Each summer for a number of years BEC has sponsored area teenagers on a week long adventure to Washington D.C. for a trip of a lifetime. This year the BEC board of director sent four students who  submitted winning essays. The young adults left the Hill Country June 12 and returned June 20. The BEC group joined other teens from around Texas to fly from DFW to our nation's capital. The four in the BEC group were:

• Jordan Martinez, Leakey

• Maria Ponce, Vanderpool

• Jesse Pfieffer, Utopia

• Anne Jenschke, Bandera

If you would like to see the adventures of the students check out the following website:

 2008 Texas Youth Tour Pictures

Power Watch: Conservation Needed Today, June 18, 4-7 pm

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, grid operator for most of the state, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas are encouraging consumers and businesses to reduce their electricity use as much as possible today during peak electricity hours from 4 to 7 p.m. due to temperatures higher than forecast. 

• Limit electricity usage to only that consumption which is absolutely necessary. Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.
• Do not use your dishwasher, laundry equipment, hair dryers, coffee makers, pool pump, or other home appliances between the hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
• Close blinds and drapes on windows that get direct sun, set air conditioning thermostats to 80 degrees, and use fans to circulate the air.
• Use microwaves or outdoor grills for cooking to avoid heating the home.

• Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.
• Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

See more Energy Tips

BEC 69^th Annual Meeting Results

The BEC 69^th Annual Meeting of the Membership was held Saturday, May 10. The meeting went well, three board members were elected:

• District 1 - Jerry Word;

• District 2 - Lee Kneupper

• District - 3 Rob Sandidge

Members in the record crowd of 450-500 people especially liked (see complete article)

Cycle Billing Coming to Members

 Historically all 30,000 BEC members got their electric bill at the same time, but that is in the process of changing. Starting in April 2008, the Co-op is implementing a cycle billing process. BEC will separate all members into four different groups. Each group or cycle will receive their electric bill at a different time and it will be due at a different time of the month. 

There are several good reasons BEC is making the change. The new cycle billing process will give BEC members more flexibility to decide when they have to pay their bill. The new process will also level out the workload at BEC, allowing the Co-op to better serve its members.

 Initially, BEC divided its service area into four different cycles and sent a letter to each member showing what billing cycle they would be in and when the bill will be due - unless they wanted to call and request another cycle. Members were given an option to select another cycle if its bill due date better fits when they get paid. Members will only be able to change into another billing cycle once a year. 

Keep in mind that during the transition time, as we move from the old once per month method to the new four cycles per month process, a bill or two will include fewer than a thirty day period and members will receive more than one bill per month. Also, know that the availability charge will only be applied to one bill when multiple bills are sent in a single month. 

BEC decided to make the change during this time of year because this is when most members’ bills are at their lowest and making changes now will have the least impact.

Consider the Easy Pay Bank Draft Program

The Easy Pay Bank Draft payment option makes paying your monthly electric bill automatic. It removes the worry of having to remember to write that check or go online. You will still get a bill, but the bill shows that it is a bank draft account. The actual transactions date will be 1-5 days after the bills are issued. BEC Offers several convenient payment options, but the Easy Pay Bank Draft method is the easiest. Apply today!

BEC is now a Marathon Water Heater dealer. They are the most efficient tanked water heater on the market and they offer a lifetime no leak guarantee to the original purchaser. They are unique in the market, have a different look and features for rural areas (such better ways to handle sediment build-up) that other water heaters simply do not offer. Take a look at the features a call BEC if it looks like a Marathon Water Heater is right for you.

During Memorial Day weekend, Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of certain energy efficient products. The 2008 Energy Star sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day).  See complete article including list of eligible items

In our continuing efforts to improve the efficiency and reliability of your electric system, Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) has contracted with Davey Resource Group to perform a comprehensive field inventory of our electric distribution system beginning in March 2008.

“The goal of this data collection program is to create geographically accurate information for all BEC electrical facilities, from the substation to the meter see complete story

The 69th Annual Bandera Electric Cooperative Membership Meeting was held May, 10, 2008 at the Bandera High School Auditorium. A very important board election was held.

Each member who attends will get a $10 electricity credit. The grand prize this year is a big screen HDTV. Plus, there will be over 60 door prizes including a Marathon Water Heater, chain saw, fire safe, electric yard blower, small appliances, gift cards and much, much more...

There will be a light snack and beverages available in the hall outside the auditorium (no food or drinks are allowed in the auditorium, also, keep in mind that Bandera ISD policy prohibits alcohol, tobacco, and firearms on the premises).

