Co-op News
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Be Yourself
BOA R D O F D IR E CTO RS
MESSAGE FROM
GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO DEBRA COLE
ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF ADVICE any of us will ever hear is to fig-
ure out who we really are and then make the most of it.
Good advice, indeed, but not always easy to follow. Let’s say you’re a basketballobsessed teenager desperately longing to be the local high school phenom who can
sail through the air from the free throw line and dunk with rim-rattling authority.
Unfortunately, you happen to be height-challenged. It may take you awhile to accept
the fact that life may hold other possibilities and that you have your own unique talents to perfect.
Or let’s say you’re the local electric co-op who for over 75 years has been providing
your area good, reliable service; nothing fancy, just taking care of your memberconsumers, being a good corporate citizen, providing products and services your
customers request. You wake up one morning to discover that maybe that’s not
enough. Lawmakers have at last hammered out a restructuring scheme for your
industry, and competition is riding in to town. Competition means big national companies with millions to spend on feel-good TV spots promising lower rates and new
services. The big boys are going to blow you out of the water. How can you possibly
compete?
And then you remember the sage advice: Be yourself. Offer your customers what
your big and brash competitors can’t offer: employees who know member-consumers
by name and face and are happy to serve them; a co-op that continues to play a vital
role in the community, whether it’s support for local economic development efforts
or lighting the local Little League field; a proud tradition of safe, reliable service and
member-consumers with a voice in how they secure one of the necessities of life. You
don’t need to compete with a big company on its own terms, because a big company
can’t match the advantages you’ve been perfecting for seven decades.
Being yourself doesn’t mean resting on your laurels, of course. You’ll still be working hard to meet the challenges of fast-paced change in your industry. You’ll still offer
the best possible price and the most responsive customer service you possibly can.
And you’ll still be working to make sure that your community and its citizens are
thriving and prospering. That’s the co-op way of doing business, and as your competitors are going to find, it’s pretty hard to beat.
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 R A L M A NAG E R A ND CE O
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:
Happy
Presidents
Day
CALL US
(254) 687-2331 local or
1-800-338-6425 toll-free
EMAIL
Monday,
February 16
[email protected]
FIND US ON THE WEB
hilco.coop
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Texas Co-op Power HILCO EC February 2015
hilco.coop
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
Time To Upgrade Electric Service?
FEBRUARY
IF YOUR LIGHTS FLICKER, circuits blow or lights go out when you plug in electronics or appliances, your home may need an electric service upgrade. Electric service
upgrades can be expensive and complicated.
However, the alternative is an unstable electrical system that can cause shocks and fires.
You should consider getting your electric
service upgraded if the following applies
to you:
a You recently remodeled or added a
room.
a You have new large appliances, such as
a hot tub, water heater or air conditioner.
a You plan on charging an electric vehicle.
a Circuits trip, lights flicker or electronics
turn off when you run several devices at the
same time.
a You live in an older home. Older homes
were not designed to accommodate today’s electronics and appliances, so you may
need upgraded electric service to power your home properly.
If these apply to you, the first step is consulting a qualified electrician. An electrician will be able to tell you if you need a service upgrade or if your electric service
has another issue. Consult several electricians to get different opinions. Ask for references, and make your final decision on an electrician based on qualifications and
trust—not just price.
To learn more about the electricity in your home and staying safe, visit
SafeElectricity.org.
February 5
SAVE THE DATE
HILCO ELECTRIC MEMBER APPRECIATION
SOUTHERN PICNIC
March 26, 2015
J MICHNA’S BAR-B-QUE
J PRIZES
J LIVE MUSIC
Look for your reservation card in the March issue of Texas Co-op Power.
hilco.coop
Bulletin
Whitney Chamber of Commerce,
Chamber Awards Banquet
February 14
Valentine’s Day
Share the Love Gala
© ISTOCK.COM | LP KOE
6-10 p.m., Waxahachie Civic Center. Tickets
online at casaofelliscounty.org or contact
Kim Garlitz at (972) 937-1455.
February 16
Presidents Day
February 18
Ash Wednesday
February 26
Hill County Day in Austin
For more information, call
1-800-HILLSBORO or (254) 582-2481.
BILLING SCHEDULE
Payments are due by close of business at
5 p.m. on the due date.
