‹ Back to Light Flashes

November is a time for reflection and remembering those things we are thankful for. 

During this season of thanksgiving, I am so thankful to say that the cooperative has had a very safe year. In fact, West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) has worked over 575 days without a lost-time accident. Our industry, in particular line work, is listed as one of the 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States. This is understandable as our linemen perform detailed tasks near high-voltage power lines. They also work in challenging weather conditions and alongside roadways, which can be especially  dangerous. Linecrews also experience increased dangers while helping with storm restoration efforts in  unfamiliar areas – this can be from debris or other hazards like flooding or ice caused by the storm itself. WFEC recently sent two crews of 14 employees to help with power restoration after Hurricane Ian. I am thankful to say those workers returned home safely. I also want to thank them for being willing to take time away from their families to assist those in need, much like many of those co-op employs did for us four years ago.

We are fortunate to have highly skilled professionals working at all levels of the cooperative. Our member services representatives are always standing by to take your calls and answer your questions, our information technology (IT) experts continuously monitor our system to help safeguard sensitive data, and our engineers and operations employees provide ongoing expertise and guidance on the operations side of the co-op. Our skilled mechanics keep our fleet of vehicles and equipment running so that we may serve our members efficiently. Join me in thanking all the co-op’s employees for their dedication and  exceptional commitment to providing superb service to our members.

I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to you – our members. Our industry is facing challenges with the ever-rising costs for the materials, goods, and services necessary to keep the lights on. We are also experiencing an unprecedented period of rising fuel costs that are out of our control. Please know that we are planning ahead and doing all we can to keep our rates as stable as possible. We are striving to keep electricity a good value. It is always our mission as your member-owned, not-for-profit electric co-op, to keep the lights on at the lowest possible cost. We do take this role seriously, and we are responding to market conditions and policy shifts as best we can. Thank you for your continued  understanding.

I am also thankful for my family and my work family. I have been blessed with a very loving and supportive family and I could not ask for better coworkers than I have at WFEC. They are always willing to support one another in times of trial, sadness or need, support community events, coach local teams, volunteer with local organizations, or step in when other co-ops or co-op employees are in need of our assistance.

At WFEC, we are grateful to have veterans within our ranks, and we are proud to serve veterans and their families within our local community. We care for the veteran community and show our appreciation through our actions and ongoing commitment to them and their families. We are proud to partner with local  charitable and business organizations that support veterans and recognize their sacrifices, such as National Wreaths Across America Day, which will take place December 17, 2022. At the national level, we support the Vets Power Us program, which is aimed at employing and honoring veterans, active military and their spouses. This effort helps veterans understand potential career paths with electric co-ops and in turn, provides co-ops with best practices in attracting, onboarding, and retaining veterans. WFEC is proud to employ six veterans at this time.

We are also very thankful for the brave men and women who selflessly serve our country, now and in the past, so that we can enjoy the freedoms their service affords us. Please join us in pausing to reflect on the sacrifices made by our nation’s veterans. In the words of John F. Kennedy, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”