October 2015 Sam Houston EC Texas Co-Op Power 19 Sam Houston Electric Cooperative
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SAM HOUSTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Sam Houston EC Celebrates Co-op Month Membership Matters While co-ops operate in many industries and sectors of the economy, seven cooperative principles set us apart from other businesses: voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; member’s economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community. Co-ops Are Local “Today, people prefer options and alternatives to ‘big box’ businesses,” said Sam Houston Electric Cooperative Chief Communications Officer Keith Stapleton. “The co-op business model is unique and rooted in our local communities. Co-ops October is National Cooperative Month, and Sam Houston Electric Cooperative help us build a more participatory, – and all co-ops across the U.S. – are celebrating the benefits and values that sustainable, and resilient economy.” cooperatives bring to their members and communities. As your local electric Co-op, we get For the many different types of co-ops in the U.S., it’s the time of year to celebrate to be a part of this community. When what membership truly means. You could be a member of a lot of different places – a we think about membership, we think gym, a 4-H club, a food of the month club – the list goes on and on! But what makes about all of the ways we can give back being a member of a co-op different? to you, our members – and that’s what matters most to us. Electric co-ops The simple answer to that question is that when you are a member of a co-op, you are provide power for many East Texas also an owner. You own a stake in our business, and just like any stakeholder, there residents with Sam Houston EC alone are many benefits to your membership. serving more than 53,000 members. As a member of Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, you have a say in the Sam Houston EC is proud to be part representatives who are elected to serve on the Co-op’s board of directors. You have of America’s cooperative network, an opportunity to make your voice heard every year at our Annual Meeting. You get a which includes more than 47,000 say on policy issues your electric Cooperative supports or opposes. cooperative businesses, and is one of more than 900 electric cooperatives, Our bottom line is providing you with safe, reliable and affordable electricity. Sure, public utility districts and public we have to think about expenses, overhead and other aspects of daily business, but power districts serving 42 million when we have a little left over, we send it back to you. people in 47 states. Just last month, Sam Houston EC members received a total of $3.16 million in capital To learn more about the cooperative credits on their September electric bills. And returning capital credits to you is a difference, visit Sam Houston EC’s major part of why being a Co-op member matters. website at www.samhouston.net. Twitter: @SamHoustonEC • Facebook.com/SamHoustonEC October 2015 SAM HOUSTON EC Texas Co-op Power 19 SAM HOUSTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Always Learning and Improving Co-op Connections Deals Electric Cooperative Dispatch The Co-op Supervisor and 30-year Co-op veteran Connections Bob Wilson said. “I am used to doing Card is a member things a certain way, but it helped me benefit program see why our methods and practices are that delivers done the way they are.” discounts from participating businesses, both local and nationwide. Visit Wilson added that every member of the www.connections.coop for more deals. Cooperative’s dispatch department is at least halfway through the extensive Chem-Dry of Montgomery County certification process and several are 1081 Shadow Glenn Drive The seven cooperative principles exist as close to completing it. Conroe, TX 77301 a guide to provide members with high- 936-441-7766 quality service. Sam Houston Electric Sam Houston EC’s new line technicians www.chem-dry.net/montgomerycounty.tx Cooperative has held those principles at are taking advantage of courses at Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the forefront of our daily operations for Northwest Linemen College as well. All Offer: $20 discount with minimum more than 76 years. new hires are enrolled in a four-year purchase of $99. Lineman Apprenticeship Program, and And what we’ve learned in nearly eight Apprentice Line Technician Darren CNS Treasure Chest decades of serving our Cooperative Marceaux recently completed his first 12426 Hwy 105 East, Conroe , TX 77306 membership is the importance of the year courses. 936-441-2139 fifth of our seven cooperative principles: www.cnstreasurechest.org education, training and information. “I learned more technical information Hours: Wed - Sun, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s our reason for continuing to provide and things I never knew,” Marceaux Offer: 20% discount on $20 or more. education to our employees and said. “The teachers taught more about deploying the latest industry technology troubleshooting as well.” Davis Doors across our service territory. 