■ currents ask your co-op
Q. A.
PSO said they offered to help CEC restore power after the ice storm, but CEC refused. Why?
While it’s generous of Public Service Company (PSO)to offer to help another utility during a
major power outage, it’s not likely that they would accept the same from a co-op.
The reason is one of safety. While utility power lines can look very much the same to the untrained eye, there are differences. Electric co-ops, municipal-owned utilities and investor-owned companies such as PSO have different engineering standards, with variances in line construction, design, size of wire and voltages carried.
For the safety of co-op employees as well as the general public, it is imperative that all personnel working on co-op lines be very familiar with these particular details. Any confusion or lack of clarity could have deadly consequences.
To ensure safety and provide support during major outages, electric co-ops created what is known as a “mutual aid agreement.” Under this agreement, co-ops in crisis can reach out and receive help from fellow electric co-ops across the country. After the December ice storm, eight co-op crews and three co-op contractors arrived to assist CEC.
The mutual aid policy puts crews on the ground in areas of need within hours, and is one of the more poignant examples of the “neighbor helping neighbor” cooperative philosophy that brought lights to rural America.
Do you have a question for your electric co-op? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your questions by mail or email to: Jennifer Boling, Choctaw Electric Cooperative, PO Box 758, Hwy 93 North, Hugo,Oklahoma 74743. Email:
jboling@choctawelectric.coop.
Storm Shelter Mapping Project Underway
If you have a storm shelter installed on your property, Choctaw County Emergency Management Service needs to know.
Following a major storm, it’s possible for trees, limbs and other debris to block entrances to storm shelters or safe rooms, making it impossible for those inside the shelter to get out. By creating a map of storm shelter locations, emergency services will be able to locate you if you find yourself stuck following a storm.
If you have a shelter installed, please contact Louis Collins at 580-326-9318. Choctaw Electric keeps a file of all members who have installed shelters using CEC’s loan program, however CEC is not able to provide it to county officials due to provisions of the U.S. Privacy Act.
Closed for Columbus Day
Choctaw Electric Cooperative will close on Monday, October 13 for Columbus Day. To report a power outage during this time, please call 800-780-6486.
Safe Driving Class Scheduled in October
Enroll in an AARP Safe Drivng course and you’ll be less likely to be involved in a traffic accident. You could also reduce your insurance premium.
Choctaw Electric will host an AARP Safe Driving class at 9 am on Wednesday, October 29. The course will be held at the Choctaw Electric office in Antlers.
The cost for the course is $15 per person for AARP members; and $20 per person for
non-members.To enroll or for more details, please contact Brad Kendrick at 800-780-6486, ext. 248.
Allocated Patronage Dividend Applied
In accordance to Choctaw Electric Cooperative bylaws, 2013 notice of Patronage Allocation has been issued. The allocation factor is .0059414313.
To determine your amount of this allocation, multiply the allocation factor by the total amount of your kilowatt- hours used for the year 2013.
This allocated amount is not immediately available as either cash or credit on your electric bill. These notices are redeemable only at the discretion of the Choctaw Electric board of directors. If you have any questions concerning this allocation, please call Jimmie K Ainsworth, director of finance and accounting at 580-326-6486, ext 213.
Two Contests For Members Offer Cash Prizes
■ Find the Lucky Lightbulb: Visit the co-op website at www.
choctawelectric.coop and find the lucky lightbulb. If you spot it, please email Lois Ann Beason at lbeason@
choctawelectric.coop. You could win $25!
■ Lucky Account Number: Search your newsletter for the lucky account number. If you find the number and it belongs to you, contact CEC by the 10th of the month for a bill credit up to $
100.Call, stop by, or email. 800-780-6486, ext 207, email:
jboling@choctawelectric.coop.
4 | october 2014
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160