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Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of

MANAGE YOUR ENERGY USE WITH SMARTHUB Hot summer days can cause higher electric bills, but SmartHub can help! Life is fast, and can be hectic, but it doesn’t all have to be complicated. Managing your energy use shouldn’t be a complex task, and with Central’s SmartHub it won’t be. You may have heard about SmartHub, our innovative tool for account management, but what can it do for you? SmartHub can help you take control of your Central account like never before, giving you more time to focus on other responsibilities. SmartHub has several features that make managing your account as easy as possible. Whether through the web, or your smart phone or tablet, you’ll be able to pay your bill, view your energy use, report an outage and get the latest news. As soon as you log in, you’ll be able to view your billing history and make a payment with just a couple of clicks…or taps, if you’re using the app. You’ll be able to see your current bill, and bills from the previous month or even the previous summer. Not only will you see your billing history, but you’ll be able to view your actual energy use. You can see how your energy use is trending over

If hot summer weather has your meter spinning too fast, use SmartHub to help better manage your energy use.

time, which will allow you to take steps to better manage it. Making payments through SmartHub is fast and easy. The first time you make a payment using SmartHub, you’ll be able to securely store your payment information for future transactions. The next time you need to pay your bill, it will only take a couple of clicks. You’ll also be able to see important notices with SmartHub. You’ll be able to select how you want to be notified about your bill, including email and text messaging. You can set usage thresholds so you know when you’re

using more than you would like and help you keep your electricity bill as low as possible. Reporting an outage is also quick and easy from the SmartHub mobile app. There’s no need to call the office, just let us know about the issue with a few taps. You can also contact Central for customer service requests or with any questions you may have. SmartHub’s contact feature makes it quick and easy. Access SmartHub by downloading the SmartHub app on your mobile device or by visiting MyCentral.coop to login via a web browser.

UPDATE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS

Electric co-op tax structure benefits rural schools

AUGUST 2019 Central Board of Trustees: Bill Davis, President (District 7) Gary McCune, Vice President (District 1) Carol Dvorak, Secretary/Treasurer (District 3) Stu Preston (District 2) Len Tontz (District 4) Mark Pittman (District 5) Raymond Nettles (District 6) Clyde Habben (District 8) Hunter Robinson - Chief Executive Officer Empowered Editors: Larry Mattox - Director of Communications Bailey Lefthand - Digital Marketing Specialist Cordelle Elsener - Marketing & Communications Specialist

www.MyCentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop twitter.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop

Central Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

ministrator, I can say that these funds Electric cooperatives are unique in are not insignificant nor are they many ways. They are owned by you, taken for granted by the schools. In the membership. They are governed education, every dollar is needed and by a board of trustees, who are memdirectly affects the education a student bers themselves and elected to the receives. board by their fellow members. They are not-for-profit, and any margins Beyond the gross receipts the cooperative makes are altax that Central pays, many located back to the membermembers also help our local ship in the form of patronage schools by participating in capital. One fallacy I often Operation Round Up. The hear is that electric cooperaprogram rounds up electric tives are tax exempt. It is true bills to the next whole dollar that electric cooperatives are and the change, less than a unique in the way that they dollar each month, is put are taxed, but they are taxed Bill Davis, Board President in the Central Communinonetheless. ty Foundation Operation Round Up fund. The foundation Oklahoma state statutes define how board of directors then use these electric cooperatives are to pay taxes. In accordance to Section 1803 of Title funds to provide grants to organizations and individuals. One of the 68, rural electric cooperatives must pay a tax at the rate of 2% of the gross major focus areas for the foundation is education. receipts derived by the sale of electric energy during the calendar year. This Last year, more than $34,000 in tax is paid in lieu of property tax. Cooperatives must also pay an annual Operation Round Up grants were provided to schools in Central’s service fee of $1.00 per 100 persons to whom area. Schools use Operation Round it supplies electricity within the state, Up grants to fund playground equipbut shall be exempt from all other ment, purchase technology, develop excise and income taxes. learning labs, and more. I cannot say enough about the value of Operation The taxes are then apportioned by Round Up – if you’re not signed up, the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Of please consider it, and call Central to the taxes collected, 5% are paid to the sign-up. State Treasurer for placement to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. As schools get ready for the upcomThe remaining 95% of the amounts ing school year, I just wanted to make collected are paid to the school districts in relation to the miles of dis- members aware of a couple ways Central, and members like you, are tribution power line the cooperative supporting our schools – it’s part of owns in each school district. our larger mission of Empowering Our Members and Communities. As a former school teacher and ad-

