Category: News

Hez Elkins of Farmerville has retired from Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors.

Elkins joined the Board in 1974 and served through the fall of 2024, offering 50 years of service and knowledge to Claiborne Electric and its members.

For many years, he served as the Board President. We thank Mr. Elkins for his many years of valuable service.

Each winter, we tend to see an increase in members who contact our office about the amount of their bill being higher than average.

As an electric cooperative, owned by the members we serve, we want to help our members understand everything possible about billing, usage, and efficiency.

Electric bills are a direct reflection of electric usage – the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used during that billing period. A kilowatt-hour is the unit of measurement used to calculate how much electric energy is used over time. One kWh equals 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour. For example, using a 1,000-watt coffee maker for one hour is equal to one kWh of electric usage.

Electric meters measure usage. They track the number of kilowatt-hours a member uses in a billing period. As members use more electricity, the meter records that usage and bills increase because the number of kilowatt-hours increased. Similarly, as members use less electricity, bills decrease accordingly. Claiborne Electric members have a tool available called SmartHub – a free app that can be downloaded on any Apple or Android device. SmartHub allows members to monitor electric usage daily. Using SmartHub can help members see when their usage is higher than normal. Members can then use that information to take steps to lower electric consumption.

In February, the average electric bill in the state was $129.34 for 1,000 kWh. That figure takes into account all electric utilities regulated by the LPSC. Claiborne Electric members paid $129.22 for 1,000 kWh. The most expensive provider in the state cost $159.63 for the same 1,000 kWh.

The reason some members’ bills are higher is because more kilowatt-hours were used. If bills are significantly higher than the previous month, that means significantly more kilowatt-hours were used in that billing period. In January, we purchased 26% more electricity from our power supplier (Pelican Power) than we did in December to meet our members’ needs.

A significant reason for increased usage in the past month is the arctic blast temperatures in mid-January and again in late-January. During times of extreme cold, electric heating systems use much more electricity because they run for longer periods in order to maintain the temperature set on a thermostat. Drastic weather changes significantly affect usage when it comes to heating a home. If a thermostat is set at 70 degrees, and the temperature outside is 50 degrees, a heating system does not need to work all that hard to make up that 20-degree difference. However, if a thermostat is set at 70 degrees and the temperature outside is 15 degrees, the heating system has to work extremely hard and run almost continuously in order to make up that 55-degree difference. Even though there is no change to the heating system or the thermostat, there is a staggering difference in how long the system runs to reach the desired temperature inside. Another reason winter bills are typically higher than summer bills are that heating requires significantly more energy than cooling.

There are some ways members can lower usage to impact electric bills. The three largest users of electricity in a typical home are:

1. Heating/cooling
2. Water heating
3. Appliances

The easiest and most effective way to lower usage is by decreasing the amount of electricity dedicated to heating or cooling the air. In the winter, we suggest setting a thermostat no higher than 68 degrees. We discourage the use of electric room heaters because they typically have high wattage ratings. For example, a single 1,500-watt electric space heater in use for 12 hours per day uses about $70 worth of electricity per month. When heating systems need to be replaced, pay attention to efficiency ratings. If possible, install an electric heat pump, which is a much more efficient way to heat and cool a home.

Lowering the temperature on an electric water heater will also lower usage and billing. Much like heating and cooling systems, pay attention to efficiency ratings when replacing a water heater. Likewise, use appliances efficiently and replace them with more efficient models at the end of their lifespan.

Claiborne Electric is a not-for-profit electric utility. We’re committed to delivering reliable, cost-effective power to our members. We understand that increased winter bills can be frustrating. We have a fantastic team of Member Service Representatives to help members understand their usage and billing. If members have questions about their bills, they should call our office (Homer: 318-927-3504 or Farmerville: 318-368-3011). We are here to help. We also offer payment plans for members who cannot pay their bill in full.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, our goal is to meet the needs of our members. Please contact us with questions about billing, usage, and energy efficiency.