CYCLE 1
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 3
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 19
CYCLE 2
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 10
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 26
CYCLE 3
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 17
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 5
CYCLE 13
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 18
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 5
CYCLE 4
Billing Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 24
Due Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 12
Co-op Power
February 2015 HILCO EC Texas

19
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Make Your Home
More Sustainable
ADDING ENERGY-EFFICIENT FEATURES is among the most popular remodeling projects
undertaken by homeowners.
In its latest Home Design Trends Survey, the American Institute of Architects
identified eight environmentally friendly features that are most popular with homeowners. Here’s how you can incorporate them into your home the next time you want
to spruce it up:
1. Replace your old incandescent lightbulbs—in fixtures on ceilings, walls and in
table lamps—with LED lights. If you replace the whole fixture, often the lights are
integrated, so you might never have to change a bulb again.
2. Install a programmable thermostat, and program it so it lowers the heat (or turns
up the AC) when you leave for work or go to sleep, then moves the temperature back
to normal for times when the family is awake and at home.
3. Choose new products that are low maintenance. You’ll use less electricity, water
and cleaning chemicals if surfaces like countertops, floors and patios are easy to
sweep up or sponge off. You’ll save paint and time if you choose composite products
with a factory finish that never requires painting.
4. Invest in energy efficiency. Wasting electricity isn’t the right thing to do for the
environment, your family or your pocketbook. Energy-efficient kitchen appliances,
double-pane windows and high-efficiency heating and air-conditioning equipment
can help you make the difference you want to make in the world. 76805001
5. Try a tankless water heater. Not only does this kind of electric water heater use
less energy, but it also delivers hot water the moment you turn on the spigot.
6. Buy Energy Star appliances when it’s time to replace your old ones. Besides using
less energy and lowering your electric bill, these newer appliances often come with
many advanced features that your old ones didn’t have.
7. Save water. The Environmental Protection Agency has a WaterSense rating for
plumbing fixtures, including faucets, showerheads and toilets, that indicates which ones
use the least water. Water shortage is a concern worldwide; do your part to conserve it.
8. Reuse household materials and products instead of throwing them away. Or
donate them to an organization such as Habitat for Humanity, which can sell your
used appliances and fixtures for money to help build homes for deserving families.
© ISTOCK.COM | S E RE N E THOS
Power Tip
Did you know that 90 percent of the
energy used to operate a washing
machine comes from using hot water?
A simple switch from hot to cold
can save a great deal of energy. Also,
consider air-drying to save even more
household energy.
Win a $50
Bill Credit!
LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERAT
IVE EDITION
Eccentric Artist
Bob Wade
All Things Chocol
As you’re reading
your Texas Co-op
LAY
Power, look for the
LANDSCAPE
“hidden” account
number in the local
HILCO pages in the
center of the magazine. If it’s
YOUR electric account number,
call us before February 28—you
have won a $50 credit on your
HILCO electric bill!
ate
FEBRUARY 2015
Nacogdoches
of the
EXPERIENCE
the best
of TEXAS OUTDO
ORS
One of the simplest ways to spend less and make your home more energy efficient is by replacing
old lightbulbs with CFLs or LEDs.
20
Texas Co-op Power HILCO EC February 2015
© ISTOCK.CO M | CHON ESS
(254) 687-2331
or
1-800-338-6425
hilco.coop
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
Application deadline is April 15.
Do you aspire to go to college?
If you’re a high school senior with the strong desire to attend college,
HILCO Electric can help. Every year, we award scholarships
to young men and women to help make their dreams a reality.
Who can apply?
Any graduating high school senior who is a dependent of a HILCO Electric member
and meets the eligibility requirements listed on the application.
How to apply
Visit hilco.coop and download the application.
For more information on the HILCO Electric Scholarship for Excellence,
contact Kendra Markwardt at (254) 687-2331, ext. 1145.
hilco.coop
Co-op Power
February 2015 HILCO EC Texas

21
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
HILCO Board Honors Employees
THE HILCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS HONORED EMPLOYEES of HILCO Electric and HILCO
United Services at its annual awards ceremony and Christmas dinner, December 12.
Awards were presented to employees for years of service and loyalty to the cooperative.
