KEC Light Post May 2023

LIGHT POST

Published for members of Kiamichi Electric Cooperative

KEC to Increase Late Penalty

By CEO Brett Orme

Kiamichi Electric Cooperative is committed to being your trusted energy provider by bringing safe, reliable power and quality member service with sound economy and good management. Your not-forprofit cooperative works hard to minimize the impact of necessary price increases, as we are accountable to our members and not outside investors.

We are reaching out to advise you that there will be an increase in Kiamichi Electric’s delinquent (late payment) charge effective June 1, 2023. This charge will increase from 1.5% to 5% with a $5 minimum fee.

Brett Orme General Manager

This fee has not increased in over 30 years and is being implemented to adequately recover the costs associated with the administration of late fees, including staff time, additional printing of delinquent notices, envelopes, postage, etc. This adjustment will help protect the membership as a whole.

We offer multiple payment options and can help you sign up for auto-draft so your payment is always made on time, avoiding past-due payment fees.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this price increase, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team is more than happy to discuss this with you. You can also find an updated copy of our Terms and Conditions (Section 204.3) on our website at www.kiamichielectric.org.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

• West Bowers, Gowen, and south to Hartshorne

• West 6-mile lane, Patterson, north to Centerpoint, Robbers Cave State Park

• Arkla Road & Limestone

• Franklin Electric

• Beard addition, east down Cravens Road

• South along Hwy 2, Damon Valley, Hulsey Prairie, Veterans Colony

KEC has contracted with RMA Engineering to conduct pole inspections beginning Feb. 16, which could take several weeks to complete. The crew is required to wear safety gear and will be in a marked KEC truck. They will take measurements of the pole, document information and take pictures during the inspection. This will include poles located off the Manning substation:

There may be some areas where the crew has to walk because of access, so we’d like to ask if you have a locked gate, please leave it unlocked.

KEC

Andy Eakle MANAGER OF ENGINEERING

Sharla Ivy MANAGER OF PROCUREMENT

Michelle Warmuth MANAGER OF MEMBER & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Heather Ziverk MANAGER OF MEMBER SERVICES

Four

DON’T place flammable items, like potholders, napkins or dish towels near the stove while cooking.

DO keep electrical devices away from water to prevent electric shock.

DO ensure you’re using the correct wattage in all light fixtures.

DON’T overload electrical outlets with more devices than the circuit can handle.

May is Military Appreciation Month

By Anne Prince

Service. Mission. Country. You likely identified immediately (and correctly) that these three words describe our nation’s veterans. They also succinctly describe a core co-op ethos.

While veterans are innately motivated to serve, in a similar vein, electric co-ops are guided by foundational principles that put their community first. Afterall, electric co-ops were founded to bring electricity to rural areas where there was none. In doing so, they powered local economies and helped them to thrive. I believe this close connection to an essential mission is why there are so many veterans in the utility industry and why they are such a great fit for electric co-ops.

Today’s veterans are highly skilled because everyone who joins the military is either trained in a tech career field or exposed to advanced technology during their years of service. Many veterans have skills in advanced disciplines such as engineering, electronics or mechanics, which are all beneficial for the utility industry. KEC is proud to employ ___ veterans, and we’re especially grateful for their contributions to the co-op and to our community.

LEADERSHIP AND TEAMBUILDING SKILLS

Our veteran colleagues joined the co-op equipped with training in leadership and teamwork. That’s because while on active duty within their units, servicemen work closely together because they know their lives depend on each other’s actions. This fosters a high level of self-discipline, sense of personal responsibility and passion for excellence.

The utility industry is increasingly complex and undergoing profound transformation. While there is the traditional engineering and vegetation management aspect of the utility industry, it now

also encompasses technology, cybersecurity and the electrification of the transportation sector and other areas of the economy. Veterans are adept at responding to changing conditions and learning and adapting to new technologies, which is essential in our evolving industry.

MISSION-ORIENTED OUTLOOK

Working for an electric co-op is more than a job. There is a clear mission in the work–– to help our consumer-members and the community. When you work so closely with the community, you can’t help but feel a sense of commitment and responsibility to our members. It’s similar to the sense of duty and responsibility that veterans experience in the military. They feel deep, personal responsibility and commitment to their co-op team members and to the members we serve. Veterans are trustworthy, goal oriented, wanting to do right for their co-op and their community.

May is Military Appreciation Month and at KEC, we are grateful to have veterans within our ranks and we are proud to serve them and their families within our community. But beyond our gratitude, we demonstrate our deep appreciation through our actions and ongoing commitment to veterans and their families.

At the national level, electric co-ops support the “Vets Power Us” program, which is aimed at employing and honoring veterans and their families. This effort involves partnering with other electric co-ops across the country along with the Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration and others to hire veterans in the energy industry.

May is Military Appreciation Month, and I hope you’ll join me in recognizing the sacrifices veterans have made to our great country––and the many contributions they continue to make to our wonderful community. Veterans, we salute you!

Anne Prince 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.

At KEC, we are grateful to have veterans within our ranks and we are proud to serve them and their families within our community.

MONTHLY UPDATE operation round up

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: $6,254.64

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: $1,766,100.00

TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION: $1,844,423.00

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

The location of your thermostat can impact your HVAC system’s ability to maintain an ideal indoor temperature. For maximum accuracy, thermostats should be placed in the center of the home, away from air vents, plumbing pipes and exterior doors. Avoid placing items like lamps and televisions near your thermostat, which can cause the HVAC to run longer than necessary. Avoid installing thermostats in rooms that tend to feel warmer or colder than the rest of the home. Do not place furniture in front of the thermostat, which can block air flow and result in inaccurate readings.

Chipotle & Adobo

Pickled Eggs

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups distilled white vinegar

• 2 cups water

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• 1 onion, quartered

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 2 canned chipotle chilies

DIRECTIONS

• 2 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers

• 12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled

In a large pot, combine the vinegar, water, garlic, onion, salt, sugar, chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Bring to a boil, and cook until the onion is translucent, about 15 minutes. Place the hard-cooked eggs into clean jars. Strain the boiling brine into the jars to cover the eggs. Cover with lids and refrigerate for at least 3 days before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Renewables Report

Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during February 2023, which shows 36 percent of the power generated by WFEC potentially came from renewable sources.