News

3/11/2024
Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC), a leading provider of energy solutions and broadband services, alongside NRECA International, is proud to announce its hosting of a delegation from electric cooperatives across Zambia, Nigeria, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and The Philippines in Boerne, Texas, on March 7. The purpose of this international gathering was to exchange knowledge and expertise on energy conservation through Apolloware technology and to explore the provision of high-speed broadband internet to cooperative members.
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2/28/2024
In 1974, Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" dominated the charts, "Blazing Saddles" took the spotlight in cinemas, Skittles and the Rubik’s Cube made their debut, Hank Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth’s homerun record, and the nation faced gas shortages.
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2/27/2024
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a momentous celestial event will captivate the Hill Country as the region finds itself in the path of totality for the Great North American Eclipse. This extraordinary occurrence will plunge most areas into darkness for over four minutes. 
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2/5/2024
Did you know that something like 100% of homeowners and almost as many renters receive an electric bill every month? I don’t think I was ever warned about it, but I absolutely get an electric bill every single month. The amount will vary and when I look closely, I can see details such as kWh, and a comparison to last month’s bill. It’s fantastic, but not exactly helpful.
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1/29/2024
Bandera Electric Cooperative is proud to announce its continued support for local youth and agriculture education by contributing a total of $21,000 to various Junior Livestock Shows in the region. 
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1/29/2024
In celebration of Linemen Appreciation Day, we are thrilled to announce the "Linemen Appreciation Drawing Contest" exclusively for children in 12th grade and under! This is your chance to showcase your artistic talents and appreciation for the hardworking linemen who keep our lights on. 
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1/4/2024
BEC Fiber, a leading provider of high-quality internet services, is excited to announce an update to its Fiber Internet pricing structure, effective January 2, 2024.
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12/27/2023
One of the first things an end user troubleshoots when the internet seems slow is their speed – this can be done by running a speed test. But what exactly is the speed test checking?
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12/26/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative proudly announces the successful inauguration of its groundbreaking battery lease program using IQ Batteries from Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company and a leading supplier of solar and battery systems, reinforcing its commitment to both members and the resilience of the Texas Grid.
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12/13/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative, a leading integrated utility cooperative, is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Schmidt as its new Chief Operations Officer (COO).
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12/1/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce the appointment of Lynn Midgette as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the cooperative. Ms. Midgette brings a wealth of financial expertise and leadership experience to the role, and her appointment marks a significant milestone for BEC.
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11/28/2023

Bandera Electric Cooperative proudly declares Dustin Trimuar the victor of the inaugural 2023 Mr. Movember competition, recognizing his exceptional dedication to raising awareness for men's health issues.

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11/27/2023
As the days grow shorter and the winter chill settles in, a magical transformation begins to take place in small towns across the Hill Country. The streets become adorned with twinkling lights, wreaths, and festive decorations, filling the air with a sense of warmth and joy.
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11/27/2023
GivingTuesday, the global generosity movement, has arrived once again, and Bandera Electric Cooperative is proudly taking part in this worldwide celebration of giving back. Founded in 2012, GivingTuesday has evolved into an annual event that encourages individuals and organizations to come together and make a positive impact in their communities.
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11/1/2023
November is upon us, and it brings with it a special opportunity to celebrate facial hair and philanthropy at Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC). This month, we are thrilled to announce our unique and entertaining event: the quest for "Mr. Movember."
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10/31/2023
Explore how BEC embraced the Halloween spirit by participating in Bandera's Nightmare on Maple Street, bringing the iconic Jurassic Park to life with a fun-filled and heartwarming display. Discover how BEC contributed to the festive atmosphere and made it a night to remember in the Hill Country community.
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10/30/2023
The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. After a nail-biting race and an impressive display of carving talents, we are thrilled to announce that the winner of our Jack-O-Lantern Contest is none other than Lauren Arnett
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10/27/2023
The BEC Foundation is proud to announce a generous donation of $6,750 to Ridin' the River Cowboy Fellowship to support their holiday charitable initiatives. This contribution will be dedicated to providing holiday meals, Christmas gifts, and festive events at the church, ensuring that the less fortunate in their fellowship can enjoy a brighter holiday season.
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10/25/2023
Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.
 
