POWERLINES NOVEMBER 20195 6 1
Volunteer Energy Cooperative Newsletter
NOV2019
Inthedictionary,resilienceisdefinedas“theabilitytobounceback,recoverquicklyandgobackintoshapeorpositionafterbeingstretched.”Whenitcomestoprovidingourconsumerswithresilientservice,thisisourgoal–dayinanddayout. Resiliencyismanythings–it’sthereliabilityofyourelectricservice,it’sourabilitytoefficientlyrestoreyourpower,andit’sbeingabletomeetthedemandsofnewtechnologywithoutskippingabeat. Ultimately,resilienceishowwedeliveronourpromisetoprovidepowerandopportunityforourconsumersandthecommunitiesweserve. Whenitcomestohavingaresilientelectricgrid,itbeginswithasystemthatisdesignedandbuilttowithstandhighwinds,powerfulstorms,cybersecuritythreatsandotherdisruptionsthatcouldresultinoutages.Thewayoursystemsreacttoadvancementsintechnology–fromdemandresponseinvestmentstoservingtheneedsofelectricvehicles–allfactorintotheresilienceofourgrid. Resiliencyisa24/7,365-days-a-yeartask.Whetherit’sthepowerlines,substationsorotherequipmentonourgrid,ittakesproactivemaintenanceandinvestmenttokeepthemrunningsmoothly. Similartohowwemaintainourvehicleswithregularoilchanges,inspectionsandtirerotations,ourgridmustalsobeproperlymaintained.Throughouttheyear,weregularlyconductpoleandlineinspections.Ourgoalistofindaproblembeforeitbecomesone.Doingsoensuresthatoursystemisasstrong–orasresilient–asitcanbe. Weknowthatsignificantpoweroutagescanoccur,especiallyaswinterapproaches.Fromicestormstotornados,weareconfidentintheresiliencyofoursystemtorecoverfromthesituationwithaslittledisruptionaspossible. ResiliencymatterstoVolunteerEnergyCooperative.
RodyBlevinsPresident/CEOVolunteerEnergyCooperative
United State Census 2020
Grid Resiliency
Monthly Co-op Progress Report - August 2019
191Miles ROWTrimmed
87Power Poles
Replaced
9,270Pole Line
Miles
120,776AMI Meters
Read
14,709Contact
Center Calls
49,298AutomatedCalls Rec.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the MonthTrim your holiday energy costs by choosing energy efficient LED lights! LED holiday lights use less energy and can last up to 40 seasons. They’re also easier to install – you can connect up to 25 LED strings without overloading a wall socket!
Source: energy.gov
WhatistheCensus?AsmandatedbytheU.S.Constitution,thecensusisaonce-every-decadecountofeveryonelivinginthecountry.Knowingthenumberofpeoplethatliveinyourcommunityhelpsinformhowbillionsofdollarsinfederalfundingisdistributedannuallyforpublic
serviceslikeclinics,schools,transportationandhundredsofprograms.ItalsodetermineshowseatsinCongressaredistributedamongthe50states.InMarch2020,theU.S.CensusBureauwillmailoutinvitationstocompleteasimplequestionnaireaboutwholivesatyouraddressonApril1.Youwillhavetheopportunitytorespondonline,byphoneorbymail.Federallawkeepsthoseresponsessafeandsecure.Ifyoudon’trespond,a
censustakerfromyourcommunitywillvisittohelpyoucompletethecensus.It’sthatimportant. Shapeyourfuture.STARTHERE.Visit2020census.gov
2021 Calendar Contest
Our2020CalendarwinnerisJanisWilkey’simageofaTrainovertheHiwassee.Forour2021calendar,weareaskingforphotosubmissionsfromourCo-opmembers.Toqualify:• Thisyearwearelookingfor
photosthatincludeanimalsandmustbefoundwithinourservicearea.
• Thecompositionmustbehorizontal(landscape).• Digitalnotprinted.• [email protected]
driveatyourlocaloffice.• Havearesolutionof300dpiorhigherandbeaminimumof
8mbimage.Croppedimagesoftendonothavetheresolutionorsizeforaqualityprint.
• Havephotographersnameandcontactinformationalongwiththelocationofthephoto.
• PhotosmustbesubmittedbyMarch1,2021,forthe2021contest.
• Thereisalimitoffivephotosperaccount. Wewillhaveateamreviewthephotossubmittedforthecalendars.Ifyourphotoispickedforoneofthemonths,youwillreceivecreditonthelastpageofthecalendar.Theoverallwinningphotowillbechosenforthecoverofthecalendar.Ifyourphotowinsthecover,youwillalsoreceivea$50billcreditcertificate.
