Bluebonnet highlights strengths and celebrates service to members and communities during the 2026 Annual Meeting
Three incumbent directors re-elected to the cooperative’s Board
Nearly 600 Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative members and guests filled The Silos on 77 event center in Giddings on Tuesday, May 12, for the co-op’s 86th Annual Meeting. Attendees enjoyed live music, received updates on the cooperative’s performance in 2025 and early 2026, re-elected three incumbent directors and took home door prizes donated by Bluebonnet’s vendors.
Board Chairman Ben Flencher opened the business session by thanking Bluebonnet’s members and guests for their continued trust and support. He emphasized that the cooperative’s strength is rooted in its commitment to serve its members’ communities, where directors live and work alongside the businesses and families they represent.
“Thanks to our members for taking the time to participate in their cooperative’s annual meeting in person or by proxy,” said Ben Flencher, Bluebonnet’s board chairman. “And thanks for the trust and faith our members put in my fellow directors. It’s a great honor and privilege for us to serve our members, who make all the great things we do possible.”
Flencher congratulated the three incumbent directors who were re-elected during the annual meeting: Roderick Emanuel, District 3, Bastrop County, who serves as Board Vice Chairman; Russell Jurk, District 4, Lee, Milam and Williamson counties; and Byron Balke, District 6, Austin, Colorado and Fayette counties, who serves as Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.
This year nearly 6,000 members participated in the election by proxy or in person.
General Manager Matt Bentke’s presentation focused on the cooperative’s financial strength and success, continued growth, inspection and maintenance programs, the resiliency and reliability of Bluebonnet’s electric grid, and commitment to its members and communities.
“Bluebonnet has had a great year with continued historic growth and outstanding financial performance,” Bentke said. “We strive every day to provide the best service and make our members proud of their co-op. “One of the things that we are most proud of is being wonderfully positioned to provide our members with one of the lowest electric rates in the state. We are absolutely focused on what this rate means to you, day in and day out. We do everything we can to maintain it and support our members.”
In addition to benefiting from one of the lowest electric rates in Texas, Bluebonnet’s members will receive $11.9 million in capital credits in 2026, an increase of $778,000 over the previous year. Current members will see a credit on their May electric bill for their share, while former members still owed capital credits will receive a check by mail. During the past 10 years, Bluebonnet has returned $78.59 million to members in capital credits.
“Our successful financial management and the extraordinary growth in Bluebonnet’s service area have enabled us to return record amounts in capital credits to our members during the past several years,” Bentke said. “These credits, combined with some of the lowest electric rates in the state provide true value and directly benefit Bluebonnet’s member-owners.”
Annual Meeting FAQs
Bluebonnet members can register from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Annual Meeting, held at The Silos on 77, 1031 County Road 223, Giddings. Upon arrival, Bluebonnet member service representatives will assist you with registration and enter you into a drawing for a door prize. To register, your name must appear on your Bluebonnet account. You can verify or add your name by calling a member service representative at 800-842-7708 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Three seats on Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors are up for election this year. There is one candidate for the District 3 seat, Bastrop County: Roderick Emanuel (incumbent). There is one candidate for the District 4 seat, Lee, Milam and Williamson counties: Russell Jurk (incumbent). There is one candidate for the District 6 seat, Austin, Colorado and Fayette counties: Byron Balke (incumbent).
The Proxy Committee is composed of all Bluebonnet Board members whose terms are not currently up for election. This year’s Proxy Committee members are Ben Flencher, Robert Mikeska, Milton Shaw, Shana Whiteley, Debbi Goertz and Bryan Bracewell.
Completed proxy forms must be dropped off at any of Bluebonnet’s five member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart or Manor, or postmarked by the deadline and mailed to:
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative
c/o Survey and Ballot Systems
P.O. Box 46430
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-9751
If you need another proxy form, pick one up at any of the member service centers.
No, the proxy is valid only for the meeting specified on the proxy form.
Member service representatives will be available to help members with their cooperative business and answer any questions members may have.
Survey & Ballot Systems is a third-party, independent vendor that specializes in administering corporate elections nationwide. It has the experience to efficiently and accurately tally proxies and votes while protecting members’ confidential account information.
Call a member service representative at 800-842-7708 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email annualmeeting@bluebonnet.coop.