Pedernales Electric Cooperative

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County commissioners are interested in possibly obtaining a used mobile command trailer from Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) to be kept as an asset for a three-county area.

Commissioners spoke to PEC engineering department employee Matthew Austin about the 48-foot trailer at Tuesday, Feb. 13 regular court meeting.

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors on Thursday, Oct. 26, selected Julie Parsley to lead the nation’s largest and fastest-growing distribution electric cooperative and advanced Eddie Dauterive to chief of operations.

Parsley is a former partner of Parsley Coffin Renner, a law firm specializing in utility regulations.

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors on Thursday, Oct. 26, selected Julie Parsley to lead the nation’s largest and fastest-growing distribution electric cooperative and advanced Eddie Dauterive to chief of operations.

Parsley is a former partner of Parsley Coffin Renner, a law firm specializing in utility regulations.

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors and John D. Hewa jointly announced today that Hewa is resigning as PEC’s chief executive officer.

Hewa has decided to move back to Virginia with his family and pursue new career opportunities, said the announcement.

Hewa began serving as CEO in July 2013. During his tenure, he saw the implementation of new software and member payment options, the groundbreaking of the new regional operations center in Marble Falls and rode out sometimes stormy board member clashes.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Granite Shoals became the first city in the entire Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) service area to hear a presentation on the current status of the co-op's new solar farm initiative when Jim Spaulding, director of Project Development Energy Services, attended a meeting of the city council Tuesday night, March 14.

“The PEC is partnering with the City of Johnson City to construct two, one-megawatt (MW) solar facilities as part of a cooperative-wide solar power generation project,” said Spaulding. “Solar has become very cost competitive and could to be at or below what you pay now.”

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Pedernales Electric Cooperative now has a new vice president and secretary-treasurer for its Board of Directors after holding elections at Monday's (Feb. 20) regular board meeting.

Paul Graf, who was serving as the cooperative's secretary-treasurer, was elected vice president, while Amy SJ Akers was elected to succeed Graf in his position.

The need for the election came about when the board voted last month to remove District 5 director and Burnet County Judge James Oakley of his vice president title and issue him a warning as its response to a complaint filed by District 1 director Cristi Clement regarding a Facebook post Oakley had made last year that brought scrutiny to the PEC.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A Pedernales Electric Cooperative complaint committee has stopped short of calling for the removal of Burnet County Judge James Oakley from the Board of Directors entirely but has recommended his removal as Vice President of the cooperative's board.

The recommendation of the Complaint Committee will be discussed and action taken during Tuesday's regular Board of Directors meeting at the cooperative's headquarters in Johnson City.

The board will also consider a resolution by Oakley to rescind the bylaws for removal and discipline of a PEC director from bylaw amendments that were put in place just one week before Oakley made a post on Facebook which brought national media spotlight to the PEC and cast Oakley in an unfavorable light.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor
The Highlander
Two Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) directors are seeking a permanent injunction against the rest of the board and the Johnson City-based cooperative as a whole to prevent implementation of single-member districts this year.
Directors Cristi Clement of Burnet County and Kathy Scanlon of Travis County have been joined by Burnet County resident Thomas Mitchell in the lawsuit, which was filed Dec. 29 in Hays County District Court.
Last August, the PEC board voted 5-2 to create single-member districts in which only members who live within a district may vote for the director from that district. They also created a different quorum requirement for election of directors than that required for the annual PEC meeting, which is when director elections have traditionally taken place.

Representatives from 10 local nonprofit organizations were awarded more than $40,000 in Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Community Grant funding during a Dec. 15 reception at PEC’s headquarters in Johnson City.

Among those 10 organizations was the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center (HLFCC), which received a $1,200 grant.

“We take great pride in our cooperative’s values — like our members’ participation — as well as one of the most important, our concern for community,” remarked PEC CEO John Hewa. “We’re so proud that we’re able to help you make changes in our community.”

HLFCC, 830-693-5600 or 1-800-664-3574, exists to reduce, prevent and end domestic and sexual violence by offering emergency services, comprehensive interventions and educational programs in Burnet, Blanco, Llano and Lampasas counties. The grant will be used to purchase energy-efficient freezers.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative will engage in a communications campaign next year to make members aware of the change to single-member districts before the Board of Directors election.

Directors voted unanimously to approve an election communications plan at their regular board meeting in Johnson City on Monday, Dec. 19.

Vice President of Communications and Business Services Alyssa Clemsen-Roberts said the goal of the plan, which will begin next month, is to inform members of the upcoming election, provide comprehensive education about the new single-member district voting system, encourage member participation in the election and promote and reinforce what she called “the cooperative difference.”