Jesse (Buddy) Bankhead
General Manager
RUSK COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER:
Theft involving electricity and related materials is a problem all electric utilities face, and it's a problem for electricity customers, too. Because Rusk County Electric Cooperative is member-owned, electricity theft could end up costing you money. Compensating for electricity theft drives up prices for everyone involved.
Theft of electricity also puts your personal safety at risk. Tampering with an electric meter can make it unsafe and unstable. When people steal electricity, they put themselves, their neighbors, family and pets at risk for electric shocks, power surges, sparks and fire from exposed voltage. Stealing electricity-related materials can also pose a significant risk to the culprit, resulting in injury or even death from exposure to live electricity.
Electricity theft isn't isolated to rural areas or big cities. It's a problem utilities encounter from agricultural operations to housing complexes to business offices from coast to coast. Although electricity can be easily acquired through a utility, some people are still willing to risk physical damage or loss of life just for the sake of some free kilowatt-hours. Others may not realize the serious legal and potential helath problems. Stealing electricity is illegal under Texas law and violates electrical codes.
Keeping power safe and affordable is a priority of Rusk County Electric Cooperative. That is why we routinely inspect cooperative meters and equipment to ensure we're doing our best to protect you from the risks of electricity theft. We take a proactive approach to this serious problem, reducing theft and its related cost.
You can also play a role in this process by immediately notifying us if you suspect someone is gaining access to our power supply without paying their fair share of the costs or by tampering with equipment. If you have information related to electricity or materials theft, please call us at 903-657-4571. Rest assured, we'll keep your name anonymous. Because you share in the ownership of Rusk County Electric Cooperative, when people steal from the cooperative, they're stealing from you, too!
