Become Part of the Legacy
Students can apply for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Since their founding more than 80 years ago, Texas’ electric cooperatives have been committed to empowering the communities they serve. That mission includes providing electricity, but it’s so much more. 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.
 
That means investing in our young people—the leaders of tomorrow. And one of the main ways Wood County Electric Cooperative works to empower local youths is through the Government-in-Action Youth Tour, a 10-day, guided trip to Austin and Washington, D.C.
 
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, WCEC is proud to sponsor a high school student from its service area to participate in Youth Tour, June 12-21, 2022.
 
Texas’ electric cooperatives sent their first Youth Tour delegation to Washington in 1965. The group of 58 deserving teens joined their peers from across Co-op Country to explore the capital, meet with their congressional representatives to discuss important issues and broaden their view of the world. Since then, more than 4,400 Texas students have gone on the unforgettable trip.
 
A trip of a lifetime, students will visit Austin before taking a charted jet to Washington D.C. to tour Smithsonian museums, federal monuments, the museum of the bible, and Arlington National Cemetery to participate in a wreath laying ceremony, to name a few.
To apply, eligible entrants must:
  • Be a high school Sophomore or Junior.
  • Be a dependent of a WCEC member with permanent resident status in the co-op’s service area.
  • Submit a approximately 500 word essay on the topic: Electricity Powers America
  • Include the official application available at wcec.org under the Youth Programs tab.
 
Applications must arrive at WCEC by February 11, 2022. They can be submitted at information@wcec.org, dropped off or mailed to Co-op headquarters at 501 S. Main Street, Quitman, TX, 75410.
 
For more information about Youth Tour, visit TexasYouthTour.com

 
$18K in College/VOTEC Scholarships Available
Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WCEC) is currently accepting applications from area students for advanced education scholarships. This year there will be 13 scholarships. Ten $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to college attendees and three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to those pursuing vocational or technical trade certificates.
 
To be eligible to apply, applicants must be a graduating high school senior and a dependent of an active WCEC member. They must also be living in a household on WCEC's distribution system. Applicants will write a 500-word essay describing themselves, their current interests, goals for the future (educational, professional, personal) and describe why they have chosen their field of study.
 
In addition to the essay, a completed WCEC application, two letters of reference, and a school certification of academic standing should accompany submissions. The judging panel will give weight to the essay, academic achievements, civic participation, and extracurricular participation. All funds will be paid directly to the college or VOTEC school, once the student is enrolled.
  
These programs are funded entirely by unclaimed capital credit payments returned to WCEC by the state of Texas. All entries must be received at WCEC headquarters by March 15, 2022. Late entries will not be considered.

Applications are available online at wcec.org, under the programs & sponsorships tab.
Winter Weather Can Cause Unwelcome Bill Surprises
Small measures now can ensure you’re not caught off guard.
Thinking about how you use electricity, and how MUCH you are using is not generally high on a consumer’s radar. That is, until a much larger than expected electricity bill appears!
 
Every year, WCEC receives panicked calls from members in February and March, wondering why their electric bill has doubled or even tripled. They think we've raised rates, their meter is broken, or there must be a mistake. But, in almost every case, those high bills are driven by increased kilowatt usage during cold weather. 
 
Heating (and then cooling) costs account for the largest percentage of east Texas residential electricity bills. While the thermostat may be adjusted some, it’s still set for a level that keeps occupants comfortable. That can be a 30 to 40 degree difference from the outside temperature. And that difference is always greater in the coldest months. The greater the temperature difference between the inside and the outside, the longer a unit must work to maintain indoor temperatures. It takes kilowatts to do that.
 
While we can’t do much about the outside temperatures, there are some actions to take now to avoid the surprise a larger than expected electric bill.
 
ADJUST HOW YOU PAY YOUR BILLS NOW
 
Levelized Billing - With this plan, members can even out payments to avoid billing spikes during the coldest and hottest seasons. When you sign up for Levelized Billing, you’ll be billed the average amount over your previous twelve month history. Payments are made automatically from your bank account and they will be close to the same amount each month, so it’s easier to budget. Anyone who has been a co-op member for at least a year and has a zero current balance is eligible for the plan. To learn more about Levelized Billing and to make bill-paying easier and more convenient, call our Member Services Department at (903) 763-2203 to get signed up.
 
