
4 minute read
Your Electric Co-op
Chief Executive Officer
Mario Romero
Cloudcroft Office
Carrizozo Office
507 Twelfth Street • P. O. Box 669 Carrizozo, NM 88301 575-648-2352
Alto Office
Emergency and Outages
800-548-4660 Fax • 575-682-3109 Website • www.ocec-inc.com
Office Hours
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (M-F)
Board of Trustees President
Charles Mulcock, SE District
Vice President
Denny Burnett, SE District
Secretary
Marty Mills, Central District
Treasurer
Scott Shafer, NW District Vacant, SW District Bill Bird, NE District Cheri Hass, Central District David Powers, NE District Tim Rabon, SW District Preston Stone, NW District
Board Meeting
The Board of Trustees meets the third Friday of the month at 9:00 a.m. at the Cooperative.
OCEC Board Accepting Applications for Southwest District Board Position
The Otero County Electric Cooperative (OCEC) Board of Trustees (Board) is accepting applications to fill a trustee position in the Southwest District previously held by Russell Bell of Mescalero. In accordance with OCEC Bylaws, the Board will appoint a member to the vacant position for the unexpired portion of the term. Interested members of the cooperative, who are a bona fide resident of the SOUTHWEST District, may submit a letter of interest and a brief resume (if available) to:
Otero County Electric Cooperative
ATTN: Chief Executive Officer PO Box 227, Cloudcroft, NM 88317
Applications will be accepted until close of business on November 13, 2020.
Interviews are scheduled to be conducted on November 20, 2020 but could change due to COVID-19 restrictions. Any questions about this vacancy, including determination of eligibility, should be directed to OCEC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mario Romero at 575-682-2521 or marior@ote-coop.com
Holiday Safety Tips
Being proactive about safety will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy your time with loved ones.
Smoke alarms
should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected so that they all sound if one sounds. Test the batteries in each smoke alarm every month, replace them once a year, and replace the unit every GFCIs are electrical safety devices that trip electrical circuits when they detect ground faults or leakage currents, that could shock or electrocute someone. GFCIs should be installed where electricity and water may come in contact, such as the kitchen. GFCIs should also be tested every month.
10 years.
▶ Prevent fires by making sure your oven and stovetop are clean and free of grease and dust. You should also clean the exhaust hood and duct over the stove regularly. Lastly, vacuum the refrigerator coils every three months to prevent potentially dangerous dirt build-up. Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International
Otero County Electric Cooperative
4Ways to Save Energy in the
Kitchen During the Holidays
Ah, the kitchen. It’s undeniably one of year-round can add up to $100-$200 the most-loved rooms in our homes. in wasted energy costs. Unplug them It’s where we gather with family and when not in use, or better yet, use a friends for our favorite meals and memories. But like most of us, you power strip for convenient control. 3. Help large appliances work probably aren’t thinking about saving less. There are small ways you can energy when you’re planning that help your larger kitchen appliances perfect dish. Here are four ways you run more efficiently. For example, can save energy in the kitchen with keep range-top burners clean from minimal effort. spills and fallen foods so they’ll reflect These smaller appliances use less energy than a full-size oven.
1. When possible, cook with
smaller kitchen appliances. Using smaller appliances, like slow cookers, toaster ovens, and convection ovens is more energy-efficient than using a large stove or oven. According to the Department of Energy, a toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven. 2. Unplug appliances that draw phantom energy load. These are appliances that draw energy even when not in use, like coffee makers, microwaves, and toaster ovens. The Department of Energy estimates that one home’s appliances left plugged in heat better. When it’s time to put leftovers in the refrigerator, make sure the food is covered and allow it to cool down first. That way, the fridge doesn’t have to work harder to cool warm food. 4. Use your dishwasher efficiently. Only run full loads, and Use smaller kitchen appliances, like slow cookers, on your machine for just a few dirty toaster ovens and convection ovens when possible. dishes; it uses 3-7 gallons of hot water

avoid using the “rinse hold” function When it’s time to do the dishes, remember to run full loads. You can also save energy by allowing your dishes to air dry.

each use. You can also save energy by letting your dishes air dry. If your dishwasher doesn’t have an automatic air-dry switch, simply turn it off after the final rinse and prop the door open so the dishes will dry faster.
Ways to Pay Your Bill
OCEC offers you many options for paying your bill that are easy and convenient. Payment options include: ▶ Mail Payment ▶ Pay at Local Office ▶ Payment Drop Box ▶ Online ▶ Bill Payment Kiosk ▶ By Phone ▶ Mobile Device ▶ Automatic Draft ▶ Credit Card Payment
Call for more information: 575-682-2521

Daylight Saving Time November 1 is Daylight Saving Time. Remember to set your clocks back one hour.

We are thankful and grateful for our members, friends, and families. Office Closed for Thanksgiving Closed Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27 To report an outage Call 800-548-4660