KEC Light Post May 2022

MAY 2022

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Restoring power safely & efficiently

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WFEC Renewables Report

A supplement to the Oklahoma Living

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Lig ght Post

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Keeping you safe during and after summer storms

Meet the 2022 Youth Tour winner!

PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

GENERATOR SAFETY TIPS

By Laura Cook

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and no one knows electrical safety better than the experts who practice it every single day. KEC encourages you to practice safety with these reminders – for during and after storms that inevitably come our way during spring and summer: Avoid wires and water — When lightning strikes a home during a storm, the electrical charge can surge through pipes and utility wires. That means you can get zapped if you’re touching water or any device that’s plugged in, whether it’s a landline phone or toaster.

Skip the makeshift shelter — During a storm, it’s tempting to take cover under a picnic gazebo or golf cart, but in opensided structures with no conductors to channel strikes, a bolt’s path of least resistance to the ground could be you.

On top of that, these structures raise your risk of a lightning strike because of their height. Keep moving toward suitable shelter.

Portable generators — Take special care with portable generators, which can provide a good source of power, but

if improperly installed or operated, can become deadly. Do not connect generators directly to household wiring. Power from generators can back-feed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including co-op line workers making repairs. It’s best to hire a qualified, licensed electrician to install your generator and ensure that it meets local electrical codes.

Flooded areas — Stay away from downed power lines and avoid walking through flooded areas. Power lines could be submerged and still live with electricity.

Report any downed lines you see to KEC by calling 1-800-888-2731 immediately.

Electrical equipment — Never use electrical equipment that is wet – especially outdoor electrical equipment, which could be a potential danger after a summer storm. Water can damage electrical equipment and parts, posing a shock or fire hazard.

KEC has served our local community since 1945 and safety for our members is our number one concern. To learn about our safety programs and tips, visit www. kiamichielectric.org.

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ever connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. There are only two safe ways to connect a standby generator to your equipment.

Stationary Generator: An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits separate from the electric co-op, should be installed by a professional.

Portable Generator: Plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator.

Set up and run your generator in a well-ventilated area outside the home. Make sure it’s out and away from your garage, doors, windows and vents. The carbon monoxide generated is deadly.

Use a heavy-duty extension cord to connect electric appliances to the outlet on the generator.

Start the generator first before connecting appliances.

Source: SafeElectricity.org

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BRETT ORME

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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 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.

At KEC, we recognize Electrical Safety Month every May, but we also know the importance of practicing safety year-round.

From our co-op crews to you, the consumermembers we serve, we recognize that everyone has a part to play in prioritizing safety.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, thousands of people in the U.S. are critically injured or electrocuted as a result of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes. Many of these accidents are preventable. Electricity is a necessity, and it powers our daily lives. But we know first-hand how dangerous electricity can be because we work with it 365 days a year.

To me, safety is more than a catchphrase.

As CEO, it’s my responsibility to keep co-op employees safe. Additionally, we want to help keep you and all members of our community safe. That’s why you’ll see KEC hosting safety demonstrations at community events and in schools throughout the year, to demonstrate the dangers of electricity. We discuss emergency scenarios, such as what to do in a car accident involving a utility pole and downed power lines. We caution students on the dangers of pad-mounted transformers and overloading circuits with too many electronic devices.

Electricity is an integral part of modern life. Given the prevalence of electrical devices, tools and appliances, I’d like to pass along a few practical electrical safety tips.

Frayed wires pose a serious safety hazard.

Power cords can become damaged or frayed from age, heavy use or excessive current flow through the wiring. If cords become frayed or

BOOK A KEC SAFETY SHOW AT YOUR SCHOOL OR SUMMER CAMP! If your school is interested in hosting a KEC Safety Show, please contact Michelle Warmuth, mwarmuth@kiamichielectric.org or by calling 918-465-2338.

cut, replace them, as they could cause a shock when handled.

Avoid overloading circuits. Circuits can only cope with a limited amount of electricity.

Overload happens when you draw more electricity than a circuit can safely handle–– by having too many devices running on one circuit.

