2020 Election of Directors & Annual Meeting Briefing  
 
Ballots for the election of WCEC directors will be mailed the first week of this month. As a democratically controlled entity, these elected positions represent members in one of 7 WCEC Districts.  Your vote is vital to that process.  To thank you for taking the time to vote, ballots received by the due date will be entered in a drawing for 1 of 20 $100 electricity credits. One early bird ballot, arriving before Sept. 25, will be selected to win a $500 Visa gift card.  
 
Earlier this year, the District 7 position, which per the normal cycle, was up for election, became vacant when 39-year director, Lewis Young, retired. The cooperative announced the open position and held a call for candidates.  Two qualified candidates for that district seat, representing parts of Van Zandt and Smith Counites, Terry Milligan and Freddy Jones, applied and qualified, and were placed on the ballot by the elections committee.  Additionally, incumbent directors Burke Bullock, District 2, and Kenneth Langley, District 3, were qualified and they each run unopposed for their reelection bids.
 
The results for the election will be collected and tabulated by an independent firm, Survey and Ballot Systems. Generally, these are announced at the
co-op's annual meeting. Sadly, amid the pandemic, it's not prudent to meet in person. There's nothing more important to us than our members' and employees' health and safety. In that regard, currently large gatherings are clearly not in the best interest of anyone.   
 
Even so, we want to make sure that all members stay informed about important co-op news, so we'll post a briefing on wcec.org on Oct 9, 2020. It won't be like meeting in person, but one good thing about this alternative is that it will allow members to receive a co-op update at a time that best suits their own  schedule. Also, the election results and prize winners will be announced on that same day at wcec.org
Scammers Are Always Trying 
 
During the past couple of weeks several members have received telephone calls from potential scammers. The scammers are calling to demand a credit card number for immediate payment and threatening to cut off the member's electricity if the member does not comply.
  
If you receive such a call, hang up.
 
As a general rule, consumers should never give credit or debit card, Social Security, or bank account information to anyone who visits, calls, or sends an email requesting information, without first verifying it. If you receive this type of request, call the cooperative to verify payment schedules and requirements. When calling WCEC, members should use the telephone number provided on their bill or look it up themselves in the phone book. Don't assume that Caller ID can be trusted, because thieves can now use sophisticated technology to mimic credentials.
 
If you have any concern regarding your account, call us directly M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m at 903-763-2203.
Safety Tips  
 
Electrical Safety in the Bathroom
 
Bathrooms pose a high risk of electric shock because of the potential for electricity to come into contact with water. Follow these tips to stay safe.
  • Equip bathroom outlets with ground-fault circuit interrupters.
  • Ensure that all electrical outlets are a safe distance from water.
  • Consider covering outlets when they are not in use.
  • Never use electrical devices while standing in water.
  • Use appliances with built-in GFCIs.
  • Consider recessed lights to keep fixtures away from water.
  • Always turn off and unplug bathroom appliances when you're finished using them.
  • Inspect cords on curling irons, hair dryers and other devices for damage, and discard them if unsafe.
 
      For more safety tips visit our Safety & Consumer Tips
Energy Efficiency Tips   
 
 
Clothes dryers make up a large portion of your appliance energy consumption. Clean the lint filter after each cycle. Also allow the filter to soak one a month for 10 minutes in hot water and scrub the filter with a sponge, rag, or nylon brush to loosen residue for increase air circulation. 
 
 
For more energy efficiency tips visit our Energy Savings Center.