CHEC Hot Watts February 2021

Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.

H

FEBRUARY 2021

T

WATTS WATTS INSIDE >> page 2

Right-of-way clearing projects underway >> page 3

Crews prepping system for fiber project >> page 4

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

bit.ly/CHEConFB (case-sensitive)

Cookson Hills Connect photo contest: You could win big!

Calling all photographers — even phone photographers! Your photo could help Cookson Hills Connect illustrate our community’s narrative and win you a $100 gift card!

The world-class fiber-to-the-home network Cookson Hills Connect is bringing to our community will belong to all our members, and we want to involve you in every step of the exciting journey forward. At the heart of our project is reflection of our community’s narrative, culture and heritage.

Now we’re asking for your help.

Cookson Hills Connect invites you to submit photos that illustrate our unique story, for use in upcoming media and promotions. Think: your sunrise shot of one of our beautiful lakes, the rolling foothills, or any other scene that captures the distinctive look of Oklahoma in living color.

Enter now through March 1 for your chance to win a Visa Gift Card!

Three prizes will be awarded: $100 for first place, $75 for second place

and $50 for third place. Winning photos will also be used on our new website, social media or other promotional materials!

Photo Contest Details • Who: You! Any Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative member can submit.* • What: Your best original photo that represents our community or our state.

• When: Enter now through March 1, 2021.

• Where: Selected photos will be used on our soon-to-be-developed Cookson Hills Connect website and social media.

• How: Email a high-resolution photo file (JPEG preferred) to fiber@cooksonhills.com. *You must own the rights to the photo submitted and have permission of any individual featured, so it may be best to use photos without people in them. By submitting an entry, you are turning over ownership and rights of the photo to Cookson Hills Connect and consenting to tagging your social media accounts when posting the photo.

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

Russell V. Barber, General Counsel

Right-of-way clearing projects underway You may have noticed crews in the Cookson Hills Electric service territory working on clearing the right-of-way recently. This clearing of trees, limbs and brush is an ongoing effort to decrease the number of outages and reduce the risk of someone coming in contact with the power lines.

Work is currently focused on the distribution lines coming from the Sallisaw substation, and will continue throughout the year to include the Keota substation later in 2021. Here are the primary areas that are currently being cleared, or will be cleared as we continue the project throughout the year: • Sallisaw substation • Central High road and west toward Sallisaw • West of Sallisaw to the Dwight Mission Road area • North of Sallisaw to Highway 101 • South of Sallisaw to Highway 141 including areas of Wild Horse Mountain road, Sadie and Applegate Cove Clearing the right-of-way protects individuals from the hazards of electricity and makes power restoration quicker and safer for Cookson Hills Electric members, the public and our personnel. Please contact Marty Huff at 918-775-2211with any questions or concerns you may have about this project.

2021 Youth Tour Essay Contest

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.

bit.ly/CHEConFB (case-sensitive)

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.

2 | February 2021

APPLICATIONS DUE FEB. 16 WWW.COOKSONHILLS.COM

Crews prepping system for fiber infrastructure CHEC is contracting with Osmose Utility Services to perform assessments and updates to prepare our system for the Cookson Hills Connect broadband network.

A broadband project of this magnitude takes years to build out to consumers and must be done in carefully- and meticulously-planned phases.

As one of the first phases of our build-out, we are happy to partner with Osmose to begin moving this project along.

You might notice crews in your area driving around with equipment attached to the top of their vehicles — similar to that of Google Maps drivers.

This equipment takes photos and measurements needed for the project.

Be sure to keep up with all phases of Cookson Hills Connect at www.cooksonhills.com and on Facebook at bit.ly/CHEConFB.

WA 9.7¢ OR 11¢

MT 11.1¢ ID 9.9¢

NV 12¢ CA 19.2¢

UT 10.4¢

AZ 12.4¢

WY 11.2¢ CO 12.2¢ NM 12.5¢

ND 10.3¢ SD 11.6¢ NE 10.8¢ KS 12.7¢ OK 10.2¢ TX 11.8¢

AK 22.9¢

MN 13¢

WI 14.2¢

IA 12.5¢

MI 15.7¢

VT: 17.7¢ NH: 20.1¢ MA: 21.9¢ RI: 21.7¢ NY CT: 21.9¢ 17.9¢

PA 13.8¢ IN OH IL 13¢ 12.6¢ 12.4¢ WV VA MO KY 11.3¢ 12.1¢ 11.1¢ 10.8¢ NC TN 11.4¢ 10.9¢ SC AR 13¢ 9.8¢ GA AL MS 12.5¢ 11.8¢ LA 11.3¢ 9.8¢ FL 11.7¢

ME 17.9¢

NJ: 15.9¢ DE: 12.6¢ MD: 13.1¢ DC: 13¢

HI 32.1¢

Under 10.5 ¢ 10.5¢ to 13¢

Over 13¢

www.cooksonhills.com | 3

Don’t miss out on the CHEC scholarship opportunity for those pursuing post-secondary education!

Applications due by March 5 Visit www.cooksonhills.com for more info

Deadling nearing for CHEC scholarship applications Four high school seniors from across CHEC’s service area will win $500 scholarships next spring, and the deadline to apply is March 5.

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. [27100] Download the application 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.

Manage your CHEC account from wherever you are with the free SmartHub mobile app

WWW.COOKSONHILLS.COM

4 | February 2021

COO

KSO N COO HILLS E LE PER ATIV CTRIC E

Summer rates will begin with March usage and will run through November usage.

Visit www.cooksonhills.com for energy efficiency tips and ways to save.