NEC Retail Electricity March 2015 Newsletter

www.necretail.com20 Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail March 2015

MEMBER CONNECTIONS855-NEC-RD4U | necretail.com Powered by People

MEMBER CONNECTIONS855-NEC-RD4U | necretail.com Powered by People

John L. Sims, NEC CEO

It seems like there’s a designated day or week for everything. We honor administrative assistants on a particular day, bosses on another. Other ideas, like customer service, are important enough to merit an entire week. Although we think National Customer Service Week is a fine idea, we don’t need it: We celebrate customer service every day of every year. It’s that important to us.

Designated week or not, we at NEC Retail pride ourselves on our customer service all the time. From our receptionist at the front door to each call center representative, we make every attempt to ensure that you have a positive experience with your electric co-op.

To us, customer service encompasses all we do. It certainly begins with a cheerful face when you stop by our office, and a friendly voice when you call on the phone. It continues with the folks who ensure quality service to your business.

Customer service also includes the programs and services we offer our members, such as alternate payment plans and bill-ing options. If you want tips on how to make your home more energy efficient, or if you’ve heard about renewable energy

options and need more information, give us a call. Our employ-ees spend time at area schools educating students about electrical safety. We grant more than $125,000 back to the community through easy to access Nueces Charities Grants.

We also have an obligation to our members to direct them to the right place for the quickest response when their power goes out. We wish we could just flip a switch and turn those lights right back on. But please know, the portion of your bill that goes to your power line company to maintain your lines, also goes to ensuring our members are taken care of with the best service they can give you as well. This is a commitment each one of us takes very seriously.

The next time you’re in one of our offices or on the phone with one of our employees, please let us know if you’re happy with the customer service you receive. We want to offer you the best service we can.

Here at NEC Retail we are proud of our relationship with our member-owners. Cooperatives are all about working together, and we try to uphold that philosophy as we work for you.

Our Greatest Value

PresidentBrian Menking, Alice

Vice PresidentBill Hartman, Orange Grove

Secretary-TreasurerDavid Rosse, Kingsville

Assistant SecretaryTommy Ermis, Agua Dulce

DirectorsGladys Lippincott, RetailMaxine Stewart, FreerJohnny Alvarado, RicardoDonald W. Herrmann, RobstownGregg Truesdale, RobstownRumaldo Z. Juarez, Calallen

Chief Executive OfficerJohn L. Sims

Chief Financial OfficerRobbie Sorrell

Chief Operating OfficerVarzavand Irani

Chief Compliance OfficerSarah Fisher

Manager, Retail DivisionFrank Wilson

Line SuperintendentManuel Mayorga

Manager, Safety, Environmental& Job Training ServicesCassy Hill

Director of Information TechnologySergey Seryogin

Nueces Electric Cooperative Leadership

www.necretail.com NEC Retail March 2015 Texas Co-op Power 21

www.necretail.com 1.855.NEC.RD4U


From: Website Contact Us FormSent: Thursday, January 22, 2015 11:19 AMTo [email protected]: NEW Contact Us form submission on NEC Retail.com Name JAMES BROOKS Type of Inquiry Payments, Billing & Credits

Comment: I just received my electric bill for December 11 thru January 14. I was surprised to find that it was by far the highest bill ($163)since I started with NEC back in February of last year. My previous experience has been that the summer months were always considerably higher than any of the winter months. My highest bill so far was July at $149, then it began tapering off to only $103 last month.

Can you explain why my usage would have gone from 21 kwh per day in October and November to a yearly high of 34.97 last month?? Was this consistent with your other members?

From: NecRetail Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 11:20 AMTo: Danny BrooksSubject: NEC RETAIL: Bill Inquiry

Mr. Brooks,In review of your most current bill, I pulled your daily usage from the www.smartmetertexas.com website for the service period 12/11/2014 through 1/14/2015 (see attachment). It shows increased daily usage 12/24/2014 & 12/25/2014 (holidays) and then became consistently higher 12/29/2014 through 1/10/2015. I checked the temperature in the Corpus Christi area for that service period and found this was the period of time that temperatures dipped down into the 30’s. Most customers that experience increased usage in the winter months is due to their heating, as heating uses more electricity than air conditioning. Suggested temperature settings for energy efficiency on your thermostat during the winter is 68 during the day and 55 degrees at night.

