What’s Inside Local medical staff inspires individuals across the world
Cotton Electric energy efficiency home evaluations benefit members on page 8
on page 13
The
A spicy pork stew for cold winter days on page 14
Current
A Publication of Cotton Electric Cooperative Inc.
“The Current - Informing Our Members Since 1957” VOLUME 66
December 12, 2022
NUMBER 4
FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS
MERRY CHRISTMAS WISHING YOU JOY AND HAPPINESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND IN THE COMING YEAR.
-THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES OF COTTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Be prepared for winter weather this season Heavy accumulations of ice and snow coupled with fluctuating winter temperatures can bring down utility poles, trees and limbs. This can disrupt power for days on end. With this comes a threat to property and to life itself. In a winter storm emergency, restoring power and heat to members is the highest priority, and electric utility crews work around the clock to make it happen. Even so, it can take days to repair the devastating damage of a winter storm. If you are in the midst of storm recovery, avoid going outside if possible. Downed power lines could be submerged in snow and ice and difficult to identify. When outside, treat all downed and hanging lines as if they are energized electric lines: Stay away, warn others to stay away and immediately contact your utility company. Remember that downed power lines do not have to be arcing, sparking or moving to be live and deadly.
Cotton Electric and Safe Electricity stress the importance of being prepared for winter storms and the power outages they may cause. You need the right emergency items and knowledge to stay warm and safe in a winter storm. The following are tips to prepare your home: • Before winter sets in, update your insulation and caulk, and install weather-strips. • Call a professional tree trimmer to cut branches away from your home. Call us for limbs near power lines. Everyone, particularly families with special needs, must be prepared in case of a winter emergency and long-term power outages. Prepare an emergency kit with the following items: • Battery-powered radio and flashlights with fresh batteries • Extra blankets • Water for drinking and washing • Non-perishable food and a can opener • First aid kit and prescription medicines
When a storm hits, your preparation should include knowledge. The following tips from Cotton Electric and Safe Electricity can help you and your family stay safe and warm. • Switch off lights and appliances to prevent damaging appliances and overloading circuits when power is restored. Leave one lamp or light switch on as a signal for when your power comes back on. • To prevent water pipes from freezing, keep faucets turned on slightly so that water drips from the tap. Know how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts. • Do not use charcoal grills or gas ovens to heat your home; this could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Stay inside and dress in warm, layered clothing. • Close off unneeded rooms. • When using an alternative heat source, follow operating instructions, use fire safeguards and be sure to
properly ventilate. Always keep a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it. • Stuff towels and rags underneath doors to keep the heat in. • Cover windows at night. • Maintain a regular diet. Food provides the body with energy for creating its own energy. • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. • Move around to keep warm, but not enough to perspire. Perspiring causes the body to lose fluids which could potentially lead to dehydration. • Keep a close eye on the temperature in your home. Infants or persons over age 65 are more susceptible to the cold. You may want to stay with friends, relatives or in a shelter if you can’t keep your home warm. Cotton Electric and Safe Electricity offer these safety tips in the hope everyone has a safe winter season.
STAY I NG SAFE DURING A N OUTA GE
We work hard to provide the most reliable service possible. Rest assured, if the power is out, we are on it!
The length of time it takes to restore your power depends on several factors, including the:
Extent of the storm’s destruction
Severity of utility equipment damage
Number and Accessibility extent of to damaged outages equipment
STAY SAFE UNTIL POWER IS RESTORED Stay far away and keep others away from downed power lines, which could be live and deadly. If you come across a downed line, immediately call 9-1-1 to report it. Never enter a flooded room; the water could be energized. If you are standing in water, do not turn on/off power or flip a switch.
Prepare for a storm by gathering these items: Bottles of water
Extra batteries
Non-perishable food
Pet supplies
Portable phone charger
Blankets
Prescriptions
Warm clothing
Battery-operated radio
First-aid kit
Flashlights
Hand sanitizer
THANK YOU for your patience during outages. When the lights go off, we are working safely and efficiently to restore power. The safety of our employees, as well as those we serve, is our TOP priority.
Generator safety on page 9
Power Cost Adjustment Calculated The power cost adjustment now being applied to bills mailed after December 1, 2022, is $0.01987 per kWh. On a member’s average bill of 1,300 kilowatt hours (kWh), this will amount to a charge of $25.83 on the December bill.
November 2022 Temperature Extremes Day High Low 1 78 44 2 75 51 3 79 57 4 75 41 5 64 36 6 75 46 7 72 51 8 81 66 9 80 66 10 75 50 11 50 35 12 53 26 13 56 24 14 41 31 15 48 27
Source: srh.noaa.gov/oun/
Avg. 61 63 68 58 50 61 62 74 73 63 43 40 40 36 38
Day High Low 16 53 27 17 58 24 18 40 31 19 51 25 20 52 20 21 59 23 22 62 30 23 56 38 24 55 47 25 50 41 26 49 44 27 54 34 28 68 29 29 69 34 30 47 23
Average Daily High: 61 Average Daily Low: 37
Avg. 40 41 36 38 36 41 46 47 51 46 47 44 49 52 35
Did You Know? Cotton Electric offices will be closed on Dec. 23 and 26 for Christmas and Jan. 2 for New Year’s. Emergency calls will be answered at 580875-3351 or 800-5223520.
Contact Us
Do you have a story idea for The Current or do you need to place an ad? If so, let us know. We can be reached at 580-875-3351 or by email at TheCurrent@ cottonelectric.com. You can also drop us The next issue of The a line at Cotton ElecCurrent should arrive tric Current, 226 N. in mailboxes on Jan. 16, Broadway, Walters, OK 2023. 73572.
Mission Statement Our mission is to safely deliver reliable and affordable power, provide excellent member service, and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.