Image of award with mountains in background

07 May

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) received Honorable Mention for Security Excellence in 2023 Elevate Awards by Juniper Networks. The Elevate Awards celebrate the most innovative companies in the world who are using technology to dramatically improve their businesses. “As one of the first rural cooperatives to have a systemwide fiber network, CVEC wanted to optimize the benefit to all members. Our innovative IT team took on the challenge of connecting our downline devices cost-effectively and securely. Their use of the Juniper devices helps us reach our goals. We are honored to be considered for an award in the AI Innovation and Security Excellence categories and to be named with Honorable Mention,” says CVEC President and CEO Gary Wood.

CVEC is utilizing the fiber network to modernize its electric grid, improve service to its members, lower operational costs, and meet growing demand for renewable energy. CVEC relies on Juniper SRX firewalls to securely connect the substations in its grid with downline equipment such as recloser switches, regulators, and other supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) monitoring devices and controllers. In addition to restoring power faster after an outage, CVEC expects the smart grid project to make technicians more productive.

“Before, a technician would have to drive to the location of the outage, which might be in the mountains,” says CVEC Network Engineer Joel Wendland. “The tech would have to clear the outage and then drive to the recloser location, close it out, and re-energize the line. But with our downline devices connected by SRX firewalls, our control center can make repairs remotely and restore service faster.”

The Elevate Awards winners, finalists and honorees represent over twenty countries, showcasing the depth of innovation happening across the globe. Categories recognized customers in seven key categories – AI Innovation, Business Transformation, Data Center of the Future, Empowering Change, Experience First, Security Excellence and 5G Leadership. The selection process involved a combination of Juniper executive and external judges selecting the finalists and winners.

To read CVEC’s full case study, visit the website: https://www.juniper.net/us/en/customers/2023/central-virginia-electric-cooperative-case-study.html

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Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit electric utility serving 39,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC connects its members and communities through reliable power and broadband services, delivering world-class, high-speed internet service through its subsidiary, Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM. CVEC and its subsidiary are equal opportunity providers and employers. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the world’s greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

CVEC and VMD staff with Burundi delegation

02 May

CVEC recently had the distinct privilege of hosting a delegation from the Republic of Burundi in Africa and Virunga Power Corporation. The government of Burundi and Virunga Power have formed a unique public-private partnership with a goal of creating an electric distribution network to make electricity available across the nation of Burundi. NRECA’s International Team has been working with Virunga Power to develop an electrification expansion plan that will guide electrification investments, including engineering design for the first phase of the project in Burundi.

During this early planning phase of the project, the leaders of the new electric utility, Burundi regulators and members of the Burundi administration wanted to visit the United States to visit a rural electric cooperative and pole-treatment facility. Among the many key questions for which they sought resolution during their visit, one of the most interesting was regarding the successful use of wood utility poles in Burundi.

Prior to the visit, the government of Burundi was not convinced. Only about 10% of Burundi currently has electricity, but they have had a very poor experience with locally sourced wood poles. Mainly used are local eucalyptus poles that are not treated. These green, undried, untreated poles rot quickly, requiring the current Burundi utility to replace each wood pole on its system typically every four to seven years, depending on the level of rot damage in the pole.

NRECA International connected the Burundi delegation with CVEC for a tour of its facility and infrastructure. CVEC was proud to spend several hours with the delegation, presenting and answering many questions from metering technology, transformer and voltage standards, infrastructure procurement, and reliability rates with the co-op’s wood pole infrastructure.

CVEC representatives escorted the group on a small field trip to inspect healthy 30-year-old poles and a few poles that have been tested/treated that were even older. The eye-opening experience helped prepare the delegation for their next trip to a pole treatment facility in Georgia. Their goal is to potentially build a pole treatment facility in Burundi to help ensure the expansion of their grid is reliable and successful.

“CVEC appreciated the opportunity to welcome this delegation and to share best practices that we have learned,” says Galen Creekmore, government affairs and key accounts representative. “It was gratifying and humbling to see a team working toward bringing electrification to their nation in 2024, and working through intricate details to achieve what we so often take for granted.”

04 Apr

On May 6, 2024, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (“CVEC” or “Cooperative”) expects to file with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an application requesting approval of a proposed increase in rates and charges for bills rendered on and after June 5, 2024 (“Application”). The Cooperative is filing the Application pursuant to §§ 56-231.33, 56-231.34, 56-235, 56-236, and 56-585.3 of the Code of Virginia and under 20 VAC 5-200- 21(C) of the Commission’s Rules Governing Streamlined Rate Proceedings and General Rate Proceedings for Electric Cooperatives Subject to the State Corporation Commission’s Rate Jurisdiction (“Streamlined Rate Case Rules”).

CVEC is continuing to experience increased costs due to the required upgrading of substations and transmission lines as well as inflation and higher interest rates. Despite its efforts to control costs, CVEC has determined that it needs additional revenue to continue to meet its financial obligations and to provide high levels of reliability and customer service. CVEC’s proposed rates are designed to increase the Cooperative’s revenues by approximately $4.6 million per year, an increase in total operating revenues for the Cooperative of 3.98%. Impacts on individual member bills may vary based on rate schedule and usage. Based on pro-forma year results, the proposed rates will produce a TIER (Times Interest Earned Ratio) of 2.2.

The Cooperative proposes the following changes to the rate schedule revenues:

Under the proposed rates, an average residential member using 1,000 kWh per month will see an increase of approximately $7.50 per month, which represents a 4.5% increase in the monthly bill that includes the current Power Cost Adjustment rate.

The Application does not propose any wholesale power cost riders be rolled-in to base rates. Additionally, the Cooperative is not proposing revisions to its rate structure as part of the Application.

As noted above, the Cooperative intends to file the Application with the Commission on May 6, 2024. Any person subject to the change or changes proposed by CVEC has the right to request a hearing within 30 days of the Application’s delivery to the Commission, or by June 5, 2024. Requests for hearing should be directed to the Clerk of the Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218. If the Commission receives objections from fewer than (i) 150 of the Cooperative’s members; (ii) one-quarter of the members within a rate class that is the subject of a revision or increase; or (iii) all of the members within a rate class that is the subject of a revision or increase if the rate class contains 20 or fewer members, CVEC may petition the Commission to make rates permanent without hearing within 30 days after the Application is filed with the Commission. Specifically, CVEC intends to request in its Application that if the Commission does not suspend the proposed rates as provided in the Streamlined Rate Case Rules, CVEC be permitted to implement the proposed rates on a permanent basis without a hearing effective June 5, 2024.

The Commission may convene a hearing to consider the Cooperative’s Application, and if a hearing is held, the Commission may order rate relief, redesign rates or adopt tariff revisions which differ from those appearing in CVEC’s Application.

Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals and may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information once it is filed. Copies of the Cooperative’s Application also may be inspected by appointment during regular business hours at each of the Cooperative’s business offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Electronic copies of these documents also may be obtained, at no charge, by submitting a written request to counsel for the Cooperative: Timothy E. Biller, Esquire, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Riverfront Plaza East Tower, 951 East Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-4074, tbiller@hunton.com.

CVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

26 Mar

Last year, over 20,400 assets were inspected as part of CVEC’s Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) program. Nearly 10,000 of those were completed using a CVEC-operated drone, which allows the Operations team to photograph and examine pole-top equipment much more efficiently than with the use of bucket trucks. Additionally, over 10,800 assets were inspected by foot. These assets include equipment on the ground, such as the base of poles and equipment within the substation.

CVEC replaced 572 poles that were either rejected during inspections or as needed for work plan projects. Damage incurred from insects, woodpeckers, and natural aging can reduce service reliability and endanger line crews.

With the addition of fiber, CVEC is able to connect more downline devices to help monitor and troubleshoot problems on the system. In 2023, CVEC connected 20 substations and 20 devices to the fiber network and performed feeder coordination analysis to ensure downline devices are operating correctly. Feeder coordination analysis will continue on a five-year circuit rotation to make sure there are no gaps in device communication as more system improvements are completed.

These efforts are making a difference for our members and your cooperative is working hard to deliver safe and reliable electricity.

19 Feb

CVEC has been working behind the scenes to update our phone system to provide an easier and more efficient member experience. We are excited to announce that we are close to full implementation of this new system.

The implementation process will be completed in steps, beginning on February 19 and continuing over the next couple of weeks. Members who call CVEC may notice that the voice recording was updated for menu options. Once the system is fully implemented, all calls to CVEC will hear the new recording.

The new phone system also has added options. Instead of being transferred by a Member Service Representative, members will be able to press 5 to connect with Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM, CVEC's wholly-owned internet subsidiary. CVEC has also added a new option to better serve members who speak Spanish. By pressing 9, members can access the phone menu in Spanish and more easily reach the proper department for assistance.

One of the largest benefits of the new system is call recording. When members are connected to a representative to discuss a new or existing service, they will hear a disclaimer indicating that the call is being recorded for quality and training purposes. All inbound and outbound calls with members will be recorded to help CVEC improve its service to members. However, member privacy is important. To protect sensitive member information, recording will be paused prior to members providing full social security numbers with new account set-up and banking information for one-time draft payments.

If you have any questions regarding the new phone system, please contact us at 800-367-2832 or by emailing ms@mycvec.com.

06 Feb

Construction has been completed on Soapstone, a new, upgraded 138kV substation in the Schuyler area. The Soapstone substation will improve reliability for CVEC members, as well as allow CVEC to continue to receive electricity from Appalachian Power’s upgraded 138kV transmission system.

Schuyler is a wooden-framed substation that was built in the 1970's as a metering point and has only one circuit to serve homes in Nelson, Albemarle, and Buckingham. Soapstone will have two circuits to serve members and will use the newer AEP 138kV lines versus the older 46kV lines. After a brief outage on February 13, members served by CVEC’s Schuyler substation will be permanently switched to Soapstone. The Schuyler substation will be dismantled and removed in the next year.

Soapstone is the first brand new substation construction for the cooperative in years. Last year, CVEC also upgraded Gladstone and Tower Hill transmission lines from 46kV to 138kV and is rebuilding those substations and will be complete in 2024. These updates ensure that our equipment is adequately sized to receive electricity from Appalachian Power’s recent transmission system upgrades.

Top: CVEC's Schuyler substation

Bottom: The new Soapstone substation

19 Jan

When the outside temperature gets closer to the freezing mark, heat pumps become less efficient and use more electricity to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. This prolonged stretch of below-freezing temperatures we are experiencing is keeping heat pumps running almost constantly and consuming more electricity just to keep you comfortable.

As a result of the prolonged cold and higher energy usage, January energy bills will be higher. This is true for electricity consumers across the state of Virginia, regardless of who your electricity provider is. We can assure you that CVEC rates did not increase in January – the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable temperature inside homes did. We are encouraging members to act now to save energy to help offset the increased usage due to the frigid temperatures.

Set your thermostat as low as comfortable. The greater the difference between your thermostat and the outside temperature, the more your heat pump must run to condition your home.
Make sure air vents are unobstructed.
Seal air gaps around windows, baseboards, doors, and other places where air leaks may occur.
Bundle up. Instead of bumping your thermostat up, wear additional layers, cozy socks, and use blankets to help keep you warm.
Use supplemental heating options, such as gas logs or wood-burning fireplaces to help offset your energy consumption.
Be careful with using space heaters. They are energy hogs and aren’t designed to heat large spaces or be a primary source of heat! Running a 1,500W space heater for 8 hours per day can increase your monthly energy bill by over $40.
Limit the use of nonessential appliances and lights.
Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics when not in use.

Members can monitor energy usage and compare usage to fluctuations in the weather, as well as sign up for usage alert text messages using the online portal. If you do not have an online portal account, sign up by visiting https://pay.mycvec.com/onlineportal/.

17 Jan

In addition to sending member satisfaction surveys this year, Central Virginia Electric is also participating in the Front Porch Forum to gather insights and opinions from a small segment of members that are randomly selected to apply. The Front Porch Forum is sponsored by Touchstone Energy® and conducted by Cooperative Insights, the same company that conducts CVEC’s member satisfaction surveys each year.

Members who are selected to apply will receive a survey email from NCEMCS Marketing & Research Coordinator, Calloway King, via SurveyMonkey to see if they qualify to participate in the Forum. Randomly selected members will receive the screening survey during the week of January 15 through January 19.

This is CVEC’s first time participating in the Forum, which utilizes an emerging qualitative research methodology called a marketing research online community. It is an interactive, invite-only online space for members to engage with each other, mixing attributes of traditional focus groups and social networking apps.

At the conclusion of the Forum, CVEC will receive a summary, recommendations, and a detailed assessment of the survey activities and discussion topics.

08 Jan

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Director Gloria W. Vest on Wednesday, January 3. Mrs. Vest served CVEC’s East District for over 20 years, representing members in Fluvanna, Louisa, and Orange counties. On behalf of the entire CVEC family, we extend our deepest condolences to the Vest family.

Mrs. Vest was an accomplished Director, earning her certification as a Rural Electric Board Director from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and recently achieved Director Gold status, the highest level of training from NRECA for directors. She served as Secretary for the Board for three separate terms and served on the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives Educational Committee.

To express its gratitude, the CVEC Board of Directors resolved to dedicate its Community Room at the newly-constructed office building in Palmyra to the first two female directors. Mrs. Vest was the second female director to be elected and the Harlowe-Vest Community Room was named and dedicated in December 2017.

As a life-long and well-respected member of Fluvanna County, Mrs. Vest exemplified dedication and concern for her community. She retired from her position as the Deputy Treasurer for Fluvanna County in 2017. Mrs. Vest served with the Fluvanna Volunteer Rescue Squad since 1973, serving as the Squad’s Treasurer for more than 20 years. She was also very active in Evergreen Baptist Church and volunteered in several non-profit community organizations.

Mrs. Vest was a pillar of strength, determination, and stewardship and CVEC is immensely grateful for the 23 years of service that she provided to the cooperative and its 39,000 members. She will be greatly missed by the CVEC staff, members, and employees, as well as the residents of Fluvanna County.

L-R CVEC Directors H.T. Brown, Jr., Gloria Vest, Roberta Harlowe, George Goin

05 Jan

The CVEC territory is currently under a Winter Storm Warning, with a mixture of snow, ice, wind, and freezing temperatures heading our way. These conditions can bring down trees, topple utility poles, and cause extended power outages.

CVEC is making preparations, including stocking trucks, scheduling internal crews, and making arrangements for mutual aid should the need arise. Rest assured that your cooperative is ready and will respond to outages as soon as it is safe to do so. In the event that outages do occur, you can report them here: https://www.mycvec.com/outage/report-outage. Stay up-to-date by visiting the Outage Center page at mycvec.com and by liking us on facebook.

Icy and windy conditions can cause significant damage and make it difficult for crews to access locations where repairs are needed. We are encouraging our members to prepare now for the potential of extended outages.

You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours during a winter storm. You may need to get by without power or tap water. It's a good idea to separate some of these supplies into backpacks. That way, your kit will be more portable, and each person can personalize his or her own grab-and-go emergency kit. Preparing the following supplies in advance (NOW) can help lessen the impact of an emergency:

Water for drinking. At least two liters of water per person per day; include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order. Don’t forget to store gallon jugs of water for cooking and cleaning.
Flashlights
Batteries, candles, and matches
Manual can opener.
Non-perishable food are foods that won't spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods. Replace food and water once a year.
First aid kits and other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, and backups for medical supplies.
Food, water and medication for your pets or service animal.
Move livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
Extra blankets and layers of clothing
Alternative heat source
Battery-operated radio

If using a generator, do so safely. You can find more information at https://www.mycvec.com/safety/generators.

For more tips on how to be prepared, visit https://www.mycvec.com/outage/prepare.

03 Jan

Mr. Chiles’ history with the Cooperative started at a young age. As a boy, he helped to “cut the line in” for CVEC to run electricity to the cold storage shed at his family’s apple business. Henry Chiles has been no stranger to hard work, speaking directly, and applying common sense.

Since joining the CVEC board 46 years ago, he has represented the West District and served as a dedicated leader with excitement and enthusiasm for the Cooperative’s business model, mission, and its memberowners. Using his business-savvy approach throughout nearly five decades of service, he has never wavered from his dedication to CVEC members and his goal of keeping energy bills as low as possible.

“Serving on the CVEC board has been an honor and I am very grateful to the members for continuing to entrust me to represent their best interests,” stated Chiles. “Throughout my time on the board, I’ve had the privilege of working with multiple CEOs and fellow directors and have seen the Cooperative take on significant changes in the industry from regulations to technology to power supply. I’m thankful to have served on the board during CVEC’s rural broadband project and to have witnessed and been a part of so many accomplishments. I’m confident that the Cooperative is in excellent hands and will continue its member-focus and mission to transform lives.”

Mr. Chiles and his children have continued the family’s apple business known as Crown Orchard - a legacy that began with both of his grandfathers. Mr. Chiles also owns Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter Mountain Orchard, and is recognized nationally as a business leader among fruit growers. In 2014, he was selected as America’s Apple Packer of the Year by the U.S. Apple Association.

15 Dec

Dirt floors, hammocks for beds, and no electricity may sound like something from the wild west, but for many Guatemalans, it is a reality still today.

In October, CVEC Lineman Allan Thacker joined 18 fellow line workers from the VMDAEC to bring electricity to 500 residents in the rural village of Santa Isabel, Guatemala. For 19 days, the United We Light Team battled extreme heat, rough roads, political protests, fuel shortages, and flat tires to construct and energize 5 miles of line to 103 service connections. They also installed lights and fans in homes, as well as in each of the school’s classrooms.

Many in the village were excited about their children not having to do homework by candlelight, while others were excited about having lights on the soccer field and being able to start new business ventures. Thanks to Allan and all who helped transform countless lives in Guatemala. #TransformingLives #ItStartsWithPower

To hear more about Allan’s journey, watch the video below.

17 Nov

The holiday season is just around the corner and soon, festive music will flood the airwaves, sparkling lights and decorations will adorn homes and businesses, and good tidings will abound. The holidays also bring a frenzy of decorating, cooking, and family gatherings. Now is a good time to take a look at a few programs and efficiency tips to help lower your monthly energy usage.

Programs to help you save.

Amid the hectic hustle and bustle of holiday cheer, it is easy to lose track of energy usage which results in higher-than-usual energy bills. CVEC offers account text notifications to remind members of due dates, receive payment confirmations, and receive alerts for spikes in energy usage. Sign up TODAY to receive one or all of these account reminders and alerts. You can choose to receive each by text or email or both. To sign up, log into your account portal by visiting https://pay.mycvec.com/onlineportal/. If you elect to receive your alerts and reminders by text, you will still need to opt-in by phone for activation.

Our team of member service representatives is available to help, so I encourage you to give us a call at 800-367-2832 if you’d like to learn about specific programs and services that can lower your bills.

Small steps to savings.

Winter months typically bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. Making minor, low-cost improvements, like weatherstripping exterior doors and caulking around old, drafty windows can make a positive impact on energy bills. If you’re not sure where to start, visit the “Save Money” page at mycvec.com.

Be festive without breaking the bank.

Whether you’ve already decked your halls or you’re just getting started, there’s still time to incorporate energy savings into your holiday décor planning. Before you spend hours untangling those old lights, consider switching to LEDs to save energy.

LED holiday lights use 88% less energy than incandescent holiday lights. To put that into perspective, the Department of Energy estimates that with standard holiday decorations, LED lights typically increase energy bills by about $5 to $7. But with incandescent lights, energy bills will typically increase by $33 or more. For homes that go above and beyond with incandescent holiday lighting (think Clark Griswold), energy bills could increase by as much as $350. Beyond energy savings, LEDs provide additional benefits, such as being shock-resistant, shatterproof, and cool to the touch, making them safer for the home.

