Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.
H We wish all CHEC members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Our offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Crews will be on standby should an outage occur. Please call 800-328-2368 to report a power outage during those times. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
DECEMBER 2022
T WATTS
Cooperation Among Cooperatives CHEC linemen assist sister co-op following fall tornadoes. During an unseasonably stormy week in November, our neighbors to the south experienced severe damage from tornadoes that struck the area. CHEC was one of several electric co-ops that sent crews to help with the restoration efforts in the Choctaw Electric Cooperative service territory. Times like these demonstrate the power of the cooperative difference. When storms strike our area, crews from across the state and region roll in to help us restore power to members as quickly and safely as possible. We are happy to return the call for help when others need it most. Pictured above is the crew that spent a few days in the Idabel area restoring power, from left: Scotty Holcomb, Jake Simpson, Jeremy Baker, Cody Crase and Steven Dodson.
WATTS INSIDE Five ways to save energy this winter >> page 2
Unclaimed capital credits — Last names Q-S >> page 4
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 Mark Blaylock, Director of Operations — Stigler Marty Huff, Director of Operations — Sallisaw Ellen Mattison, Manager of Accounting Services Kristie Cash, Manager of Office Services Rockey Oldham, Manager of Broadband Services Jeremy Stubblefield, Chief Technology Officer Brad Martin, Director of Member/Public Relations and Economic Development Dallin Shaw, Director of Engineering
Five Ways to Fight the Winter Chill and Save Energy By Abby Berry
We all have our favorite season. Some people love crisp, cool weather and bundling up under a favorite blanket, while others prefer the warm temperatures summer brings and all fun outdoor activities that go with it. But there’s one thing we can all agree on: high winter bills are never fun. CHEC is here to help you find ways to manage your home energy use and keep winter bills in check. Here are five tips to help increase your home’s energy efficiency this winter: 1. Mind the thermostat. This is one of the easiest ways to manage your home energy use. We recommend setting your thermostat to 68 degrees (or lower) when you’re home. When you’re sleeping or away for an extended period of time, try setting it between
58 and 62 degrees; there’s no need to heat your home when you’re away or sleeping and less active. [1274700] 2. Button up your home. The Department of Energy estimates that air leaks account for 24% to 40% of the energy used for heating and cooling a home. Caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors is another simple, cost-effective way to increase comfort and save energy. If you can feel drafts while standing near a window or door, it likely needs to be sealed. 3. Use window coverings wisely. Open blinds, drapes or other window coverings during the day to allow natural sunlight in to warm your home. Close them at night to keep the cold, drafty air
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 right to publish or modify any article. Companies and individuals featured in the Hot Watts newsletter do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or view of Cookson Hills. Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you find your account number hidden in this issue of the Hot Watts, you’ll receive a $25 credit on your electric bill.
bit.ly/CHEConFB (case-sensitive)
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CHEC to give away $2,000 in scholarships to high school seniors! Learn more and apply at www.cooksonhills.com
Wondering if your account is eligible for Cookson Hills Connect highspeed internet?
New zones open now!
Our announcements include substation and feeder numbers, both of which can now be found on your bill!
out. If you feel cold air around windows, consider hanging curtains or drapes in a thicker material; heavier window coverings can make a significant difference in blocking cold outdoor air. 4. Consider your approach to appliance use. When combined, appliances and electronics account for a significant chunk of our home energy use, so assess how efficiently you’re using them. For example, if you’re running the dishwasher or clothes washer, only wash full loads. Look for electronic devices that consume energy even when they’re not in use, like phone chargers or game consoles. Every little bit helps, so unplug them to save energy. 5. Think outside the box. If you’re still feeling chilly at home, think of other ways to warm
up––beyond dialing up the thermostat. Add layers of clothing, wear thick socks and bundle up under blankets. You can even add layers to your home! If you have hardsurface flooring, consider purchasing an area rug to block cold air that leaks in through the floor. If you’re taking steps to save energy but continue to see major increases in your bills, give us a call at 800328-2368. CHEC’s energy experts can help identify areas and other factors impacting your home energy use and recommend next steps for savings. Winter months often bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. By being proactive about saving energy, you can increase the comfort of your home and reduce monthly bills. Visit our website at www.cooksonhills. com for additional energysaving tips.
