LIGHT POST
Understanding Factors that Impact Your Electric Bill
H A P P Y N E W
Y E A R
February brings some of the coldest weather of the year, and as our home heating systems work harder and longer to keep us warm, we typically see higher energy bills. There are a few key factors that affect electricity prices, as well as a few ways you can make a meaningful impact on home energy savings.
R E A D M O R E
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When you receive your monthly bill from Kiamichi Electric Cooperative (KEC), you’re provided with a summary of how much electricity you used during the billing cycle.
R E A D M O R E
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Scholarship Application Open for College Students
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The KEC Foundation is proud to announce it is now accepting applications for its annual Operation Round Up® scholarship.
Since 2004, the KEC Foundation has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to more than 150 deserving area students thanks to the generosity of KEC members who round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar each month.
“We are always proud to reward our next generation of members who are working hard for their futures,” said KEC Foundation President Danny Choat.
A WORD FROM THE CEO
Understanding Factors that Impact Your Electric Bill, continued from page 1
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You can even see how electricity use may have spiked on days when you used more electricity, such as a particularly chilly day or when relatives were staying with you.
But you might be surprised to learn that beyond your monthly energy consumption, there are external factors that can impact the cost of electricity.
FUEL PRICES
KEC purchases electricity from our power generation partner, Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), at a wholesale cost, then we deliver that power to our local communities. The cost of generating and transmitting electricity from our generation partner accounts for a significant portion of the cost to provide electric service to local homes and businesses––and the cost of fuels that are used to generate that electricity, such as natural gas and coal, fluctuate based on supply and demand. While these fluctuations can impact the cost of electricity, we work closely with WFEC to plan ahead and help stabilize electricity prices for our members.
EXTREME WEATHER
profound impact on electricity costs. As energy generation shifts to the use of more renewable sources and stricter regulations for traditional, always-available fuel sources, such as natural gas and coal plants, costly upgrades and technologies must be constructed and deployed. These additional costs are ultimately passed to consumers.
U.S. power consumption is expected to double by 2050. Across the country, electric cooperatives are working with members of Congress to advocate for smart energy policies that reliably power our local communities
YOU HAVE CONTROL
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While many of these external factors that impact electricity costs are out of our control, we all have the power to manage our energy use at home. The most effective way to lower use is thermostat management. Since heating and cooling account for a major portion of home energy use, adjusting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting can help you save energy and money. Remember to service your heating and cooling system annually and replace dirty filters as needed.
KEC is your local energy partner, and we’re here to help. We will continue working diligently to provide you with reliable power at an affordable cost.
While we can’t control the weather, we can review weather patterns and forecasts to prepare for times of extreme cold or heat, when we know the demand for electricity will increase. But when temperatures become extremely cold and the demand for electricity spikes, the price of electricity can also increase.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT
BOARD OF
RON PELACONI, PRESIDENT
DISTRICT 3
To cover the costs associated with providing electricity to your home or business, KEC members pay a monthly facilities charge. This flat monthly fee ensures the cost of equipment, materials, labor and daily operations are covered for all members in KEC’s service territory. To ensure the reliable service you expect and deserve, we must maintain the local grid, including power lines, substations and other essential equipment.
RUSTY SHAW, VICE PRESIDENT
DISTRICT 1
AMY MILLER, TREASURER
DISTRICT 2
ENERGY POLICY AND REGULATIONS
Federal energy policies and regulations can have a
DAVID RAY
DISTRICT 4 E
CEO BRETT ORME
WINTER VEGETABLE GARDENING
KEC Foundation Scholarship application open for college students (continued
from page 1)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Applicants must be members of Kiamichi Electric Cooperative, or live in the household of a KEC member.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS?
Applicants must be enrolled full-time (12+ hours per semester) in a state-accredited community college, university or Vo-tech in the state of Oklahoma or school from a neighboring state that charges in-state tuition to Oklahoma students. Students receiving ORU scholarship funds must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 in their major area of concentration.
P L A N T I N G T I P S
a 250-500 typed essay that addresses the applicant’s educational goals and why, in the applicant’s opinion, he or she should be considered for this scholarship.
The KEC Foundation board members may choose to interview finalists prior to the awarding of scholarships. If interviews are conducted, they will be done so with social distancing requirements in mind.
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WHAT CAN THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS COVER?
Scholarship funding may be used only for college or university tuition costs and books and other classroom related items as approved by the foundation.
HOW DOES AN APPLICANT APPLY?
Those who meet the qualifications must submit the application at www.kiamichielectric.org (or scan the bar code below with your smartphone’s camera) along with
recipe of theMONTH
Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
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INGREDIENTS
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 1/2 cups lower sodium beef broth
• 2 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
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• 1/4 cup ketchup, plus
DIRECTIONS
more for garnish
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, plus more for garnish
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish
• 1/2 cup chopped dill pickle slices
Gather all ingredients. Cook ground beef and yellow onion in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, stirring to break up with a wooden spoon, about 8 minutes; drain fat. Transfer beef mixture to a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Add beef broth, potatoes, tomatoes, soup, tomato paste, ketchup, and mustard. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on Low 9 to 10 hours or on High 4 1/2 to 5 hours, until potatoes are tender. Stir Cheddar cheese into the soup. Garnish servings with pickles, red onion, additional cheese, ketchup and mustard.
Recipe from AllRecipes.com
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• Applications and essays are due by April 1.
• Finalists will be judged on the following criteria:
• Financial need
• Grade point average
• Leadership skills; and
• Participation in extracurricular activities.
“We are excited to continue the tradition of investing in our students,” Choat said. “Thank you to the many members who round up their bills to the nearest dollar each month and allow us to award this scholarship to deserving students.”
Visit www.kiamichielectric.org or scan the QR code below for the full scholarship application.
Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during November 2024, which shows 27 percent of the power generated by WFEC potentially come from renewable sources.