Fayette Electric Cooperative Highlights Reliability, Community Investment and Member Engagement at Annual Meeting

More than 500 people attended Fayette Electric Cooperative’s Annual Membership Meeting on July 15 at the KC Community Center in La Grange, demonstrating the strong connection between the cooperative and the communities it serves. A total of 372 registered members participated in the business meeting, board election, and community-focused presentations.

The annual meeting provided an opportunity for members and community residents to learn about the cooperative’s progress, ongoing investments, and commitment to reliable electric service across its seven-county service area. Before the meeting, attendees visited with employees, played games, and enjoyed refreshments provided by local Fayette County 4-H clubs.

In a video presentation shown during the meeting, Fayette Electric Cooperative leadership highlighted accomplishments and challenges from the past year while outlining priorities for the future. Through the presentation, General Manager and CEO Doug Lambert emphasized the cooperative’s focus on long-term financial stability, operational excellence and strengthening the organization to serve future generations.

“Over the past year, our focus has been clear and deliberate: protect the long-term strength of your cooperative, improve our financial position and continue investing in the reliability of the system you depend on every day,” Lambert said.

The video presentation also included updates on strategic investments and financial planning initiatives aimed at supporting growth while maintaining affordability and service reliability. Accounting and Finance Manager and CFO James Kielty discussed Fayette EC’s comprehensive financial recovery and planning strategy, which includes a cost-of-service study, detailed rate analysis, and tighter controls on operating expenses.

Reliability remained a major focus of the presentation. Assistant General Manager and COO Brandon Pieper reviewed the challenges posed by January’s ice storm, which caused power outages primarily due to ice-laden trees and limbs contacting power lines. He also highlighted the cooperative’s ongoing vegetation management efforts and the use of advanced technology through the AI Dash project, which helps identify high-risk areas, prioritize trimming activities, and improve system reliability. Additionally, Pieper noted that Fayette EC maintains more than 3,000 miles of overhead power lines and has moved to a five-year right-of-way clearing cycle to help reduce wildfire risk and strengthen the electric system.

The cooperative also recognized local students and highlighted its commitment to youth development and education. Scholarship recipients were introduced, and Sophie Vinklarek, a graduate of Smithville High School, was selected to receive the cooperative’s Luck of the Draw Scholarship.

Attendees also heard from two local students who participated in the Government-in-Action Youth Tour, an educational leadership experience in Washington, D.C. Fayette EC sponsored Gretchen Sacks of Round Top-Carmine High School and Laney Bludau of Hallettsville High School. The students shared how the trip strengthened their understanding of history, leadership, and public service.

The cooperative also introduced Power of Change, a new charitable giving program that allows members to round up their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar. The collected funds will support community needs and assist residents throughout the cooperative’s service territory. The program will launch in January.

Business conducted during the meeting included the reelection of incumbent directors Clayton Wessels (District 6) and David A. Stancik (District 7), who were reelected by acclamation after running unopposed.

The evening concluded with the distribution of 71 door prizes, including bill credits, gift cards, and big-screen televisions, continuing a long-standing annual meeting tradition enjoyed by members.

Fayette Electric Cooperative provides safe, reliable electric service to more than 10,700 members across seven counties in Central Texas and remains committed to improving quality of life through service, innovation, and community involvement.