CHEC Hot Watts May 2022

Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.

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MAY 2022

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Cookson Hills Connect opens new zones for fiber-to-thehome installation Cookson Hills Connect continues making progress on our fiber-to-the-home project. Members receiving electric service from the following list of substations and feeders are included in the current zone openings and are eligible to begin the process of scheduling the fiber installation: Substation Feeder 2 – ENT 4 4 – TEN 1 14 – LIB 1, 2 12 – NIC 1, 2, 3 Not sure what your particular substation and feeder numbers are? These are located on your bill (see graphic on the right). If your service comes from any of the above substations/feeders and you have not yet signed up for our fiber internet, visit www.cooksonhillsconnect.com to get started or call us at 800-328-2368. If you are not included in the current zone openings, please stay tuned as our crews continue working hard to reach your area.

Visit www.cooksonhillsconnect.com to check availability, view our pricing and packages, and more.

We look forward to serving you!

WATTS INSIDE CHEC announces 2022 Youth Tour finalists

2022 scholarship winners announced

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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

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 | May 2022

Members with metered security lights could see service charge on bills As you are well aware, supply chain issues are impacting most areas of our lives. Unfortunately, security lights are no different. We are no longer able to purchase the same high-quality, high-pressure sodium security lights we have been installing at members’ homes and businesses for decades.

To ensure we are being good stewards of our members’ dollars, we decided to instead purchase and install more reliable, long-lasting LED security lights. Although these lights are more energy efficient, the cost of the light itself is significantly higher than our traditional sodium lights. As a result, a $4.90 monthly service charge will be added to the bill of those with LED security lights on their property where the security light usage is metered. While the end cost is not any greater, those with LED metered lights will notice this new line item on their bills. [1625101] Currently, this change does not affect many members and will only affect those whose security light usage is metered.

Please give us a call at 800-328-2368 if you have any questions regarding security lights.

CHEC announces 2022 Youth Tour finalists Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative recently hosted nine finalists for the annual Youth Tour Scholarship contest. Junior class students representing schools from across the entire CHEC service territory submitted written essays as part 1 of the 2-part competition. From the numerous essays submitted, nine students were selected as finalists to participate in the interview portion of the scholarship application process.

These nine students traveled to the CHEC office in Stigler where they answered questions before a panel of judges about electric cooperatives.

CHEC will award the top four placing students each with an all-expensespaid “trip of a lifetime” to Washington, D.C. and a $1,000 scholarship.

Each of the other students will also receive scholarship funding for qualifying as a finalist in the competition.

“We feel blessed to be able to support these amazing junior students each year with this scholarship,” said Brad Martin, director of member/ public relations and economic development. “One of our seven cooperative principles includes Concern for Community, and this scholarship is another example of how our Board of Trustees and the employees of CHEC are committed to investing in the lives of our youth.”

To learn more about the Youth Tour scholarship program at Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, please call Brad Martin at 800-328-2368 or visit www.cooksonhills.com/youth-tour.

Check your availability and sign up for updates at www. cooksonhills connect.com

From left: Terrance Fitzgerald - Central Sallisaw; Sierra Wooten - Central Sallisaw; Lainey Cribbs - Gans; Hailey Pierson - Gans; Jamie Emphasis - Kinta; Jaci Walker - Muldrow; Quinn Williams - Stigler; Carley Pendergrass - Stigler; Juli Orme - General Manager. Not pictured: Luke Spradlin - Porum.

Monitor your energy use this spring with SmartHub!

Bringing the

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SON COOPHILLS EL ERAT ECTR IC IVE

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

reliable, highspeed internet to ourwww.cooksonhills.com communities| 3

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month Even in summer months, adding insulation to your attic can keep your home more comfortable and save energy used by your cooling system. If your

Scholarships, scholarships, and more scholarships!

Each year the employees and Board of Trustees from Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative award four $500 scholarships to eligible high school seniors whose parents or guardians are members of Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative.

Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Cookson Hills Electric scholarship. Alexis Raskey, Webbers Falls Schools; Katie Welch, Warner Schools; Makayla Dawn Campbell, Muldrow Schools; and Fysher Brooks, Vian Schools.

Congratulations to these four deserving seniors!

attic insulation is level with or below your floor joists (meaning you can easily see your joists), you should add more. If you can’t see any of the floor joists because the insulation is well above them, you likely

Alexis Raskey

Fysher Brooks

Katie Welch

Makayla Campbell

have enough insulation.

Attic insulation should be evenly distributed with no low spots. Make sure the areas along the eaves are adequately covered.

Source: energystar.gov

A QUICK GUIDE TO GENERATORS 4 | May 2022

With proper use and maintenance, generators provide great convenience during a power outage. Before you purchase a generator, determine your backup power needs to select the right size. Make a list of essential appliances and devices you’ll want to power during an outage, then total the required wattage.