If you missed Santa’s memo about energy-saving LEDs and your holiday lights are already up, you can still save on lighting costs. All you need is a programmable light timer. Most models cost between $10 to $25 and can be purchased through online retailers like Amazon or at big box stores like Lowe’s or Wal-Mart. With a light timer, you can easily program when you want your holiday lights turned on and off, which will save you time, money and energy. If you’re using a timer for exterior lighting, make sure it’s weatherproof and intended for outdoor use.

If Clark Griswold’s décor style is a bit much for your taste, consider a more natural approach. Many Christmas tree farms, and even retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, give away greenery clippings from recently trimmed trees. With a little twine, extra ornaments, and sparkly ribbon, you can create beautiful garlands and wreaths to hang over your front door or windows. To add extra twinkle at night, you can install solar-powered spotlights to illuminate your new (essentially free!) greenery. Solar spotlights can vary in price, but you should be able to purchase a quality set of four for about $30––and because they run on natural energy from the sun, there’s no additional cost to your energy bill.

Additional easy ways to save during the holiday season include turning off overhead lights and using your Christmas tree to illuminate your home. If you have a fireplace, remember to close the flue when you’re not burning a fire to ensure heat doesn’t escape through the chimney.

Cook up energy savings in the kitchen.

If you plan to have family and friends over this holiday season, you can cook up energy savings by using small countertop appliances like microwaves, air fryers, and slow cookers when possible, as they use much less energy than the stovetop or oven.

When using the oven, bake multiple dishes at once for maximum efficiency. Afterall, it takes as much energy to cook one dish as it does to cook several. Turn the oven off a few minutes before the recipe’s end time and allow the residual heat to finish baking the dish. Once the food is done, leave the stove door ajar to allow the residual heat to warm the room. When using the stove top, match the pan size to the burner to maximize the stove top’s efficiency.

We hope these tips will be helpful to our members as we approach the holiday season. Remember, we’re here to answer any questions you have about managing energy use or your monthly bills. With a little planning upfront, you can find efficient ways to save on everything from holiday décor to your favorite soup recipes.

From your friends at Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

03 Oct

[Arrington, VA] - Effective October 1, 2023, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) members will see a rate increase on their bills to help recover the rising costs associated with providing electric service. The cooperative’s Board of Directors approved an increase that will equate to 1.6% of total revenue from rates or 5% of non-power supply costs, which increases average residential bills by approximately $3.39 per month. CVEC has endeavored to manage costs within the revenue from its rates and is one of two cooperatives in Virginia that has not implemented a general rate increase since 2018.

CVEC is committed to delivering safe and reliable electric service while, at the same time, managing costs and providing high-quality service for its members. Programs to improve reliability, expand member services, and offer a community solar program have continued and the cooperative has been successful in limiting the impact of rising costs to members over the past five years. However, the accumulated inflation has increased costs to the point that the present retail rates do not recover adequate revenue to offset all costs for distribution services. To ensure CVEC meets the financial goals set in their equity management plan, a rate increase was deemed necessary.

Gary Wood, CVEC president and CEO states, “CVEC is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative that shares the cost of buying and providing power with all member-owners. When the prices increased all around us, CVEC was able to hold steady and minimize costs without reducing its level of service to members. The Board of Directors and management at CVEC understand the hardship that any increase can pose to households and didn’t make the decision lightly. Our responsibility is to adhere to the financial goals for the cooperative and the increase in non-power supply costs is necessary at this time.”

Members will be notified via several methods including bill inserts, email, newsletter, and social media. Information about the rate increase, frequently asked questions, and ways to save money with energy efficiency and billing options can be found on CVEC’s website: www.mycvec.com. For answers to questions about the rate increase or any services provided by CVEC, the member services team is available by phone at 800-367-2832 and email information@mycvec.com. Members may also visit https://www.mycvec.com/rate-increase.

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Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving over 38,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. CVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

15 Sep

If you missed the live meeting, you can view the recording here.

Join us on September 20, 2023 for CVEC’s 86th Annual Meeting. Here’s what to expect if you plan to attend.

The meeting will take place indoors at CVEC’s Headquarters office in Arrington, VA.
Registration will begin at 6:00pm and the meeting will begin at 6:30pm. The meeting is expected to last 20-30 minutes.
Bring the back panel of your newsletter to expedite registration.
We will not offer food or door prizes, but water will be available.
RSVP will be required due to limited space in the meeting room. Please email comm@mycvec.com with your name, account number, and best call back number if you plan to attend.
We will livestream the meeting for members who are unable to attend. Click here to view the livestream.

Don't forget the proxy ballot must be received by 5 PM Monday, September 18th. The proxy ballot must be filled out and signed by the CVEC account holder as listed on the proxy ballot.

24 Aug

[Lovingston, VA] – Howard Scarboro, retired CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) received the 2023 Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC). Scarboro was presented with the Association’s highest honor during the VMDAEC’s 79th Annual Meeting that was held July 23-25 at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va.

Mr. Scarboro was recognized for his creative, dynamic, and forward-thinking leadership during his 16-year tenure with CVEC. Roberta Harlowe, CVEC Director, praised Mr. Scarboro’s efforts to improve workflow efficiency and implement new technologies, such as the outage management system to benefit the members.

Amongst his many accomplishments as CEO, Mr. Scarboro oversaw the design and construction of CVEC’s state-of-the art Headquarters office located in Arrington, VA, and designed the Cooperative’s logo, which is still in use today. In 2003, Mr. Scarboro, with his team, created the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo, which is now headed by the VMDAEC and is one of the largest and most successful lineman rodeos in the country.

Most notably, Mr. Scarboro left an operating subsidiary in place when he retired in 2007. The subsidiary was reopened in 2018 as part of the Cooperative’s rural broadband project, and now operates as Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM, which offers affordable and reliable high-speed internet throughout central Virginia. “To take on the breadth of things he did in the time he was there is part of what makes him such an outstanding leader,” said Gary Wood, CVEC’s current President & CEO.

(L to R) CVEC President & CEO, Gary Wood speaking on Howard’s accomplishments during the ceremony

Photo credit: VMDAEC

(L to R) Howard Scarboro with VMDAEC President, Brian Mosier during the awards ceremony

Photo credit: VMDAEC

23 Aug

Article by Barbara Bowen, Public Information Officer, Virginia State Office, Rural Development & United States Department of Agriculture

It’s no coincidence that the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) named their internet subsidiary after a small, luminescent insect. The parallels between the push to power rural homes in the 1930’s and the challenge of bringing broadband to remote areas of the state were undeniable as the company expanded its reach into telecommunications.

“It’s just as critical today for everyone to have internet access as it was for our parents and grandparents to get electricity,” says Gary Wood, Chief Executive Officer for Firefly Fiber Broadband. “Broadband is really transformational in its ability to help people function in today’s society because so many services are delivered online.”

Like its namesake, Firefly is brightening the lives of a growing list of customers in nine Virginia counties with help from USDA Rural Development. Funding provided through the ReConnect Program enabled the company to build out its fiber network overhead and underground with 850 miles of cable and communications huts to transmit the signal that connects communities.

The impacts of this service are far-reaching, touching every facet of daily life.

Schools. Home use of school-issued laptops had proven problematic before COVID but rose to prominence afterwards when students couldn’t complete work in the classroom, library or other locations with reliable wi-fi. Today, students can finish assignments and their teachers can grade them in the comfort of their own homes.

Businesses. The beautiful rolling hills of Central Virginia are home to numerous businesses, including breweries and vineyards that need connectivity to grow and thrive in these remote locations. The ability to take orders online and process credit card payments on site can be a game changer for these enterprises. Farms, orchards, produce wholesalers and small stores are all expanding their operations through e-commerce.

Telework options are also helping companies attract and retain quality employees. Wood says his team regularly received comments from people who wanted to live in a rural area and weren’t able to do that until they found a place with reliable, affordable broadband.

First Responders/Health Care Organizations. Every minute is critical in life-or-death situations. Several volunteer fire departments in the area did not have good connectivity prior to the launch of this project and residents often had to drive great distances to access medical treatment.

Broadband helps crews find houses more quickly to provide emergency care or bring blazes under control. Telemedicine is also proving to be a vital lifeline for diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions. Devices like pacemakers must have connectivity to enable physicians to properly monitor a patient’s vital functions.

“We’ve had nurses tell us they have been able to do a lot of their jobs remotely and, in some cases, are caretakers for elderly individuals,” said Wood. “In one particular case, a lady wrote a touching story about being able to keep her father at home instead of moving him to an assisted living facility.”

Houses of Worship. Churches have always been important to the rural lifestyle and are one of the first to sign up in each community. Broadband enables congregations to use tools like closed-circuit television and streaming to share their message with a broader audience.

Scientific Research. A local moth researcher has used her connection to add new varieties of moths into a database that tracks the locations of endangered species and the different types of insects located around the world. Wood says she likens internet access to having a “planetary library” on the screen in her house.

“We have received such great feedback from our members and subscribers,” said Wood. “Their desire to have the internet and the ways they’ve expressed their gratitude when it comes has been amazing to us. They’re so happy that progress is coming that they send their children out with lemonade every time a crew shows up. It’s very fulfilling to see the benefits that our subscribers get.”

Firefly now has more than 22,000 customers and is adding about 200 more per week. About 4,200 are in the ReConnect project area. Customer satisfaction is high with the company receiving a 90 on the American Consumer Index (the industry average is 65).

“We’ve been a USDA borrower on the electric side for years,” he adds. “The expansion to the ReConnect program and the telecom side has really benefited us and allowed us to experience a renewal similar to what happened in the 1930’s. We appreciate the partnership because it’s allowing us to be successful and provide internet in places nobody else would.”

Photo Caption: Utility workers from S&N Communications install high-speed internet fiber on a farm in central Virginia. The fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network infrastructure put in place through this ReConnect project will deliver world-class gigabit-speed broadband internet service to an area that include 7,023 households, six healthcare centers, 15 educational facilities, and 15 critical community facilities spread over 704 square miles of rural central Virginia (USDA photo by Jay Pinsky).

View this article at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/success-stories/transforming-lives-and-livelihoods-one-connection-time?fbclid=IwAR1nkX_6Ud8piSKRD9U5NAt2SRI8UGNH9gffl4PB1gUo8Cz1Nx3riEEsupo

28 Jul

CVEC is utilizing the newly constructed fiber network to modernize its electric grid, improve service to its members, lower operational costs, and meet growing demand for renewable energy. As one of the first rural cooperatives to have a system-wide fiber network, CVEC wanted to optimize the benefit to all members. One of the first ways to improve electric operations was to focus on improved service restoration and reliability. Our innovative IT team took on the challenge of connecting our downline devices cost-effectively and securely.

Read the full case study done by Juniper Networks, CVEC’s partner in network security, to see how our innovative IT team took on the challenge of connecting our downline devices cost-effectively and securely: https://www.juniper.net/us/en/customers/central-virginia-electric-cooperative-case-study.html

27 Jul

Scammers are at it again and are more cunning than ever!! They are even using the names of CVEC executives in their attempts to steal information. Don’t fall for their tricks – protect your personal information and your bank account!

CVEC will NEVER request personal information or demand payment over the phone or in the field. CVEC executives will never demand action or request sensitive information via text message. If in doubt, even if CVEC’s number or name shows on the caller ID, please hang up and call us at 800-367-2832.

You can verify your account status, balance, or due date by signing into the CVEC mobile app, checking your account online, or by calling CVEC. In addition, please don’t respond to suspicious emails or text messages or click on any links or attachments prompting energy bill payment. Protect yourself, friends, and family by always reporting any scam attempts to your local authorities.

Know the Signs

CVEC employees will never ask for financial or credit card information over the phone, email, or via text message.

CVEC will never demand that members purchase gift cards, wire a transfer, or send money orders to avoid disconnection of service.

CVEC will never request personal or financial information via text message.

Protect Yourself

Use complex passwords for online accounts.

Set up banking alerts to notify you if suspicious purchases are made.

You can verify your account status, balance, or due date by signing into the CVEC mobile app, checking your account online, or by calling CVEC at 800-367-2832.

26 Jul

Maintenance crews and contractors are as busy as bees inspecting the electric infrastructure throughout our system. You may see the following activities in your area.

Pole Inspections - Contractor crews test poles for signs of damage or decay. If a pole is rejected, construction crews will be back at a later date to replace it.

Right-of-Way (ROW) Vegetation Management - CVEC clears the corridor beneath and around its power lines to keep the lights on, as well as to keep your family and our line crews safe and sound. Read more about CVEC’s ROW program at https://www.mycvec.com/outage/reliability/right-of-way-management.

Drone Inspections - CVEC utilizes a drone contractor to perform a detailed aerial patrol of electric lines annually to locate potential problems on lines and line components before outages occur.

Watch for notices in the mail when crews will be working in your area or are performing work that may affect your service. Contractors will always have a magnetic sign identifying them as an authorized contractor for CVEC.

25 Jul

Strategic planning is in full swing at CVEC and we are committed to growing and improving our processes to better serve our membership and our community! The feedback gathered from our member-owners, employees, managers, Board of Directors, and the Member Advisory Council members has helped define our initiatives and guide conversations for our employee work groups, who are busy mapping an action plan that will be executed over the next three to five years.

CVEC strives to deliver the safest and most reliable electric service for our members and we are on target to meet our reliability goal for this year. The milder weather was a welcome change from 2022 and we continue to see the benefit of our robust vegetation management plan, which includes field inspections and right-of-way clearing to neutralize threats to power lines and poles. Maintenance and upgrades across the system continue to improve reliability by identifying and addressing potential problems before outages occur.

In April, CVEC and Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM celebrated 20,000 customers connected and the conclusion of the construction portion of the fiber build. All CVEC members have the option to subscribe to gigabit speed internet service that is reliable and affordable: an amenity that has been inaccessible for far too long. CVEC will leverage the fiber to improve operations and reliability, helping to contain costs to members.

Members are reminded that the Annual Meeting will be held in September this year and will take place at CVEC’s headquarters building in Arrington. Please be sure to save the date and plan to join us virtually or in person. Your vote matters and we encourage all members to participate in the director elections.

CVEC strives to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric service that powers our members and our communities. As a company, CVEC invests in its employees so that they have the necessary training to better deliver on that promise, as well as in our communities so that employees can share their talent and knowledge to keep others safe. Together we transform lives.

This edition of the Current Communicator includes an update on system upgrades and maintenance, the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo, the fiber project, and CVEC in the community.

Read the full newsletter here.

CVEC Apprentices Clay Umbarger, Scott Chisholm, Mike Reynolds, Graham Hughes, Travis

10 Jun

(Lovingston, VA) – On May 20^th, seven Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) apprentice linemen competed in the 19^th annual Gaff-N-Go lineworkers’ rodeo, hosted by the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC). The record-breaking event brought thousands of spectators who hailed from as far away as California and New York to watch the competitors, including 100 fellow apprentice lineworkers from seven states as they competed in events designed to simulate the work they do every day to keep the lights on – safely and efficiently.

Competitors were judged on safety, work practice, neatness and ability, equipment handling, and timely completion of each event. CVEC apprentices Travis Burnett and Graham Hughes finished 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in the Hurtman Rescue event, while Burnett also brought home a 2^nd place finish in the Layout Insulator Change-out event.

“We couldn’t be prouder of all of the CVEC apprentices who competed this year” stated CVEC President and CEO Gary Wood. “These guys go out year-round, day and night, in rain and snow to answer the call and keep the lights on for our members. We are proud to celebrate their hard work and dedication while having a little bit of fun and friendly competition with others in the industry.”

The weekend concluded with a sold-out awards banquet where speakers continued to emphasize the importance of worker safety and efficiency — key principles of the lineworkers’ rodeo — and VMDAEC leadership announced the winners of the Gaff-N-Go competition.

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(L to R) CVEC Apprentices Clay Umbarger, Scott Chisholm, Mike Reynolds,
Graham Hughes, Travis Burnett, Zach Morris, and Blaine Cunningham

(L to R) CVEC Apprentices Travis Burnett and Graham Hughes took home awards at the 2023 Gaff-n-Go Rodeo

08 Jun

Arrington, VA - The Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) awarded four Central Virginia high school seniors a $1,000 Worth M. Hudson Scholarship, named for the first chairman of the Foundation. The 2023 recipients are:

Trevor Brown of Louisa, a graduate of Goochland High School is the son of Barry Brown.

Artela Aljiji of Troy, a graduate of Fluvanna County High School is the daughter of Bukurije and Berhan Aljiji.

Erika Schmack of Scottsville, a graduate of Fluvanna County High School is the daughter of Richard Schmack.

Katie Conroy of Appomattox, a graduate of Appomattox County High School is the daughter of Kristin Conroy.

The Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship, named for the past chair of the scholarship fund and a current member of the CVEC board of directors, in the amount of $2,000 was awarded to:

Candace Fitzgerald of Arrington, a graduate of Nelson County High School is the daughter of Emily Hobgood.

These five high school seniors were eligible for consideration because their parents are consumer-members of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. “The cost of college and post-graduation training programs are steadily rising and CVEC recognizes that seniors in our rural communities can benefit from scholarships to help offset those costs,” says Gary Wood, President and CEO of CVEC. “We are proud to help these five deserving high school seniors to continue their education, whether at a college or university or in learning a trade.”

Recipients were chosen based on a competitive screeningprocess that considers financial need (40 percent), academic achievement (40 percent) and community involvement (20 percent). Applicants must be a senior graduating from either high school or home schoolin 2023. They must also provide evidence of their acceptance into a post-high school educational institution or program. These grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

“These scholarships reflect the strong commitment of electric cooperatives to advancing educational opportunities among our youth,” said Russell G. “Rusty” Brown, chair of the Education Scholarship Foundation Board and chair of the board of directors of the VMD Association. “We commend these students on their academic success, knowing they represent a future generation of leaders in their communities.”

Since 2001, the Foundation has provided approximately 998 scholarships totaling more than $900,000 to aspiring college students as well as to the next generation of electric lineworkers.

The Foundation is supported through tax-deductible donations and bequests from individuals, proceeds from fundraising events and CoBank’s Sharing Success Program. One hundred percent of donations go to students for scholarships. For information on donating to the Foundation, visit vmdaec.com/scholarship.

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Headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives provides safety and training, communications and legislative services to 15 electric cooperatives serving the three-state Mid-Atlantic region. For more information on VMDAEC and the scholarship program, visit www.vmdaec.com or www.co-opliving.com.

01 Jun

Did you know that many utilities are buried just a few inches below ground? You can easily hit a line when digging for simple gardening projects, like planting flowers or small shrubs. Hitting a buried line while digging can disrupt utility services, cost money to repair, or cause serious injury or death. No matter how small your next home digging project is, remember to keep yourself and your community safe by contacting 811 to have the approximate location of buried utilities marked with paint or flags before putting a shovel in the ground. Learn more at 811beforeyoudig.com.

13 Apr

On Friday, March 31, CVEC attended Cumberland Elementary's Science Day to teach students about electricity. With the help of our very special character props, Joe the Crow and Merle the Squirrel, students learned about the path of electricity, what causes power outages, and how to stay safe around electricity. CVEC would like to thank CVEC linemen Coty Painter and Travis Massie, CVEC Safety and Specialist, Randy Golladay, as well as the staff at Cumberland Elementary School for inviting us out. We enjoyed it just as much as the kids!

