Feast of Blessings - Karnes Electric Cooperative
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KarnesEC_2111_ 10/14/21 1:39 PM Page 18
Karnes EC News
Feast of
Blessings
L AT E R T H I S M O N T H ,
folks will sit down at dinner
GeNerAl tables with family and friends for their annual
MANAGe r
Thanksgiving Day feast (followed by the traditional
BRAD post-dinner nap and football games).
BIERSTEDT
But Thanksgiving isn’t just about full bellies and
full kitchens. It’s also a time we set aside for reflect-
ing, counting our blessings and enjoying the com-
pany of our loved ones.
Speaking for myself, the blessings are many, DID YOU KNOW?
including the fact that I am privileged to work for
an electric cooperative. You can use baking
As general manager at Karnes Electric Coopera- soda to put out small
tive, I am thankful for members like you who sup- kitchen fires. Never put
port the mission of this cooperative: not just the
water on a grease fire;
provision of reliable electricity at a reasonable
it will only cause the
rate—no small task in itself—but also to be a strong
flames to spread.
presence in sustaining the communities we serve.
Your participation in co-op meetings, elections and
activities enables Karnes EC to be a vital community YELENAYEMCHUK | ISTOCK .COM
partner, one that can be counted on to support vol-
unteer fire departments, food banks, scholarships
and other mainstays of a healthy community.
I am thankful for our directors, those civic-minded
members who give of their time and talents to rep-
resent your interests as we set policies and plan for
our future. With each passing year, as financial and
regulatory challenges mount, your board members
must stay abreast of the factors that influence the
efficient and cost-effective delivery of electricity to
your home.
I am thankful for Karnes EC’s employees, who
day in and day out demonstrate dedication and
professionalism in performing their duties. Electric
cooperatives seem to attract and retain people who
commit to making their living in an environment
where service comes first.
And last—but certainly not least—I am thankful
POWER TIP
for my understanding family, who sometimes has to
share me with my job. They know that in a crisis,
Avoid using your
the phone may ring in the middle of the night, call-
gaming console to
ing me away to work, and that sometimes my duties
stream videos and
include time away on business. With their support
opt instead to watch
and love, my job and my life are much easier.
shows through smart
I hope that this Thanksgiving, you also have plenty
TV apps. A gaming
for which to give thanks. May you and your loved
console can use up to
ones have a happy, healthy and blessed holiday. D
10 times the electricity.
R AINSTAR | ISTOCK .COM
18 TEX AS CO-OP POWER NOVEMBER 2021 K A R N E S E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
KarnesEC_2111_ 10/14/21 1:39 PM Page 19
Karnes Electric
Karnes EC Returns $2 Million Cooperative
in Capital Credits to Members
conTacT u s
P.o. Box 7, karnes City, tX 78118
Toll-free 1-888-807-3952
T h e K a r n e s e l e cT r i c c o o p e r aT i v e Board of Directors recently author-
Web karnesec.org
ized the return of $2,041,706 in capital credits to the co-op’s members.
When Karnes EC’s revenues exceed its expenses, the cooperative earns General manager
Brad Bierstedt
margins. Each year, those margins are allocated to members in the form of
capital credits, which reflect the members’ ownership in Karnes EC. The Board of Directors
cooperative uses members’ capital to fund operating activities and reduce Paul T. Brysch Jr., President, District 5
Clif Royal, Vice President, District 6
borrowing with the intent of later returning that capital to members.
Larry R. Schendel, Secretary-treasurer, District 1
After reviewing the co-op’s finances each year, KEC’s board of directors Frank A. Geyer Jr., Assistant Secretary-
determines whether a portion of capital credits can be retired, or returned, treasurer, District 3
to members. This commitment to our members has led to the return of L. Scott McClaugherty IV, District 4
Shirley Hofmann, District 2
more than $20.7 million in capital credits since the co-op was established.
