Category: News

At the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperative’s (ALEC) Annual Awards Banquet, held July 22 in Baton Rouge, Claiborne Electric Office Manager Candy Hardy was awarded the 2024 Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Award.

Each year, ALEC and the Louisiana Member Services Association (LMSA) present this award to an individual cooperative employee for involvement in community service. Each electric cooperative in the state holding a membership in ALEC can nominate one employee for this award. Nominee applications are scored based on the employee’s community service involvement, community impact, and time involvement.

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate, Candy works directly with children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Advocates work as volunteers to make sure the best interest of the child is represented in court and in the home the child is placed in, whether it be a foster home or a relative’s home.

Candy has served as a Advocate since 2019. Duties as an Advocate include monthly visits with the children assigned, with each visit lasting approximately one hour. She participates in all DCFS calls and meetings which pertain to her assigned children. She attends all court proceedings for her assigned cases and prepares a court report for the judge prior to all court hearings. For each child assigned, she logs all contact with the child, parents, DCFS, and the home where the child is placed. Each six months, Candy conducts a wellbeing assessment for each child, monitoring the progress of the child’s family, health, and education.

Candy currently has three assigned cases. Most cases have multiple siblings, so she routinely has several children assigned to her. She does this work on a completely voluntary basis, in addition to her full-time career as Office Manager at Claiborne Electric Cooperative. She said several years ago, she was given a CASA pamphlet that she put in her office drawer. Every time she opened the drawer, she saw the pamphlet and feel an urgency to get involved. After three years of looking at the pamphlet, she made the call to start her training and become an Advocate. Today, she urges others to get involved. She said the program has an enormous need for more volunteers to be come Advocates.

As the winner of the 2024 Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Award, Candy received a plaque, a $100 award, and a $200 donation to CASA made in her name.

Claiborne Electric’s newly hired General Manager & CEO Michael Marcotte officially joined the Co-op on May 1.

Marcotte comes to Claiborne Electric from central Louisiana with more than 30 years of experience in the electrical utility industry. Most recently, he spent nearly 15 years as Director of Utilities for the City of Alexandria, the second largest municipal electric utility in the state. In that role, Marcotte managed all business units of the city’s Utility Division, which included electric transmission and distribution systems, a natural gas utility, water and wastewater systems, and a stand-alone broadband system.

In Alexandria, Marcotte oversaw more than 200 employees and managed an annual operating budget of $105 million. Within the city’s electric utility, he was responsible for nearly 33,000 meters across the 198 MW system. During his time at the city, he led several system-wide initiatives to improve electric system reliability and customer service.

Since joining Claiborne Electric, Marcotte has graduated from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) New Manager Training program. He has also spent time training with the Co-op’s management team and Board of Directors.

“I’ve spent most of my career in the private sector, but I’ve always admired how electric cooperatives operate,” Marcotte said. “I’m excited to join the Claiborne Electric team, and I’m eager to lead the Co-op, its employees, and the membership through many years to come.”

Marcotte and his wife, Stephanie, are both graduates of Louisiana Tech University’s College of Engineering. They have three children: Douglas, Abigail and Lillian. Douglas and Abigail are also graduates of Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering. Marcotte is involved in various civic organizations, and in his free time, he enjoys refereeing youth and high school soccer.

Claiborne Electric members will notice a significant change in the way electric bills look beginning in mid-July.

Printed electric bills are changing to a new, modern bill format. For several months, the Co-op’s billing management team has worked to come up with a format that is packed with important information, while simultaneously being easy to read. The guide below will help members get acquainted with the new format.

Members who have questions about the new bill can call 318-927-3504 (Homer) or 318-368-3011 (Farmerville) and a Member Service Representative will be glad to help!

How to read the new bill:

Follow the numbers below as a guide to reading the new billing format.

1. Amount due on account.

2. Account number. Please refer to this number when calling in or making payments.

3. Billing Summary shows activity since last billing.

4. Message Center for important messages from Claiborne Electric.

5. Meter location and meter reading information.

6. By following the graph key, members can see monthly usage along with monthly high and low temperature information. Members can compare usage with the previous year.

