TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Rural Living
New Year, New Ways to Save!
Keep your usage on track in the New Year Pg. 6-7
January & February 2026
TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Rural Living January & February 2026
Board of Trustees
INCREASED ELECTRIC RATE PRESSURES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH 2026 Tri-County Electric Cooperative faced extraordinary challenges in 2023 and 2024 as three hurricanes and one tornado caused widespread damage to our electric system. Restoring power safely and as quickly as possible has always been—and continues to be—our top priority. Thanks to the dedication of our employees and the support of mutual aid partners, we worked tirelessly to restore service and protect our communities during these unprecedented events. Storm Recovery Costs and FEMA Reimbursements
Bobby Dodd
Donnie Waldrep
District 2
District 3
President
Vice President
George Webb
Secretary/Treasurer District 4
The total cost to repair and rebuild damaged portions of our electric system exceeded $125 million. As a notfor-profit electric cooperative serving predominantly rural areas, Tri-County Electric Cooperative is eligible to receive FEMA reimbursements for a significant portion of these storm-related expenses. Unfortunately, the reimbursement process has been extremely slow, and the volume of documentation required has far exceeded what we believe is reasonable for an agency created to support disaster-impacted communities.
Julius Hackett, CEO
To date, the cooperative has received only $25 million in FEMA reimbursements. As a result, we are carrying substantial outstanding debt along with ongoing interest expenses that requires additional revenue to service this new short term debt. Junior Smith
Catherine Bethea
District 1
District 5
Ann Herring District 6
Following the first hurricane in 2023, we reasonably expected reimbursements to be expedited— especially since all the counties we serve are designated as fiscally constrained. That has not been the case. These delays are occurring at a time when many of our members are already facing affordability challenges due to rising costs for everyday goods and services. We recognize this burden and remain committed to managing costs responsibly while continuing to provide reliable electric service. Ongoing Advocacy and Federal Reform Efforts
Benjamin White District 7
Johnny Edwards District 8
John Cruce District 9
TCEC Staff
Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Brewer, Vice President of Engineering Eileen Herndon, Vice President of Corporate Services John Tuten, Vice President of Operations Wendell Williams, Vice President of Finance
Our members should know that we have an exceptional team of employees and consultants who meet bi-weekly with FEMA to address ongoing requests for additional documentation and to advocate on behalf of the cooperative. While this process has been frustrating and time-consuming, we are encouraged by progress at the federal level—particularly with the FEMA Act of 2025, formally known as the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025. This legislation is designed to modernize and streamline FEMA’s disaster response and includes several provisions that would significantly benefit electric cooperatives. The Act would accelerate reimbursement timelines, allow recovery of loan interest costs incurred during rebuilding, expand access to resiliency funding, and provide flexibility to rebuild stronger and more resilient systems rather than simply replacing damaged infrastructure. These reforms could lower recovery costs, improve grid resilience, and support faster power restoration following future storms. We will continue to keep you informed of our progress throughout the year.
Tri-County Electric Cooperative Rural Living, the voice of your member-owned electric cooperative, is published bimonthly — more if necessary — at no subscription cost to the membership. The publication team is comprised of TCEC employees. Postage is paid at Tallahassee, Fla.
Publication Team
Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer Eileen Herndon, Vice President of Corporate Services Kaitlynn Culpepper, Community Relations Director
Publisher
Joanna Forrester Printed on Responsibly Forested Paper Tri-County Electric Cooperative 2862 West US 90 Madison, FL 32340 www.tcec.com 1-800-999-2285
Perry District Office Rebuild Members may notice slower-than-expected progress related to the rebuilding of our Perry District Office, which was damaged during Hurricane Idalia. The decision to move forward with this project followed extensive review and discussion by the Board of Trustees. Importantly, the Perry District Office rebuild qualifies for FEMA assistance covering 75% of the total project cost. However, FEMA requirements state that if we do not have a viable project with significant progress by October 2026, we risk losing access to this reimbursement funding altogether. Many members have asked why this process has taken so long. The answer is straightforward: FEMA approval timelines are lengthy. For more than 24 months, our team has worked diligently with FEMA representatives—responding to requests, submitting documentation, and verifying damages— to meet every requirement necessary to move forward. We are currently awaiting FEMA’s final authorization, and once it is received, we are prepared to proceed immediately. We understand that increased rates and large capital projects impact our membership, and we do not take these decisions lightly. Moving forward with the Perry District Office rebuild now allows us to leverage significant federal funding rather than placing the full financial burden of the project on our members—an outcome that would have a far greater negative impact. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued trust as we work through these challenges. Your cooperative remains committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and providing reliable electric service today and for years to come.