David Ross Nieschwitz, District 7
Capital credits appeared as a credit on active members’ October bills
and vary based on length of membership and the amount of electricity
used during the year retired. Any member due capital credits but no
longer receiving service from Karnes EC will receive a check by mail if the
amount is more than $5. Inactive accounts with distributions of less than
$5 will roll over to future years, and a check will be issued once the mini- 24/7
mum amount is reached.
KEC is proud of its 83-year heritage of providing electricity in 12 South
outage reporting
Texas and Coastal Bend counties. Karnes EC is headquartered in Karnes Toll-fre e
City, and its member service center is located in Pleasanton. D 1-888-807-3952
online
At karnesec.org using your SmartHub
account, or use the SmartHub app on
your mobile device.
How Do Capital Credits Work? Please be prepared to provide your
account number and meter number.
Because electric co-ops operate at cost, any
excess revenues, called margins, are returned
to members in the form of capital credits.
payme nT opTions
Your co-op tracks • online or via the Smarthub app
how much electricity • 24-hour pay-by-phone
Your co-op notifies
you of how and
when you’ll receive
your capital credits
retirements.
a 5
you buy and how
much money you
pay for it throughout
the year.
• Auto bill pay
• mail
• in person
• night drop
• kiosk located at Pleasanton
1
a
member Service Center
a
4
office locaTions
When the co-op’s financial At the end of open monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
condition permits, your the year, your
board of directors/trustees co-op completes Karnes city headquarters
decides to retire, or pay, the financial matters 1800 n. U.S. highway 181, karnes City
capital credits. and determines
whether there are pleasanton member service center
excess revenues, 1824 W. Goodwin St., Pleasanton
a
called margins.
3
2
a
mis sion sTaTe me nT
Your co-op allocates the
CAthe rin e L An e | iSto Ck .Co m
Providing quality service to empower
margins to members as
communities and improve lives.
capital credits based upon
their use of electricity
during the year.
k ArneSeC.orG • 1-888-807-3952 • (830) 780-3952 n oV e m B e r 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 9
KarnesEC_2111_ 10/14/21 5:46 PM Page 20
Nondiscrimination
Statement
federal civil rights
I N AC C O R DA N C E W I T H
law and U.S. department of agriculture
civil rights regulations and policies, the
USda; its agencies, offices, and employ-
ees; and institutions participating in or
administering USda programs are prohib-
ited from discriminating based on race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, gender
identity (including gender expression),
sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family/parental status, income
derived from a public assistance program,
political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation
for prior civil rights activity, in any program
or activity conducted or funded by USda
(not all bases apply to all programs).
remedies and complaint filing deadlines
vary by program or incident.
GreG Mel and | iStock .coM
Persons with disabilities who require alter-
native means of communication for pro-
gram information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, american Sign language, etc.)
should contact the responsible agency or
USda's tarGet center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and ttY) or contact USda through
the Federal relay Service at 1-800-877-
Want To Win a Trip to 8339. additionally, program information
Our Nation’s Capital?
may be made available in languages other
than english.
it’s Youth tour time again to file a program discrimination complaint,
complete the USda Program discrimina-
tion complaint Form, ad-3027, found
E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E S
across the U.S. send nearly 2,000 high school online at usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-
students to Washington, D.C., each year for the Government-in-Action program-discrimination-complaint and at
Youth Tour, which offers teens a chance to learn, explore the capital and any USda office or write a letter addressed
meet their representatives in Congress. to USda and provide in the letter all of the
The winner of the 2022 Karnes Electric Cooperative Youth Tour essay information requested in the form. to
contest will receive a travel package worth $5,000 to join other Texas high request a copy of the complaint form, call
school students in Washington, where they’ll visit the White House, Capi- 1-866-632-9992. Submit your completed
tol Hill, the Supreme Court, Washington National Cathedral, Arlington form or letter to USda by: (1) mail: U.S.