The nomination period for Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors closed at the end of the business day January 31. Districts Two, Four, and Five were open for nomination.

In District Two, two members were nominated and qualified to run for the open Board seat. Incumbent Willie Sensley, Jr. of Farmerville and Benjamin Walton of Bernice were each nominated for the District Two seat. The director for this district will be decided by a vote of the Co-op’s membership at the Annual Membership Meeting on June 7, 2025.

In District Four, Leroy Perritt of Arcadia was the sole nominee. In District Five, Ben Abshire of Homer was the sole nominee. Perritt and Abshire will each serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors, beginning June 2025.

For specific information on districts or election rules, please reference Claiborne Electric’s bylaws. Bylaws pertaining to districts and director elections can be found in Article IV of the bylaws.

The 18,000 members who own Claiborne Electric Cooperative are represented by nine democratically elected Directors. Each Director represents one of the Cooperative’s nine districts. Members of Claiborne Electric’s Board serve three-year terms.

In general, service on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors consists of the following:

·        Attend and participate in Director meetings

·        Attain education necessary to help run Claiborne Electric

·        Represent Claiborne Electric within the community

·        Hire, supervise, equip, and motivate a Chief Executive Officer

·        Develop a Strategic Plan in conjunction with the management team

·        Review and approve work plans and budgets supporting strategic initiatives

·        Set policies in conjunction with the management team

·        Exercise sufficient oversight to ensure work plans, budgets, and policies are being followed

Directors average 30 days of service per year. This service includes at least 12 monthly meetings. Service on this Board requires open communication to any member of the Cooperative, especially those living in the Director’s district. This will include telephone calls, emails, and face-to-face conversations with members, many of whom will be friends or neighbors of the Director. Directors sometimes represent Claiborne Electric at civic and governmental meetings. In addition, Directors will also travel to meetings for education and training. These meetings are usually held during the workweek. Service on this Board necessitates that Directors have a schedule allowing the flexibility to be available for travel or to provide representation during the day on behalf of the Co-op when needed.

During a Director’s first three-year term, Directors are expected to attain a Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate (CCD). If a Director serves a second term, they are expected to earn a Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) during that term. In a third term, Directors are expected to attain their Director Gold Credential (DGC). Claiborne Electric will cover costs associated with education and travel for meetings and educational programs Directors participate in.

There is no salary or insurance benefit associated with a position on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors. Claiborne Electric will provide modest meeting fees and travel costs for Directors. However, sitting on Claiborne Electric’s Board is a true service position.

Questions about service on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors may be directed to EmmaLee Tingle at emmalee@our.coop.

Nominations are currently open for directors in three of Claiborne Electric’s districts.

Members in Districts Two, Four, and Five may nominate a member from that district to stand for election at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Nominations will be open for the entire month of January. Nominations must be submitted by close-of-business on Friday, January 31.

Willie Sensley, Jr. of Farmerville currently represents District 2.

Leroy Perritt of Arcadia currently represents District 4.

Ben Abshire of Homer currently represents District 5.

Article IV, section 4 of Claiborne Electric’s bylaws reads as follows:

“Nomination

Any three (3) members of record living within a district and acting together, may make a nomination for the Director from that district in writing during the month of January. Nominations will be due by close of business on the last business day of January. The Secretary shall post such nominations at the principal office of the Cooperative in both Union and Claiborne Parishes. If only one nomination is submitted, the Board of Directors will declare the nominated candidate as the winner and shall not hold an election for that district. If no nominations are submitted, the seat will be considered a vacancy and will be handled according to Article IV, Section 6 of these bylaws.”

For specific information on districts or election rules, please reference Claiborne Electric’s bylaws. Bylaws pertaining to districts and director elections can be found in Article IV of the bylaws. A complete district map and district descriptions can be found here.

Claiborne Electric Cooperative will award twenty $2,000 scholarships during a drawing this spring. This drawing for college scholarships is open to high school seniors who are Claiborne Electric members or whose parents or guardians are members of Claiborne Electric.

