PEC holding forums for input, questions

By Daniel Clifton • Daily Tribune Staff

MARBLE FALLS - The Pedernales Electric Cooperative wants a bit of public input as well as a chance to answer members’ questions.

PEC is hosting a series of membership forums scattered across its 8,100-square mile service area through Thursday.

“Any and all members are invited,” said Zach Beggs, PEC publications editor. “We’re seeking all members’ comments and suggestions.”

A forum is scheduled today at the Best Western Marble Falls Inn, 1403 U.S. 281 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

PEC is a member-owned co-op that provides electricity to more than 214,000 consumers. But in recent months it has come under scrutiny because of compensation packages for its seven voting board members and 11 non-voting advisory directors, as well as how those board members and
directors are chosen.

Beggs said he didn’t know which PEC leaders would attend the forums. He said members could come during the four-hour event to ask questions about the co-op as well as give input. Regular PEC employees will be on hand.

“The board will look at the input and take it into consideration when making decisions,” Beggs said.

At the forums, members won’t find a group meeting or a meeting agenda. Co-op staff members will man booths with display materials. Members can submit written comments and suggestions before leaving the forum, and these will be presented to the PEC board.

In a recent letter sent to members, PEC General Manager Bennie Fuelberg criticized media reports of the co-op’s board election process, board and management compensation and other activities.

“Over the last few months, you have probably read or seen a good bit of news coverage about Pedernales Electric Cooperative - most of it one-sided,” Fuelberg’s letter begins.

In the letter, the general manager invites members to attend the forums to “learn more about what PEC does and how we go about it, and give us your comments.”

Those comments could be the foundation for an upcoming change to the utility’s bylaws, according to George Byrd of the PEC Marble Falls office.

“The board is looking at changing the bylaws, possibly around Thanksgiving,” he told the Marble Falls City Council Monday.

Forums have already been held in Austin, Johnson City, Junction and Lampasas.

Along with the forum in Marble Falls, PEC will host similar events today in Georgetown at La Quinta Inn, 333 Interstate 35 North and in Kyle at the Hays Consolidated Performing Arts Center, 979 Kohler’s Crossing.

Two more forums are scheduled for Thursday. One is in Cedar Park at the Holiday Inn Express, 1605 E. Whitestone Blvd., and the other in Spring Branch at the Gathering Place (behind the restaurant), 17130 Texas 46 West.

All the forums will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Maps to the locations of the forums can be found on the PEC Web site at www.pec.coop under the “About PEC” menu item.

daniel@thepicayune.com

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PEC holding forums for input, questions