Last week, CVEC also conducted an electrical safety training seminar for first responders at the Concord Volunteer Fire Department. Attendees included members from the Concord fire department, as well as members from Rustburg and Appomattox. CVEC’s Training and Safety Specialist, Randy Golladay, explained the dangers of electricity during the classroom portion before heading outside for a life-sized live line demonstration. CVEC linemen, Coty Painter and Travis Massie, assisted Golladay in providing an up-close view of how electricity travels and the different dangers that responders can face when answering calls.

“We are a 100% volunteer organization that serves the community. The training provided by CVEC will help our firefighters perform our duties safely and help us make sure everyone returns home to their families,” stated Fred Davis, volunteer with Concord Volunteer Fire Department. “CVFD is grateful to CVEC for providing this training and working with local first responders to educate them on the hazards associated with power lines.”

Davis is employed by CVEC as an Electrical Engineer and has led safety courses at the cooperative on fire safety for employees. CVEC’s mobile live line trailer has made appearances around the area, including at local schools, first responders and career days, to teach electrical safety. Safety is a top priority at the cooperative and employees are proud help first responders better serve our communities and stay safe.

11 Apr

Afton, Virginia — Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) celebrated the conclusion of its rural broadband project and reaching the milestone of 20,000 connections at a luncheon last week. CVEC launched its fiber project in 2018 and offers internet and phone service through Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM, its wholly-owned subsidiary.

CVEC and Firefly accelerated their efforts to make broadband service available to all 39,000 CVEC members and completed mainline fiber construction of over 4,000 miles of fiber at the end of 2022 for a project total of $150 million. The project was scheduled to be completed at the end of 2023, but construction concluded a full year early. Final connections for CVEC members will continue for the next few months in remaining project areas.

Senator Creigh Deeds, Virginia District 25 remarks, “Bringing fiber broadband to rural communities is life-changing for the residents and a game changer in terms of remote learning and telework opportunities. We have been so fortunate for the vision and leadership of Gary Wood, the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative team, and the Board of Directors. When I think about Firefly's 20,000th connection, I think about the number of school children who can more readily access outside learning materials, the small business owner who can now operate with lower overhead, and the older couple who can now video chat with their grandchildren. It is indeed worthy of a celebration."

Firefly is expanding its reach in the region, which is great news for residents and businesses in the area who do not receive their electricity from CVEC and wish to take advantage of their lightning-fast internet. Through the Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) project, a partnership with 13 counties designed to bridge the digital divide and bring Firefly’s lightning-fast internet to unserved and underserved homes and businesses in rural central Virginia, Firefly will make broadband service available to another 50,000 underserved locations that are served by utilities such as Appalachian Power, Dominion Energy, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, and Southside Electric Cooperative.

On reaching this milestone, CVEC President and CEO, Gary Wood, concludes, “CVEC and Firefly have reached this milestone through the power of partnerships. So many folks have played a critical part in reaching 20,000 rural broadband connections and transforming the lives of those who reside in rural central Virginia. Firefly is grateful to its loyal customers who trusted in us since we announced the start of the project in 2018. We have connected so many already, but there are at least twice that many who now want to be connected. We will keep moving as fast as we can until we achieve universal service in our area.”

CVEC announced at the luncheon that they joined with business partner S&N Communications to give back to the community as part of the celebration. CVEC donated $10,000 to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB), which serves multiple counties throughout the cooperative’s service area. S&N Communications, Inc., Firefly’s fiber construction partner, matched CVEC’s donation in the amount of $10,000. According to the BRAFB, one dollar provides four meals for those in need. The donation of $20,000 will supply over 80,000 meals to the local community.

###

About Central Virginia Electric Cooperative
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving over 38,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. CVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

About Firefly Fiber Broadband
Headquartered in Palmyra, VA, Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. Firefly offers lightning-fast internet via fiber to the premise that is reliable and priced fairly with no hidden equipment costs or special introductory pricing that increases the base cost of phone or internet later. Firefly has no contracts, no data caps, or slowdowns, and offers symmetrical upload and download speeds. Firefly Light offers 100 Mbps for $49.99; Firefly Flash offers 1 Gbps for $79.99, and Firefly Voice is $34.99 with a $5.00 discount when bundled with the internet. For more information, visit www.fireflyva.com/rise.

About S&N Communications
Headquartered in Louisa, VA, S&N Communications, Inc., is a leader in providing reliable and cost-effective construction, site assessment and acquisition, tower construction and maintenance, logistics, and inventory management services to their customers. S&N is committed to propelling the wired and wireless communications, gas, and electric industries into the future.

Press Inquiries:
Melissa Gay, 434-263-7638 (mgay@mycvec.com)

Left to Right: S&N Board Chair, Allen Powell; CVEC President & CEO, Gary Wood; Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Director of Development and Community Engagement, Millie Winstead; CVEC Director, George Goin

Photo Credit: VMDAEC

10 Apr

CVEC contractors are using drones to patrol and inspect transmission and distribution infrastructure in Piney River and White Hall areas this spring.

CVEC will be utilizing a contractor, Altitude Imaging, to perform a detailed aerial patrol of transmission lines this week. Inspections are performed annually to locate potential problems on transmission lines and line components before outages occur, thus increasing reliability for our members.

Altitude Imaging will be flying a drone at low speed and low altitude to patrol and inspect our transmission infrastructure. The transmission lines being patrolled and inspected are indicated in red in the map below. Please contact CVEC with questions: 800-367-2832.

13 Mar

Each year, CVEC’s operations and reliability teams work to inspect the health of our distribution system and proactively identify danger trees or other objects that could cause a power interruption for our members. CVEC utilizes a drone contractor each year to perform visual inspections of the electric lines and pole-top equipment, as well as ground crews to perform pole inspections just below ground level. Drone and pole inspections for this year are scheduled to begin in the spring. CVEC also has an aggressive vegetation management program to keep the rights-of-way clear of trees and vines that could cause outages and hinder access for CVEC crews.

In January, we utilized Aerial Solutions to trim rights-of-way via a helicopter in portions of our territory where it is difficult for ground crews to access. Beginning in the spring and continuing into late 2023, we will be trimming rights-of-way using ground crews and equipment, so be on the lookout for a notice in the mail!

In addition to being proactive about reducing the potential for outage events, CVEC works hard to reduce the impact when outages do occur. Through the addition of protective devices such as fuses and reclosers, we are able to better isolate faults when they occur and keep as many members in service as possible. In 2022, CVEC experienced over 1,900 outage events - the highest number we’ve seen in over a decade. However, the chart below shows how the additional protective devices, increased inspections and line patrol, removal of danger trees, and good response times have reduced the overall impact of outage events when they do occur. The new year brings new opportunities and new hope for a better weather year. No matter what hand mother nature deals us, we are committed to improving service reliability for our members

07 Mar

Scam Alert ‼️ Area utility customers are reporting scam calls that appear to be from CVEC. Trust your gut! Know the facts! CVEC will never call and threaten to shut off your power if you don’t make an immediate payment and a CVEC representative will not take a payment or ask for a credit card or bank account information over the phone. If you receive a scam call, please hang up immediately and report the call to the local police. If in doubt, call your local electric utility to verify your account. CVEC members can call 800-367-2832 to find out about your account status or payment methods.

20 Feb

The year 2022 began and ended with prolonged single-digit temperatures, resulting in higher energy costs and higher electric bills for members. From the fuel pumps to the grocery store, consumers everywhere are feeling the impact of rising costs on their wallets. Increased natural gas prices, in particular, are having a significant impact on power supply in the electric industry.

In August 2022, CVEC increased the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) charge on member bills for the first time since 2018 to cover the rising cost of purchasing power from our suppliers. Persistent high energy costs combined with limited transmission capacity further impacted power purchasing costs, leading to another increase in the PCA for 2023. We understand the hardships that rising costs create and work hard to acquire the most affordable energy available and maintain the distribution system, while limiting the financial impact to our members.

As a not-for-profit utility, CVEC allocates electric service margins at the end of each year to our members in the form of patronage capital that will later be returned to members as capital credits. Patronage capital represents the members’ ownership and investment in the Cooperative and is used to maintain and improve the distribution system. A total of $1,662,399 was allocated to members in 2022.

CVEC recently conducted a member satisfaction survey. The feedback received from the survey and the 2022 Member Advisory Council meetings will be used during the 2023 Strategic Planning session, where the Board and Staff will discuss and set goals and objectives for the next three to five years. We appreciate all the members who participated and provided valuable feedback that will help shape the future of the Cooperative.

In early 2023, the new 5MW solar array in Fluvanna County will “go online” and the output from those panels will feed directly into CVEC’s distribution lines, avoiding the cost of using the transmission grid. We are excited to be able to increase the output of clean, renewable energy for consumption by members and continue to look for cost-effective ways to further diversify our power supply portfolio.

In 2018, CVEC announced plans to bring affordable, fiber broadband to central Virginia. We are excited to say that construction of the fiber network was effectively completed in 2022 – nearly one full year ahead of schedule. With the network in place, Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM will focus on completing as many final connections as possible in the first quarter of this year. We appreciate the patience and support you’ve shown for this transformation.

CVEC remains committed to providing the safest, most reliable, and most affordable electric service that we can. We will handle each challenge that 2023 presents with a continued focus on the best interest of our member-owners. As always, it is our pleasure to serve you.

This edition of the Current Communicator includes an update on net metering and solar, an explanation bill charges, broadband, reliability, and energy savings tips.

Read the full newsletter here.

21 Dec

CVEC will be using a third-party* to conduct email surveys beginning the week of December 19 and continuing into January. The feedback received from the surveys will help CVEC staff during the upcoming Strategic Planning session to shape the next three years at your cooperative. Participants will be selected randomly by our third-party vendor.

If you are selected to participate, please know how important your feedback is to help CVEC improve. The survey will take about 10 minutes and your responses will be confidential. If sent a link to take the survey, please complete and submit it no later than January 2nd.

Please note: You will not be asked to provide any personal or financial information such as name, address, or banking numbers for the survey.

The email will look like the one below.

*The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Market Research Services will be conducting this survey on our behalf. If you have any questions about the study, feel free to contact Jane Sanstead, Project Manager/Research Analyst, by replying to this email. As always, you can call our Member Services Team at CVEC if you wish to discuss this survey or your account details. The number is 800-367-2832.

14 Nov

Any high school or home school senior graduating in the spring of 2023, and whose primary residence is served by Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, is eligible to apply for a scholarship that may be applied to a two- or four-year college or trade school. The open date for applications is January 30, 2023, while the application deadline is April 3, 2023. Award recipients will be notified no later than June 1, 2023. The online application and additional information can be found at vmdaec.com/scholarship.

Scholarships are awarded by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives’ (VMDAEC) Education Scholarship Foundation. The Foundation’s board of directors will select recipients based on these weighted criteria: financial need at 40 percent, academic achievement at 40 percent and personal statement at 20 percent. An applicant must be entering his or her first semester at a post-secondary or technical/trade school in the fall of 2023. Scholarship funds, which will be sent directly to the educational institution, must be used toward tuition, student fees, room and board, or textbooks.

Since 2001, the VMDAEC’s Education Scholarship Foundation has provided approximately 998 scholarships to graduating high school students totaling more than $900,000. The scholarships are named in honor of Roberta I. Harlowe and Worth M. Hudson. Hudson was the Foundation’s first chairman and former chairman of the board of directors of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative in Chase City, Virginia. Roberta Harlowe currently serves as the Vice Chair of the CVEC Board of Directors and has previously served as chair of the VMDAEC scholarship fund. The number of scholarships awarded each year is based on the funds available.

For more information about the VMDAEC Scholarship Program, or to access the application on January 30, 2023, visit vmdaec.com/scholarship. Please email questions about donations and the application process to scholarship@vmdaec.com.

***

Headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives provides safety and training, communications, and legislative services to fifteen electric cooperatives serving the three-state Mid-Atlantic region. For more information on VMDAEC and the scholarship program, visit www.vmdaec.com..

09 Aug

The Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) has a new leadership team.

Wade C. House, a director at Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, based in Manassas, has been elected as chairman of the VMD Association Board of Directors for 2022-23. The new vice chairman is C. Michael Sandridge, a director at BARC Electric Cooperative, based in Millboro, Va. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s (CVEC) very own director, George Goin, is the new secretary/treasurer.

The leaders were elected by board members on July 25 at the association’s 78th annual meeting, held at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va. They will be responsible for helping to guide the direction of the association, which includes 15 electric cooperatives from the Cumberland Gap to Delaware, serving nearly 900,000 meters and 1.84 million people in parts of six states.

Goin has been a director at CVEC since 1993, serving as a past chairman and treasurer, and a member since 1972. He also is chairman of the board of Firefly Fiber Broadband, CVEC’s wholly owned, high-speed internet subsidiary.

He and his wife, Claudia, live outside Scottsville on Modesto Farms and Greenhouses. They have two sons and a granddaughter. Goin is a Vietnam-era veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1972. He retired from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Postal Service, and has farmed Modesto Farms since 1974.

(L to R) George N. Goin, Wade C. House and C. Michael Sandridge.

***

01 Aug

As a not-for-profit electric utility, CVEC purchases wholesale power and builds/maintains the electric system necessary to deliver that power to our members. Because CVEC is a not-for-profit, we operate on small margins - we pass along the costs associated with purchasing power to our members without marking up costs to obtain a profit.

The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is a line item on your electric bill that allows CVEC to make necessary adjustments as actual power costs increase or decrease. Since January 2021, power purchase costs were lower than anticipated. Those cost savings were passed on to members via a PCA credit.

Increased fuel costs in the wholesale power markets, such as natural gas which increased during the Ukrainian War, have caused the price we pay for energy to escalate in 2022. As a result, CVEC must increase the PCA charge to cover those increased costs.

The new PCA charge will go into effect August 2022. Members can expect to see a PCA increase of just over a penny per kilowatt hour, which will increase the average residential monthly bill by $16.40 per 1,000 kWhs.

Your cooperative works hard to acquire the most affordable energy available and provide the safest, most reliable distribution system while limiting the financial impact to members. We are aware that the past few years have been a hardship for our members. The PCA adjustment passes along only the actual power cost increases incurred.

We encourage members to monitor their usage using the member portal and to visit the “Save Money” page at mycvec.com for steps to reduce energy consumption and offset increased costs.

If you have questions, contact Member Services at 800-367-2832.

24 May

Appomattox, VA – On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) Director Roberta Harlowe presented the inaugural Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship award to Brenley Hackett of Appomattox, in the amount of $2,000.

Brenley Hackett, a 2022 graduate of Cornerstone Christian Academy, achieved an impressive GPA and has been active in volleyball, 4-H, chess, soccer, piano, and leadership forums. She plans to attend Central Virginia Community College this summer and transfer to Centra Nursing School next fall to pursue a career in pediatric nursing.

Mrs. Harlowe currently serves as the Vice Chair of the CVEC Board of Directors and has previously served as chair of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) scholarship fund. “Education for the youth in our rural communities has been a long-time passion for me” states Harlowe. “My husband, Bill, and I are honored to offer scholarships to help students continue their education beyond high school.”

Recipients are awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. “The Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship Fund is proud to recognize Miss Hackett’s outstanding academic achievements and wonderful community involvement” said Harlowe.

24 May

Six CVEC linemen competed in the Gaff-N-Go rodeo this past weekend where they tested their skills against linemen from over 20 electric utility companies. Congratulations to Brandon Hudson, Dale Richardson, and DJ Noble who competed in the Journeyman team events, and apprentice linemen Scott Chisholm, Travis Burnett, and Graham Hughes who competed in the rodeo for the first time! Together, these guys brought home four top 5 finishes and did an excellent job representing CVEC.

13 May

The Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) awarded six Central Virginia high school seniors a $1,000 Worth M. Hudson Scholarship, named for the first chairman of the Foundation.

The 2022 recipients are:

Anna Birthisel of Scottsville, who attends Liberty University Online Academy is the daughter of Joseph Birthisel.
Grace Buck of Gordonsville, who attends Louisa County High School is the daughter of William Buck.
Gabriel Corrice of Palmyra, who attends Fluvanna County High School is the son of Sara Corrice.
Ella Lewis of Amherst, who attends Amherst County High School is the daughter of Sarah Nichols.
Emily Stevens of Troy, who attends Fluvanna County High School is the daughter of Cynthia Stevens.
Mackenzie Swain of Palmyra, who attends Fluvanna County High School is the daughter of Anthony Swain.

This year marks the inaugural presentation of the Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship award in the amount of $2,000 to a student in the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) territory. Mrs. Harlowe is a past chair of the scholarship fund and is a member of the CVEC board of directors. The recipient of the award is:

Brenley Hackett of Appomattox, who attends Cornerstone Christian Academy is the daughter of Brent and Stacy Hackett.

These seven high school seniors were eligible for consideration because their parents are consumer-members of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. “The cost of college and post-graduation training programs are steadily rising and CVEC recognizes that seniors in our rural communities can benefit from scholarships to help offset those costs,” says Gary Wood, President and CEO of CVEC. “We are proud to help these seven deserving high school seniors to continue their education, whether at a college or university or in learning a trade.”

They must also provide evidence of their acceptance into a post-high school educational institution or program. These grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

Since 2001, the Foundation has provided approximately 840 scholarships totaling more than $860,000 to aspiring college students as well as to the next generation of electric lineworkers.

***

31 Mar

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) will resume service disconnections in April 2022 and all accounts that have an arrears balance are at risk for being disconnected. For residential account, if CVEC has not been able to successfully reach you to discuss a payment plan, your account will be placed on the Safeguard Payment Plan.

The Safeguard Payment Plan is a special payment plan applied to a past due member account when CVEC has not been able to reach them to make payment arrangements. The Safeguard Plan is to protect members and prevent disconnections for nonpayment based on accrued arrearages. The Safeguard Plan automatically takes your remaining arrearage and spreads it equally over twelve (12) months with no interest or finance charges, or fees of any kind. You will still be responsible for paying for your current electric bill in addition to the amounts due under this payment plan and any other payment plan already in place.

If you do not pay the TOTAL AMOUNT DUE ON YOUR STATEMENT each month, which includes your Cooperative Safeguard payment plus your current monthly usage and any other payment plan associated with your account, your electric service will be disconnected. Another payment plan will not be offered. In order to reconnect your service, you will be required to pay 100% of your arrears balance and your current balance. A security deposit and all fees and penalties will also be assessed.

A copy of the Safeguard Payment Plan Notice and the Special Terms and Conditions are being mailed to members whose accounts are affected. Click here to view them.

Please contact us if you have any questions or wish to discuss the Cooperative Safeguard Payment Plan.

Please note: Prepaid, levelized, large power, and general service accounts are not eligible for the Safeguard Payment Plan.

Louisa County Board of Supervisors Acknowledges Essential Employees

23 Mar

The Louisa County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution last month to recognize essential workers, volunteers, community members, and staff for their efforts during the winter storms of January 2022. On March 21, 2022, first responders, volunteers, and utility workers were among the many who were recognized for their exceptional commitment. Several linemen from CVEC were present to accept the framed resolution.

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the Essential Workers, Volunteers, Community Members, and Staff for Their Efforts During the Winter Storms of January 2022

February 14, 2022

WHEREAS, in January 2022, the State of Virginia experienced winter storms which brought unprecedented low temperatures and power outages throughout Central Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Louisa County received over 12 inches of snow and extreme wind conditions during Winter Storm Frida, which left more than 95% of the County without power for days, created hazardous road conditions and severely impacted countless citizens and;

WHEREAS, on January 3, 2022, Louisa County declared a local state of emergency to mitigate the immediate and ongoing effects of the storms; and

WHEREAS, sacrificing despite their own challenges, essential personnel and volunteers selflessly provided critical response efforts under extraordinary circumstances in the community and exhibited exceptional commitment, expertise, and teamwork that enabled capable recovery from the storms; and

WHEREAS, these individuals cleared trees, restored power, worked warming shelters, maintained buildings and operations, staffed the Emergency Operations Center, cleared parking lots, sidewalks and roads, and transported resources, meals and citizens as necessary; and

WHEREAS, those in service went above and beyond their regular duties during the winter storms; traveling in extreme conditions; lodging away from their families, braving harsh elements to discharge essential duties and provide exceptional services to our community.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, on this 14^th day of February, 2022 that the Louisa County Board of Supervisors hereby recognizes Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and extends their gratitude for their extraordinary efforts during the winter storms of January 2022.