ROUND UP

MORRISON ELEMENTARY RECEIVES OPERATION ROUND UP GRANT

SAFETY TIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

The Central Community Foundation makes grants available to individuals and organizations throughout Central’s service area from money donated by Central members who choose to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. Carol Dvorak, Central Electric Cooperative Board District 3 member (left) and Mignon Bolay, Central Community Foundation board member (middle), presents a $2,250 grant to Christy Williams, Morrison Elementary School principal to help fund a concrete sidewalk that will loop around the elementary school playground. Visit MyCentral.coop for more information about the Operation Round Up program.

for sale

SERVICES

Tilt table for goats or sheep with head gate. Like new. $500. 405-503-3881

$$ MINERALS $$ Still paying top dollar for O & G Minerals. Let’s talk 405-206-9394

SERVICES

Operation Catnip Stillwater Free spay/neuter/vaccination clinics for stray/feral/barn cats. Humane traps & instructions provided. 7 clinics held each year at the OSU Vet School. Call 405-466-5810 or visit operationcatnipokstate.edu for dates and information. Visit the Operation Catnip Stillwater Facebook page.

Dr. Myers Chiropractic – Luther • Real “Hands-on” physical adjustment $35 total office visit. • Truck Driver DOT health card $75. • Truck Driver DOT drug test $45. • Truck Driver DOT alcohol test $45. • Truck Owner FMCSA (DOT) Compliant Randomized Drug Testing Program (Consortium) Call 405-277-3325

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED AD Central members are given one FREE classified ad each month! Submit your ad via e-mail to editor@mycentral.coop or by mail using the form below. Mail completed forms to PO Box 1809, Stillwater OK 74076. Ads should be submitted by the 10th of each month to be included in the following month’s newsletter. Ads will be edited for space. Central Electric Cooperative does not guarantee or endorse any of the products or services in these ads.

Name ___________________________ Acct. # __________________________ Address _________________________ Phone # _________________________ Ad is to read:

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

Today’s college students use many electronics for school, work, and play. When used improperly, these gadgets can become electric hazards. If you or a loved one is heading off to college, Central has the following tips to prevent electric accidents and fires: Z Extension cords are only for temporary use. Dorm rooms may not have enough outlets to plug in all your gadgets at once. If you must use extension cords, use them temporarily and unplug them when not in use. Z Consider purchasing power strips with an over-current protector, which will shut off power automatically if there is too much current being drawn. Z Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for lamps; if no indication is on the fixture, do not use a bulb with more than 60 watts. Z Never tack or nail an electrical cord to any surface or run cords across traffic paths, under rugs or furniture. Z Keep all electrical appliances and cords safely away from bedding, curtains, and other flammable material. Z Discard or repair damaged electronics. It may be tempting to use an electronic with a frayed cord or damaged plugin to save money. However, damaged electronics can shock or electrocute students.

events

Send your community events to editor@mycentral.coop to be included in the Empowered newsletter.

August

Maker Days, arts and crafts at 3 Guthrie various locations in Guthrie, all day, more info at guthriechamber.com

Red Brick Nights, merchant 3 Guthrie vendors, food trucks, music, 5-10 pm, more info at guthriechamber.com

Hands Community 3 Helping Outreach Festival, Tilghman Park,

Chandler, medical and dental checks, children’s haircuts, 10 am- 3 pm, more info at facebook.com/ helpinghandsfoodpantrychandler

Bill Memorial Rodeo, 7:30 pm 8- Pawnee nightly, Pawnee Lakeside Arena more 10 info at cityofpawnee.com

Community Movie Night, Stillwater Community Center, 7-10 pm, more info at stillwaterchamber.org

Chamber of Commerce Golf 24 Stroud Tournament, more information at stroudchamber.com

2731

Payne County Free Fair, Payne County Expo Center, Stillwater more info at pcexpocenter.com

A redesigned MyCentral.coop website provides members a better user experience.

UPDATED MYCENTRAL.COOP WEBSITE LAUNCHED An updated MyCentral.coop was recently launched to members. The new website enhances navigation and is mobile friendly.

use and billing history from the home page. Prominent placement on the new site has been made for the most visited website pages.

“We’re excited to be moving to a new platform that is used by more than 700 electric cooperatives across the nation,” said Daniel Thrasher, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. “The new website will help further Central’s mission of Empowering Our Members and Communities.”

“We hope members will find the new site to be very user friendly,” Thrasher said. “Our team analyzed historical site statistics to ensure the highest user experience.”

The new MyCentral.coop includes Smart Hub integration, so users can log in and view their electric 4

The website redesign is just the beginning as continual updates are planned. Members are encouraged to update their browser bookmarks to the MyCentral.coop URL as the old CREC.coop URL will no longer be redirecting to the new site.