CONSUMER UPDATE

October 2006 Consumer Newsletter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• Energizing the Community
• Equal Payment Plan
• GM NOTES
• GEUS 34
• GREENVILLE LIONS FOOTBALL!
• You Can Afford to Advertise on Cable
• Texas Deregulation
• Increasing Needs for Internet
• Channel Changes
• GEUS Board Members Past & Presents
• GEUS Welcomes New Board of Trustees Member Howard Winans 
• Wi-Fi

Energizing the Community

When you look at the logo on the GEUS trucks, uniforms, letterhead and business cards, you will see the phrase “Energizing the Community.”  It is doubtful that when you see this that you would consider the history of Texas’first municipally-owned electric company.  So, exactly how long has GEUS been energizing the community and where is it headed for the future.

The roots of GEUS go back 115 years when the citizens of Greenville made a decision to build a small power plant.  The plant began operation on March 4, 1891.  The plant had enough power to supply 1000 homes and 40 street lights.  The plant only ran at night unless special arrangements were made.  At this time, Greenville became the first city in Texas to own its own power plant.

Today there are 75 Texas cities that own their own electric facilities and Greenville is still one of them.  Currently, GEUS supplies electricity to approximately 13,000 customers through partial ownership of a coal-fired generation plant near Bryan, Texas and a local natural gas-fired plant. 

GEUS also has embraced the edge of technology by once again being the first municipally owned utility to provide high-speed Internet and cable TV in Texas.  As time continues to pass by, GEUS prepares to meet the needs of our growing city.  The citizens of Greenville can rely on GEUS to "Energize the Community",  as we have been doing for 115 years!

Equal Payment Plan

The hot summer temperatures may be behind us but, it is time to start planning for the heat that next summer is sure to bring.  GEUS can offer a solution to help balance the spike in the summer budget.  The equal payment plan will allow you to already know what your electric portion of your utility bill will be eleven months of the year.

The utility billing office projects your usage for the next twelve months based on the past electric usage at your present address.  Using this projected usage and the current rate schedule, the billing office calculates you annual bill. This calculated amount is used to establish eleven equal payments which will become your monthly payments for the next eleven months.  Month twelve is the "settle up"month or the adjustment month.  If the yearly usage was less than projected, then the twelfth month would have a credit.  If you have used more, then you will owe extra that settle up month.

The equal payment plan will be recalculated every twelve months.  The payment amount will increase or decrease based on the past consumption.  The plan can be started anytime from September through April. 

Another type of payment program offered at GEUS is a bank draft payment.  Residences on the bank draft program still receive the payment notice each month.  The notice is mailed at the regular time each month and will be drafted on the due date.  For more information or to sign up for either one of these services, please call  903.457.2800.

GM Notes

This was a record setting summer for GEUS.    On August 16th, electrical demand reached 113 MW, 4.6 % greater than last year's peak demand of 108 MW.  

What this means, in addition to the fact that it was very hot, is that Greenville is growing.  Growth is good for GEUS.  It provides an opportunity to spread fixed costs across more kilowatt-hours, which tends to reduce the average cost for all customers.  And, based on information we have received recently, prospects for additional growth are very promising.

While we welcome growth, it does present challenges for the organization.  In preparing the 2007 Budget and 5-Year Capital Improvements Plan, GEUS'staff identified several significant capital projects that will be required over the next few years to allow the system to keep up with growth.  Fortunately, GEUS is in a strong position financially and the necessary capital expenditures can be funded without the need for a rate increase in 2007.  GEUS continues to offer rates that are 19% to 34% below competitive rates in neighboring areas.

We are also taking a close look at our power supply needs going forward.  While we have adequate resources to serve our load for the next few years, continued load growth may require additional resources.  In addition, the ERCOT market rules are changing and a Nodal market will be implemented in 2009.   In order to prepare the organization for this major shift in market rules, GEUS recently hired Dan Bailey as Power Supply Manager.   Mr. Bailey will focus on managing our existing power supply resources as efficiently as possible, taking advantage of market power when cost effective, and preparing GEUS for Nodal market operation.  It's an important job that Mr. Bailey is well qualified to take on. 

So, it is a very exciting time for GEUS.  We hope that you have a wonderful fall and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you.

GEUS 34

Have you checked the program guide lately?  We've been telling you about some changes we are making on our local channels and if you haven't noticed on the guide, we finally answered the question asked over and over again, "How can we tell when we are going to be on TV?  Well, go ahead and check it out.  Go to channel 19 if you don't have a digital receiver and see that it doesn't just say "local channel"anymore. 

There's really a show listed instead.  If you have a digital receiver, just go to 34 on the guide and see what time you can watch Let's Get Cookin', Greenville Crime Time, Dimmed Wits...
 
