SEPTEMBER 2021
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CEO’s Monthly Report
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Scammers strike again
A supplement to the Oklahoma Living
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Lig ght Post
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Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta
PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF KIAMICHI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
ANNUAL MEETING POSTPONED KEC 2021 Annual Meeting Postponed Greetings Kiamichi Electric Cooperative members, I would like to update you concerning this year’s Annual Meeting that is scheduled for Oct. 2. With the number of positive COVID-19 cases on the rise and out of an abundance of caution, Kiamichi has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 Annual Meeting. The health and safety of our members and employees is a top priority, and we believe this decision best benefits everyone involved. I know many of you enjoy this event and look forward to it every year and we here at KEC enjoy the opportunity to get to see you at the event. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment; we are disappointed as well. Other options were considered but under the current circumstances, KEC feels this decision is in the best interest of our members, employees and our communities. Although we are postponing this meeting, we want to assure you that we are actively at work providing you, the members, with safe, reliable and affordable electric service and that we look forward to seeing you at an Annual Meeting as soon as it is safe to do so. As always, we encourage our employees and members to follow CDC guidelines to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook for further co-op updates. You can find us at www.facebook.com/kiamichielectriccooperative. Thank you!
Brett Orme, KEC General Manager
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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 Pelaconi, Vice President DISTRICT 3 Russell Shaw, Treasurer DISTRICT 1 Amy Miller DISTRICT 2 David Ray DISTRICT 4
Most adults have a vague memory of a time when “checking for messages” meant listening to an answering machine. We carried on with our days without relying on cell phones and managed just fine. But today, we are more connected than ever through our smart phones and other devices. Our phones are so much more now — from cameras to calendars to social media connections — and truly disconnecting from them can be tough. But it’s even harder for our kids to unplug because they only know life with these tiny screens. It’s difficult for them to imagine life without computers, gaming devices, tablets or cell phones. But there’s great value in unplugging for children and adults, even if it’s for just a short period of time. For kids, time away from the screen to be outside with other children allows them to connect with nature and others in a way that a virtual experience simply does not allow. They are able to experience life in the moment and allow their creativity and energy to break free. Fortunately, we have access to great community programs and organizations like 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc. that provide children with a safe place to play, learn and grow, while cultivating new skills and interests. These types of clubs and programs offer kids an opportunity to explore activities and interests outside of school academics. Children can investigate areas they might not otherwise have access to and discover new interests and passions. They often learn new skills and strengthen existing ones. It’s no secret that the broader the range of experiences and activities children
are exposed to, the more likely they are to find their own path and possibly a career. Community programs also foster important leadership development and public speaking skills. Through guided and informal play and activities, children learn problem-solving and interpersonal skills that enable them to resolve conflicts peacefully and improve interpersonal relationships. Adults can also find meaningful opportunities to spend time with the kids when we all unplug. From board games to craft projects to playing in the park, there are many ways we can unplug for some family fun. While you and your children are disconnecting, take a moment to identify potential energy savings. Unplug electronics that are not in use to avoid “vampire” energy loss. This is the energy that is drained from technology and electronics even when they are not in use. For example, although it is turned off, your TV is waiting to receive a signal from the remote and your DVR is waiting to record the next show or perform an update. Let’s encourage youngsters to step away from the screens and join in. To play and be part of an organization that helps them connect with others and find meaningful interactions and explore new activities and interests. When you do plug back in, KEC is here to help you save money and energy by connecting you with our energy saving programs and services. While we’d love to see you in person, we’re also just a call or click away.
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.
KEC will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, 2021 for the Labor Day holiday. Please call 918-4652338 to report a power outage or safety hazard.
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SCAMMERS STRIKE AGAIN
By Abby Berry
Every day, millions of Americans are targeted by scammers through phone calls, emails, text messages, online or in person. Scammers’ tactics can change daily, which is why it’s important for consumers to stay on top of the latest scam reports from local and national news outlets, as well as your local utility companies. Just last month, several KEC members were targeted through a phone scam where the scammers demanded immediate payment and threatened to shut off power if the money was not received. Remember, KEC will never call you and demand immediate payment without notice. We want you to be aware of two trending scam tactics. One is the overpayment trick, where a scammer contacts you and claims that you have overpaid your utility bill. The scammer will say they need your personal banking information to deposit the credit back to your checking account. Don’t fall for this scam! If you make an overpayment on your energy bill, KEC will automatically apply the credit to your account, which will carry over to your next billing cycle. Another trending scam is smishing (short for SMS phishing). Many consumers know to watch out for suspicious emails, but we tend to trust text messages sent to our smartphones. Always question suspicious texts, especially from someone claiming to represent a utility. These are just a couple examples of trending scams, so it’s
important to watch for any red flags. Here are a few reminders on how to take control of the situation when you’ve been targeted by a scammer: • Take your time. Utility scammers try to create a sense of urgency so that you’ll act fast and hand over personal information, especially over the phone. Take a moment to think about the situation before acting. • Be suspicious. Scammers typically request immediate payments through prepaid debit cards or third-party apps. Unusual requests like this should raise red flags. Remember, if the request seems strange and out of the ordinary, you’re likely being targeted by a scammer. • Confirm before you act. If you’re contacted by someone claiming to represent KEC or another utility but you’re unsure, just hang up the phone and call the utility directly. You can reach us at 918-465-2338 to verify the situation. Our increasingly connected world provides scammers with more opportunities to connect with unsuspecting consumers. Be vigilant, and please report any utility scams to KEC so we can let others in our community know. Together, we can help prevent our friends and neighbors from being victimized.
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.
Renewables Report
Data collected from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative — KEC’s wholesale power provider — reflects generation during May 2021, which shows 48 percent of the power generated by WFEC came from renewable sources.
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operation round up
RECIPE
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 2021: $26,515.55 YEAR-TO-DATE DISBURSEMENTS: $14,630.79 TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION: $1,711,463.93 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: $1,637,867.81
Energy Efficiency
Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta
INGREDIENTS
• 1 pound chicken thigh, meat only, raw • 1 pinch chili powder, or to taste • salt and ground black pepper to taste • 1 tbsp olive oil, or as needed • 5 cloves garlic, minced
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1 (16 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 cup heavy cream 1 (8 ounce) package fresh spinach 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil, or to taste • 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
DIRECTIONS
Tip of the Month Energy used for cooling and heating your home makes up the largest portion of your monthly energy bills. By combining regular equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bills while helping our environment. Source: Energy.gov
Pat chicken dry and season with chili powder, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in the hot oil until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a clean plate. Place garlic in the leftover juices in the pan and saute over medium heat until aromatic, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in tomato sauce and heavy cream; reduce heat to low. Add spinach and basil and cook and stir until spinach wilts. Add chicken to the sauce and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the centers. While chicken mixture cooks, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain. Serve chicken mixture on top of pasta. Place under the broiler again until sugar is caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Photo and recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com.
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