This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
c ommenta r y


By Brett Orme CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Larry Culwell, President DISTRICT 7


David Ray, Vice President DISTRICT 4


Don Parr, Secretary-Treasurer DISTRICT 5


MEMBERS Russell Shaw


Richard Medlock Ron Pelanconi Mark Ichord


Brett Orme Executive Vice President-CEO


Kiamichi Electric Cooperative (KEC) is committed to providing reliable and affordable electric service to members in Latimer, LeFlore, Pittsburg, Pushmataha and Atoka counties.


The people and businesses that purchase electricity from Kiamichi Electric are considered member-owners of the co-op. Each member—regardless of how much electricity they purchase – has an equal say in how the cooperative is operated.


To exercise their right, Kiamichi Electric members are encouraged to attend co- op meetings and vote in co-op elections.


Kiamichi Electric service territory is divided into seven districts. Members within each district meet every two years to choose a fellow member to represent their interests on the Kiamichi Electric board of trustees. KEC board members set policy and oversee cooperative business.


DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 6


Let's Let Linemen Do Their Jobs I


n the early years of the electric cooperative program, co-op employees handled a multitude of


jobs. A secretary might double as the co-op bookkeeper, while someone on the construction crew would clear right of way when necessary. Even members themselves stepped in to help by manning the phone lines during power outages.


Those were the days. Today, Kiamichi Electric Cooperative (KEC) serves over 16,000 members. The sheer size of your co-op demands that certain protocols be followed. While KEC's focus will always remain local, these days we must take steps to ensure the safety, security and satisfaction of our members and our employees.


For example, KEC linemen are no longer allowed to accept or deliver bill payments from members. In the past, members who happened across our linemen in the field might ask them to deliver their bill payment to our office. Sometimes this was a personal check, but often it was cash. From the member's perspective, this was a convenient delivery system. It saved them from having to deliver it by hand or from speculating on when it would arrive at our office by the mail.


That was then. Today, KEC makes it easy for members to pay their electric bill at virtually any time of day, seven days a week. Payment


ope ra t i on roundup Monthly Financial Report


YEAR TO DATE COLLECTIONS: YEAR TO DATE DISBURSEMENTS: TOTAL COLLECTED SINCE INCEPTION:


$ 28,631.01 $ 27,267.64


$ 1,311,496.64 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS SINCE INCEPTION: $1,216,021.96 2 | may - june 2016 | Light Post


Operation Roundup is a voluntary bill roundup program that benefits southeast Oklahoma communities, organizations and needy families. Applications for funds are available at Kiamichi Electric, local social services , or online at www.kiamichielectric.org.


options include paying online, paying via smartphone app, phoning in bill payments 24/7, using local payment kiosks, or paying using one of KEC payment programs such as autodraft. That's the short list. More details on ways to pay are listed on page 4.


With so many available payment options, there's no reason to burden field employees with the task of safely delivering bill payments, especially when they could be called to respond to a power outage at any minute and not return to the office for hours.


A lineman's work day is unpredictable and filled with the responsibilities of ensuring a steady flow of electricity to your home. Their focus should remain on repairing lines and staying safe at all time. Keeping up with someone else's bill payment isn't what they are trained for, nor is it their responsibility.


While this was an awfully nice thing for them to do, from a management perspective, the situation creates the high potential for miscommunication, misunderstanding and an all-around unsatisfactory experience for everyone involved. With the multitude of convenient payment options available to members today, why run the risk of a payment getting lost or misplaced? Our good reputation and strong relationship with our members is far more important to us. Thank you for your understanding.


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