Don't miss this event!

BEC Members to Vote on Five Candidates to Fill Three Director Positions

 Bandera Electric Cooperative members will have the opportunity to elect three directors at BEC’s Annual Meeting in May, with the District 2 Director position having three candidates to select from. Directors Jerry Word and Rob Sandidge are uncontested candidates in Districts 1 and 3, respectively.

BEC’s District 2 Director, Margaret Callahan, is not seeking reelection. Callahan has been the District 2 Director since December 1989.  However, BEC is pleased to announce that there are three qualified director candidates running for this position. These candidates are Joe Hearn, who lives in Bandera; Lee Kneupper, who lives just south of Bandera; and Eddie Smith, who lives south of Bandera, near Medina Lake. 

BEC urges all of its members to vote for the candidates of their choice.  Members can vote by either attending the BEC Annual Meeting on May 10, or by returning a mail-in ballot, which will be attached to the May edition of the Texas Co-Op Power magazine.

See information about the candidates here and information about all five candidates will be included in the May edition of the Texas Co-op Power. 

From December 2007 Texas Co-Op Power magazine article - Just over a year ago, Bandera Electric Cooperative’s (BEC) board of directors established a subcommittee to review BEC’s director nomination and election procedures.

Following this review, the subcommittee made two recommendations. First, they recommended that BEC amend the boundaries of our nine voting districts (see map with the new districts) to more evenly distribute the membership among BEC’s nine directors. More importantly, the committee recommended that the process of nominating and electing directors be improved... see complete article

BEC is planning an outage that will affect about 3,500 Members served from the Leakey substation. BEC will use an automatic outbound calling system Tuesday to contact folks about the outage.  The power shouldbe out no more than 90 minutes, starting about mid-night Tuesday, April 22 (technically it’ll be April 23). We will be replacing a connector on the main transmission line that pulls power off the state-wide grid. BEC wanted to get the connector replaced before it caused an unplanned outage during the hot summer months.

A vehicle hit a power pole on the main line that serves much of the area west and north of Medina  just after 2:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2008. The outage affected over 670 members for about six hours. The broken pole was on an angle and involved a large wire size. BEC called in extra linemen and equipment and they worked through the night to get the pole safely replaced and power restored around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19.

Plus, repair or replacement of heaters, water heaters and air conditioners are part of the program.  Qualified members do not have to own the house where they live. For more details about the program check the AACOG website. For residents in Real and Uvalde call 830-278-9167 and ask for Cindy Rodriquez.

Why Is BEC Giving Away Thousands of CFL Bulbs?

If you are a member of BEC you should have received a coupon in the mail with your electric bill that entitles you to one free 13 watt compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb. You might be curious to know why BEC would do this?

 At BEC we are serious about energy conservation and to prove it we have committed to giving away twenty thousand 13 watt CFL bulbs... See Complete Details

BEC has improved its Energy Tips section on this website. The section overhaul is part of our commitment to enhance our energy efficiency education effort that was mentioned in the announcement about the a new Energy Efficiency Program on January 1. The improved Energy Tips area includes: a Quick Tips; an online Home Energy Audit tool;  BEC Touchstone Energy Home tour interactive tool; compact fluorescent light bulb energy savings calculator and a fun Kid's Zone area.

January 18, 2008 - This BEC public website has been updated with a fresh new look and changes in the content of many pages. It is our goal, through this site, to provide our members with up-to-date information that is useful, understandable and easy to find. BEC has over 10,000 visitors to its website monthly, making this an important communications tool for members and the general public. Take some time and look around our updated pages and let us know what you think and how we can make it better.

The Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. board of directors recently approved an energy efficiency program for its members. Portions of the new program will be effective January 1, 2008. The new co-op program includes:

The new Energy Efficiency Program will begin in stages throughout the new year as follows:

• Our compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) giveaway – to begin January 2 and runs until supply of CFL’s is depleted;
• Our CFL recycling program – begins January 2 and runs indefinably, see EPA Fact Sheet on mercury and CFL bulbs (PDF file)
• The heating and air conditioning dealer rebate incentives (paid to dealers for existing homes only) – begins second quarter 2008 (April, May or June 2008);
• BEC will align with Energy Star and the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency – January 2008
• BEC will begin selling a highly-efficient Marathon water heater – begins after training and after inventory is in place likely March 1, 2008
• We will enhance our energy efficiency education effort – begins immediately and will run indefinably.

