As A Meter Of Fact: Recent Episodes
CoServ
A podcast from your friendly neighborhood electric and gas distribution company in North Texas. Bringing you stories, news, and innovation from CoServ. Hosted by Sara Ellis and Jason Cress.
Capital Credits are one of the biggest differences between electric cooperatives and other utilities. Instead of returning our annual margins (profits) to shareholders, as the for-profit utilities do, CoServ and other electric cooperatives allocate this money back to our Members in the form of Capital Credits.
In this episode of As A Meter of Fact, Darreck explains how Capital Credits work and provides an update on this year's retirement.
Today is National 811 Day, a friendly reminder to dial 811 before digging. It's also Mr. Diggs' birthday! Let the celebration of awareness begin!
Did you know that over the course of the year, CoServ's Energy Education Team will visit more than 100 campuses across our service districts to give safety presentations and demos?
With the school year just around the corner –and we do apologize to any children whose days we've just ruined with that revelation– it feels like the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on this incredible team. In this episode, Darreck sits down with Justin Porterfield, CoServ's Energy Education Specialist.
CoServ’s linemen are among the very best in the state, boasting exemplary skills and technical know-how to get the job done quickly and safely, no matter the condition, no matter the time of day.
With the 27th Texas Lineman’s Rodeo mere weeks away, As A Meter of Facts looks at the annual competition held in Seguin, TX, and lets you hear from members of the CoServ Rodeo team.
Things have been a bit different over the last couple of years –and for obvious reasons. CoServ, for example, used to hold one big Annual Meeting each year at the UNT Coliseum to give Members and Customers its business reports. Over the past two years, however, the Annual Meeting has been presented virtually at CoServ.com.
But what about the face-to-face engagement that made the old Annual Meeting format so unique? Well, we’ve been thinking about that for a while now, and we think you’re going to like what we’ve come up with.
Mr. Diggs became the mascot of CoServ Gas in 2013. In the nearly 10 years that have followed, his role has evolved to become the face of CoServ as a whole. Despite that, not much has been known about the
Natural gas prices have increased significantly over the past year and a variety of factors have played a role in that. CoServ does not markup the price of wholesale electricity but prices are rising, and Members are feeling the sting of it.
So, while we can’t prevent the cost of electricity from rising, we can provide you with some helpful tips and recommendations to minimize costs and ensure you get the most out of your daily usage.
You’ve probably heard about setting your thermostat to 78 degrees a time or two already, so we’ll go ahead and bypass that suggestion for this particular list. However, in keeping with the spirit of good ole’ ’78, we’ll call this list “seven tips in eight minutes to combat the dreaded summer energy bill."
You’ve probably seen retail electric providers advertising free nights and weekends on TV at some point, right? You’ve probably heard it on the radio as well. In fact, I’m guessing you’ve seen and heard these ads with some regularity in recent years. While it does sound like a great deal –I mean, who doesn’t love “free”?—there is a catch hidden within the fine print.
One of the best things about being part of an electric co-op is that you get a voice. As CoServ Members, you democratically elect a collective Board of Directors who represent you. While there are seven districts and Board Members, candidates are elected at large, meaning all Members as of the record date are eligible to vote for whoever, regardless of district number.
This year, Districts 2 and 7 are up for election, with voting opening May 12th.
That said, if you've been a CoServ Member for a while, you might have already known that. That's fine, but I’m willing to bet you didn’t know these 10 facts about the CoServ Annual Meeting!
The 5th CoServ blood drive is coming up on April 8 and the need for donors has never been greater. CoServ Charitable Foundation and Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Ebert joins Darreck to discuss the need for communities everywhere to band together to replenish the diminished blood reserves and save lives.
To book your appointment, go to RedCross.org and search CoServ using the "Find A Drive" tool. Alternatively, you can download the Blood Donor American Red Cross smartphone app, which will let you schedule and manage your appointments.
