BANDERA, TX., June 5, 2009 - Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) recently announced that it will begin aggressively exchanging its existing meters with a superior AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) system around June 22, 2009. The new meters offer members and the Co-op a number of benefits over the existing system.

This means BEC and its contractor will change all 31,000 meters in the Cooperative’s seven county service area between June 2009 and the end of 2010. BEC employees have already been installing some of the new meters in locations where they were conducting other business. Co-op employees will continue to change meters in this manner or when needed.

However, this is a big job and BEC has asked for help from Texas Meter & Device Company (TMD) to get all the meters exchanged in a timely manner. TMD is a qualified, experienced and respected firm in the power business. Their personnel will have credentials showing that they are working for BEC, and their vehicles will display a BEC logo.

“We are eager to give our members the many advantages that the new AMI system brings,” said Engineering Manager Brian Bartos, PE. “This is the first step toward developing ‘smart grid’ technology which will help restore power more quickly after an outage and provide many other service enhancements.”

BEC cannot change all of its meters without your assistance. We ask that you update your personal account information kept on file. To accommodate your busy schedule, a form is available on www.banderaelectric.com for you to complete any time of the day or night. Or you may call us at 1-866-226-3372.

Keep in mind BEC has a strict privacy policy. We will only accept updates from active members, and we will not share your personal information. BEC employees and contractors are bound by this policy.

Unlike the old system, the new AMI meters are capable of two-way communication. The system will communicate meter readings more reliably. It can also let BEC know when you are experiencing a power outage. It makes locating power disruptions easier, enabling us to get the lights back on quicker.

The AMI system allows BEC to take voltage readings, offer members an in-home power usage display, give members a pre-payment capability, offer net-metering for members operating renewable generation, remote connect/disconnect capability and direct load management. Some of these features will be tested in a pilot program before they are extended to all members.

For more information about the new AMI system go to the BEC website, http://www.banderaelectric.com. Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative located northwest of San Antonio, Texas. The cooperative was established in 1938 and provides electric service to over 31,000 meters in seven Hill Country counties. BEC owns approximately $146 million in assets, including equipment in 15 power substations and over 4,200 miles of line.