CHEC Hot Watts March 2022

Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.

H

MARCH 2022

T WATTS

Last chance for high school seniors to apply for CHEC scholarships The deadline is quickly approaching for high school seniors to submit applications for one of four $500 scholarships to be awarded by Cookson Hills Electric.

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.

Scholarship applications may be obtained at www.cooksonhills. com or by calling 1-800-3282368. Applications must be submitted along with two letters of recommendation by March 4, 2022 to Scholarship Committee, Cookson Hills Electric Co-op, Attn: Felicia Wixom, P.O. Box 539, Stigler, OK, 74462.

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.

CHEC lobbies have reopened!

APPLICATION AVAILABLE AT WWW.COOKSONHILLS.COM

WATTS INSIDE Surge Protection 101

Tips to avoid falling victim to utility scams

>> page 2

>> 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

Surge Protection 101

By Abby Berry

A power surge is an unexpected increase in voltage, and it can occur from a variety of sources.

Regardless of the cause, power surges can majorly damage electronic devices and equipment in your home.

Let’s take a look at common causes of power surges and how you can protect your sensitive electronics.

One of the most common causes of a power surge is lightning. Most of us have experienced this during a severe thunderstorm. When lightning strikes an electrical system, the excess current must be channeled somewhere–– unfortunately in many cases, it’s sent through a home. Your best bet is to unplug all unused devices

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)

2 | March 2022

The end of an era! The sweet Cindy Willbanks is officially retiring after a total span of nearly 40 years of dedication to Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative. She is selfless, wise, and has a sense of humor that will make your side hurt from laughing. We will miss her dearly and wish her the very best in her retirement!

and electronics during severe thunderstorms.

Another common cause of power surges is electrical overload.

This happens when devices or appliances are plugged into an outlet that can’t handle the required amount of voltage, or if multiple devices are plugged into one outlet through an extension cord. If you’re experiencing power surges due to electrical overload, it’s time to call a qualified electrician to evaluate your home’s circuits and electrical needs.

Faulty wiring in a home can also cause power surges. Damaged or exposed wires can cause spikes in voltage, creating a potentially dangerous situation. If you notice signs of faulty wiring, like visible

burns on outlets, buzzing sounds from outlets or frequently tripped circuit breakers, your home may be due for electrical wiring repairs and updates.

Surges can also occur after a power outage. Sometimes, when electricity is being restored and reconnected, it’s common to experience a quick surge in current. Similar to advice for a surge caused by lightning, it’s best to unplug sensitive electronics during the outage––then wait to plug them back in after power is fully restored.

Aside from unplugging devices when you suspect a power surge, there are two ways you can take additional precautions to protect electronics in your home. [2561904] Point-of-use surge protection devices, like power strips, can protect electronics during most surges. But remember, not all power strips include surge protection, so read the packaging label carefully before you buy, and don’t overload the power strip with too many devices. You can also install specialized electrical outlets that offer

additional surge protection. Talk to a trusted electrician to learn more.

Another option is a whole-home surge protector, which can help protect your home from larger, more powerful surges. In most cases, whole-home suppressors are connected to your home’s service panel and include features like thermal fuses and notification capabilities that indicate when a device has been impacted by a surge. Whole-home surge protection prices vary based on the size of the home and suppressor. Whole-home suppressors should always be connected by a licensed electrician, so consider the cost of installation as well.

Occasional power surges are inevitable, but by unplugging devices when you think a surge may occur and using additional levels of protection like power strips or whole-home suppressors, you can better safeguard your sensitive electronics and devices.

Contact CHEC if you have questions about ways to protect your home from power surges.

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.

SURGE PROTECTION Keep your electronic equipment safe.

A power surge is typically caused by lightning, changes in electrical loads, faulty wiring or damaged power lines.

Install power strips with surge protection to protect sensitive equipment.

• Easy to use (just plug them in) • Protect electronics plugged into the device • Must be replaced over time or after a major surge event REMEMBER: Not all power strips offer surge protection.

Carefully read the packaging labels when purchasing.

We continue to make progress and bring Cookson Hills Connect highspeed fiber internet to our members in new areas each month.

We are pleased to announce our newest zone openings for those members on Substation 14 (Liberty Substation) - Feeder 2; and Substation 12 (Nicut Substation) - Feeders 1, 2, and 3.

If you receive your power from any of these Substations and Feeders listed above, please call us at 800-328-2368 to schedule your installation date.

If you aren’t sure what Substation and Feeder you are on, simply give us a call and we will be happy to look that information up for you. We are looking forward to serving you with our worldclass fiber internet!

www.cooksonhills.com | 3

Don’t fall victim to utility scams We were notified last month of a potential scam targeting CHEC members. Here are a few reminders on how to take control of the situation when you’ve been targeted by a scammer: X Take your time. Utility scammers try to create a sense of urgency so that you’ll act fast and hand over personal information, especially over the phone. Take a moment to think about the situation before acting.

X Be suspicious. Scammers typically request immediate payments through prepaid debit cards or third-party apps. Unusual requests like this should raise red flags. Remember, if the request seems strange and out of the ordinary, you’re likely being targeted by a scammer.

X Confirm before you act. If you’re contacted by someone claiming to represent CHEC or another utility but you’re unsure, just hang up the phone and call the utility directly. You can reach us at 1-800-328-2368 to verify the situation.

Our increasingly connected world provides scammers with more opportunities to connect with unsuspecting consumers. Be vigilant, and please report any utility scams to CHEC so we can let others in our community know. Together, we can help prevent our friends and neighbors from being victimized.

Monitor your energy use this spring with SmartHub!

4 | March 2022

COO

KSO N COO HILLS E L PER ATIV ECTRIC E

Scan this code with your smartphone’s camera to download CHEC’s SmartHub app!