country living

NOVEMBER 2019

FOR MEMBERS OF EAST CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

4Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes2 Notes From

The Chair

Building A Culture of SafetySafety inspection helps keep co-op employees alive

TOP STORY

Bill Gillespie, loss control coordinator at VVEC, inspects the gloves in one of East Central Electric's crew trucks while other members of the RESAP team assess first aid equipment, tools and other safety-related items stored in the truck side bins. photo/ece.

3 New Look For Bills

In the electric cooperative industry, the process of keeping employees and the public safe is never static. Working in partnership with the

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), East Central Electric (ECE) and other Oklahoma co-ops insist that field and office employees participate in training that helps keep them aware of on-the-job hazards.

Last month, ECE hosted co-op safety directors from across the state for a special on-site inspection that is part of the Rural Electric Safety

Achievement Program (RESAP). The program prides itself on going beyond OSHA standards to help every co-op develop a culture of safety.

Derec Janaway, OAEC director of safety, said inspections of this type occur every three years. "Rather than a fault-finding mission, our team members view the process as an opportunity to strengthen their safety programs."

The team spent a full day reviewing ECE's safety practices, inspecting the building, warehouse and pole yard, examining tools, equipment, and vehicles, and visiting with employees.

On day two, team members plus ECE department heads and other employees, reviewed and discussed findings. Janaway said having employees from other co-ops and other departments involved puts "fresh eyes on the process and encourages the sharing of ideas."

Brad Duncan, ECE safety coordinator agreed. "It helps me to visit other co-ops. If I see something I like, I bring that idea back and we implement it here" he said.

In the end, the open exchange of ideas and experiences helps deepen every participant's appreciation and awareness of what a culture of safety really means. It is this mindset that ensures all employees return to their homes and their families safe and sound.

ECE's focus on safety includes free safety programs for the public. For details, please call 918-756-0833, or visit www.ecoec.com.

Holiday HoursEast Central Electric Cooperative will close November 28 -29 for Thanksgiving. To report a service problem during this time, please call 918-756-0833, or report your trouble using ECE's SmartHub.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and please be safe!

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Reporting your outage is easier than ever using the SmartHub app or web platform!

Log into SmartHub on your computer and sign up to get alerts when East Central Electric (ECE) is planning an outage in your area. Also sign up to get text or email notifications when your power is restored after an outage.

Once you sign up online, you can then use your mobile app to report outages, get status updates, and receive these notifications.

For assistance with SmartHub, please give us a call at 918-756-0833, or visit us online at www.ecoec.com.

Report Outages Fast Using SmartHub

Our Responsibility Begins With Members

To learn more about your elected trustees, or to view a district map, please visit www.ecoec.com. To contact your trustee, please call 918-756-0833.

Each day things happen that potentially change our direction in life and those on whom we have an impact. I am writing so you may know that your electric cooperative board of directors remains mindful that our collective decisions leave a potentially huge footprint.

East Central Electric's seven member board has a duty to make decisions for the positive benefit of our members. Over 34,000 meters and 6,200 miles of energized line within seven counties make up our service territory.

Your co-op board has a responsibility to attend and learn from provided schools and training seminars. New technology and changing laws are a constant reminder of our need to stay informed at the highest level. Remember, your elected board members are co-op members, too, and the decisions we make have the same impact on our families as they do on yours.

The survey results taken at the last annual meeting reveal a number of things that are encouraging to your board:

• 93 percent of attendees are satisfied with the meeting registration process.

• 88 percent of attendees are satisfied with the business meeting.

• 96 percent express overall satisfaction with the co-op, which is roughly the same percentage for the last three years!

• 45 percent of attendees were there for the first time.

Thank you for your vote of support.

A friend and I are always bantering back and forth. We were visiting recently and he relayed his respect regarding my sons.

"You've got some good boys," he told me.

I jokingly replied, "I've been thinking what I could have been if I hadn't given so much of myself to produce them."

His response: "It's all comin' to me now, Lowell, you gave away too much!"

by Lowell Hobbs, President, East Central Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees

notes from

the chair

“Your cooperative board has a responsibility to attend and learn from provided school and training seminars. New technology and changing laws are a constant reminder of our need to stay informed at the highest level...”

