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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 Russell Bell, 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.
About this Year’s Annual Meeting
Many OCEC members look forward to the ANNUAL MEETING each year in August. This event typically draws around 400-500 members, but with current restrictions imposed on large gatherings by the New Mexico Department of Health, changes to the meeting may be necessary. While we enjoy seeing members each year during this event, our primary concern is the health of members and employees. Over the next few weeks, your Board of Trustees and management will continue to monitor the current COVID-19 pandemic so an informed decision can be made on how to proceed with the meeting. While we hope to see your smiling faces on SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, we will do so only if it is safe for all involved. Stay tuned for an update about YOUR ANNUAL MEETING.
Trustee Election Information
The Otero County Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2020. Election of Trustees will take place for three (3) positions. Nominations for Trustees shall be by petition only. All members, including current board members running for re-election, who wish to run for a position as Trustee must file a petition signed by fifteen (15) or more members from the district of which the nomination is made. The petition must be filed not less than twenty-five (25) days or more than forty-five (45) days before the date of the meeting of the members in which the trustees are to be elected. More information about the election is available on the “Member Info” page of our website: www.ocec-inc.com. If you have questions, please call 800-548-4660.
Co-op Provides Hand Sanitizer to First Responders Volunteers from the Sixteen Springs and James Canyon Fire Departments accept bottles of hand sanitizer from Co-op CEO Mario Romero.
OCEC has donated hand sanitizer to area first responders, senior centers, sheriff’s departments, and other public organizations in both Otero and Lincoln County during recent weeks.
Congratulations to Ocean Odom Winner of the Grand Prize in the OCEC coloring contest was Ocean Odom, 4th Grader at High Rolls Elementary. Students in grades 2-4 from seven area elementary schools submit their posters each year for a chance to win $100 if chosen as the Grand Prize Winner.
Paying Your Utility Bill
OCEC understands the financial hardship the COVID-19 outbreak may be causing our members. During this time, we encourage you to pay what you can toward your electric bill to avoid an extremely high balance when situations return to normal. If you’re struggling to pay your bill, call us at 800-548-4660. Representatives will be happy to work with you to find an arrangement that fits your situation.
Payment Options
❑ By Phone: Convenient and available 24 hours a day using credit/debit card or electronic check. Call 844-846-2695. ❑ Online: Visit www.ocec-inc.com and click the
“Pay Online” Button in the upper-right corner of the home page. ❑ By Mail: Payments may be mailed to: OCEC,
P.O. Box 669, Carrizozo, NM 88301. ❑ Drop Box: Available outside offices in Cloudcroft,
Alto and Carrizozo. Do not deposit cash in the drop box. ❑ Payment Kiosk: Payments can be made by cash or card at various locations: Mescalero Tribal Store-190 Chiricahua Plaza; Mescalero Apache Telecom Office75 Carrizo Canyon Road; Smokey’s Country Market (Capitan)-113 Smokey Bear Boulevard; Tularosa Travel Center-21 St. Francis Drive; OCEC Headquarters (Cloudcroft)-404 Burro Avenue.
Summer Electrical Safety Tips for Kids 1. Instruct children to stay away from all utility lines, especially playing with a fallen line.
2. NEVER play or hang around electric utility boxes or substations. If a toy gets stuck inside any substations, transmission equipment, or electrical equipment, forbid them from entering to retrieve the toy.
3. DO NOT climb trees that are near power lines, even if the branches are touching. If the branches touch, you could end up electrocuted.
4. Fly kites and toy planes far away from power lines, and leave anything if it lands on a wire.
5. Stay at least 40 feet away from all power lines and call 911 immediately. The ground can be energized up to 35 feet away or through any water that is in contact with a downed line.
6. Summer showers can bring more than tempting puddles for kids to splash in, they can also leave electric hazards behind. Flooded areas are never safe spots to wade or play in, and may be in contact with energized electrical equipment or fallen power lines.
