CONSUMER UPDATE

Winter 2001-2002 Consumer Newsletter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• GEUS Lowering Cost of Electricity
• Notes From The Corner Office
• GEUS Welcomes New Board Member
• GEUS Star Corner
• GEUS Cable & Internet Progress
• Lights.... Camera.... ACTION
  

GEUS Lowering Cost of Electricity

Beginning this month, GEUS customers will be paying less for each kilowatt hour of electricity they consume. "The cost of GEUS electricity has been reduced by an average of 14.5%", said Tom Darte, GEUS General Manager. "This brings Greenville consumer's electrical costs down below what they were a decade ago", Darte added. Residential consumers will save $11.50 per month or $138 a year for 1000 kWh of electricity.

Consumers from Texas and many other states have been paying more for electricity during the past couple of years due to extraordinarily high natural gas prices. A large percentage of electricity nation-wide is produced with natural gas.

A consumer's electrical cost is a combination of a base rate plus a pass-through fuel charge that will vary depending on the current cost to produce the electricity. "GEUS is very fortunate that a majority of Greenville's power comes from coal-fired generation", said Darte. The citizens of Greenville own a portion of the Gibbons Creek Generation Plant in Grimes County. Coal prices remained very stable during a period of time when natural gas prices more than quadrupled.

GEUS is able to remain competitive with other utilities throughout Texas because of its ability to produce its own electricity or buy competitively on the open market. "Each hour we make the decision to either generate our electricity or buy it on the open market depending on which is the most economical", said Darte.

Notes From The Corner Office

I am pleased to announce that the cost of our electricity will be reduced by 14.5%. The GEUS Board reduced electric rates in 1989 and 1993. This was done before discussions regarding electric deregulation. Our mission is to provide the lowest possible rates to our consumer owners.

You will hear more about electric deregulation in the coming months. Expensive ads will be placed in the media that will tell you how wonderful deregulation will be. However people know about the important issues of California-style price spikes and market manipulation. PG&E and ENRON have declared bankruptcy. Only a few of the new power providers in Texas are interested in providing residential service because they claim that the electric rates are too low for them to make a profit. Do you remember the popular commercial back in the 1980's, "Where's the beef?". When it comes to deregulation, I ask, "Where's the Savings?".

I was interviewed by the Dallas Morning News recently and they asked whether the lack of switching to new providers was caused by the lack of understanding of deregulation. I said that I thought that the citizens of our community understood it because we have been discussing it since before 1996. I told them that our consumers understand that as a municipal utility we can generate our own electricity or purchase it in the wholesale competitive market. GEUS passes on the lower cost of electricity to all of our consumer owners in a fair and equitable manner in order for everyone to benefit. Now, there's the savings.

Meet The Board! - GEUS Welcomes New Board Member

Bill Rapp is the newest member of the GEUS Board. Mr. Rapp retired from a career of various positions in engineering and management in 1998.

His dossier includes serving on:

• Various Boards for Kavanaugh UMC
  
• Member of Greenville Board of Adjustments
  
• GEUS Study Committee in 1987
  
• At Large Member of NTCOG Board
  
• Chairman Chamber Vision 2000 Committee
  
• Chairman Greenville Charter Revision Committee in 1991
  
• Past President TMPA
  
• Past President Noon Rotary Club
  
• Rotary District Governor Representative

Mr. Rapp enjoys fishing, golf, travel, woodworking and reading.

GEUS STAR CORNER

Greenville High School junior Michael Carter recently made a perfect score of 1600 on his Scholastic Aptitude Test. Michael, son Richard and Marlin Carter, accomplished what only one in 5000 students are able to do. Michael is an All District offensive tackle for the Greenville Lions and is considering a career in the field of medicine. Michael says he would like to go to Duke University.

Great Job, Michael!

Greenville Christian School again made its presence known in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Six-Man State Football Championships. The Eagles narrowly lost 60-56 to Austin Regents. The Eagles finished the season 10-2 and had 7 players named to the All-State team in the 2001 season. First team offense is center Joe Ballard, quarterback Craig Johnson, running back Vance Smith, and end Alex Boles. David Shaddox made first team defense. Safety Danny Jones and linebacker John Chambers were selected to second team defense.

Congratulations
to the many stars that made up this winning team!

GEUS Cable & Internet Progress

GEUS now has cable and Internet services available to approximately 4500 of the 10,000 homes and businesses in Greenville. "We have been very pleased with the response from our customers", stated Jimmy Dickey, GEUS Consumer Services Manager. The GEUS Board of Trustees recently authorized the hiring of additional installers to keep up with the demand for these new services. "We are most proud of the fact that after seven months of operation, we have yet to have a customer choose to switch back off of these services", Dickey added.

GEUS will continue to bring these services to new areas throughout the city on a weekly basis. The construction project is scheduled to be complete in May of 2002. Anyone wishing to find out when service will be available in their neighborhood may call 903-457-2800 .

Quiet on the set.... Lights.... Camera.... ACTION!

If you have been seeing our cameras around town, then you have a good idea what is going on at 6000 Joe Ramsey Blvd.

Even if you don't have our cable service YET, you can get excited about having a local TV studio covering hometown events. Why, you may even be a star. The GEUS 34 camera might have captured your good looks and aired them already.

If you attend GHS football or basketball games, go to school programs, Fourth of July or Christmas parades, Halloween on the Square, participate in civic groups or fund raisers, or are just out-and-about town, chances are --- you've been spotted!

"What is it with that guy and his camera?", one student commented. It didn't take long to realize that this was a TV camera and then they all wanted to know when to watch to see themselves on air. Fans and players got into the act as the GEUS 34 camera panned the field and the stands during this year's football games. Even the exciting Greenville Christian School playoff game was featured, thanks to a local supporter/photographer who covered the out-of-town thriller.

So, if you ever hear someone say that nothing happens in this little town.... just tell them to turn to GEUS Channel 34 and meet the people who live, work & play in Greenville, Texas.