What’s Inside Cotton receives more than 150 submissions in coloring contest Page 6
Cotton Electric crews aid power restoration in Mississippi Page 9
The
Ham, quinoa salad makes light, filling fare Page 11
Current
A Publication of Cotton Electric Cooperative Inc.
“The Current - Informing Our Members Since 1957” VOLUME 69
April 10 , 2026
NUMBER 8
Spring in Oklahoma is tornado safety time Tornadoes can strike with little warning, leaving behind downed power lines, damaged electrical equipment and dangerous debris. Preparing before a tornado, and knowing how to stay safe afterward, can help prevent electrical shock, fire and injury. Make sure your emergency plan includes electrical safety steps so you and your family are ready to act quickly and safely.
Before a tornado:
assume they are energized. • If you see a downed line while driving, do not exit your vehicle. Call 911 and your utility, and warn others to stay away. • Do not touch anyone who is in contact with a power line. Call 911 immediately and wait for emergency responders. • Do not enter damaged buildings until electricity and gas are shut off by professionals. Never attempt to turn off power if you must stand in water to reach the breaker. • Avoid flooded areas with electrical outlets, appliances, or cords, and never touch electrical equipment when wet or standing in water. • Have all water-damaged electrical systems, appliances, and devices inspected by a licensed electrician before use.
• Prepare an emergency kit with water, a battery-powered flashlight, a radio, extra batteries and a portable phone charger. • Keep Cotton Electric’s phone number handy in case you need to report an outage or downed line. We can be reached by calling or texting “OUT” to 580-875-3351 or through the SmartHub app. • Fully charge cell phones and backup power banks before severe weather Power outages and generator hits so you can use them in an emer- safety: • Never use a generator indoors or in gency. partially enclosed spaces such as garagDuring a tornado: es or porches, or near open windows • Seek shelter immediately in a base- and doors. Place it at least 20 feet away ment or a small, interior room with no from your home to prevent carbon windows, such as a bathroom or closet. monoxide poisoning. • Turn off and unplug appliances • Keep the generator dry by placing and electronics to protect them from it on a tarp or under a canopy, and folpower surges. Leave one light on so low all manufacturer’s instructions. you’ll know when power is restored. • Never plug a generator directly • Do not stay inside a vehicle or try into a wall outlet. This can inadverto outrun a tornado. Exit the vehicle tently energize power lines and pose a and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If lethal risk to you, neighbors and utilinone are available, lie flat in a low-lying area away from the vehicle and ty workers. Stay informed, stay alert, and share power lines. this information to help protect your family and community during severe After a tornado: • Stay away from downed power weather events. For more safety information, visit lines and anything they could touch, such as trees, fences or debris. Always safeelectricity.org.
To help you get through, have a storm safety kit prepared and include these items:
Safety Tip If you’re outside during a
• • • • • •
tornado, get to a sturdy building if possible. Never stay in a vehicle during a tornado or try to outrun it. If no shelter is nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area away from cars, trees and power lines. Protect
Bottles of water Nonperishable food Portable phone charger Flashlights Batteries Can opener
your head with your arms.
Power Cost Adjustment Calculated The power cost adjustment now being applied to bills mailed after April 1, 2026, is $0.02513 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). On a member’s average bill of 1,300 kWh, this will amount to a charge of $32.67 on the April bill.
• • • • • •
First-aid supplies Hand sanitizer Prescriptions Pain reliever Warm clothing Blankets
• • • • • •
Battery-operated radio Toys, books and games Important documents Money Baby supplies Pet supplies
Keep the kit in a cool, dry place, and make sure all members of the family know where it is.
March 2026 Temperature Extremes Day High Low 1 81 51 2 65 38 3 85 47 4 56 49 5 79 52 6 85 64 7 72 36 8 74 29 9 87 53 10 88 59 11 64 39 12 64 27 13 77 33 14 85 40 15 72 36
Avg. 66 51 66 52 65 74 54 51 70 73 51 45 55 62 54
Day High Low Avg. 16 49 28 38 17 71 26 48 18 61 37 59 19 94 37 65 20 95 43 69 21 95 46 70 22 92 46 69 23 73 48 60 24 82 51 66 25 91 60 75 26 92 58 75 27 72 45 58 28 65 46 55 29 84 44 64 30 89 57 73 Source: srh.noaa.gov/oun/ 31 88 61 74 Average Daily High: 79 Average Daily Low: 45
Did You Know?
Contact Us
Have you downloaded the SmartHub app? With SmartHub, co-op members can check energy use, pay power bills and more! Download SmartHub in Google Play or the Apple Store.
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 a line at Cotton Electric Current, 226 N. Broadway, Walters, OK 73572.
The next issue of The Current should arrive in mailboxes May 8, 2026.
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.