National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Institution, Kennedy Center and department of agriculture, office of the
many other national landmarks. The travel package includes air transpor- assistant Secretary for civil rights, 1400
tation to and from Washington, hotel accommodations, meals, entrance independence avenue, SW, Washington,
fees, several Youth Tour T-shirts and $250 cash for miscellaneous expenses. d.c. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442;
Youth Tour will begin in Austin on June 12 and end in Austin on June 21. or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
To give participants a snapshot of our own state government in action, a
day of the trip includes a tour of the Texas Capitol and a visit to the Bullock USda is an equal opportunity provider,
Texas State History Museum. employer and lender. D
Applicants must be high school students who have completed their
freshman year by the end of June 2022 and must reside in the home of a
parent or legal guardian who is an active member of Karnes EC.
Download an application on the Karnes EC website, karnesec.org; pick
one up at any Karnes EC office; or email ksanchez@karnesec.org. The
deadline for applications is Friday, January 7, 2022. D
20 TEX AS CO-OP POWER noVeMBer 2021 K A R N E S E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
KarnesEC_2111_ 10/14/21 1:39 PM Page 21
Add Energy Efficiency to
Your Thanksgiving Menu
I t ta k e s a lot
of energy to cook all day and to host a house full of com-
pany for Thanksgiving. So while you’re making your grocery list this holi-
day season, start a list of ways you and your family can cut down on
energy use.
Some ideas:
Lower the thermostat. If you’re cooking all day, your kitchen will get
really hot. Some of that heat will spill into the rest of the house, so there’s
no need to keep the thermostat at its usual setting.
Don’t turn your oven on until it’s full. Cook several dishes at once. If
their recommended cooking temps are within 25 degrees of each other in
either direction, everything will cook as it should.
Identify dishes that you can cook in the microwave, which heats food
faster than the oven and uses about a third of the electricity.
F T wIT T y | ISToCk .Com
Run your dishwasher only when it’s full. Using the dishwasher uses
less energy and water than hand-washing.
Cool leftovers on the counter before putting them into the refrigerator. Peach Sweet Potatoes
That will keep the fridge from having to work so hard to cool off hot food.
6 medium sweet potatoes
But don’t leave perishable food out for more than a few hours, after which
½ cup packed brown sugar
it begins to spoil.
⅓ cup coarsely chopped nuts
Use a slow cooker, toaster oven or warming plate to do the same job of
½ teaspoon salt
cooking some dishes but with less electricity. The average toaster oven can
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
use about half the energy of the average electric stove over the same cook-
1 can (15 ounces) sliced peaches,
ing time.
drained
Make sure your stovetop is in good condition. For your stovetop to
Butter
function effectively, it’s important that the metal reflectors under your
⅓ cup chopped cashews or pecans,
electric burners stay clean.
for garnish
Ensure your pots and pans are in good shape. If your pans have
warped over time and don’t sit flat on the burner, it may be time for
1. Place potatoes in a large pot, cover
some new ones that ensure heat transfers efficiently from the burner to
with water and bring to a boil. Reduce
the pan. D
heat, cover and cook 30–45 minutes
or until potatoes are tender.
2. Drain and allow to cool, then peel
and cut potatoes into cubes. In a
small bowl, combine brown sugar,
nuts, salt and ginger.
3. Put half of potatoes in an
ungreased baking dish. Top with half
of peaches and half of brown sugar
mixture. Repeat layers, then dot with
butter.
4. Cover and bake at 350 degrees
for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake
10 minutes longer or until bubbly and
heated through. Garnish with nuts.
SERVES 10
F Il aD en DRon | I STo Ck .Co m
Find this and more delicious recipes
online at TexasCoopPower.com.
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KarnesEC_2111_ 10/14/21 1:39 PM Page 22
SK YNESHER | ISTOC K .C OM
Entertain Safely This Thanksgiving
A S T H A N K S G I V I N G A P P R OAC H E S , use this checklist to ensure Home Heating Safety
your home is ready for all the festivities of the holiday season. e Have your heating system inspected annually by a licensed,
qualified professional.
