CURRENT LIGHT
FLASHES
JANUARY 2026 | VOL. 76 NO. 1 | www.westflorida.coop New Convenience Fee Structure Helps Allocate Costs Fairly West Florida Electric’s (WFEC) Board of Trustees and management recently took a close look at the costs associated with processing payments, namely convenience fees charged by banks and credit card companies like Visa and MasterCard. Convenience fees are charged on every credit card, debit card, or electronic check payment (e-check) submitted to the cooperative. Over time, as more and more payments are submitted electronically, these costs have continued to rise. In order to make sure we are proportionately allocating the costs of the co-op to the services being utilized, effective in January 2026, convenience fees for credit card and electronic check payments will be passed along to the member making the payment. The convenience fee will be passed along by payment type, namely a 2.45% transaction fee for credit card transactions and a flat $1 service fee for electronic check payments (e-checks). As a not-for-profit electric provider, our goal is always to provide service
I nside Page 2: How to Sign Up for Automated Bank Draft Payments Page 2: Beware Winter Utility Scams Page 3: 2025 Employee Recognition Page 4: Winter Heating Safety Tips
as close to its cost as possible; this sometimes means making changes to be sure the cost of service is allocated proportionately to the members utilizing the service. The good news is that these fees will no longer be subsidized by all members. Members who do not utilize these services will see no changes. 60090001 Fortunately, there are ways to avoid paying the 2.45% fee. No credit card fees will be charged to members who pay by credit or debit card in person in the office. Members can avoid these fees by opting for alternative payment methods such as automated bank drafts from your checking or savings account. You can arrange bank drafts by downloading the bank draft form from the cooperative’s continued on page 2
ROW U pdate WFEC Right-of-Way Crews will be cutting & trimming in the following area(s) during
JANUARY:
Compass Lake Tumble Creek & Highview Westville & Ponce De Leon 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.
Spot your WFEC account number & earn a $25 bill credit! Find your account number inside the articles in this publication and give us a call or send an email to clf@westflorida.coop with your name and account number to verify.
website, completing it, and returning it to the co-op. Despite the small changes that are sometimes needed along the way, we are working hard to control costs so we can all continue to receive the most value from our co-op and the electric service we have come to expect from West Florida Electric.
Beware Winter Utility Scams As temperatures drop, West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is urging members to stay alert for “winter bill relief” scams targeting consumers during colder months. Scammers often take advantage of higher winter energy use by promoting fake discounts or relief programs that sound helpful but are designed to steal money or personal information. 83289001 These fraudulent offers may claim to lower your electric rate in exchange for an upfront payment or sensitive account details. Some scammers also demand payment through gift cards, wire transers, or mobile apps like PayPal or Venmo (methods no legitimate utility will ever use). To protect yourself, always verify any offer directly with WFEC by calling 800-342-7400. Never call any number included in unsolicited emails, texts or social media messages. Taking a few minutes to verify the legitimacy of offers can protect you from costly scams.
How to Sign Up for Automated Bank Draft Payments Signing up for bank drafts is easy and won’t take too much of your time to complete. You can find the form you need online or by visiting one of our offices. Here is how to find the form (it’s located in two places on our website). 1. My Account Menu > Ways to Pay > Bank Draft Authorization Form 2. My Account Menu > Member Forms and Paperwork > Bank Draft Authorization Form There are two things the co-op needs from you to set up automated bank draft payments on a reoccurring basis. 62188001 1. A completed Bank Draft Authorization Form 2. A voided check You’ll need the following information to complete the form: • Your WFEC account number • The name listed on your bill • Your billing address • Phone numbers • Email address
After completing the form, sign it, attach a voided check and return it to our office via mail or in person. WFEC will only retain your banking information until the authorization process has been completed. Please continue to make payments as usual until you see “TO BE PAID BY DRAFT” on your monthly billing statement. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our office by calling 800-342-7400.
Energy Efficiency Tip: Winter weather can cause your home heating system to work overtime. Check for air leaks and drafts around doors and windows, then seal them with weatherstripping or caulk. Close fireplace dampers when not in use, and consider installing insulating curtains to help keep warm air inside. You can also save energy by lowering your thermostat a few degrees. Even small adjustments like these can reduce heating costs and improve comfort during the coldest months. 2 • Current Light Flashes • January 2026 • Toll Free Outage Hotline: 844.OUTAGE1 (844.688.2431)
Congratulations to J.T. Harper (top left), recipient of WFEC’s 2025 Employee of the Year Award. J.T. serves as the Shop Leader in WFEC’s Sneads district office. This honor is voted on by fellow employees and recognizes outstanding personality, punctuality, safety habits, teamwork, flexibility, and overall job performance. WFEC also recognized employees from each district with Outstanding Service Awards, which are selected by coworkers using the same criteria: personality, punctuality, safety habits, teamwork, flexibility, and job performance. This year’s recipients were Jose Verduzco, IT – Desktop Support (top right), Graceville Outstanding Service Award; Gerald Pharis, Journeyman Line Worker (bottom left), Bonifay Outstanding Service Award; and Justin Galbreath, Journeyman Line Worker (bottom right), Sneads Outstanding Service Award, pictured with Wayne Williams, VP of Engineering and Operations.
3 • Current Light Flashes • January 2026 • Toll Free Outage Hotline: 844.OUTAGE1 (844.688.2431)
Winter Heating Safety Tips
SMART TIPS:
Simple precautions can help you avoid fire hazards and electrical dangers.
•
There is nothing like curling up by the fire on a cold winter day. But heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. With a few simple steps, you can prevent most heating fires from happening.
Stay cozy and safe this winter: •
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment like furnaces, radiators, fireplaces, electric or wood stoves and space heaters.
•
Maintain a 3-foot kid- and petfree zone around heating equipment.
•
Plug heaters and electric fireplaces directly into wall outlets. Never use extension cords or power strips.
•
Plug only one heat-producing appliance into an electrical outlet at a time.
•
Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed
•
•
•
Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to alert you before it’s too late.
DAVID TATUM
TIM ALFORD
District 1/Treasurer
District 2/President
JACKIE POOSER
JOHN ADAMS
DAVID CORBIN
GEORGE C. OWENS
RANDY BUSH
VACANT SEAT
MYRON HUDSON
NATHAN BERRY
Have a home fire escape plan and practice it with your family. Never use your oven to heat your home. 67718001
•
Test smoke alarms every month.
•
Hire a qualified professional to install or service stationary heating equipment and water heaters according to manufacturer’s instructions.
•
WFEC Board of Trustees
Have your heating system, vents and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
District 3
District 5/Vice President
District 7
Submit your event by email clf@westflorida.coop. Visit the link below to view a list of events.
Unplug heaters when not in use.
District 9/Secretary
District 4
District 6
District 8
Executive VP & CEO
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. 4 • Current Light Flashes • January 2026 • Toll Free Outage Hotline: 844.OUTAGE1 (844.688.2431)