General Manager/CEO Debra Cole hosted the evening’s activities and welcomed
board members, current and retired HILCO employees and special guests, including members of the Operation Round Up Trust Board and representatives from KBS
Electrical Distributors. She ended the evening by saying, “I am so proud of the staff
at HILCO, and I believe they are a perfect example of Mattie Stepanek’s quote: ‘Unity
is strength … where there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be
achieved.’ Thanks to all for serving the HILCO members, and congratulations to the
ones who achieved a milestone in their service.”
HILCO Director Bill Allen received a 10-year award
for service to the cooperative. Allen represents
District 5 in the Whitney area on the HILCO board.
Five-year awards were presented to, from left, Michael Grisham, Clayton Thompson, Lance Henkelman,
Board Secretary/Treasurer Jan Smith, Shane Edwards and Victor Canales.
Trust Board Member
Martha Strona also
received an award for
10 years of service to the
HILCO Trust Board but
was not available for the
award photo.
Mark Fehnel received an award for 21 years of service to the cooperative.
Receiving awards for 10 years of service were, from left, Danny
Smith, Dana Edwards and Tommy Bradley.
Chris Thomson received an award for 25 years
of service and General Manager/CEO Debra Cole
received a 30-year award.
Completing 15 years of service were, from left, Gena Brooks, John Prescott, Darrell Sulak, Ruth Infante and
Felicia Guy.
22
Texas Co-op Power HILCO EC February 2015
hilco.coop
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
RICK PATRICK
© ISTOCK.COM | BRYN GE LZON
Cajun Cornbread
Casserole
Ice Isn’t Always Nice
Although much of the state is unaccustomed to snow and ice,
temperatures can fall below freezing even in South Texas.
Snow and ice snap tree branches and cause electric lines to sag.
To make our families safe and comfortable during a winter power outage:
a Report any outages.
a Turn off electrical appliances that were operating at the time the power went off,
including your heating system. Leave one light on so you’ll know when service has
been restored.
a Keep warm by closing off rooms you don’t need and use only safe sources of heat,
such as a wood stove. Do not burn charcoal indoors—it releases carbon monoxide,
which is deadly. If you operate lanterns or fuel-fired cookstoves or heaters, make
sure that you have adequate ventilation to keep harmful fumes from accumulating.
a Don’t drive unless absolutely necessary until road conditions improve. If you must
drive, go slowly and lightly pump your brakes to stop.
a Be extra careful not to slip on treacherous ice.
HILCO Electric Cooperative encourages you to stay safe this winter.
hilco.coop
2 packages yellow cornbread mix
(plus ingredients as directed on
package)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
1 pound frozen crawfish tails or
1 pound shrimp, cooked, peeled and
deveined
1/2 cup milk
1 can (11 ounces) cream-style corn
2 eggs
1 jar pimientos
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1. Bake cornbread as directed. Allow
to cool, then crumble into a large
mixing bowl.
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan.
Add onion, celery and bell pepper
and sauté until soft. Add crawfish
tails or shrimp and cook for about
5 minutes, stirring often. Add milk
and cream-style corn and stir until
mixture is blended.
3. Add to cornbread along with eggs,
pimientos and cheese. Mix well and
season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Transfer to a baking dish and
bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Find this and more delicious recipes online at
TEXASCOOPPOWER.COM
Co-op Power
February 2015 HILCO EC Texas

23
HILCO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
New Technologies Make the
Electric Grid Faster, Better, Smarter
YOU MIGHT NOT NOTICE WHEN YOU PLUG IN YOUR TOASTER
or your iron, but the nation’s electric grid is undergoing a
revolution—a digital revolution. Recent advances in technology are transforming how we make and move electricity, and
over time, these changes will greatly improve the efficiency
and reliability of electric power.
Rural electric co-ops have been helping lay the groundwork
for this transformation with a $68 million “smart grid” research
project funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy. A
group of 23 co-ops in 12 states deployed an array of new technologies and installed more than 270,000 pieces of equipment.
Four years later, we have a better understanding of how we
can move forward to modernize our electric system. Despite
the relatively small size of most electric co-ops, we are adopting these new technologies at a faster rate than the larger
utilities—in part because we stand to gain more.