7. Current detail of charges for electric use.

8. Account number and amount due. Return the stub with check or cash payment.

9. Payment options

If any personal information is incorrect on the front side of the bill, there is space on the reverse side to make corrections.

Thank you to the 1,440 members who attended the 2024 Annual Membership Meeting!
We came very close to setting a meeting attendance record.

In the election for the District One Board of Directors seat, Hez Elkins won with 73% of the vote.

Prize winners are listed below and will be contacted about how to accept prizes.

Prize winners are as follows:
BARHAM, CYNTHIA – $1,000.00
WATLEY, SHARON – $2,000.00
ROACH, MITCHELL – $3,000.00
VENTROY, VERDELL – $4,000.00
GOODWIN, TERREL – $5,000.00
MCDOUGLE, OTIS – $500 registration card (Farmerville site)
CALLEN, SUZONNE – $500 registration card (Homer site)
STROZIER, ANGELA – $100.00
WALKER, STEPHANIE – $100.00
SIMS, LESTER – $100.00
TUBBS, FRANCIS – $100.00
HARRINGTON, RAYMOND – $100.00
CHENNAULT, JOHN – $100.00
AULDS, KENNETH – $100.00
HAMNER, LW Jr. – $100.00
BRYAN, RHONDA – $100.00
CHE, WENDY – $100.00
KELLEY, BECKY – $100.00
WILSON, JOANNA – $100.00
PARKS, EDRIE – $100.00
ADAMS, YVETTE – $100.00
TAYLOR, LARRY – $100.00
SHARP, JUSTIN – $100.00
OTWELL, ANITA – $100.00
BONVILLIAN, MAYANN – $100.00
LOCKARD, ROBERT – $100.00
WOODS, SUZANNE – $100.00
CULVERHOUSE, RONALD – $100.00
PETTIS, JONATHAN – $100.00
STUBBLEFIELD, BENNY – $100.00
LYLES, MARSHALL – $100.00
AMOS, CLOTIS – $100.00
BOWEN, TERESA – $100.00
MCCLINTON, HASKELL – $100.00
CASKEY, TEDDY – $100.00
JENKINS, GWENDOLYN – $100.00
TAYLOR, LEON – $100.00
CHENEY, EUGENE – $100.00
BEACH, RYAN – $100.00
SPEER, MEGAN – $100.00
HUDSON, DANNY – $100.00
JONES, DORIS – $100.00
HAMPTON, LISA – $100.00
BANKS, NORAH Jr. – $100.00
CASKEY, JOHN – $100.00
DISON, FRANCES – $100.00
FARRAR, RICHARD – $100.00
WINZER, WILLIE – $100.00
SIMONS, DAVID – $100.00
NELSON, JIMMY – $100.00
NELSON, GRETA – $100.00
WADE, CLAUDIA – $100.00
DUTY, KRISTA – $100.00
WALSWORTH, MICHAEL – $100.00
AUGER, BAYLEE – $100.00
MORTON, DAVID – $100.00

On April 30, Claiborne Electric’s General Manager and CEO Mark Brown retired after a 42-year career in electric cooperatives and 18 years of service to Claiborne Electric.

He has been an asset to the Cooperative, its members, and each community served by Claiborne Electric.

On the afternoon of his retirement, his co-workers, family and friends gathered to celebrate his career and wish him well in retirement.

Official Notice

Claiborne Electric will host a drive-through Annual Meeting on June 8.

The Co-op will have two sites available for members to register – one at Claiborne Electric’s headquarters office (12525 Hwy. 9 in Homer), and one at D’Arbonne Woods Charter School (9560 Hwy. 33 in Farmerville). On June 8, members can drive through a multi-lane site in either location to register for the meeting, be entered for all prize drawings, and cast a ballot for the District One Director seat. Drive-through registration will take place from 9 a.m. until noon.

At each location, members will drive in and remain in their vehicles through the registration process. Claiborne Electric employees will be directing members to lanes. After members are finished registering, they will be directed to the exit.

For the registration process to flow smoothly, members are asked to bring the registration card they will receive by mail in mid-May to the meeting. Members who bring their registration card will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card.

