This month raises awareness around bullying and encourages kids to embrace kindness and inclusion. While bullying has always existed, cyberbullying presents new challenges. On social media, messaging apps, games, and other online spaces, cyberbullying can spread faster and feel inescapable for kids.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is on the rise, with 1 in 4 teens experiencing it. It has serious consequences like anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Cyberbullying includes sending mean or threatening messages, starting rumors, posting embarrassing photos, trolling, impersonation, exclusion, stalking and more. It can happen on popular social platforms, messaging apps, games, and anywhere kids interact online.

Signs Your Child is Being Cyberbullied:

• Avoiding social media or messaging apps
• Appearing anxious or sad after using devices
• Hesitation to participate in online groups or games
• Changes in sleep patterns and appetite
• Abnormal lack of eye contact or withdrawn behavior

How Parents Can Prevent Cyberbullying:

• Educate kids on what cyberbullying is and that it’s unacceptable
• Set rules around online etiquette and spreading rumors/gossip
• Encourage kids to come to you if they’re being bullied
• Report cyberbullying to platforms and school authorities

This month, let’s commit to not only spreading kindness but also actively safeguarding our children in the digital world. By taking these steps, we can work together to make the online space a safer environment.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced a 4.5% wholesale rate increase beginning in October 2023 which will affect Hopkinsville Electric System (HES) customers as well as the other 152 TVA power distributors in the seven-state service area. Due to inflation and the demand for more capacity in the valley, TVA will require additional funds to maintain reliability and invest in new generation assets. In addition, TVA is eliminating pandemic relief credits which will increase HES wholesale power costs.

HES will implement a rate increase spread equally among all our business and residential rate classes. HES is experiencing dramatic cost increases in all areas of our business including material, transportation and capital expenses which directly impact our electric rates.

“HES understands the burden a rate increase places on our customers, and we work extremely hard to provide the highest quality service at the lowest cost. This increase is needed to continue to provide the level of service and reliability that our customers have come to expect,” says HES & energynet General Manager Jeff Hurd.

The rate changes will result in a $7.47 increase to the monthly electric bill of the average residential customer. HES still remains one of the lowest electric power providers not only in western Kentucky but throughout the TVA seven state region. HES is a not-for-profit municipal utility which serves 13,000 customers within the City of Hopkinsville.

The rate changes will become effective October 1, 2023, and complete details on HES electric rate schedules can be found on our website www.hop-electric.com or call 270-887-4200.