Fire Safety e Use space heaters properly and safely. Keep them out of high-
e Test your smoke alarms monthly and make sure your house traffic areas and at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.
is protected by an adequate number of working alarms, e Do not leave a space heater running unattended. Turn off and
which should be installed in each bedroom, outside each unplug space heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
sleeping area and on every level of your home. e Never leave an open flame—especially in a fireplace—
e Keep halls, stairs and doorways properly illuminated and unattended.
free of clutter and other objects that could hinder an escape
during a fire emergency. Child Safety
e Plan for older guests or those with mobility issues to sleep e If you are hosting small children, put away small items that
on the ground floor. are choking hazards.
e Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways to keep
Decorating Safety babies and toddlers safe.
e Avoid overloading electrical outlets, which can overheat and e Move all cleaning products and other dangerous items out of
cause a fire. the reach of children and store them in a locked area.
e Do not place extension cords where they could be tripping e Set your water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees
hazards. to reduce the risk of scalding.
e Do not run extension cords under rugs or furniture. e Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent electric shocks
e Keep all decorations at least 3 feet from heat sources, includ- and burns, or use safety covers on all unused outlets that are
ing space heaters and fireplaces. accessible to children.
e Think of youngsters: Place cords, breakables, candles and e Never allow children to play with electrical decorations or
other potentially dangerous items out of children’s reach. cords. D
e Turn off and unplug all decorations before leaving home or
going to sleep.
e Use only weatherproof electrical devices for outdoor activi-
ties and protect those devices from moisture.
22 TEX AS CO-OP POWER NOVEMBER 2021 K A R N E S E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
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Keep Utility Poles
Free of Obstructions
A UTILIT Y POLE might look like a convenient and free bulletin board, fence
post or light pole, but before you tack on a yard sale sign, wrap it in barbed
wire or attach a light fixture, think twice.
Safety issues caused by pole attachments place the lives of lineworkers
and the public at risk.
It might seem innocent, but a small nail partially driven into a pole can
pierce a lineworker’s glove, damaging critical gear that protects against
high-voltage electricity. It could also cause a lineworker to get snagged
while working at heights.
Your electric cooperative’s line crews climb utility poles at all hours of
the day and night—in even the worst weather conditions—to maintain
and restore power. Anything attached to utility poles can create serious
hazards for our line personnel. Sharp objects like nails, tacks, staples and
barbed wire can puncture rubber gloves and other safety equipment, mak-
ing linemen vulnerable to electrocution.
Your cooperative’s lineworkers have reported poles used as community
bulletin boards and satellite mounts and even poles that support legs for
deer stands, lights and carports. These attachments put at risk not only
line crews but also anyone who illegally places items on poles; they come
dangerously close to power lines with thousands of volts of electricity
streaming overhead.
Additionally, large attachments could compromise the structural
integrity of the pole, putting it at risk of weakening or failing. A fallen pole
means downed power lines, which are extremely dangerous and can lead
to outages.
It’s always smart to keep any structure at least 10 feet away from utility
poles.
Unauthorized pole attachments violate the National Electrical Safety
Code. In Texas it’s a crime to attach any unapproved item to a utility pole, MARK YOUR
and doing so can result in a daily fine. CALENDAR
Please help us keep our linemen—and our community—safe. Do not
attach any unauthorized items to utility poles, and contact your electric Veterans Day
cooperative to remove any unauthorized items you see. D thursday,
November 11
Thanksgiving
thursday,
November 25
our offices will be
closed November
25–26 in observance
of the holiday.
Hanukkah
Begins Sunday,
November 28
D -Hu S S | iStock .com
5PH | iStock .com
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KarnesEC_2111_ 10/14/21 5:47 PM Page 24
Have a Flame-Free
Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING IS a prime day for kitchen
fires, and the U.S. Fire Administration
reports that more than 4,000 fires occur
on the holiday.
