This year, I have been losing track of days. Have you noticed how every day is starting to feel like a repeat, with the repetitive nature of the news reporting about the coronavirus? I have heard similar comments from several of my friends.
One of the most difficult challenges this year is the uncertainty. In the electric business, uncertainty is inherent with the job. Weather changes from hot to cold, from drought to floods, or from ice storms to tornadoes.
Electric cooperatives are also impacted by the energy used by homes and businesses. Most times, there is a pattern to how electricity is used, but this year that usage is uncertain. This same uncertainty extends to you at home as well as to the businesses and attractions that make up our Best in Kentucky award winners.
Kentucky Living’s Best in Kentucky awards celebrate the great things about our state. I was lucky enough to visit one of our winners, the Dale Hollow Lake Golf Course, shown above, during the pandemic. I want to thank each of you for voting for our winners and continuing the legacy of celebrating the businesses, people and places that are the Best in Kentucky.
However, I want to ask you to do something more for Kentucky. The businesses that are highlighted in this issue continue to face uncertainty. As we move into fall, I am going to visit and do all I can (pandemic restrictions permitting) to help out these places.
We are fortunate that Kentucky has so many great opportunities and scenic spots just a short drive away, which make for excellent day trips that can calm the soul.
Take a drive and spend some time at a state park. Play golf at one of the beautiful courses around the state. Order something good to eat and pick it up before going to a park for a picnic.
I know that every day right now feels like Groundhog Day. I understand that it is hard to stay safe and feel comfortable when visiting places around the state, but it is important that we continue to support the Best in Kentucky.
Chris Perry, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO.
With social distancing the order of the day, the generations-old annual meeting traditions of electric cooperatives in Kentucky have adopted pandemic safety protocols in 2020.
“Like schools, churches and businesses, each co-op has had to assess how best to operate and engage with its membership at this extraordinary time,” says Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “Many co-ops have had no choice but to cancel their annual meeting.”
Members always come first, says Ted Hampton, president/CEO of Cumberland Valley Electric, Gray. “As things became more restrictive across the Commonwealth, we soon realized we could not ensure everybody’s safety at an annual meeting,” he says.
The Warren RECC board, Bowling Green, reached the same decision, “and felt rescheduling for 2021 was the best way to ensure the health and safety of both our members and our employees,” says co-op communicator Kim Phelps, of the 62,000 member co-op, which updated its membership via an annual report published in Kentucky Living.
For some co-ops, the dates and circumstances of their annual meetings have enabled them to safely squeeze in the events between health advisories and state restrictions.
“It was unlike any other annual meeting in our 82-year history,” says Joni Hazelrigg, president and CEO of Fleming-Mason Energy. “In times like these, we must all be flexible and innovative.” The Flemingsburg co-op conducted drive-thru registration, with members staying in their vehicles and listening to the business meeting on the radio.
“Members voted on measures by honking their horns—certainly a unique way of holding a meeting. But in unique times, it worked wonderfully!” Hazelrigg says.
Employees of Grayson RECC, Grayson, braved heavy rain to register members for the co-op’s business meeting, which was presented live on its Facebook page. “I spoke to a couple of members who said they hoped that we would be back to normal next year,” says Grayson RECC Executive Assistant Kim Bush.
As for West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative, Maysville, “We researched our options with help from Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and elected to hold a virtual business meeting accessible through our website in conjunction with drive-thru registration events in each of the four counties we serve,” explains co-op President & CEO David Smart. “The feedback from members was positive and they seemed to appreciate our effort to engage safely in spite of the restrictions.”
“Our members were happy to drive through and pick up their buckets and bulbs as usual,” says John May, manager of administrative services at Licking Valley RECC, West Liberty. “Everyone seemed to understand why the annual event was modified.”
Todd Blackburn, marketing and external affairs manager at Meade County RECC, Brandenberg, says its drive-thru meeting turnout was similar to 2019. “Obviously, we all would have preferred a traditional annual meeting, but due to the circumstances, the event was well received.”
Nolin RECC’s social distancing efforts in Elizabethtown included spreading out the length of registration, with 2,600 members registering over a three-day period, followed by a live-streamed business session.
“Overall, both members and employees were very happy with how the new format allowed for an annual meeting that followed current public health guidelines,” says Sarah Fellows, communications manager at Nolin RECC.