See complete details

For the past year BEC employees have been working hard to raise $3,340.00 for its BEC Christmas Angel fund. It was established for donation distributions throughout its seven county service area to worthy causes during the Christmas holiday season. BEC employees raised this money through fundraisers such as the car/bike wash and annual BEC Golf Tournament.

The distribution of the funds is determined by the percentage of members in each BEC office service area:

• Bandera $1,570
• Comfort $1,336
• Leakey $434

Bandera's portion was divided equally between the Gifts of Love and Spirit of Christmas organizations. Comfort will give a portion of its funds to the Comfort Christmas Elves who sponsor the Angel Tree project and they will give to other similar chartable organizations. The Leakey BEC office plans to use its share to buy Christmas gift in support of the BEC Community Toy Drive that it sponsors.

BEC employees Monica De Leon (left) and Kevin Farrell hand Patsy D’Spain a big check from the BEC Christmas Angel fund. D’Spain heads up the Gifts of Love organization.

BEC wants you to protect your home with the best available surge protection, and that is why we are now offering special surge and lightning protection equipment. In a limited time and quantity offer you can purchase items with a retail value over $200 for just $129 plus tax. Check out the BEC Surge & Lightning Protection section.

Board Approves New District Boundaries

During their August 15, 2007 regular board meeting, the Board of Directors of Bandera Electric Cooperative voted to amend the boundaries of BEC’s nine voting districts. The boundaries of the various districts were changed to reduce the disparity between the number of members represented by BEC’s nine directors. 

 The board considered the number of members in each district, community boundaries, commonality of interests, area demographics and population density during this process. The number of districts remains the same and the directors representing each district are unchanged; however, some members will be represented by a different director than in the past. 

Those members who are affected by these boundary changes will soon receive a letter with contact information for the director now representing them. See a map with the new districts. Also, watch this web site for more information.

Utility Bill Refund Email Scam

October 10, 2007 -  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)  released a warning against scammers, who are sending spam emails with the subject lines “Urgent Notification.” The email, which appears to be sent by DOE because of its domain name, refund@energy.gov, claims the recipients are due a refund from DOE for $480.58 and they have to click on a link in the message to claim the money. By going to the listed website, the victims have their computers infected with a virus, which will steal sensitive information such as passwords and user names. DOE officials said the agency does not handle refunds via email. Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/energy_scam.html

BEC responded to a call from the Bandera Volunteer Fire department on August 27 to lend men and equipment to help battle a major fire that struck the historic downtown area. A bucket truck and operator was used to elevate a firefighter and hose so that a stream of water could be more effectively directed where it was needed. Other BEC employees disconnected power to affected areas and assisted in other ways.

“We were glad some of our linemen and bucket trucks could help the local fire department battle the blaze that struck historic downtown businesses,” said Arlen Williams, operations manager. “Concern for our community is a core principle at the co-op. Our thoughts and prayers are with the business owners and employees who were affected by this tragic fire.”

The blaze destroyed the Shoe Biz and the not-yet-opened Down on Main Street Emporium.  It also damaged the Old Spanish Trail restaurant that is located next door, but was separated by a fire wall. Thankfully no one was injured.

BEC participated in three area parades over the long Labor Day holiday weekend (September 2007). Employees and vehicles were in the Celebrate Bandera, Boerne and Tarpley parades. One of the basic principles of the co-op is concern for community. We are part of the communities where we serve and we show that in the many ways we support various community events.

Bandera Outage September 11, 2007

An outage occurred this morning at 9:57 AM affecting about 1,000 BEC members in the Bandera area for seven minutes.  It was caused by a Pike crew, a BEC contractor, who was doing work on BEC power lines at 9^th and Pecan streets in Bandera. The Pike crew accidentally touched two high-voltage wires together causing an electrical short circuit. BEC automatic protective circuit breakers detected the problem and quickly turned off the electricity. Fortunately no one was injured.

Anytime we work on energized power lines there is a possibility that such an accident can occur, but there are a number of precautions BEC follows to reduce the risks. Those safety procedures were followed and likely kept this from becoming a more severe incident.

On July 1, 2007 a series of new policies went into effect for all applicants seeking to have a power line extended to a new meter location, or desire a line to be relocated. These were a substantial change from previous BEC practices, but they were necessary to maintain the financial integrity of your Cooperative. see complete story (with link to tariff)

8/17/2007 - The remnants of tropical storm Erin made its way through the seven counties served by BEC August 16 & 17. The weather system spawned at least one tornado, plus major flooding in some areas. Many residents reported 5-10 inches of rain fell in a short period of time.

