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The
Current
A Publication of Cotton Electric Cooperative Inc.
“The Current - Informing Our Members Since 1957” VOLUME 67
March 8, 2024
NUMBER 7
Unruly trees and power lines: We’re on it Cotton Electric Cooperative strives to provide safe and reliable power service to its members. One way this goal is achieved is through the cooperative’s Vegetation Management (VM) department. The VM department is a proactive effort to ensure quality power delivery. Preventive vegetation management is valuable to members from a service and an economic perspective. When you see us out trimming trees, know that we are doing so to keep you safe and prevent service issues. Although most trees do not present a problem, some of them grow into or crowd power lines or other electric utility equipment. When trees or other greenery becomes too close for comfort, we have to address it because overgrowth can interfere with power distribution and create other potential safety hazards to the public. Power lines can give off a spark or arc that may land on a nearby branch. Additionally, the lights in your house may flicker when tree branches brush power lines during high winds. Stormy weather can also cause limbs to break off and land on lines. Clear power lines make it easier and safer for lineworkers to access power lines and other electrical equipment to fix problems that may occur. When clearing around lines, we make sure proper pruning techniques are used to preserve tree health as much as possible. Pruning is the first line of defense against unruly Although most trees do not present a Proper pruning techniques are used trees and other greenery, although sometimes a tree must be removed. This is a problem, some of them grow into or to preserve tree health, although crowd power lines, poles or other utility sometimes a tree must be removed. last resort, but some scenarios may require it, such as: when a fast-growing tree equipment and cause service issues. This is a last resort, but it can be is located directly under a power line or for trees that are leaning, in decline, or Unruly and overgrown trees can: necessary if there are: cracked or split. Fast-growing trees directly Cause outages. under power lines. After trees are cleared, Cotton Electric VM crews return to the area at regularCreate fire hazards. Trees that are leaning ly scheduled intervals to apply a specially formulated herbicide that will prevent Break off and land on into lines. tree growth without causing harm to grasses. Spraying is done only when the power lines. Trees that are declining, weather is right for safe application during the growing season, which begins in Cause lights to flicker cracked or split. during high winds. mid-May. Unobstructed power lines make it Get weighed down with easier and safer for utility crews to Cotton Electric VM employees make every effort to contact land- and homeice and cause issues. repair or service lines. owners in person as they move into an area. If members are not home, an effort will be made to contact owners by phone and, in some cases, a bright-colored Power companies trim trees to better serve you. door hanger will be left at the house or tied to a gate post. Updated member Learn more at: SafeElectricity.org contact information helps co-op employees with this process. Give us a call at 580-875-3351 to make sure we have the correct contact information on record, so we can keep you up to date. When hiring someone to trim trees on your property, know that most treecare workers are not qualified to work around energized power lines. By law, only OSHA-certified utility line clearance workers are allowed to work on trees or branches within 10 feet of a power line. As always, Cotton Electric’s VM crew is looking for land- and homeowners in need of free, untreated wood chips. Since the wood chips are untreated, it is not recommended to use them next to a structure. Landowners looking for material to help with erosion problems may want to contact Cotton Electric, too. With the co-op’s skid steer, the VM crew can deliver stumps and other debris too large to chip or mulch. Chips and large debris will be delivered to members nearest the day’s work location who can be reached by phone. While we do our best to deliver to everyone, we cannot guarantee a member will receive wood chips at any particular time. Call our offices at 580-875-3351 or email info@cottonelectric.com to have your name added to the list of members willing to take wood chips. For more information about electrical safety, visit www.cottonelectric.com/safety or www. Before and after photos of Cotton Electric’s Vegetation Management crew trimming trees next to power lines. Photos by Carli Eubank. safeelectricity.com.
WHY DOES YOUR POWER PROVIDER TRIM TREES?
Power Cost Adjustment Calculated
The power cost adjustment now being applied to bills mailed after March 1, 2024, is $0.00458 per kWh.
On a member’s average bill of 1,300 kilowatt hours (kWh), this will amount to a charge of $5.95 on the March bill.
February 2024 Temperature Extremes Day High Low 1 73 44 2 64 40 3 66 48 4 57 48 5 62 36 6 60 30 7 66 44 8 71 43 9 65 37 10 52 40 11 44 33 12 52 30 13 63 27 14 69 31 15 66 37
Source: srh.noaa.gov/oun/
Avg. 59 52 57 53 49 45 55 57 51 46 39 41 45 50 52
Day High Low 16 52 33 17 37 23 18 54 21 19 70 34 20 79 31 21 83 36 22 74 45 23 71 38 24 75 31 25 79 39 26 89 38 27 81 53 28 47 31 29 43 27
Average Daily High: 64 Average Daily Low: 36
Avg. 43 30 38 52 55 60 60 55 53 59 64 67 39 35
Did You Know? 2024 Energy Camp applications are due March 31. More information and applications can be found at www. cottonelectric.com/EnergyCamp.
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 April 12, Broadway, Walters, OK 2024. 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.