The Pedernales Electric Cooperative provides electricity to more than 250,000 Central Texas customers including Cedar Park and Leander residents. Its seven districts cover 8,100 square miles spanning from Lampasas to Bulverde. The PEC also covers Marble Falls and Johnson City, where its headquarters is located.

This spring PEC members can vote for two candidates, each of whom represents PEC district residents during three-year terms on the PEC board of directors. The board of directors approves changes in PEC rates and rules and monitors PEC's monthly financial statements and annual audits.

Director candidates are nominated after receiving at least 50 signatures from PEC members. Two candidates including the incumbent William D. Boggs are running for the District 2 director position, and four candidates including the incumbent Kathy Scanlon are running for the District 3 director position.

Directors have a four-term limit. They receive a monthly salary of $1,500 if they attend more than 75 percent of regular board meetings in person, electronically or by phone. Directors also receive $750 for each regular or member meeting they attend and $500 for each committee meeting they attend.

Under the current system, any PEC member can vote for the representative of any district. However, this year PEC is also asking members to vote to either keep the current system or start using single-member districts with elections held every three years.

By May 27 PEC members should receive a ballot by mail to return, or they can vote online using the Web address provided in the letter. Members must submit their vote by June 13 or vote at PEC's annual meeting June 21 at Cedar Park High School. During the meeting PEC will announce the winner of the election in District 2 and District 3.

Read the interviews with all five candidates here as a PDF.

Editor's note: On May 20, the map showing part of PEC's coverage area was updated from its original version. The map mislabeled District 2 and District 3.