The biggest power outage was in the Boerne area where a tornado took out several spans from one of the main lines in the Cave Without A Name area at about 5:40 PM, 8/16/2007. The resulting outage affected about 1,000 BEC members. Portions of the members served from the line were restored at 7:22 PM and 8:50 PM, but the River Mountain area was not restored until 11:20 PM.

There were also outages in the Dancing Bear area around Mico, also Utopia, Concan, Pipe Creek, Lower Turtle Creek south of Kerrville, Boerne, Medina, Comfort and Bandera. BEC crews worked most of the night to get power restored in all areas.

Keep up with the activities of the Youth Tour group as they travel around our nation's capital.  We have a special page.

This time of year at BEC  we deal with power outages resulting from lightning strikes hitting our equipment. We have seen lightning's power and we want folks to safeguard themselves from this weather phenomena. There is a simple slogan that can help you and your children avoid some of the dangers of lightning, it is "When thunder roars, go indoors." There are a number of great web sites that will help you better understand lightning safety. We have links to a few of those on the Lightning Safety section of our Links page. A good one to start with is the National Weather Service Lightning Safety page.

The BEC annual meeting of the membership was held Saturday, May 12 at the Bandera Middle School. About 350 Hill Country folks attended, including 234 members who registered. It was a record attendance.

The Youth Tour winners were announced and recognized.  The winners are: Kayla McCaleb, Rosalies Bomer, Erikk Hood (all attend Utopia High School) and Katie Wolters who attends Boerne High School.

One of the highlights of the meeting was a very informative video that was shown. That video will be made available on this web site in the future. There were 41 door prizes given away at the event.  Anita McMinn who lives near the headwaters of the Medina river won the grand prize, a brand-new riding lawn mower.

Also noteworthy, was Corina Whitus who won the handmade quilt, made available by Margaret Callahan of Bandera. The quilt was a windmill pattern to recognize the importance of renewable energy. The material was red, white and blue in honor of our troops. Mrs. Whitus was particularly touched by the quilt as her son is about to be deployed as a solder to Iraqi.

BEC has a strict privacy policy. We never share a Member's address or phone number with anyone unless ordered to do so by a court. We have recently been contacted by a Member who received mail addressed to "rural cooperative member." The mail was promoting insurance.

BEC has no affiliation with the company and resents the marketing tactic the firm takes to target cooperative members.

Over 5,000 BEC Members in the Medina Lake area experienced a power outage at 2:37 A.M. Sunday, May 27. A protective breaker on a transformer that supplies power to the transmission line in the Medina Lake area opened up during a thunder storm. Crews were able to verify the equipment was operational and they closed the breaker back in, restoring power at 3:51 A.M.

BEC's on-call crews were very busy over the weekend as there were numerous other scattered outages due to the storms in the area. However, the Medina Lake area outage involved the most Members. BEC called in additional staff to help manage the rash of storm related outages.

Brian Bartos Named BEC Manager of Engineering

Brian Bartos, P.E. recently began working at BEC as the Manager of Engineering, a new position. Bartos will oversee current and future electric system planning and engineering needs (see complete story and photograph).

Over 2,200 Member accounts around the Kerrville area were affected by a power outage from about 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14. Areas affected by the outage included Turtle Creek, Lower Turtle Creek, Kerrville South, Hunt, 173 South of Kerrville, The Woods and Hwy 16 south to the mountain.

The outage was caused by equipment failure in the BEC Turtle Creek substation. The inner workings of one of the protective breakers gave way causing an explosion in the station.  Other protective equipment operated as it was designed and turned off the power to the entire station until BEC could make emergency repairs.  

BEC had its new outage call management system operational which included information about the outage that callers heard. All 15 available phone lines were tied up at times with callers. BEC employees also contacted area law enforcement and Members who are listed in its critical care register (those who depend on electricity for medical reasons) to keep them updated about the outage.

BEC turned on its new outage call management system just in time to handle the huge influx of calls from the damage brought by the ice storm that plagued the Hill Country January 16-18, 2007. The system handled about 700 outage calls. In addition, it was used to call back members who wanted to be notified when power was restored.

The system allowed BEC to answer up to 16 incoming phone lines at the same time. BEC also put aware messages on the system so that members would know when BEC knew about outages in a member's areas and what progress BEC was making on repairs.  

The new system worked very well and will be used to help manage large outages during the day and after-hours. The key is that BEC has the latest phone number in its record for each member.

