OCTOBER 2023

Bringing you power through information and knowledge. 

If you would like a printed copy of PowerLine or to add a second email address for yourself or your significant other, please contact Shelly at [email protected] or ext. 228.

Review & Update Your WCEC Benefits This Month

Annual Enrollment for your WCEC benefits begins October 19, 2023 and ends Friday, November 3, 2023.


During annual enrollment, all WCEC employees need to verify their existing coverage for medical insurance and any supplemental insurance they may be enrolled in.


This is also the only time that you can make changes to your insurance benefits without extenuating circumstances. 


Beginning October 19, you will be able to complete your annual enrollment process by following these steps:


  1. Log in to Cooperative.com
  2. Choose My Benefits
  3. Go to My Insurance menu
  4. Choose Annual Enrollment
  5. Double-check your information and update dependent information (including Social Security numbers and spouse information)
  6. Follow the guided steps to elect and update your benefits for 2024.
  7. Review, print and sign the confirmation page. Turn the signed confirmation page in to Selena by Friday, November 2, 2023. Please put in my top basket. You can also give to your supervisor and have them turn it in to me.


If you do not know or remember your user name and password for Cooperative.com, you will need to register again.  (Use the text option to get your ID vs. email for faster response.)


WCEC PLAN OPTIONS:


Medical & Prescription Drug Plan 

Your medical plan (including prescription drug coverage) premium is covered at 100% for yourself. WCEC covers 50% of your dependent coverage. Your rate for dependent coverage for 2024 is $637.49/month. This is a $25.83 increase over 2023.


Dental Plan

Dental coverage is offered to employees at your own expense. Monthly rates for 2024 are: $32.38 for employee only and $108.96 for employee and family. No increase for 2024.


You may add dental coverage if not already enrolled, add or delete dependents, or cancel coverage during open enrollment. 


Vision Plan

Vision coverage is offered to employees at your own expense. Monthly rates for 2024 are: $15.89 for employee only, $31.78 for employee and spouse, $34.01 for employee and child(ren), and $54.36 for employee and family. No increase for 2024.


You may add vision coverage if not already enrolled, add or delete dependents, or cancel coverage during open enrollment. 


Long-term & Short-term Disability Plans

WCEC provides both short- and long-term disability insurance for each employee.


Life Insurance

WCEC provides basic life insurance equivalent to four times your annual salary for each employee with one year of service and over age 21. WCEC also provides business and travel accident insurance 


Employees may add supplemental life insurance, supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance, spouse life insurance, and/or child life insurance. You may also opt out of these insurances and change your beneficiaries during open enrollment.


Rates for supplemental and additional life insurances vary by age and coverage.


The deadline for open enrollment is Friday, November 2, 2023.


If you do not have a computer or printer, there are two computers in Chris' office that are available.


If you need assistance, please contact Selena. She will be on maternity leave, but will be available through phone, email and text if needed. She will also be available to come in by appointment to help.

Annual Enrollment Check Up
Annual Enrollment Instructions
2024 Medical Plan Summary of Benefits and Coverage

Anniversary Celebrations Wrap Up During National Co-op Month

October is here, which means it’s National Co-op Month! Co-op Month is the perfect time to celebrate our uniqueness and tell others about cooperatives' benefits to our local communities. 


This year, we will wrap up our 85th Anniversary activities at the end of Co-op Month.


First, we will celebrate with our members on Monday, October 16, 2023, from 8-10 a.m. We are hosting a come-and-go, open-house event with refreshments. We encourage all employees to stop by the Front Lobby to visit with the members during the morning. Members who attend will earn an extra entry for the last #85fo85 monthly giveaway.


October will be the last opportunity for members to enter the #85for85 drawing for an $85 bill credit.


On Halloween, we are bringing back the Halloween Power Up where trick-or-treaters can drive through to receive some energizing goodies. We will not do hot dogs, but a snack pack this year. We will need volunteers for this event - if you are interested, please contact Mary!


We want our members to love WCEC as much as we do! Together, let’s share the cooperative spirit by spreading the word about National Co-op Month, our activities, and all the good things we do to better our community.

MDM - Meter Data Management

Metering/IT has been working with Eaton & NSIC for the past few months to get our metering data migrated to the cloud for Meter Data Management. 


We began using MDM meter readings on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The readings posted on the AMR/Interval History tab on the RD screen will be the midnight reading of the previous day. It appears to be true in SmartHub so hopefully, it shouldn’t cause any issues for our members. Members will eventually be able to view their interval data seeing their usage down to 15-minute intervals once Eaton gets the interval data imported. 


MDM will allow us to ‘purify’ the data prior to importing it into billing for accurate reads, utilize interval data for rate studies, etc. It will also allow us to totalize meters for billing such as Prasek’s, Texas Brine, etc. 


We are nearing completion of this project and will have our user training soon. For questions regarding MDM, contact Keith at ext. 244.