Also check your hot water heater temperature, suggested tem-perature for everyday use is 140 degrees. If the hot water heater

is not in a temperature-controlled environment (i.e. garage or attic), then it will also be affected by the temperatures outside. In these cases, it is advised to insulate the hot water tank. See http://energy.gov/energysaver/projects/savings-project-insulate-your-water-heater-tank. If you would like to monitor your usage on this meter and/or check the usage on this meter, you may do so by registering at www.smartmetertexas.com. You will need your ESI ID# and your meter #, both of which are located on your NEC Retail electric bill. Also attached is some brochures for energy saving during the winter. I this is useful information for you, if you should have any questions, please let us know we would be happy to assist you.

Sincerely, Customer Service & Billing Department

From: Danny Brooks Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 11:39 AMTo: NecretailSubject: RE: NEC RETAIL: Bill Inquiry

Thank you for the prompt reply and more than adequate support-ing information! That answered my question and made me realize I made a smart choice in selecting NEC Retail last year. As some-one in the customer service business, I appreciate good quality service when I experience it!

DANNY BROOKS, Senior Business Banking Manager

From: NECRetail Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 12:35 PMTo: ‘Danny Brooks’Subject: RE: NEC RETAIL: Bill Inquiry

You are welcome sir. Please let us know if we can be of further service to you! Have a great weekend. Thank you for being a valuable member of NEC Retail!

Sincerely, Customer Service & Billing Department

Customer Service At It’s FinestWhen we say we are here for you...we mean it!

Employees of NEC Retail’s customer service center and payment center take thousands of calls a month, and 50+ calls a day. A little known fact is that for our entire operation, we only have a handful of service representatives. We have four membership representatives and six payment representatives. We don’t have phone time limits and we always go the extra mile to ensure member receive quality responses anytime they contact us. Below is a real-life example of an e-mail we received. This is just one of hundreds we could share with you and a real example of why NEC Retail has the lowest cus-tomer complaint scorecard with the Texas PUC.



HOPE is in the Air

Imagine you and your family are traveling down the highway. You are off to San Antonio for a family get away to the River Walk, headed to Houston to check out an Astros game or shop in the Galleria, going to the Rio Grande Valley or Corpus Christi for some beach time. Suddenly you are in a ditch, upside down, confused and screaming out to your family to see if everyone is OK. You don’t know what happened; all you know is you are seriously injured. You are in the middle of South Texas and no where close to a hospital.

This is where HALO Flight comes in to save the day and exactly why they are south Texas heroes.

HALO-Flight is a non-profit air ambulance service serving south Texas. Its mission is to provide emergency medical transport for critically ill or injured persons requiring medi-cal or trauma facilities within our south Texas service area. Emergency assistance is provided to all persons regardless of their ability to pay.

In 1987, HALO-Flight Inc. began their air ambulance service to provide the fastest and safest emergency air transportation and medical care for residents and visitors of south Texas. A small group of concerned citizens, physicians and civic groups aided in establishing this much-needed medical service in Falfurrias, Texas. The base of operations was moved to Cor-pus Christi in 1989, providing a more central location that better served the community.

HALO-Flight provides helicopter transportation for Driscoll Children’s Hospital pediatric and neonatal specialty teams transports. HALO-Flight also supports other local specialty teams with safe air transportation. Since its beginning HALO-Flight has transported thousands of critically ill and injured patients.

Some interesting facts about HALO-Flight:• Your tax-deductible donation ensures 24/7, 365 days per year availability.• All transports are staffed by the most highly trained pilots and medical staff, with the latest technology available to serve you.• Almost 50% of our missions are responding to emergency scenes (i.e. car accidents, rattlesnake bites, strokes, heart attacks, etc.).• We provide the peace of mind knowing help is in the air at your most tragic moment.• At least 1 in every 4 flights transfers a child to a higher level of care.



Why is Halo Flight Important to NEC? In the mid-90’s HALO Flight lost some vital federal funding. We put out a call to the community for help. Nueces Electric Cooperative members answered the call and began the Opera-tion Round-up fund, where NEC members round-up their bill to the nearest dollar.

To this day, HALO Flight remains the top beneficiary of Opera-tion Round-up funds with a donation of $24,000 a year.