A note from: Robert D. (Bobby) Waid, BEC CEO/General Manager

A number of members of Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) were affected by outages during the recent ice storm.  I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding while BEC crews worked to restore electric service.  On behalf of the linemen, I would also like to (see complete note)

Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC), will be refunding in excess of $857,000 over the next three months. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), which provides BEC with the bulk of its wholesale power, has determined that it collected more base rate electric revenue than was required to cover the cost of operating the electric side of its business in 2006. LCRA is refunding this to BEC. Since this was initially paid by you, our member-owners, it is only proper to return this refund to you... see complete story

Hill Country Health Fair Jan. 19

BEC and Sid Peterson Memorial are teaming up to put on a health fair for everyone in the Hill Country. It will be held at the new BEC main office building at 3172 State Highway 16 North, January 19, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Sid Peterson Memorial healthcare professionals will be offering various free screenings, including a body mass index (BMI) calculation, and blood pressure and glucose checks. We also will be offering a full lipid panel that tests your good/bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There will be $10 charge for the lipid test, and participants must fast for at least 10 hours prior to the blood draw. 

Other blood work being offered includes a Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA test ($15). There also will be exhibits and information on women’s health, cardiovascular disease and nutrition. Door prizes and refreshments will be offered.

Good health begins with knowledge. Start the New Year with the information you need to achieve better health!

The BEC Leakey office is hosting the Community Toy Drive for the Leakey and Utopia areas.  BEC has to have the toys by December 15. Drop off new or homemade toys at the Leakey office, 485 Ranch Road 337 West or to Diane Causey at the Main Street Utopia store. Please do not have wrapping paper on them as we will need to separate them for the correct age and gender.

For more information call the BEC Leakey office at 830-232-5524, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 Christmas is a time for giving and this community toy drive is an excellent way to share some of the joy of the season with area children who might not otherwise have much under the tree.

The Community Toy Driver for Leakey and Utopia is another community project sponsored by your neighbors at Bandera Electric Cooperative, A Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Merry Christmas. If you need to make a payment on those days you can pay by credit card through the internet or leave your payment in the after-hours drop slot at each of the three BEC offices. Also, the Co-Op answers the phone 24/7 for members who experience a power outage. If you are out of power call toll-free 1-866-226-3372.

Santa Claus will be at each of the three BEC offices.
Comfort Office Dec. 18, 2006 noon-5 p.m.
Leakey Office Dec. 20, noon-5 p.m.
Bandera Office Dec. 21, noon-5 p.m.

BEC is collecting school supplies for area children who can not afford to buy them on their own. There are donation stations set up at each of the three BEC offices - Bandera, Comfort and Leakey. In addition donated supplies can be dropped off at the Utopia Memorial Library.

The state power grid operator, ERCOT, is predicting a high-level of demand for electricity today, and the Public Utility Commission has issued a "yellow" alert asking Texans to conserve energy this afternoon especially during the peak hours of 3 PM to 7 PM. Many areas of the state are expecting triple digit heat with dangerously high heat indices in many areas.

June 9, 2006 – The Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) board of directors recently selected Jack Wilson as a new board member to fill the unexpired term of Lee E. Boulden, District 7. Boulden passed away January 17, 2006. The board interviewed a number of candidates before making a final selection.

 According to the BEC Bylaws, Wilson will serve as director until the position term comes before the Membership in May 2007. There are nine directors on the board serving three-year terms and each represent Members within their district. See complete information - including bio..

BEC held an Open House and Health Fair at its new headquarters office in Bandera May 25. The event was a good success with 42 folks who took advantage of the health fair and 75 or so who took a guided tour of the building. Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital provided the health services for the event that include. BEC employees served as host and tour guides.

BEC Refunding $350,000 Capital Credits

May 2, 2006 -- Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) members and some former members will receive in early May either a check or applied on the electric bill. It will be for a pro rata share of the $350,000 capital credit refund for those of you who received electric service from BEC in 1982 and/or 2005. It is a partial refund of your patronage capital.

As a Member owned, not-for-profit organization, your cooperative annually allocates any margins above what it requires to operate the Cooperative back to each Member who had service in those years, based on the total annual electric bill.  These allocations are referred to as capital credits or patronage capital. Patronage capital is retained in order to maintain a sufficient level of equity that will enable BEC to continue effective and efficient operations, until the board of directors determines the financial condition will allow for a refund to be accomplished.  Their goal is to authorize maximum refunds consistent with maintaining the financial soundness of the electric cooperative. This payment represents 18.85% of allocations remaining for 1982 and 9.41% of allocations for 2005.