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10/20/2023
Discover how BEC's creativity and community spirit led to the "Best Overall" win at the Comfort Chamber of Commerce's annual Scarecrow Invasion, showcasing their dedication to lighting up their members' world. Explore this heartwarming story of local engagement and artistic excellence that's brightening the streets of Comfort, Texas this fall.
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10/16/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) brought celestial excitement to their membership throughout September and into October as they distributed over 6,000 eclipse glasses in anticipation of the awe-inspiring solar eclipse known as "The Ring of Fire."
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10/4/2023
BEC participated in Bandera's National Night Out, joining in the celebration of our dedicated community first responders.
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10/2/2023
Get ready to showcase your creative carving skills in BEC's Jack-O-Lantern contest! Send in your spooktacular Jack-O-Lantern by Sunday, October 22 at 8 pm.
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9/28/2023
The Hill Country, a picturesque Texan gem, is about to be at the center of celestial phenomena that most people only dream of witnessing in their own backyard. 
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8/15/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently held its 84th annual meeting at Ridin' the River Cowboy Fellowship on Saturday, August 12. The organization's directors, representing the collective membership, are chosen through elections.
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8/3/2023
You know how to make smart energy decisions for your home and lifestyle. Turning off unneeded lights, unplugging appliances, and turning your thermostat up a few degrees are all good ways to save energy and money. But did you know that when you use electricity is just as important as how much you use throughout the day?
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7/13/2023
In 1985, Back to the Future was the top movie, We Are the World was released, Coca Cola changed their recipe, Michael Jordan was the Rookie of the Year, and David Swint joined BEC. After 38 years of dedicated service, David Swint is retiring from BEC this July.
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6/7/2023
The Bandera Electric Charitable Foundation is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its annual Members’ Choice Contest, a unique initiative that empowers BEC’s members to vote for the organization they believe should receive a grant of $5,000. The voting took place from April 15 to May 15, allowing BEC members to actively participate in supporting deserving organizations in their community.
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5/22/2023
The BEC Foundation is thrilled to invite you to our spectacular "Movie Under the Stars" event! Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with entertainment, laughter, and a fantastic movie. Mark your calendars for Friday, July 21, at the Bandera Sports Complex. 
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5/3/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative is helping area libraries gear up for their summer reading programs by donating $1,000 each to Bandera Public Library, Comfort Public Library, Lakehills Area Library, Medina Community Library, and Real County Public Library. BEC's donations will provide hands-on activities and materials necessary for the programs’ success.
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5/1/2023
Bandera will join more than 150 Texas teens on Youth Tour, June 11 -20.
 
Bandera Electric Cooperative is excited to announce that Tristan Diller from Boerne High School, Nolan Haecker from Boerne Champion High School, Alexa Quintanilla from Tom C. Clark High School, and Noah Zubyk from Prospect Hill Homeschool will represent BEC in June on this unforgettable trip to Washington, D.C.
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4/27/2023
Members have an opportunity to make a difference in their community by voting for their favorite nonprofit in the BEC service territory in the 2023 BEC Foundation Members' Choice Contest.
 
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3/15/2023
Download the myBEC app and enable your alert notifications for power outages and power restoration.
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2/2/2023
BEC members stay strong as the area enters the third night of freezing temperatures. Since 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 31, Bandera Electric Cooperative has restored approximately 9,342 outages. Crews will continue to work through the night to restore power and respond quickly and safely to any reports of downed power lines or additional outages. As of 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2023, BEC had 1,429 meters without power throughout its service territory.
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2/1/2023
BEC members continue to experience localized intermittent outages that are due to the ice and trees on power lines. Crews are responding quickly and safely to any reports of downed power lines and outages. Since 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 31, approximately 3,674 meters have been restored.
 
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1/30/2023
Bandera Electric Cooperative is proactively preparing for an upcoming winter storm that has the potential to bring icy precipitation and possible outages. BEC encourages its members to prepare for the storm and know how to report outages should they occur.
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1/24/2023

Bandera Electric Cooperative donated $6,000 to each of the Bandera, Kendall and Real County junior livestock shows to help support our community’s youth. BEC representatives bid on animals at the auction to assist students financially in pursuing higher education. This year, BEC supported over 20 children in three counties.