Label circuit breakers to understand the circuits in your home. Contact a qualified electrician if your home is more than 40 years old and you need to install multiple large appliances that consume large amounts of electricity.

Use extension cords properly. Never plug an extension cord into another extension cord.

If you “daisy chain” them together, it could lead to overheating, creating a potential fire hazard. Don’t exceed the wattage of the cord.

Doing so also creates a risk of overloading the cord and creating a fire hazard. Extension cords should not be used as permanent solutions. If you need additional outlets, contact a licensed electrician to help.

I encourage you to talk with your kids about playing it safe and smart around electricity. Help them be aware of overhead power lines near where they play outdoors.

Our top priority is providing an uninterrupted energy supply 24/7, 365 days per year. But equally important is keeping our community safe around electricity.

Contact KEC for additional electrical safety tips or if you would like us to provide a safety demonstration at your school or upcoming community event.

Restoring Power Safely and Efficiently

By Abby Berry

We do our best to avoid them, but there’s no way around it: power outages occasionally happen.

For most KEC members, outages are rare and only last a few hours. But when major storms, like thunderstorms, high winds or hail, impact our area, extended outages are unavoidable.

So when the power goes out, how do KEC crews know where to start working? How do you know if your outage has been reported?

We’ve got answers to these questions and more, and it all starts with a safe, efficient plan for power restoration.

When the lights go out and it’s safe for our crews to begin the restoration process, they start by repairing power lines and equipment that will restore power to the greatest number of people in the shortest time possible.

This process typically begins with repairs to the larger main distribution lines that service a great number of homes and businesses. After those repairs are made, crews work on tap lines, which deliver power to transformers, either mounted on utility poles (for above-ground service) or placed on pads (for underground service). Finally, individual service lines that run between the transformer and the home are repaired.

We can’t control the weather, but we can prepare for it. KEC keeps a supply of extra utility poles, transformers and other equipment on hand so we can quickly get to work in the event of an outage. When widespread outages occur, multiple crews will be out in the field simultaneously

working to repair damage at multiple locations. We also coordinate with nearby co-ops to bring in additional crews when necessary.

A proactive approach to maintenance helps minimize the chance of prolonged outages; this is why you see KEC crews periodically trimming trees and clearing vegetation near rights-of-way. We love trees too, but it only takes one overgrown limb to knock out power for an entire neighborhood.

Trimming improves power reliability for our entire community. In addition to managing vegetation, we regularly inspect utility poles, power lines and other critical equipment to maintain a more reliable system.

If you experience a power outage, don’t assume a neighbor reported it. It’s best to report the outage yourself, and we make it easy to do. The quickest way to report an outage is through our KEC mobile app or by visiting www.kiamichielectric.org from your smartphone. You can also call our outage reporting number at 1-800-888-2731.

If you have a medical condition that requires electrical equipment, please let us know, and always have a backup plan in place. This plan could include a portable generator, extra medical supplies or moving to an alternate location until power is restored. If you plan to use a generator for backup power, read all safety information and instructions before use.

Mother Nature can be unpredictable, but as a member of KEC, you can feel confident knowing we’re standing by, ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

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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WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES!

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

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month Even in summer months, adding insulation to your attic can keep your home more comfortable and save energy used by your cooling system. If your attic insulation is level with or below your floor joists (meaning you can easily see your joists), you should add more. If you can’t see any of the floor joists because the insulation is well above them, you likely have enough insulation. Attic insulation should be evenly distributed with no low spots. Make sure the areas along the eaves are adequately covered.

Easy Taco Casserole INGREDIENTS • • • • • •

1 pound ground beef 1 cup salsa ½ cup chopped onion ½ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 2 cups crushed tortilla chips, divided • 4 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese, divided • 4 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cook and stir ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir salsa, onion, mayonnaise, chili powder, and cumin into the beef. Remove from heat.

Spread about half the ground beef mixture into the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish. Spread about half the tortilla chips in a layer atop the beef mixture. Layer about half of each of the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the tortilla chip layer. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients, ending with Monterey Jack cheese. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is melted in the middle, about 30 minutes.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Renewables Report

Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during January 2022, which shows 29 percent of the power generated by WFEC came from renewable sources.