BEC will hold its 67th Annual Membership Meeting May 13, at the newly remodeled Bandera Middle School (see map) in the cafetorium area. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the meeting starts at 10 a.m. Members attending will get a goodie bag and everyone will get a ticket for a chance to win one of over twenty door prizes, including a chance at taking the riding mower or glider swing home. Plus, refreshments will be served and several information booths will be set up. 

One of the features of the meeting will be the unveiling of a new and informative video about your Cooperative. Business also includes: election of three board members; service awards; announcing the Government-In-Action Youth Tour winners; and other business. 

This Co-op annual meeting should be an interesting and fun time to get together with your friends and neighbors. Please, keep in mind that Bandera ISD policy prohibits alcohol, tobacco and firearms on its premises. 

Also, all members who either vote by mail or at the annual meeting will be entered into a drawing to receive one of the ten $50 credits to their electric bill. Mail-in ballots must be received no later than May 12 at 5 p.m.

High-voltage Line Blocks State Highway 470

Friday, April 21, around 11:35 a.m. a high-voltage BEC line fell across highway 470 on the Utopia side of Seco pass blocking the roadway to traffic west of Tarpley.

It appears that lightning hit the top of the pole and it burned until the tension on the top line caused the wire to fall. The line fell across the highway until it rested about head high. A cement truck driver saw the wire in time to stop and the driver stayed away from the wire. No other vehicles hit or touched the line before BEC employee Robert Rodriguez arrived. The line was not verified de-energized nor was it grounded. Robert used his rubber gloves and a special liveline tool to hold the wires above traffic, creating a safe way for vehicles to pass. Robert stayed in place until the circuit was verified open and grounded safe.

The Bandera County sheriff’s department dispatched a deputy to help control traffic. BEC employees, working with law enforcement, were forced to limited when traffic could proceed depending on the progress of work. The need for this limited road access lasted until about 4:15 p.m.

The pole that had to be replaced was in a difficult spot. It was an angle pole in the middle of long spans. The BEC crews involved did an excellent job working in the unusual circumstances and stayed in touch with employees controlling traffic and the BEC office.

The downed line caused an outage affecting the entire Rio Hondo area. Power to the bulk of the area was restored about 2 p.m. The entire line was back in service in its normal state at 6:15 p.m.

In addition to the good teamwork at the site of the downed line, BEC employees also pulled together to cover the phones; make the appropriate contacts in the situation and cover the normal course of business.

(April 18, 2006) - The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) anticipates adequate generation for today's electricity demand -- barring unforeseen circumstances -- but is still asking Texas electric consumers to conserve electricity during peak hours due to the continuing high temperatures.

ERCOT Operations is forecasting a peak load of approximately 53,000 megawatts today, and generation scheduled to be available is about 58,000 MW. Additional generation was brought on line today by delaying some scheduled maintenance outages.  Additionally, some units that were out for maintenance were able to come back online.

Due to the continuing high temperatures, Texas electric consumers are still encouraged to continue to conserve electricity when possible particularly during the critical peak hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

We turned off the power to the Bandera area, affecting about 2,400 members, from 5:12 p.m. until 5:42 p.m. The outages would have rolled to another area, likely Cico, Mason Creek, Medina Lake substation, etc. if the emergency condition had not been lifted by ERCOT shortly after BEC tripped out the Bandera substation. We would have turned the power off for about 20 minute intervals and rotated from station to station. This is a way to share what power is available and is the way a rolling black-out works.  

The power emergency was prompted by the extreme heat which was near 100 degrees in most areas. April is traditionally a month when many power plants are taken off-line for routine maintenance. The load from air conditioners straining to keep buildings cool and other appliances, created an unusually high demand for power on Monday. Other electric suppliers in Texas were also ordered to begin the rolling-blackout process Monday.

see ERCOT news release about Monday, April 17 rolling blackouts

(Began Jan. 2006) You can now pay your BEC electric bill online! The system will allow a member to see their bill and pay it online - anytime day or night. Plus, the system will allow a member to view past usage history along with a graph. There are other options, such as a service request that can be completed using the system. You can also update your account information.

The system will use the last four digits of the social security number in the BEC record to validate a user. When you are paying your bill using the BEC system you will be on a secure site. Go to Online Bill Pay section.