SmartPower - If members elect this pre-pay method, large bills can be transferred and paid out over time. With prepay, there are no deposits, no big monthly bills ever, and no late fees. Members simply add credit to their account when it’s convenient for them and their budgets; daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Just whatever fits their lifestyle and usage patterns. And, they can do it 24/7 via the website, the bill pay App or by telephone, or in person at our office.
 
Study Your Usage Habits - Whether you pay your bill online or not, you can log in to your account to see your usage patterns, overlaid with weather charts. This information is a great help, to understand when inefficiencies are most likely, in order to takes steps to combat those. Simply log into your online account at: Account Services
 
EMPLOY SOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES
If your electricity bill tracks up and down with the weather extremes, an investment in insulation may offer long term payback on both winter and summer bills. Another way to keep your warm air inside is to invest in a little caulking and seal air leaks around windows and doors. A well-maintained HVAC system also saves money because it works more efficiently, so annual inspections and tune-ups are always recommended.
Another tip to conserve on kWh usage is to maintain a 68 degree temperature when you are at home and active; but when sleeping or away, lowering the thermostat a few degrees. Typically, the coldest hours are after midnight so lowering the temperature even just a few degrees, while you are tucked under the covers and sleeping, can cut usage quite a bit.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU DO RECEIVE A HIGHER THAN NORMAL BILL
Receiving a larger than expected bill can be upsetting. At WCEC we understand this and want to help you understand it. If you ever have questions about your bill or have difficulty paying it, reach out to our member services department by calling 903-763-2203.
We can help you look at options like SmartPower or levelized billing to see if one of those would be right for you. We can also schedule a home energy audit to help you better understand your usage. Sometimes an energy professional can spot a cause for high kWh usage that homeowners were not even aware of.

AND REMEMBER – WE WORK FOR YOU
At WCEC we only purchase the amount of electricity we sell. And we sell the amount we purchase. Most importantly, there is no incentive for us to serve you up a high bill. We are a not-for-profit. What we charge members is based on the cost of service. Therefore, we truly want to help our members control their usage and their bills. As a cooperative, we’re in this with our members. 
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Checklist
Investing in energy efficiency may sound like it requires a lot of effort, time and money, but it doesn’t have to. While there are certainly high-impact and high-cost measures, you can also take smaller steps to become energy efficient, help save money and live a more comfortable life.
 
Simple steps like these can pay off in the long run:
 
  • Shut off your electronics, appliances and lights when they are not being used. Some electronics, such as TVs and smartphone chargers, can draw power even when turned off— what’s known as phantom loads. To prevent these devices from wasting electricity, consider using smart power strips. Smart power strips detect when a device is in standby mode and shut the power off to the device.
 
  • Swap out incandescent bulbs with LEDs to use 75% less lighting energy. The features to pay most attention to with LEDs are lumens (how bright the bulb is) and color temperature (how warm or cool the light is). For example, a 10-watt LED can emit the same light as a 60-watt incandescent.
 
  • Replace air filters. A clean filter allows your heating system to run more efficiently and keeps the air in your home cleaner. Most air filters should be changed every one to three months, but during heavy use, changing monthly is a good idea.
 
  • Try to keep your thermostat on the coolest comfortable temperature in the winter. The recommended temperature for winter is 68 degrees while you're home and awake and lowering it while you're away or asleep. Lowering your thermostat 10-15 degrees for eight hours can reduce your heating bill by 5-15%.
 
  • Have your duct work checked for leaks because leaks at the return, air handler and supply can be a major source of high bills. In mobile homes, check at the grille, crossover duct and down flow air handler.
 
  • Wash only full loads of clothes and dishes and use cold water when possible. When using the dish washer, try air drying instead of heat drying.
Safety Tip of the Month
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month


Maximize your heating system’s performance by inspecting, cleaning or replacing air filters once a month or as needed to reduce energy costs and prevent potential damage to your system. Also make sure warm-air registers aren’t blocked so air can flow freely.