Claiborne Electric Cooperative will award 20 $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 3, 2026. 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 and mail it or deliver it to a Claiborne Electric office. Seniors may use the form here.

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 3, 2026, to provide sufficient time for verification of eligibility.

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. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, our goal is to meet the needs of our members. One specific need for members is a thorough understanding of electric usage and billing.

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 December, the average electric bill in the state was $128.43 for 1,000 kWh. That figure takes into account all electric utilities regulated by the LPSC. Claiborne Electric members using an average of 1,000 kWh per month were billed $126.50. In comparison, the same bill would be $135.74 for an Entergy customer, $147.06 for a SWEPCO customer, and $149.49 for a CLECO customer.

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.

The most common reason for increased usage in Louisiana winters is short bursts of very cold days. 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 30 degrees, the heating system has to work extremely hard and run almost continuously in order to make up that 40-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. Please contact us with questions about billing, usage, and energy efficiency.

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.

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

Members in Districts Three, Seven, and Eight may nominate a member from that district for election at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Nominations will be open for the entire month of January and are due by close-of-business on the last business day of the month (January 30, 2026).

Kenneth Franklin of Marion currently represents District 3, Phillip Fincher of Homer currently represents District 7, and Lane Davidson of Minden currently represents District 8.

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.

Nomination form

For more information on what service on Claiborne Electric’s Board of Directors entails, see the article here.

Each year when Claiborne Electric begins to bill for winter electric usage, the Co-op sees an uptick of member complaints about winter bills.

Electrical energy is one of the last services in a household budget that people pay for after the fact. There is a direct and significant correlation between temperature extremes and electric consumption. This month’s newsletter contains a helpful article about electric usage and billing.

The frustration of receiving an electric bill that is higher than a member imagined it should be is understandable. There are two important things to remember when receiving winter bills. First, Claiborne Electric’s cost of service is a great value for members. The LPSC electric cost comparison for December shows the average cost for 1,000 kWh of electricity in Louisiana was $128.43. Claiborne Electric’s cost was lower than the state average at $126.50.

The second important thing to remember is that a traditional electric bill represents electric usage that happened an average of 45 days prior to the due date. It can be difficult to open a bill when it’s 70 degrees outside to see an amount that is higher than expected. Often, that bill can represent usage that occurred when temperatures were in the 20s or 30s. When Claiborne Electric reformatted bills last year, the new format was able to give members not just a nicer and more modern look, but a bill that provides significantly more information than the previous format. One section of the bill now contains temperature highs and lows during the billing period, so members can see the direct correlation between temperatures and usage.

Claiborne Electric has a fantastic team of Member Service Representatives who would be glad to answer any billing question or walk through usage with a quick phone call. Members can also monitor their daily usage through our free SmartHub app. Billing questions can by answered by an MSR by calling the Homer office at (318) 927-3504 or the Farmerville office at (318) 368-3011.

Claiborne Electric’s Outage Management System (OMS) has the capability to notify members, via the SmartHub app, of the earliest possible time their service could be restored following an outage.  Members will not immediately receive an Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR) message as soon as their service is interrupted but rather once assessment is completed. The ETR message is sent once the Co-op has been able to make an initial assessment of the damage that caused the outage and how long it might take to complete repairs and restore service. Similarly, because different members are fed from different lines and substations, members who live relatively close to each other may not receive the same ETR message or even ETR messages at the same time.

These ETR messages will only be sent to members who have registered their accounts in SmartHub.  If you have not taken advantage of our SmartHub app yet, now is a great time to start!

No technology is perfect, but the Cooperative is hopeful this additional communication path with our members will help keep members more up to date following significant weather events than in years past.

Claiborne Electric uses specialized contract companies to help complete parts of our annual construction and right-of-way maintenance program in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Several of those companies are currently working throughout Claiborne Electric’s service territory on different projects. These workers are each doing important work to keep the cooperative functioning as safely and efficiently as possible. We ask members to be courteous and respectful as they come into contact with representatives of these contract companies.

Currently, Claiborne Electric has contractors working on projects in these areas:

• Osmose is conducting pole inspections in north Webster Parish near the Shongaloo area.
• Koppers is working on pole inspections in the Heflin and Regency areas of Webster Parish.
• Good Hope is working on tree trimming in the Point area of Union Parish
• Shelton Energy Solutions is line construction contractor working near Minden in Webster Parish and between Ruston and Grambling in Lincoln Parish.
• LineTec Services is a line construction contractor working near Choudrant in Lincoln Parish.

If a member ever has questions about a vehicle or contractor representatives in their area, we ask them to contact their local Claiborne Electric office at (318) 927-3504 or (318) 368-3011.

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

Members in Districts Three, Seven, and Eight may nominate a member from that district for election at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Nominations will be open for the entire month of January and are due by close-of-business on the last business day of the month (January 30, 2026).

Kenneth Franklin of Marion currently represents District 3, Phillip Fincher of Homer currently represents District 7, and Lane Davidson of Minden currently represents District 8.

Article IV, Section 4 of Claiborne Electric’s Bylaws specifies how candidates for Director can be nominated:

“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.