Substation Feeder 2 – ENT 4 4 – TEN 1 5 – SAL 1, 3, 4 6 – MUL 1, 2, 3, 4 14 – LIB 1, 2 12 – NIC 1, 2, 3 15 – AKI 1, 2, 3 Substation and feeder numbers can be found on your electric bill.
Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape. www.cooksonhills.com | 3
Unclaimed Capital Credits If you recognize any of the below names, please have them contact CHEC at 800-328-2368. If you are the surviving heir of any person listed below, QUACKENBUSH, DIANE QUAINTANCE, PAUL A QUALLS, CECIL QUALLS, HOUSTON QUINTON, SEQUOYAH RADAICH, CHRISTINA RAMEY, LARRY RAMIREZ, PATRICIA RAMSEY, MICHELE RANDELL, NORMA J RANDOLPH, JOHN RANDOLPH, LUCILLE RASKEY, WILLIAM M RAULSTON, BRENDA L RAY, EVAN RAY, GERALD R RAY, J D RAY, JOHN JR RAY, MICHAEL D RAYNES, C B REA, JUSTIN REA, STACIE REAL, ADAM REAL, ANDREA S REAL, BOBBIE J REAL, EVERETT REAL, GORDON G REAL, PATRICK REAL, SILAS REAL, VICKIE S REAMY, JACK F REAMY, JACK F REAMY, KELLI REASON, KRISTI L REAVES, NELSON REDBIRD, OWEN REDFEARN, WILLARD M REECE, DANIEL REECE, MICHAEL D REECE, RICHARD REEDER, MARGARET REESE, CHRISS REESE, FARON REESE, J W REEVES, CHARLES R REEVES, EULES REICHERT, MICHAEL REID, LEROY REMER, JAMES E REMER, KAREN L RENDELUK, DANNIE REVIVAL, TIME MINISTRIES RHOADES, GARY RHODES, ANGEL RHODES, DAVID RHODES, HAROLD E RHODES, JOANN RHODES, TOM R RHODES, THOMAS N RICE, C W RICHARDS, LINDA D RICHARDSON, DAVID RICHARDSON, LISA RICHARDSON, RANDY J RICHEY, TERRY RICK, MOONEY BUILDERS IN RIDER, DONALD L RIGGS, EDMOND
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RIGGS, JUSTIN RIGGS, WADIE RIGGS, ROBERT D RILEY, JOE RINGELE, LAURA A RISENHOOVER, DAN RISLEY, BERT JR RISLEY, CLIFF W RISLEY, DONALD RISLEY, JANIS E RISLEY, JUNE RITTER, BETTY G RIVERA, NISH M RIVERA, RICHARD ROACH, GLENN H ROASTINGEAR, JOHN ROBBINS, EARL W ROBBINS, TED ROBERSON, BETTY M ROBERTS, CURTIS ROBERTS, DANIEL W ROBERTS, EVA L ROBERTS, JERROD ROBERTS, L D ROBERTS, NORMA A ROBERTS, SAVILLA ROBERTSON, ALBERT ROBERTSON, ANITA J ROBERTSON, CHARLES ROBERTSON, DAN ROBERTSON, DONALD D ROBERTSON, F E ROBERTSON, JEFFERY W ROBERTSON, KENNETH L ROBERTSON, MARTY D ROBERTSON, RANDY F ROBERTSON, SCOTT L ROBINSON, BILLY ROBINSON, JOHN W ROBINSON, JOSEPH W ROBINSON, LEO W ROBISON, ADDIE D ROCKHOLD, JIMMY RODDEN, TEX J RODGERS, CLAUDE A ROGERS, BILL ROGERS, JACK L ROGERS, JIMMIE D ROGERS, RALPH L ROGERS, THOMAS G ROGERS, VERNA L ROGERS, WILBURN D ROJAS, FRANCISCO ROLLAND, SAMMY ROSE, J R ROSS, CECIL ROSS, JIM B ROSS, JOHN II ROSS, LINDA M ROSS, LOUIS ROSS, ROCKY ROSS, TERESA L ROSS, WESLEY JJR ROSSON, & JOHNSON ROUSE, H R ROUSE, JIM C ROUTHIER, JANICE ROWE, NORMAN