Board Meetings The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. will be held the second Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the central office building of the Cooperative located at 2862 West US 90, approximately two miles west of the City of Madison.
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January & February 2026
210 YEARS OF SERVICE
This past fall TCEC celebrated 13 individuals for their years of service to the cooperative, our members, and communities. With over 210 years of dedicated service between them, we are thankful for their hard work and commitment over the years. Each of their roles are vital to the day-to-day operations of TCEC and providing our members with the quality, reliable electric service they depend on. Thank you!
35 Years of Service
Willie Bell – Lead Tree Trimmer
30 Years of Service
20 Years of Service
Steve Walden – GIS Specialist William Carter – Serviceman (Not Pictured)
15 Years of Service
Derrick Calhoun – IT Director Keith Ruff – Accounts Receivable Supervisor David Wesson – Contractor Supervisor
Shane Roberts – Serviceman
10 Years of Service
Sandy Wilson – Member Service Representative Chad Mitchell – Lineman Seth Ragans – Lineman George Webb – Board Member
5 Years of Service
Katie Oakes – Member Service Representative Trey Killingsworth – Lineman (Not Pictured) January & February 2026
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YEAR OFF
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MAKE THE SWITCH! Email your local sales rep at Will.Oberschlake@conexon.us, call 850-399-1256, or scan our QR code. 4
January & February 2026
Saving Energy During Peak Times Benefits All
Conserving electricity during peak energy use times not only lowers your monthly bill––it can benefit our entire community. “Peak times” refer to periods of the day when the demand for electricity is highest. Think early mornings when people are getting ready for work or school and evenings when families return home, cook dinner and unwind with electronics. When everyone uses energy at once, it adds pressure on the electric grid. TCEC works around the clock to ensure that electricity flows to your home whenever you need it. Behind the scenes, an enormous and intricate system is at work—one of the most complex machines in the world: the U.S. power grid. The grid is made up of three major interconnections that span the country, each managing supply and demand through regional authorities to keep the lights on and our economy running smoothly. Electricity comes from a diverse mix of sources—hydropower, natural gas, coal, solar, wind and more. Some power plants can respond quickly to spikes in demand, while others are less flexible. Once energy is generated, it travels through high-voltage transmission lines to local utilities, like TCEC, which then delivers it to your home or business through distribution power lines. When electricity demand surges during peak times, it’s more expensive to generate or purchase power. If supply can’t keep up, the risk of outages increases. That’s why using less energy during peak hours is more important than ever. It not only eases strain on the grid but also helps you save money. So how can you “beat the peak”? Start by adjusting your thermostat a few degrees during peak hours. Smart thermostats can automate this for you. Delay using energy-hungry appliances like ovens, clothes washers and dishwashers until later in the evening. Charging your electric vehicle overnight instead of right after you get home can also help. Small actions taken by many households can lead to big results. When we all work together to reduce energy use during peak times, we protect our power grid, help control costs and ensure reliable electricity for our communities. January & February 2026
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New Year, New Ways to Save!
