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COM M E NTARY


Prepare now for the cooling season A


Chris Meyers General Manager, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


s summer ap- proaches and temperatures rise, we put our air conditioners back to work. It’s during the first few hot days of the year when we re- ally put our air con- ditioners to the test— and many of them will either not work properly or even fail. Unfortunately, when they do fail, most of


us opt for a quick fi x with whatever is available and at the lowest cost—a speedy return to com- fort trumps all.


Before those hot days get here, it is important to have your cooling system checked. While you are at it take the time to evaluate its effi ciency—it might be money wise to replace your air-conditioning unit even before it fails. In Oklahoma, a high per- centage of our total household energy consump- tion is for heating and cooling.


The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s most recent Residential Energy Consumption Sur- vey reports that states in the west south central census division—Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkan- sas—use 42% of their total household energy con- sumption for space heating and air conditioning.


J. Chris Cariker President,


Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


pril marks the end of my term as President of the Oklahoma Associ- ation of Electric Coop- eratives (OAEC). It has been a privilege for me to serve in this capac- ity for the last year. I would be remiss, however, if I did not take this opportunity to share with you about how diligent the OAEC


Having an effi cient cooling system and watching where you set the thermostat can make more dif- ference in your summer electric bill than anything else you do. If your unit is getting old, chances are you need a replacement sometime in the near fu- ture anyway, so why not do the energy savings math now? Check the Seasonal Energy Effi ciency Ratio (SEER) of your unit. SEER is similar to miles per gallon for a vehicle, the higher the SEER, the more effi cient it is. If you need help with your analysis you can call on a reputable heat and air contractor or contact your electric cooperative. Another good source of information is Touchstone Energy’s web- site togetherwesave.com. Use the energy savings calculator to get an estimate of the annual savings you can achieve by replacing your old unit with a new high-effi ciency unit.


If you really want to reduce your heating and cooling costs, consider a ground source heat pump. While it has a higher initial cost, the ground source heat pump is far and away the most effi cient sys- tem available. Contact a contractor that specializes in ground source heat pump installations or your local cooperative for more information. You can read more about ground source heat pumps on Page 12 of this edition.


While your electric cooperative works hard to keep each kilowatt-hour affordable, only you can control how many of them you use. Remember to regularly evaluate your cooling system—you could enjoy big savings by doing so. OL


A progressive board, a solid future A


board of directors has been in looking out for you, our member-owners.


The electric utility industry is at a crossroads. Today, the cost of electricity is being infl uenced by environmental challenges, regulatory compliance, and fuel choices that will generate tomorrow’s power. These issues are discussed frequently in the boardrooms of every distribution and generation- transmission (G&T) cooperative throughout Okla- homa.That’s what makes serving on this board of directors somewhat unique.


You see, the OAEC board is comprised of both managers and directors from each local electric co-op, and from the two G&Ts that bring whole- sale power to scores of substation delivery points in both urban and rural areas. Together, these 30 managers and 30 locally-elected directors bring


4 OKLAHOMA LIVING


balance, experience and stability to your Statewide association board.


In some organizations, boards are reluctant to take on tough tasks, knowing that the end result could be unpopular or not benefi cial to all par- ties concerned. That’s not the case with the OAEC board of directors.


Each and every manager and director has a con- cern for the end-use member-owner who lives on a rural electric line, or who receives power generated and transmitted by a cooperative-owned power plant. While cost is always a primary concern, it’s not the only issue that weighs on the minds of the 60 board members that make up the OAEC leader- ship team. Quality of life matters, too. This past year, the OAEC board has grappled with an active regulatory agenda put forth by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. Regulatory policies and rules affecting generat- ing plants, fuel sources, and emissions have been analyzed and discussed openly, always with an eye focused on what’s in the consumer’s best interest. OAEC board members are always on the look- out for proposed state or federal legislation that could have detrimental effects on the collective co-op membership. This board has been progres- sive, never shirking their responsibilities to co-op members.


In short, OAEC has a solid future, thanks to its board of directors and management team. Thank you for supporting this fi ne organization. OL


Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


Chris Meyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Manager J. Chris Cariker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .President Glenn Propps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice-President Joe Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary-Treasurer


Staff


Sid Sperry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Director of PR & Communications sksperry@oaec.coop


Anna Politano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor editor@ok-living.coop


Larry Skoch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Manager lskoch@ok-living.coop


Christy Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Offi ce Manager cjohnson@oaec.coop


Kirbi Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accountant/Offi ce Manager Asst. kbailey@oaec.coop


Emilia Buchanan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communications Assistant ebuchanan@oaec.coop Hayley Imel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multimedia Specialist himel@ok-living.coop


Editorial, Advertising and General Offi ces


P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309 Phone (405) 478-1455 Oklahoma Living online: www.ok-living.coop


Subscriptions


$3.12 per year for rural electric cooperative members. $6.00 per year for non-members.


Cooperative Members: : Report change of ad- dress to your local rural electric cooperative. Non-Cooperative Members: Send address changes to Oklahoma Living, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.


Oklahoma Living (ISSN 1064-8968), USPS 407-040, is published monthly for consumer-members of Oklahoma’s rural electric cooperatives by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Coopera- tives, 2325 E. I-44 Service Road, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.


Circulation this issue: 315,638 Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.


The Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives is a statewide service organization for the following electric cooperatives: Alfalfa, Arkansas Valley, Caddo, Canadian Valley, Central Rural, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cookson Hills, Cotton, East Central Oklahoma, Harmon, Indian, KAMO Power, Kay, Kiamichi, Kiwash, Lake Region, Northeast Oklahoma, Northfork, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Ozarks, People’s, Red River Valley, Rural, Southeastern, Southwest Rural, Tri-County, Verdigris Valley, and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.


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