Stay cozy indoors this fall and winter without sending your energy bills soaring. Here’s how:

• Check to see if your home insulation levels are up to par.

• Seal leaks around doors, windows, and electrical outlets.

• When heating your home, set your thermostat to 68°F to save energy.

• Electric space heaters can cost more than $100 per month to operate. Minimize use, except for limited spot heating. Turn off when leaving the room.

To learn more about our energy saving services and rebates, please visit www.ecoec.com, or give us a call at 918-756-0833.

Stay Warm and Save!QUICK ENERGY TIPS

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Help Make the Holidays Happy For OthersYou may notice some changes to your electric bill next month. To make your

billing notice easier to read and more informative, East Central Electric made the following alterations to its bill format:

New Look For Your Electric Bill

Additional Notices: To make them easier to see, additional notices will be printed in red ink, centered above the billing details.

News and Information: To keep you informed of special programs and services, we created a space for announcements.

Change in Color: To make it easier for members to compare usage and billing amounts, we changed the chart colors to green and gold.

The holiday season can be less than happy for those who are struggling to make ends meet. To help co-op members with their electricity bills, East Central Electric offers a special program known as Give A Watt.

Give A Watt allows members to help those in need by making an anonymous donation in the amount of their choice. To participate:

1. Stop by our office and select a lightbulb from our Christmas tree. Each lightbulb corresponds to an account number of a struggling member.

2. Take the lightbulb to the cashier's desk. Tell the cashier how much you wish to donate. Donations may be made with cash, check or credit card.

3. The amount will be applied to the recipient's account with a special message informing them of their Give-A-Watt gift. Donors remain anonymous.

Please consider giving. Your gift will provide a touch of warmth and kindness to those who need it. Thank you!

PO Box 1178 2001 S. Wood Drive

Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447-1178

(918) 756-0833www.ecoec.com

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm.

POWER OUTAGE HOT LINE(918) 756-0833

Country Living is published monthly by East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc., 2001 S. Wood Drive, Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447. Second class postage paid at Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 and at additional mailing office. Subscription price: 60 cents /year. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to ECE Country Living, PO Box 1178, Okmulgee, OK 74447.

This institution is an equal opportunity employer, Veteran/Disabled.

PAYMENT OPTIONS• Pay online at www.ecoec.com

using SmartHub, or download the app.

• Pay by phone using VISA, Mastercard or Discover at 866-999-4584. Available 24 hours a day. Convenience fee associated with payments.

• Pay with cash or credit/debit card at participating Moneygram or Pay Site locations. Convenience fee associated with payments.

• Pay using our drive-through window or lobby, Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.

• Pay via automatic draft of your checking or savings account. Sign up online or download the ebill form for easy automatic payments at www.ecoec.com.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Lowell Hobbs, District 2President

Larry Harvey, District 1Vice President

Dwight Luther, District 7Secretary Treasurer

Jim Hall, District 6Asst. Sec. Treasurer

Ed Kloeckler, District 5Michael Vernnon, District 4Max Shoemake, District 3

Tim SmithGeneral Manager

Applications reviewed...................1091Applications granted.......................725Applications denied........................327Applications tabled...........................26Scholarships awarded............$245,000

Total Disbursements.........$1,757,562.73

Average member contribution..........48¢

Operation Roundup funds support local charitable organizations, civic groups, youth programs, community services, and needy families. For more information on this voluntary bill roundup program, please visit us online at www.ecoec.com.

ELECTRICAL SAFETYTIP OF THE MONTH

M O N T H L Y U P D A T Eoperation round-up

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Keep the cooking area around your stove/oven clear of combustibles such as paper towels, napkins, dish towels and pot holders. Keep all appliance cords away from hot surfaces such as the range or toaster.

source: electrical safety foundation international

RE

CIPE

S

East CentralE L E C T R I C C O O P E R A T I V E

5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed2 (3 oz) packages cream cheese8 oz sour cream1/2 cup milk2 teaspoons onion salt and ground black pepper to taste

Make Ahead Mashed PotatoesINGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONSPreheat the oven to 325° F.

Place potatoes in a large pot of lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash.

In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, onion salt, and pepper. Transfer to a large casserole dish.

Cover, and bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.

Source: allrecipes.com