The top portion of the registration card will serve as the voting ballot for the District One Director seat. All members who register for the meeting will be able to cast a ballot to elect Incumbent Hez Elkins or Nominee Tommy Carr to represent District One on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors. Members are urged to bring the registration card in its entirety to the Annual Meeting. Ballots will be marked and detached from the registration card along a perforated line, ensuring a private vote. Ballots will be cast in locked boxes, and the registration portion will be collected for the prize drawing. A candidate questionnaire can be found here.

Several cash prizes will be awarded after the conclusion of the meeting. Members who participate will be eligible for cash prizes of $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, and a grand prize of $5,000. Names will also be drawn for 50 $100 cash prizes. All prizes will be drawn after the conclusion of the meeting, and winners will be posted online and contacted directly.
Members are urged to have their registration card and photo ID ready to present upon arrival. The primary member on the account must be the one to register and present identification. If a spouse will attend the meeting without the primary member, both spouses must visit a Claiborne Electric office before the Annual Meeting to form a Joint Membership. With a Joint Membership, either spouse can present ID and represent that membership at the meeting.

An organization that is a member of the Co-op may designate a person to attend the meeting to register on behalf of the organization. At registration, that person will need to present a letter on the organization’s letterhead, signed by the leader of the organization, naming them as the representative.

The theme for the 2024 Annual Meeting is “Power On.” With constant change seemingly around every corner, Claiborne electric is positioned for strength and growth. With new management at the Co-op, a new power supply contract in the works, and changes occurring continually locally, regionally, and across the nation, members can rest assured that Claiborne Electric will “Power On.” Through any change, Claiborne Electric will continue to meet members’ needs by providing safe, reliable, and affordable power.

Please make plans to join us for a few minutes to participate in the 2024 Annual Meeting on June 8!

Meet the Candidate Questionnaire
Claiborne Electric Cooperative Board of Directors
District One Election
June 8, 2024

In January, two Claiborne Electric members were nominated to represent District One on the Cooperative’s Board of Directors.

Candidates include:

• Incumbent, President Hez Elkins of Farmerville
• Nominee, Tommy Carr of Farmerville

The seat will be filled by a vote of the Cooperative’s membership. The election will take place at the 2024 Annual Membership Meeting. According to Claiborne Electric’s Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a majority vote of all registered members casting ballots at an Annual Meeting. Directors are nominated by district, but elected at large by all registered members attending the Annual Meeting.

Ballots for the election will be attached to the registration card members receive in the mail in mid-May. Members are urged to bring the registration card in its entirety to the Annual Meeting. Ballots will be marked and detached from the registration portion using a perforated line, ensuring a private vote. Ballots will be cast in locked boxes, and the registration portion will be collected separately for the prize drawings.

The following five questions were posed to the two nominees in order to help Claiborne Electric’s members get to know each candidate better. Questions and each candidate’s answers are listed below.

1. What do you believe are your greatest qualifications to serve on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors?

Hez Elkins: I’ve served on the Claiborne Electric Board of Directors for roughly 45 years. I’ve been President of the Board for nearly a decade. I’ve been heavily involved in setting the Strategic Plan for the Co-op, along with the other Directors and the Co-op’s management team. I’ve served on many committees, including the Compensation Committee. During my time on the Board, I’ve also been involved in the search for a new General Manager & CEO three times.

Tommy Carr: My willingness and desire to serve. I have over 40 years of leadership experience; building teams, setting goals. I am ready to share that with the Claiborne Electric Cooperative

2. What is your experience managing a business and/or a workforce?

Hez Elkins: I have experience managing multiple businesses and workforces, for large and small corporations. I’ve been involved in these management roles for a bank, for Claiborne Electric, and for my personal family farm.
I’ve owned and run a decent size farming operation in the dairy, beef, and pork business. There, I managed all the business side of the operation, including employee management, buying, selling, and making all decisions to operate the business.
I served on the Board at Community Trust Bank for roughly 25 years. I began there when it was about a $65 Million bank, and now it’s close to a $10 Billion bank as Origin Bank. On the Board, I served on several committees and helped make a wide range of decisions concerning the business of the bank.
At Claiborne Electric, I view my role as a Director as part of the team that manages the Cooperative’s management. Our responsibility is to make strategic plans and lay out the vision of the Co-op’s future, then allow the management team to lead the operation and make that vision a reality through day-to-day decisions. We oversee that process and make sure the management team carries out instructions from the Board and that the Co-op is headed in the right direction. I believe that the primary purpose of a Director is to get the right people in management positions.

