, but never
from our hearts, put on your hat and gloves and start your “moonwalk to
retirement.”
Assistant General Manager–Operations Thomas
Cheek congratulates Tommy Cox for his years of
service.
Former HILCO co-workers helped Tommy celebrate his retirement.
Tommy shows off his “moonwalking” skills.
Tommy Cox with staff and crew from HILCO Electric Cooperative Operations and Engineering Department in 2014
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November 2014 HILCO EC Texas Co-op Power
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10/14/14 5:39 PM
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Tune Up
for Fall
With Rebates
HILCO HVAC and Heat
Pump Rebates
Leroy Huff
District 1
George Thiess
District 6
Jan Smith
District 7
HILCO Members
Elect 3 Directors
The membership of HILCO Electric Cooperative voted to re-elect
District 1, District 6 and District 7 members to the board of directors. The election results were announced at the annual business meeting September 18 at the HILCO headquarters in Itasca.
The director election was supervised by Hill County Auditor Susan Swilling,
a CPA from Hillsboro. HILCO members re-elected three board members to
serve three-year terms.
Leroy Huff was re-elected to serve a second term representing District 1.
George H. Thiess of Hillsboro ran unopposed and was re-elected to represent
District 6. Thiess has served as director for eight years.
Jan Smith ran unopposed and was re-elected to represent District 7. Smith has
served as director since 2009.
The three join Directors Bill Allen, District 5, Whitney; Margaret Hill, District
2, Midlothian; Ron Roberts, District 3, Whitney; and Joe Tedesco, District 4, Waxahachie.
After the business meeting the directors elected officers for the 2014-15 year.
Thiess will serve as board president; Tedesco will serve as vice president; and
Smith will serve as secretary-treasurer.
HILCO General Manager/CEO Debra Cole said, “We appreciate these members
accepting these immense responsibilities on behalf of our membership. We thank
them for the many long hours they devote to the board every month and for their
dedication and loyalty to the cooperative.”
All members of the HILCO board of directors are required to act in good faith
and make fair and sound business decisions. The ultimate decisions of each board
member must always be based on the best interest of the cooperative members.
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Cold weather is upon us and now is
the time to take advantage of HILCO’s
last rebates of the year during the
month of November.
Fall HVAC Tuneup
and Maintenance
HVAC tuneup and maintenance
helps keep heat pump and central
air-conditioning units operating at
top efficiency, prevents equipment
failure and extends the life of the unit.
A tuneup by a service professional can
improve unit efficiency by as much
as 20 percent. HILCO is offering up
to a $75 rebate for having a licensed
contractor perform an HVAC tuneup
during November.
High-Efficiency Heat
Pump Rebate
Heat pump unit efficiencies are
measured by the seasonal energyefficiency rating or SEER. HILCO
members who replace their existing
HVAC equipment or install an eligible
high-efficiency heat pump during
home construction may be eligible to
receive a rebate of $100-$200, based
on the heat pump’s efficiency.
Act now: Once the rebate funds are
depleted, there will be no more rebates.
Details for these rebates can be found
on HILCO’s website, hilco.coop, or by
calling Loren Odle at HILCO, (254)
687-2331 or 1-800-338-6425, ext. 1137.
hilco.coop
10/14/14 4:57 PM
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
High School Juniors and Seniors:
Win a Trip to Washington, D.C.
HILCO’s 2015 Youth Tour Contest
HILCO Electric Cooperative will sponsor two
high school students on an all-expense-paid
trip to Washington, D.C.
Any high school junior or senior in HILCO’s service
area will be eligible to enter the contest. The winners will
receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.,
June 10-19, 2015. The winners will join approximately 1,500
other electric cooperative winners from 42 states for a week
of education and fun. The students will get a firsthand look
at our government in action as they visit their congressmen
and senators. The fully chaperoned trip will include a tour
of Washington, D.C.; visits to congressmen on Capitol Hill;
and visits to national landmarks, monuments, museums and
many other historic points of interests.
It’s the trip of a lifetime!
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Youth Tour Contest Rules
Student must:
a Be successfully completing his or her junior or senior year
in May 2015 and live in and attend school in HILCO’s service area.
a Complete the HILCO Electric Cooperative Youth Tour
application.
a Submit an essay of approximately 500 words on the subject: “What it means to be an American.”
a Submit application and essay in person at 115 E. Main St.,
Itasca, or by mail to HILCO Electric Cooperative, ATTN:
Kendra Markwardt, P.O. Box 127, Itasca, TX 76055.
Essay and application deadline is January 10, 2015.
November 2014 HILCO EC Texas Co-op Power
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10/14/14 4:57 PM
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Keep Your Holidays Cool
It’s hard enough to keep your cool when you’ve got a house full of company to
entertain—much less while you’re slaving over a hot stove all day. Here are a
few tips to keep your cool, at least in the kitchen:
1. GET UP A LITTLE EARLIER. The house and the outdoor temperature usually
are cooler in the morning than in the afternoon. The more cooking and baking
you can do before noon, the more comfortable you’ll feel physically.
2. OPEN THE WINDOWS. That will keep the air circulating, which will keep the
kitchen cooler and help odors leave the house. For strong odors, turn on the vent
over your stove—but make sure you turn it off once the odor subsides. Vent and
exhaust fans suck heated air out of the house and waste it.
