AUGUST 2021
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CEO’s Monthly Report
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Understanding power surges & blinks
A supplement to the Oklahoma Living
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Lig ght Post
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Strawberry Bruschetta
PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
COPPER THEFT: Gain a buck, lose a life By SafeElectricity.org
As the price of copper has increased, so have copper thefts. Copper theft is especially harmful because of the safety risks it creates. Thefts from electric utility property, such as substations and power poles, can cause fires, explosions, power outages and electric shock. Copper theft is not a victimless crime. It is expensive to fix the damage done by copper thefts. Their actions have forced airport runways to temporarily shut down, required hospitals to run on generator power, created traffic problems when traffic lights did not have power, and caused deaths from fires and explosions. Copper theft is also dangerous for thieves themselves. Substations and power poles carry high levels of fatal electricity. Many copper thieves have been killed or seriously burned or injured while trying to steal from electric utilities. Safe Electricity has the following tips to empower you to help stop copper theft. • Common targets for copper theft are construction sites, farming equipment and electric utility property. If you notice suspicious activity around one of these copper theft targets, notify authorities. Do not try to intervene yourself. • If you are responsible for a construction site or farm, properly secure your property. If you have large quantities of copper, you may consider a tracking device that can help locate your copper if it is stolen.
• Store tools and wire cutters in a secure location, and never leave them out while away. • Help spread the word about the dangers of copper theft. • If you notice anything unusual with electric facilities, such as an open substation gate, open equipment, hanging wire, etc. contact your electric utility immediately. • If you see anyone around electric substations or electric facilities other than utility personnel or contractors, call the police. Copper theft affects all cooperative members. Not only does it cost members money, but often results in outages and poses safety concerns for cooperative employees and members. Help stop copper theft by reporting anything suspicious to local authorities and to KEC by calling 918-465-2338. Thank you for your help in protecting us all.
Call local authorities and KEC at 918-465-2338 to report suspicious activity at or near KEC properties.
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ceo’s report BRETT ORME
C HI E F E X E C U T I V E O F F I C ER
Kiamichi Electric Cooperative 944 SW Highway 2 PO Box 340 Wilburton, Oklahoma 74578 tele: (918) 465-2338 toll free: (800) 888-2731 FAX: (918) 465-2950 www.kiamichielectric.org email: support@kiamichielectric.org HOURS OF OPERATION Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm 24-HOUR OUTAGE HOTLINE (800) 888-2731 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Don Parr, President DISTRICT 5 Mark Ichord, Vice President DISTRICT 6 Ron Pelanconi, Treasurer DISTRICT 3 Russell Shaw DISTRICT 1 Amy Miller DISTRICT 2
Most of us use electricity, either directly or indirectly, most of the time. Because electricity is so abundant and available with the simple flip of a switch, it’s easy to take it for granted. According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), the typical U.S. household now uses more air conditioning, appliances and consumer electronics than ever before. The average home also contains 10 or more internet-connected devices. Considering everything that is powered by electricity, it’s no wonder we occasionally might wince at our monthly bill. But keep in mind, it’s no longer just the “light bill.” ELECTRICITY POWERS QUALITY OF LIFE
Electricity powers our quality of life. From the infrastructure of your home (appliances, water heater and HVAC system) to charging your smartphones, computers, TV and Wi-Fi router, your energy bill covers so much more than lighting. Today, there is more demand for electricity than ever before. At home, in
ELECTRICITY REMAINS A GOOD VALUE
Renewables Report
The cost of powering your home rises slowly when compared to other common expenses. Looking at price increases over the last five years, it’s easy to see electricity remains a good value!
