On October 11, Claiborne Electric Lineman Ryan Beach completed module III of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives’ Lineman Training School.

This school is held in Baton Rouge at ALEC’s office. The complete program consists of four modules, with participants completing one module per year. The program requires more than 150 training hours of classroom instruction, independent study, and hands-on education.

Module III includes training in advanced safety practices, metering, system power flow, advanced transformers, maps and standards, system protection, National Electrical Safety Code, advanced OSHA training, and a course on special elements.

In early October, Operations and Maintenance Managers Grub Faulk and Daniel Kimbell, along with Foremen Caleb Temple and Rocky Lachney, attended the Eaton Voltage Regulator School in Houston, TX.

The three-day school included classroom and hands-on instruction and testing. Topics covered included internal and external features, regulator theory and application, safe bypassing, controls and features, software, retrofits, tap changer maintenance, troubleshooting, and schematics.

Left to right: Foreman Rocky Lachney, Operations and Maintenance Manager Grub Faulk, Operations and Maintenance Manager Daniel Kimbell, and Foreman Caleb Temple participate in a hands-on class during the recent Eaton Voltage Regulator School.

In early January 2024, Claiborne Electric notified members of an increased cost from the Cooperative’s wholesale power provider, which was related to critically low water levels along the Mississippi River.

This dramatically increased shipping costs for coal, resulting in a force majeure event beyond Claiborne Electric’s control, and the Power Cost Adjustment factor used to calculate member bills was increased to cover the charges. As a good faith effort to lessen the burden on member bills, these increased charges, while paid in full at the time by the Cooperative, where spread over months to Cooperative members.

Claiborne Electric is pleased to announce that the force majeure costs have now been fully recovered! Members will see lower power costs through a lower Power Cost Adjustment factor on current and future months’ bills.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES

Claiborne Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“Claiborne”) is soliciting proposals from experienced firms or professionals to provide Disaster Recovery Program Management Consultant Services in the event of named disasters affecting its service area and Claiborne Electric’s management declaring additional administrative assistance is needed.

The initial term of the contract resulting from this RFQ will be for a period of one year with the option of renewal for two additional, one-year terms. The contracted company will support Claiborne with disaster recovery efforts upon the execution of a contract task order issued in response to a declared disaster.

At its option, Claiborne may also utilize the successful respondent to manage various applications for Federal and State grant opportunities as they may arise from time to time.

A Request for Proposal can be obtained by:

• clicking here
• calling CFO Kathy Tanner at (318) 927-3504
• emailing kathy@our.coop
• downloading the RFQ package from Central Bidding, https://www.centralbidding.com

The deadline for submission of proposals is October 11, 2024.

Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses and labor surplus area firms are highly encouraged to submit a proposal in response to this RFQ.

Questions and responses related to CEC’s RFQ:

1) May proposers submit bids to Claiborne Electric’s physical address at 12525 Hwy. 9, Homer, LA 71040 with Attention directed to Kathy Tanner?

Answer: Yes, bids can be submitted to our physical address, but allow extra time for delivery.

2) Is there an incumbent? If so, who?

Answer: Yes, there is an incumbent, but we are not disclosing that information at this time.

At the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperative’s (ALEC) Annual Awards Banquet, held July 22 in Baton Rouge, Claiborne Electric custodian Glenn Stewart was honored with the 2024 Color For Safety Award.

Each year, electric cooperative employees across the state are allowed to decorate their glove bag or have a loved one decorate it. This program is intended to help employees remember to work safely and go home to their families each night.

Stewart had his bag decorated in memory of his late nephew, Shayne Williams. Williams was a lineman for Echo Powerline. Stewart’s glove bag depicted Williams in his bucket truck.

At the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperative’s (ALEC) Annual Awards Banquet, held July 22 in Baton Rouge, Claiborne Electric and its employees were honored with a safety award.

Claiborne Electric employees were presented a plaque for working more than 691,000 work-hours without a lost-time accident. General Manager and CEO Michael Marcotte (pictured, center) accepted the award from ALEC safety employees Ricky Melancon (left) and Derek Seal (right).