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Current
A Publication of Cotton Electric Cooperative Inc.
“The Current - Informing Our Members Since 1957” VOLUME 68
May 16, 2025
NUMBER 9
Safety is our priority
By Carli Eubank At Cotton Electric, safety is the center of everything we do, and it’s essential to following our mission of providing our members with safe and reliable power. While May is National Electrical Safety Month, our commitment to safety is a year-round priority across all departments to ensure safety while serving our members and keeping the lights on.
Protecting lineworkers
Lineworkers are exposed to many potential dangers daily, so it’s crucial they follow every safety guideline while completing work orders or restoring outages. Our crews always work in pairs, and before taking any action, they pause to complete a job briefing. During this time, crews discuss the location, lines, potential hazards, purpose of the job and other conditions to help them prepare and focus on the task ahead. Afterward, they ground and stabilize the bucket truck before putting on personal protective equipment (PPE) and starting the job.
Ensuring proper PPE standards
Crews rely on their training, experience and PPE to keep them safe on the job, and the cooperative’s subsidiary company, Cotton Electric Services, Inc. (CESI), plays a vital role to ensure their PPE is meeting safety standards. CESI employees test more than 20 rubber goods products, including primary protection, such as gloves and sleeves, and secondary protection, like line hoses, blankets, crossarm covers and much more. When rubber goods products arrive, employees give an initial visual inspection to identify any cuts or other abnormalities. The equipment is then washed before going through an electrical test that applies the appropriate voltage. An alert will sound if the machine detects any failed equipment. After the electrical test, employees will do another inspection of the equipment to catch any defects that might have not been noticed previously. CESI follows the guidelines set by the American Society for Testing and Materials, Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program and the North American Cotton Electric crews set up for the annual pole top rescue safety training last Independent Laboratories for Protective Equipment Testing. More information fall. Photo by Carli Eubank. about CESI can be found at www.cottonservices.com.
Electrical safety presentations
Ongoing safety training
Cotton Electric crews also meet regularly to refresh their knowledge on important safety procedures. Some safety meeting topics include grounding practices, hot-line tools care and maintenance, hazard recognitions and pole top rescue. The annual pole top rescue is a drill that helps build muscle memory for crews completing the mayday procedure and rescuing a colleague from a bucket or pole. Crews may also attend safety education sessions provided by Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. Office employees are also dedicated to safety, completing and passing online monthly courses that cover a variety of safety topics.
In line with the co-op principle of Education, Training and Information, we strive to help keep our members and communities informed about electrical safety. One of the ways we do this is through presentations and demonstrations with our brand-new live-line trailer. Cotton Electric employees can educate groups on how to stay safe around electricity in different situations: indoors, outdoors, on the road, after a storm, near electrical equipment and more. At Cotton Electric and CESI, the commitment to electrical safety extends beyond our employees to benefit the entire community. By prioritizing health and safety, we ensure that we can serve our members efficiently, keeping our communities safe and powered.
Cotton Electric employees give a safety presentation and demonstration to a local group of elementary students. Photo by Carli Eubank.
Power Cost Adjustment Calculated The power cost adjustment now being applied to bills mailed after May 1, 2025, is $0.01727 per kilowatt hours (kWh).
On a member’s average bill of 1,300 kWh, this will amount to a charge of $22.45 on the May bill.
April 2025 Temperature Extremes Day High Low 1 85 47 2 76 49 3 64 50 4 65 50 5 54 33 6 55 33 7 69 30 8 76 36 9 83 48 10 86 52 11 78 46 12 86 44 13 96 50 14 77 59 15 71 47
Source: srh.noaa.gov/oun/
Avg. 66 63 57 58 44 44 50 56 66 69 62 65 73 68 59
Day High Low 16 84 44 17 89 62 18 78 62 19 65 50 20 67 49 21 83 44 22 84 49 23 79 62 24 79 61 25 77 62 26 71 53 27 79 60 28 80 69 29 73 61 30 71 56
Average Daily High: 76 Average Daily Low: 51
Avg. 64 76 70 58 58 64 67 71 70 70 62 70 75 67 64
Did You Know? Cotton Electric offices will be closed Monday, May 26, to recognize Memorial Day. Emergency calls will be answered at 580-875-3351 or 800-522-3520.
Cotton Electric Services, Inc. Lab Technician Caleb Ferguson inspects a glove. Photo by Zach Young.
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 June 13, Broadway, Walters, OK 2025. 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.