Increased activity in cooking areas and a
whole host of distractions can lead to the
holiday going down in flames.
For a safe Thanksgiving, remember:
e Do not leave food cooking or the stove
unsupervised.
e Make sure smoke alarms work.
e Don’t leave candles burning unattended
or burn them near flammable items.
LED candles are a safe alternative.
LILKIn | IStoc K .c oM
e Follow all directions for using a deep
fryer, including never putting a frozen
or partially frozen turkey in hot oil, and
never leave the fryer unattended.
e Keep matches, lighters and candles out
of the reach of children.
Conserve Energy as e Make sure electrical cords to kitchen
appliances such as toaster ovens, cof-
the Weather Cools fee makers and mixers stay dry and
don’t melt in contact with heat.
I T ’ S T E M P T I N G TO turn the heat on as soon as the weather starts to cool in
the fall and early winter. But holding off for a few weeks until you really e Plug kitchen electrical appliances into
need to rely on heat can keep your energy bills low. outlets protected with ground-fault
If you must turn the heat on: circuit interrupters. D
Set it no higher than 68 degrees. This will make your indoor air comfort-
able without wasting energy.
Put on another layer. Try putting on a sweater and slippers if you’re feel-
ing cold. Adding another layer of clothing might keep you cozy enough to
delay turning up the thermostat.
Move furniture and drapes away from warm air registers and baseboard
heaters so they don’t block the heat from circulating. The freer the airflow,
the lower you can set your thermostat.
Close the flue damper of your wood-burning fireplace. In fact, consider
fitting an electric fireplace into it so you can enjoy a light show without
sending heated air up the chimney.
Have a heating, ventilating and air conditioning professional inspect
your heating system before it gets too cold outside. Regular maintenance
can prevent an expensive, inconvenient problem later in the winter—when
S K yn ESh Er | I Sto cK .co M
it would be uncomfortable to go even a day without a working heater.
Seal indoor openings on external walls, such as around the areas where
the cable and phone lines come into the house and around penetrations
for water pipes and sewer lines. Caulking those openings can keep your
heated air in and the cool air out.
Add or repair weatherstripping. The spaces around doors and windows
can allow cold air to sneak in, so before it gets too cold out, inspect your
weatherstripping to make sure it’s blocking air movement. If it’s missing
or worn out, replace it. D
24 TEX AS CO-OP POWER noVEMBEr 2021 K A R N E S E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
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Texas Division of emergency managemenT DivisiÓn De aDminisTraciÓn De emergencias De Texas
Hurricane Preparedness Guidelines Preparación para huracanes
Hurricane season is June 1–November 30 la temporada de huracanes es del 1 de junio al 30 de noviembre
if you are under a hurricane warning, find safe shelter right away. cuando un huracán está a 36 horas de llegar:
When a hurricane is 36 hours from arriving: e prenda su televisor o radio para obtener las últimas actualiza-
e turn on your tV or radio in order to get the latest weather ciones meteorológicas e instrucciones de emergencia.
updates and emergency instructions. e Reponga su kit de emergencias. incluya alimentos y agua sufi-
e Restock your emergency preparedness kit. include food and cientes para al menos tres días, medicamentos, una linterna,
water sufficient for at least three days, medications, a flash- pilas, dinero en efectivo y suministros de primeros auxilios.
light, batteries, cash, and first-aid supplies. learn how to build Aprenda como construir un kit de emergencia en ready.gov/
an emergency kit at ready.gov/build-a-kit. build-a-kit.