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1/24/2023

BEC Fiber has donated $6,000 to the Bandera Athletic Facility Improvement Team to finance a new inflatable run-through bulldog for Bandera Independent School District. The current inflatable bulldog, referred to as the Dog, was purchased two decades ago after the Bandera High School football team won the state championship.

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1/4/2023
Since their founding more than 80 years ago, Texas’ electric cooperatives have been committed to empowering the communities they serve. Of course, that mission includes providing electricity, but it’s so much more than that. Co-ops not only power homes and businesses across rural and suburban Texas but also invest time, energy and compassion into improving their members’ quality of life.
 
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12/19/2022

This December, BEC donated $4,500 to three local nonprofits to help bring Christmas to children in need. Arms of Hope in Medina, Kendall County Cowboy Church in Boerne, and Hill Country Youth Ranch in Leakey, each received $1,500 donations for their charitable youth programs.

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12/19/2022

This holiday season, BEC donated $7,500 to local food pantries. Recipients included Utopia Food Pantry, Comfort Table and Food Pantry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Bandera, Hill Country Family Services and Silver Sage in Bandera. The food pantries serve the counties of Bandera, Kendall, and Uvalde.

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11/23/2022
On Monday, November 21, Bandera Electric Cooperative donated $1,000 to The Salvation Army Angel Tree in Kerrville, Texas. The organization is helping provide Christmas gifts for over 500 children this holiday season.
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11/23/2022
On Monday, November 21, Bandera Electric Cooperative donated $2,000 to the Spirit of Christmas Presents. The nonprofit organization provides presents to low-income families who reside in Bandera County to ensure every child has a gift to open on Christmas.
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10/26/2022
On Friday, October 7, Bandera Electric Cooperative participated in the Utopia Career Fair for students 7th - 12th grade. In addition to BEC's notable construction division, BEC also had representatives from BEC Fiber and the Energy Saver Program, who presented their career paths. 
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9/26/2022

On Wednesday, September 14, Bandera Electric Cooperative participated in the Kendall County Agricultural Day, orchestrated by the Kendall County Farm Bureau. More than 250 students, consisting of Boerne ISD fourth graders and Comfort ISD fifth graders, attended the event. 

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9/13/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative will open youth program applications September 15. Each year, BEC offers scholarships to eligible high school seniors and currently enrolled postsecondary students and sends deserving students to the nation’s capital.
 
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8/22/2022

On Wednesday, August 17, Bandera Electric Cooperative donated $5,000 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Kerrville, Texas. BEC representative presented the check to Mike Henke president of the Notre Dame Kerrville Conference, and volunteers.

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8/19/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative held its 83rd Annual Meeting of the Membership virtually on Saturday, August 13. Nearly 350 members attended, with more than 37% being first-time attendees.
 
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8/15/2022

Bandera Electric Cooperative recently donated $16,000 to 32 local organizations. The donations were distributed to community service-based organizations and were dispersed throughout the BEC service area. Public libraries, volunteer fire departments, emergency medical services, and museums are among the recipients.

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7/29/2022
BEC held a ribbon cutting on July 28 for two of its newest public EV charging stations. The chargers are located at BEC's Comfort office at 739 Front Street.
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7/29/2022
The Comfort Table and Food Pantry have doubled their budget to serve the community effectively after hardships over the past two years, including the pandemic and winter freeze. The donation will help offset the cost of purchasing wholesome food items and operating costs for the nonprofit organization. 
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7/19/2022

Bandera Electric Cooperative is excited to announce its 83rd Annual Meeting of the Membership. The virtual meeting will be held on Saturday, August 13, at 10 a.m. and will be live-streamed via Zoom from BEC’s headquarters in Bandera.

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7/19/2022
On Monday, July 18, the Bandera County 4-H Shotgun Team received a $4,000 community grant for the second-quarter grant cycle.
 
