KEC Light Post December 2021

DECEMBER 2021

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WFEC Renewables Report

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Operation Round Up report

A supplement to the Oklahoma Living

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Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Lig ght Post

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PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

KEEPING KIDS WARM KEC Foundation continues providing winter coats to local children For 11 years, you have helped provide much needed winter coats for children in need across our service area. Through the Operation Round Up’s® (ORU) Coats for Kids program, the KEC Foundation donates more than 300 coats each year.

“We ask each of the 33 schools in our service territory for the sizes and gender of 10 kids who are in need of winter coats,” said Danny Choat, KEC Foundation president.

“We are very grateful to the members who round up their electric bills each month to help provide this service.”

ORU is made possible thanks to the thousands of members who choose to round up their bills each month. If your bill is not rounded up and you would like to sign up, submit the contact form at www. kiamichielectric.org or call us at 918-4652338.

ORU assists residents and nonprofit organizations located in our service area in Latimer, Leflore, Pittsburg, northern Atoka and northern Pushmataha Counties. The KEC Foundation, a board of five volunteers, strives to help individuals, families and

Sheri Ridenour and Justin Wade accept the donation of coats from the KEC Foundation to Haywood Elementary School.

community organizations address needs that cannot be met through other resources.

Applications — individual and organizational — can be found online at www.kiamichielectric.org or by calling 918465-2338.

Contact Michelle Warmuth at mwarmuth@kiamichielectric.org or 918465-2338 if you have questions about ORU or the application process.

Jeremy Shaffer and Misti Roath accept the donation of coats from the KEC Foundation to Wilburton Elementary School.

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ceo’s report

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 Mark Ichord, President DISTRICT 6 Ron Pelaconi, Vice President DISTRICT 3 Russell Shaw, Treasurer DISTRICT 1

KEC’s core job is keeping the lights on, but our passion is serving our members.

Because we’re a co-op, our purpose is to enrich the lives of our members and serve the long-term interests of our community.

This service focus is at the heart of who we are.

VALUES-FOCUSED APPROACH

We were built and are led by the members we serve. Whether tested by severe weather events or a pandemic, our co-op puts people first not just during tough times but all the time. Over the years, our charitable efforts, staff volunteer service hours and other locally-focused projects have supported local schools and young people, supported local food banks, assisted families in need to keep the lights on and much, much more.

POWERING THE LOCAL ECONOMY

We have partnered with local schools and served on economic development projects that meet our region’s evolving needs and help it to thrive. For example, our partnership with Francis EV led to the first public EV charging station in Wilburton.

The money we’ve spent stays right here and benefits our local economy. We’ve invested in the infrastructure of our coop and community in order to ensure the

BRETT ORME

CH I EF EX ECUT I V E OF F I CE R

long-term viability of both.

Because when the co-op thrives, our community thrives.

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Technology such as the KEC mobile app offers more options to track energy use and help manage the costs that are under your control.

The energy industry is rapidly changing.

In our region, the increased availability of renewables on the utility scale allows us to take advantage of more options for our energy mix. Building a sustainable future is a priority. But more importantly, while use of renewables is increasing, we will need to incorporate other forms of energy in the mix to ensure service reliability. After all, solar and wind are referred to as “intermittent” power because the sun does not always shine, and the wind does not always blow.

As a local business, we are proud of our role in helping bring good things to our community. While the larger environment in which we operate is constantly changing, one thing remains constant. Working together with you, the members we serve, we’ll continue to be a catalyst for good.

We at KEC hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Renewables Report

Amy Miller DISTRICT 2 David Ray DISTRICT 4 Don Parr DISTRICT 5 Larry Culwell DISTRICT 7 Brett Orme Executive Vice President-CEO Kiamichi Electric provides reliable and affordable electricity to members in Pushmataha, Leflore, Latimer, Atoka and Pittsburg Counties.

34% Renewables Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during August 2021, which shows 34 percent of the power generated by WFEC came from renewable sources.

KEC offices will be closed Dec. 23 and 24 so employees can celebrate the Christmas holiday with their families.

If you need to report a safety hazard or power outage, please call 918-4652338 or use your KEC mobile app.

Have a safe and merry Christmas.

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Holiday Décor Tips for an Energy-Wise Home

By Abby Berry Whether you’ve already decked your halls or you’re just getting started, there’s still time to incorporate energy savings into your holiday décor planning.

If you haven’t strung your twinkle lights, be sure to use LED light strands. LEDs consume far less energy than incandescent lights and they can last 40 holiday seasons.

They’re also safer because they’re made with epoxy lenses, not glass, making them more resistant to breaking––and they’re cool to the touch, so no burnt fingers!

If you missed Santa’s memo about energysaving LEDs and your holiday lights are already up, you can still save on lighting costs.

All you need is a programmable light timer.

Most models cost between $10 to $25 and can be purchased through online retailers like Amazon or at big box stores like Lowe’s or Wal-Mart. With a light timer, you can easily program when you want your holiday lights turned on and off, which will save you time, money and energy. If you’re using a timer for exterior lighting, make sure it’s weatherproof and intended for outdoor use.

If Clark Griswold’s décor style is a bit much for your taste, consider a more natural approach. Many Christmas tree farms, and even retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, give away greenery clippings from recently trimmed trees. With a little twine, extra ornaments and sparkly ribbon, you can

create beautiful garlands and wreaths to hang over your front door or windows. To add extra twinkle at night, you can install solarpowered spotlights to illuminate your new (essentially free!) greenery. Solar spotlights can vary in price, but you should be able to purchase a quality set of four for about $30–– and because they run on natural energy from the sun, there’s no additional cost to your energy bill.

Regardless of how you decorate your home for the holidays, there are plenty of ways to save energy throughout the season.

Visit KEC’s website for additional energysaving tips.

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.

Meet KEC’s newest employees and those celebrating 5 years of co-op service!

Visit KEC’s Facebook page for more helpful energy efficiency tips!

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operation round up 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

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month Heading out of town for the holiday season? Remember to unplug electronics that draw a phantom energy load. Some gadgets like TVs, phone chargers, gaming consoles and toothbrush chargers use energy when plugged into an outlet–– even when they’re not in use.

Source: Energy.gov

RECIPE

Pumpkin Pancakes INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cups milk 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 egg 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake.

Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com