Financial Statements for VECFor the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2019
Volunteer Energy Cooperative BalanceSheet as of June 30, 2019
Assets
Electric plant in service $477,088,067 Lessdepreciation 235,249,240 Total 241,838,827
Other property and investments21,377,064
Current and accrued assets Cashandtemporarycashinvestments 47,615,480 Accountsreceivable 15,923,699 Materialsandsupplies 3,430,156 Prepayments 728,954 Othercurrentassets 1,677,100
Total 69,375,389
Deferred debits Receivables-conservation 4,397,136 Otherdeferreddebits 883,793
Total 5,280,929
Total assets $337,872,209
Capital and Liabilities
Capital Membershipcertificates $455,945 Earningsreinvestedinsystemassets 273,546,867 Total 274,002,812
Long term debt 13,659,509
Other noncurrent liabilities 7,475,749
Current and accrued liabilities Othernotespayable -0- Accountspayable 19,133,272 Customerdeposits 4,889,512 Taxesandinterest 1,251,601 Othercurrentliabilities 916,412
Total 26,190,797
Deferred credits 16,543,341
Total capital and liabilities $337,872,209
Volunteer Energy CooperativeStatements of Income and EarningsReinvested in System AssetsFiscal Year Ended June 30, 2019
Operating Revenue Saleofelectricenergy Residential $155,665,630 Commercial 23,950,068 Industrial 58,690,313 Streetandotherlighting 4,190,262 Totalsaleofelectricenergy 242,496,273 Otherrevenue 6,254,406 Totaloperatingrevenue 248,750,679
Operating Expenses CostofpowerpurchasedfromTVA $189,071,978 Distributionandtransmissionexpense 17,121,741 Customeraccountsexpense 3,700,134 Customerservice,salesand informationexpense 648,186 Administrativeandgeneralexpense 8,969,644 Depreciation 16,512,361 Taxes 3,093,154 Interestexpense 1,078,708
Totaloperatingexpenseandinterest 240,195,906
Operating Income 8,554,773 Otherincome 2,041,553
Net Income $10,596,326
Earnings Reinvested in System Assets Beginningoffiscalyear $263,871,095 Endoffiscalyear $273,546,867
TheVECustomersShareprogramfunded$28,000incommunityservicegrantsinSeptember.SincetheinceptionoftheprograminOctober2001,over$6.7millioningrantshasbeenawarded.Thedeadlineforgrantapplicationsisthelastworkingdayofeachmonth.Foradditionalinformation,contacttheofficeofMarketingandEconomicDevelopment,at423-334-7051.Applicationsarealsoavailableonline,atwww.vec.org.
POWERLINES 2 3 4
Organizations receiving grants in September
Your Change Changes Things
YourChangeChangesThings
VECustomersSharesBoardMemberBarryNarramoreand theSouthRoaneCountyVolunteer Fire Departments display the grants received. Pictured are (L-R) BarryNarramore,AssistantChiefChristineLackey,OperatwionsChiefTerryLackey,AdminChiefMikeMorrison,LieutenentMacaylaFarrellandBattalionChiefMichaelCurtis.
FentressCountyChildren’sCenter $1,737.395thGradeMathematicsClub $1,210OperationREACH $1,000CalhounElementaryCheerleaders $1,000BradleyCounty4-H $1,000SpringCityLionsClub $1,000CentralHighSchoolRuriteenClub $1,000BagsofBlessings-MeadowviewBaptistChurch $1,000MeigsCountyFFAAlumni $750MeigsCountyHighSchoolGolfBoosters $750DecaturCivitanClub $700KidsOnTheRise $700CumberlandAdultReadingCouncil $700TownofByrdstown5K/3KWalk/Run $645Byrdstown-PickettCo.Chamber $645MidwayElementaryBasketballClub $600TheArtGuildatFairfieldGlade $600StandingTall,Inc. $550SpringCityMiddleSchool(SCMS)ScienceBoosters $500TheBreadofLifeRescueMission-CumberlandCounty $500FamilyCornerstones $500ChattanoogaForce09Softball $500TheJ.O.Y.Squad-FirstBaptistChurchofBenton $500MidwayYouthDevelopmentOrganization $500
MontereyHilltopCorale $500YorkInstituteCrossCountryProgram $500WilsonElementaryOutdoorClub $500100BlackMenofBradleyCounty,Inc. $500BradleyCentralHighSchool-GirlsSoccer $500FirstBaptistChurchFallFest $500PumpkintownFestival/Willsonthropic,Inc. $500PineGroveFireDistrictAssociation $500HappyHeartsSeniors $500BentonFallFestivalBoosterClub $500MidwayHighBassClub $400MontereyDinnerTheater $400FairParkSeniorCenter $300MontereyJr.HighBoysBasketball $300MontereyHighSchoolGirlsVolleyball $300MeigsSouthElementaryPTO $300ClarkrangeGirlsSoftball $262.61StoneMemorialChessClub $250CumberlandCountyPlayhouse $250PolkCountyHealthCouncil $250PolkCountyHighSchoolVolleyballClub $250PolkCountyHighSchoolWrestling $250PolkCountyHighSchoolFishingClub $250STARTS(SupporttheARTS) $200PlateauWomen’sChorus(PWC) $200StoneMemorialHighSchool(SMHS)HistoryClub $150PeavineCareCenter $100
Tennessee ValleyAuthority
Residential&OutdoorLightingFuel Cost AdjustmentEffectiveOctober 1, 2019
1.656¢For the most current FCA information,
visit www.vec.orgVolunteerEnergyCooperativeisan
EqualOpportunityproviderandemployer.