____________________________________

Duane A. Adams, Chairman
Board of Supervisors
Louisa County, Virginia

Electric Cooperatives Restore Power in Wake of Winter Storm Crews from electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware joined more than 100 cooperative lineworkers from four states to restore power to tens of thousands of members affected by a p

04 Jan

Crews from electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware joined more than 100 cooperative lineworkers from four states to restore power to tens of thousands of members affected by a powerful winter storm.

Winter storm Frida started overnight Jan. 2 and lasted until dusk on Jan. 3, disrupting power to more than 160,000 meters in the three states at its peak.

That represented nearly 20 percent of all meters in the 15 cooperatives that are members of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. Most of the damage was in Virginia, with more than 155,000 meters out of power. As of 8 a.m. on Jan. 4, workers had reduced the number of outages in Virginia to 120,800.

The out-of-state lineworkers came from co-ops in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, with additional personnel likely as the multi-day restoration progressed. The association coordinated the relief efforts in conjunction with its member co-ops under the cooperative mutual-aid program.

“This was a fairly brief but very intense storm. We’re extremely grateful to our cooperative family to help us respond to this event and get the lights back on as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Alan Scruggs, vice president of safety, training and education for the association.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, based in Fredericksburg, and Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, based in Arrington, were particularly hard hit. REC had 90,000 of its 170,000 connections out at the peak, with CVEC experiencing about 25,000 outages among its 38,000 members.

Thirty lineworkers from 10 co-ops in Indiana, and 40 from 18 co-ops in Ohio, were dispatched to REC alone. REC also had more than 100 tree-trimming crew members in the field.

Sixteen two-member crews from nine Pennsylvania co-ops began arriving at the Warsaw, Va.-based Northern Neck Electric Cooperative warehouse, bringing additional bucket trucks and equipment to expedite restoration efforts.

Other states were expected to send personnel after the situation on the ground was fully evaluated.

The snow was heavy and wet, bending and breaking trees and power lines across the area, particularly in rural areas with substantial tree canopies. As many as 8 to 10 inches of snow fell in a stretch from Culpeper to Manassas, according to reports.

All the electric cooperatives were well-prepared for the event, working with updated emergency response plans to facilitate outage restoration. They notified members in advance of potential outages, prestaged supplies and materials essential for restoration, and placed crews on call with prepped trucks and gears.

***

15 Nov

CVEC is excited to announce the new and improved online member account portal that will go live on December 6, 2021. Members will still be able to access account and usage history, manage alerts, and set up payments and the new portal will offer some additional benefits.

The new account portal features a streamlined design that allows for easier navigation and readability and enhanced security features to better protect member information. A new “Quick Pay” option has been added that will provide a faster and easier way for members to make a payment without needing to log into their account. Lastly, the new portal has been optimized for all mobile devices. Members will be able to enjoy the new and enhanced portal features using their phone, tablet, or computer.

CVEC is continuously working to provide members with easy and convenient ways to access and manage their accounts and improve our members’ experience. When the new portal goes live, members will notice the new layout, but should experience a seamless transition with all login information remaining the same. If you experience any difficulties accessing the new portal, please contact our Member Services Department at 800-367-2832 and a representative will be happy to assist you.

10 Nov

Goochland, Va. – Goochland County announced progress toward extending broadband coverage to all of its residents and businesses. Today, Senator Mark Peake and Delegate Lee Ware joined Goochland officials and representatives from Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Dominion Energy, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to celebrate this initiative.

In a joint statement, Senator Mark Peake and Delegates John McGuire and Lee Ware said: “We applaud Goochland County and their partners’ efforts to bring needed broadband access to all of its citizens. Expanding this critical service will allow homes and businesses in the county to function in today’s digital world, and we are excited to see this partnership moving forward.”

Guests and officials gathered at Goochland’s Fire-Rescue Station 6, a location that is served by CVEC and will benefit from the installation of fiber to its premise. “Goochland’s first responders need communication that is guaranteed by high-speed internet to respond to the critical needs of its residents,” states Gary Wood, President and CEO of Firefly. “Universal broadband for unserved homes and businesses will transform lives in Goochland and Firefly is proud to be a part of the solution.”

Three announcements were made regarding broadband access in the County. The first two announcements were related to fiber construction projects starting before year end. All CVEC members in Goochland will have access to internet from Firefly regardless of funding, but Shannon Hill residents discovered today that they will receive it faster than anticipated. The preliminary electric make ready construction has been completed and fiber construction will begin in the next few months. In addition, Goochland officials announced that the ReConnect grant, won by Firefly with local matching fund support from Goochland, will jumpstart the fiber build in portions of the county later this year. The ReConnect grant project area build will be 100% underground. In total, these two construction projects will make gigabit speed internet service available to almost 3,400 residents of Goochland by passing almost 1,400 locations.

Finally, Goochland officials reiterated their commitment to their partnership with Firefly Fiber Broadband^SM, Dominion Energy, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to provide broadband to unserved areas within the county.

Goochland is one of thirteen central Virginia counties included Firefly’s Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) project, a larger regional broadband initiative. As part of the project, Firefly and Goochland are seeking grant funds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development through its Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI). If successful, VATI grant funds would be used to offset nearly 30% of the $17.5 million cost to build fiber in the county. The remaining 70% would be funded between Goochland County and Firefly, with Goochland contributing up to $3,637,500 towards the project.

In a joint statement, Goochland County Board of Supervisors Susan Lascolette and Neil Spoonhower said: “Expansion of broadband access to all of our citizens has been the number one priority for Goochland County. We are incredibly proud of this partnership that marks a major milestone in the county’s efforts to ensure reliable affordable high-speed broadband internet service for all households and businesses.”

Preliminary planning for this regional project has identified 2,765 locations in the county as being unserved without access to speeds of at least 25 mbps download and 3 mbps upload, and the initial design includes 276 miles of fiber optic cable to be installed in the county to make service available to those locations. Goochland residents will receive further information about work once the schedule is set for the first phase of the fiber build.

“The investments announced today by Goochland County in partnership with Firefly, Dominion, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, and the Commonwealth, are exactly what Congress had in mind when we passed the American Rescue Plan as well as increased funding for the ReConnect Program,” said U.S Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. “As we look towards our nation’s economy recovery, now is the time to reinvest in our communities and close the digital divide once and for all. The recent announcement of ReConnect funding for Goochland as well as the county’s participation in Firefly’s RISE Project with support from funds provided through the American Rescue Plan is a tremendous step in that direction that will mean new jobs, economic growth, and innovation. I look forward to continuing to support the work of our localities to close the digital divide in Congress, and I applaud the work of all involved in these critical projects.”

“Broadband access is a vital service, and we’re excited to work with our partners in Goochland to help bridge the digital divide,” said Charlene Whitfield, senior vice president – Power Delivery, Dominion Energy.

Dominion Energy is installing fiber in rural areas as it moves forward with efforts to transform Virginia’s energy grid. This fiber capacity can be used for operational needs as well as broadband access, reducing broadband deployment costs for internet service providers. For this project, Firefly will lease the “middle-mile” fiber to be installed by Dominion Energy in the company’s electric service area in Goochland. The project partners are working toward a phased approach; for Dominion Energy Virginia, that will include an application to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to seek regulatory approval. The SCC has already approved three of the Company’s rural broadband projects – in Botetourt and Surry Counties and on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

L to R: Senator Mark Peake, John Lumpkins, Jr. – Goochland County Board of Supervisors Chair, District 3, Neil Spoonhower – Goochland County Board of Supervisors, District 2, Evan Feinman – Governor’s Chief Broadband Advisor, Susan Lascolette – Goochland County Board of Supervisors, District 1, Manuel Alvarez – Goochland Interim County Administrator, Delegate Lee Ware, Charlene Whitfield – Dominion Energy Senior VP of Power Delivery, Gary Wood – Firefly President & CEO, Mark Ponton – Rappahannock Electric Director of Broadband and Fiber Services

29 Oct

The Fluvanna Garden Club presented its biannual Dogwood Award to the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives for its Training Center in Palmyra, Va., in a socially distanced ceremony on Oct. 28.

Founded in 1995, the Fluvanna Garden Club recognizes with the award an individual or business within the community that has enhanced and beautified its space. The Dogwood Award is a free-standing plaque that will stay on the grounds of the training center for the next year.

Helen Goin, chair of the Fluvanna Garden Club’s award committee, said, “The training center is a gorgeous facility, so we are here to present an award to the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives for maintaining such a beautiful property in our community.” Her husband, Charles, served on the board of nearby Central Virginia Electric Cooperative for 42 years.

“CVEC is very fortunate to have the training center as a neighbor here in Palmyra,” said Gary Wood, president and CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. “When the training center was still just a concept, CVEC offered to lease the property to the statewide association for only a dollar in order to help get the training center idea off the ground. The statewide association has taken it from there, first with their triple-wide trailer and now with this beautiful training facility.”

Brian Mosier, president and CEO of VMDAEC, accepted the award on behalf of the association. “It’s a wonderful honor to receive this award for the way our property is maintained and the role our training center plays in the community. I’m so proud of this building and this is also a wonderful opportunity to thank the community here for their support and for the ability to provide training for our members in the three-state area,” he said.

During the award presentation, Mosier gave credit to Alan Scruggs, the association’s vice president of safety, training and education.

“We are very honored to receive this award,” said Scruggs. “We’re very proud of our facility here. It takes a lot of work to maintain the property and keep it up to date.” October 31, 2021

Added Wood: “The VMD Association has done an excellent job here with the Palmyra Training Center and they’re a terrific neighbor to us. This award is just another indication of how well they’re doing.”

caption: Alan Scruggs (rear left) and Brian Mosier (rear right) of VMDAEC accept the Fluvanna Garden Club Award at the Electric Cooperative Training Center. (Photo By: Jim Robertson).

18 Oct

As the cost of everyday goods and services continues to increase, CVEC’s postage rates are also rising. The Postal Regulatory Commission recently issued an order to raise postage rates for nonprofits by an average of 7.8 percent beginning in August 2021. As a member-owned, not-for-profit utility, CVEC is facing a significant increase
in the cost of mailing correspondence to our over 38,000 member accounts.

To help offset the rising costs, CVEC is searching for better and more efficient practices to help contain our operating costs and save money for our members. CVEC plans to provide more paperless options for members who have the capability to receive electronic correspondence and we encourage our members to take advantage of those options as more become available.

How can you help?

•   Make sure CVEC has a valid email address on file that you monitor regularly.
•   Sign up for paperless billing and receive your monthly bill statement via email each month.
•   Sign up to receive the Current Communicator electronically. We will email you a link to view the Current Communicator from mycvec.com. (The Annual Report edition will still be mailed due to bylaw regulations.)
•   Take advantage of one of the many paperless payment options, such as phone, online, recurring credit/debit card payments, or automatic bank draft to reduce your individual postage costs.

Help us reduce our postage costs by taking advantage of the paperless billing and electronic newsletter options. Sign up today by filling out the Paperless form here.

07 Jul

Important Moratorium Update - Disconnects to Resume Soon

The Governor has announced that Virginia’s COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on June 30, 2021. As a result, the residential utility disconnection moratorium will end on August 29, 2021. Please contact us now to make payment arrangements if you are behind on your electric bill to avoid being disconnected. If you are 30 days or more past due, you are being offered a COVID-19 Relief Repayment Plan at this time.

If you are behind on your account, please contact us now to
make a payment arrangement. Representatives can be reached by calling 800-367-2832 or by email at information@mycvec.com.

08 Jun

We are working our way back to normal, but COVID-19 will still have an impact on this year’s Annual Meeting. Join us on June 23 at CVEC’s Headquarters building in Colleen, where we will hold the business portion of the meeting outside under shelter. We will not offer food and door prizes, but we will allow the voting member of the household to attend the business meeting and vote for the Director Election. Due to social distancing requirements, please note the following guidelines for attendance:

The meeting will begin at 6pm and will last approximately 30 minutes.
Registration will open at 5:45pm. Early registration is not available this year. Please do not arrive before 5:45pm to register for the Annual Meeting.
Bring the back panel of your newsletter with you for contactless registration.
Only the account holder may attend as there is a limit on the number of attendees we can accommodate under cover at the event.
Attendees will be required to maintain six feet distance between themselves and other guests, employees, and directors at all times.
Attendees will be required to wear a face mask during the entire meeting. If an attendee does not have a mask, one will be provided to them.
The meeting will be held outdoors rain or shine.
RSVP will be required to ensure we are able to maintain adequate distancing.

Email comm@mycvec.com with your name, account number, and best call back number. CVEC is limiting the number of attendees for the safety of members, directors, and employees. We reserve the right to turn attendees away at the door if an RSVP was not confirmed ahead of time. Live stream will also be available.

04 Jun

(Arrington, VA) - Four Central Virginia high school seniors have each earned $1,000 college scholarships awarded by the Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. The students were eligible for consideration because their parents are members of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC). The recipients are:

Emily Eppard of Gordonsville, a student at Louisa County High School and daughter of Craig and Tracy Eppard.
Alexander Keehan of Appomattox, a homeschool student and son of Chris and Carrie Keehan.
Natalie Phelps of Concord, a student at Temple Christian School and daughter of Robert and Teresa Phelps.
Rebecca Taylor of Scottsville, a student at Fluvanna County High School and daughter of Levi and Jessica Taylor.

Scholarship recipients were chosen based on a competitive screening process that considers financial need (40 percent), academic achievement (40 percent) and community involvement (20 percent).

“The cost of college and post-graduation training programs are steadily rising and CVEC recognizes that seniors in our rural communities can benefit from scholarships to help offset those costs,” says Gary Wood, president and CEO of CVEC. “It is such a pleasure to see that four of our high school seniors were selected as recipients.”

Applicants must be a senior graduating from either high school or home school in 2021. They must also provide evidence of their acceptance into a post-high school educational institution or program. These grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees and books.

“We commend these students on their outstanding academic achievements,” said Russell G. “Rusty” Brown, chair of the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation Committee and vice chairman of the board of directors at Northern Neck Electric Cooperative. “Our electric cooperatives are delighted to provide support to these worthy students, as they represent a future generation of leaders in their communities.”

This year, the Foundation awarded 57 Worth Hudson scholarships of $1,000 each to students who live in areas served by electric cooperatives in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The scholarships are named in honor of Hudson, the Foundation’s first chairman. Since 2001, the Foundation has provided over 800 scholarships totaling more than $800,000 to aspiring college students as well as to the next generation of electric lineworkers.

“We’re extremely proud to be able to help these deserving young people from electric cooperative service areas continue their education, whether at a college or university, or in learning a trade,” said Brian Mosier, president and CEO of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives

***

04 Feb

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative submitted an application on February 3, 2021 to the State Corporation Commission for approval of a Gladstone to Tower Hill 138kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project. CVEC's existing transmission system in the project area receives service by a 46kV transmission line from Appalachian Power Company ("APCo"), an affiliate of American 1 Electric Power ("AEP"). As part of PJM's ongoing Regional Transmission Expansion Plan study process, AEP identified thermal and voltage violations of the AEP transmission reliability criteria on several 46kV sub-transmission facilities. To address the thermal and voltage violations, AEP proposed transmission improvement projects, which include the retiring of the existing 46kV transmission line currently serving CVEC, and construction of a new 138kV transmission line to the Cooperative's Gladstone substation delivery point. APCo has filed an application for Commission approval of these improvement projects in Case No. PUR-2021- 00001. It is necessary, therefore, for CVEC to make certain upgrades to its transmission system to take delivery from AEP's upgraded 138kV line. In addition, the existing Gladstone to Tower Hill 46kV line is a 55-year-old wood pole transmission line that must be rebuilt as it is at the end of its service life. Accordingly, CVEC will rebuild the Gladstone to Tower Hill transmission line and upgrade it from 46kV to 138kV as well as perform minor upgrades to its Gladstone and Tower Hill substations that are required to take delivery from AEP's upgraded 138kV line (the "Gladstone Rebuild Project").

The complete application with supporting material can be found below:

Click here to read Volume 1 of 2

Click here to read Volume 2 of 2

Click here to read the Notice of Application

14 Jan

Electric Cooperatives Form New Broadband Association

Five electric cooperatives in Virginia and Maryland have announced the creation of an innovative association of broadband cooperatives to help bring world-class internet service to underserved rural areas.

The new Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives recognizes the benefits of collaboration, as well as the growing workload required to support a common agenda.

“This association is the first of its kind in the nation,” said VMDABC Board Chairman Casey Logan, CEO of Prince George Electric Cooperative in Waverly, Va., and its broadband subsidiary, RURALBAND.

“This is truly a historic day. Much like the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives was created 76 years ago during the formative years of rural electrification, today’s formal organization of a broadband association will improve the quality of life for our members.”

The association consists of five founding Class A members that are in various stages of developing comprehensive fiber-to-the-home networks, and also will benefit the cooperatives’ communications systems.

In addition to PGEC, they are:

BARC Electric Cooperative, Millboro, Va., and its subsidiary, BARC Connects;
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Arrington, Va., and its subsidiary, Firefly Fiber Broadband;
Choptank Electric Cooperative, Denton, Md., and its subsidiary, Choptank Fiber LLC; and
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, Chase City, Va., and its subsidiary, EMPOWER Broadband.

Mike Malandro, CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative, will serve as vice chairman, while Brian Bates, a director at Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, will serve as secretary-treasurer.

Modeled after the structure of the electric cooperative association, VMDABC will offer multiple classes of membership, including co-op affiliates offering retail fiber, co-ops pursuing middle mile or “backbone” fiber, other broadband entities and vendors.

“I hope all cooperatives with any level of interest in broadband will join this association, and work with us as we once again strive to bring a much-needed service to our rural service areas,” Logan said.

Currently, more than 20 million Americans do not have broadband in their homes or businesses, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and most of them live in rural areas.

“Broadband access is something our members desperately need, as many rural areas are once again being left behind,” said John C. Lee Jr., CEO of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative and EMPOWER Broadband. “Generations of future Virginians and Marylanders will have opportunities to learn, to work, to communicate, and to enjoy benefits long available to those in cities and suburbs, thanks to the efforts of our group of broadband cooperatives.”

VMDAEC will provide management and technical support to VMDABC through a management services agreement, and VMDABC will have separate legislative representation in the Maryland and Virginia legislatures.

“This is a great opportunity at a great time, to address the growing need for a singular, unifying voice to speak for cooperative broadband interests,” said VMDAEC COO Brian Mosier. “We look forward to assisting these broadband cooperatives in areas including legislative advocacy, communications, and marketing.”

VMDAEC President and CEO Richard G. Johnstone Jr. added, “We are hoping and intending for this broadband association to help bring unserved areas in our three states into the digital age, much as our electric cooperative members brought their communities into the electric age in the 1930s and ’40s.”

16 Dec

Local Cooperative Gives Back $1.1 Million to its Member-Owners

(Arrington, VA) - The Board of Directors of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) authorized $1.1 million in capital credit refunds to Cooperative member-owners. Refunds are being issued this month, making 2020 the eleventh consecutive year that CVEC has issued capital credit refunds reaching a total of over $20 million returned to members.

