Nueces Electric Cooperative709 E Main Ave, Robstown, Texas, United States
Since Jan, 2017
Nueces Electric Cooperative is the only deregulated Co-op in Texas, and one of only a handful in the U.S.
What is deregulation
January 2002, Senate Bill 7 went into effect to deregulate Texas. Deregulation allows competitive energy retailers the opportunity to sell power on power lines throughout the state. While consumers can not choose who distributes their power, they can choose who they purchase their electricity from.
Deregulation was mainly aimed at Investor Owned Utilities (IOU’s) such as AEP/CPL, Oncor, and CenterPoint. Co-op’s and municipal systems were exempt from deregulation.
Why did the Co-op embrace deregulation
To make a long story short, the deregulation process came about at the same time NEC and AEP were making a territory exchange. The transaction could not be completed unless NEC agreed to deregulate. As the Co-op is democratically controlled by our members, it was put to a vote at the 2000 Annual Meeting and the membership overwhelmingly voted it in.
What does it mean to our members
This means that while NEC maintains your power lines and your meters, you must select a power provider from the approved list of providers who have chosen to test onto the NEC power lines.
A list of providers can be found on this website, in the center of the monthly Texas Co-op Power Magazine, or can be obtained at any of the four NEC offices.
Industry Acronyms:
Like any good industry, the Co-op industry has a variety of acronyms. You might see any of them pop up in local, national or co-op related news stories.
Investor Owned Utility (IOU)
A business organization, providing a product or service regarded as a utility (often termed a public utility regardless of ownership), and managed as private enterprise rather than a function of government or a utility cooperative. In Texas, these are AEP, Oncor, CenterPoint, Texas NEw Mexico Power, and Sharyland Utilities.
Municipal Utility (MUD)
When a city government is in charge of providing utility-related services such as water, sewage, and drainage services. Individuals living in a municipal utility district will be assessed a tax based on the value of their property and the current tax. Around NEC, some well known MUD's are City of Robstown, Brownsville, San Antonio, and Austin.
National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA)
The organization that represents the interests of over 900 electric co-ops in the U.S. to various legislatures. Independent electric utilities are not-for-profit and are owned by their members. The Association, which was founded in 1942, unites the country’s generation, transmission and distribution cooperatives which are found in 47 states and serve over 40 million people. It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC)
Formed in 1944 by NEC and nine other Co-ops to generate our power, today serves eight distribution cooperatives by generating power using seven (7) power plants.
Texas Electric Cooperative (TEC)
Formed in 1941, TEC assists Texas’ 64 distribution and 11 generation and transmission cooperatives with legislation, employee trainings and conferences, a state magazine, and warehouse services.
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
Is basically the “air traffic controller” of electricity throughout the state. They control the Texas electrical grid and make sure it stays balanced.
The Public Utility Commission (PUC)
The Public Utility Commission of Texas is a state agency that regulates the state’s electric and telecommunication utilities, implements respective legislation, and offers customer assistance.
How Electricity Works
You know electricity gets to your home, because when you flip the switch your lights come on. But you may not understand how. The process is quite complex yet a very systematic step process.
With the addition of renewable energy into the modern electric grid, the landscape of electric generation, transmission and distribution is on the brink of change. Your electric cooperative continues to monitor changes in technology and continuously adapts our process to ensure we are bringing every member reliable, cost efficient, electric service.
- Power plant – Electricity starts here, produced by spinning generators that are driven by water, a diesel engine, or a natural gas or steam turbine. Steam is made by burning coal, oil or natural gas or by a nuclear reactor. When needed, extra power is brought into an electric system from plants outside the area. NEC is fortunate to own our power plant, or generation resources. STEC (South Texas Electric Cooperative)(link is external) provides electricity to seven south Texas distribution cooperatives. STEC uses a variety of generating sources including: coal, hydro, natural gas, and wind.
- Power grid – Electricity is carried over a network, or "grid," that connects power plants to a substation and from there to distribution lines that take the power to homes or businesses. The Texas power grid system is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT(link is external), All electricity generated in Texas goes to the Texas grid no matter where, or how, it was generated.
- Transmission substation – These facilities look like giant erector sets connected to wires from the power plant. Here large transformers increase voltage from thousands to hundreds of thousands of volts so the power can be sent over long distances.
- Distribution Substation – You see them around towns and cities. They are those small fenced-in areas that have electric lines coming in and going out. Inside these fenced-in areas are transformers that reduce voltage to a lower level so the power can be sent out on distribution lines to the surrounding community.
- Distribution system – Includes main or primary lines and lower voltage or secondary lines that deliver electricity through overhead or underground wires to homes and businesses. You see these lines every day on poles alongside roads and streets. NEC delivers power to members-owners through a vast network of 3,200 overhead and underground power lines.
- Service connection – That’s the line that connects to the meter on the side of homes and businesses. The meter is used to determine how many kilowatt-hours are used by each customer.
NEC Member Benefits
As a member of Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) you are an owner of YOUR Cooperative! NEC isn’t like other utilities where you are “just another customer.” At NEC, as a member-owner-consumer, we work for and we’re accountable to you. We operate on a not-for-profit basis so we aren’t trying to make a large profit to give to stockholders who may or may not receive our services. We continually look out for the best interests of all of our members and we work every day to manage our costs so your electric bills stay fair and reasonable. We operate under the guidelines of the Seven Cooperative Principles, and our values reflect our accountability, and our commitment to reliability, innovation, and our members’ communities. Other benefits of membership in NEC are…
Capital Credits- profits or margins returned to member- consumers
Texas Co-op Power Magazine- monthly publication include electric safety tips, energy efficiency tips, important co-op happenings, and member features.
Annual Membership Meeting-you Are An owner of NEC so be sure to attend this meeting each year.
Automatic Bank Draft- a convenient bill payment option
Operation Round-Up- volunteer to round-up your bill to the next dollar to help HALO-Flight Air Ambulance Service
Level Billing - let us help you better budget for your electric bills
Security/Floodlighting
Energy Audits/High Bill Consultations
NEC Education Fund Scholarships - for high school seniors
Youth Tour Essay Contest - for high school juniors
| Company Name | Nueces Electric Cooperative |
| Business Category | Electric Power |
| Address | 709 E Main Ave Robstown Texas United States ZIP: 78380 |
| President | Brian Menking |
| Year Established | 1938 |
| Employees | 200 |
| Memberships | NA |
| Hours of Operation | Monday-Friday: 8AM–5PM |
- Electricity Transmission