A newsletter for members of Rural Electric Cooperative
December 2021
Co-op Comments Be prepared for winter storms When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Winter storm severity varies depending on where you live, but nearly all Americans are affected by extreme winter storms at some point. REC cares about your safety, and we want you to be prepared. Heavy snow and ice can lead to downed power lines, leaving consumer members without power. During extremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous. During a power outage, our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power, but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself. • Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace
or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution when using, and never leave the heating source unattended. If you are using gasoline, propane or natural gas burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember fuel and wood-burning sources of heat should always be properly ventilated. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using. • Stay fed – The CDC recommends having several days’ supply of food not required to be cooked handy. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage.
• Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down. It is best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines, always assume they are live. Stay as far away from the downed lines as possible, and report the situation to our dispatchers by calling 800-259-3504 if possible. Winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous, and planning ahead can often be the difference between life and death. REC is ready for what Mother Nature has in store, and we want you to be ready, too. For more winter safety tips, visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather.
CEO’s MESSAGE
Repayment plan for last year's winter storm
February 2021 brought one of the coldest winter weather events to Oklahoma on record, with 12 consecutive days of below freezing temperatures. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) who manages most of the generation and transmission of electricity in Oklahoma and 13 other states in the Midwest, was unable to meet the demand for power which caused rolling blackouts. These blackouts lasted for one hour on February 15 and three hours on February 16. This curtailment of service was implemented throughout the entire SPP service area and was necessary to protect the transmission grid and generation facilities from catastrophic failure. During the time of the Polar Vortex, Storm Uri, the price of natural gas skyrocketed from $2 to $3/MMBtu to over $1,200/ MMBtu. Texas, which is not a member of the SPP, suffered a more severe curtailment of electric service as natural gas prices rose even higher. The United States, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions, has pushed for new electric generation to come from renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydro power. This push has been to reduce the power generated from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Wind and solar 2 Co-op Comments
power are great when conditions are right. However, with the extreme conditions caused by Storm Uri, dark and cloudy days limited solar generation and ice buildup on the wind turbines limited wind generation. Natural gas compressors and pipelines froze up causing the perfect storm which lead to natural gas prices to spike to all time high prices. You have seen and read many stories in the news lately about how all utility companies, gas and electric, are going to recover the additional costs associated with the inflated price of natural gas during the storm period. REC is not exempt from this issue. Those additional fuel cost will be passed from the SPP to Western Farmers Electric Co-op (WFEC), our generation and transmission cooperative, then to our members. REC’s portion of the additional fuel cost of Storm Uri is $8.5 million. The management and board of directors of REC have worked diligently to minimize the impact to our members. We were able to develop a plan allowing us to use $1 million from reserve funds to pay down a portion of the balance. The additional fuel cost passed on to our members will be based on kWh usage resulting in an approximate $5 to $6 increase, for the average homeowner, on their monthly bills over the next five years. This additional cost will be first added to the bill you receive in February 2022. We are fortunate in Oklahoma to have one of the cheapest rates for electricity in the entire nation. Please know REC is working diligently every day to provide you our member-consumers with reliable, dependable and affordable electrical service. As always, please call one of our Member Services Representatives or me if you have any questions. Wishing you all a happy and wonderful holiday season!