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7/18/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative’s mission of Lighting the Grid to Empower Members fuels its ambition to improve financial outcomes and member engagement, increase energy efficiency and reliability, and expand fiber broadband. Each of these strategic initiatives offers the opportunity to achieve member satisfaction.  
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7/13/2022
AUSTIN, TX, July 13, 2022 – As extreme hot weather continues driving record power demand across Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is issuing a Conservation Appeal for Wednesday, July 13 between 2-9 p.m.  ERCOT is asking Texans and businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity during this time. Currently, no system-wide outages are expected.
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7/11/2022
With extreme hot weather driving record power demand across Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is issuing a Conservation Appeal, asking Texans and Texas businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity, Monday, July 11 between 2-8 p.m. ERCOT also issued a Watch for a projected reserve capacity shortage from 2-8 p.m. At this time, no system-wide outages are expected.
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7/8/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce the winners of BEC Fiber’s 5-year anniversary giveaway.
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6/1/2022
Bandera Electric Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the Bandera County 4-H as the winner of the 2022 Members’ Choice Contest.
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5/12/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative announced organizational changes to advance its strategic growth and improve managerial functionality, efficiency and communications.
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5/9/2022
Thanks to a grant from BEC and LCRA, Keep Utopia Beautiful will expand its recycling operations, helping the nonprofit organization better support its ongoing beautification efforts in the Sabinal Canyon area.
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5/9/2022
A $24,993 grant from BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority will help Comfort Youth Baseball install new energy-efficient lighting for its playing fields and a public playground.
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5/2/2022
This voluntary program is open to all members and has varying electric rates based on the time of day and the season in which the energy is used, unlike standard electric rates where members are charged the same amount for electricity no matter when it is used.
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4/25/2022
The BEC Electric Tariff fully explains the rates and services provided by the Cooperative for those who are desiring or receiving utility services. It contains all information pertaining to rate schedules, line extension policies, charges, deposits, fees, billing procedures, requirements and more.
 
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4/19/2022
Ten area students were recently selected as recipients of the Bandera Electric Cooperative Scholarship, an award of $2,500 for the 2022-2023 school year.
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4/11/2022
BEC has been helping area libraries kickstart their summer reading programs by donating $1,000 each to Comfort Public Library, Medina Community Library, Real County Public Library and Bandera County Public Library.
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4/11/2022
Seven nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory recently received $36,992 in BEC Foundation grants for the first quarter grant cycle.
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4/1/2022
Members have the opportunity to make a difference in their community by voting for their favorite nonprofit in the BEC service territory in the 2022 BEC Foundation Members' Choice Contest.
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3/14/2022
Renewable energy sources like solar have become increasingly popular, but it’s not a one size fits all solution. What works for your neighbor may not be right for you.
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3/8/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative donated $2,500 to the Bandera Gateway Fellowship Church for its new Foster Closet program to help local foster children and families in Bandera County.
 
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3/1/2022
BEC is working to help build awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a Federal Communications Commission program. The new long-term benefit program will help lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households struggling to afford internet service.
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2/9/2022
BEC is offering members a way to help the community and the chance to win a gift set by participating in the BEC Foundation’s Care Fundraiser.
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2/7/2022
The recent cold front was a cause for concern for BEC members, but the number of outages remained low and brief.
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2/1/2022
BEC is proactively preparing for an upcoming winter storm that has the potential to bring icy precipitation and possible outages. BEC encourages its members to prepare for the storm and know how to report outages should they occur.

 
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1/31/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative was recognized for nearly a decade of work without a single lost hour due to an on-the-job accident.
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1/17/2022
Bandera Electric Cooperative is once again stepping up to help kids keep their agricultural dreams alive by donating $3,000 to each of the Bandera, Kendall and Real County junior livestock shows.
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12/23/2021
Two nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory recently received more than $19,000 in BEC Foundation grants for the fourth quarter grant cycle.
 