ROWE, PAUL L ROYE, RUTH ROYE, WADE J RUARK, E C RUDICK, C J RUDICK, ROYCE RUDICK, SANDRA RUFFIN, GERALD E RUSH, MICHAEL RUSHING, ROBERT RUSSELL, HENRY S RUSSELL, MELVIN RUST, LINDA L RUTHERFORD, EDDIE RUTHERFORD, LARRY K RUTLEDGE, KENDRA RYE, ROBERT D SAFFELL, CHARLES W SAFFELL, CHRIS SAFFELL, MARY SAINER, CHARLES W SALLEE, COND SAMPSON, PAUL SANDERS, BILL SANDERS, HOWARD SANDERS, JASON SANDERS, JEFFREY H SANDERS, JERRY W SANDERS, MARY J SANDERS, SYBIL SANDS, HEATHER SANSING, HENRY R SARGENT, MANDY SARVER, RONALD SAVAGE, EDNA SAVAGE, MONTY SBA, TOWERS INC SCARBOROUGH, FLORENE SCHEXNAYDER, GARY P SCHIEWEK, BRAD SCHMITT, DANIEL SCHNEIDER, LADENA G SCHOCKE, ROGER SCHRAM, DELORIS SCHULTZ, CHARLES H SCHUSTER, JANE SCHUSTER, STEVE SCHWARTZ, EDWARD T SCOTT, JAMES E SCOTT, JO ANN SCOTT, RICKY JJR SCOTT, THOMAS H SCOTT, VIVIAN SCOTT, WAYNE SEAGO, FLETCHER SELANDER, LORRIE C SEQUICHIE, TERESA SEQUOYAH, CAPITAL DEVELOP SEVENSTAR, RILEY SEXTON, GERALD SEXTON, JAMES R SEXTON, LAWANDA S SEXTON, NELSON SEYLER, ROY SHADE, PASQUANA O SHADE, RICHARD D SHAFFER, DAISY SHAMBLIN, D B
please visit www.cooksonhills.com/capital-credits and complete the Affidavit of Surviving Heirs. SHAMBLIN, JOE SHAMBLIN, MARK SHAMBLIN, MICHAEL S SHAMBLIN, STONEY J SHANK, GLEN SHANK, JOE SHANKS, KARLA J SHARP, BEULAH M SHARP, JAMIE SHARP, RICK SHAVER, DON L SHEBESTER, RALPH SHELBY, BOB SHELL, WILLIAM SHELTON, DEWAYNE SHELTON, JENNIFER SHEPHERD, CLEBURN SHEPHERD, SAM SHERMAN, LESLIE SHETLEY, JOHN A SHEWMAKE, EARL SHIPP, HAROLD D SHIVERS, ORVILLE SHOATE, LULA M SHOCKEY, DOUG SHOCKEY, J C SHOCKEYS, PROCESSING SHOEMAKE, RANDY SHOOK, LEIGH A SHOOK, STEVE SHORT, CARLOS SHORT, JIMMIE C SHORT, SUSAN B SHOWERS, LEE R SHOWN, GLEN SIDES, DAVID E SIDLER, EDWARD SIDLER, JOANNE SIGMON, RONALD SILVA, DAVID JR SIMPSON, JAMES A SIMS, J M SIMS, JERRY D SIMS, KARIN SIMS, LEWIS R SIMS, QUANAH SIMS, TAMMY SISK, WILLIAM A SIVLEY, RONALD SIZEMORE, TERRY D SKAGGS, MICHAEL SKELTON, TIMOTHY SLATE, TRACY SLATTERY, CLIFF SLATTERY, CLIFF SMITH, AMBER SMITH, BILL SMITH, CARL C SMITH, CHAD T SMITH, CHASTITY R SMITH, CLARENCE SMITH, DONALD J SMITH, DONALD L SMITH, DOREN SMITH, E 0 SMITH, EMOGENE SMITH, ERICK L SMITH, GARY NJR