Identity theft is a real concern today. It is essential for Members to know they can trust us to take every reasonable precaution to keep information safe. At BEC we believe that protecting the privacy of the personal information of our Members is an integral part of the service we provide. The Cooperative does not divulge member information with very few exceptions. This is nothing new, but what is new is that BEC has formalized this practice as a policy. See privacy policy

Lee Boulden, BEC District 7 Director, Passed Away

Lee E. Boulden, who served as a director at Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) for over eleven years, passed away January 17, 2006. Boulden, age 79, was BEC’s District 7 Director, representing the members of the Lakehills area since 1994. He also served as the board’s Secretary-Treasurer for  the last eight years.  See more

Telephone Circuits to BEC Fail

Bandera Electric Cooperative would like to apologize to any of its members who were unable to reach BEC by telephone on Saturday, February 25.  AT&T telephone circuits to our new Bandera office failed -- see more

BEC Crew Helping Restore Power in East Texas

The five Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) line workers and four specialized utility vehicles that left the Hill Country on Monday, September 26 returned October 7. The BEC crew went to assist Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc.  (DETEC) with its Hurricane Rita recover effort.

BEC employees making the trip are: Jim Boyd, Leakey; Mark Jebbia, Bandera; Clint Brown, Bandera; Mark Busby, Comfort; and Robert Rodriguez, Bandera. The group went prepared to stay in primitive conditions as there are no motel rooms available in the area. SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE IN SPECIAL SECTION (updated 10/10/2005)

BEC Accepting Hurricane Katrina Relief Donations

BEC collected over $1,500 in donations from folks in the area over the past few days. We gave all the money to The Salvation Army in Kerrville on Tuesday, September 6. "We will get this money into our Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund right away," said Major David R. Erickson.

The Kerrville branch of The Salvation Army has a special posting on its web page about ways you can help. Erickson mentioned that he was aware of about twenty families from the disaster area that are living in the area. He expects there will be others and that the human needs as a result of the storm will be long term.

BEC continues to be a money collection point for The Salvation Army Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Each of the three BEC offices have a sign beside the counter and will accept cash, check or credit card donations for the hurricane relief effort. We will continue to channel the money through the Salvation Army office in Kerrville.

What is great about The Salvation Army is  that 100% of the cash donations go directly to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. If you would prefer to make an on line contribution see The Salvation Army web site.

In addition, BEC is working on several special fund raising ideas - stay tuned for more details. If you would like to donate through BEC contact us or come in an office.

BEC released contract crews so that the workers could go to the devastated area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The crews work for Pike and are dedicated to BEC's service area. "Our hearts go out to the victims of this disaster and we know that restoring electricity is a critical part of the relief effort and that is why we have released these crews," said Arlen Williams, BEC Operations Manager.

On Sunday, August 28 at about 11:50 p.m. protective equipment in the BEC Turtle Creek substation opened, creating an outage for all 2,239 folks served in the Kerrville South, Turtle Creek and other areas. The source of the trouble was an animal that was on top of high-voltage equipment. BEC was able to restore power by 1 a.m.

BEC introduced its new Choose-To-Renew program at the Annual Meeting. The Choose- To-Renew program is a renewable energy purchase plan where Members buy wind and some hydro power for a fixed amount. Members may purchase power in 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks or have ALL their power on the rate. BEC offers this very attractive program in conjunction with our principle wholesale energy provider, LCRA. See more details

A good crowd of about 250 Members attended the Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc.  66^th Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 14, 2005.  The audience heard about the operation of the Cooperative and voted on three board of directors'. The forty door prizes and the two grand prizes were awarded. The meeting was a big success. We will be posting more information that was used in the meeting soon.

Don Enders, District 4 director (Boerne area), and a good helper pick door prize tickets from the winner's can at the Annual Meeting Saturday.

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BEC to Refund $350,000 Capital Credits

Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) members and some former members will receive in late April either a check or refund on the electric bill. It will be for a pro rata share of the $350,000 capital credit refund for those of you who received electric service from BEC in 1982 and/or 2004. It is a partial refund of your patronage capital.

As a Member owned, not-for-profit organization, your cooperative annually allocates any margins above what it requires to operate the Cooperative back to each Member who had service in those years, based on the total annual electric bill.  These allocations are referred to as capital credits or patronage capital. Patronage capital is retained in order to maintain a sufficient level of equity that will enable BEC to continue effective and efficient operations, until the board of directors determines the financial condition will allow for a refund to be accomplished.  Their goal is to authorize maximum refunds consistent with maintaining the financial soundness of the electric cooperative. This payment represents 15.75% of allocations remaining for 1982 and 5.93% of allocations for 2004.

BEC was part of the first annual Bandera Relay for Life event to raise research money for the American Cancer Society April 2-3. There were 22 employees and a number of family members that walked on behalf of BEC. The Kilo-Walkers team completed 470 laps (117.50 miles) and won first prize for “most activity.” The team also hosted a dart throw booth in conjunction with the event. The Kilo-Walkers raised about $900 for cancer research.