3. TURN THE OVEN OFF. Baking heats up the kitchen like nothing else. And
stagger baking times. Bake the pies in the early morning and then give the oven a
break for a few hours before putting the turkey in.
4. WORK AHEAD. Choose side dishes and desserts that you can start making a
little at a time during the week before Thanksgiving, and then freeze them until
the big day. That will make lighter work of Thanksgiving, keep your kitchen
cooler and allow the chef to enjoy the holiday a bit more.
5. INVEST IN A PRESSURE COOKER. It’s one of the fastest ways to cook food.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
TE XAS BE E F COU N CIL
Texas-Style
Chili
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 pounds sirloin steak, cut into
half-inch cubes
1 can tomatoes (28 ounces), undrained
1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
1 can chopped green chiles (4 ounces)
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2½ teaspoons salt
6 whole cloves
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
a In a Dutch oven, heat vegetable
Use slow cookers to keep the heat out of your kitchen this holiday season.
6. DUST OFF YOUR CROCK-POT. Slow cookers don’t produce much heat. If
you’re making chili, stew or meat for a pre- or post-Thanksgiving meal, throw in
the ingredients and let the Crock-Pot do all the work for you.
7. PUT YOUR OTHER ELECTRIC COOKING APPLIANCES TO WORK. An electric frying pan or grill cooks up side dishes and main courses quickly, which means they
create heat for only short spurts.
8. IF YOU’RE REPLACING YOUR STOVE ANYWAY, INVEST IN AN INDUCTION COOKTOP. Its burners are so powerful and efficient that they cook your food with less
heat, in less time.
9. SERVE SOME COLD DISHES. Fruit cups and side salads don’t require any cooking.
10. TURN EVERYTHING OFF WHEN YOU’RE NOT USING IT. Don’t leave the oven on after
the pies are done just because you might be baking cookies in a couple of hours. Turn
off anything that creates heat when it’s not in use—including the lights.
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oil over medium-high heat. Add
onions and garlic and sauté until
onions are tender, about 5 minutes,
stirring occasionally.
a Add cubed beef and cook until no
longer pink.
a Add tomatoes, tomato paste, chiles,
chili powder, cumin, salt, cloves
and cayenne.
a Reduce heat to low. Simmer covered for about 2 hours, stirring
occasionally.
Find this and more delicious recipes online at
TEXASCOOPPOWER.COM
hilco.coop
10/14/14 4:57 PM
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
Getting Power to You in 3 Stages
Electricity: It takes a lot to create—and once it’s made, it takes quite a journey to arrive at your home. When you trace the route of this life-changing
resource, you can really understand the power of what HILCO Electric Cooperative delivers to you.
Generation
Generation is the process of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, or
electricity. Generation facilities are the first link in the chain of providing electricity
to consumers. There are about 3,200 electric utilities throughout the United States,
but only about 700 of them operate facilities that generate electric power, and only
65 of those are cooperatives.
Once electricity is generated, it needs to be transported via high-voltage transmission lines. Some companies provide both generation and transmission functions;
these are called G&Ts. G&T cooperatives are often referred to as “power supply cooperatives.” These are owned by the distribution cooperatives to which they supply
wholesale power.
Co-ops account for approximately 5 percent of total utility generation and 10 percent of utility sales to end-use consumers each year.
To save energy this month, try lowering your water-heating costs. Water
heating accounts for 14 to 25 percent
of the energy your home consumes.
Turn the water heater’s temperature
to the “warm” setting, around 120
degrees Fahrenheit. This will save
energy—and help you save on your
monthly bill.
Win a $50
Bill Credit!
As you’re reading your Texas
Co-op Power, look for the “hidden” account
number in the
local HILCO
pages in the
center of the
magazine.
If it’s YOUR
electric
account number, call us before
the end of November—you have
won a $50 credit on your HILCO
electric bill!
LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERA
TIVE EDITION
Cowboy Photog
rapher
Seafood Switch
NOVEMBE R 2014
Browsing in
Brady
CH RISTMAS
Transmission
Transmission is the process of carrying high voltages of electricity from generation
facilities over long distances.
Many counties in the United States are served by a single utility, but some parts
of the country have more than 10 electric utilities operating in a county. To move
electricity among utilities, an extensive system of high-voltage transmission lines is
operated by the nation’s larger utilities. This transmission network permits electricity trading between utilities.
Without transmission facilities, electricity could not be moved from power plants
to the thousands of distribution systems that serve millions of consumers of electric
power.
Distribution
Distribution is the process of carrying electricity from transmission substations to
homes and businesses.
Many electric utilities are exclusively distribution utilities—that is, they purchase
wholesale power from others to distribute it, over their own distribution lines, to the
consumer. For example, HILCO EC is a distribution cooperative that maintains the
lines and equipment necessary to distribute the electricity arriving from transmission lines in our service area to you, our consumer-members.
hilco.coop
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BIRD
COUNT
Annual event
offers countl aids wildlife,
ess thrills
(254) 687-2331
or
1-800-338-6425
November 2014 HILCO EC Texas Co-op Power
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