April 2024 Co-op Comments

C o-op Co-op C omments Comments

REC recently adds training yard

With a vision to help promote education and safety, REC has added a training yard to their headquarters.

“I had been thinking about the need for a training yard for a while,” says Casey Henson, Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities. “After I took over as the Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities, allowed the idea to come to fruition and add the additional poles and start building our training yard.”

Before building the training yard, REC had one pole for the line workers to practice pole top rescue and climbing. The newly expanded training yard added four additional poles with three-phase construction and additional equipment on the poles for continued training.

“It has been exciting to watch our line workers want to go to the training yard to expand their knowledge and understanding and help teach each other,” Henson adds. “The idea behind this training yard, is to give our employees an opportunity to expand on what they learn at our statewide association’s training yard and do their tasks the safest way possible.”

Since adding this additional opportunity for the employees, the district line workers and the more experienced line workers have been sharing their experiences and teaching our newer employees about what they will encounter while being on-call or helping in other areas of the service territory.

“Currently, we only have overhead construction with transformers, but we have

plans to add an underground loop and transformer for our line workers to identify bad underground lines,” Henson says. “I would also like overhead single-phase construction to be added as well.”

This training yard is another example of REC using the cooperative principles by providing continued education, information and training for their employees. With better understanding about what the line workers will encounter, will in turn better serve REC's membership.

“Training and safety go hand in hand, and by practicing what you do not always see everyday will allow our employees to have the knowledge they need to do their job efficiently but always keep safety in the front of their mind,” concludes Henson.

Doing whatever it takes to power lives

Line workers are ranked as one of the ten most dangerous jobs in the country. The line workers at Rural Electric work rain or shine, in often challenging conditions to ensure you have reliable electricity. We are celebrating Line worker Appreciation Day on April 8, 2024.

As many know line work is dangerous. Line workers are required to work near high-voltage electricity and if they move the wrong way or lose focus for a split second, it could be deadly. They have to be aware of their surroundings and the safety of the person next to them. Our line workers are working with an element of danger requiring concentration, and there is no margin for error. The environment compounds the pressure, because when our members need power it is usually when the weather is worst. They often work in storms with rain, wind, extreme heat and cold, in the dark, or on the side of the road next to fast-moving traffic. While it is dangerous, they are trained to do it and they our line workers, do it well.

Line workers are required to undergo years of training before they can officially be called a Journeyman Line worker. Typically they start as a groundperson, helping crews with tools and keeping job sites safe, then they transition to apprentice status, which typically spans four years. After an apprenticeship, with more than 7,000 hours of training under their belts, they transition to Journeyman Line worker.

But their education is ongoing. Line workers continuously receive training to stay mindful of safety requirements and up to date on the latest equipment and procedures to keep them ready.

The daily expectations of a line worker are physically demanding, but you will not hear them complain. Our line workers know what they signed up for - loading heavy materials, climbing poles and in and out of buckets. But this is what they wanted to do and most are just glad to be outside everyday.

There are some sacrifices to being a line worker. They are often first on the scene of an emergency, seeing devastating events like car accidents, structure fires and damage from severe storms. They do not know what type of situation they are going to face or when they will face it again. We get calls all hours and in the middle of the night. They often miss family activities and gatherings, but their families are supportive. They make sure there is nothing standing in the way of helping friends and neighbors get back to normal life.

Our line workers and employees are members of the communities we serve. So, you can trust our line workers and employees are doing their best to get you, our members, back to normal life. Today and every day we are thankful for our line workers and appreciate the sacrifices they make to help power your everyday lives.

Gary

Scott

Brent Bacon, Sec./Treasurer, District 1

Larry

Johnny

Terri Hays, District 2

Mark

Randy

Sonny

Co-ops shaping their energy usage future through innovation

The energy industry is undergoing significant change driven by technology and the transition to more sustainable forms of energy. Innovation is essential in addressing challenges and ensuring a continuous, reliable and affordable power supply.

Electric co-ops are no strangers to adapting to the needs of the local communities we serve. Rural Electric Cooperative has always leaned into change as we explore new ways to meet your energy needs.

Advanced Technologies

By using advanced equipment like drones to inspect our local grid, the sensors provide real-time data on the condition of power lines while satellite imagery is used to monitor vegetation growth. Allowing us to pinpoint potential problems before they even occur and ultimately improve service for all.

