FKEC directors present Key Largo Fisheries owners a refund check for $5,043. From left, Director David Ritz, Fisheries owners Rick Hill and Tom Hill, Directors Dr. Jim Boilini and Gretchen Holland, and owner Dottie Hill (front). The family- owned, family-operated business has been a member of FKEC since it opened its doors in 1971.
Florida Keys Electric Cooperative
J A N UA RY 2014
FKEC Directors present Key Largo Fisheries owners a refund check for $5,043. Pictured from left: Director David Ritz, Fisheries Owners Rick Hill and Tom Hill, Directors Dr. Jim Boilini and Gretchen Holland, and owner Dottie Hill (front). The family owned and operated business has been a member of FKEC since it opened its doors in 1971.
Looking back at 2013, I am grateful for a long list of achievements attained by our Cooperative this year, but our employees going home safely every day has to be first.
Not only did we add another 12 months with no lost-time injuries, but in December we reached 1.5 million hours, nearly seven years, without an accident resulting in any employee missing work.
This could not have been achieved without all of our employees being focused on keeping themselves and their
co-workers safe. It is truly a team effort that ensures we all go home to our families at the end of the day, and I thank every employee for making our company-wide safety priority their own personal priority.
In December we received an inspiring
visit from Ronnie Hindsman (see facing page), a lineman who lost both of his arms in a tragic work accident. His story is a reminder of why we must always put safety first. Our linemen and crew members perform dangerous work, and no matter how many times they have done a certain task they must always keep safety in the forefront of their minds.
Your safety is also our priority. FKEC urges members to use caution when around electricity and to give our crews room to work safely in the field. We look forward to continuing to provide our members safe and reliable power in 2014.
SCOTT NEWBERRY
Chief Executive Officer FLORIDA KEYS
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.
Member Owned Since 1940
B
OARD OFD
IRECTORSJames J. Boilini
District 1, Key Largo • President
Gretchen Holland
District 1, Key Largo • Vice President
Michael H. Puto
District 4, Marathon • Secretary
H.B. Barrett
District 3, Islamorada • Treasurer
David C. Ritz
District 1, Key Largo
Craig Belcher District 2, Tavernier Frank N. Hawkins, Jr. District 2, Tavernier George D. Hertel District 3, Islamorada Karl M. Wagner District 4, Marathon CONTACT US: (305) 852-2431 (800) 858-8845 toll free www.FKEC.com Mailing Address
P.O. Box 377, Tavernier, FL 33070
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 W W W . F K E C . C O M
FKEC NEWS
FKEC Achieves 1.5
Million Hours with No
Lost-Time Injuries
4 JANUARY 2014
Unless otherwise noted, “FKEC NEWS” writing, design & photography by:
Nikki Dunn • [email protected]
Edited by: Rebecca Callahan Newman
MEMBERS SHOULD KNOW:Remember knowledge is power! You can Learn more about electrical safety at www.fkec.com/cooperative/ electricsafety.cfm
At FKEC’s December Safety Meetings, former Lineman Ronnie Hindsman shared his story about a work accident that resulted in the loss of both his arms. Pictured from left: FKEC’s retiring Safety & Job Training Manager Tom Kirby, Ronnie Hindsman, and incoming Safety & Job Training Manager Jimmy Ash.
At the last safety meetings of 2013, FKEC employees had the
opportunity to meet Ronnie Hindsman, a former lineman who suffered an accident on the job which resulted in the loss of both his arms. Hindsman now travels to co-ops sharing his story to remind others why safety practices should always be implemented.
Hindsman, a long-standing employee at Sam Houston Electric Co-op near Houston, Texas, was a 21-year veteran lineman when he suffered his accident in 2004. He was on a routine job working from his bucket truck the same way he had done for years. The job was so routine that this time he didn’t bother to wear his rubber safety gloves. Unfortunately, while
performing the job, Hindsman made contact with a 7,200-volt primary electric wire. Without the protection of his gloves he suffered a severe shock which cost him both arms.
Never dodging responsibility for his role in the accident, Hindsman now shares his story to remind other linemen, and people in general, why safety precautions must always be followed and how quickly an accident can change your life.
Hindsman’s message is also one
of survival, adaptation, and perseverance. He continues to work at Sam Houston Electric, now serving as the Safety
Trainer and Inspector for the co-op. And thanks to his two prostheses (see photo on facing page) and other devices he is still able to enjoy his hobbies, cooking and hunting. Hindsman also created the “Ronnie Hindsman Utility Line Scholarship Fund” to benefit deserving young people training to become journeymen linemen.
“We really appreciate Ronnie sharing his story with us,” said FKEC Safety & Job Training Manager Tom Kirby. “Nothing can better drive home the message to always use safety precautions than an experience like Ronnie’s.”
FKEC takes the safety of all of its 120-plus employees seriously. It is every employee’s daily goal to follow all safety practices in order to ensure that they and their
co-workers return home safely each day.
FKEC thanks Ronnie Hindsman for his inspiring presentation.
A Story of Survival, Adaptation and...
6 JANUARY 2014
2013 Capital Credits:
FKEC Refunds $3.1 Million to Members
A total of $3.1 million was refunded to Florida Keys Electric Cooperative members as Capital Credits in 2013.