Shelby Energy, Shelbyville, lengthened drive-thru registration hours and printed signs requesting members to wear masks and leave their window cracked, with ID ready.
“We wore our masks, too, took shifts and had plenty of hand sanitizer,” says Melanie Crossfield, communications and staff assistant. “We hosted a virtual business meeting on Facebook, over the radio, our website and via Zoom.”
Co-ops that needed to conduct voting implemented online tools that have become commonplace in the pandemic workplace.
“We wanted to ensure our members had access to our meeting and could participate with motions, votes and other business, while also ensuring the safety of everyone involved” says Mike Stafford, vice president of member services at Owen Electric, Owenton. “WebEx Events provided a platform that achieved every goal we had to meet with our annual meeting.”
Throughout the pandemic, co-op managers and staff participated in conference calls with other Kentucky co-ops to share ideas and learn from one another’s experiences.
If restrictions allow, Jackson Purchase Energy, Paducah, plans to apply the lessons learned from other co-ops during its rescheduled annual meeting online September 15.
“For the safety of our employees and members, registration will be held in a drive-thru fashion with members remaining in their vehicles and employees maintaining proper social distancing guidelines,” says Executive Assistant Amy Vick.
“Though Kentucky co-ops share a common purpose and are dedicated to improving the quality of life of the members they serve, each co-op is unique and has had to make a tough call in the best interests of its own members,” Perry said.
Safety instructors Randy Meredith, Tony Dempsey and Charlie Lewis introduce us to Inter-County Energy technician, John Land in this episode of Connections.
Kentucky Electric Cooperatives safety instructors Randy Meredith, Tony Dempsey and Charlie Lewis introduce us to Jackson Purchase Energy foreman, Eric Todd, in the latest installment of Connections.
Kentucky Electric Cooperatives expresses deep sympathy to the family and colleagues of David Kimbell, our beloved board member and former statewide association chairman who passed away on Friday at his home in Clinton. He was 75.
Among his many civic and business contributions, David served on the Gibson Electric (formerly Hickman-Fulton Counties RECC) board for 24 years, helping to guide the successful merger of the cooperatives in 2016.
David is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lilly Brown Kimbell of Clinton; Son, Bart (Christy) Kimbell of Clinton; Daughter, Jennifer (David) Lusk of Fulton; 3 Granddaughters, Gracie Lusk and Shiloh Lusk both of Fulton and Lilly Kimbell of Clinton and Brother, Freddie Kimbell of Clinton.
Kentucky Electric Cooperatives safety instructors, Randy Meredith, Tony Dempsey and Charlie Lewis introduce us to Farmers RECC lineman, Scotty Mitchell, in the first installment of “Connections”. This new series will highlight many different positions and people in the co-op world.
In recent days, consumer-members of both South Kentucky RECC and Jackson Energy have contacted their co-op to warn about the scam attempts. Some members describe a scam where the caller claims to be with the co-op and that the member’s payments have not worked. The scammer instructs the member to get a “money packet” from a local retail store then call them back with the information.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division says it has logged 33 complaints regarding utility-related scams since March. Among those victims who reported financial losses, the total was $14,533.60 in consumer losses. Of the 33 complaints, 20 of the victims self-reported their age as 60 or older.
“While the majority of the complaints we’ve received seem to come from Kentuckians age 60 or older, it’s hard to know if scammers are targeting this age group specifically, or if they are they are simply the age group that is more likely to report,” says Elizabeth Kuhn, Communications Director with the Office of Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
In March, the Kentucky Public Service Commission issued an order that halts disconnections for non-payment and fees for late payments. The PSC cautioned that these temporary measures do not relieve customers of the obligation to ultimately pay bills in full, and co-ops have been working with their members on deferred payment plans and other assistance to ease the transition once the pandemic has passed.
Coops urge members to avoid arranging payment or divulging account or personal information, including debit or credit card information, over the phone unless you are certain you are speaking to your utility. If you are unsure, hang up and call the publicly listed number for the utility. When making online payments to your electric provider, always double-check to ensure that you are on the correct website before submitting credit card information.
Kentuckians who suspect a scamming attempt should contact their utility and the Kentucky Attorney General’s office:
Below are some tips Kentuckians should follow to protect themselves:
Do not assume the name and number on your caller ID are legitimate. Caller IDs can be spoofed.