Investing in smarter technologies also can enhance the monitoring and control of electricity flow so we can respond swiftly to changing needs. Smart electric meters remotely collect data on how electricity is being used. This helps in promptly prioritizing and dispatching crews during an outage and reduces restoration time during weather-related disruptions. Even before adverse weather is here, advanced analytics from our systems, combined with data on weather patterns and other information, allows us to be proactive in taking preventative measures. 1124800

Preparing for Increased Energy Use

Today, we depend on electricity more than ever before. From vehicles to farming equipment to home heating options, more products and appliances we depend on run on electricity.

Interest in electric vehicles (EVs) is growing. REC is available to help our members make informed decisions about EVs, including electric charging options and capacity requirements for the home.

Automakers are transitioning to add more electric-only models in the next 10 years. REC, like all electric providers, must plan now to have the necessary infrastructure in place to meet future EV charging needs – without jeopardizing the ability to provide reliable power.

Additionally, we are exploring innovative technologies to help address the increasing demand for electricity.

Innovative Efficiency Solutions

REC is driven by a commitment to community and member satisfaction. As consumers become more proactive in managing their energy use, we are providing new ways to help our members lower their use and save money.

Free energy evaluations for a home can help you take advantage of actionable energy-saving advice as well. REC also offers rebates to help our members save money. These rebates will assist with the cost of energy saving heat pumps and program-

able thermostats. By upgrading to a more efficient heat pump will help reduce energy usage over time and help save money by using less.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

You may not realize it, but REC is part of a larger network of 900 electric co-ops nationwide. While we are locally-owned by you, the members of the Co-op, we also have the advantage of working with co-ops across the country to share ideas and leverage the innovations our colleagues might have tried out first. As cooperatives, we are collaborators instead of competitors – it is a unique aspect of our business model, and we are stronger because of it.

Our energy future will look different than it has in the past, but REC is prepared to adapt for the members we serve. Our mission and commitment to you remain steady – to provide reliable power at a cost local families and businesses can afford.

MISCELLANEOUS

FOR SALE: 2010 Tomberlin electric golf cart, street legal. PH:405-535-9033.

Classified Ads

are FREE to REC members to post non-commercial items. Deadline for ads is the 8th of every month. Call the Member Services Dept. at 405-756-3104 ext. 238.

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE: 30 acres with three-bedroom, one and a half bath brick home, attached

garage and an unattached additional two car garage with a loft and a fenced in backyard, $425,000. PH:405-344-7289.

Account Information

Is your REC up-to-date?

Have you changed your phone number or email address lately? Notify REC, so we can update our information. Call our office at 405-756-3104 and make sure we have your current phone numbers and email address.

When we have the most up-to-date contact information it allows us to better inform you, our members, about what is happening at REC.

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Month

A well-designed landscape can add beauty to your home and reduce home heating and cooling costs. Plant deciduous trees with high, spreading crowns to the south of your home to block sunlight in the summer and reduce the need for air conditioning. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter, allowing sunlight to warm your home.

Plant evergreen trees and shrubs with low crowns to block winter winds.

Dense evergreen trees and shrubs planted to the north and northwest are the most common type of windbreak and can help lower energy used for home heating.

Learn more at www.energy.gov.

Local Co-op Connection Card Deals

A-U-Store It, Purcell -

$5 off first month rent

Backroads Boutique, Lindsay5% off everything excluding special order and sale items

Best Western, Chickasha -

15% Off Regular Room Rate

Blue Moose Portable and Septic Services, LLC, Elmore City -

5% Off Septic Tank Pumping, Tent Rental and Special Event Toilet Rentals

Chickasha Diesel Services, Chickasha -

$50 off any big diesel oil change

Edwards Canvas, Pauls Valley - 5% Off

Jenny’s Pics Photography, Lindsay -

10% Off $50 or More Purchase of Pictures

Lindsay Tire and Lube, Lindsay -

$5 Off Any Full Service Oil Change

M & M Furniture, Chickasha10% Off Any Purchase

Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, Purcell10% Off Purchase

Photos by Ginger, Pauls Valley1 Free 8x10 Print With First Order of $25

Pharmacy Discounts -

Check out the discounts available using your Co-op Connections Card at participating pharmacies throughout our area. For a complete list of pharmacies, visit REC’s website to see if your pharmacy is offering discounts to Co-op Connections Card holders.