KEC Light Post May 2024

LIGHT POST

LIGHT POST

SUMMER ENERGY

C O N C E R N F O R R E L I A B I L I T Y

Y E A R

B r e t t O r m e

L o r e m i p s u m d o l o r s i t a m e t , c o n s e c t e t u r a d i p i s c i n g

e l i t . I n n e q u e n u n c , m o l e s t i e e u s

One of my favorite things about summer is the opportunity for fresh, homegrown food, whether it’s shopping at the local famers’ market or sharing the abundance of garden tomatoes with a neighbor. It’s amazing how just a few seeds, some fertilizer and water can turn into a bounty.

R E A D M O R E

L o r e m i p s u m d o l o r s i t a m e t , c o n s e c t e t u r a d i p i s c i n g

e l i t . I n n e q u e n u n c , m o l e s t i e e u s e m p e r i d , a u c t o r q u i s

m e t u s . M a e c e n a s m a t t i s m e t u s s a p i e n , v i t a e u l t r i c i e s

n u n c o r n a r e v i t a e P r a e s e n t m o l l i s n i s l m a g n a , a c

d i c t u m m a s s a s c e l e r i s q u e a t S e d l a o r e e t l i g u l a v i t a e

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 >>

j u s t o l u c t u s , v e l i a c u l i s l e o s c e l e r i s q u e

R E A D M O R E

B y H o w a r d O n g THE

m a g n a , a c d i c t u m m a s s a s c e l e r i s q u e a t S e d l a o r e e t

l i g u l a v i t a e j u s t o l u c t u s , v e l i a c u l i s l e o s c e l e r i s q u e

Ah, summer. Cookouts, swimming pools, camping––it’s the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. And when it’s time to come back indoors, there’s nothing better than that cool blast you feel from your home’s air conditioning unit. Your heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system is essential to keeping your home comfortable during summer months, and if it breaks down, it’s also the most expensive equipment to repair or replace.

L o r e m i p s u m d o l o r s i t a m e t , c o n s e c t e t u r a d i p i s c i n g e l i t . I n n e q u e n u n c , m o l e s t i e e u s e m p e r i d , a u c t o r q u i s m e t u s . M a e c e n a s m a t t i s m e t u s s a p i e n , v i t a e u l t r i c i e s n u n c o r n a r e v i t a e . P r a e s e n t m o l l i s n i s l m a g n a , a c d i c t u m m a s s a s c e l e r i s q u e a t . S e d l a o r e e t

l i g u l a v i t a e j u s t o l u c t u s , v e l i a c u l i s l e o s c e l e r i s q u e .

W I N T E R V E G E T A B L E G A R D E N I N G

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 >>

A WORD FROM THE CEO

continued from page 1

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In neque nunc, molestie eu emper id, auctor quis metus Maecenas mattis metus sapien, vitae ultricies nunc ornare vitae. Praesent mollis nisl magna, ac dictum massa scelerisque at. Sed laoreet igula vitae justo luctus, vel iaculis leo scelerisque. Donec ullamcorper, lorem vitae posuere consectetur, leo ex vulputate ipsum, nec faucibus arcu velit at odio Duis ut pellentesque lectus. Etiam facilisis sem et commodo sagittis.

When I think about energy efficiency, I think about that bounty of food, and how with just a few simple actions, you can use less electricity and reap the rewards of energy savings.

You don’t need to be a farmer or botanist to know that plants need water––just like you don’t have to be a lineworker or engineer to know that adjusting the thermostat or turning off lights can reduce your monthly electric bill. In fact, if you read Kiamichi Electric Cooperative’s publications regularly and follow us on social media, you know there are a lot of things you can do at home to save electricity and money.

Save money with these easy incentives:

• Recycle – If you have an old refrigerator or freezer that’s running but is not used much, it’s costing you.

• Take Control of Your Use – Use the KEC mobile app to track your energy use. You can even get alerts when your use spikes so you can make changes in real time.