BEC will be hosting a blood drive on April 27, 2005 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Bandera office. Anyone 17 years or older, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good general health may donate blood. Photo identification is required before beginning the donation process. There is a sign up sheet at the front counter so that you may schedule the time you are able to donate blood.

BEC to Sponsor Washington D.C. Tour for Essay Contest Winners

Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc (BEC) sees a bright future in our young citizens and BEC believes in supporting youth programs. For over twenty consecutive years BEC has awarded an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for some local youth. Once again the cooperative plans to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this year for one girl and one boy in the area.

The Co-op decides who goes based on entries in an essay contest that is judged independent of BEC. The topic for this year’s essay is “If I could invent a new way to generate electricity I would make it using…?"

The lucky winners will experience this unforgettable look inside the seat of our federal government June 16 through June 24, 2005. See Youth Tour section of this web site for rules and more details.

BEC Introduces New Logo and Joins Touchstone Energy

Posted 2/2/2005 - Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) announced recently that it will begin using a new logo immediately. The new graphic retains elements of its old design while introducing a fresh new look. In addition, BEC has joined a national alliance and is now a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative. The ownership of the Co-op has not changed and it remains locally controlled by the same member-owners who receive electricity from it.

The new BEC logo preserves the light bulb that has been part of BEC’s identity for a number of years, but incorporates the BEC initials. The Co-op will add the new BEC logo along with the Touchstone Energy brand signature to trucks, clothing, signs, stationery, the web site and the like in the near future.

Both the new BEC logo and joining Touchstone Energy are significant developments for the Co-op. Being part of the Touchstone Energy program means that BEC is using the power of human connections by associating our local co-op with a nationwide alliance of other electric co-ops under a single brand identity. Touchstone Energy is the national brand of electric cooperatives. It provides the resources of a national network that help cooperatives take advantage of economies of scale, enhancing our unique relationships with our local member-owners.

Posted 10/11/2004 -- Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. and the Bandera County Helping Hand Center are working together to collect coats and blankets for the Warm Winter program. A collection box is set up at the co-op’s Bandera office, 3172 Highway 16 north, and at the center’s facility 1116, twelfth street, Bandera. Both locations are accumulating “gently used” or new winter coats of all sizes, plus, new blankets. The annual program gathers the items and disperses them to local individuals and families during times of crisis. The two organizations have worked together for several years.

BEC Raises Safety Concerns After “Fear Factor” Bad Example

Posted 2/3/2005 - Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) reminds its members and the public that electricity can be dangerous. On January 29, NBC ran a segment of the reality show “Fear Factor” that required barefoot, handcuffed contestants to work their way through an electrified maze as they received numerous painful shocks. The set was designed to look like a high-voltage substation.

 “Airing this ordeal and labeling it as ‘entertainment’ was irresponsible and could encourage others to take similar unnecessary risks,” said Dennis Winright, Member Services/System Supervisor. “Our goal at the cooperative is to make the safest possible electric environment for our members and the public. At a minimum, an electric shock is painful and it can also kill.”

 NBC emphasized that the stunt was designed and monitored by professionals and that the general public should not attempt stunts using electricity, but participants on the show were not confident they should be attempting it either. “This isn’t right,” said one contestant. After completing the maze through groans and gritted teeth, another contestant said, “I’m still shaking. I can feel that [electric] pulse inside my body.”

 Be safe around electricity. Know that electricity inside or outside your home can be dangerous. Take electricity with deadly seriousness -- See our safety page for more electric safety tips.

“Once again, it was gratifying to see the outpouring of community support we enjoyed in the Leakey and Utopia areas. This is only the second year we have sponsored a toy drive. Folks can be proud that you helped make some kids holiday season just a little happier,” said Manuel Rubio, Bandera Electric Cooperative Leakey branch manager.

Bandera Electric employees are working with local groups to get the toys it collects into the hands of the children who might not have much of a Christmas holiday without a little help.

If you have questions about the Community Toy Drive call the Cooperative at 830-232-5524.

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BEC Offices

Posted 1/3/2005 -- All BEC offices have set up containers to collect monetary donations for victims of the deadly Tsunami. The donations will be given to the American Red Cross to help those ravaged by the deadly tidal wave. The natural disaster is one of the most tragic events of our time. BEC has offices in Bandera, Comfort and Leakey. Checks should be made out to the American Red Cross.