Schedule a Blood, Platelet or Plasma Donation | American Red Cross (redcrossblood.org)
We had a chance to sit down with Richard Boyer, The Colony city councilman and host of The Colony Spotlight podcast. Richard shares about what's happening around town and how it all got started. He also shares some hidden gems for residents and visitors including the best place to park at Nebraska Furniture Mart. We were also joined by Tracee Elrod, Community Support Manager for CoServ, who talks about our special relationship with The Colony. Then we play a game with our two guests. Fun!
This episode was recorded at Venture X - The Realm at Castle Hills, a super cool co-working space with a podcast studio. And it's on CoServ lines! Thanks Eric Nguyen for your audio engineering help with this episode.
On this episode of “Difference Makers,” we hear from Kathryn Flores, the founder of Mission Moms. If something Kathryn said today struck a chord with you and you want to get involved with Mission Moms, check out missionmoms.org.
Thanks again to everyone involved with Mission Moms. Y’all are doing some amazing work in Lantana and other neighborhoods nearby!
This is it, the final episode of our miniseries/tour around the CoServ service area. We have one last stop before we head home. Forney is a special city for us, not because it looks like it's on an island compared to the rest of the cities and towns we serve. It's because we love all the growth that is happening there — especially the growth among students at Forney ISD.
As A Meter Of Fact helps you get the most out of your life as an energy consumer in the CoServ community. You can send us your energy questions, feedback, episode ideas, money-saving tips by emailing podcast@coserv.com. Thanks for listening and we’ll talk to you soon, neighbor!
We thought it would be nice to spread some of the gratefulness that Memorial Day brings with you, our listeners. On today’s episode, we’ll hear from several folks, including a veteran who works for CoServ, a Gold Star family member, and a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.
Special thanks to Hershel "Woody" Williams, Conan Tearney, and Jennifer Hanson for guest-starring on this episode and thank you for your service to our country.
At some point, we’ve all returned home or awakened late for work to see a blinking 12:00 on our digital alarm clock. You may have to go through the house and reset every clock that doesn’t have a battery backup like the ones on your stove and microwave. Because some of our Members experienced these blinks recently, we wanted to talk about what blinks are and why they happen. To help us with that, we brought in one of our CoServ colleagues, Operations Manager Cody Coulter.
www.coserv.com/Podcast
Murphy is surrounded by some big DFW towns but that almost keeps the magic of living there a secret. This episode, Sara and Jason talk with Elizabeth Abraham, Murphy city councilwoman and a CoServ Gas customer.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email it to podcast@coserv.com. All you have to do is get out your smartphone, open the voice memo app, and hit record. Say your name, what town you live in, and then ask your question. Attach that file to an email and send it to podcast@coserv.com.
We answer a question from a Member who noticed a spike in one of their winter bills. We talk with Josh Sterling, Energy Efficiency Supervisor at CoServ, who gives some possible reasons for the increase and shares some valuable tips for saving energy and money in the colder months. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, this episode is for you! Grab your favorite blanket, snuggle up with some earbuds and listen in!
Setup a free energy assessment by emailing contact@coserv.com.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show or you want to share something you do that saves energy at home, we’d love to hear about it! You can email us at podcast@coserv.com. All you have to do is get out your smartphone, open the voice memo app, and hit record. Say your name, what town you live in, and then ask your question or share your tip. Attach that file to an email and send it to podcast@coserv.com. We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness, of which 700,000 are unaccompanied minors, meaning they are without a family or not accompanied by a parent or guardian. CoServ Difference Maker Nesa Grider and her organization Journey to Dream equip, empower, and embrace teens to overcome adversity and live purposeful lives.
Thanks again to CoServ Members, Customers and Employees who contribute to the CoServ Charitable Foundation through Operation Roundup. Through your generosity, you support nonprofits like Journey to Dream and transform the lives of teens facing poverty and homelessness in Denton County.
