April 2026

FLASHES

As employees of West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC), we have the unique privilege of seeing firsthand what it takes to keep the lights on. In April, we recognize the brave men who make that possible every single day: lineworkers. 95258001

When storms impact our communities and outages occur, many people experience that inconvenience, but our lineworkers see a call to action. Our crews are always ready when it matters most - leaving family dinners, working through the night, and heading into challenging conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. That dedication comes from rigorous training, deep experience, and a shared commitment to serving others.

When the lights go out, lineworkers are ready to answer the call, day or night, to safely restore power and keep our communities moving forward. They take pride in powering the places we call home. Today and every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and commitment.

What makes linemen remarkable is that they aren’t just restoring power to a system. They’re restoring power to their community. They live here, raise their families here, and understand that electricity is an essential part of daily life for local businesses, schools, farms and emergency services.

Electric co-ops like WFEC were built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our linemen embody that spirit. They’re the first to respond and the last to leave, often working long hours. At times, serving our members means going beyond our service territory through a process known as mutual aid. During major outage events, WFEC crews stand ready to assist neighboring co-ops, sometimes close to home and sometimes across state lines.

Matters Most

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When Winter Storm Fern hit northern Mississippi this January, WFEC sent several linemen to assist them

Page 2: Anderson Retires after 39 Years

Page 3: Bush and Owens Earn Director Gold Certifications

Page 3: Cold Weather Drives Higher Energy Use

Page 4: Carnley Retires with More Than 40 Years of Service

When ROW crews are trimming in your area, there may be several days between ROW cutting & clean-up crews due to inclement weather, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. WFEC Right-of-Way Crews will be cutting & trimming in the following area(s) during Esto toward Pittman Area & Westville toward Pittman Area ROW U pdate

Anderson Retires After 39 Years

After thirty-nine years of dedicated service to West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC), we are proud to celebrate, Beverly Anderson, Manager of Member Services, in the cooperative’s Bonifay office, as she announces her retirement.

Anderson began her career in August 1986 as a service clerk and was one of the co-op’s first 24-hour dispatchers, helping ensure members received reliable service around the clock. Over the years, she served in various roles, including assisting with the member newsletter layout, and as a cashier. In 1998, she was promoted to Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Member Services, and in 2015, she became Manager of Member Services in the Bonifay District, where she led the staff with professionalism, care, and dedication.

Reflecting on her career, Anderson said, “After nearly four decades, it’s an emotional moment to step away from a place that has been such a significant part of my life. I am incredibly grateful for the growth and

with power restoration. Crews stayed for ten days and helped thousands of people by restoring their power and heating sources in dangerously cold temperatures and unforgiving elements.

We understand any time the lights go out it can be frustrating, bringing everyday life to a halt. We are incredibly grateful to our members for your patience and encouragement during these times. Line work is demanding, physical, and at times, dangerous.

To our linemen: thank you for your hard work, your readiness and your unwavering commitment to the communities we serve. We are proud to stand behind you and grateful for all that you do.

experiences I have gained throughout my tenure. The camaraderie with my staff in the Bonifay office has been the highlight of my career. I have enjoyed working alongside them and witnessing their progress in serving our members. While there have been obstacles along the way, I value the journey and the lasting relationships I have built here.”

Anderson’s leadership in the Bonifay District and commitment to serving our members has left her mark.

“Beverly has shown exemplary professionalism in her role as Manager of Member Services. She has always been dedicated, consistently striving to ensure that every member has a positive experience. I personally appreciate the commitment and professionalism she brought to the Member Services team each day. She will be greatly missed. I wish her a restful,

enjoyable, and fulfilling retirement. She truly deserves it,” said Sharon Curry, Director of Marketing and Member Services. 88385002

As she looks ahead to retirement, Beverly plans to become more involved in her church and spend more time with her family.

With heartfelt appreciation for her unwavering commitment to West Florida Electric Cooperative, we thank Beverly for her many years of service to our members and celebrate her long career. We wish her all the best in retirement.

Bush and Owens Earn Director Gold Certifications

Two members of West Florida Electric Cooperative’s (WFEC) Board of Trustees, Randy Bush and George Clayton Owens, recently earned their Director Gold recertification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

“The Director Gold credential is the highest level of certification offered to electric co-op trustees and reflects a strong commitment to ongoing professional development. To maintain this distinguished status, trustees must complete at least three continuing education credits from NRECA’s approved programs within a two-year period following their most recent credential award. These programs focus on advanced governance, industry trends, policy development, and strategic

leadership,” said Penny Bryan, VP of Administrative Services. 80403001

By achieving recertification, Bush and Owens demonstrate their dedication to staying informed on the issues impacting electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. Their continued pursuit of education and leadership excellence ensures that WFEC members are represented with integrity, knowledge and a forward-thinking approach to cooperative governance.

Cold Weather Drives Higher Energy Use

If your recent electric bills from West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) was higher than usual, the winter weather likely played a role. January and February brought periods of extended cold to our area, and WFEC set a winter peak demand for electricity in February as members used more power to stay warm.

When temperatures drop, heating systems, especially heat pumps, must run longer to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Lower than normal temperatures, can cause the electric strips in your heat pump to come on, which uses more energy. The longer they run, the more electricity they use, which can lead to higher energy bills.

As of the writing of this article, another brief cold snap is expected,

which could also impact upcoming bills.

Members can monitor their electricity use through the WFEC mobile app or by logging into their account online. These tools allow you to track daily use and set alerts when your energy use is higher than normal. 71482002

Download the WFEC mobile app to get started: www.westflorida.coop/mobile-apps.

Date Range: 1/20/26 to 2/20/26

Carnley Retires with More Than 40 Years of Service

Rick Carnley recently retired with more than 40 years of dedicated service to West Florida Electric Cooperative’s (WFEC) members.

He began his career in 1985 as a tree trimmer in the Right-of-Way Department before transitioning to an Apprentice/Class B Lineman in 1986. Carnley was promoted to Journeyman/Class A Lineman in 1991 following his apprenticeship and was made a Line Crew Leader in 1995. In 2016, he moved into the role of service man, where he continued serving members until his retirement.

Throughout his career, Carnley played an important role in keeping the lights on for our members, especially during major storm events. He also assisted with power restoration efforts following hurricanes and ice storms across the Southeast, including traveling to South Carolina after Hurricane Hugo and leading a crew to Oxford, Mississippi, following a devastating ice storm.

“Being a lineman for WFEC has been a great opportunity for me to serve the members of our cooperative. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some outstanding employees and meeting some of the finest people, our members. After more than 40 years, I am thankful to have

been blessed with a rewarding career and the friendships built along the way,” said Carnley.

Carnley’s experience, leadership, and dedication to the cooperative and the trade of lineman left a lasting impact on WFEC and the people he worked beside.

“Thank you for your many years of service, Rick. We wish you all the best in retirement,” said Wayne Williams, Vice President of Engineering and Operations.

recipe and more: www.westflorida.coop/recipes

Submit your event by email clf@westflorida.coop. Visit the link below to view a list of events.

Notifications Statement: Notice is hereby given that the West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Board of Trustees regularly meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM, unless special circumstances warrant a change. If a change is warranted, it could include changing the time or date of the meetings. It is best to verify the details by calling (800) 342-7400. If you would like to address the Board of Trustees, please consult Board Policy 114 (located on the co-op website).

This Institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.