CVEC is a not-for-profit cooperative that allocates any revenues above expenses to its member-owners in the form of patronage capital. Patronage capital represents the members’ ownership and investment in the Cooperative for each year the member received electric service. This patronage capital is eventually returned to members in the form of capital credit payments. Vice President and CFO Tina Mallia explained that, “One of the many benefits of belonging to a Cooperative is that all profits are allocated to its members each year. These profits are invested in Cooperative plant and eventually refunded to members in the form of cash or a bill credit.”

The refunds this year will be used to retire 18% of the patronage capital allocations from 2019. Those funds will be distributed in December to members by mailed check if the refund is $100 or above, or as a bill credit for refunds below $100.

Members may learn more about this feature of the cooperative business model at https://www.mycvec.com/my-account/capital-credits-estate-refunds. The site also includes a list of unclaimed capital credit refunds, the result of previously mailed checks that were not cashed or were returned to the Cooperative due to an outdated mailing address.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving almost 37,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. CVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

###

15 Dec

Notice to Nonresidential Accounts:

As of November 18, 2020, nonresidential accounts may be subject to disconnection for nonpayment. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative will resume nonresidential disconnections after January 1, 2021.

Notice to Residential Accounts:

There is a moratorium in effect for residential utility disconnections, pursuant to House Bill 5005, otherwise known as the Commonwealth of Virginia Budget, Section 4-14, Enactment 7(a), as of November 18, 2020. This moratorium means that we will not disconnect you for nonpayment of your electric bill or fees during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency. This does not mean that your electric bill is not due, or that amounts due to us are being waived or forgiven. This moratorium will continue until the State Corporation Commission issues an order exempting the Cooperative from the moratorium. It will also end if the Governor determines it is unnecessary or until 60 days after the public health emergency ends. Please contact us to make payment arrangements if you have not done so already.

Notice to Residential Accounts - COVID-19 Relief Repayment Plan

There is a repayment plan available if you need assistance paying your current or past bills due, pursuant to House Bill 5005, otherwise known as the Commonwealth of Virginia Budget, Section 4-14, Enactment 7(b), as of November 18, 2020. This repayment plan is available to residential accounts 30 days or more past due, and arrearages can be paid over 6 to up to 24 months.

Entering into a repayment plan does not mean that your electric bill is not due, or that amounts due to us are being waived or forgiven. Your current billing information is listed on your electric bill, or you may call the Cooperative at 800-367-2832 to obtain up-to-date billing information. If you need help paying your electric bill, please dial 211 or contact your local Department of Social Services office, or visit https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/ for information on energy assistance programs. If you have a complaint about the repayment plan, you may contact the Division of Public Utility Regulation at 1-800-552-7945.

Electric Cooperative Lineworkers Honored for Overseas Work

15 Dec

Fifteen electric cooperative lineworkers who traveled 4,000 miles to bring power for the first time to five small villages in Bolivia have received official commendation from the Virginia General Assembly.

At a Dec. 8 ceremony in Warsaw, Va., Del. Margaret Ransone presented a resolution praising the work of United We Light: Project Bolivia to Craig Loving, a lineworker at Northern Neck Electric Cooperative.

Loving, one of the volunteers from eight cooperatives in Virginia and Maryland, accepted the resolution, approved by the legislature earlier this year, on behalf of his fellow lineworkers as part of the virtual event.

In part, the resolution reads: “Whereas, United We Light: Project Bolivia provided a sense of hope and strengthened communities by helping to ensure that residents can choose to stay in their home villages; now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, that the General Assembly hereby commend United We Light: Project Bolivia for its life-changing accomplishments in service to communities in rural Bolivia.”

Ransone, who sponsored the resolution and whose district includes the Northern Neck, praised the selflessness of the United We Light crew members.

“When you left your homes to go into Bolivia and help those communities in great need, it was certainly an act of goodwill and kindness. It was a great honor for me, personally, to recognize you,” she said.

Del. Kirk Cox, who also attended the socially distanced ceremony at Northern Neck Electric Cooperative’s warehouse, said he was impressed that lineworkers endured three plane trips and a laborious bus ride to work at a 13,000-foot elevation and raise 13 miles of line by hand.

“For our country, going through COVID and the political divisions, this is what America is all about,” he said. “They’re what makes America special. They’re so hard-working; their jobs are so essential to us.”

The lineworkers spent two-and-a-half weeks in the Oruro region of Bolivia in September 2019, working in inclement conditions and on rough terrain with modest equipment. They provided more than three dozen homes and dwellings with power for the first time, many with a single fixture and a CFL bulb.

Speaking for his colleagues, Loving noted that he lost 20 pounds on the trip adjusting to local food, but that it changed him as much as the Bolivians.

“The experience of giving the gift of electricity is something that you can try to put into words, but you really can’t explain the emotional toll it takes on you as an individual or as a person,” he said. “The Bolivians had just the basics that we gave them — a light bulb and a socket —and we changed the world they knew completely.”

The Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives sponsored the project, its first overseas electrification project, with support from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s international arm, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. and the National Cooperative Services Corp.

Brad Hicks, president and CEO of Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, which hosted the event, noted concern for community is a fundamental principle of the cooperative movement.

“Providing power to unserved areas of the world takes a tremendous amount of coordination and commitment. This is what cooperatives do best,” he said.

The group included:

Bernie Hastings, A&N Electric Cooperative, Tasley, Va.;
Cody Minter, BARC Electric Cooperative, Millboro, Va.;
Jason Purvis, Josh Golladay and Allan Thacker, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Arrington, Va.;
Mike Johnson, Choptank Electric Cooperative, Denton, Md.;
Craig Loving, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, Warsaw, Va.;
Dillon Sheads, Patrick Ambrose, Cody Lockhart and Brian (Jake) Michael, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Fredericksburg, Va.;
Roger Pace, Mike Alexander and J.T. Jacobs, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Rockingham, Va.; and
Scott Diggs, Southside Electric Cooperative, Crewe, Va.

Also part of United We Light were John Medved, Bolivia team leader and director of safety and compliance at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative; videographer Ryan White of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative; and Alan Scruggs, vice president of safety and training services at the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

Photo: Del. Margaret Ransone (center right) presents a framed General Assembly resolution to lineworker Craig Loving of Northern Neck Electric Cooperative. Also taking part in the ceremony were Del. Kirk Cox (left) and Brad Hicks (right), president and CEO of Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, which hosted the Dec. 8 event in Warsaw, Va.

18 Aug

Join us at CVEC’s Headquarters building in Colleen on September 23, where we will hold the business portion of the meeting outside under shelter. We will not offer food and door prizes this year, but we will allow the voting member of the household to attend the business meeting and vote for the Director Election.
Due to strict social distancing requirements, please note the following guidelines for attendance:

The meeting will begin at 7pm and will last approximately 15 minutes.
Registration will open at 6pm. Early registration is not available this year. Please do not arrive before 6pm to register for the Annual Meeting.
Bring the back panel of your newsletter with you for contactless registration.
Only the account holder may attend as there is a limit on the number of attendees we can accommodate under cover at the event.
Attendees will be required to maintain six feet distance between themselves and other guests, employees, and directors at all times.
Attendees will be required to wear a face mask during the entire meeting. If attendee does not have a mask, one will be provided to them.
The meeting will be held outdoors rain or shine.
CVEC reserves the right to turn away attendees if the outdoor venue is full and participants cannot safely view the meeting while socially distancing.

25 Jun

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began in June and the forecast for this year predicts numerous occurrences. The federal Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, is forecasting 6 to 10 hurricanes, with three to six of them reaching at least Category 3 status with winds of 111 mph or higher.

Meanwhile, the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University foresees about 8 hurricanes, with four reaching Category 3 status. CSU researchers put the probability of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. East Coast at 45 percent, compared with an average of 31 percent during the last century.

What does this mean for you?

First, it’s unlikely that a hurricane will make direct landfall in our Virginia-Maryland-Delaware region. No hurricane has directly touched down in the three-state area since at least 1851. Virginia and the Delmarva region are tucked away to some extent, unlike North Carolina’s Outer Banks, which extend into the Atlantic Ocean.

As Brian McNoldy of the Washington, D.C.-based Capital Weather Gang once put it: “It’s a concave part of the coastline and storms that travel that far north are typically curving to the north or northeast.”

That doesn’t mean you should abandon precautions. The high winds and powerful rains associated with hurricanes have brought destruction and the loss of power to our area. Consider the damage of just a few recent storms:

In 2004, Ivan produced 40 tornadoes in Virginia, most in central and northern Virginia.

In 2006, Ernesto brought wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph to the Eastern Shore, with destructive waves of as much as 8 feet.

In 2011, the winds of Irene passed in a swath from Caroline and Westmoreland counties southward into the Richmond metro area, then south to Surry, Sussex, James City, and Southampton counties.

Hurricanes come close enough to produce hurricane force winds approximately three times every 20 years, according to the National Weather Service in Virginia.

To deal with these conditions, CVEC has a storm plan ready to put into place at the first sign that hurricane-like conditions could disrupt your power for days or even weeks.

In addition, electric cooperatives operate on a mutual aid principle. If the job of power restoration after a major storm is too big for one co-op, other co-ops from the region are on call to pitch in.

Just one recent example: co-op crews from Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina helped Southside Electric Cooperative restore power in 2018 after the remnants of Hurricane Michael downed 165 power poles.

“Our lineworkers spend a lot of time training for disaster and emergency-type situations,” says Alan Scruggs, vice president of safety and training service for the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperative, which coordinates mutual aid efforts. “As we get into hurricane season, we are very cognizant that conditions can change rapidly so that we are as prepared as we can to be get the lights back on safely.”

As for co-op members, it’s good to have a hurricane plan at your fingertips. Among the items you’ll want to consider before the weather starts to get bad — especially with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis:

A planned evacuation route
Ways to keep in touch with family members

Face coverings
Arrangements for pets
Water: You will need one gallon per person per day.
Food: Stock up on non-perishable or long shelf-life items
.
First-aid kit: Make sure your kit includes adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, and other items that you can find at redcross.org.
Flashlights, candles and extra batteries

The federal government has a helpful inventory at ready.gov. For information on preparing for a power outage, visit the "Prepare" page at mycvec.com.

28 May

The Annual Meeting, previously scheduled for June 10, has been postponed to September 23, 2020. CVEC will make every effort to hold the meeting in person; however, more time is needed to determine if that is possible for this year.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative has been monitoring the COVID-19 public health emergency and will continue to prioritize our concern for the health and safety of our members and employees, as well as our community. Electric utilities are considered essential businesses and our employees continue to go about the business of keeping the lights on - with some social distancing and changes, of course, to ensure they return home safely after a day of work.

When the pandemic hit in March, CVEC immediately turned its attention to the supply chain, as some of the inventory is imported from foreign countries, including China. The Cooperative made great efforts to secure the inventory needed before the demand diminished availability.

CVEC’s employees continue their work in the field and maintenance projects remain on schedule. Report times for crews are staggered to limit exposure and every effort has been made for them to avoid contact with other crews or employees. We also ask members to exercise social distancing when employees are working in the field and on their property.

Office personnel who are able to work remotely are doing so one or more days per week to limit the number of employees in the building. While the office is closed to walk-in traffic, Member Services Representatives are manning the phones and offices to take inquiries and assist members as usual. Members are asked to use one of the many other payment options available to keep their accounts current, including: online, by phone, kiosk, and mail.

CVEC recognizes that the economic slowdown related to reducing the spread of the virus could impact members. While we cannot waive electric bills, we can commit to helping members who need additional time to pay. CVEC is owned by you, our members, and is a not-forprofit electric provider and every member is responsible for paying for the electric service consumed in their home or business. CVEC suspended disconnects for nonpayment for residential and business accounts and late fees will be waived until June 15. Electric bills will not be forgiven at the end of the restriction on disconnects. We urge members to make payment arrangements so they do not fall behind on their accounts, as well as to allow CVEC to continue to pay our employees and suppliers.

In addition to postponing the Annual Meeting, many of CVEC’s normal events and attendance at local festivals and meetings have been suspended due to restrictions on gatherings.

CVEC values you as our member and our owner and will keep you apprised of any updates from the Cooperative. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the impacts of the pandemic and hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

Did you miss last year's annual meeting? If so, view the recording here.

04 May

Five Central Virginia high school seniors have each earned $1,000 college scholarships awarded by the Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. The recipients are:

• Shaniya Johnson of Appomattox, a student at Appomattox County High School
• Brooke Nazar of Palmyra, a student at Fluvanna County High School
• Rachel Hoefner of Palmyra, a student at Fluvanna County High School
• Alisha Hunsaker of Keswick, a student at Fluvanna County High School
• Malena Stallard of Palmyra, a student at Fluvanna County High School

The students were eligible for consideration because their parents are members of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC). “The cost of college and post-graduation training programs are steadily rising and CVEC recognizes that seniors in our rural communities can benefit from scholarships to help offset those costs,” says Gary Wood, President and CEO of CVEC. “It is such a pleasure to see that five of our high school seniors were selected as recipients.”

Scholarship recipients were chosen based on a competitive screening process that considers financial need (40 percent), academic achievement (40 percent) and community involvement (20 percent). Applicants must be a senior graduating from either high school or home school in 2020.

They must also provide evidence of their acceptance into a post-high school educational institution or program. These grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees and books.

This year, the Foundation awarded 57 Worth Hudson scholarships of $1,000 each to students who live in areas served by electric cooperatives in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The scholarships are named in honor of Hudson, the Foundation’s first chairman. Since 2001, the Foundation has provided approximately 780 scholarships totaling more than $740,000 to aspiring college students as well as to the next generation of electric lineworkers.

The Foundation is funded through tax-deductible donations and bequests from individuals, proceeds from benefit fundraising events and CoBank’s Sharing Success Program.

***

www.mycvec.com.

21 Apr

CVEC is continually working to maintain a safe and reliable system for our members. As part of that effort, we inspect over a thousand miles of power lines annually.
In the coming weeks, we will be utilizing unmanned aerial systems (drones) and contracting with a local drone service provider (Altitude Imaging) to assist in the inspection process of the distribution and transmission lines

Who is Altitude Imaging?
Altitude Imaging is a growing an innovative small Virginia business that uses drones to provide aerial images and quantifiable inspection data for a variety of industries nationwide through a connected team of certified pilots and resources.

What are you taking pictures of?
CVEC and its authorized contractors will be taking high quality pictures of our utility poles, conductor, rights-of-way (ROWs), substations, and other CVEC infrastructure.

What will you do with these pictures?
As part of CVEC’s commitment to operating and maintaining safe and reliable electric service, we utilize these pictures to see utility poles, connections, hardware and vegetation near lines to proactively identify items that could be a problem in the future.

Why are you using drones to inspect the electrical infrastructure?
CVEC conducts some of its inspections from the ground, using linemen on foot or in trucks. However, many areas of CVEC’s 4,682 miles of line cut through areas where the terrain is difficult and unsafe to access. Drones allow CVEC to conduct these inspections more efficiently, covering larger areas and maximizing the reliability and integrity of its distribution and transmission system. As one of the first utility cooperatives in the state to embrace this safe and innovative option, CVEC looks forward to using drones to boost reliability and better serve its members.

Previously, CVEC relied on helicopters to conduct aerial inspections. However, drones are smaller and move much slower than helicopters. Drones provide clearer, closer photos of our electrical infrastructure, and have a considerably smaller impact on the environment.

Will CVEC or their authorized contractor require access to my property?
While most lines can be accessed by ROW crossings at main or side roads, there is a possibility that our employees or contractor will cross your property in the ROW of the power line to complete our inspections.

Will you be taking pictures of my property?
In short, no; however, we may be taking pictures of the pole near your service drop or adjacent to your home. This is important information for us to ensure your transformer and lines up to your house or property are in proper working order and not a danger to you, your family, or your property. All pictures taken, are focused on our equipment not your property.

Will you be keeping these images?
CVEC does not store these images permanently. They are only stored between the time they are taken and when an authorized inspector is available to view the image. Once the pictures are analyzed, they are permanently deleted.

Is your authorized contractor insured and licensed as a drone pilot?
Yes, we approve the credentials of any authorized contractor before a company is permitted to work with us. All our contractors will have an “authorized contractor” signage displayed on their vehicle(s).

May I speak with the CVEC employee or authorized contractor while they are flying and inspecting? ?
Yes, but please use caution when they are flying. This type of work requires a tremendous amount of concentration. However, we are always happy to speak with you and our contractor(s) are always happy to do the same. For your safety and the safety of our employees and contractors, please abide by the 6ft social distancing guideline at all times.

View a pdf of the Frequently Asked Questions here:

17 Mar

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative has been monitoring the COVID-19 public health emergency and will continue to prioritize our concern for our community and for the health and safety of members and employees. To that end, below are several updates that will impact our business protocols and interactions with you. Please contact us if you have any questions.

For your safety and the safety of our employees, CVEC lobbies will be closed to the public until further notice effective Tuesday, March 17. Members are asked to use one of the many other payment options available to keep their accounts current, including: online, through our app, by phone, kiosk, and mail.

CVEC recognizes that the impact of the economic slowdown related to slowing the spread of the virus could impact members. While we cannot waive electric bills, we can commit to helping members who need additional time to pay. Effective March 16, CVEC will suspend disconnects for nonpayment for residential and business accounts and will waive late fees until further notice. Please remember that CVEC is owned by you, our members, and is a not-for-profit electric provider and every member is responsible for paying for the electric service consumed in their home or business. Electric bills will not be forgiven at the end of the restriction on disconnects. We urge members to make payment arrangements so they do not fall behind on their accounts, as well as to allow CVEC to continue to pay our employees and suppliers.

CVEC has many job positions that are critical to keeping your lights on, so we are taking every precaution to keep them healthy and heeding the CDC warnings to avoid contracting COVID-19. For the employees who are able to work remotely, we are testing those resources and working on the implementation.

CVEC employees who are ill or who have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 are required to stay home and/or self-quarantine.

All non-essential business travel outside of the CVEC electric territory has been cancelled through April. Future travel will be re-evaluated at a later date.

We hope that members will stay educated about risks and developments. In addition, this is a time to be vigilant against scammers who are notorious for striking during crisis. CVEC will never take your payment directly over the phone, ask for your credit card number or take payment in the field. Please do not give any personal or bank information over the phone and alert your local law enforcement if you feel you were contacted by a scammer.

CVEC and our linemen are committed to bringing you safe, reliable and affordable electricity through this pandemic and beyond. In the event of an outage, please alert the office via the mobile app, the outage website or call the office. No protocol has changed regarding outage reporting or outage restoration.

Our Member Services Representatives will continue to report to the offices to answer your calls. Please be patient as the inbound calls may overwhelm the resources we have and your call might be forwarded to our answering service or need to be returned at a later time.

At this time, all projects and construction will continue on schedule. There could be disruptions in the supply chain that create delays and we will continue to monitor the need for any adjustment.

Normal construction and field work will continue. You may still see CVEC personnel or contractors in your area and on your property to perform regular duties. The personnel will be capable of performing their duties safely and without jeopardizing their health or the health of members. For your safety and the safety of employees, we ask that you exercise social distancing with any CVEC employees who are performing work on your property.

CVEC values you as our member and our owner and will keep you apprised of any updates from the cooperative. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the impacts of the pandemic and closures and decrees. Rest assured, we will do everything possible to keep your lights on!

If you have any questions about our plans or activities, please call 800-367-2832 or email ms@mycvec.com. View the COVID-19 page at mycvec.com and follow us on Facebook for updates.

