the
COOPERATOR january 2017 A supplement to Oklahoma Living
Kay Electric Cooperative 300 W Doolin Ave • PO Box 607 Blackwell, OK 74631
Tele: (580) 363-1260
Toll Free: (800) 535-1079
www.kayelectric.coop
Kay Electric Celebrates 80 Years
We’ve come a long way, baby! BY CYNDI MITCHELL
I
t’s a new year and this year Kay Electric Cooperative celebrates its 80th anniversary.
In 1935, less than 11 percent of farms in the United States had electric service. Today, that number has climbed to almost 97 percent. The Rural Electrification Act was enacted on May 20, 1936, but commercial power companies could not justify the
expense of electrifying rural America. Instead, the task fell to rural residents themselves. Farmers in Kay County showed an interest in electrifying their area and discussed the possibility with County Agent W.R. Hutchison, who helped them obtain information.
The group held an organizational meeting on February 24, 1937, and decided to call their co-op Kay County Electric Cooperative. The directors and officers elected at this meeting include Louis Droselmeyer, president; George Fry, vice-president; W.R. Hutchison, secretary; E.W. Higgins, treasurer; and F.J. Rice, director.
SAVE THE DATE!
Kay Electric Cooperative ANNUAL MEETING April 7, 2017
The first section of power line spanned 275 miles in Kay County. Out of thirteen bids received to build the line, W.E. Callahan Construction Company of Dallas was the low bidder at $213,773.73. Today, that same 275 miles of line would cost approximately $8.25 million. Kay Electric energized the first 115 miles of line on January 19, 1938. The cooperative built 700 miles of line from May 1937 to December 1941 to serve 1,400 members. The co-op held its first Annual Meeting on February 1, 1938.
Today, your cooperative owns over 2,262 miles of line, has 50 full-time employees, and serves 5,876 active meters in Kay, Grant, Garfield, Nobel, and Osage counties. Kay Electric’s service territory is split into nine districts and is represented by nine board members who serve three-year terms of office. According to Kay Electric bylaws, members elect these trustees on a rotating basis at the Kay Electric Annual Meeting.
On April 7, 2017, Kay Electric will celebrate its 80th anniversary at the KEC Annual Meeting. We have come a long way since 1937. Please mark your calendar and plan on joining us.
Convenient Bill Paying Options
Pay online using our secure site at
www.kayelectric.coop
Pay via telephone during office hours by using a major credit card at 800-535-1079
Pay in person at KEC or use our 24-hour payment drop box in Blackwell
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
District 1...............Jake Olsen District
2...............Chad Otto District
3...............Ron Shoffner District
4...............Max Hohmann District 5...............Mike Lebeda District
6...............Brady Hostetler District
7...............Kent McAninch District 8...............Dr. Tim Blanton District
9...............Verl Brorsen
General Manager/CEO Tim Rodriguez
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