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12/20/2021
This December, BEC donated $6,500 to five local nonprofits, just in time for Christmas. The donations focus on youth and low income families in need.
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12/17/2021
BEC And Burns And Mcdonnell partner to distribute BEC’s energy analytic solution, Apolloware, to electric utilities nationwide. Apolloware is a cloud-based platform that provides real-time energy information down to the appliance level.
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12/17/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative will be featured in the award-winning documentary series Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid. The documentary project is hosted by actor and director Dennis Quaid.
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12/15/2021
BEC donated turkeys and more than $1,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Society in Bandera for their Angel Tree Project to assist local families in need during the holiday season.
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12/13/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently expanded its fiber coverage area, providing access to more than 500 additional members.
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11/30/2021
BEC donated $6,000 to four local food pantries throughout its service territory in honor of Giving Tuesday on November 30 to make a positive impact in our community.
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11/29/2021
BEC's Small-Town photo contest winners announced.
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11/16/2021
The Center Point Volunteer Fire Department will purchase new firefighting and emergency response equipment, thanks to a $24,999 grant from BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority.
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11/16/2021
A $17,331 grant from BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority will help the Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department purchase new emergency equipment for its firefighters.
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11/16/2021
A $16,800 grant from BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority will allow the Comfort Public Library to replace the leaky roof atop its historic building and safeguard its growing collection.
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11/8/2021
A $21,120 Community Development Partnership Program grant from BEC and LCRA will help the Concan Volunteer Fire Department purchase a new emergency vehicle to transport patients across rugged terrain.
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10/26/2021
BEC partners with Amazon Web Service (AWS) to improve data transmission with a serverless architecture without limiting the number of members. Apolloware provides secure, telemetry data for utilities to detect when equipment on the grid is about to fail to prevent or minimize service interruptions. For consumers, Apolloware provides the total consumption of energy in their homes, how much energy each appliance is using in near real time, and empowers consumers to make better choices. 
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10/25/2021
The BEC Foundation held its 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament October 11.
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9/29/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently began an initiative to deploy more than 20 end of line (EOL) voltage monitoring devices onto the electric grid to improve reliability and outage response time.
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9/27/2021
The Comfort Public Library and The Leakey Little League receive $7,500 in BEC Foundation grants.
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8/25/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative held its 82nd Annual Meeting of the Membership virtually on Saturday, August 14. Nearly 400 members attended, with more than 45% being first-time attendees.
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8/24/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative will begin accepting youth program applications September 15, 2021.
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8/18/2021
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed #ourBEC CEO Bill Hetherington, along with Akbar Kara, and Hatch Smith, Jr. to the Governor’s Broadband Development Council.
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8/16/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative has planned system maintenance August 18-19, 2021, to improve its ability to serve members quickly and more efficiently. Members may experience a brief impact on software applications and phone service.
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7/9/2021
Two nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory recently received $8,500 in BEC Foundation grants for the second quarter grant cycle.
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6/24/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative is excited to announce its 82nd Annual Meeting. The virtual meeting will be held on Saturday, August 14 at 10 a.m. and will be live streamed from BEC’s Headquarters in Bandera.
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6/18/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative members are one step closer to a new office in Boerne located at 1100 N Main Street, Suite 104.
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6/7/2021
The Bandera Electric Cooperative Board of Directors recently appointed Annegreth Niemann to its board as the interim District 5 Director.
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5/17/2021
The Medina Volunteer Fire Department will purchase a digital sign and new life-saving medical equipment, thanks to a $25,000 grant from BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority.
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5/14/2021
COVID-19 has affected Texans across the state. The Texas Rent Relief Program provides emergency funds  to help Texas renters pay rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities).
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4/28/2021
BEC re-opening of Bandera and Comfort office lobbies beginning May 3.
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4/26/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative will increase its broadband speed offerings in an effort to improve members’ internet experience.
 
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4/22/2021
As of Earth Day, April 22, Apolloware, Bandera Electric Cooperative’s proprietary energy analytics platform, will be available to anyone who wants to reduce energy waste.
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4/13/2021
Bandera Electric Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the Silver Sage Community Center in Bandera as the winner of the 2021 Members’ Choice Contest.
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4/8/2021
In keeping with its mission to help support the communities it serves, Bandera Electric Cooperative recently awarded a $3,500 donation to the Bandera ISD Education Foundation.
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4/6/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative presented a safety and bucket truck demonstration to grades pre-kindergarten through eight, and the career path of a lineman to grades nine through 12 at Utopia ISD.
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4/5/2021
Two nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory recently received BEC Foundation community project grants for the first-quarter grant cycle.
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3/31/2021
Ten area students were recently selected as recipients of the Bandera Electric Cooperative Scholarship, an award of $2,500 for the 2021-2022 school year.
 