Average Annual Price Increase 2015-2020 Percent
4.0 3.5
David Ray DISTRICT 4
3.0
Larry Culwell DISTRICT 7
2.0
Brett Orme Executive Vice President-CEO
1.0
Kiamichi Electric provides reliable and affordable electricity to members in Pushmataha, Leflore, Latimer, Atoka and Pittsburg Counties.
schools and business, and in commercial sectors such as transportation, the need for electricity is increasing. Typically when demand goes up, so does the price, as is the case with most goods or services, like cable or even your favorite specialty coffee. However, that’s not true with electricity. Let’s take a look at how the value of electricity compares to other common expenses. Over the last five years, the cost of rent increased 3.4%; medical care increased 2.8%; and education increased 2.2%, but the cost of electricity only increased 1%. Considering all the ways we depend on electricity, it still remains a great value. So, the next time you’re enjoying your favorite podcast, TV series or movie, consider the value of electricity and how it enhances your quality of life. We care about you, the members we serve, and understand that electricity is more than a commodity — it’s a necessity. That’s why KEC will continue working hard to power your life, reliably and affordably.
3.4% 2.8% 2.2%
2.5
1.5
1.0%
0.5 0
Rent
Medical Care
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index
Education
Electricity
Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during April 2021, which shows 51 percent of the power generated by WFEC came from renewable sources.
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Understanding Power Surges & Blinks By Abby Berry
Have you ever noticed your lights blink during a thunderstorm? Or perhaps you’ve noticed a blinking microwave clock when you arrive home. When this happens, you’ve likely experienced a brief disruption to your electric service, which could result from a power surge or blink. While the symptoms of surges and blinks can appear similar, what’s happening behind the scenes can be quite different. WHAT’S A POWER SURGE? Power surges are brief overvoltage spikes or disturbances of a power waveform that can damage, degrade or destroy electronic equipment within your home or business. Most electronics are designed to handle small variations in voltage; however, power surges can reach amplitudes of tens of thousands of volts––this can be extremely damaging to your electronic equipment. Surges can be caused by internal sources, like HVAC systems with variable frequency drives, or external sources, like lightning and damage to power lines and transformers. KEC encourages all members to install surge protective devices (such as surge protector power strips) to safeguard your sensitive electronics. If you’re experiencing frequent surges in your home or business and you believe the cause is internal, contact a qualified electrician to inspect your electrical system.
WHAT’S A POWER BLINK? Power blinks are also brief service interruptions, but they’re typically caused by a fault (short circuit) on a power line or a protective device that’s working in reaction to the fault. Faults can occur through a variety of instances, like squirrels, birds or other small animals contacting an energized power line; tree branches touching a power line; or lightning and other similar events. In fact, when it comes to power disruptions caused by critters, squirrels reign supreme. In 2019 alone, squirrels were responsible for more than 1,200 outages. Any of the events noted above can cause your power to blink, but you may also experience a brief interruption when protective devices that act like circuit breakers are working to detect the fault. Believe it or not, these brief power blinks caused by protective devices are actually good because that means the equipment is working as it should to prevent a prolonged outage. Regardless of the cause, KEC crews will be on their way to inspect the damage and make necessary repairs after a power outage. And you can help too! Any time you experience repeated disruptions to your electric service, please let us know by calling 918-465-2338 or visiting www.kiamichielectric.org.
Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
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operation round up
RECIPE
M O N T H LY U P D AT E Operation Round Up® is a voluntary bill roundup program that benefits local communities, organizations ,and needy families. Funding applications are available at Kiamichi Electric, local social services, or online at www.kiamichielectric.org. YEAR-TO-DATE COLLECTIONS 2021: $26,515.55 YEAR-TO-DATE DISBURSEMENTS: $14,630.79 TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION: $1,711,463.93 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: $1,637,867.81
Strawberry Bruschetta
INGREDIENTS
• 24 slices French baguette • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries • ¼ cup white sugar, or as needed
DIRECTIONS
Energy Efficiency
Preheat your oven’s broiler. Spread a thin layer of butter on each slice of bread. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
Tip of the Month When shopping for new light bulbs, know the difference between lumens and watts. Lumens measure the amount of light produced by the bulb. Watts measure energy consumption. Energy-saving LEDs come in a variety of colors and brightness levels and last 15-25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Source: Energy.gov
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Place bread under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, just until lightly toasted. Spoon some chopped strawberries onto each piece of toast, then sprinkle sugar over the strawberries. Place under the broiler again until sugar is caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Photo and recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com.
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