Co-op Comments
Extreme cold temperatures can leads to higher energy consumption
With the recent record-setting temperatures during the end of January meant most of us stayed inside and looked for ways to stay warm - meaning members you may see higher-than-normal electric bills. Which leads to the common question, “why does my bill go up when it is cold outside?”
Besides, the common answer of more energy was used during cold weather, because more people spend more time inside the home. But that is not all, heating systems work much harder to keep your home comfortable in cold weather. Even if the thermostat setting is not changed, the heating system must run longer to heat the home. Older systems may have to work harder to keep the conditioned space warm enough to combat bone-chilling tem-
peratures. Even gas heating systems use electricity to power the fan and distribute warm air.
While the heating system must run longer and more often to compensate for the temperature difference, chances are hot showers, baths and more hot water was used but also space heaters, electric blankets were also used which also contributes to higher energy usage.
At any time, REC members can login into SmartHub and see their usage and monitor their account. If there are any questions, members can call our office at 405-756-3104 or 1-800-259-3504 and speak to the Billing Department.
THERMOSTAT SETTING
When the difference between outside and inside is significant, your heating system must run more to condition your home.
Even gas heating systems use electricty to power the fan and distribute the warm air.
Policy priorities for electric cooperatives
At Rural Electric, our job goes beyond keeping the lights on day to day. We are responsible for advocating on behalf of our members in Washington, D.C., to make sure decisions being made at the federal level protect reliable, affordable power in our local communities.
As we head into 2026, America’s Electric Cooperatives are focused on a few key issues directly impacting our members:
• Faster Disaster Recovery: We support the bi-partisan FEMA Act of 2025. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a critical partner in helping electric co-ops restore power and rebuild their systems in the wake of natural disasters, but it could be more effective and responsive to the needs of rural America.
• Cutting Through Red Tape: Outdated and overly complex permitting rules slow down essential upgrades to power lines and substations. Streamlining these processes helps us keep up with growing demand and improve reliability. We are urging Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reforms, including the SPEED Act and PERMIT Act,
both of which cleared the House in December.
• Keeping Reliable Power Plants Online: We are advocating for realistic energy regulations that do not force dependable power plants to shut down before reliable replacements are ready. Mandating emissions limits based on unavailable technology would force critical power plants off the grid and restrict the operation of new natural gas plants.
• Protecting Critical Hydropower: Hydroelectric dams in the Pacific Northwest play a key role in keeping electricity reliable and affordable across multiple states.
• Smarter Land Management Policies: We are advocating for smarter landmanagement policies like the Fix Our Forests Act that would allow electric cooperatives to better maintain power lines on public lands and mitigate wildfire risk.
• Maintaining Funding for Grid Innovation and Investments: Federal loan and grant programs help coops strengthen the grid, prepare for extreme weather, improve cybersecurity and explore new energy technologies—without shifting costs to members.
While you may not consider it on a daily basis, electricity is essential and underpins nearly every aspect of modern life. Understanding today's evolving energy landscape is important as it shapes how electricity is produced, delivered and consumed. Advocating on behalf of REC’s members is a critical part of our commitment to you. These policy priorities all come back to the same goal: making sure our members have safe, reliable and affordable power—now and in the future.
March 2026
Co-op Comments
Official publication of Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. CO-OP COMMENTS is owned, controlled and directed by Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. It is printed monthly and mailed to members in Garvin, McClain, Comanche, Stephens, Grady and Carter counties in Oklahoma.
Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. 13942 Highway 76 • P.O. Box 609
Lindsay, OK 73052
405-756-3104 • 800-259-3504
Outage Number: 855-399-2683 www.recok.coop
Board of Trustees
Gary Jones, President, District 1
Scott Christian, Vice President, District 1
Brent Bacon, Sec./Treasurer, District 1
Larry Anderson, District 2
Johnny Harrel, District 2
Terri Hays, District 2
Mark Finch, District 3
Randy Griswold, District 3
Sonny Harrison, District 3
Lisa Whitman, Attorney
Management and Staff
Dusty Ricks, Manager/CEO
Darren Townley, CFO
Elaine Gilreath, Manager of Customer Service and Data Processing
Jon Jones, Manager of Engineering
Mitch Gilreath, Manager of Information Technology Services
Eric Neill, Manager of Cyber Security and Special Projects
Megan Lawrence, Manager of Member Services and Marketing
Casey Henson, Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities
Scott Henson, System Superintendent
Jason Mays, Operations Superintendent
Cost mitigation strategies to help plan for future energy needs
Ensuring there is enough electricity generation requirements and more reliance on renewable energy sources can be challenging due to the variability of generation. Costs of infrastructure upgrades, transmission and distribution upgrades, and new generation are high, but Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), is proactively planning for future needs. WFEC is a not-for-profit wholesale power supplier for 21 member distribution cooperatives and Altus Air Force Base, located across Oklahoma and New Mexico. 272409
How WFEC and co-ops are responding?
