KEC Light Post November 2022

NOVEMBER 2022

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Keeping pets & energy bills comfortable

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KEC Foundation gives back

A supplement to the Oklahoma Living magazine

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Lig ght Post

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2022 Annual Meeting was a success!

Our first Annual Meeting in three years went off without a hitch on Saturday, Oct. 1, and I couldn’t be more thankful to our hard-working employees who made it happen, to those who were able to attend, and to our many vendors who donated, making it possible to give away over 100 door prizes!

This year, we invited local Chambers of Commerce to attend and help promote the happenings throughout all parts of our service area, and we offered flu shots to those in attendance thanks to our friends at Mays Home Health.

Kids enjoyed seeing a bucket truck up close, experiencing a KEC Safety Show and meeting the co-op mascot, Willie Wiredhand, in the KEC Kids Corner.

As always, a number of members walked away with prizes — and one lucky grand ...I couldn’t be more prize winner who who won a $600 bill thankful to our hardcredit!

Again, we thank everyone who attended working employees and hope to see you again next year!

who made it happen, and to those who were able to attend...

Renewables Report

PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

BY BRETT ORME

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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Keeping Pets and Energy Bills Comfortable 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 Ron Pelaconi, President DISTRICT 3 Russell Shaw, Vice President DISTRICT 1 Amy Miller, Treasurer DISTRICT 2 David Ray DISTRICT 4 Don Parr DISTRICT 5 Mark Ichord DISTRICT 6 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.

By Anne Prince

I don’t know about you, but I consider my four-legged companions part of the family. I know others feel this way, too.

That’s why during the winter months, we make sure our whole family, including our four-legged members, is cozy––without taking a big “bite” out of our budget.

This month, I’d like to share a few simple ways you can make your home more comfortable this winter, which can ultimately help you save on energy bills.

At the onset of the cold weather season, we replace the HVAC filter for better air quality and to help the unit operate more efficiently. You can also keep your home cozier by caulking and weatherstripping windows and doors. If your home is particularly chilly, you can tape or affix heavy, clear plastic to the inside of your window frames to create an additional barrier against the cold. Ensure that the plastic is tightly sealed to the frame to help reduce infiltration.

We know winter can be “ruff ”, so we set our thermostat at 68 degrees, a “purr-fect” temperature for people and pets. This is especially important for smaller, short hair and senior dogs––not just for warmth, but for their general health. Puppies, kittens and older pets with arthritis or other ailments may have a harder time controlling their body heat and need the additional warmth when it’s chilly out.

Pets that sleep close to the floor can be subject to cold drafts that enter your home through windows and exterior doors. If your pet’s bed is near a window or door that feels drafty, tightly roll up a towel and place it

near the bottom of the door or window to eliminate the draft. Cutting down on cold drafts helps everyone feel more comfortable during colder months.

If possible, elevate your pet’s bed so it’s not placed directly on a cold floor. An old chair or sofa cushion works well. If you don’t use a dog bed, take some old blankets and create a donut shape on the cushion so the dog can snuggle and “nest” within the blanket. You can do the same for cats but on a smaller scale. Blankets enable pets to nestle into them, even when they aren’t tired, and provide a comfortable place for dogs and cats to curl up.

During the day, open your blinds and curtains to allow sunlight to warm your home. Close window coverings at night for an added layer of insulation.

At KEC, we want to help you save energy and money. Visit our website at www. kiamichielectric.org for additional energysaving tips.

We can’t control the weather, but we can provide advice to help you save energy and keep your family and furry friends more comfortable during the winter season.

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.

CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS KEC’s Youth Tour contest is now open! You could win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. next summer!

Apply now at www.kiamichielectric.org

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Congratulations to KEC’s newly-certified Journeyman Linemen, Brandon Doyle and Corbin Matlock (pictured center). Their dedication and hard work means a more safe, reliable delivery of electricity to your homes and businesses.

Congratulations, Brandon and Corbin!

Make payments and report outages using our free mobile app

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operation round up

Apple Crisp

M O N T H LY U P D AT E

INGREDIENTS

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 2022: TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION:

$38,296.00 $1,700,078 $1,800,358

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month

• 2 ½ cups apples - peeled, cored, and sliced • 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour • 1 cup white sugar

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • ¼ teaspoon salt • ½ cup butter, softened

DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish.

Arrange apple slices evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sift flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender, or 2 knives, until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal; sprinkle over apples.

Bake in the preheated oven until topping is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Is your home heating system ready for the winter chill? One of the easiest ways to keep your system running efficiently is to regularly replace filters. If your central air system has a furnace filter, it should be replaced about every 90 days. If your home is heated through warm-air registers, baseboard heaters or radiators, remember to clean regularly to boost efficiency.

Renewables Report

CO-OP KIDS DAY

In honor of National Cooperative Month — and one of our seven co-op principles of Education, Training and Information — KEC hosted over 100 students at our headquarters. Students toured the facilities, saw a KEC Safety Show, learned about solar energy and watched Lineman Jeremy Shaffer do a pole top rescue.

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