Hot Watts November 2019

Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.

NOVEMBER 2019

H T WATTS

On the back m

k fro c e h c A d be l u o c CHEC d your heade y! wa

OVER 1,800 ENJOY ANNUAL MEETING FESTIVITIES PA G E 2

WATTS INSIDE | ANNUAL MEETING PHOTOS, WINTER STORM PREPAREDNESS AND MORE!

www.cooksonhills.com | 1

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 Ronnie Pevehouse, Trustee Vacant

District 5 District 6 District 2 District 1 District 3 District 7 District 4

STAFF Juli Orme, General Manager Chris Morris, Chief Financial Officer Jason Fontaine, Director of Engineering Mark Blaylock, Director of Operations Eric Johnson, Director of Operations—Sallisaw Ellen Mattison, Manager of Accounting Services Kristie Cash, Manager of Office Services

Members pack Sallisaw Gymnasium for Annual Meeting Over 1,800 consumer-members and their family members joined Cookson Hills staff Oct. 5 at the Sallisaw High School Gymnasium for the Annual Meeting. The Ritter’s Family Band from Vian provided entertainment for the event, held each year to conduct co-op business and show appreciation to members.

“We enjoy celebrating what it means to be part of a co-op by inviting our members out for a few hours of fun,” said General Manager Juli Orme. “It’s always great visiting with those we serve. It helps ensure we continue doing our best to provide them with reliable, exceptional service.” [1266600] Thanks to sponsors Gordon Construction Company, C.H. Guernsey & Company, Arkansas Electric Cooperatives and Kamo Power, 38 prizes were given to those in attendance, including cash grand prizes to three members, a 32” TV, bicycle and Leap Frog tablet for kids.

Registered members also received one $20 credit on their electric bill and a goodie bag.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and we will see you again next year!

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.

The Ritter’s Family Band

Kathy Keith

Ronnie Davis

Ashton Stamper of Kinta

Boy Scout Troop #731

CHEC’s Cody Crase with the safety demo

bit.ly/CHEConFB (case-sensitive)

If you find your account number hidden in this issue of the Hot Watts, you’ll receive a $25 credit on your electric bill.

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Be prepared for winter storms We know all too well how devastating winter storms can be in eastern Oklahoma. We also know they can strike as early as November, which is why we encourage you to prepare now.

The American Red Cross urges you to start by putting together an emergency preparedness kit with these supplies in case of a prolonged or widespread power outage this winter: Water, one gallon per person, per day (2-week supply); Food, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare (2-week supply); Flashlight; Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible); Extra batteries; First aid kit; Medications (7-day supply); Multi-purpose tool; Sanitation and personal hygiene items; Copies of personal documents; Cell phone with chargers; Family and emergency contact information; and, extra cash.

If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining equipment, remember to include backup power in your evacuation plan. Visit redcross.org for more tips.

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

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month

CHEC offices will be closed Nov. 28 and 29 to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Please call 1-800328-2368 to report any power outages or safety hazards that may occur.

Trim your holiday energy costs by choosing energy efficient LED lights! LED holiday lights use less energy and can last up to 40 seasons.

They’re also easier to install – you can connect up to 25 LED strings without overloading a wall socket!

Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy

zz Pay securely zz Monitor consumption zz Contact Member Service zz Manage email alerts zz View bills & payment history COO

KSO N COO HILLS E L PER ATIV ECTRIC E

zz Update account information zz Set up recurring payments

WWW.COOKSONHILLS.COM

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CAPITAL CREDITS A CO-OP MEMBER’S DIVIDENDS

Unlike investor-owned utility companies that strive to generate profits for shareholders, electric cooperatives like CHEC operate on an at-cost basis. Any profits made

by CHEC — referred to as margins — are returned to the consumermembers. Capital credits represent these dividends.

CHEC board of trustees approves $1.4 million in capital credits to be paid to members CHEC’s board of trustees has authorized the distribution of over $1.4 million in capital credits to members of the cooperative who purchased electricity during parts of 1989, 1998, 1999 and 2000 — $541,075.72 of which is being passed on

by CHEC’s wholesale power provider. CHEC has returned over $8.2 million to members over the last 10 years.

As a not-for-profit entity, cooperatives must return margins above operating costs to consumers. Capital credits are somewhat similar to the dividends paid to shareholders of investor-owned utilities, except the co-op’s “shareholders” are the members it serves, and the “dividends” are the capital credits. It is one of the things that makes the cooperative business unique.

If you see the name of a family member who is deceased and you are the rightful heir, you can download the form from www.cooksonhills.com and return it along with the appropriate paperwork to transfer all remaining capital credits into your name.

Checks will not be issued for less than $5 unless a member has no further refunds due for future years. Refunds of less than $5 are retained until and added to the next distribution.

If needed, mail paperwork and supporting documents to CHEC, PO Box 539, Stigler, OK, 74462.

Please excuse the temporary mess in our Sallisaw office as we work to make our branch office lobby more secure and functional.

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