SMITH, JACK E SMITH, JAMES W SMITH, JASON SMITH, JEANENE SMITH, JETTIE SMITH, JIMMY L SMITH, JOHNNY SMITH, JUANITA SMITH, KENNY L SMITH, LOYD SMITH, LULA SMITH, MARY E SMITH, MICHELLE M SMITH, MOODY SMITH, PENNY SMITH, R L SMITH, RANDY SMITH, SHANNON SMITH, STANLEY SMITH, TAMMY SMITH, VALLEY SMITH, VIVIAN SMITH, WALTER SNOW, ELLIS SNOW, MICHAEL A SNYDER, RICHARD P SOAP, DAVID W SOAP, STEPHEN I SOLENBERG, DEBRA A SOLENBERG, O L SOLNER, MAURICE SOUTHERN, GARY L SPARKMAN, KENNETH J SPARKS, CHARLIE W SPARKS, EARLINE SPARKS, JIM SPARKS, JOE E SPARKS, ROBERT SPARLING, BRUCE SPARROW, ANGELA M SPEAKS, STERLING S SPEARS, ELLA L SPEARS, FLOYD C SPEARS, TROY DSR SPECKMAN, RUTH SPENCE, DEANA SPENCE, LAURA L SPENCER, ROGER SPENCER, SETH SPOON, CARLA SPOON, ROBERT SPORT, JESSICA SPRADLIN, CLAY SPRINKLE, TIM SPYRES, DEWEY JR SPYRES, DEWEY SR SQUIRES, CHRIS SQUIRES, JAMES E STAMM, HOWARD STAMPS, HOUSTON A STANDIFIRD, LINDA STANLEY, BRIAN STANLEY, PRESTON M STAR, SEARCH RURAL TV STARR, WOODROW M STAVELY, WILLIAM K STEALER, DAWS STEALER, MACK B
STEPHENS, C W STEPHENS, HERMAN ESR STEPHENS, MARK STEPHENS, NORMAN F STEPHENS, P E STEPHENS, PHYLLIS A STEPHENS, TIMOTHY L STEPHENSON, LEE A STEPHENSON, THELMA STEPP, BOBBIE L STERLING, JIMMY E STERLING, MARY E STEVENS, CHARLES STEVENSON, LISA L STEWART, G B STIDHAM, REGINA STIFLE, CECIL STILLS, JERRY STILLS, LUEVADA STILWELL, JAMES STINNETT, EVERETT STITES, DALLAS H STITES, ED STITES, HERBERT STOCKER, KEITH STONE, JAMES A STONEBARGER, ETTA F STORK, MARK H STORY, TERRY STOUT, DARRELL STOUT, JACK STOVALL, J D STP, INC STRAIN, DANNY STRASSLE, DAVID A STRAUGHAN, EARL M STRIBLING, H RJR STRICKLAND, DONNIE L STRICKLIN, CHRISTOPHER STRICKLIN, ED STRINGER, DONNA STROUD, THOMAS E STUART, BOBBY L SULIVANT, LEO D SULLIVAN, DENNIS LJR SULLIVAN, RANDI N SUMMERHILL, ROBERT E SUMMERLIN, ROBERT SUMPTER, HAROLD SUNDERLAND, JEAN SUPANICH, KENNETH JR SUPERIOR, FED BANK SUSTAITA, CASSANDRA SUTMILLER, JASON SUTTON, CHASITY SWAFFORD, RONALD SWEENEY, AMETA SWIMMER, CALVIN SWIMMER, JEFF L SWIMMER, JOHN L SWINDELL, JESSIE SWON, E B
LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH T WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT MONTH.