Visit coserv.com/CCF to learn more about Operation Roundup. And visit journeytodream.com to learn more about Michelle and Grace Like Rain.
podcast@coserv.com
We know in the North episode we said we were going to interview folks from the eastern side of our territory (like Murphy or something) but we’re still working on that episode. We changed directions for this episode — literally and metaphorically. A slight change of directions in our scenic tour around the CoServ area, but still a fantastic conversation with two residents in the western side of the area.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email it to podcast@coserv.com. All you have to do is get out your smartphone, open the voice memo app, and hit record. Say your name, what town you live in, and then ask your question. Attach that file to an email and send it to podcast@coserv.com.
This episode spotlights a local Difference Maker helping transform the lives of people facing homelessness in Denton County.
Thanks again to CoServ Members, Customers and Employees who contribute to the CoServ Charitable Foundation through Operation Roundup. Through your generosity, you are transforming the lives of individuals and families facing homelessness and poverty.
Visit coserv.com/CCF to learn more about Operation Roundup. And visit glrtx.org to learn more about Michelle and Grace Like Rain.
Send us a message to say “hello!” podcast@coserv.com.
The CoServ service territory is bigger than you might imagine. Join us as we take a little trip around the area to meet new friends!
First stop: Era, Texas.
Happy holidays from the CoServ family! Sara and Jason look back at 2020 and share a few highlights from a year we’ll never forget. After listening, check out the year in photos.
Send us a question or a message to say “hello” or “merry Christmas” — we’d love to hear from you!
podcast@coserv.com.
Thanks for listening to As A Meter Of Fact. Take care of yourself this season and we’ll see you again in 2021!
Back in the 1930s when CoServ first started, overhead power lines were a sign of progress. As wooden poles with long electric cables popped up on the side of the road, people knew that the times were a’changin’.
Fast forward to the 2020s, it seems like it’s easy to look at those lines and think “Ugh, what an eye sore.” Isn’t that crazy? It has only been 90 years!
CoServ’s Vision is to implement innovative ideas that fulfill the needs of those we serve. We actively look for new technology that can provide safer, more reliable energy. New technology such as underground power lines. But as we’ll learn today, the overhead vs. underground lines discussion is a bit more “intricate” than you might expect.
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If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email us at podcast@coserv.com. We’d love to hear from you!
If you haven’t already, tell your friends about As A Meter Of Fact. It just might change their life. And leave a review so that others can also enjoy the show!
One of the seven principles CoServ operates by is “Cooperation Among Cooperatives.” We recently experienced a textbook example of this after Hurricane Sally struck the Gulf Coast in September. Baldwin EMC, an electric co-op in southern Alabama, sent out a request for assistance to restore power to thousands of people after the storm. CoServ sent two crews and equipment to assist.
For this episode of As A Meter Of Fact, we were joined by Justin Brown, a CoServ Lineman who was part of the team that helped out in Alabama.
Check out this news article about our crews in Alabama and this Facebook post with pictures of the damage.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email us at podcast@coserv.com. We’d love to hear from you!
In this episode, Jason talks with a real scammer who was targeting customers by impersonating their electric company. Sara and Jason then talk with their colleague Brianna about other recent CoServ scams, ways to fight them, and red flags to look for.
Visit CoServ.com/SmartHub to stay on top of your account. It takes less time to check than it does to fall for a scam.
We all go through seasons when we ask the basic questions of life: Who are we? Where did we come from? What is a kilowatt hour?
All those answers and more in this Q&R episode of As A Meter Of Fact!
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email it to podcast@coserv.com. We’d love to hear from you!
If you want to leave a review about your experience as a CoServ Member or read some of the reviews we reference in this episode, find us on Google here: https://g.page/coserv-energy?gm.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer here on the show, send it to podcast@coserv.com. We’d love to hear from you!
And speaking of reviews, if you’ve loved our show so far, would you be willing to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts?
If you suspect a gas leak:
- Immediately evacuate everyone from the area, moving upwind of the product release. Warn others to stay away.
