As I look over this past year at Wiregrass Electric, it amazes me what our employees have accomplished.  Our emphasis this year for our Annual Report was "Climbing New Heights in Member Service."  Our Annual Report cover featured a young man (the grandson of one of our employees) climbing a tree and looking to the top to see how far he could go.

It makes me think of Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story" when he says, "To Infinity and beyond!"

I think WEC and our employees have done that this year -- and gone beyond!  We haven't settled for just getting it done.  We've pushed for getting it done -- and getting it done right -- and gone beyond to getting it done THE BEST!

In fact, there has been so much activity within the WEC business in 2011, I thought it prudent to revisit some highlights as we near the end of this year. 

• Our energy services department was put into full swing to help our members improve energy efficiency in their homes.  We'll do free energy audits and offer suggestions on how you can lower your electric bill.
• Many members do not have the funds available to make major improvements in their energy efficiency -- like insulation, a heat pump or new doors and windows.  Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, these funds can be made available at no interest to make these improvements.
• We're offering rebates to encourage homeowners to install dual fuel heat pumps.  This will help with our "peak demand," which ultimately helps you.  When WEC pays less for power -- you pay less for power.
• Our IVR (or interactive voice response) system was put into place to make it possible to answer more phone calls so that you don't get a busy signal.  You may have to listen to the prompts, but you're not receiving a busy signal forcing you to call back.
• With the IVR, you can now make a payment over the phone -- 24 hours a day -- even when the business office is closed.
• Through our website you can make payments, view your bill, sign up for our programs -- and now get a daily and hourly analysis of your energy use.
• Our new mobile app for iPhone and Android makes it possible for you to pay your bill or check your account on your mobile device.
• We've improved system reliability -- fewer outages -- through our right-of-way maintenance, the new outage management system and a consistent work plan.  By planning upgrades and maintenance before things break or shut down, we have fewer outages that we can control.  We can't control major storms and wind, but we're doing all that we can to minimize their impact.
• WEC's Engineering Department has completed the mapping system and begun integration through the outage management system to locate an outage faster -- making it faster for us to get your electricity back on if your power is out.
• Through our Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment, we have been able to return to you, our members, more than $3-million since the new rate structure began in Jan. 2010.

Sounds like a lot -- but we have plans to continue to improve your service into 2012.

• We have always been focused on safety -- but in 2012 we're going to put special emphasis on safety -- for our employees and for you our members.  We want each and every employee to be able to go home to their families at the end of each day.  We will continue emphasis on reporting hazards and investing in advanced training and safety demonstrations.
• We will begin rolling out our pre-pay program called "In Control" -- where those members that potentially have a high deposit can opt to pay in advance for their electricity to avoid paying a deposit. 
• WEC is working with our wholesale power supplier, PowerSouth, to develop a financing program for homeowners who are not low-income status to make repairs recommended by WEC following an energy audit.
• 2011 marks the end of a complete cycle of cutting the right-of-way of our entire system -- all 3,500 miles of it.  This has tremendously improved our reliability -- and we will begin all over again in 2012.

We are continually looking for ways to reduce costs and control our wholesale power costs, because this is where the largest chunk of your energy dollar goes -- about 70 cents on the dollar in fact.  I'm sure 2012 will bring new challenges as well -- as we wait to see what the government and Environmental Protection Agency plan with new taxes and regulations.  But your cooperative is up to the challenge! 

As our employees say, "It's WIREGRASS EXCELLENCE!"

And all of us here at Wiregrass Electric -- your Board of Trustees and your employees -- wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas and New Year!