Central Empowered January 2023

MEMBER

SPOTLIGHT: WHAT CAN’T MAK MAKE?

Pies, cupcakes, sewing creations, key chains and signs are just a few of the items 17-year-old Guthrie High School Junior Makenna Bench makes for her business.

Mak, as her friends and family call her, began her business Mak Makes during the pandemic.

“Mak Makes got its start when I asked for a cake decorating kit for Christmas,” Bench said. “I began making cakes for family and sewing masks during the pandemic, and it took off from there.”

She said her mother began posting the cakes she made for family gatherings on social media and they received a lot of attention. Quickly after, Mak created her own social media accounts and soon began receiving orders for her cake creations.

Since her start in 2020, she has made more than 100 cakes and 500 cupcakes, some of which can take up to a full day to create.

“My favorite cake I’ve made so far has been the farm cake (pictured below),” Bench said. “It took about ve to seven hours to make.”

Mak said she mostly does baking on weekends and holidays when she’s not busy with school, choir, her church youth group, hunting, shing or playing tennis with family and friends.

“I’ve always been organized,” Bench said. “I like to think through all of the details. I also only accept projects that I have time for.”

All of the baking, piping and creating happens at her family’s full-functioning barn, which is powered by Central Rural Electric Cooperative.

Constructing the projects all come from Mak, but her her mother helps by talking through ideas and occasionally assisting with deliveries.

“There was a time I had my mom drive to a wedding while I was holding this three-tiered cake trying my best not to shake,” Bench said. “Wedding cakes are the most challenging and stressful to make because you want them to be perfect for the customer’s big day.”

Follow her Facebook and Instagram at Mak Makes to see more of Mak’s creations. Want to nominate a business for a member spotlight? Visit mycentral.coop/spotlight

Makenna Bench, Guthrie High School junior and owner of Mak Makes.

Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of

CENTRAL UPDATES RATES

Board approves rate adjustment e ective April 1

As I watch costs rise on everything from food to fuel, I am reminded of an old saying, “Tough times make tough people.” Every challenge we face helps prepare us for the future.

Unfortunately, it’s a lesson that must be experienced rather than simply taught, and no one is exempt. Not even

cooperative.

We are impacted by the same rising costs and material shortages you experience at home. The cost of energy is rising at an accelerated rate while at the same time costs associated with operating and maintaining electrical distribution systems are increasing. High fuel costs, limited labor pools, long delays for basic construction materials and through-the-roof vehicle pricing have enormous impacts on a not-for-pro t’s bottom line.

and ultimately returning any pro t back to you in the form of capital credits, as we just did in December. While we will always stay true to providing electric service at a competitive rate, current economic challenges have created a need to make adjustments.

by Hunter Robinson, Central CEO

Within this newsletter and on our website, you will nd information relating to a rate adjustment, effective April 1, in three rate categories. For residential members, this equates to a change of twotenths of a cent ($0.002) per kWh and a one-dollar adjustment in the service availability fee.

The cooperative is designed to ensure you receive a competitive energy rate by not focusing on pro t

Rate adjustments are unfortunately an unavoidable cost of operating the cooperative. Central does everything it can to minimize the impact rising costs have on you. Our commitment to you is that we will continue to provide you with exceptional reliability as we strive to maintain one of the lowest rates in the state.

TRAVEL CENTRAL

Did you know Central is made up of seven districts? Travel throughout our service area as we dive into each district throughout the year learning more about what makes each Central area great.

MEET YOUR DISTRICT 1 TRUSTEE

Gary McCune joined Central’s board in 2008 and has been a member since 1978. He was previously on Central’s board from 1989 to 1992. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and is the owner of Camco Home Improvements.

YOUR STOP: DISTRICT 1

WEATHERING A WINTER STORM

GARY MCCUNE

McCune previously served as the president of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and president of the Stillwater Home Builders Association.

MUST VISIT BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT 1

Check out these amazing businesses on Central’s lines!

Hoffman Pecan Farm

405-372-3583

7104 E 32nd Ave., Stillwater

A local family-run farm that offers fresh paper shell pecans, custom cracking and blowing, graft wood and custom grafting. Hoffman’s is open Monday - Saturday from November to March 1 and by appointment during the off-season.

Oklahoma Lasermade 405-714-2609

oklahomalasermade.com Specializing in laser engraving and custom plasma cutting. Creating custom metal working, Oklahoma Lasermade creates one-of-a-kind signs and home decor located near Glencoe.

Mint Mobile Detail 405-886-6468

mintmobiledetail.com

Full-service car detailing that comes to you! They service within a 30-mile radius of Stillwater and will come to your work or home with state-of-theart cleaning products.

Jibʻs Coffee 520 S. Kinnick Rd., Stillwater Open Tue., Wed., Fri. 6:30-10 a.m.

A drive-thru coffee shop that serves a delicious breakfast! Follow their Facebook account at Jib’s Coffee.

Healing Hands Massage Therapy 405-880-0523 healinghandsok.com • Stillwater Offers massage spa services for vitality healing and pain control. Services include hot stones and towels, deep tissue, pregnancy and re exology massages.

Space Walk of Stillwater 405-334-4639 stillwaterspacewalk.com Space Walk makes planning your parties easy! Book giant water slides, obstacle courses, bounce houses, tents and so much more!

Natureʻs Vein Wildlife Rescue 405-655-0091 • naturesvein.com Provides rescue, education and conservation for wildlife. Book an event near Stillwater.

When ice and heavy snow bring down limbs and power lines, safety is a consideration indoors and out. Make sure you know how to weather the storm.

Before a winter storm, have supplies on hand and know how to stay warm:

� Keep a battery-powered radio or TV, flashlights and a supply of fresh batteries. Also, have water, blankets and nonperishable food.

� When power goes out, it can spike when coming back on. This can damage electronics. Keep your electronics safe by unplugging them when the power goes out. Leave one lamp or switch on as a signal for when your power returns.

� To prevent water pipes from freezing, keep faucets turned on slightly, so water drips from the tap. Know how to shut o water valves in case a pipe bursts.

� Never use a charcoal grill to cook or heat inside the home. Burning charcoal gives o deadly carbon monoxide gas. Charcoal grills should only be used outdoors.

Tips provided by safeelectricity.org.

As a not-for-pro t, memberowned cooperative, Central’s rate affordability and service reliability are important.

A third-party entity evaluates rate performance and the cost to provide electric service to all members annually. This process is in place to ensure all the necessary expenses required to operate and maintain the system are adequately covered and the current rate structure is appropriate for all members.

After an extensive review of our current rates and cost of service,

the board of trustees has voted to implement necessary rate adjustments effective April 1, 2023.

Adjustments will be made to the current residential rate and service availability fee, the small commercial oil and gas rate and the medium power oil and gas rate. Central will continue to simplify rate structures and minimize the impact of necessary price increases while providing you with exceptional reliability.

Learn more at mycentral.coop/rates.