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The Light Post, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, June 2026

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JAY OFFICE

3425 Highway 4 P O Box 428 (mail) Jay, FL 32565

850-675-4521 or 800-235-3848

WALNUT HILL OFFICE

4950 Highway 99A Walnut Hill, FL 32568

850-327-4122

OFFICE HOURS

7:00 a m to 4:30 p m Monday - Thursday

7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every other Friday

Closed on alternating Fridays Walnut Hill is closed from 12 :00 - 1:00 p m

STAFF

Ryan C. Campbell, P.E., CEO

Sonya Dooley, Director of Finance and Administration

Lanie Sells, Director of Engineering

Glenn White, Director of Operations

Cortney Owens, Manager of Marketing Communications

Derek Bridwell, Manager of Information Technology

Crystal George, Manager of Accounting

TRUSTEES

Escambia County

Brian Davis

James E. Hall

Ernie Hester

Sam Walker (Vice President)

Gary Wiggins

Santa Rosa County

Mickey Diamond

Rick Hunsucker (President)

Philip Marshall

Wesley Scott

Dale Westmoreland (Secretary/Treasurer)

The board of directors meets at 5 p m the third Monday of each month at the cooperative’s Jay office.

FOR POWER OUTAGES

Call 877-OUT-EREC or 877-688-3732 For emergency conditions, call 911.

Contact Cortney Owens (cowens@erec com) regarding this monthly publication

WHY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT MATTERS

There’s something timeless about trees. They ground us, offer shade on summer afternoons and reflect the beauty of each changing season. In our community, that natural landscape is something we all value. At the same time, we share an equally important responsibility, ensuring reliable electricity for our homes and businesses. At EREC, we work every day to balance preserving that beauty with delivering the power you depend on

One of the most important ways we do this is through regular tree trimming While it may seem routine, managing vegetation near power lines is essential to preventing outages, especially during severe weather In fact, nearly half of all power disruptions are caused by trees and branches coming into contact with electrical infrastructure Our Right-of-Way crews work year-round using industry best practices to identify risks early and address them safely and efficiently

Vegetation management is not only about reliability, it’s also about safety. Trees growing too close to power lines can carry electrical current, posing risks to children, families and lineworkers, particularly during storms. Preventative maintenance also helps control costs, reducing the need for more expensive repairs after major outages.

You can play a role, too. When planting trees, consider their mature height and distance from power lines, and always call 811 before digging near underground utilities. By working together, we can maintain a community that’s safe, resilient and just as beautiful for generations to come.

ANNUAL MEETING 2

Despite rainy weather, members turned out for EREC’s 87th Annual Meeting, proving that a little rain couldn’t dampen community spirit. Attendees were welcomed with buckets and mugs upon registration, along with a variety of activities that made the event enjoyable for all ages.

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GridPowerPlayers

1.Generation Owners&Operators

Powerplantscanbeownedandoperatedby electricutilities,governmententitiesorother privatecompanies.Powerplantsproduce electricitybyconvertingenergyfromvarious sources—likenaturalgas,coal,nuclear,or renewables—intoelectricity.

2. Transmission System Owners &Operators

Thetransmissiongridmoveslargeamountsof

3.OrganizedWholesale Markets

Inmanypartsofthecountry,Regional TransmissionOrganizations(RTOs)&Independent SystemOperators(ISOs)coordinatetheflowof electricityacrossregionsbybalancingsupplyand demandinrealtimeandmanagingthedispatchof electricgenerationandtransmissionacrosslarge areaswiththeparticipationofgenerationand transmissionowners.

4.ElectricUtilities (That’s Us!)

Electricdistributionutilitiestake electricityfromthetransmissionsystem anddeliverittohomesandbusinesses throughlower-voltagedistributionlines. Theyalsomaintainlocalpowerlines, polesandotheressentialequipment.

ORZO YOU GLAD IT’S SUMMER?

1 5 cups orzo

3 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock or water

8 oz cherry tomatoes (red and yellow), sliced in half

⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil (chopped)

⅓ cup kalamata olives sliced

¼ cup green olives sliced

6 oz feta cheese crumbled or diced into small cubes

3 tablespoons lemon juice or lime juice, freshly squeezed

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning

¼ cup fresh basil chopped salt and pepper

If the account number below matches yours, call us at (850) 675-4521 to claim a $10 credit on your next electric bill!

5.EndUsers(That’sYou!)

Endusersconsistofthehomes, businessesandindustriesthat consumeelectricity.Their demanddriveshowmuch electricityisgeneratedandhow thegridismanagedinrealtime.

Other KeyPlayers:

NERC: Theregulatoryauthoritythatdevelopsand enforcesmandatory,reliabilitystandardsfortheNorth Americanbulkelectricgrid.(Standardsaredeveloped throughastakeholderprocess.)

FERC: Independentfederalagencythatoversees interstatetransportationandwholesaleelectricitysales, ensuringfairaccesstothegrid.

1.In a large, high-sided skillet, combine orzo and chicken stock Bring to a brief boil, reduce to a visible simmer, and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes (according to package instructions). Check the orzo 5 minutes into the cooking, and stir it to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan Orzo is cooked when all the water is absorbed and the orzo has a nice texture of cooked pasta. You might have to add more water at the end if the orzo is undercooked or the water evaporates too fast

2.Stir in halved cherry tomatoes, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives, and sliced green olives Add Feta cheese (crumbled or diced into small cubes), reserving ¼ cup of cheese for later.

3 Add lemon juice (or lime), extra virgin olive oil, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning

4.Reheat everything on low heat, constantly stirring, to blend all the ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper

5.When serving, top with the remaining feta cheese and chopped fresh basil.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Escambia County

Reynolds Real Estate Lucretia Lamb - Realtor Serving McDavid, FL and surrounding areas

850-791-5608

Email: lucretia.lamb@gmail.com

Website: www ReynoldsRealTeam com

Reynolds Real Estate is a boutique brokerage serving North Escambia County and the surrounding areas Realtor Lucretia Lamb is part of the Reynolds Real Estate team, providing attentive service backed by local market knowledge and a detailoriented approach Whether assisting clients with buying, selling or investing, she is dedicated to clear communication, trusted guidance and helping clients achieve the best possible outcome.

Santa Rosa County

BB’s Stitchery Jay, FL

251-363-2488

Email: BBsStitchery@gmail com

Check them out on facebook

BB’s Stitchery, based in Jay, FL, is a small handmade business by Rebecca Schultz, offering custom sewing and quilting services Inspired by her MawMaw Bessie and Nanny Bert, Rebecca creates everything from simple repairs and cozy accessories to custom quilts, each piece made with care and meaning. Whether you have a simple fix or a custom creation in mind, Rebecca is happy to work with you to create something truly special.

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