Member Thanks!

Mrs. Weida Gadeke included a nice thank you note with her payment this month:


I want to tell WCEC how wonderful their employees are. I especially want to brag on 2 fine gentlemen, Shane and Rick, two awesome linemen!


Two months ago, they were so prompt, willing, and very helpful with a problem we had. WCEC should be very proud of their work!


For years, I have had the privilege of ladies like Miriam, Linda, Patsy, Janice, and others - always so congenial and helpful, always greeting us with a smile!


Thank you, WCEC! You remain in my prayers - especially during those awful storms. Be careful!


-Weida Gadeke

Bill Redesign Coming Soon!

WCEC Bills are Getting a New Look



In an effort to continue providing excellent member service, we are working on a fresh, new design for our monthly bills featuring relevant usage information and an easy-to-read format.  


This project is still in programming at NISC. Look for details in the coming months!

All Employee Photo Shoot on Oct. 24

Glenn Frels will be on site for an ALL EMPLOYEE photo session on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 @ 7:30 a.m.


He will take group photos with all WCEC employees as well as department photos. We will all meet in the back loading dock area first thing that morning.


Please come photo-ready:


  • Wear your RED annual meeting shirt. If you do not have an annual meeting shirt, wear your nicest field uniform.
  • Where appropriate, please tuck shirts in.
  • No caps/hard hats.
  • No sunglasses.


If you have any questions, contact Shelly at ext. 228.

YOUR WCEC BENEFITS

401(k) Loan Interest Rate Increases

Effective October 1, 2023, the 401(k) Pension Plan’s loan interest rate, which is set quarterly at 1% more than the nation’s prime interest rate, will increase to 9.50%.


Things you should consider about loans: 


  • Contact Selena for details on the loan program before taking a loan.
  • Visit NRECA’s Employee Benefits website at cooperative.com > My Benefits > My Retirement > Loans to download a copy of the Borrowing from Your 401(k) Account brochure.
  • Seek guidance from your personal financial or tax advisor.
  • Contact NRECA’s Personal Investment & Retirement Consulting (PIRC) team at 866.673.2299, option 6, or at [email protected].


To view the loan interest rate or request a loan, log in to the Employee Benefits website at cooperative.com > My Benefits > My Retirement > Loans. Click on Model & Request a New Loan.


For questions, contact the Member Contact Center at 866.673.2299 or [email protected].

REMINDER:

View up-to-date employee information including the most recent COVID-19 guidelines on your iVue Connect Employee Portal. 


You can access this information under "Additional Resources" on the Employee Overview screen.

Access Your Employee Portal

FREE COVID-19 TEST AVAILABLE: Every US household can order four free COVID-19 tests delivered directly to their home.


To order, visit COVID.gov/Tests.

WCEC FAMILY HAPPENINGS

WCEC: Caught On Camera

Haisley Chapa, daughter of Selena Delapena and Nathan Chapa, was featured on the front page of the El Campo Leader-News on September 6, 2023.

We would like to include your personal stories in future editions of PowerLine. If you have something special going on in your life, please share! Contact Shelly at ext. 228, text to 979-637-0912, or email [email protected].

DATES TO REMEMBER

WCEC ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16

Come and Go Open House for Members from 8:00-10:00 a.m.

ALL EMPLOYEE PHOTOS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

All employee photo shoot at 7:30 a.m. - back loading dock.

BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

The regularly scheduled meeting of the WCEC Board.

HALLOWEEN POWER UP

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

WCEC will hand out energizing snack packs to trick-or-treaters from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

EMPLOYEE BIRTHDAYS

10/17: Brayden

EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARIES

10/16: Gene (6 years)

MONTHLY ROUND UP

ICYMI: In Case You Missed It

09/21/23: Selena sent a reminder regarding Insurance Pre-authorizations.


09/25/23: Selena sent an Employee Acknowledgement - Due 10/06/23.


09/28/23: Selena sent a reminder regarding her Maternity Leave.

INSIDE: Texas Co-op Power


Here are a few highlights from WCEC's local Texas Co-op Power magazine pages. All employees are encouraged to keep up with our local pages to be prepared for any member questions or comments.


  • Gary's Column: The Power is in Your Hands
  • Cooperative Month Feature
  • Practice Fire Safety This Winter
  • Renew Ag Tax Exemption Reminder
  • Halloween Power Up
  • Vampire Energy Loads
  • New Bill Coming Soon
  • Why Reliable Service Requires Access to Your Property

VIEW THIS MONTH'S LOCAL PAGES HERE


VIEW THE COMPLETE EDITION OF TCP

EMAIL REPORTS


AUGUST 2023:

TOTAL: 9,078

VIRUS: 24 (0.26%)

SPAM: 972 (11%)


JULY 2023:

TOTAL: 6,973

VIRUS: 17 (0.22%)

SPAM: 784 (10%)

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