Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of
SAVING ENERGY AND MONEY
Energy savings don’t need to be a sacrifice. They can oftentimes come as a small upgrade. While winter rages on for months ahead, your family may consider energy-saving items to help reduce your electricity use and cost. At Central Rural Electric Cooperative, our purpose is to improve our members’ quality of life. One way Central can do this is through appliance rebates for both residential and commercial members. Check out a few of the rebates offered below.
Smart Thermostat
The comforts of heating and cooling often come with a price tag during the winter and summer months. Smart thermostats can help reduce the amount of energy you use. Smart thermostats allow you to create a schedule for your home. This allows you to have the exact temperature you want when you are at your house while adjusting the temperatures while you’re away, resulting in energy savings.
Electric Water Heater
According to energystar.gov, a certified electric water heater can save a household of four or more approximately $470 per year on their electricity bill, compared to a standard electric water heater. Over the lifetime of the water heater, it provides more than $4,500 in savings.
EV Charging Station
Your family may be considering an electric vehicle for your future. Did you know you can receive a rebate for a new and UL listed Level 2 charging station?
Home Weatherization Project
There’s a rebate on Central’s website that offers a refund of 50 percent or up to $750 of the cost of repairs or improvements for weatherization and energy savings. Find these rebates and more at mycentral.coop.
Being a member has a lot of benefits! Freeze the day by checking out Central’s rebates for co-op members. Scan the QR or visit mycentral.coop/rebates.
CENTRAL UPDATES RATES
Board approves rate adjustment effective April 1.
JANUARY 2024 Central Board of Trustees: Carol Dvorak, President (District 3) James Wells, Vice President (District 6) Greg Tytenicz, Secretary/Treasurer (District 2) Randy Wedel (District 1) Sid Sperry (District 4) Ken Starks (District 5) Randy Ethridge (District 7) Hunter Robinson - Chief Executive Officer Empowered Editors: Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Business Development and Marketing Larry Mattox - Director of Communications Kory Bowman - Marketing and Communications Specialist Ivy Swan - Marketing and Communications Specialist
www.mycentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop twitter.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop
Contact Us: editor@mycentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884 3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809 Stillwater, OK 74076 Notice: Central’s office will be closed Monday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day and Monday, Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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I hope you were able to enjoy time When considering the energy with family and friends during the industry on a national level, I predict holidays and are able to take a continued price volatility. The moment to catch your availability of firm power, breath as we transition federal legislative activity into a new year. Once and the future integration again, the year flew by of renewables all impact too quickly, and while the cost of power at the I can’t predict what wholesale level. 2024 will bring, I can give you a small glimpse Along with power of what 2024 will look cost volatility comes like at your electric the increasing cost to cooperative. support day to day by Hunter Robinson, operations. This includes Central CEO Opportunities for you everything from the cost to engage in the business of the cooperative will always remain a top priority for us. Keep an eye open for event dates and times as we grow our member participation numbers to all-time highs. Whether it’s our drive-thru annual meeting, drive-thru district meetings, Kilowatts and Brats member appreciation picnics or Coop Kids Day, we have something fun and informative for kids of all ages. If you can’t make it to an event, look for us in your community. We continue to bring the cooperative principle, Concern for Community, to life through our participation in community events and parades or by impacting local organizations through grants from the Central Community Foundation.
HOW DOES CENTRAL COMPARE? AVERAGE OKLAHOMA CO-O P RATE IN 2021:
11.73 ¢
CENTRAL’ S RATE:
9.92 ¢
.S. AGE U TE: AVER L RA ENTIA RESID
15.64
¢
of fuel, which is used to operate and maintain our 4,500-mile electrical distribution system that spans seven counties, to the cost of materials needed to construct new and replace old infrastructure. These factors heavily impact your cooperative, and ultimately create the need for a rate adjustment across multiple rate classes, both residential and commercial. These rate adjustments will be implemented this spring.