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3/1/2021
Bill Hetherington, BEC CEO, shares a reassuring message about rates and the status of BEC's distribution grid with Baron Wiley at Boerne Radio.
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2/23/2021
BEC welcomes Aguirre as new interim district director.
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2/16/2021
Bandera Electric Cooperative, and all utilities across Texas, are experiencing an unprecedented event with state-mandated rolling power outages and extreme weather conditions.
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2/1/2021
BEC members will have the chance to make a difference in their community by nominating a nonprofit in the BEC service territory. Nominations will be accepted February 1 through March 15, 2021.
 
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1/27/2021
BEC won more than $1.6 million in FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction to deploy high-speed, fiber-optic broadband service.
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1/19/2021
BEC dedicated the Pipe Creek substation to recently retired BEC Board Director, Jerry Word.
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1/4/2021
The BEC Foundation recently awarded two grants totaling $8,750 to local nonprofits.
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1/1/2021
On January 1, BEC launched a new, voluntary energy efficiency program to help members identify energy improvements and finance the costs on their monthly electric bill with no down payment required.
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12/16/2020
BEC donated $3,000 to Arms of Hope just in time for Christmas.
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12/14/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently received $15,000 in grants to install six electric vehicle (EV) chargers within its service territory.
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12/3/2020
Grant from BEC, LCRA will purchase new mobile shelves for the Lakehills Area Library, freeing up space for public events in the library’s much-used community room.
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12/2/2020
Bandera museum will install new energy-efficient windows to better protect exhibits, collections.
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11/17/2020
Bandera Natural History Museum adding New Spain art collection with help of grant from BEC, LCRA.
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11/16/2020
Keep it Real Beautiful (KIRB) will soon purchase its own recycling equipment and expand its outreach program, thanks to a $21,000 grant from BEC, LCRA.
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11/6/2020
On November 6, BEC celebrated the completion of an upgrade to the Tarpley substation by dedicating it to Douglas R. "Rob" Sandidge, a recently retired BEC board member.
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10/26/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently commissioned a 23.4 kilowatt solar installation on the new addition of the Medina Community Library. The solar system was part of a planned initiative to make the library sustainable.
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10/12/2020
This optional program provides different energy rates based on the season and time of day energy is used. It more accurately reflects the actual cost of energy.
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10/9/2020
Two nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory recently received more than $4,600 in BEC Foundation grants.
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10/1/2020
Electric cooperatives are poised to do what cable and telecom companies don't want to do – provide rural Texans with access to high-speed broadband and support their local communities.
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9/25/2020
BEC reached 1.5 million hours without a lost time injury on September 17. The new record marks eight years since the last lost time accident in July 2012.
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9/21/2020
After six months of suspending disconnects, BEC will resume the disconnection process for deliquent accounts beginning October 5, 2020. We encourage members to contact us immediately to set up payment arrangements to avoid disconnection when possible.
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9/15/2020
In 2021, BEC will award ten $2,500 scholarships and send four high school students to Washington, D.C., on a weeklong, all-expense-paid trip in 2021 to experience all the nation’s capital has to offer.
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8/31/2020
 Bandera Electric Cooperative held its 81st Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, August 15 virtually with 365 concurrent attendees, a 4.29% increase over 2019 attendance.
 
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8/13/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently implemented change management to strengthen operations and increase productivity, while maintaining focus on member experiences.
 