HALO-Flight has continued to see an increase in demand year after year in the amount of requests we receive. So much so, HALO Flight determined the need for a fourth addition to our fleet. In 2014, the new Bell 429 helicopter arrived, which brought some additional capabilities, most importantly being the ability to fly through the clouds using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) instead of only Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

HALO-Flight was able to invest in the community through the purchase of the 429 because of the overflow of community support, including Nueces Charities’ Operation Round-Up. We appreciate your continued support through the past two decades because it has allowed us to get where we are today and helps us continue to grow!

Guardian Program: A Special Benefit for NEC MembersHALO-Flight offers a Guardian Subscription Plan to residents of south Texas. On a voluntary basis, and at significantly reduced pricing, NEC members can enroll for this valuable service at a reduced rate of $1.00 per month, which will appear on your NEC elec-tric bill.

What’s included in the plan? Covered members are charged NO out of pocket expenses for HALO-Flight transport deemed medically necessary, have coverage anywhere in our 26-county service area or one of our reciprocal partner’s San Antonio AirLIFE or Dallas CareFlite, and coverage for all family mem-bers who live in the same household and are listed on the application (including dependent children, custodial, and non-custodial children). For more information or to enroll, please contact HALO-Flight at 361.265.0509.

For more information about HALO-Flight, visit our website today at www.haloflight.org!

NEC is partnered with HALO-Flight to bring HALO-Flight services to NEC Members, on a voluntary basis, at signifi-cantly reduced prices.

Nueces Electric Cooperative offers you the opportunity to enroll in this valuable service at the reduced rate of $1.00 per month, which will appear on your NEC electric bill.

Why Enroll? An average emergency helicopter transport exceeds $15,000. As a Guardian Member, if you or your family require our ser-vice, your insurance (if any) would be billed and HALO-Flight would accept that as payment in full. If you are a member of the plan and do not have insurance, you won’t receive a bill. It’s that simple!

For More Information or to Enroll today, contact HALO-Flight at 361.265.0509 or apply online at

www.haloflight.org



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IT COSTS MORE ThAN $2,200 A yEAR in energy bills to run the average American home, and more than half of that is for heating and cooling.

The experts at personal finance resource WalletHub have this advice for lowering those bills:

1. Get an energy audit. You’ll have an easier time sealing energy leaks if you know where they are, and an auditor can show you.

2. Replace all of your incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs—even if they’re not burned out yet. They’re wasting more money in energy costs than you’ll waste by replacing them before they’re spent.

3. Use caulk to seal cracks and gaps around windows.4. Add attic insulation and make sure it’s properly attached.5. Learn about the energy use of your appliances. The more you understand about

energy, the less of it you’ll waste.6. If you’re planning to move into a newly built home, choose an architect or builder

who is committed to “green building” and energy efficiency. Many green building strategies don’t cost any more when they’re incorporated during construction—like making energy-efficient choices for the direction the house faces and where the win-dows are placed.

7. Replace outdated furnaces and air-conditioning systems with updated models that are designed to work more efficiently, waste less energy and save you money.

8. When you replace appliances, look at more than the price tag. Consider how much it will cost you each year to operate the equipment. Often, the savings on your energy bill will more than make up for the slightly higher price you pay for more efficient models.

9. If you’re remodeling your home, make energy efficiency as high a priority as more visible upgrades like granite countertops or new cabinets. You can’t “see” energy effi-ciency, so it’s too often out of sight, out of mind.

10. Installing high-performance windows will improve your home’s energy perfor-mance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of functionality, added comfort and improved aesthetics can easily offset the cost.

10 Ways To Cut Energy Bills

Use the energy-saving features on your appliances so they operate at maximum efficiency—using less electricity and saving you more money.

Did You Know?A L E ksA N d r- M A N s u r Ov- ru | I stO C k | t H I N kstO C k

A 10-watt compact fluorescent lamp turned on for 100 hours would consume 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity.

A 100-watt incandescent lightbulb would consume the same amount of electricity in just 10 hours.

—National Geographic

© I stO C k p H OtO.CO M | B Lu E _ C u t L E r

Power TipSeal air leaks with weatherstripping

and caulking, and be sure your house

is properly insulated. This could save

you up to 20 percent on heating and

cooling bills while increasing home

comfort.



