Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.
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MAY 2020
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WATTS WATTS INSIDE >> page 2
A letter from our general manager >> page 3
You can now report an outage from your smartphone! >> page 4
Four common culprits of electrical fires
CHEC continues operations amidst COVID-19 pandemic As the COVID-19 pandemic has entered our seven-county service area, we at Cookson Hills are enacting additional measures to help ensure the safety of our members, the community and our employees. We continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as federal, state and local authorities in our efforts to help eliminate the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus. New measures effective March 23, 2020 We have temporarily suspended residential disconnects until further notice. Lobbies at both Stigler and Sallisaw offices are CLOSED temporarily in an effort to support community health; however, drivethru services remain available during normal business hours. Convenience fees for credit and debit card transactions will be temporarily waived.
We are also encouraging our staff to refrain from a friendly handshake during this time in order to reduce the risk of spreading any illness. Request for new services or reconnection of an existing service can be processed by: • Visiting www.cooksonhills.com and clicking the service tab, or • Calling one of our two locations to speak with a representative to assist you. Reach the Stigler office at 800-328-2368, or Sallisaw office at 918-775-2211. Our services continue We continue to offer alternative methods of payments to eliminate the need for face to face contact: • Mail your payment through the U.S. Postal Service - Please make sure to include you payment stub, or account number in order to properly credit your account. • SmartHub App (Convenience fee temporarily waived.) Continued on page 3 >>
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 Kenneth Kelley, President Joe Ogle, Vice President Theron Croisant, Sec-Treas Rocky Woods, Sr., Trustee John Dillard, Trustee Dart Drummonds, Trustee Ronnie Pevehouse, Trustee
District 5 District 6 District 2 District 1 District 3 District 4 District 7
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 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 | May 2020
A letter from our general manager, Juli Orme As we all deal with the new realities brought on by the coronavirus, I want to assure you that your local electric cooperative is here to help you. We have always had an Emergency Plan that has served us well in a variety of circumstances, from ice storms to tornadoes to flash floods. Early in this crisis, our staff updated that plan with a special emphasis on ensuring we can continue to provide the reliable electric service you have come to expect from your electric cooperative. So far, that is exactly what has happened. We know that after a sufficient supply of food and water, electricity is the No. 1 thing you need to maintain some sense of normalcy as we hunker down in our homes. With that in mind, keeping the power flowing is Job 1 for everyone involved in maintaining the electric cooperative system. We thought you might want to know some of the steps we have taken in order to keep your power flowing. We’ve closed our lobbies to prevent the spread of germs. Instead, we are encouraging members to use our mobile app, online and phone payment options and the “good old” U.S. Postal Service to pay bills. Many of our employees are working from home. We’ve divided departments into shifts so that they can practice social distancing even when in the office. If you call, the phones will be answered as always. We have separated our line crews from other employees and even from each other to limit possible spread of the virus. Trucks are being relocated so that lineworkers can head to the job site without coming to the office. New routines are in place for contractors working on our system in order to keep them away from employees. Deliveries are being quarantined. Our management team and board are meeting constantly to fine-tune this plan. We are in constant contact with the other electric cooperatives in Oklahoma and with the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, which in turn is working closely with our national association, the state legislature and Governor Stitt. So far, it is working well and everyone has adapted to the new norm. That’s because we’ve done this before. Nothing brings out the best in our employees better than a crisis situation. It’s kind of like gold that has been tested in fire…stronger and more beautiful!
Our focus here is on doing our part to keep your life as normal as possible through this situation and beyond. The cooperative way of doing business has brought us this far, and the cooperative way will help us through this crisis. All the best to everyone. Stay healthy, stay home and we will get through this together the cooperative way!
You can now report an outage with the free SmartHub mobile app!
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KSO N COO HILLS E LE PER ATIV CTRIC E
Scan this code with your smartphone’s camera to download CHEC’s SmartHub app! Visit www. cooksonhills.com for more info.
COVID-19 new measures, precautions, continued from page 1 CHEC offices will be closed May 25 so employees can spend the Memorial Day holiday with their families. If you experience a power outage or see an electrical safety hazard, please call 800-328-2368.
• Online payment at www.cooksonhills.com via your secure login to SmartHub (Convenience fee temporarily waived.) • Secure Pay by Phone at 888-678-1937 (Convenience fee temporarily waived.) • Kiosks at Stigler & Sallisaw (cash or credit/debit card) • Sign up for automatic bank draft (visit our website at www. cooksonhills.com under “Bill Payment Options” to sign up online) We will continue practicing social distancing as well as taking extra care in cleaning and disinfecting areas such as our kiosks, drive-thru, mail, offices and other areas. Our night deposit is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please know your safety and health are our top concern, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation during these times.
www.cooksonhills.com | 3
Energy Efficiency
Tip of the Month This spring, consider using a rain barrel to save energy. Rain barrels capture rainwater from a roof that can be used later for watering your lawn, garden or indoor plants. Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy
A check could be waiting on someone you know! Check the unclaimed capital credit listing at www. cooksonhills. com to see if someone you know is owed capital credits from CHEC!
Four common culprits of electrical fires By Abby Berry
May is National Electrical Safety Month, which is the perfect time to evaluate the safety of your home’s electrical system. Outdated wiring and overloaded circuits are the most common causes of electrical fires. Check the following areas of your home to ensure your home’s electrical safety is up to par. Electrical outlets Faulty electrical outlets are a leading cause of home fires. As outlets age, so do the wires behind them that you can’t see. Any loose, damaged or warm-to-the-touch outlets should be repaired or replaced. Electrical wiring Outdated wiring is another common cause of electrical fires. Frequently tripped breakers, flickering lights and burning smells are clear warning signs. If your home is more than 20 years old, it may not be able to handle today’s increased power load. If you suspect your home’s wiring is outdated, leave this one to the pros and contact a qualified electrician. [695602] Overloaded cords and outlets Extension cords are not permanent solutions. If your big-screen TV, home theater system and other electronics are plugged into one extension cord, it’s time to call an electrician and install additional outlets. Old appliances Older appliances are more likely to have loose or damaged wiring, which means they’re more likely to catch fire. Check older appliances for damage and determine if it’s time to upgrade or replace. Also check to ensure you’re using appliance-grade outlets. A qualified electrician can help with installation. 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 percent of the nation’s landscape.