NOVEMBER 2019
UPDATE YOUR PHONENUMBER TODAY
Whenyouupdateyourphonenumber(s)youwillbecomeeligibleforaprizedrawing.
Youcanupdateyourinformationbycallingyourservicecenter,usingSmartHub,orbyloggingintoyouraccountatvec.org.Youcanalsousetheformonthebackofyourbill.
Take Time to Reap Safe Harvest
Itisanexcitingandexhaustingtime,theculminationofaseasonofhardwork.However,therushtoharvestcanalsoyieldtragicoutcomes.Eachyear,dozensoffarmworkersarekilledandhundredsareinjuredinaccidentsinvolvingpowerlinesandelectricalequipment. “Thingsgetverybusythistimeofyearonthefarm,anditisalltooeasytoforgetthedangerthatmaybejustoverhead,”saysTysonRatcliff,SuperintendentofSafetyandConstruction. Reviewwithallworkersthefarmactivitiesthattakeplacearoundpowerlines.Inspecttheheightoffarmequipmenttodetermineclearance.Keepequipmentatleast10feetawayfrompowerlines–above,belowandtotheside–a360-degreerule. “Takethetimetolowergrainaugersbeforemovingthem,evenifit’sonlyafewfeet,”saysRatcliff,“Alsouseextremecautionwhenraisingboomsorbucketsonequipment.” VECencouragesfarmworkerstotakethesestepstoensureasaferharvestseason:• Usecarewhenraisingaugersorthebedofgraintrucksaround
powerlines.• Useaspotterwhenoperatinglargemachinerynearpowerlines.
Donotletthespottertouchthemachinerywhileitisbeingmovedanywherenearpowerlines.
• Aswithanyoutdoorwork,becarefulnottoraiseanyequipmentsuchasladders,polesorrodsintopowerlines.Remember,non-metallicmaterialssuchaslumber,treelimbs,ropesandhaywillconductelectricitydependingondampness,dustanddirtcontamination.
• Neverattempttoraiseormoveapowerlinetoclearapath!• Don’tusemetalpolestobreakupbridgedgraininsidebins.Know
whereandhowtoshutoffthepowerinanemergency.• Usequalifiedelectriciansforworkondryingequipmentandother
farmelectricalsystems. Operatorsoffarmequipmentorvehiclesmustalsoknowwhattodoifthevehiclecomesincontactwithapowerline:Stayontheequipment,warnotherstostayawayandcall911.Donotgetofftheequipmentuntiltheutilitycrewsaysitissafetodoso. “Ifthepowerlineisenergizedandyoustepoutside,high-voltagecouldflowthroughyourbody,”Ratcliffsaid.“Stayinsidethevehicleunlessthere’sfireorimminentriskoffire.” Ifthisisthecase,jumpofftheequipmentwithyourfeettogether,withouttouchingthegroundandvehicleatthesametime.Then,stillkeepingyourfeettogether,hoptosafetyasyouleavethearea. Onceyougetawayfromtheequipment,neverattempttogetbackonoreventouchtheequipment.Someelectrocutionshaveoccurredaftertheoperatordismountsand,realizingnothinghashappened,triestogetbackontheequipment. Itisveryimportantthatallfarmworkersandseasonalemployeesareinformedofelectricalhazardsandtrainedinproperprocedurestoavoidinjury. ForothertipsonhowtobesafearoundelectricityvisitVEC.orgorwww.everydaysafe.org.