WFEC is actively responding to increasing electricity requirements by investing in infrastructure, exploring diverse energy sources, and highlighting energy efficiency savings. This includes upgrading and building new power plants fueled by natural gas, upgrading transmission lines, and incorporating battery storage. Spreading out project costs, using competitive bidding on
Help make your voice heard
Inside the February edition of Oklahoma Living magazine, you will find a postage-paid postcard with a simple but powerful message: as a cooperative community, we stand for safe, reliable and affordable electricity. By signing and mailing the postcard, you will help tell legislators rural Oklahoma has a voice—and your voice matters.
projects, seeking economical borrowing costs, (borrowing less than 100 percent of a project cost), and using an “all of the above” approach to additional generation has been beneficial for WFEC. Through these steps and other sound decisions by WFEC’s Board of Trustees, these sizeable projects should help minimize distribution cooperative members’ rate impacts.
It would be preferable not to see electric bills increase, however, it is not possible to maintain a level of reliability our distribution members expect. Each member cooperative will have different impacts for their members.
End use consumers should start to see these minimal increases in February 2026 when they receive their January 2026 bills. On the plus side, the higher reliability goals put in place with these additions should lessen the impact of events seen in the past. With additional generation capacity, distribution members should be able to serve normal load growth moving into the future.
For additional information, please visit the WFEC website –www.wfec.com.
PowerTransmission
Classified Advertisement
FOR SALE: 4x5 grass round bales $100 4x5 grass round bales $100 each or $40 a row PH: 405-823-2765 each or a row. PH: 405-823-2765.
Classified Ads
are FREE to REC members to post non-commercial items. Deadline for ads is the 8th of every month. Call the Member Services Dept. at 405-756-3104 ext. 238.
Account Information
Is your REC up-to-date?
Have you changed your phone number or email address lately? Notify REC, so we can update our information. Call our office at 405-756-3104 and make sure we have your current phone numbers and email address. When we have the most up-to-date contact information it allows us to better inform you, our members, about what is happening at REC.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month
As spring arrives, take advantage of milder temperatures to save energy at home. Open windows on pleasant days to bring in fresh air instead of running your HVAC system. It is also a great time to replace dirty air filters, which helps your system run more efficiently and improves indoor air quality. As daylight increases, turn off unnecessary lights and rely on natural sunlight when possible. Small seasonal adjustments like these can reduce energy use, lower monthly bills and help keep your home comfortable as winter transitions into spring.
Learn more at www.energy.gov
FOR SALE: 150-gallon Freightliner truck truck fuel tank, call for price PH:405-823-2765 fuel tank, call for price. PH:405-823-2765.
Linda Ray retires after 25 years of service
After 25 years, Linda Ray has retired from being REC’s Chief Financial Officer. Ray started as an independent contractor in 2001 working on REC’s subsidiaries. She then moved to working part-time for REC as the Manager of Accounting and Finance in 2002. She remained in that role until she was named the CFO in 2004. Ray also served as interim co-Chief Executive Officer with Kelli Lindsay from May through October in 2005. Ray became a full-time employee in 2016.
Ray has been married to her husband, Greg, for 40 years. They have three children: Zach, Alex and Jacque, as well as five grandsons: Luke, Daniel, Reed, Blaine and Davis. Zach and his wife Brittany and their two sons live around Durant. Alex and her husband J.R. and their three sons live in Texas. Jacque is currently in Norman finishing her undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Ray has plans to spend time with her family, traveling and not getting up too early. However, she will miss seeing all her coworkers whom she has been a part of their daily lives for the past 25 years.
Some of her greatest memories include helping man the phones during the ice storm in 2010, moving into REC’s new headquarters in 2015 and all the laughs shared with her co-workers.
Local Co-op Connection Card Deals
A-U-Store It, Purcell -
$5 off first month rent
Backroads Boutique, Lindsay5% off everything excluding special order and sale items
Best Western, Chickasha15% Off Regular Room Rate
Blue Moose Portable and Septic Services, LLC, Elmore City5% Off Septic Tank Pumping, Tent Rental and Special Event Toilet Rentals
Chickasha Diesel Services, Chickasha$50 off any big diesel oil change
Edwards Canvas, Pauls Valley - 5% Off
Jenny’s Pics Photography, Lindsay10% Off $50 or More Purchase of Pictures
Lindsay Tire and Lube, Lindsay$5 Off Any Full Service Oil Change
M & M Furniture, Chickasha10% Off Any Purchase
Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, Purcell10% Off Purchase
Photos by Ginger, Pauls Valley1 Free 8x10 Print With First Order of $25 Pharmacy Discounts -
Check out the discounts available using your Co-op Connections Card at participating pharmacies throughout our area. For a complete list of pharmacies, visit REC’s website to see if your pharmacy is offering discounts to Co-op Connections Card holders.