Stay safe and healthy,
CVEC Management Team

02 Mar

Buckingham, Va. –Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) and Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM received $28,000,000 in funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Reconnect Program. The announcement was made Friday morning by USDA Virginia State Director, Beth Green, to a group of 200 guests comprised of county officials, local and elected officials, directors, supervisors, business partners, and CVEC members and employees. CVEC and Firefly President and CEO Gary Wood remarked, “We have great partners and the folks who have spoken today at the local, state and federal level have contributed to make this announcement and grant possible. We need the partners and appreciate all they have done to help the members of CVEC.”

CVEC and Firefly applied for the 50% grant/50% loan and will use the funds to build fiber to 11 of its 30 substations. The Curdsville substation in Buckingham will be the first stop for building fiber using grants funds, followed by Cartersville, Stonewall and Kidd’s Store. Dr. Brian Bates, CVEC Director, shared, “CVEC is here to help… Eighty-three years ago, a group of local leaders got together to address a problem. The big utilities were not interested in expending the resources to put electricity in our communities. Folks banded together to form CVEC and they solved that problem. Access to high speed internet is the great economic and educational and quality of life imperative in the 21st century. The leadership of CVEC recognized this, and just like they did 83 years ago, pulled together and stepped up to the plate to provide permanent and high-speed solution for all of our members.”

CVEC has committed to a $120 million plan to install over 4,500 miles of fiber-optic cable in the 14 counties it serves, providing broadband internet to all of its 37,000 members. The fiber network will use laser beams and glass fibers to move data at speeds of up to one gigabit per second, delivering world-class communications to members served in their electric territory.

The fiber-optic network will be installed on and adjacent to existing overhead and underground electric distribution lines, utilizing the existing infrastructure. The joint grant application and award is based on CVEC installing and owning the fiber-optic cable, and its wholly owned subsidiary Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM using the fiber to offer retail internet and phone services. Firefly subscribers will be able to purchase high-speed internet of 100 megabits per second at $49.99 per month or 1 gigabit per second for $79.99 per month. More information on pricing and internet packages can be found at www.fireflyva.com.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving more than 37,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

Headquartered in Palmyra, VA, Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. Firefly offers lightning fast internet via fiber to the premise that is reliable and priced fairly with no hidden equipment costs or price increases. Firefly has no contracts, no data caps or slowdowns and offers symmetrical upload and download speeds. Firefly Light offers 100 mbps for $49.99; Firefly Flash offers 1 gbps for $79.99; and Firefly Voice is $35.99 with a $5.00 discount when bundled with the internet. For more information, visit www.fireflyva.com.

A famed 1937 poster for the Rural Electrification Administration, by graphic designer Lester Beall.

11 Feb

Article from Cnet.com by Marguerite Reardon February 9, 2020 5:00 AM PST

In 1937, when only about 10 percent of Central Virginians in rural areas had electric service, a small group of citizens banded together to form the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. With some help from a new federal loan program, they brought electricity to the mountainous, rural terrain, which encompasses areas such as the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail.

Some 80 years later, that same co-op is working to connect its territory again, this time by bringing high-speed internet access to its 38,000 electricity members across parts of 14 counties. It's not an easy job. While some parts of the co-op's territory might have access to slower DSL service or spotty cellphone service, other places hidden among the mountains may not be reachable even by satellite.

"There are areas where there are no options whatsoever," said Gary Wood, CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. But despite the geographical hurdles, Wood added there's a real need for high-speed broadband to access education, remote health care or even to apply for a job. Without it, he said, certain communities could cease to exist as young people leave and don't return.

"Just like other rural areas, it's harder and harder to attract and keep people here," he said. "Young people move away, and they don't come back to an area without internet access."

With broadband becoming as essential as running water, communities like the ones served by Wood's co-op say they need access to high-speed broadband to improve people's daily lives and provide a standard of living equal to that of urban and suburban parts of the country. It's a problem that spans the country from Oklahoma to New Hampshire.

The federal government has already spent billions of dollars trying to fix this problem. But there are still huge swaths of the country that are unserved. In recent years, there's been a growing trend among electric co-ops, which electrified these same rural parts of the country in the 1930s and 1940s, to do it again for broadband. And now, as politicians from the left and right see the issue as a way to appeal to rural voters, some are also catching onto the idea that rural co-ops could be the answer to finally bridge the digital divide in rural America.

A campaign issue

As Democratic presidential hopefuls vie for votes in states with large rural areas like New Hampshire, where citizens go to the polls in the country's first primary on Tuesday, they're putting forth plans they hope will appeal to these voters. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont have been the strongest proponents of doing for broadband internet what President Franklin D. Roosevelt did for electricity. The two progressives say a New Deal-style plan is in order to ensure broadband arrives throughout all parts of rural America.

They're proposing spending $150 billion and $85 billion respectively to expand funding for municipal, nonprofit and cooperatively owned broadband providers.

"Just like the electric companies eighty years ago, today's biggest internet service providers (ISPs) have left large parts of the country unserved or dramatically underserved," Warren said in a blog introducing her plan last summer. "This ends when I'm President."

A natural fit

In spite of the billions of dollars in private investment and government subsidies over multiple decades, still roughly 26% of people living in rural areas and 32% of people living on tribal lands don't have access to broadband, compared with about 2% in urban areas, according to Federal Communications Commission figures for 2017.

The reason is simple. Building networks in rural America is incredibly expensive, and in some places it's nearly impossible. The terrain can be a problem in places like central Virginia, nestled among the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountain ranges. In Alaska or Minnesota, the ground could be frozen for more than half the year, making it nearly impossible to install fiber or other infrastructure.

But the bigger hurdle is a lack of potential customers. In areas with low population density, broadband providers simply won't offer service if they can't get enough customers to pay for it.

The challenge is not unlike what the country faced in the early 20th century when millions of Americans lacked electricity because commercial utilities found it too expensive to build out the infrastructure.

That's why Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935. A key part of the New Deal, the REA resulted in the creation of hundreds of small electric cooperatives throughout the US that relied on federal funds. Today 900 such cooperatives still exist, providing rural America with electricity. Unlike municipally owned networks, these co-ops are owned by their customers or members. They run like a regular business with profits often reinvested in the business or paid out in dividends to members.

Nearly eight decades later, co-ops are stepping up again to provide another much needed service for the 21st century.

Electric co-ops and publicly owned municipal electric utilities have a number of natural advantages that let them deploy and provide fiber-based broadband service, said Jon Sallet. A fellow with the Benton Foundation and a former general counsel at the FCC, Sallet focuses on policies to support FCC actions to promote broadband access and deployment.

For instance, these electric utilities already reach everyone within their service areas. They've built much of the necessary infrastructure for providing broadband, such as utility poles that are used to string fiber for broadband, and they can leverage existing resources, such as billing, customer support and administrative personnel. Sallet said all of that means the co-ops should face fewer risks and lower entry costs compared with other new entrants.

Patrick Grace, CEO and general manager at Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, one of the oldest co-ops in the state, said it makes sense that co-ops would again step in to fill this role.

"Electric co-ops were at the core of bringing electricity to rural areas in the 1930s," he said. "We're still in these communities serving rural America. And we see what our communities need."

Grace said calls from his membership helped drive his cooperative to launch its broadband subsidiary OK Fiber in 2018. The co-op is building the broadband infrastructure to bring service to its 43,000 members and is already offering customers 100Mbps speeds for $55 a month and 1Gbps for $85 a month.

"We realized our community couldn't expect to do business, teach our kids, access telemedicine or take advantage of all kinds of other things without access to the internet," he said. "So we stepped in."

Making it happen

The trend is picking up momentum. In 2010, only one electric co-op was providing broadband connectivity. Today more than 140 co-ops across the country are offering gigabit-speed broadband reaching more than 300 communities, according to the Institute for Self Reliance, a nonprofit advocacy group that helps communities with sustainable development.

"Co-ops have proven that this is a model that works," the group said in a report published last year. "With increased support from federal and state governments, they will continue to connect rural Americans to economic and educational opportunities otherwise denied to them."

One of the biggest drivers pushing electric co-ops to offer broadband has been the modernization of their electric grids to make them "smarter" and more resilient. The foundation of the smart grid technology is a two-way fiber-optic communications network that's used to restore service after outages, balance power loads and use resources more efficiently. Consumers can also use the technology to better manage their own energy consumption and costs, because they have easier access to their own data.

Once co-ops buy into the benefits of smart grid technology, offering broadband service becomes a natural next step. With the investment in the communications network already made, adding broadband service is much less daunting.

That was the experience of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative when it launched its FireFly Fiber Broadband subsidiary two years ago, Wood said. Only with the move to smart grid technology could the co-op justify the $110 million cost of deploying a gigabit broadband network.

Demand for the service, which comes in two speed tiers, 100Mbps for $49.99 and 1Gbps for $79.99, has been higher than expected, he added. Roughly 40% to 50% of members are taking the service as it becomes available in different parts of the co-op's service territory. This is higher than the 30% rate that the co-op had predicted when it committed to building the network.

"If you've never had internet access, it's like the 1930s when electricity first arrived," he said. "It's life-changing."

Money could make the difference

Still, the cost of deploying broadband in rural areas isn't cheap. Groups such as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association say more money from state and federal governments is needed to make the economics work in the hardest-to-reach and least populated areas of the country.

The feds have started to step in. Last year, the Department of Agriculture provided more than $600 million in loans and grants and the FCC allocated more than $200 million to 35 electric co-ops, which were allowed for the first time to participate in a Universal Service Fund auction.

In 2020, electric co-ops will get the opportunity to compete in a reverse auction for $20.4 billion in subsidies from the FCC's new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which will be allocated over the next 10 years.

Wood says he welcomes the additional cash and the attention electric co-ops are getting from presidential candidates.

"It makes it more realistic for us to look beyond our electric co-op territory," he said. "We know the person right next door to the person at the end of our line still needs broadband. If we can get more money, we can help solve the problem for a few more of our neighbors."

https://www.cnet.com/news/electric-cooperatives-could-be-the-key-to-solving-the-rural-digital-divide/

30 Jan

CVEC Directors and Staff joined leaders from other Virginia cooperatives for Legislative Day and visited lawmakers in Richmond to discuss legislation that directly impacts electric cooperatives in our state. CVEC was able to visit with 11 Senators, Delegates, and Legislative Aides who serve our area and we thank each of them for their time on Tuesday:

Senator Creigh Deeds - 25^th District
Senator Emmett Hanger - 24^th District
Senator Steve Newman - 23^rd District
Senator Mark Obenshain – 26^th District
Senator Mark Peake - 22^nd District
Delegate Rob Bell - 58^th District
Delegate Kathy Byron - 22^nd District
Delegate Matt Fariss - 59^th District
Delegate Nick Freitas - 30^th District
Delegate John McGuire - 56^th District
Delegate Lee Ware - 65^th District

A friend of CVEC and leader across central Virginia, Senator Peake has introduced two pieces of legislation that will dramatically improve the deployment of rural broadband across our region. Senator Peake represents a vast majority of Central Virginia Electric’s service territory and understands the dire need for broadband in rural areas. Senator Peake and Legislative Advisor George Goodwin have been vocal supporters of CVEC’s $115 million, 5 year rural fiber broadband build. CVEC wants to thank Senator Peake and his Legislative Advisor George Goodwin for working so closely with CVEC and for being willing to do the tough work to positively affect the lives of rural Virginians in a positive way. More information on bills for consideration can be found here:

Senate Bill 539 https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+SB539 (RECENLTY COMBINED WITH SB 794)

Removes a large hurdle not only for CVEC’s project, but for any rural broadband deployment. This bill would permit fiber to be placed within existing utility easements. We feel this bill provides a commonsense solution of allowing fiber to be placed on infrastructure that already exists, while maintaining safeguards to adequately protect the interest of landowners. During the 2020 General Assembly, there are many other easement bills that have been introduced by other lawmakers that are similar to Senator Peake’s bill and CVEC has voiced their support for these bills as well. We believe all these bills, with minor differences, maintain the intent of what Senator Peake’s bill achieves here.

Senate Bill 919 https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+SB919

Provide sales tax relief for broadband providers that purchase new broadband infrastructure, thus incentivizing the deployment of rural broadband. Many legislators want to support rural broadband and during our lobby day, CVEC made clear that SB 919 is an effective way to do this because it does not cut off existing revenue streams since this is relief on new infrastructure only.

Pictured here (L-R): CFO Tina Mallia, Director Frank Baber, Director Gloria Vest, CEO Gary Wood, Member Claudia Goin, Key Accounts Representative Galen Creekmore, Communications Manager Melissa Gay, Director George Goin

Pictured here (L-R): CVEC Director Frank Baber, CFO Tina Mallia, Senator Mark Peake, Key Accounts Representative Galen Creekmore, Director Gloria Vest, Communications Manager Melissa Gay

24 Jan

CVEC understands that life gets busy sometimes. We’ve heard your requests and added more account alerts and reminders to help keep you on track. Here are a few alerts and reminders available for standard, or non-Prepaid Program, accounts:

Due Date Reminder – Select to be reminded up to days before your account due date.
Past Due Date Alert – Still forget to make your payment? Receive the Past Due Date Alert for a second reminder.
Returned Check Alert – CVEC will alert you if your check for payment was returned.
Payment Confirmation – Receive a confirmation when your payment has been posted.
Energy Usage Alert – Monitor your usage with a daily usage alert.

Sign up TODAY to receive one or all of these account reminders and alerts. You can choose to receive each by text or email or both. To sign up, log into your account portal by visiting www.MyCVEC.com/my-account/cvec-portal. Once logged into your account, select the My Alerts tab at the top of the page, below the CVEC logo. Here you have the opportunity to confirm your email address, mobile number, and select all alerts and reminders. Once you have made all of your selections, click Submit. If you elect to receive your alerts and reminders by text, you will still need to opt-in by phone for activation.

If you are unable to access the portal to manage your alerts and reminders, please call the Member Services team at 800-367-2832.

Rest easy that you will never forget a due date again!

09 Dec

(Arrington, VA) - The Board of Directors of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) authorized $1.2 million in capital credit refunds to Cooperative member-owners. Refunds are being issued this month, making 2019 the tenth consecutive year that CVEC has issued capital credit refunds reaching a total of over $19 million returned to members.

The refunds this year will be used to retire the remaining 50% of the 1991 patronage capital allocations, 100% of the allocations from 1992, and 10% of the allocations from 2018. Those funds will be distributed to members by mailed check if the refund is $100 or above, or as a bill credit for refunds below $100.

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27 Nov

Thank you to the CVEC and Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM employees who donated food or funds to our 2019 Thanksgiving Food Drive. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) serves Albemarle County, Amherst County, Appomattox County, Buckingham County, Campbell County, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Nelson County, Orange County, and many others outside of our service territory. They provide food to 105,100 people across their network each MONTH through a network of 200 food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, churches, and other non-profit groups. For every $1 donated, BRAFB can provide 4 meals. CVEC and Firefly donated $1000 and donated 72.2 pounds of food, which means BRAFB can provide a total of 4,061 meals to those in need. On average, each month BRAFB is working with network partners to feed men, women, and children across our service area. They could not accomplish this daunting task without the community’s help. BRAFB expresses their gratitude for our support in helping to accomplish the goal to nourish our neighbors. For more information on additional ways to become involved with BRAFB to fight hunger, visit www.brafb.org

2019 Contribution Breakdown:

$1000 raised = 4,000 meals

72.2 pounds of food donated = 61 meals

06 Nov

Arrington, Va. - Any high school or home school senior graduating in the spring of 2020, and whose primary residence is served by Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, is eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship to be applied to a two- or four-year college or trade school. The online application is posted at www.vmdaec.com. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 28, 2020.

Scholarships are awarded by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives’ (VMDAEC) Education Scholarship Foundation. An applicant must be entering his or her first semester at a post-secondary or technical/trade school in the fall of 2020 and scholarship funds must be used towards tuition, student fees, room and board, or textbooks.

Please note that to be considered complete, SAT and/or ACT scores MUST come directly on an official College Board report and uploaded into our application system. This information can be found on www.collegeboard.org and the ACT report can be found on www.act.org. Scores listed on transcripts do not qualify. If a student has taken the SAT more than once, he/she may take the best score from each test ("Super Score"), but both tests must be submitted in the package to qualify.

The Scholarship Foundation’s board of directors will select recipients based on criteria including financial need, academic achievement and a student’s personal statement. Successful applicants will be notified no later than June 1, 2020.

A combination of weighted criteria is used in the selection process: 40% financial need; 40% academic achievement; and 20% personal statement.

In 2019, VMDAEC’s Education Scholarship Foundation awarded 58 Worth Hudson scholarships to students who live in areas served by electric cooperatives in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The scholarships are named in honor of Hudson, the Foundation’s first chairman and former chairman of the board of directors of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative in Chase City, Virginia. Since 2001, the Foundation has provided almost 800 scholarships to graduating high school students totaling more than $680,000. The number of scholarships awarded each year is based on the funds available.

For more information about the VMDAEC Scholarship Program, or to download a copy of the application, visit www.mycvec.com, www.vmdaec.com, or www.co-opliving.com.

Founded in 1944, VMDAEC is the trade association for Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and the 14 other not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives serving the Mid-Atlantic region. It is based in Glen Allen, Va., and provides safety and employee training, governmental relations and legislative and communications services, including the publishing of Cooperative Living magazine, for its member co-ops.

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10 Oct

Fifteen volunteer electric cooperative lineworkers have returned to the United States from Bolivia with heavier beards, weary eyes and thinner waistlines.

But what they left behind after two and a half weeks of hard labor will endure long after they trim their whiskers, catch up on their sleep and eat something other than llama.The lineworkers brought electricity for the first time to 52 households across five communities in the Oruro region of the South American nation.

“I hope every cooperative member-consumer in our three-state region will be filled with as much pride as we are at what this team accomplished. We are approaching the holiday season and through their selfless efforts, they gave the best gift of all — the gift of light,” said Richard G. Johnstone Jr., president and CEO of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

The initiative, entitled “United We Light: Project Bolivia,” was sponsored by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives in conjunction with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s international unit and support from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

The lineworkers, representing eight electric cooperatives in the mid-Atlantic region, departed for Bolivia Sept. 4 and returned Sept. 21.

The group included lineworkers from A&N Electric Cooperative, Tasley, Va.; BARC Electric Cooperative, Millboro, Va.; Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Lovingston, Va.; Choptank Electric Cooperative, Denton, Md.; Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, Warsaw, Va.; Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Fredericksburg, Va.; Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Rockingham, Va.; and Southside Electric Cooperative, Crewe, Va.

They labored in Third World conditions at altitudes of 13,000 feet, with few hot showers and minimal diets, consisting in part of llama, a meat and pack animal in Andean culture. But the gratitude that the villagers showed erased any hardships in the minds of the lineworkers.

“I wish people from the United States could come and see this, and see how heartfelt these people are — how we are brining them power and giving them happiness with what little they have,” said Jason Purvis, a lineman with Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.

The group’s work will have immediate benefits. One community is ready to install an electric well pump instead of retrieving water by hand. And one official hopes that the dawn of power will repopulate his village, where people have left in search of electric service.

“With the electricity grid that is being installed, people will come back,” Coniri Mayor Lorenzo Arroyo said through an interpreter. “We are so happy, we have no more word to say ‘Thank you.’ ”

Highlights of the trip are posted on the Cooperative Living magazine Facebook page and the United We Light: Project Bolivia Facebook group.

