Annual Meeting

Q. When does the board intend to adopt more effective and formalized procedures for the resolution of disputes in a timely manner, which in no event shall exceed 60 days, to comply with T.U.C. Sec. 17.157?

A. Tri-County Electric Cooperative  complies with T.U.C. Sec. 17.157. Section 313.7 of TCEC Service Rules and Regulations describes dispute resolution including a reference to ‘in no event more than sixty (60) days’. The Service Rules and Regulations can be found here. For questions about TCEC, your electric service or billing, please contact member service by phone at 817.444.3201 or by email at memberservice@tcectexas.com.

Q. TCEC received multiple questions about Board Policy 114 and why the board adopted this policy.

A. If you have questions about your electric service or account, please contact member service by phone at 817.444.3201 or by email at memberservice@tcectexas.com. If you have a desire to address the board about concerns, Board Policy 114 details that process which begins by contacting member service. 

Q. Is there interest due/being paid on the "Brazos debt" and if so at what rate? Are you retiring capital credits this year?

A. Yes. Like most business debt, interest is being paid on the Brazos bankruptcy loans, with rates ranging from 6% to 8% in current market conditions. More detailed information about TCEC’s Brazos debt will be published in the November issue of Current Conversations.

The Board of Directors reviews the cooperative's financial health and future outlook each year to determine whether to pay capital credits while considering TCEC’s mission to provide safe and reliable power at the lowest possible cost.

In 2024, TCEC did not pay capital credits as it would have required the cooperative to borrow funds at a 7% interest rate to make those payments and subsequently cost the membership more for years to come.

Q. How will you change this organization to make it more economical? 

 A. Internal belt-tightening continues to help better manage debt levels. Excess assets, such as substations and land, are being sold and budget adjustments that did not impact safety, reliability or long-term stability were made earlier this year. Specific details can be found in the June through September Texas Co-op Power Magazine and past issues of Current Conversations. These publications can be found under the News section of the website.  
 

Q. Why are officers of this company receiving large bonuses when the co-op is badly in the negative? Why do the executives get large bonuses with over $9 million in debt? 

A. To be transparent, the cooperative is about $900 million in debt, not $9 million. A majority of the top leadership at TCEC has changed since last year. With that changeover, new leadership has brought more sustainable compensation practices, which are stakeholder driven, competitive with comparable cooperatives and include performance-based goals.

Q. How was the phishing for specific candidates to be voted for handled?

A. The Committee on Nominations and Qualifications, which qualifies nominating candidates for the board, manages outreach to all prospective candidates about TCEC’s board processes.

Q. The newsletter (magazine) indicated switching from paper billing to electronic billing would save the Co-op 1 million per year. Why doesn’t the Co-op provide this as an option to its members and then pass that savings onto the customer for those who opt. 

A. TCEC’s mission is to keep rates as low as possible. One way members can help reduce costs and keep rates low is by registering for paperless billing. TCEC provides several convenient billing options, including an online member portal, MyTriCountyTX app, and a quick ‘Pay Now’ option online. For a complete overview of billing options and to sign up for electronic billing, please visit tcectexas.com/ways-to-pay.  

Q. Is our electrical grid hardened against an ‘EMP’ attack?  

A. A distribution cooperative like TCEC manages local power lines with less exposure, as compared to transmission that handles high-voltage power.

Q. What happened with the previous CEO’s lawsuit? 

A. Unfortunately, additional information cannot be provided about the former CEO’s lawsuit because it is still in litigation. 

Q. What city were you born in? 

A. Tri-County Electric Cooperative was established in 1939 in a rented office located in a two-story rock building in Azle. That same building currently serves as the home of the Azle Historic Society.