Scholarship entries are due by Friday, April 4, 2025. Winners will be drawn at random, contacted individually, and announced on Claiborne Electric’s website and digital platforms.

Entrants simply need to complete an entry form. Entries may be scanned and emailed to emmalee@our.coop, mailed to P.O. Box 719, Homer, LA 71040, or dropped off at either office. Only one entry per student is permitted.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must meet the following terms and qualifications:

• Only high school seniors who have been Claiborne Electric members for at least one year, or students whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are active members, will be eligible. Students must have been residing in the household with the member for at least one year at the time of the drawing to be eligible.
• The scholarships are only good for institutions of higher education in the state of Louisiana.
• Scholarship checks will be made out directly to the school and must be used within two years after being awarded for tuition, books, or room and board.
• Recipients will be eligible only once for the scholarship drawing.

Entries should be received at Claiborne Electric by Friday, April 4, 2025, to provide sufficient time for verification of eligibility.

Entering a new year is the perfect time to cut out mailbox clutter, and Claiborne Electric’s paperless option is a great way to get organized and reduce waste.

Claiborne Electric members can easily switch to paperless billing in the SmartHub app. Members can simply click “Settings”, then select “Paperless Billing”, and turn on paperless billing. SmartHub can be downloaded for free on any Apple or Android smart device.

Members who don’t use the SmartHub app and would like to switch to paperless billing can contact our office by telephone. A Members Services Representative will be glad to assist members.

Homer office: (318) 927-3504

Farmerville office: (318) 368-3011

The telephone number Claiborne Electric members call to make payments has changed. The new payment phone number is 855-937-1782. We are asking members who pay by phone to save this number. Members who use the previous payment number will receive a message with instructions to call the new number. The new payment system is easier to use, and we are proud to offer this service to our members.

Back-to-back hurricanes resulted in multiple Claiborne Electric crews responding to recent calls for mutual aid on the state and national level.

In mid-September, six Claiborne Electric employees headed to assist South Louisiana Electric Cooperative (SLECA) in Houma with restoration efforts after Hurricane Francine made landfall in their service territory, resulting in nearly 100% of SLECA’s members being without power. Foreman Rocky Lachney, Lineman Jeffrey Langford, Lineman Ryan Beach, Lineman Josh Dupree, Lineman Andy Mills, and Right-of-Way Specialist Chris Snell responded to help restore electricity for SLECA members.

In late September, six Claiborne Electric linemen headed to Quincy, Florida ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall to assist Talquin Electric Cooperative with restoration efforts after the hurricane. Talquin Electric Cooperative serves approximately 57,000 meters spanning from Florida’s Gulf coast to the Florida-Georgia state line, including portions of Tallahassee and the surrounding areas. Crew Leader Blake Robertson, Lineman Buddy Chandler, Lineman Dillon Walton, Lineman Clay Salley, Lineman Chuck Yocom, and Lineman Paco Allen responded to help restore electricity for Talquin Electric Cooperative members.

On October 11, six Claiborne Electric employees traveled to Florida to help restore power in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Our crews assisted Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative with restoration efforts. Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative’s service area is north of Tampa, and they had more than 32,000 members without power. Foreman and Crew Leader Rocky Lachney, Lineman Matthew Cathey, Lineman Chuck Yocom, Lineman Bradley Patrick, Right-of-Way Specialist Sam Hughes, and Lineman Josh McLeod helped with this restoration effort.

Hurricane Francine Crew (pictured above): Chris Snell, Josh Dupree, Rocky Lachney, Andy Mills, Ryan Beach, Jeffrey Langford

Hurricane Helene Crew (pictured above): Buddy Chandler, Dillon Walton, Blake Robertson, Clay Salley, Chuck Yocom, and Paco Allen

Hurricane Helene Crew (pictured above): Buddy Chandler, Dillon Walton, Blake Robertson, Clay Salley, Chuck Yocom, and Paco Allen