911 CR 2276, Cleveland, TX 77327 Marceaux said in the first year of training 281-659-9072 Sam Houston EC employees attend sessions, he became more skilled at www. davisoverheaddoors.org training courses throughout the year; climbing poles, working in elevated Hours: Mon-Fri, 8-5, 24/7 emergency. some are hosted right here in Livingston positions and saving the lives of his Offer: 5% discount off labor. and other educational opportunities are fellow workers through pole-top rescue. available throughout the state and across the nation. “It’s always good to better yourself Conservation Corner [through education] in any way,” Northwest Linemen College in Denton Marceaux said. Don’t let is becoming a valuable education vampires suck center for Sam Houston EC operations Northwest Linemen College also offers the life out of training needs. a Substation Technician Certification your energy program that three Cooperative efficiency efforts Cooperative systems operators (also employees are enrolled in. The program this Halloween! known as dispatchers) are currently is available through distance-learning Unplugging pursuing System Operator Certification. training, which means employees can unused The program covers the safe operation stay in our service area and complete electronics – of elements comprising an electrical the sessions. otherwise known as “energy vampires” distribution system, and education on – can save you as much as 10 percent on the affiliated organizations and agencies “From what I have seen, it has been your electric bill. to the industry. very good so far, for our Cooperative employees,” said Sam Houston Electric For more energy saving tips for your “The course is a really great snapshot Cooperative Technology Supervisor home or business, go online and visit of all that we do,” Sam Houston Bryan Shannon. www.TogetherWeSave.com. 20 Texas Co-op Power SAM HOUSTON EC October 2015 www.samhouston.net LOCAL CO-OP NEWS Construction Underway at Hydro Facility Construction is underway at the R.C. Thomas Hydroelectric Facility on Lake Livingston. The project is named for Think former Sam Houston Electric Cooperative Director, R.C. “Joe” Thomas. East Texas Electric Cooperatives’ new hydroelectric facility is expected to open in 2018. It will Safety. generate 24 megawatts of energy, enough to power roughly 12,000 homes. Help Us Work Safely by Avoiding Distractions “Construction officially began on June [PHOTO] Contractors working on three When line technicians are working penstocks that will funnel water from the lake 22, and increased after July 4,” said Dan toward the turbines. The penstocks will each Smith from Rizzo and Associates, the to restore power, distractions can be be 12-foot-square tunnels buried underground. project engineers. dangerous. Please help us work safely by staying a safe distance away from bucket A portion of the penstocks has been excavated. The penstocks are three 12-foot- square tunnels that will move water from the lake towards the turbines. Part of the trucks, digger trucks and other service concrete that will form the bottom of the penstocks has also been poured. One of the vehicles, so line technicians can focus on most visible changes is the metal protruding from of the ground near the dam. their work. If you have any questions, you can call us directly at 1-800-458-0381. “[This metal] is being driven into the clay to prevent water from seeping into the excavation site,” said Smith. This structure, called a cofferdam, secures the excavation site and creates a safe, dry work area. After the metal is driven into the earthen dam, it will not be visible. This project was developed in cooperation with the Trinity River Authority and the City of Houston. The plant will use water that TRA would otherwise release through the dam’s spillway gates to meet water demands downstream and to maintain a constant reservoir level. Neither construction nor operation of the project will affect the amount or timing of water released into the river below the dam from the lake. SAFETY DOESn’t StOP HERE. Twenty-Eight Percent of Meters Upgraded At Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, we believe one of our most important Sam Houston Electric Cooperative contractors have roles in the community is to educate our upgraded more than 28 percent of the 70,000 meters members and neighbors about what to across the service area. Before the meter is replaced, do in order to stay safe around electric members receive a phone call from Sam Houston EC. power. Visit www.samhouston.net and Members do not have to be at home for the exchange, but an installer from Texas click on “Safety Sense.” Meter and Device will knock on each door between 8 a.m.