Tommy Carr: I have Pastored the Zion Hill Missionary Church for forty years, Organized prison ministry, organized a Gospel radio program, assisted in organizing The Louisiana After School Church Based Tutorial Program, Served on United Way Committees, Black and Gold Facility Committee (Grambling State University), Served as President Gum Spring Missionary Baptist Association (11 years).
Presently I am a member of the Board of Directors for Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana and Director of the Congress of Christian Education for Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention.

3. Please describe, in detail, your management or leadership style.

Hez Elkins: I would say my management style is Consultative Management. I believe Directors serve the employee base and the Cooperative’s members the best by choosing the right employees at the Co-op and giving them direction, then allowing them to do their jobs. I don’t believe in micromanagement. I believe my responsibility on the Board is to work together to develop a plan. The primary role of a director is to set policy. Strong policy is necessary to guide the organization. Directors serve by giving employees direction, and then working with the management team and employee base as needed, never becoming a dictator in the process.

Tommy Carr: My management style is one of collaboration with stakeholders, understanding all critical information before making decisions. Team members must understand the goals and mission of the cooperative. I believe in empowering our leaders to make decisions. I believe in developing team members for leadership positions.

4. Please describe your involvement with Claiborne Electric Cooperative in recent years (annual meeting participation, committees, etc.).

Hez Elkins: Obviously, I participate in monthly Board of Directors meetings to take care of business, participate in ongoing management of the Cooperative, and hear departmental reports and updates from the management team.
Every three years, the Board of Directors participates in an intensive three-day Strategic Planning Meeting with the Cooperative’s management team. In that meeting, we work together to set the vision and create a long-term plan for the Cooperative to achieve the goals in that plan.
I participate in Annual Membership Meetings each year, along with our annual Member Advisory Meetings. I also regularly represent the Cooperative at public meetings and in meetings with various elected officials.
I believe we should live our lives in such a way as to always be a good representative of any organization we serve.

Tommy Carr: I am a Claiborne Electric Cooperative member. I am not always aware of Annual meeting dates; however, I believe members should attend Annual meetings.

5. If elected to Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors, what are your goals for the following three-year term?

Hez Elkins: If re-elected to Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors, my goal for the next three years is to follow the current Strategic Plan we have in place. I want to keep our Cooperative a strong, viable organization within the community. I think we have a good reputation now, and I want to keep that reputation. My plans also include helping the Cooperative’s new General Manager get oriented in his role and up to speed with all the projects and processes at the Cooperative.

Tommy Carr: I want to fully understand our operations: financials, safety & risk management, growth and development and our workforce. Understand the needs of our members. Support actions that align with member needs and cooperative mission.

Claiborne Electric recently received an important notice from our wholesale power provider, and we feel it is important to pass this information on to our valued Cooperative members. The power provider has notified us of a temporary increase to our wholesale power costs. The cost is attributed to critically low water levels in the Mississippi River. The river levels are currently dramatically limiting coal shipments, resulting in significantly higher transportation costs for coal. The result will be a higher Power Cost Adjustment factor used in calculating member bills, which will lead to a modest bill increase.

We want members to know that we have worked diligently to develop a strategy to minimize the impact on our members. We will spread these incurred costs over 12 months instead of passing them along in full monthly. This is a temporary situation, and our hope is that we will soon see enough precipitation to return the Mississippi River to normal levels. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please know that we are continually working on behalf of our members.

If you have questions about your billing, please contact us at (318) 927-3504 or (318)368-3011.

Nominations for directors in three of Claiborne Electric’s districts will be open during the month of January 2024.

Members in Districts One, Six, and Nine may nominate a member from that district to stand for election at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Nominations will be open for the entire month of January. A sample nomination form is available here.

Hez Elkins of Farmerville currently represents District 1.
Rand Killgore of Haynesville currently represents District 6.
Jody Woodard of Heflin currently represents District 9.

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.