When a hurricane is 18–36 hours from arriving: cuando un huracán está a 18–36 horas de llegar:
e bookmark your city or county website for quick access to e marque como favorito el sitio web de su ciudad o condado
storm updates and emergency instructions. para el acceso rápido de las actualizaciones de tormentas
e instrucciones de emergencia.
e bring indoors any loose, lightweight objects that could become
projectiles in high winds (e.g., patio furniture and garbage cans); e traiga adentro objetos sueltos y ligeros que puedan conver-
anchor objects that are unsafe to bring in (e.g., propane tanks); tirse en proyectiles con vientos fuertes (por ejemplo, muebles
and trim or remove trees close enough to fall on a building. de patio y botes de basura); sujete objetos que no serían
seguros para llevar adentro (por ejemplo, tanques de propano);
When a hurricane is 6–18 hours from arriving:
y recorte o retire los árboles que están lo suficientemente
e turn on your tV or radio or check your city or county website cerca como para caer en un edificio.
every 30 minutes for the latest weather updates and emergency
cuando un huracán está a 6–18 horas de llegar:
instructions.
e encienda su televisor o radio, o visite el sitio web de su ciudad
e charge your cellphone so you will have a full battery in case o condado cada 30 minutos para obtener las últimas actualiza-
you lose power.
ciones meteorológicas e instrucciones de emergencia.
When a hurricane is six hours from arriving:
e cargue su teléfono celular para que tenga una batería llena en
e if you’re not in an area that is recommended for evacuation, caso de que pierda energía.
plan to stay at home or where you are, and let friends and
cuando un huracán está a seis horas de llegar:
family know where you are.
e Si no se encuentra en un área recomendada para la evacuación,
e close storm shutters and stay away from windows. Flying glass planifique quedarse en su casa o donde se encuentra y avise a
from broken windows could injure you.
sus amigos y familiares donde se encuentra.
e turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting and
e cierre las contraventanas y aléjese de las ventanas. los vidrios
open only when necessary. if you lose power, food will last
que vuelan de las ventanas rotas podrían dañarle.
longer. keep a thermometer in the refrigerator to be able to
check the food temperature when the power is restored. e Ajuste la temperatura de su refrigerador o congelador a la
posición más fría y ábralos solo cuando sea necesario.
To stay safe during a hurricane:
Si pierde la energía, la comida durará por más tiempo. man-
e if told to evacuate, do so immediately. do not drive around tenga un termómetro en el refrigerador para poder verificar la
barricades. temperatura de los alimentos cuando se restablezca la energía.
e if sheltering during high winds, go to a Federal emergency Para mantenerse a salvo durante un huracán:
management Agency safe room; international code council
e Si se le indica que evacue, hágalo inmediatamente. No maneje
500 storm shelter; or a small, interior, windowless room or hall-
alrededor de las barricadas.
way on the lowest floor that is not subject to flooding.
e Si se refugia durante vientos fuertes, vaya a una habitación
e if trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of segura de la Federal emergency management Agency, refugio
the building. do not climb into a closed attic; you may become
contra tormentas del international code council 500 o una
trapped by rising floodwaters.
habitación o pasillo pequeña e interior sin ventanas en el piso
To stay safe after a hurricane: más bajo que no esté sujeto a inundaciones.
e listen to authorities for information and special instructions. e Si queda atrapado en un edificio por inundación, vaya al nivel
e do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are más alto del edificio. No suba a un ático cerrado porque usted
standing in water. if it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at puede quedar atrapado por las crecientes inundaciones.
the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock. Para mantenerse a salvo después de un huracán:
e Avoid wading in floodwaters, which can contain dangerous e escuche a las autoridades para obtener información e instruc-
debris. underground or downed power lines can also electri- ciones especiales.
cally charge the water.
e No toque el equipo eléctrico si está mojado o si está parado
en el agua. Si es seguro hacerlo, apague la electricidad en el
interruptor principal o en la caja de fusibles para evitar una
descarga eléctrica.
e evite vadear en el agua de la inundación, que puede contener
desechos peligrosos. las líneas eléctricas subterráneas o
caídas también pueden cargar el agua eléctricamente.
de epblue 4yo u | iSto ck .co m
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