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8/5/2020
The Bandera Electric Cooperative Board of Directors recently approved a 67% increase to capital credit payments to the membership.
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7/30/2020
Two nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory were recently awarded BEC Foundation grants for the second quarter.
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7/30/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently improved its overall fiber network performance.
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6/26/2020
The 2020 Bandera Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting of the Membership has been changed from an in-person meeting to a virtual meeting due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
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6/24/2020
The new program was developed due to increased demand from DG members. During the rate development, an analysis was conducted using a random sampling of DG members’ energy usage during 2019. When the new DG TBU rates were compared to standard rates, all members in the study saved money. Members who change their energy habits could potentially save even more.
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6/24/2020
The Lower Colorado River Authority and its wholesale electric customers, including BEC, are offering grants of up to $50,000 for community projects throughout LCRA’s wholesale power, water and transmission service territory.
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6/1/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative launches new, innovative app for account management. Its previous app, SmartHub, will be phased out at the end of 2020.
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5/26/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently redefined its mission to Lighting the Grid to Empower Members, and its vision to Reimagining Rural America. BEC developed new strategic initiatives to improve financial outcomes and employee engagement, increase energy efficiency and reliability, and expand fiber broadband reach. BEC’s strategic initiatives each play a role in the overall goal of achieving member satisfaction.
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5/22/2020
A $16,212 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative will provide the Waring Volunteer Fire Department with new bunker gear and swift-water rescue equipment.
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5/20/2020
A $39,600 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative will help the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department replace its station’s worn-out roof.
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5/12/2020
A $19,998 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative will help the Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchase a much-needed all-terrain vehicle and vertical rescue equipment.
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5/11/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative has made significant progress expanding its fiber network over the past three years. By the end of April, BEC surpassed its 2020 year-end goal of connecting 1,000 additional members, and on May 1 reached another milestone of connecting 6,000 subscribers.
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5/6/2020
More than 500 BEC members lost power in the early morning hours on Wednesday, May 6, after a drunk driver destroyed two electric poles in the Boerne area.
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5/1/2020
As a critical infrastructure provider, Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) provides essential services of electricity and broadband to its members and was exempt from Governor Abbott’s social distancing and stay at home orders. Nevertheless, when the Governor issued these orders, BEC made changes to work locations and processes to protect the health and safety of our members.
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4/24/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently made a $1,500 contribution to each of the four local food pantries spread throughout its service territory to assist with increased demand on food supplies during the coronavirus crisis.
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4/21/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative recently expanded its free internet for education program to include Pipe Creek Christian School.
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4/15/2020
Six nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory were recently awarded BEC Foundation grants for the first quarter. The BEC Foundation board awarded the grants based on its charitable giving guidelines and predetermined criteria.
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4/8/2020
The Bandera Electric Cooperative Board of Directors recently appointed Christopher Blakemore to its board as the interim District 7 Director. The District 7 Director represents Lakehills, Medina Lake, and Mico areas.
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3/31/2020
BEC Fiber, a division of Bandera Electric Cooperative, has temporarily increased existing broadband internet packages between 25 and 75 megabits per second up to 150 mbps to alleviate the need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
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3/26/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative has been working with Bandera ISD to provide a no-cost solution to disadvantaged students who lack internet access amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.
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3/24/2020
Ten area students were recently selected as recipients of the Bandera Electric Cooperative Scholarship, an award of $2,500 for the 2020-2021 school year.
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3/24/2020
Bandera Electric Cooperative has temporarily suspended disconnections and waived late fees to support its members who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) health event. This decision is meant to provide temporary relief to members during these challenging times.
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3/10/2020
Four area high school students will get the chance to see democracy in action this June at the 2020 National Electric Cooperative Government-in-Action Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. The all-expense paid trip is sponsored by Bandera Electric Cooperative.
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2/20/2020
BEC Fiber comes to the rescue of Bandera pharmacy after it loses internet, phone service and business.
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12/31/2019
Five nonprofit organizations within the Bandera Electric Cooperative service territory were recently awarded BEC Foundation grants through the Members’ Choice Contest.
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11/14/2019
BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority award $10,636 grant for new two-way radios to Utopia Volunteer EMS.
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11/14/2019
BEC and LCRA award $15,676 grant for new radios to aid first responders at Tarpley VFD.
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11/14/2019
BEC and LCRA award $23,000 grant to area veterans of foreign wars for buidling improvements in Comfort.
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11/1/2019
BEC competes at the 2019 International Lineman's Rodeo in Overland Park, Kansas.
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10/30/2019
Before dawn on Tuesday, October 29, power went out for more than 3,900 members in the Leakey and surrounding areas. Bandera Electric Cooperative crews were quick to respond, and located the source of the problem on an LCRA transmission line just outside of the BEC service territory.
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10/4/2019
BEC recently presented The Comfort Education Foundation with a $2,500 donation for teacher classroom enhancement project grants at Comfort ISD.
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9/1/2019
The BEC Foundation recently granted more than $5,000 to organizations that provide services to youth in Bandera County.
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5/28/2019
BEC Solar, the renewable energy subsidiary of Bandera Electric Cooperative, recently completed the installation of its first commercial solar energy system at Bauhaus Media Group in San Antonio.
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5/20/2019
Bandera Electric Cooperative held its 80th Annual Meeting on May 18 at Mansfield Park in Bandera, and 350 member-owners and 128 guests attended. BEC CEO Bill Hetherington highlighted several areas of growth in 2018 for the cooperative.
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5/14/2019
1.8 million Texans lack broadband Internet access, and most of them live in rural Texas. Studies from the U.S. chamber and others have shown the massive impact connecting Texas could have. This is part one of a multi-part series focusing on Connecting Rural Texas.
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4/29/2019
In observance of national Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18, Bandera Electric Cooperative donated $3,000 to the Fallen Linemen Organization April 25.
 
