few years. Trees can cause blinks when they grow into electric lines. During storms or high winds they can also cause outages by being blown into the line causing a direct fault. In ice storms, the ice can weigh down limbs that hang over lines causing severe damage. Any tree that comes in contact with a line also contributes to line loss which costs money. With this in mind, in 2011 your board of trustees approved the purchase
As we begin a new year, I would like to reflect just a moment on this past year. I would like to discuss a few things you may not be aware of. One thing that causes problems for our distribution system is trees. You would think tress would not be a problem considering our geographical location and especially with the drought conditions we’ve experienced the past
Safe Use of Electric Heating Products Add Winter Warmth
Used properly and safely, electric blankets and other heating
devices can help keep you toasty during cold winter months. Follow these safety tips for electric blankets and heating pads:
• Purchase items only if they have been approved by an independent testing facility, such as Underwriters Labo- ratories (UL).
of a Terex skid steer with a tree mulching head. We put a tree crew together consisting of two men. For the past twelve months the two man crew and this machine have been cutting trees. This has proven to be a much more efficient and cost effective way of battling trees. When things are running smoothly, the machine can cut a mile of trees
a day. In the past this would take a crew of four or five men a week to complete. Chainsaws and a chipper can’t do the job as neatly or efficiently as the machine. Our operations department also had a major accomplishment. This past year all OCR’s (Oil Circuit Recloser) were changed. These are breakers on the line that trip when a fault is detected on a line. This should help our distribution system perform with fewer problems. In the past, OCR’s have been changed as needed. This is the first time to my knowledge that all OCR’s have been changed in a year. This is just another example of how we are continuing to improve service. Another program implemented in the past few months is our Pre-Pay program. This has been a very popular program so far with members not wanting to pay a large deposit. It allows you to pay for your electric usage in advance and when your balance gets low you start receiving email notifications reminding you a payment is needed. One of the benefits of Pre-Pay is you can pay into your account whenever
you want. There is no deadline as long as money is in your account. It also makes you aware of how you use electricity and in most cases helps conserve usage. We are very proud to be able to offer this service. Of course; the issue we continue to struggle with the most is the 2010 ice storm restoration. Currently we have six contractor crews working on the restoration. They have rebuilt around 180 miles of line this past year. With everything that’s involved it’s quite a challenge. Even though this puts a tremendous amount of stress on our employees, we keep in mind that once completed, the system will be much improved and thus worth the effort.
we realize you are the reason we are here and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you. As always, we will do our best to bring you safe, reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost. We hope you have a happy, safe, and prosperous new year.
HARMON ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC 114 North First Hollis, OK 73550
Operating in
Beckham, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa and Greer Counties in Oklahoma and Hardeman and Childress Counties in Texas
Member of Western Farmers Electric Cooperative Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives National Rural Electric Cooperative Association National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. Oklahoma Rural Water Association, Inc.
HARMON ELECTRIC HI-LITES Lisa Richard, Editor
The Harmon Electric Hi-Lites is the publication of your local owned and operated rural electric cooperative, organized and incorporated under the laws of Oklahoma to serve you with low-cost electric power.
Charles Paxton ......................................................................................... Manager
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Pete Lassiter ..................................................................................................District 1 Jim Reeves ....................................................................................................District 2 Clinton Nesmith .............................................................................................District 3 Bob Allen .......................................................................................................District 4 Burk Bullington ..............................................................................................District 5 Jean Pence ....................................................................................................District 6 Billy R. Nowell ................................................................................................District 7 Charles Horton .............................................................................................. Attorney
Monthly Board of Directors meetings held fourth Thursday of each month In all that we do, we keep you the member/owner in mind. I assure you
• Inspect all cords and connections for cracks and frayed edges, which are a huge fire and injury hazard. Replace blankets or heating pads with faulty cords.
• Discard your blanket or heating pad if you see dark or charred spots on the surface.
• Do not put another cover on top of an electric blanket unless the safety instructions included in the packaging specifically state it’s safe to do so.
• Once your electric blanket or heating pad is switched on, keep it laid flat—a folded device can cause a fire, as can a blanket that’s been tucked in (which can bend wires).
• Never use heated bedding while asleep—look for a model with a timer that switches off automatically.
Space heaters:
• Purchase a safety-certified model and read the included safety instructions.
• Keep units 3 ft. away from combustible materials—such as bedding, drapes, clothes, and rugs. Space heaters have parts that can spark, so avoid using them in areas where you store flammable liquids like kerosene and gasoline.
• In general, plugging space heaters directly into a wall outlet is best. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it’s the correct type and boasts the right wire gauge size for your particular space heater.
be done. In the coming months I will keep you updated on future plans. It’s good to look back, but it’s also important to look forward and plan for the future.
Although a lot has been accomplished this past year, there is still much to
• Check safety instructions before using a space heater around water—some models are not intended for use in bathrooms.
• Be sure children are supervised around space heat- ers. Curious exploration can lead to electrical shock or burns.
• Finally, unplug and store the space heater in a safe place when you’re not using it.
Have a safe and warm winter! 115601
IF YOUR ELECTRICITY GOES OFF, REPORT THE OUTAGE
We have a 24-hour answering service to take outage reports and dispatch service- men. Any time you have an outage to report in the Hollis or Gould exchange area, call our office at 688-3342. Any other exchange
area call toll free, 1-800-643-7769.
TO REPORT AN OUTAGE, CALL 688-3342 or 1-800-643-7769 ANYTIME
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