Every year comes with its own set of challenges, unknowns and new opportunities. I think 2024 will bring with it opportunities that will ultimately help position the cooperative for the future as we continue to provide you safe, reliable and affordable service.
AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL RATES COLORADO 14.29 ¢
NEW MEXICO 14.11 ¢
KANSAS 14.13 ¢ OKLAHOMA 12.57 ¢
TEXAS 13.55 ¢
MISSOURI 12.29 ¢ ARKANSAS 11.86 ¢
LOUISIANA 12.69 ¢
YOUR TICKET TO LOCAL MUSEUMS Looking for something fun and warm for the family to do this winter? Visit these amazing museums located in Central’s service area. Cherokee Strip Museum 2617 Fir St., Perry Explore the remarkable events and people who made the Cherokee Outlet at this museum.
Oklahoma State Museum of Art 720 S. Husband St., Stillwater This museum has ever-changing exhibits and creative events for adults and children to enjoy.
Drumright Historical Society Museum 301 E. Broadway St., Drumright This museum focuses on the unique history of the first great oil discovery in Oklahoma.
Route 66 Interpretive Center 400 E. 1st St., Chandler Housed in Chandler’s armory building, this museum emphasizes the life that Route 66 instilled in communities across America.
Edmond History Museum 431 S. Blvd., Edmond From prehistoric times to the present, learn about Edmond’s wonderful history at this museum. Laboratory of History Museum 100 N. University Dr., Edmond This museum preserves the University of Central Oklahoma’s history through the context of the community, state and nation.
Museum of Pioneer History
719 Manvel Ave., Chandler Ignite your enthusiasm for Oklahoma history at this museum dedicated to the preservation of history in Lincoln County. National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum 405 W. Hall of Fame Ave., Stillwater This museum is a focal point for preserving the heritage and achievements of wrestling.
State Capital Publishing Museum 301 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie Preserving the historical significance of the first State Capital, this museum is the location where President Theodore Roosevelt signed a proclamation establishing Oklahoma as the 46th state in the union. Territorial Capital Sports Museum 315 W. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie This museum is dedicated to promoting Oklahoma’s athletic heritage.
The Grand Lodge Museum
102 S. Broad St., Guthrie This museum focuses on preserving the heritage of Oklahoma Freemasonry.
RATE NOTICE – APRIL 1, 2024 As a not-for-profit, memberowned cooperative, Central Rural Electric Cooperative’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 a necessary residential rate adjustment effective April 1, 2024. Adjustments will be made to the current residential rate and several commercial rate schedules, and Central will continue to remain one of the lowest-cost providers in the state. Learn more at mycentral.coop/ rates. Residential Rate Original Rate
New Rate
Change
.083 per kWh Rate .089 per kWh .006 per kWh
*Average Residential Usage of 1,513 kWh/month
Example of Energy Charge* $125.58
$134.66
$9.08
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B U H t R A M S E T A D P U P P A
for sale Great Plains no-till drill, 30 ft. Cat Challenger Ag 65C track tractor. Call 405-714-3422. Two adjoining graveside plots at Gracelawn Cemetary in Edmond. $1,000 each. Call 405-277-0014. 4 Paws Inn and Spa @4pawsinnok on Facebook and Instagram 405-338-7136 • 6304 S Perkins Rd., Stillwater stillwaterpetboardingservice.com
Nonprofit Postings
Your favorite co-op app is getting an upgrade mid-January.
Central Community Foundation grant applications are due on January 15, to be reviewed at the February foundation meeting. Learn more and submit your application at mycentral.foundation.
SUBMIT YOUR AD Submit your ad by email to editor@mycentral. coop by the 5th of each month! Ads will be edited and run as space allows. V I S I T MYC EN TRAL .COO P/SMART-HUB FOR MORE I NFOR MATION
WIN A WEEK-LONG TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. Oklahoma Youth Tour is a competition for a weeklong, all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for high school juniors sponsored by Central.
YOUTH TOUR 2024 4
Scan the QR code to learn more!