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4/1/2019
Ten area outstanding students have been selected as recipients of the BEC Scholarship, an award of $2,500 for the 2019-2020 school year.
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2/19/2019
Bandera, Texas - Four area high school students will get the chance to see democracy in action this June at the 2019 National Electric Cooperative Government-in-Action Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. The all-expense paid trip is sponsored by Bandera Electric Cooperative.
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2/19/2019
Bandera, Texas - On Friday, Feb. 15, employees from Bandera Electric Cooperative presented Comfort ISD with a check for $1,500 to fund their Shattered Dreams program. 
 
Shattered Dreams is a two-day, school-based program that promotes responsible decision-making among high school students regarding underage drinking and impaired driving. 
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1/18/2019
With the help of BEC members and employees, more than 250 coats were distributed in January.
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12/17/2018
The average internet speed in San Antonio puts it among the top five U.S. cities, according to internet speed tests captured by Ookla, a Seattle-based technology company.
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11/5/2018
For years, the top executive of a rural electric cooperative attempted to cajole major telecommunications companies to invest in fiber internet to connect residents between Austin and San Antonio — to no avail.
Since then, Bandera Electric Cooperative launched its own fiber internet business, BEC Fiber, and is ahead of projections to hook up 2,000 Texas Hill Country residents and companies northwest of San Antonio by the end of the year.
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10/10/2018
BEC is asking for your help this season. We will be collecting new and gently used coats through November 16, to give to those in need in the BEC service territory. Designated donation boxes are set up at our office locations in Bandera, Boerne, Comfort and Leakey.  
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8/23/2018
BEC members and employees help make the BEC Powering Education School Supply Drive a success.
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8/13/2018
Upgrades underway for Leakey to Utopia transmission line in Bandera and Real counties.
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8/2/2018
BEC Fiber is adding connections at record speed.
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7/25/2018
BEC journeymen: Best in Texas!
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7/11/2018
BEC is taking donations for the BEC Powering Education School Supply Drive at all office locations through Friday, August 17.
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6/21/2018
BEC employees hit a safety milestone in June.
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6/4/2018
BEC and the Lower Colorado River Authority awarded a $25,000 community development grant to the Bandera Natural History Museum. The museum will use the grant and more than $7,800 in matching contributions to install a new rainwater catchment system.
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6/4/2018
An area prone to flash flooding will get a new rescue vehicle thanks to a $16,512 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and BEC.
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6/1/2018
BEC Fiber is alerting its customers concerning the recent news of malicious software (malware) attacks on certain consumer grade routers. At least 500,000 small office/home office (SOHO) router devices in at least 54 countries could be infected by a sophisticated and potentially destructive malware known as “VPNFilter,” according to news outlets and Cisco’s cyber-intelligence unite Talos.
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