• Ways to Pay – If you’re having a difficult time paying the higher bills that come with increased used in the summer, contact us to learn about our levelized billing program.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In neque nunc, molestie eu semper id, auctor quis metus Maecenas mattis metus sapien, vitae ultricies nunc ornare vitae. Praesent mollis nisl magna, ac dictum massa scelerisque at. Sed laoreet ligula vitae justo luctus, vel iaculis leo scelerisque. Donec ullamcorper, lorem vitae

Most people don’t know everything about electricity, and that’s why we’re here to help you. There are no investors making profits here. Just knowledgeable people with local jobs, working for our neighbors to ensure there is electricity available when you need it. Contact us, and we can work with you to find more ways to save energy––and money.

posuere consectetur, leo ex vulputate ipsum, nec faucibus arcu velit at odio Duis ut pellentesque lectus. Etiam facilisis sem et commodo sagittis.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In neque nunc, molestie eu semper id, auctor quis metus Maecenas mattis metus sapien, vitae ultricies nunc ornare vitae Praesent mollis nisl magna, ac dictum massa scelerisque at. Sed laoreet ligula vitae justo luctus, vel iaculis leo scelerisqu ll l l x vulputate ipsum, nec

Summer months bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. But why? Cooling your home accounts for a large portion of your monthly energy use, and the hotter it gets, the harder (and longer) your air conditioner works to keep you cool.

But I’d also like to share a few ways we’re here to help you save––not only during the dog days of summer but throughout the year.

One of the great things about being part of KEC is that we’re locally owned by you, our members. So instead of making profits, we can focus on helping our community. That’s why we’ve developed tools and programs to help you keep your money in your wallet.

CEO BRETT ORME

WINTER

VEGETABLE GARDENING

continued from page 1

Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to lengthen the life of your HVAC system.

Change or clean filters. Dirty filters block airflow, which can greatly decrease the efficiency of your system. The Department of Energy recommends changing or cleaning filters every month or two during the cooling season. If your unit is in constant use or is subjected to dusty conditions or pet hair, consider checking filters more frequently.

P L A N T I N G T I P S

1. Using a digital probe thermometer (about $12), measure the temperature of the air being pulled into your HVAC filter.

2. Measure the temperature of the air blowing out of your A/C vent.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit In neque nunc, molestie eu semper id, auctor quis metus Maecenas mattis metus sapien, vitae ultricies nunc ornare vitae Praesent mollis nisl magna, ac dictum massa scelerisque at Sed laoreet ligula vitae justo luctus, vel iaculis leo scelerisque Donec ullamcorper, lorem vitae posuere consectetur, leo ex vulputate ipsum, nec faucibus arcu velit at odio. Duis ut pellentesque lectus. Etiam facilisis sem et commodo sagittis.

Clean the HVAC unit. Outdoor condenser coils can become clogged with pollen, dirt and small debris. Use a hose to spray the HVAC unit once each season to ensure maximum airflow. (Warning: Do not use a pressure washer to do this, as it can damage the equipment.)

Clear space around the HVAC unit. Dryer vents, falling leaves and grass left behind from the lawnmower can create buildup. Remove any debris around the HVAC unit. If you have foliage near the unit, trim it back at least 2 ft. around the condenser to increase airflow.

If you want to evaluate the efficiency of your HVAC system, try this quick test.

The outdoor temperature should be above 80 degrees, and you should set your thermostat well below the room temperature to ensure the system runs long enough for this test.

3. Subtract the A/C vent temperature from the HVAC filter temperature. You should see a difference of about 17 to 20 degrees. If the difference is less than 17 degrees, you may need a licensed technician to check the coolant. If the difference is greater than 20 degrees, your ductwork may need to be inspected for airflow restrictions.

You should also have your HVAC system periodically inspected by a licensed professional. The frequency of inspections depends on the age of your unit, but the Department of Energy recommends scheduling tune-ups during the spring and fall, when contractors aren’t as busy. When HVAC equipment fails, it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable––especially during the dog days of summer. Remember, your HVAC system runs best when it’s regularly cleaned and serviced. With a little maintenance along the way, you can add years to your system’s lifespan.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit In neque

nunc, molestie eu semper id, auctor quis metus Maecenas mattis metus sapien, vitae ultricies nunc ornare vitae Praesent mollis nisl magna ac dictum massa scelerisque at Sed laoreet ligula vitae

E X P E R T

A D V I C E

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In neque nunc, molestie eu semper id, auctor quis metus Maecenas mattis

recipe of the MONTH

Air-Fryer Spicy Green Beans

INGREDIENTS

• 12 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp soy sauce • 1 tsp rice wine vinegar • 1 clove garlic, minced

• ½ tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

Gather all ingredients. Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F.

Place green beans in a large bowl. Whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a separate bowl, then pour over green beans. Toss to coat and let marinate for 5 minutes.

Place 1/2 of the green beans in the air fryer basket.

Cook in the preheated air fryer, shaking basket halfway, until crispy, about 10 to 12 minutes. Repeat with remaining green beans.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Renewables Report

Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during February 2024, which shows 29 percent of the power generated by WFEC potentially come from renewable sources.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS