National cooperative month

Being a cooperative member has its advantages

It's National Cooperative Month – a time to celebrate you, the members of the co-op!

A group of neighbors banded together and organized Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative more than 83 years ago. They worked together for the benefit of the whole community, and the newly established electric lines helped power economic opportunity in our community.

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Your co-op, focused on you

Ford Lightning

Haven’t spotted any of the highly anticipated Ford Lightning electric trucks on the roads? That’s because they’re very hard to get.

Ford unveiled the all-electric F-150 in May 2021 and began production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Mich., in April 2021. A year later, the vehicle officially launched and the first deliveries began arriving at Ford dealerships in May 2022.

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Looking for a Ford Lightning?

Tesla backup switch

The Tesla backup switch — designed to simplify installation of the company’s Powerwall solar battery storage system — was tested by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative in 2021.

Bluebonnet reviewed the device for use in conjunction with Bluebonnet meters. It switches automatically between using stored renewable electricity and Bluebonnet-distributed electricity. Bluebonnet approved the backup switch for use on its system last year.

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Bluebonnet among nation’s first utilities to test Tesla battery device

Charging EV at home

That humming sound you hear might be the electric vehicle market buzzing all around Central Texas. Many automakers have added at least one all-electric vehicle model to their fleets and have plans to sell more electric vehicles than gasoline-powered ones by 2040.

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Take smart steps to charge your electric vehicle at home

Storing sunshine

Going solar or already gone? The next hot sellers in Central Texas homes are battery storage systems, which can conserve that power for later use. 

By Alyssa Dussetschleger

It's been a long time coming, but home battery storage of solar-generated power has started showing up on the walls and garages of homes in the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative service area.

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Storing sunshine

Viviann and her mother, Kelsey Snow

Despite a year of surgery, treatment and tests, the 9-year-old from Rosanky keeps bouncing back

By Melissa Segrest

It's been a long year for 9-year-old Viviann Snow and her mother, Kelsey Snow.

There have been exhilarating ups and depressing downs, a successful surgery and return to Smithville Elementary School, but also medical complications — two serious infections and a second bout with COVID-19. There were seemingly unending days and nights in hospitals, and lots of waiting.

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Vivi's journey

Director Bracewell earns credential from NRECA

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board member Bryan Bracewell, center, earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which represents more than 900 of the nation’s electric cooperatives.

Bracewell has served as a Bluebonnet director from District 3, Bastrop County, since 2018. To earn this certification, Bracewell completed dozens of hours of classes on topics ranging from board governance to cooperative finances.

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Director Bracewell earns credential from NRECA