Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.
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DECEMBER 2020
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WATTS WATTS INSIDE >> page 2
CHEC awarding $2,000 in scholarships >> page 3
Operation Round Up’s annual impact on our communities >> page 4
Scholarship application
bit.ly/CHEConFB (case-sensitive)
CHEC introduces Cookson Hills Connect high-speed broadband project For many years, the mission of power for both downloading and Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative uploading. Symmetrical speed opens has been to make lives and the door to telemedicine, eases your communities better by providing our ability to efficiently work from home, members with high-quality, affordable allows your kids to learn from home services. CHEC’s board of trustees via distance learning and enables a and staff are excited to tell you that breadth of new tools and applications. we are re-committing to “We truly believe that mission with plans this fiber network has A project to build a world-class, the potential to usher in of this fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) a new era of economic, magnitude network to serve 100 educational and will take percent of our members. community growth for some time This service will be our area,” said General to complete Manager Juli Orme. offered through Cookson but rest Hills Connect, a newly “We are currently in the assured that initial planning stages and formed subsidiary of we will move determining our build-out Cookson Hills Electric. as quickly as schedule. A project of this As we’ve all learned over the past months, highmagnitude will take some possible ... speed internet is no longer time to complete but rest — Juli Orme a luxury, but a necessity — assured that we will move one that our communities as quickly as possible and have lacked until now. With fiber-toare committed to reaching 100 percent the-home, we will benefit from the of our members.” fastest and most robust internet in the We invite you to stay updated nation. [2559801] with our construction plans and other Cookson Hills Connect’s fiber important details as we proceed by network will provide symmetrical visiting www.cooksonhills.com/fibergigabit speeds — an important faq, where we will provide regularly distinction that means you will get updated project information. the same lightning-fast speeds and
Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. Headquarters Office PO Box 539 • 1002 E. Main Stigler, OK 74462 800-328-2368 Branch Office PO Box 587 • 1800 KOA/Power Drive Sallisaw, OK 74955 918-775-2211 Pay-by-Phone: 1-888-678-1937 www.cooksonhills.com Alternate Emergency Only: 918-552-0016
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Joe Ogle, President Rocky Woods, Sr., Vice President Ronnie Pevehouse, Sec/Treasurer Dan Callahan, Trustee John Dillard, Trustee Dart Drummonds, Trustee Mike Rose, Trustee
District 6 District 1 District 7 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5
STAFF Juli Orme, General Manager Chris Morris, Chief Financial Officer Jason Fontaine, Director of Engineering Mark Blaylock, Director of Operations — Stigler Marty Huff, Director of Operations — Sallisaw Ellen Mattison, Manager of Accounting Services Kristie Cash, Manager of Office Services
CHEC to give away $2,000 in scholarships to high school seniors Four high school seniors from across CHEC’s service area will win $500 scholarships next spring, and now is the time to apply. Those eligible to apply must have parents or guardians who are members of Cookson Hills, demonstrate good character and citizenship, possess an ambition to obtain further education, hold a grade point average of 2.0 or better and have a financial need. The college or technical school for which applicants are pursuing must be a state accredited school offering an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. CHEC awards scholarship money in two installments: once upon ensuring student is enrolled in at least 12 academic hours per semester, and once when the student shows his/her first semester grades to be a minimum of 2.0 grade point average. See the scholarship application on page 4, download it at www.cooksonhills.com or call 1-800-328-2368 to request one. Applications must be submitted along with two letters of recommendation by March 5, 2021, to Scholarship Committee, Cookson Hills Electric Co-op, Attn: Felicia Wixom, P.O. Box 539, Stigler, OK, 74462.
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Tip of Tip of the Month the
Russell V. Barber, General Counsel
Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. welcomes members to submit photos, and articles which will be subject to editing. Cookson Hills reserves the increase during Energy bills can right to publish or modify any article. billslike can winter forfeatured a variety ofEnergy reasons, Companies and individuals in the Hot Watts newsletter do not increase during houseguests, more time spent at necessarily reflect the official policy, winter for a variety position, or view of Cookson home, and Hills. shorter days and longer
Month
of reasons, like nights. Small actions,houseguests, like turning more time spent at old home, and down your thermostat, replacing shorter days and longer bit.ly/CHEConFB bulbs with LEDs and washing clothes (case-sensitive) nights. Small actions, in cold water can helplike you save. Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. turning down your is an equal opportunity provider and thermostat, replacing employer. old bulbs with LEDs and washing clothes in cold If you find your account number hidden in this issue of the Hot Watts, you’ll water can help you save. receive a $25 credit on your electric bill.
2 | December 2020
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy
CHEC offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 to celebrate Christmas. Please call 1-800-328-2368 to report any power outages or safety hazards that may occur.
CHEC crews assist CKenergy Electric Cooperative following devastating ice storm
Operation Round Up Annual Giving Impact Each month, almost 15,000 CHEC members round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar. Your generosity has equipped the CHEC Foundation to grant over $32,000 to meet the needs of organizations and families in our service area. That change — an average of $6 per year — adds up to big impact right here in our communities. Thank you to the 14,833 members who round up your bills each month. You are making a difference by keeping your donations local through Operation Round Up.
$32,175.77
Total amount granted in 2020
14,833
Number of members who round up electric bills each month
7
Number of organizations awarded as of Nov. 3
1
Number of individuals awarded as of Nov. 3 www.cooksonhills.com | 3
Application for the Cookson Hills Electric Scholarship Name___________________________________________________________________ Social Security #_______________________ Telephone #________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________ City________________________________State_________________Zip Code________ Parents’ (guardians’) name(s)________________________________________________ Cookson Hills Electric Account Number_______________________________________ Number of children at home or in college______________________________________ Family income last year (check one):
Below $50,000 Above $50,000
GPA Score______________________
ACT Score____________________________
Currently attending school at________________________________________________ Current Grade Level ___________________ Graduation Year ____________________ List your involvement in school, community and vocational groups. Also include any work experience: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ In 75-100 words tell why you are applying for the scholarship and share your goals and ambitions: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ List scholarships you have earned and their value: _______________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Choice of Schools:________________________________________________________ 4 | December 2020
Note: Please attach two letters of recommendation.