Stress Free

Level Bills + Auto Draft + No Contracts + At Cost

How long, what price, what plan... No. We make it easy for you to be a member.

=

with NEC

Level Billing: This program averages your 12-month usage to create a level payment structure so you don’t have to worry about low-vs-high bills. Must have a 12-month history with the co-op and be in good payment standing.

Auto Draft: Don’t worry about making your pay-ment on time each month. Sign up for Auto Draft and your payment will be automatically deducted from your checking, savings, or credit card each month on the date it is due. You can sign-up on day one and never worry about late payments again.

No Contracts: When did expensive contracts become a good thing and why does everyone want one? With NEC Retail you never have to worry about contracts, gimmicks, or bad service. You’ll stay because you want to, not because you have to.

At-Cost Electricity: Why play rate games? In the end, you will always play the higher price. With NEC Re-tail’s rate the price you see is the price you pay. And because we own our power plants, we get to pass on the savings to you.

1.855.632.7348www.necretail.com



If Your Account Number is:

Play & Win!

5 4 0 1 3 - 0 0 3

YOU WIN $25 off your electric bill!Call, NEC Retail before the 20th!

Pay Online www.necretail.comThis is the #1 way to pay your bill and manage your account. Access your account 24 hours a day from any computer. Just click “Pay Your Bill”, on homepage. While you are there, sign up for other payment programs and other member benefits like Operation Round-up.

Pay by Automatic Credit or Bank Draft:If you prefer to not use the computer, you can still sign up to have your account drafted for your monthly bill.

Level BillingDon’t let your bill be a surprise each month. Take control with Level Billing. where your bill is based on a rolling 12-month average. So your bill remains consistent all year. (Must be in good payment standing)

Pay by Mail:P.O. Box 659832 ~ San Antonio, TX 78265

Pay using a Fidelity Express Pay Station There is an additional $1.50 service charge.

Convenient Payments

LITE-UP TEXAS is back. The Low Income Electric Discount Program will run May 2015 through August 2015. For additional informa-tion and program requirements you can call 1-866-454-8387 or go to the Public Utility Commission of Texas website at http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/low income/Assis-tance.aspx.

Ha regresado LITE-UP Texas. El Programa de Descuento en la Electricidad para Personas de Bajos Ingresos estará en vigor de mayo 2015 a agostó 2015. Para mayor información y los requisitos del programa usted puede llamar al 1-866-454-8387 o visitar el sitio web de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas en: http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/low-income/Assistance.aspx.

Number in Household

Annual Income (125%)

1 $14,588 2 $19,663 3 $24,738 4 $29,813 5 $34,888 6 $39,963 7 $45,038 8 $50,113

Each additional add $5,075

Lite-Up Texas is BackA low income electric discount program

For More Information Call 1-866-454-8387



NEC Retail is proud to offer a recurring annual $25 electric bill credit to our fellow American Men and Women who currently serve or have served in the military with honorable discharge. The credit will appear on their bill coinciding with Memorial Day. The Veteran’s name must appear on the NEC Retail Account, and only one Veteran per membership will be credited each year. Verification of Veteran status is required prior to a credit being issued and can consist of any of the following:

a. Copy of DD214 Formb. Copy of Military ID cardc. Copy of Recent military paystub d. Copy of a current TX Driver License with, “VETERAN,” designation on the front

Veteran status verification can be submitted to NEC Retail up until April 15th of any year for a credit that calendar year. Once you enroll, you will receive the credit each year.

Please do not e-mail. Verification can be mailed to:NEC Retail

14353 Cooperative AveCorpus Christi, TX 78380

or faxed to: 361-387-2919

Around Memorial Day, all current & former military enjoy a $25 THANK YOU Gift on their electric bill. 25$

Sign up to receive

Saying Thank You is just the beginning.NEC Retail is proud to honor our Men and Women who are Veterans or currently serve in our military with a $25 electric bill credit coinciding with a Memorial Day bill. This credit is in addition to the burned Veteran’s summer discount, the December Merry Christmas bill credits that is given to all NEC Retail members, and the limitless $60 Mem-ber Referral Program.

Military Appreciation:Receive a THANK YOU Credit on your Memorial Day electric Bill.

Documents

NEC Retail Electricity March 2015 Newsletter