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Article: Steve Johnson, VMDAEC

Photo: Members of United We Light: Project Bolivia pose in between the five electrification projects they undertook in Bolivia. Photo By Ryan White, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

10 Oct

Did you know that Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) is a member-owned electric cooperative? That’s right! CVEC is owned by the members that we serve. In addition, CVEC strives to keep our members’ best interest at the forefront of our daily operation and decision-making processes.

In order to determine what is in the best interest of our members, we ask and we listen to members like you! The CVEC Member Advisory Council is comprised of members who provide valuable feedback on new cooperative developments and processes that will impact the entire membership. Meetings are held annually in the fall for dinner and discussion.

CVEC is looking for additional members to serve on its Member Advisory Council. If you would like to join, please email comm@mycvec.com with your name and account number and we will email an invitation to you for the meetings this November.

01 Oct

CVEC understands that life gets busy sometimes. We’ve heard your requests and added more account alerts and reminders to help keep you on track and up-to-date on your account activity.Here are a few alerts and reminders available for standard, or non-Prepaid Program, accounts:

Due Date Reminder – Select to be reminded 0–10 days before your account due date.
Past Due Date Alert – Still forget to make your payment? Receive the Past Due Date Alert for a second reminder.
Returned Check Alert – CVEC will alert you if your check for payment was returned.
Payment Confirmation – Receive a confirmation when your payment has been posted.
Energy Usage Alert – Monitor your usage with a daily usage alert.

If you are unable to access the portal to manage your alerts and reminders, please call the Member Services team at 800-367-2832. Rest easy that you will never forget a due date again!

13 Sep

Fifteen volunteer electric cooperative lineworkers are headed to rural Bolivia in early September to bring the gift of power to five communities that lack access to electricity.

The initiative is entitled “United We Light: Project Bolivia” and is sponsored by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives in conjunction with NRECA International and support from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

“Concern for community is one of the foundational cooperative principles. That means your local community, of course, but it also means helping other communities in other places, communities that aren’t as fortunate as we are. As cooperative utilities, one of the best things we can do is deliver the gift of electricity to communities where there is none,” said Richard G. Johnstone Jr., president and CEO of the association.

The crew will fly as a team Sept. 4 from Reagan National Airport to Miami, where they will board another plane to Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia. From there, they will embark on a third flight to Cochabamba, followed by a six-hour van ride to Challapata, a municipality in the Oruro Department of the South American nation.

The lineworkers will be divided into two teams for an estimated 12 days of work on 11 miles of power line. Among their duties: construct primary and secondary lines; string, sag and tie in conductors on the structures; hang transformers and make connections; and provide hands-on training to local utility workers. In all, 52 households will be powered.

“The main reason we’re going is to electrify villages and it’s going to change those people’s lives forever. And it will forever change the lives of the guys who are going,” said John Medved, director of safety and compliance at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and team leader for the project. Medved has previously traveled to Haiti on a NRECA International mission.

The group includes lineworkers from A&N Electric Cooperative, Tasley, Va.; BARC Electric Cooperative, Millboro, Va.; Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Lovingston, Va.; Choptank Electric Cooperative, Denton, Md.; Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, Warsaw, Va.; Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Fredericksburg, Va.; Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Rockingham, Va.; and Southside Electric Cooperative, Crewe, Va.

“I’m pretty excited but nervous at the same time,” said Cody Minter of BARC. “I’m excited to see the reaction of everyone’s face down there when we actually light up the community.”

On Sept. 19, a lighting ceremony will include the lineworkers, as well as an “inauguration” team of Kent Farmer, president and CEO of REC; Greg White, president and CEO of NNEC; Butch Williamson, president and CEO of ANEC; Ingrid Hunsicker of NRECA International; and Alan Scruggs, VMD Association vice president of safety and training services.

“This is an opportunity for cooperatives to step up and be part of a commitment to the international community. It will raise the quality of life by bringing electricity and all the benefits that come with it,” White said.

After a day of rest, the lineworkers will return home on Sept. 21.

The trip is the first time the VMD Association has sponsored an overseas electrification project with NRECA International, which is an affiliate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and has been providing power to unserved areas in rural Bolivia since 1962.

Highlights of the trip will be updated regularly on the Cooperative Living magazine Facebook page and the United We Light: Project Bolivia Facebook group.

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Story Credit: Steve Johnson, NRECA

Photo Credit: Electric cooperative lineworkers bound for Bolivia gather at the Electric Cooperative Training Center in Palmyra, Va., for their final trip briefing. Steve Johnson, NRECA

Gary Wood Ralph Northam, Delegates Ware and Bell, Guest speakers

16 Jul

Tucked away in the woods of southeastern Fluvanna County, Lyles Baptist Church has a history that dates from 1774.

Now, it’s about to enter the internet age.

Gov. Ralph Northam and a host of state and local dignitaries and elected officials gathered at the church July 11 for the official announcement of a $641,000 grant to support Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s ambitious broadband initiative.

“If you’re going to have a business come to Virginia, especially rural Virginia, if you’re going to help a business grow, there is no way you can do that without access to broadband,” Northam said.

The grant from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, will put 570 homes and premises online, including the oldest Baptist church in Fluvanna County.

It will account for about 25 percent of the project cost, said Gary Wood, president and CEO of CVEC, which owns and operates Firefly Fiber Broadband.

“They’ve been waiting here to stream some congregation moments and they’re going to have access to that pretty soon,” Wood said with a smile. “It’s as good as anything you’ll find in the world and it’ll be right here in these woods.”

CVEC is laying the groundwork for proving broadband across 4,500 miles of fiber to its 37,000 members during the next five years. The overall project cost is estimated at $110 million.

“For a rural community to grow, it needs infrastructure and this is the place to make it happen,” said Fluvanna County Administrator Eric Dahl. “Rural communities also need broadband and CVEC has made that commitment to us.”

Northam and Wood both credited members of the General Assembly for their support of broadband expansion. In attendance were Senator Mark Peake and Delegates Lee Ware and Rob Bell, who represent all or parts of Fluvanna County. A representative of the office of 5th District Congressman Denver Riggleman also was present.

CVEC also came in for praise from Northam and Evan Feinman, who is spearheading the governor’s bid to bring high-speed internet to all Virginians.

“Not only are you helping with broadband, you help with providing reliable and efficient energy to many parts of the commonwealth,” Northam said.

Feinman added, “We don’t have a better partner than our electric cooperatives. They’re working hard.”

The next step? Install more fiber. Wood said the Firefly service will build out in the grant project area and eventually move to the village of Columbia and parts of nearby Cumberland County.

“This is not just a grant for this area,” he said. “It is a grant that opens doorways to others.”

Story Credit: Steve Johnson, VMDAEC

Video: Laura Emery, VMDAEC

Photo credit: Jack Mayer

26 Jun

The familiar and the newfangled both came into play as Central Virginia Electric Cooperative wrapped up a successful annual meeting June 19 at Nelson County High School.

The familiar: Incumbent directors Frank H. Baber III, Roberta I. Harlowe and Henry Chiles all won unopposed re-elections to the CVEC Board.

The newfangled: Some 125 contractor trucks are stringing 15-20 miles of fiber optic line per week to bring improved co-op communications and broadband access to CVEC’s 37,000 members by 2023. “We’re going to be in everybody’s yard sometime in the next five years,” said president and CEO Gary Wood.

The Firefly update was one of the highlights of CVEC’s 82nd annual meeting, as more than 100 members and guests snacked on ice cream and other goodies before reviewing the cooperative’s accomplishments under the theme of “Renewed Commitment to Our Communities.”

Wood emphasized that the fiber service is more than a matter of enabling members in underserved areas to stream online programming. It’s an essential part of upgrading and improving service reliability and facilitating communications in the field, he noted.

“It’s going to help everyone because we are going to every pole to inspect it as part of the fiber optic system line,” he explained. “That way, we will be identifying poles that might not be as sound, and by strengthening those poles, they can withstand more storm damage,” he said.

About 700 members served by the Appomattox substation are on Firefly, while in a part of Nelson County, almost 50 percent are signing up for broadband even before they see it in action or hear about it from neighbors, Wood said. “That tells us what the need really is out there.”

The annual meeting came the same day that CVEC announced that it had received, with Appomattox County, $600,000 in grant funds from the Virginia Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission to begin installing fiber in Pamplin in spirng 2020 to enhanced its smart grid system and provide high-speed internet to members.

“We’ve had really the teamwork that we need from the state, federal and local level.” Wood said.

In addition, as part of its renewed commitment to member, CVEC continues to upgrade its transmission and distribution system to prevent power outages or repair them quickly when they do occur. Wood said 2018 marked the co-op’s second-best year ever in system reliability.

“It’s evident that these investments are paying off for our members,” he said.

Other commitments to members included retiring about $1 million in capital credits and maintaining a diverse fuel portfolio to guard against price spikes in any one area. Wood said the Solar Share program, which includes 10 megawatts of generation from solar farms in Fluvanna and Louisa counties has really taken off in the last year.

CVEC is one of just 4 co-ops nationally to set aside 40 percent of its solar for subscription by members so they can share in the renewable energy offering. Solar Share is 82 percent subscribed, Wood said.

For 2018, CVEC added 419 new accounts and 25 miles of distribution line, Harlowe said in her treasurer’s report. Kilowatt-hour sales were up 1.8 percent from 2017 on an income of $94.8 million, she added, with the co-op’s margin near the $3 million mark.

The elections went by quickly at the annual meeting. Chiles, representing the West District, has been on the board since 1977, while Harlowe of the East District and Baber of the South District, have served since 1983 and 2013, respectively.

Four young co-op members who were awarded $1,000 college scholarships from the VMD Education Scholarship Foundation were recognized for their achievements.

They were Chasen Coleman of Appomattox County High School, Laurynn Hackett of Cornerstone Christian Academy, Henry Thompson of Albemarle High School and Katie Coleman of Nelson County High School. Recognized but not in attendance were Wyatt Yoder and Caitlyn Amos, both of Buckingham County High School, and Chloe Hellerman of Nelson County High School.

Following a question-and-answer session, the meeting was adjourned and all members were received an attendance prize. If you missed the annual meeting, or failed to catch it on Livestream, you can still view it at https://www.mycvec.com/about-us/annual-meeting.

11 Jun

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) nominated Tina Mallia, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, for the Virginia Business CFO Awards. Each year, Virginia Business presents awards to chief financial executives in five categories. Mallia was nominated for the large non-profit award category for her numerous achievements during her tenure, including her most recent role in the successful start-up of Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVEC and $110 million fiber optic communication system project.

Mallia began working at CVEC in 2010 as Accounting Manager and was promoted to CFO in 2014. Her role includes oversight of accounting, finance, human resources, member services and corporate communications. As CFO, she has improved efficiency using newly created metrics to define areas for improvement and restructured debt and corporate financing to improve margins and reduce future debt payments. Gary Wood, CVEC President and CEO, stated “CVEC is fortunate to have many great employees committed to serving our members. Tina Mallia is a great example of our efforts to attract the best and brightest talents to our cooperative, helping us meet our goal of delivering best in class services to our members.”

In 2018, Mallia helped develop the financing portfolio for the creation of Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM that includes a $66 million smart grid loan and a package of subsidies, grants, incentives and in-kind donations that total another $38 million to help make the fiber project feasible. The 5-year construction project will allow CVEC to improve service through lower rates and increased reliability. “In addition to the improvements in our electric operations through our new fiber network, Firefly will deliver gigabit speed broadband internet service to nearly 40,000 locations in rural areas, most of which have no options today to receive any form of broadband,” says Gary Wood, CVEC President and CEO. “The project will improve access to health care and education as well as increase economic development in these counties, creating a truly transformative change in the area. Tina Mallia has played a critical lead role in making this project economically feasible and she deserves recognition as a CFO who is making a difference in people’s lives.”

The winners of the Virginia Business CFO Awards will be announced at an awards banquet in Richmond on June 12.

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31 May

With the snip of a ribbon, the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Electric Cooperative Training Center officially opened May 22 during a ceremony that brought more than 120 co-op officials, elected representatives, government officials and dignitaries to the site north of Palmyra, Va.

“This is a day we have literally dreamed about for decades,” said Richard G. Johnstone Jr., president and CEO of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

“The training center is really the embodiment of the cooperative spirit. Every one of our member systems identified a need for a state-of-the-art training center and worked diligently to bring this day about,” he said.

The 9,600-square-foot building is located adjacent to Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s (CVEC) Palmyra office. CVEC provided nine acres to the association for the $1.5 million project at favorable terms.

“This building is a great investment in a number of ways,” said Gary Wood, president and CEO of Arrington, Va.-based CVEC. “It’s a deposit on the continuing investment co-ops are making in Fluvanna County. It’s an investment in all the instructors and trainers because you now have a great tool to deliver your messages. And it’s an investment among co-ops in our relationship because our strength comes from the partnerships we share.”

For years, the association conducted lineworker training at an aging building adjacent to a converted vo-tech center in Culpeper. That site’s insufficiency was demonstrated during one class when a snake fell on Ron Campbell, former vice president of safety & training for the association.

“The guys would go in the bathrooms and the snakes would be hanging from the ceiling,” Campbell recalled with a shudder.

In 2013, training moved from Culpeper to three modular trailers at the Palmyra site with an eye toward a new building. “We’ve always had this in mind,” Campbell said. “This is my dream here.”

The building has three classrooms — one each named for Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. The rooms employ state-of-the-art video technology with a touchpad system to control lighting and A/V equipment. The building also offers a full-service kitchen with a catering window, a break room, and showers in the men’s and women’s restrooms. A large garage bay provides space for equipment demos and training in inclement weather.

Another outstanding feature is the “Storm Soldier” statue developed by Arkansas sculptor Ron Moore.

In time, the Fluvanna center will train thousands of cooperative employees and directors.

“In addition to lineworkers, we’ll be providing training to engineers, accountants, customer service representatives, and the elected directors who serve on the boards of our member cooperatives,” Johnstone said. “We’ll also offer training to employees from Virginia municipal electric systems, and we intend to work with community colleges as well.”

Photo: From left, Herbert Patrick, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, presents a proclamation of gratitude on behalf of the association to Gary Wood, president and CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.

30 May

From Community Networks Broadband Bits Podcast 358

The Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) announced in January 2018 that they had solidified plans to deploy fiber across 14 counties for smart grid operations and to bring Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) to the region. The project, dubbed Firefly Fiber Broadband, is underway, and we’ve got President and CEO Gary Wood along with Communications and Member Services Manager Melissa Gay on the podcast this week to discuss the multi-year project.

During this interview, we learn about the CVEC service territory, which is a mix of a few denser populated areas and very rural communities where poor Internet access, when it’s available, is a real problem. CVEC members have been dealing with unreliable connections, oversubscription, and outdated technologies for years. Those problems will be eliminated, however, with FTTH from the co-op that many have come to trust. By obtaining grants, working with local communities, and approaching the process in a strategic manner, CVEC plans on bringing gigabit connections to about 37,000 potential subscribers within five years.

Gary and Melissa describe the cooperative’s process, the discoveries they made about attitudes toward the co-op from members in the community (including some interesting stories), and lessons learned. We hear about some of their marketing approaches that focus on the uniqueness of the region and what it was like to establish a subsidiary in accordance with state law. Through all the hard work, Melissa and Gary have nothing but accolades for employees of the cooperative and compliments for local officials who helped get the project off to a strong start.

30 May

More competitors, more vendors, a bigger awards banquet and even more grillers — just about everything about the 17th annual Gaff-n-Go Equipment Operator’s and Lineman’s Rodeo set a record.

Held May 10-11 at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Va., the rodeo attracted hundreds of co-op friends, family members and spectators who watched more than 150 talented lineworkers from six states ply their trade in a friendly yet competitive environment.

“We’re really proud that this has grown from pretty humble beginnings into one of the largest regional rodeos in the country,” said John C. Lee, CEO of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative and chairman of the Rodeo Committee. “We're also really proud to stage an event where our lineworkers can demonstrate the hard work, the determination, and the mental and physical toughness this profession requires.”

The Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) hosted the event, which was sponsored by TEREX in partnership with NESCO Specialty Rentals.

Friday’s equipment operator’s rodeo tested each three-member team’s ability to maneuver trucks and equipment used in electric distribution systems. While crews maneuvered around obstacles, nearly a dozen grilling teams barbecued pork, chicken and beef in the Gaff-n-Grill event, won by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s “Blowing Smoke” grillers.

On Saturday, declared Electric Utility Line Workers Day by Governor Ralph Northam, three-member journeyman teams and individual apprentices competed in events that simulate real life.

“It is so impressive to observe these professionals as they work 40 feet above the ground on a course of utility poles while always keeping safe and efficient work practices front and center,” said Richard Johnstone, VMDAEC president and CEO.

Lee noted that the number of competitors has jumped to more than 150 from 119 in 2013. The 2019 field also included two U.S. Army teams from the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

“These guys work with each other in major storm events in the middle of the night,” Lee said. “I think it’s highly comforting for them to know that the guy on the next pole is someone they met and got to know here at the rodeo.”

The vendor expo featured 51 exhibitors in 2019, compared with 30 in 2013. And 540 tickets were sold for the awards banquet, held Saturday night at the Hilton Richmond Short Pump Hotel, up from 330 in 2013.

Additionally, participants and spectators dug deep in their pockets to help raise nearly $6,000 to support a Dominion Energy worker recently injured in the line of duty.

“The event is just getting bigger and better each year and we look forward to continued growth thanks to our sponsors, our volunteers, our judges and most of all, our lineworkers,” said Johnstone.

Also assisting were Clint Card of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative and C.T. Bryant, retired from Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, the co-chairmen of the Rodeo Working Group.

The CVEC Journeyman team, comprised of Jimmy Wilmoth, Steven Matney, and Dustin Foley took first place in the Hurt Man Rescue event and took second in both the Capacitor Change Out and Truck Hurt Man Rescue Events. Apprentice lineman, Billy Cascio, placed first in the individual apprentice Hurt Man Rescue event and third in the climbing skills event. Apprentice lineman, Blaine Cunningham participated at the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo for the first time this year.

Linemen Matt Wilbun and Brute Gardner, and Training & Safety Specialist Randy Golladay served as volunteer judges for this year’s event, while Lineman T.R. Eubank served as Rodeo Coach for the CVEC competitors. Retired CVEC employee C.T. Bryant continues to co-chair the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo Working Group.

“Keeping the lights on for our members is a dangerous job for our linemen,” said Gary Wood, CVEC’s president and CEO. “We are proud to support an event that promotes the safety and teamwork so critical to this profession, and delighted that our linemen did so well in this year’s competition.

Winning the three-member journeyman category was the Dominion Energy team of Brock Hawthorne, Jason Langhorne and Robert Tuthill with Michael Sims, Jacob Kelley and Anson Perry from Blue Ridge finishing in second place.

The highest co-op team — third overall — was the Delaware Electric squad of Philip Collison, Dave Morgan and Michael Layton. They took the Jimmy Gardner for the highest score among VMD Association teams. Gardner served as one of the first cooperative linemen in Virginia and lived into his 90s to see the early success and growth of the rodeo event. In all, 27 journeyman teams participated in the rodeo.

Top apprentice honors among 61 competitors went to Will Reid of BARC Electric Cooperative, who registered a stellar performance across five events, including first place in a written test and third in the hurt man rescue. T.W Parks of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative and Zach Matthews of Dominion placed second and third overall in the apprentice division.

The TEREX Equipment Operator’s Rodeo went to the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative team of Thomas Bailey, Addison Spicer and Alister Pollard. They registered a perfect score in less time than their 23 competitors. Jared Mayton, Brandon Senger and Delbert Orsborne of Southside Electric Cooperative finished second with a second REC team of Jason Morris, Chad Foster and Kevin Houston in third.

