KEC Light Post January 2021

JANUARY 2021

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WFEC Renewables Report

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Five Ways to Stay Cozy this Winter

A supplement to the Oklahoma Living

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Homemade Broccoli & Cheddar Soup

Lig ght Post

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PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

KEC announces scholarship opportunity for college students 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.

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 stateaccredited community college, university or Vo-tech in the state of Oklahoma or school from a neighboring state that charges instate 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.

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 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.

Applications and essays are due by March 15.

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 for the full scholarship application.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Use your smartphone’s camera to scan this code and access the ORU Scholarship!

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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 Mark Ichord, President DISTRICT 6 Ron Pelanconi, Vice President DISTRICT 3 Russell Shaw, Treasurer DISTRICT 1 Amy Miller DISTRICT 2

When we say that we live in a “connected” world, most of us think about technology, like our smart phones and other devices and gadgets. But when you’re a member of an electric co-op (that’s you!), there’s so much more to being part of our connected co-op community.

As member of KEC, you help to power good in our local community through initiatives like Operation Round Up, a partnership with Salvation Army and other initiatives that help the most vulnerable in our community.

We depend on you because you power our success, and when KEC does well, the community thrives because we’re all connected.

We greatly value our connection to you, the members we serve. And we’d like to help you maximize the value you can get from KEC through a variety of programs, products and services that we offer our members. For example, when you download our KEC mobile app, you can monitor and manage your home energy use, pay your bill online and access a menu of additional options for potential savings and more.

When you follow KEC on social media, you can stay up to date on power restoration efforts, tree trimming planning, co-op director elections, giveaways and more.

You’ll also see photos of our line crews in action and our employees helping with community service projects–– and who doesn’t enjoy seeing good things happening in our community!

By connecting with us, you can get real-

time updates from your co-op. That’s why we want to make sure we have your most current contact information on hand. If we can’t connect with you on these platforms or in person, you could miss out on potential savings or important information.

KEC relies on data for nearly every aspect of our operations, and up-to-date contact information from our members helps ensure that we can provide the highest level of service that you expect and deserve.

Updated contact information can even speed up the power restoration process during an outage. That’s because when you call to report an outage, our automated system recognizes your phone number and matches it with your account location.

Accurate information helps our outagemanagement system predict the location and the possible cause of an outage, making it easier for KEC crews to correct the problem.

We hope you will connect with us whenever and wherever you can––whether that means attending our annual meeting, providing feedback on a recent visit or call with our employees, or simply downloading our app.

KEC exists to serve our members, and when we’re better connected to you and our local community, we’re better prepared to answer the call.

To update your contact information or to learn more about co-op products and services that can help you save, visit www. kiamichielectric.org or call 918-465-2338.

We look forward to connecting with you!

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.

Follow Kiamichi Electric on Facebook!

• • • • • •

Energy efficiency tips Community activities Outage updates Scam alerts Industry news And more!

Use your smartphone’s camera to scan the QR code to follow KEC on Facebook.

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Don’t get stuck in the cold Five Ways to Stay Cozy this Winter

By Abby Berry

Baby, it’s cold outside! When you’re feeling chilly at home, there are several budgetfriendly ways you can keep comfortable without turning up the thermostat.

Here are five easy ways to stay cozy this winter.

1. Whether you’re experiencing extremely cold winter temps or you simply “run cold,” an electric blanket can deliver quick warmth like a regular throw or blanket cannot. Electric blankets can include a

variety of features, like timers and dual temperature settings (if your cuddle buddy prefers less heat). This winter, consider an electric blanket instead of turning up the heat, and your energy bill will thank you.

2. One of the easiest ways to stay cozy at home is to keep your feet warm. Our feet play a critical role in regulating body temperature, so when your feet are warm, your body automatically feels warmer. Try

a pair of comfortable wool socks or house slippers to stay toasty.

3. On winter days when the sun is shining, take advantage and harness natural warmth from sunlight. Open all curtains, drapes and blinds in your home to let the sunshine in––you’ll be able to feel the difference.

4. Another way to make your home cozier is to use a humidifier. Cold air doesn’t hold > continued on page 4

How Americans Use Electricity The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the combined use of clothes washers and dryers, computers, dishwashers, small appliances and other electrical equipment (noted as “all other uses” below) accounts for nearly 40% of electricity consumption in American homes.

Renewables Report

26% 15.8%

Space Cooling

39.0%2

12.1%

All other uses

Water Heating

5.2%

Lighting

16.3%1

Space Heating

4.2%

TVs & related equipment

7.4%

Refrigerators & Freezers

Source: EIA, Annual Energy Outlook 2020

Includes consumption for heat and operating furnace fans and boiler pumps.

Includes miscellaneous appliances, clothes washers and dryers, computers and related equipment, stoves, dishwashers, heating elements, and motors.

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Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during September 2020, which shows 26 percent of the power generated by WFEC came from renewable sources.

4 | the Light Post water vapor like warm air, so by adding humidity inside your home, you can feel a little warmer. A favorable level of humidity inside your home can also help clear sinuses, soften skin and improve sleep.

5. Beyond adding visual appeal to your home, area rugs can also provide extra insulation and a warm surface for your feet on cold winter days. Use large area rugs in rooms where you spend the most time. You’ll enjoy the new colors and textures of the rug, and the additional warmth will help keep your home comfortable.

These are just a few ways you can stay cozy this winter without turning up the thermostat. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!

Don’t get stuck in the cold, continued from page 3

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.

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 2020: $64,343.64 YEAR-TO-DATE DISBURSEMENTS: $64,344.70 TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION: $1,672,218.50 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: $1,620,237.02

Sandy’s Homemade Broccoli & Cheddar Soup INGREDIENTS • • • • • •

3 tablespoons butter ¼ small onion, chopped 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup half-and-half 1 ½ cups chicken broth 2 cups chopped broccoli

• 1 carrot, chopped • 1 celery stalk, chopped • 1 ¼ cups shredded mild Cheddar cheese • salt and ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month Replace standard power strips with advanced power strips to save energy. Advanced power strips look like ordinary power strips, but they have built-in features that are designed to reduce the amount of energy used by standby electronics that consume energy even when they’re not in use (also known as phantom load).

Melt butter in a stock pot over medium-high heat; add onion and saute until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in flour and continue to stir until mixture turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. Slowly add half-and-half to onion mixture, stirring until mixture is smooth. Add chicken broth; season with salt and ground black pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer mixture until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add broccoli, carrot, and celery. Simmer until vegetables are tender yet crisp, about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add Cheddar cheese to soup and cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

Image and Recipe from AllRecipes.com