AND,  especially don't miss...

GREENVILLE LIONS FOOTBALL!

Everyone's excited about this year's Greenville Lions Football season.  Be sure to support the Lions and go to the game... but don't miss the replay every Tuesdays at 7:00 PM..  Set your DVR up to record if you just have to go somewhere.  You could also buy a DVD copy from the Lions Booster Club and save it forever.

Attention Business Owners....   Managers....

Marketing Specialists and everyone else who wants and needs to advertise!

If you are someone who thinks you can’t afford to advertise on cable, CHECK US OUT!

GEUS Cable Advertising has something for every business, every budget.

You can place ads for as little as $12.50.
That’s right - $12.50 runs your classified ad on channel 19 for two weeks.  Place a page ad on channel 3 for $25/week or $75/month.

AND

Do you know you can be on
          Monday Night Football for $13.30?

Have we got your Attention?

Call our Sales Department today and find out how we can help you advertise your business.  We have something for everyone!

To find out more, call 903.457.2841

Texas Deregulation

If we look back a few years at the Texas electric industry, we will see debates over whether the industry should be deregulated or remain just as it had been over the past decades.  In the past, the public utilities commission assigned boundaries for electric providers and this was the only option for service.  Some Texans thought that if electric suppliers were allowed to provide service in all areas, the competition would cause lower rates.  Other Texans were skeptical that we may encounter something similar to California in which deregulation caused an increase in rates.

The Texas legislature decided it would deregulate the investor owned utilities such as TXU and Reliant.  The municipally owned (GEUS) and Cooperatives were allowed to opt into the competitive market or remain out.  To date, no Municipals or Cooperatives have opted in to the competitive market.

So, how does GEUS compare now that deregulation has taken place?  The website www.powertochoose.org is sponsored by the Public Utilities Commission.  The site shows a 1,000 kWh to be $150 with TXU and $160 with Reliant.  That same power through GEUS would only cost $110.  According to the site the cheapest provider is First Choice Power at $133 for the 1,000 kWh.  Even the lowest provider is $23 or 12% higher than GEUS.

Increasing Needs for Internet

Greenville has seen many changes since GEUS started offering high-speed Internet services.  Housing developments like The Cedars and Jackson’s Run have brought many new families to Greenville.  As a result of this growth, GISD has built two new elementary schools.  Our community is also enjoying several new restaurants and retail establishments.  The increases of subscribers and numbers of new commercial accounts have added to the demands for GEUS high-speed Internet.

These places of business are now relying on it for every day transactions.  Businesses use it to do everything from processing credit cards to establishing a wireless network for their patrons.  With all of these new uses, our customers now have a strong interest in products like a direct fiber optic line.  This technology enables businesses to transfer huge files of information at fast speeds.  In just the past few years businesses have gone from thinking dial-up Internet was sufficient, to understanding that they need fast and reliable service.

With the elevation of Internet business, many places now need an off site place to store their back up servers.   Co-Location gives businesses the option of setting up the server at the GEUS facility to utilize the climate controlled environment and specially designed fire suppression system.  This gives the business more security than the one server at its location.

With so many changes being made around Greenville, it’s nice to know a few things remain the same.  You see, GEUS is committed to offering citizens high-speed Internet services at a great price.  Whether it’s residential or commercial Internet, the price has remained the same since Internet became available.

Channel Changes

Sept 15th
WB & UPN
ceases operation and becomes
MyNetworkTV and CW

Sept 25th
OLN becomes VERSUS
(name change only)

Other Notes

October 29th
Daylight Savings Time Ends

GEUS Board Meets
2nd and 4th
Thursdays of each month

GEUS Board Members - Past & Present

Present Board Members

• Sue Ann Harting - Chairman
• Randy Hall - Vice Chairman
• Don Bolin - Secretary
• James W. Adams
• Howard Winans

Past Chairmen

GEUS Welcomes New Board of Trustees Member Howard Winans 

Mr. Winans is Vice President of American National Bank-Greenville and has been involved in Greenville banking for over 25 years.

Wi-Fi

GEUS high-speed Internet has been in Greenville five years. We are pleased to say that the price has not changed but, its uses have.  One new use is wireless network connections.  Some businesses are installing wireless routers to the Internet service.  This router will allow patrons with a laptop and network card to access the Internet while at their business.  By doing so, it will allow your time with them to be more productive.

Businesses with high-speed Internet access:

Oak Creek Country Club        TCBY     Grace Community Fellowship      La Quinta
Holiday Inn Express         American Inn       Super 8 Motel         Econo Lodge

More Variety & More Video on GEUS Cable TV