- After everyone is safely away, call 911 and immediately notify CoServ Gas at (844) 330-0763.
- Emergency personnel will let you know when it’s safe to return.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email it to podcast@coserv.com. We’d love to hear from you!
August 11 is National Safe Digging Day, a good reminder to call 811 before you dig in your yard. Sara and Jason talk about the nationwide service, its benefits, how it works, and they also introduce CoServ Gas. Also....Mr. Diggs!
There is a lot of uncertainty this summer, but one thing we can count on is the Texas heat. This episode we go over some well-known and little-known tips to beat the heat and save money on your summer energy bills. We also talk with CoServ Director of Energy Services Gary Franzen to learn about the Texas grid and unlikely-but-fascinating worst case scenarios for electric distribution during the hottest days. Grab your earbuds, your iced tea, and your favorite fan and tune in for a fun episode!
CoServ Electric holds an Annual Meeting each year to review company highlights and conduct company business that includes announcing the voting results of CoServ’s Board of Directors election. In most years, we also have prizes, giveaways, free food, and fellowship! In 2020, the meeting will be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information and any updates about this year’s Meeting, visit CoServ.com/AnnualMeeting. We hope to see you all online at 3 P.M. on July 16th!
If you’re a Member and you need a replacement ballot or if you have questions about your ballot or how to vote, please contact Survey and Ballot Systems at (866) 909-3549.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show, email us at podcast@coserv.com. We’d love to hear from you!
This episode we take a quick dive into the world of Capital Credits: a special cooperative perk that reflects your return of investment into CoServ Electric.
This episode, we get a little science-y and answer a listener's question: "How do squirrels walk on power lines and not get zapped?" It's a great question and our answer may or may not involve hanging out of a helicopter.
Things are already accelerating with our new community partner: Texas Motor Speedway. From 34 high school graduations with over 14,000 students to a special Indycar race on June 6, we're excited to join TMS to better serve our CoServ community!
Our final episode in the miniseries about local sports teams and the pandemic. This week, we talk with the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Hear what's happening in the baseball world!
This episode, we talk with FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez. He shares about how the team is doing, his hopes for when the FC Dallas season can safely kick off, and how much fun he has had at home coaching his kids. We did not have an opportunity to hear his kids' share if they enjoy their dad's coaching of them, but we got the sense that they do!
Many of us are missing sports, waiting for our favorite players and teams to take the field again. We had a chance to interview Ryan Hollingshead from FC Dallas. He shared about how he and his family are doing, how the team is doing, and how ready he is to get back onto the soccer field and play.
In this episode, we answer a question about how to help your local linemen during an outage and other situations. Some simple ideas that really make a difference by helping linemen restore power faster, ultimately helping you!
Linemen are unsung community servants that humbly and diligently keep our community powered. In this episode, we hear stories from several CoServ linemen and learn what's it like to have an "office" 45 feet in the air.
Check out a picture of all our linemen at CoServ.com/news.
This episode is part of the second segment of our show where we answer listener's questions. Today we answer some of the common questions we've been getting about what CoServ is up to during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have a question for us, we'd love to hear from you! Email podcast@coserv.com.
Something as simple as a chicken snake slithering up substation equipment can cause an electrical short that knocks out power for thousands of CoServ Electric Members. CoServ has new equipment that is designed to deter animals from getting near electrical equipment.
Check out pictures of the new fence at CoServ.com/news.
We had a lot of ideas for the name of this show, but one stood out from the rest. This audio recording may or may not have been the actual discussion about the pod's name.
We have an exciting announcement: we have a new show coming to a podcast player near you! As A Meter Of Fact covers local stories, new technology, and community happenings in our service area. The show will keep you up-to-date on what's happening with your friendly neighborhood electric and gas distribution company. We think you'll have fun along the way.
Subscribe today on your favorite podcast app or visit CoServ.com/Podcast. Our first episode comes out next week!