FKEC issued 11,584 refunds in December. Active account holders due less than $100 received a credit on their December 2013 electric bill. Those due more received a check. Capital credit checks for less than $20 will only be mailed to former accounts if it’s the final balance pay-out.
This year’s Capital Credit refund represents the remaining 35% of our members’ Capital Credit accounts from 1994 and 100% from 1995. Refunds are based on the amount of electricity each member purchased in those years, so refund
amounts vary in proportion to the amount of electricity each member used during those years.
As a not-for-profit cooperative utility, FKEC allocates its margins – the revenues earned in excess of the cost of doing business – to its members. Margins are retained by FKEC for a number of years to improve the electric system. These margins are then returned to members as Capital Credits.
Members receiving checks in the wrong name or in the name of a deceased member should contact Member Service at 305-852-2431 or visit FKEC’s website for more information at www.fkec.com/AccessAct/capital-credit.cfm.
From left: FKEC Director Mike Puto presents a check in the amount of $3,807 for the City of Key Colony Beach
to Mayor Ron Sutton and City Clerk Cathy Henninger.
Danielle Hill (center), store manager for Shell World,accepts a capital credit refund check for $2,033 from directors (from left) David Ritz, Dr. Jim Boilini and Gretchen Holland.
FKEC Director H.B. Barrett (center) presents the City of Layton a refund check for $148. From left: City Clerk Mimi Young, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Philip “Skip” Haring, Mayor Norman Anderson, FKEC Director H.B. Barrett, City Councilmen Katie Scott and Greg Lewis, and Building Code Administrator Thomas Bray.
Bryanna Shafer (right), location coordinator for The Moorings Resort and Spa, accepts a refund check for $674 from Director H.B. Barrett.
FKEC Director H.B. Barrett (right) presents a refund check for $2,022 to Carroll Walsh, general manager of the
Matecumbe Resort.
FKEC Directors present Marine Resourcesa refund check for $2,977. From left: FKEC Directors David Ritz, Gretchen Holland and Dr. Jim Boilini, with Marine Resources President and Chairman of the Board Ian G. Koblick and Treasurer JoAnn Smenda.
Marathon Liquor & Deliowner Ralph Lucignano (right) accepts a Capital Credit refund check for $1,778 from FKEC Director Mike Puto.
8 JANUARY 2014
Employees Earn Promotions, New Job Positions
FKEC CFO Cris Beaty
(center) presents employees Jennifer Bailey(left) and
Chris Owens with their 10-year anniversary awards packages. FKEC celebrates employee milestones in five-year intervals.
Bailey and Owens Celebrate 10 Years
The Co-op also congratulates George Mirabella on recently completing his 4,000-hour apprenticeship program earning him the designation of Meterman.
Mirabella joined FKEC in 2006 on the Tree Crew and later worked as a Maintenance man in Tavernier before beginning his meter apprenticeship. Working in Marathon, Mirabella will perform meter readings and other meter maintenance and construction. FKEC congratulates Scott
Sheffield on his promotion to Staking Technician.
Sheffield joined FKEC in 2008 as a GIS/AUTOCAD technician with 10 years of experience in that field.
As a Staking Technician, Sheffield will work with Engineering preparing detailed plans and specifications for electrical construction and maintenance.
FKEC also congratulates Mike James on his transfer to the T&D Specialist Position.
James joined FKEC in 2006 as a Staking Technician and was recently promoted to Senior Staking Technician in 2013.
In his new position, James will work with the Operations department providing support for new construction projects and system maintenance. Scott Sheffield Staking Technician George Mirabella Meterman Mike James T&D Specialist
FKEC
Career
Opportunities
For information about available positions at FKEC, visit our Career
FL-152
305.852.2431 • 800.858-8845 • www.FKEC.com
This year resolve to save energy! By taking a few steps to reduce energy consumption this year you can lower your electric bill and lessen your impact on the environment. Make it your New Year’s resolution in 2014 to implement at least five energy conservation practices...
Energy Saving Resolutions for the New Year
• REPLACE INEFFICIENT INCANDESCENT BULBS. Replace your five most used bulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs.
• REPLACE YOUR OLDEST APPLIANCE with an ENERGY STAR® rated model. Consider a modern LED TV which uses less energy while on and much less energy when left on standby. • INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT. By using a thermostat that automatically adjusts
the temperature when you’re out of the house you can substantially lower your energy use. • PLUG ELECTRONICS INTO POWER STRIPS. Eliminate the “standby” power used by electronics
such as TVs, DVD players, and stereos by turning off the entire power strip. • LOWER THE THERMOSTAT on your water heater to 120°F.
• REDUCE HEAT TRANSFER by closing blinds or curtains on sun exposed windows
• USE FANS TO AUGMENT COOLING, but turn them off when you’re not in the room. Fans do not actually cool a room they just make you feel cooler.
• READ FKEC’S GUIDE TO HOME ENERGY SAVINGS. It’s available at our offices or you can download it at www.FKEC.com
Co-op tree crews will be trimming trees and clearing vegetation away from power lines in the following areas:
DEC. - JAN. • KEY LARGO • MM 97 to 101 (oceanside)
• MM 102 south neighborhoods (bayside)
FKEC appreciates your cooperation in using caution near Co-op and Asplundh crews at work. Please give the crews and their equipment space to work safely and to keep yourself out of harm’s way.
Learn more at www.fkec.com/ FormService/vegetation-management.cfm