Serving rural areas brings special challenges. Co-op service
territories cover 75 percent of the nation’s landmass, and co-ops
serve some of the country’s most rugged and remote regions.
New automation software, however, can minimize these difficulties by enabling the utility to manage parts of the system
remotely, saving the co-op—and its members—a lot of money.
Here are some of the benefits these upgrades will offer our
member-consumers:
Reliability. New digital meters can send information about
outages back to the co-op’s operations center. Armed with this
information, linemen don’t have to spend nearly as much
time looking for the cause of an outage, which decreases restoration times.
In addition, new “smart feeder switching” can enable co-ops
to reroute power during certain outages, thereby minimizing
the number of members who lose power.
Efficiency. Digital meters can provide consumers with new
data about their energy use. Consumers have discovered broken appliances, safety hazards and other problems using data
supplied by their meters. More frequently, however, the data
gives consumers a better idea of how they are using electricity—and how they can change their habits to lower their bills.
Digital meters can send electric use data to the co-op, eliminating the need for meter reading, which saves money. In the
case of co-ops that estimate use or have their members report
their own use, digital meters will improve consistency and
accuracy in billing. New technologies can also help the co-op
reduce the amount of electricity lost in transmission.
In the longer term, smart grid technology will change how we
use electricity. Armed with more information, consumers will
have more control. They will be able to generate and store their
own electricity, while using that electricity more efficiently.
So in the future, when you use your smartphone to see if
you remembered to turn off your oven, remember that your
electric co-op helped bring about the revolution that made
that feat possible.
I STOCK.COM | MN PH OTOGRAP HY
Electric cooperatives serve the country’s most rugged and remote regions. New automation software can ease related difficulties by enabling
co-ops to manage parts of the system remotely—which saves co-op members money.
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Texas Co-op Power HILCO EC February 2015
hilco.coop
1-800-338-6425 | (254) 687-2331 | HILCO.COOP
FACES OF HILCO
Meet the People Who Work for You
Greg Sewell has devoted 26 years of hard work and dedication to HILCO Electric. Greg began his career as
a meter reader and groundman in 1988. Today, Greg is the special equipment coordinator in the HILCO
Operation Department. When asked what he enjoys most about his job, Greg replied: “Working with and
assisting the linemen in the field with HILCO’s SCADA system.”
Away from work, Greg enjoys spending time with his wife, Shanah, and their four children, Hanah,
Mason, Gavin and Chloe. The kids are all actively involved in sports and school activities, which keep Greg
and Shanah busy.
Don Sanderlin has been committed to providing the best service possible to HILCO members since 1991. Don
began his career at HILCO as a groundman 23 years ago. Don spends most of his time clearing rights-of-way
and overseeing brush crews. Don still works as a lineman on call and can always be relied upon when needed
during an outage.
On days when Don is not working, he enjoys teaching God’s word, woodworking, camping, gardening and
spending time with his wife, Tania, and their children and two grandchildren.
Cathy Farquhar has delivered exceptional customer service to members for more than 18 years. Cathy began
working at HILCO as a part-time member service representative and was later transfered to the Billing
Department, where she currently holds the title as an assistant AR billing coordinator. Efficient organization and attention to detail are vital to her daily operations, and Cathy excels at both. Cathy enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with her nieces and nephews. Cathy and her husband, Danny, have pets that they recognize as their own “kids.”
Chris Thomson has provided dedication to fellow employees and the members of HILCO Electric since
1989. Chris began working for HILCO as a brush cutter and soon began reading meters. Chris is a first
class lineman and also assists with locating line and occasionally helps with special equipment.
During his free time, Chris and his wife, Sally, enjoy raising border collies, which they train and show in
trials. They also raise meat goats and sheep. Chris and Sally have been married 31 years and love spending
time with their daughter, Jennifer, and son, Kyle.
Danny Christian joined the HILCO Electric family more than 29 years ago and serves as the engineering
technical coordinator. Danny is fully dedicated to his job and says he enjoys everything about his position,
especially the challenging and complicated tasks.
When away from the co-op, Danny and his wife of more than 25 years, Tammy, love to cook, take road
trips and volunteer in their community.
hilco.coop
Co-op Power
February 2015 HILCO EC Texas