Pedernales Electric Cooperative welcomed 843 attendees at its annual meeting Saturday, June 22, in Kyle. The annual meeting is the Co-op’s largest and most important event, bringing together members from across PEC’s 8,100-square-mile service area to participate in the democratic cooperative election process and learn more about Cooperative business. This year members also had a chance to help their neighbors by donating blood and contributing to a food drive supporting an area food bank.
Members re-elected Chris Perry of Dripping Springs and elected James Oakley of Spicewood to serve on the Co-op’s Board of Directors. Perry, the District 4 incumbent, defeated Jimmy Skipton to retain his seat on the Board for a second three-year term. Oakley ran unopposed for the District 5 seat. Election results were announced at the conclusion of the annual meeting.
This year PEC is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and the annual meeting kicked off a listening tour during which the Co-op is encouraging members to share their memories of and aspirations for their Cooperative. During her remarks to the crowd, PEC Board President and District 3 Director Kathryn Scanlon acknowledged the Co-op’s history as well as its commitment to building its future based on the voices and interests of its members.
“The utility industry is changing rapidly, and we will need to change with it to effectively serve our members for another 75 years,” Scanlon said. “The strategic plan developed last year calls for a serious look at customer choice, energy efficiency, renewable energy, rates and other concerns.”
She also introduced John D. Hewa, who has been named the Cooperative’s new chief executive officer. Hewa most recently served as vice president of research, engineering and technical services for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
“I am invigorated to join a partnership of a cooperative and its members that has collectively set the highest aspirations for clean renewable energy, for making wise decisions about energy efficiency and demand response in the midst of tremendous growth here in central Texas,” Hewa said. “And I am very impressed by a cooperative and its employees that have set even higher marks for reliability and for ensuring affordability through a balanced energy portfolio.”
PEC’s interim Chief Executive Officer Frank Skube gave a report highlighting the Cooperative’s achievements during 2012.
“One of PEC's most remarkable achievements for 2012 continued to be outstanding service reliability,” Skube said. “It's not easy to stay at the top of any industry, but PEC employees deliver top-notch service year after year ….
“This reliability is a testament to the planning, construction and maintenance of a robust distribution system that together serves more than 247,000 meters along more than 17,400 miles of electric line.”
After the election results were announced, the meeting’s door prizes were drawn. Members winning door prizes were:
2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid SUV, retired from PEC service — Lon Harper of Canyon Lake
Energy Star flat-panel LED TV — Bonnie Lyons of Spring Branch
Energy Star front-loading washer and dryer — Melba Maley of Marble Falls
$500 Kohl’s gift cards (2 were awarded) — C. Moerbe of Dripping Springs and Donny Bokor of Buda.
A special organizational Board meeting was held immediately following the annual meeting, and officers for the next year were elected as follows:
President: District 7 Director Dr. Patrick Cox
Vice President: District 2 Director William D. Boggs
Secretary-treasurer: District 1 Director Cristi Clement
The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held Monday, July 15, at 10 a.m. at PEC’s E. Babe Smith Headquarters Building in Johnson City.
2013 PEC Board election results
At the conclusion of PEC’s June 22 annual meeting, Survey & Ballot Systems, which managed the election, announced that 18,332 total votes were cast, including 12,242 by mail, 5,777 online and 385 in person at the annual meeting.
Board of Directors election results were as follows:
District 4 Director
9,673 votes: Chris Perry
8,410 votes: Jimmy Skipton
District 5 Director
15,184 votes: James Oakley
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