December 2021 Co-op Comments Official publication of Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. CO-OP COMMENTS is owned, controlled and directed by Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. It is printed monthly and mailed to members in Garvin, McClain, Comanche, Stephens, Grady and Carter counties in Oklahoma. Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. 13942 Highway 76 • P.O. Box 609 Lindsay, OK 73052 405-756-3104 • 800-259-3504 Outage Number: 855-399-2683 www.recok.coop
Board of Trustees Gary Jones, President, District 1 Scott Christian, Vice President, District 1 Brent Bacon, Sec./Treasurer, District 1 Larry Anderson, District 2 Johnny Harrel, District 2 Terri Hays, District 2 Charles Crawford, District 3 Mark Finch, District 3 Randy Griswold, District 3 Dan Williams, Attorney Management and Staff Dusty Ricks, Manager/CEO Linda Ray, CFO Kelli Lindsey, Administrative Assistant and Staff Coordinator Elaine Gilreath, Manager of Customer Service and Data Processing Jon Jones, Manager of Engineering Mitch Gilreath, Manager of Information Technology Services Megan Lawrence, Manager of Member Services and Marketing Jason Brown, Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities David Crull, System Superintendent Jason Mays, Operations Superintendent
Holiday decorating tips for an energy-conscious home Whether you have already decked your halls or you are just getting started, there is still time to incorporate energy savings into your holiday décor planning. If you have not strung your twinkle lights, be sure to use LED light strands. LEDs consume far less energy than incandescent lights and they can last 40 holiday seasons. They are also safer because they are made with epoxy lenses, not glass, making them more resistant to breaking – and they are cool to the touch, so no burnt fingers. 941402 If you missed Santa’s memo about energy-saving LEDs and your holiday lights are already up, you can still save on lighting costs. All you need is a programmable light timer. Most models cost between $10 to $25 and can be purchased through online retailers like Amazon or at big box stores like Lowe’s or Wal-Mart. With a light timer, you can easily program when you want your holiday lights turned on and off, which will save you time, money and energy. If you are using a timer for exterior lighting, make sure it is weatherproof and intended for outdoor use. If Clark Griswold’s décor style is a bit much for your taste, consider a more natural approach. Many Christmas tree farms, and even retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, give away greenery clippings from recently trimmed trees. With a little twine, extra
ornaments and sparkly ribbon, you can create beautiful garlands and wreaths to hang over your front door or windows. To add extra twinkle at night, you can install solar-powered spotlights to illuminate your new (essentially free) greenery. Solar spotlights can vary in price, but you should be able to purchase a quality set of four for about $30 – and because they run on natural energy from the sun, there is no additional cost to your energy bill. Regardless of how you decorate your home for the holidays, there are plenty of ways to save energy throughout the season.
SMART PAYMENTS SMART MANAGEMENT. SMART LIFE. SMARTHUB. Save time. Avoid service interruptions. Eliminate late fees. With SmartHub you will be notified when your bill is due and can pay securely online or in the app, anytime, anywhere. Sign up for autopayments, set up your secure preferred payment method and let account management go into autopilot. ...All in the palm of your hand and online. www.smarthubapp.com
Co-op Comments 3
Classified Advertisement MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE: Dog box for back of truck, 6 Greyhound or coonhound size stalls, $400. PH: 405-756-8232. FOR SALE: Ashley wood burning stove for shop, good condition, $300. PH: 405-756-1499. FOR SALE: Wheelchair, $280. PH: 405-351-0878. FOR SALE: Angus/Beefmaster cross custom slaughter steers, all natural, no hormones, no antibiotics, humanely raised, taking orders for March 2022 processing available in ¼, ½, or whole orders. PH: 405-444-0403. PETS & LIVESTOCK FOR SALE: Nigerian dwarf goat herd, 24 in total, serious inquiries only. PH: 405-441-4994.
Classified Ads are FREE to REC members to post noncommercial items. Deadline for ads is the 8th of every month. Call the Member Services Dept. at 405-756-3104 ext. 238.
Look for your
Capital Credits
applied to your bill If you were a member in 1989 and 1990, your Capital Credits will be applied to your bill.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month Heading out of town for the holiday season? Remember to unplug electronics as they draw a phantom energy load. Some gadgets like TVs, phone chargers, gaming consoles and toothbrush chargers use energy when plugged into an outlet–even when they are not in use. Learn more at www.energy.gov.
RECREATIONAL FOR SALE: 15' Tracker John Boat with
trailer, 3 horsepower Evinrude motor, 2 padded seats. PH: 580-467-4711.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM OUR CO-OP FAMILY TO YOURS, WISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR. REC WILL BE CLOSED ON DEC. 23 AND 24 FOR CHRISTMAS, AND DEC. 31 FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Local Co-op Connection Card Deals A-U-Store It, Purcell $5 off first month rent Backroads Boutique, Lindsay 5% off everything excluding special order and sale items Best Western, Chickasha 15% Off Regular Room Rate Blue Moose Outdoor Portable Rentals, 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, Chickasha 10% Off Any Purchase Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, Purcell 10% Off Purchase Photos by Ginger, Pauls Valley 1 Free 8x10 Print With First Order of $25 4 Seat Saddles, Boots and Hats 10% Off $100 or More, or 5% Off Repairs 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. Co-op Comments 4