Keeping your usage on track in the New Year Monitoring your usage is crucial for saving energy and money as it provides visibility into spending habits, helping you find wasteful areas, avoid over consumption and overspending, help spot issues early and create accountability. This proactive approach empowers consumers to make informed decisions about their habits and potentially reduce their costs. TCEC Members enrolled in SmartHub at www.tcec.com or on the SmartHub mobile app have access to comprehensive tools to understand, review, and monitor their energy usage. Sign up today and stay on track in the new year! Be in control and make decisions that can help reduce your bill. Average Usage – Review your average usage from any month or any day of the week. Usage Comparison – Compare usage and cost from month to month, or the same month from year to year. Higher usage, what has changed in your home or habits from year to year or month to month? Or track your success in decreasing your usage over time. Usage Explorer – Take a deep dive into your usage and how much it costs to power your home or business. Compare days, months, temperature highs and lows and more. Usage Management provides tools to help identify how you use your services and evaluate ways to save usage and money. Download and review your usage in monthly or daily intervals for an in-depth look at your energy usage, evaluate when you are using the most electricity and determine ways to save. Usage Tracking - Tracking offers a simple way to remember and track spikes or dips in your usage during a specific timeframe. Some examples of events to add tracking could be a new water heater, new appliances, A/C or furnace settings, etc.
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January & February 2026
Usage Alerts The Usage Alert is a valuable tool that enables consumers to stay informed about their energy consumption. By setting personalized hourly or daily usage thresholds, users can receive timely notifications whenever their usage exceeds or falls below these limits. Members can enroll in email, text, automated call, or push notification that are set to go out automatically at 2:00 PM every day, for usage from the day before.
SmartHub makes it easy for customers to set up their own Usage Alerts. Use the steps below to enroll today!
Members will need to know their average usage and usage patterns, which can be found in the Usage section of SmarHub, to determine the numerical parameters they want to establish for the alerts. January & February 2026
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STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is the recipient of federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of 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), shall be excluded from participation in, admission or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any of this organization’s programs or activities. The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is H. Julius Hackett, CEO. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.
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January & February 2026
Welcome, Anderson Twins!
TCEC Lineman, Keistin Anderson and his wife Ali, welcomed their sons Callum Creed and Beau Louis on August 29th. After several weeks in the NICU we are proud to report that both babies are home with Mom and Dad and everyone is doing well. Congratulations, Keistin and Ali!
H a p py R etir em ent, San dy!
We recently said goodbye to Sandy Wilson, who retired on January 2, after more than 10 years of dedicated service as a Member Service Representative at the co-op. During her tenure, she served members in both our Greenville District Office and at the headquarters office in Madison, assisting thousands of members—whether in person or over the phone. Known for her compassion and commitment to delivering the best possible member service experience, Sandy made a lasting impact on both our members and her colleagues. She was a trusted mentor to many on the Member Service Representative team and will be greatly missed. As she begins this next chapter, Sandy looks forward to taking it easy at first and then traveling. Having already seen much of the world during her employment with the airline industry, she now has the opportunity to revisit favorite places—or explore new ones. We wish Sandy all the very best in her well-deserved retirement.
Inspections are Underway TCEC will be performing inspections throughout our service territory on our padmount transformers. During the inspection process, routine maintenance will be performed. Should the inspection reveal a repair is needed, in some instances, a second visit to your property may be needed. TCEC estimates it will take 2-3 months to complete this important inspection of our nearly 1800 padmount transformers.
January & February 2026
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Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing Recipe Courtesy of Taste of Home Cook: 45 min | Prep: 15 min | Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients • 6 boneless pork loin chops (6 ounces each) • 1 tablespoon canola oil • 1 package (6 ounces) crushed stuffing mix • 1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling with cinnamon • Minced fresh parsley, optional
Directions 1. In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, prepare stuffing according to package directions. Spread pie filling into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Place the pork chops on top; spoon stuffing over chops. 2. Cover and bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover; bake until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, about 10 minutes longer. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.
This Publication’s Inspirational Moment “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 10
January & February 2026
Holiday Schedule Reminder All Tri-County Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, January 19, 2026 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will have standby crews available for power restoration if needed.
January & February 2026
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210 210 Years Years of of Service Service Pg. Pg. 33 Malfunctioning Malfunctioning Outdoor Outdoor Light? Light? Pg. Pg. 88
Proud to serve in 2026 and beyond! TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Rural Living
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Tri-County Electric 2862 West US 90 Cooperative, Inc. 2862 WestFLUS32340 90 Madison, Madison, FL 32340
Presorted Std. U.S. Postage P A I D Tallahassee, FL Permit No. 706