IT'S BEEN GREAT....
Successful Rebate Program Comes To End
 
Successful since 2014, WCEC's Rebate Program is an incentive for WCEC members that enact specific qualifying energy efficiency measures. Since inception, almost 1,000 rebates have been given to members.  It was funded with money that came from the state in the form of unclaimed capital credit payments. The items and actions that are covered run the gamut from an HVAC tune-up, purchasing Energy Star compliant appliances, to adding insulation, and many others.
 
Great Rebates was announced as a one-time program to expire when the funds were depleted, which is expected to happen near year end.  Therefore, all rebates will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is gone.  Once funds are depleted, any pending rebates will not qualify or be processed. To make a claim, a member must submit an official WCEC form before November 30 th , 2017 along with all required documentation. No claims submitted after that date will be processed. The updated forms can be found at wcec.org.
 
Thanks to all that have participated. It's been our pleasure to assist you with your energy saving goals.

EVEN IN SUMMER TIME - THE LEARNING CONTINUES
 
The 10 students that represented WCEC for 2017: Front Row  L-R  Tori Thomas of Harmony, Mikalya Hubbard of Quitman, 2017 Youth Director Spring Coleman of Mineola, Jozie Taylor of Lindale, and Brenley von Reyn of Quitman.
Back Row L-R: Jordan Stanford of Winnsboro, Marshall Rogers of Winnsboro, Molly Tanner of Quitman, Tylik Simon of Winnsboro, Halle Griffin of Mineola and Diego Flores of Quitman.  

While summer will soon be ending and students are enjoying their last few weeks before returning to school, many have used this time to learn and expand their horizons. Ten such high school students attended East Texas Rural Youth Electric Seminar, sponsored by WCEC  to boost their leadership skills to hold them in good stead for a lifetime.  
 
They spent a week at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX, which was the site of the ETREYS 2017. There, over 100 High School students joined together to participate in workshops, seminars, and peer group activities focused on leadership development and competed for opportunities to win scholarships.
 
WCEC annually offers this all expenses paid trip to sophomores and juniors who are attending high school in the WCEC service area. Participants were selected on the basis of overall excellence and involvement in extracurricular activities including leadership positions, academic awards, etc.
 
During ETREYS, Diego Flores, a student at Quitman, won the $750.00 Juan D Nichols scholarship. Josie Taylor, a student at Lindale High School was awarded the $750.00 Cooperative Scholarship. Tylik Simon was also chosen by his peers to represent WCEC at the seminar as a 2017 Youth Director.


Safety Tips  
 
Do you have kids returning-or headed for the first time-to live in a college dorm?  While they are learning make sure safety is at the top of the list. College students use many electronics for school, work and play. When used improperly, these helpful gadgets can become electrical hazards. Wood County Electric Cooperative has the following tips for college students to use to help prevent electrical accidents in the dorm:
 
  • A dorm room might not provide enough outlets for all your gadgets to charge simultaneously. If you must use extension cords, make sure to unplug them when not in use. Extension cords are only for temporary use, and overloaded extension cords can start fires.
  •  Consider purchasing power strips with an over-current protector, which will shut off power automatically if too much current is drawn.
  • Use lightbulbs with the correct wattage for lamps. If no indication appears on the fixture, use a bulb that uses no more than 60 watts, or the 9-watt LED equivalent.
  • Never tack, nail or staple an electrical cord to any surface, or run cords across traffic paths, or under rugs or furniture.
  • Keep all electrical appliances and cords safely away from bedding, curtains and other flammable materials.
  • Discard or repair damaged electronics. It might be tempting to save money by using an appliance with a frayed cord or damaged plug. However, they should never be used because they can lead to shock or electrocution.
  • If your lights flicker, electronics shut off unexpectedly or circuits trip, notify campus staff immediately.
  • Use only laboratory-certified appliances and electronics. Check for tags or packaging for the UL symbol or similar ones.
  • Watch out for overheated outlets. If an electrical outlet becomes hot there is potential for a fire. Unplug everything from the outlet and notify your landlord or dorm officials immediately.
  • Know what to do if there is a fire, including having an escape plan.
There are more than 3,500 fires on college campuses every year. Help prevent some of them by understanding electrical safety and sharing what you know with loved ones.


  For more safety tips visit our Safety & Consumer Tips
Energy Efficiency Tips 
 
 
Setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.
 

For more energy efficiency tips visit our Energy Savings Center.

Wood County Electric Cooperative | [email protected] | http://www.wcec.org