For complete results and photos from this year’s event, visit www.gaff-n-go.com.

View more rodeo coverage at:

https://www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations/gaff-n-go-shirt-designs-show-pride-line-trade

https://www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations/linemen-compete-record-breaking-gaff-n-go-rodeo

Photo caption (L-R): Galen Creekmore, Gloria Vest, Senator Mark Peake, Melissa Gay, Roberta Harlowe

08 Feb

Richmond ― More than 150 electric cooperative leaders from across Virginia gathered in Richmond Jan. 29 for Legislative Day activities sponsored by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

The Legislative Day event is held each year and gives electric cooperative leaders the opportunity to visit their state delegates and senators and discuss pending legislation of interest https://vmdaec.smugmug.com/GovtAf/2019-Legislative-Day/i-Xb5M2HP to electric cooperatives.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s delegation this year included Director George Goin and his wife Claudia, Director Roberta Harlowe, Director Gloria Vest, Key Accounts and Member Engagement Representative Galen Creekmore, Communication and Member Services Manager Melissa Gay, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tina Mallia, and President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Wood. (Photo caption (L-R): Galen Creekmore, Gloria Vest, Senator Mark Peake, Melissa Gay, Roberta Harlowe)

Among pending bills discussed with legislators were two of particular interest to electric cooperatives: HB2547/SB1769, a landmark net-metering compromise sponsored by Sen. Glen Sturtevant and Del. Tim Hugo, and SB1346, a regulatory-efficiency bill sponsored by Sen. Steve Newman.

Both bills would benefit electric cooperatives across Virginia if they become law, and both advanced unanimously out of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and appear to have momentum in the legislature.

“We had a very productive day on Capitol Hill,” said Tina Mallia, CVEC Vice President, after the day’s activities. “The Legislative Day visits allow for cooperative directors and staff to share with lawmakers how they are serving their communities and how proposed legislation will affect their constituents,” she concluded.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving almost 37,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is

proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

08 Jan

The Board of Directors of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) authorized $1.05 million in capital credit refunds to Cooperative member-owners. Refunds were issued in December, making 2018 the ninth consecutive year that CVEC has issued capital credit refunds reaching a total of nearly $18 million returned to members.

The refunds this year will be used to retire 50% of the 1991 patronage capital allocations and 10% of the allocations from 2017. Those funds will be distributed to members by mailed check if the refund is $100 or above, or as a bill credit for refunds below $100.

24 Sep

Any high school or home school senior graduating in the spring of 2019, and whose primary residence is served by Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, is eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship to be applied to a two- or four-year college or trade school. The online application is posted at www.vmdaec.com and www.co-opliving.com/community/scholarship.htm. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 8, 2019.

Scholarships are awarded by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives’ (VMDAEC) Education Scholarship Foundation. An applicant must be entering his or her first semester at a post-secondary or technical/trade school in the fall of 2019 and scholarship funds must be used towards tuition, student fees, room and board or textbooks. The application will be open starting on November 1st, 2018.

In 2018, VMDAEC’s Scholarship Foundation awarded 56 scholarships as follows:

54 applicants received Worth M. Hudson Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each;
1 applicant received the C. D Hypes Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000;
1 applicant received the Gertrude Winston Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000;

Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has awarded 683 scholarships totaling $582,500. Donations to this program are welcomed and are tax-deductible. Questions about donations and the application process should be directed to Sam Brumberg, via email at scholarship@vmdaec.com.

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26 Jul

Roberta I. Harlowe of Fluvanna County has received the 2018 Electric Cooperative Leadership Award from the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC). The Association’s highest honor, this award recognizes outstanding co-op leaders within the three-state region. Harlowe accepted her award at the association’s July 23 annual meeting in Hot Springs, following a surprise presentation attended by family and friends.

After becoming the first woman elected to the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) board of directors in 1983, Harlowe was the first woman elected to several board leadership roles. She served as CVEC’s vice chair from 1995-2003, 2009-2011 and 2013-2015; and as chair from 2003-05 and 201517. She also was board secretary from 2007-2009, served on several CVEC and VMDAEC committees, and is currently board treasurer.

“Roberta has been an integral part of our cooperative’s success for 35 years,” said Gary Wood, CVEC president and CEO. He added, “Roberta championed construction of two solar farms, dedicated earlier this year, that made us one of just three electric co-ops in the nation to provide four or more megawatts of community solar available to their members. Her thirst for knowledge is matched by her passion for the electric cooperative mission. She searches for programs and solutions that will truly improve the quality of members’ lives, and leads the charge to make the change.”

As chair of VMDAEC’s Education Committee from 2005-2017, Harlowe organized many successful fundraisers, growing the Association’s educational scholarship program while working to streamline and ensure objectivity in the selection process for recipients of college and trade school tuition assistance.

“Roberta not only has a vision, she makes it happen,” said VMDAEC President & CEO Richard Johnstone. “Under her leadership, the Foundation had awarded $526,500 to 627 deserving high school seniors,” he explained, adding, “She stepped down in 2017 as committee chair, but only after carefully helping us prepare for the next chapter.”

The 2018 Leadership Award resolution also cites Harlowe’s years of contributions to her community. While helping her husband found Harlowe Auctions, a successful business that operated for more than 40 years, she raised two children and served Beaver Dam Baptist Church as choir director, chair of the finance and stewardship committee, and regional representative for the Christian Woman’s Club.

A Certified Credentialed Director who has also achieved Director Gold certification through the Harlowe Receives Leadership Award, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Harlowe has sought throughout her co-op career to implement the best practices from her training in many roles across the organizations she serves.

She and her husband Bill live in Troy, Virginia, and have two children and four grandchildren.

About CVEC: Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving more than 36,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

About VMDAEC: Founded in 1944, VMDAEC is the trade association for 15 consumer-owned, notfor-profit electric distribution cooperatives that serve Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The Glen Allen, Va.-based Association provides its member cooperatives with employee and director education, safety training, government relations, and communications services, including publishing Cooperative Living magazine, whose circulation in excess of 500,000 makes it the largest in the state. For more information, visit www.vmdaec.com or www.co-opliving.com.

26 Jul

Designs for Central Virginia Electric Cooperative's broadband fiber network have been approved and CVEC is commencing the make-ready process at the Appomattox substation. You can expect to see our red CVEC trucks on your land and in your area to complete the work needed to prepare the poles and infrastructure for the installation of the fiber.

CVEC linemen may need to de-energize power to the lines or to a transformer in order to safely make the necessary updates to the poles and hardware. You will see crews repositioning transformers, adding anchors to the ground near the poles and even replacing poles.

Fiber broadband will be offered by CVEC to its members through its subsidiary brand, Firefly Fiber Broadband. Members served by the Appomattox substation may expect to
sign up for broadband service in the fall and be connected by the end of January 2019.

CVEC is excited to take this step in improving communications and reliability across its system and for the opportunity the fiber will provide for members to have access to
reliable, high speed internet. While we don't have any further information at this time, please be sure to consult the Firefly Fiber Broadband website for updates during the
construction period at www.fireflyva.com.

22 Jun

Arrington, Va. – Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) will begin installation of fiber in Appomattox by September, providing communications for a smart grid system and delivering high speed internet to its members. Appomattox was selected as the first stop due to the lowest cost to serve based on a nearly $1 million grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRCC) and an economic incentive agreement with the County of Appomattox, which will offset the approximately $10 million cost of installing fiber-optic cable in Appomattox County. “Building broadband networks in extremely rural areas requires a partnership, and this project is the epitome of a public private partnership. Without their commitments, fiber installation would not be getting underway,” says CVEC President Gary Wood.

CVEC’s construction in Appomattox County will be the first step in a five-year plan to install over 4,500 miles of fiber-optic cable in the 14 counties it serves, providing broadband internet to all of its 36,000 members. The fiber network will use laser beams and glass fibers to move data at speeds of up to one gigabit per second, delivering world-class communications to members served by the Appomattox substation, one of four substations in the county. The 155 miles of fiber-optic cable will span from the town of Appomattox along Route 26 through Oakville and towards Bent Creek, covering a portion of the area over Route 24 and Vera. The fiber will reach 1,656 of the 3,400 members residing in Appomattox, as well as the National Historic Park. “Having spent years working to extend broadband access to every corner of our region, I am excited to see this project and others throughout our region coming online,” noted Delegate Kathy J. Byron, Chairman of the Tobacco Commission’s Research and Development Committee. “Broadband service is not optional if we want our region to grow and prosper. I am grateful to my colleagues on the Tobacco Commission for acknowledging this and for committing resources to the CVEC projects and others like it.”

The fiber-optic network will be installed on and adjacent to existing overhead and underground electric distribution lines, utilizing the existing infrastructure. CVEC will install and own the fiber-optic cable, and offer retail internet and phone services to its members through Central Virginia Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVEC. Cooperative members will be able to purchase high-speed internet of 100 megabits per second at $49.99 per month or 1 gigabit per second for $79.99 per month. More information on the construction schedule and on signing up for service will be available to members in the coming months.

“The availability of affordable high-speed internet to CVEC members will enhance development in Appomattox County through business growth, educational opportunities for families, tourism activities, and community development,” says Susan Adams, Appomattox County Administrator. Adams looks forward to the improved quality of life which broadband internet will bring to residents in Appomattox County. CVEC is pursuing county, state and federal financial partnerships to help offset the cost of the $110 million investment in the project. The Cooperative has met with many counties in its territory to explore funding opportunities; the grant from the Tobacco Commission marks the first confirmed source of funding to date. “We are all reaching for the same goal: providing broadband to rural America. Families who wish to reside in rural areas should be afforded the same amenities as those who choose to live in urban and suburban areas. The challenge we are facing today mirrors the challenge our members overcame in 1937 when our Cooperative was created to supply power to those who were forced to live without,” says Wood.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving more than 36,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

31 May

On Tuesday, May 22, CVEC drew over 70 guests, from as far away as Washington DC, Atlanta, and Phoenix, to help celebrate the opening of two 5MW solar generation facilities. With weather forecasts promising thunderstorms, guests were pleasantly surprised with a sunny, clear sky that showed off the gleaming new solar panels in action.

Guests from the Fluvanna County Administration, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, (NRECA), McCarthy Building Companies (the contractor company responsible for the construction of both solar facilities), and Coronal Energy, owner and operator of both solar sites, mingled with CVEC staff and members of the Board of Directors, waiting for Governor Ralph Northam to arrive. Reporters from local newspapers and news channels moved through the gathering, adding to the excitement in the air.

As Governor Northam arrived, guests crowded to meet him, then took their seats as CVEC President and CEO, Gary Wood, rose to give the opening remarks. Welcoming guests and recognizing many of CVEC’s partners who have collaborated to make solar power a reality for CVEC’s members, Wood issued a special thank you to CVEC’s Board of Directors, stating, “These directors and the others on the Board encouraged the CVEC staff to find cost-effective renewable power options for our members, and when the opportunity arose, they had the courage and foresight to make a 25 year commitment that moved the project from a paper proposal to the project you see today.” After recognizing these directors by name, Wood welcomed Jonathan Baker, a member of the Coronal Energy executive team, to take the stage.

Baker’s remarks, highlighting the monumental milestone of completing the two solar facilities, were followed by remarks from CVEC’s Board Chairman H. T. Brown, Fluvanna Board of Supervisors Chair Mike Sheridan, NRECA Project Manager Debra Roepke, McCarthy Building Companies VP of Operations Mike Corso, and Kyle West, VP of Development at Coronal Energy. After these speakers, Governor Northam rose to make a few remarks, celebrating the introduction of renewable resources into Virginia’s energy portfolio.

Governor Northam then joined Wood in a symbolic gesture, welcoming solar energy to the state as they “flipped the switch” and illuminated CVEC’s sign at the Palmer solar site.

Afterwards, Northam remarked to NBC News reporters, "It's just a great day as we move toward renewable energy in Virginia and wean ourselves away from fossil fuels.”

Guests were then invited to tour the 21,700-panel solar facility, escorted by Coronal Energy engineer Jake Wyatt. After enjoying refreshments and pictures, guests dispersed, still under a sunny sky. The event was an enormous success and welcomes a bright future as solar power takes its place as a leading energy source in the electricity market.

CVEC’s partnership with Coronal Energy represents the construction of the largest solar project for an electric distribution cooperative in the state. With total production of 10 megawatts (MW) of energy, the solar sites will provide CVEC with enough energy to power 1,200 households annually. CVEC will provide 60% of this energy to members though its community solar program, Solar Share. Through Solar Share, residential members may purchase up to five 50-kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks of solar energy, for a total of 250 kWh per household. The cost per 50 kWh block is $4.50, or $22.50 for the full 250 kWh. The subscription rate for this solar energy will be locked in for 25 years and will not be subject to rate increases during that time. Solar Share is an excellent option for members who occupy rental properties or otherwise are unable to install panels on their homes. There's no need to worry about putting holes in your roof, your home's orientation to the sun, or neighborhood covenants. It provides a no-contract, affordable, and maintenance-free option for clean, renewable energy.

Members have been quick to recognize the advantages of CVEC’s Solar Share program, and have already subscribed to 30% of the available shares. To participate in Solar Share and take your place in welcoming more solar energy in your power supply, visit CVEC's Community Solar page.

CVEC Bucket Trucks at the entrance of CVEC's Annual Meeting.

31 May

Preparations are underway for CVEC’s 81st Annual Meeting. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 20, the meeting will be held at the Nelson County High School and will welcome members from across the entirety of CVEC’s 14-county territory.

With months of preparation, the Annual Meeting is CVEC’s biggest event each year. Members will enjoy an array of refreshments and ice cream from Homestead Creamery at 6:00 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to meet and interact with CVEC’s Board members, Staff, and Executive Team, asking questions and learning more about CVEC’s many programs.

After enjoying the ice cream social, members will gather in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. to vote for the re-election of three members to the Board of Directors—one from each territory.

H. T. Brown, Jr. will be standing for re-election in the West District. Mr. Brown lives in Massies Mill and has served on the Board of Directors since 2008. During that time, he has served two terms as Chair of the Board, one term as Vice Chair, and two terms as Treasurer.

The Board’s newest director, Dr. Brian Bates, from the South District, is also up for re-election. Mr. Bates has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. Dr. Bates is a lifelong resident of Buckingham County and serves as Chief of the Toga Volunteer Fire Department. Dr. Bates is currently the Executive Director & Senior Principal Investigator for Longwood Institute of Archaeology.

With almost two decades of service, Gloria Vest, from the East district, will also stand for re-election. Mrs. Vest has been a director since 2001 and has served three terms as Secretary of the Board. Mrs. Vest lives in Fluvanna County, where she serves with the Fluvanna Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Members will also have the opportunity to learn more about the Cooperative’s activity in 2017. CVEC President and CEO, Gary Wood, and other members of the Executive Team will present information on CVEC’s achievements, finances, and new programs launched in 2017. Looking forward to 2018, members will learn more about CVEC’s community solar program, Solar Share, and the broadband initiative, which will offer high-speed internet to all members in CVEC’s service territory.

Each member who attends the meeting will also be eligible for giveaways and receive a door prize valued between $10-50.

As a not-for-profit member-owned cooperative, members are at the heart of CVEC’s mission. CVEC invites members to attend the Annual Meeting so that CVEC has a chance to connect with some of its 36,000 members and keep them informed about what is happening at their Cooperative.

Watch the recorded meeting here.

13 Apr

Your time is valuable.

CVEC launched the new MyCVEC.com website in April, providing members with easy and convenient access to “everything CVEC.” With the addition of the navigation box on this home page, it is easier than ever to pay your bill, change your service, or report an outage. The new streamlined design will help members find energy solutions, ways to save money, safety information, and the latest news in the community. The new site is optimized for fast downloads and is desktop and mobile device friendly.

“My Account” tab features pages for the most popular services needed by account holders. Members will still be able to access the Member Account Portal to monitor usage and pay their bill. For members who do not have an account on the Portal, please visit our Billing & Payment page to learn about the many options to make quick and convenient payments on your account.

“Outage” tab has all you need to know in the event of an outage. The warmer weather will bring summer storms. Don’t be left in the dark! CVEC provides extensive information on how to prepare for an outage when the forecast calls for bad weather. If you have not yet signed up for the MyCVEC Mobile App or our texting service, please visit that page for more information on the benefits of subscribing. Your 24/7 account and outage information is just a click away!

“Energy Solutions” tab offers money saving tips and information about our solar offerings. Whether you mount your solar panels on your home or subscribe to Solar Share, CVEC’s community solar program, green energy is an option for all CVEC members. View our new video about Solar Share to see if this program is a good fit for your family.

“Safety” tab highlights the many essential tips to keep you safe around electricity. The warmer weather brings lots of outdoor projects. Please visit our "811 Before You Dig" page and our "Electrical Safety" page for more information.

“Community” tab keeps you up-to-date on CVEC news, press releases, newsletters and the broadband initiative.

“About Us” tab gives you a look (literally) at the Staff and Directors who serve CVEC’s members. You can also find job postings and our rates and legal information on this tab.

CVEC hopes that members will get familiar with the new site and give us feedback at comm@mycvec.com.

CVEC Receives National Recognition for Security Excellence

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Utility Pioneers from the Republic of Burundi and Virunga Power Corporation Visit CVEC

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Notice to the Public of CVEC’s Application for a Streamlined Increase in Rates

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Maintaining a Reliable System from Top to Bottom

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CVEC is Upgrading Our Phone System

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CVEC members in the Schuyler area will notice a new substation in town

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Prepare for Increased Energy Consumption Due to Frigid Temps

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CVEC is Participating in the Front Porch Forum

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CVEC Mourns the Loss of Director Gloria W. Vest

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CVEC Members Urged to Prepare Now for Winter Weather

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CVEC’s Longest Serving Director to Retire

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CVEC Lineman Allan Thacker Shares Guatemala Experience

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Keep Your Spirits Bright and Your Energy Usage Low This Holiday Season

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CVEC Members to See Small Rate Increase Effective First of October

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CVEC’s 86th Annual Meeting: What to Expect and How to Watch the Recording

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Retired CVEC CEO, Howard Scarboro, Receives Cooperative Leadership Award

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Transforming Lives and Livelihoods One Connection at a Time

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Rural Virginia utility modernizes smart grid with help from Juniper SRX

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Avoid Utility Scams and Protect Your Information

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Warm Weather Brings New System Maintenance

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The July 2023 Member Newsletter has Mailed!

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Seven CVEC Apprentices Compete in Gaff-n-Go Rodeo

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Five Area Students Earn Electric Co-op Scholarships

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811 protects you and your community!

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Central Virginia Electric Cooperative employees are transforming lives one training at a time!

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Celebration centers on connecting 20,000 rural CVEC members to broadband and $10,000 donation to local food bank

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CVEC contractors are using drones to patrol and inspect infrastructure this spring.

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CVEC’s focus on reliability and preventative maintenance continues.

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Area Utility Customers Reporting Scam Calls

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The Winter 2023 Member Newsletter has Mailed!

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Member Surveys are Underway!

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Applications for 2023 VMDAEC Education Scholarships Open January 30, 2023

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CVEC’s Director, George Goin, Elected for Electric Cooperatives New Leadership Team

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Important Notice Regarding Your Bill

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Inaugural Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship Award Presented to Appomattox Graduate

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Six CVEC linemen competed in the Gaff-N-Go rodeo

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Seven Area Students Earn Electric Co-op Scholarships

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Important Notice Regarding CVEC Safeguard Payment Plan

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Louisa Board of Supervisors Acknowledges Essential Employees

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Electric Cooperatives Restore Power in Wake of Winter Storm

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Important Moratorium Update - Disconnects to Resume Soon