A MESSAGE FROM YOUR GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

GARY RAYBON

Spinning Meters and a Question of Happiness

As we come out of the “dog days” of summer, I want to reflect a little on the past few months. With the record heat, I got asked my most-hated question quite a bit more than usual.

That question: “I guess you are happy when the meters are spinning so fast?” I have to admit, it makes me cringe every time I hear it.

As a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative, Wharton County Electric Cooperative is committed to charging as little as possible for our service while remaining financially viable.

October is National Cooperative Month, so this is the perfect time to explain why this commitment is so important.

WCEC, like all cooperatives, adheres to a set of seven principles that reflect our core values of honesty, transparency, equity, inclusiveness, and service to the community. Let’s look at just a few of these principles as they guide the decisions we make especially when it comes to the cost of power.

Voluntary and Open Membership

WCEC was created out of necessity—to meet a need that would have been otherwise unmet in our community. A group of neighbors banded together and organized our electric co-op. They worked together for the benefit of the whole community, and the new electric lines helped power economic opportunity in that community.

Key parts of that heritage remain especially in our mission to serve the greater good. In this, we include everyone to improve the quality of life and economic opportunity for our members.

Expanding that membership and adding new loads to our territory allows us to spread the cost of operating WCEC across more kWhs and more members. This helps keep the cost down for everyone and has a downward pressure on rates. This is evident in the fact that prior to 2021 we went ten years without a rate increase. WCEC actively participates in the economic development of our communities to help bring in new businesses and residents.

Democratic Member Control

Our co-op is well-suited to meet the needs of our members because we are locally governed. Each member gets a voice and a vote in how the co-op is run. Our board members live locally on WCEC lines and are elected by neighbors just like you. As such, they realize that every dollar WCEC must charge for electricity is one less dollar in their pockets—and yours.

Members’ Economic Participation

As a utility, our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy to our members. But as a co-op, we are also motivated by serving you in the most cost-efficient ways.

Since we are beholden to our members and not stockholders, WCEC strives to bring in only enough revenue to cover our expenses and keep our bankers happy. Our budgets are based on an average year plus projected additional loads.

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of WCEC. At least part of that capital is used for co-op programs, initiatives, and capital investments. What remains is returned to our members as a patronage refund.

Because we are guided by these principles, it’s not about profits—it’s about you, our members. It’s about providing safe, reliable electricity at the lowest possible price. We want you to use as much energy as you need and not a kWh more. That is what makes me happy.