Never share your personal information, including date of birth, Social Security number or banking account information.
Never wire money to someone you don’t know.
Do not click links or call numbers in unexpected emails or texts – especially those asking for your account information.
Most utilities will NOT require their customers to purchase prepaid debit cards or money orders to avoid an immediate disconnection.
If you receive a call that sounds like it may be a scam, or if you believe the call is a scam, hang up, call the police, report the incident to your local utility, and report the call to the Attorney General’s Office.
In this week’s safety video, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Safety instructor, Charlie Lewis, focuses on the proper use, care and inspection of rubber gloves. With their schedule of training and safety talks interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, our safety instructors are releasing weekly videos for local co-op personnel while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Be sure to subscribe to the statewide office’s YouTube channel. The safety team is also conducting live video conferences with local cooperatives by request.
ARLINGTON, Va. (July 1, 2020) – Whitney Duvall, Owen Electric Cooperative (Ky.) Manager of Communications and Marketing has been named the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives® 2020 Brand Champion award recipient.
This annual national honor pays tribute to a brand ambassador who embodies Touchstone Energy’s core values of innovation, integrity, accountability and commitment to community while making exceptional contributions to building the brand on a local level.
Duvall, who has proudly served as the Communications and Marketing Manager of Owen Electric for more than 13 years, was nominated for this year’s award by fellow electric co-op communicator, Sha Phillips, Marketing & Brand Supervisor of East Kentucky Power Cooperative.
In nominating Duvall, Phillips said, “Whitney lives the Touchstone Energy values daily. She puts the co-op members first, listening and responding to them on their changing needs by embracing new ideas and concepts. She actively promotes the importance of Touchstone Energy to co-ops, especially for those co-ops with small member services staff. Her support of the resources is to be commended. As a regional member, I’m proud to call her part of our team of brand champions in Kentucky.”
Michael Cobb, Owen Electric Cooperative President and CEO added, “We are pleased and excited that Whitney has been recognized as this year’s Touchstone Energy Brand Champion Award recipient. Whitney has done an outstanding job promoting Owen Electric and the many benefits of Co-op membership. She always accentuates the very best that Co-ops have to offer and I appreciate her vision and dedication as a communicator.”
“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the Owen Electric family, and I feel very honored and humbled to be recognized by my peers with this award.” Duvall said. “My job has afforded me the opportunity to be a part of promoting the mission of our rural cooperative—to improve the quality of life for the members we serve through safe, affordable and reliable electricity, while providing an exceptional level of member service.”
Adhering to pandemic protocols, Kentucky legislators continue to meet during the General Assembly’s Interim period through December. This follows a Regular Session abbreviated by COVID-19 in which lawmakers went from considering drafts of a two-year state budget to instead passing an austere one-year spending plan.
Advocating for local co-op consumer-members, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives supported the passage of a bill that sets the stage for a broadband deployment fund to help construct infrastructure to provide broadband service to underserved and unserved areas of the commonwealth. Co-ops also watched the session closely and with concern about the potential addition of a sales tax on residential electric bills.
“Thanks to thousands of local co-op members who signed up for grassroots action on RuralPowerKY. com, legislators understood that removing the sales tax exemption on home power bills was a major concern,” says Chase Crigler, community and government affairs director at Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “Your voices were heard. No bill was filed to advance that plan.”
In appreciation of legislators’ restraint on the sales tax issue, we’ve recognized them on the 2020 Kentucky General Assembly Honor Roll (see opposite page) for their support of co-op priorities.
Influential support
As Kentucky co-ops grapple with the economic fallout of the pandemic, they have had some influential support in Washington, D.C. Both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr met virtually with Kentucky co-op leaders, listening to the needs and concerns—“on the ground”—back home in Kentucky, and directing their respective staffs to stay in regular contact with co-ops.
“These open lines of communication have helped them not only craft meaningful relief legislation,” says Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, “but also advocate to make sure federal agencies are responsive to co-op needs.”
Future needs
Perry says that as future recovery efforts take shape, co-ops look forward to continuing to work with elected officials on proposals that ensure electric co-ops have the flexibility and financial relief they need to deliver affordable, reliable electricity.
“From increasing federal assistance for utility payments to supporting high-quality broadband in rural America, the commonwealth’s electric cooperatives stand ready to support bipartisan solutions for the communities we serve,” Perry says.
