PAGE 2Tips for Weathering

Winter Storms

PAGE 3Ask Your Co-op: Q&A about the Proposed

Rate Adjustment

PAGE 4Make Your Fireplace More Energy Efficient

PAGE 5How Renters can Fight Winter Chill

PAGE 6Remove those

Outdoor Holiday Lights Safely

PAGE 7Stay Toasty with Tasty

Comfort Food

PAGE 8Save on Lighting;

Save Energy

Northfork

Sparks & Flashes

CONTENTS

Supplement to Oklahoma Living

January

17

An all-expense paid trip to Washington, D. C. is a great way to start your senior year in high school!

If you are a junior attending a high school in NFEC’s service territory, you are eligible to enter our Youth Tour competition. Two students will win the trip to the nation’s capitol, and two students will win $250 scholarships.

To compete in this year’s contest, studens will write and submit an essay on a specific topic. Four students who write the highest scoring essays will then attend a banquet in their honor where they will give oral presentations of their essays and be interviewed by a panel of judges.

The judges will then determine who wins the trip to Washington, and who wins the scholarships.

Youth Programs Coordinator Matt Swint will be delivering Youth Tour information packets to high schools in January. The packets contain the essay topic, information that can be used in writing the essay, entry form, and deadline date.

Youth Tour is June 9 through June 15.YouthPower Energy Camp is designed to

help 8th graders develop leadership skills, have summertime fun, and learn about one of this country’s most important industries...rural electri-fication.

Energy Camp is at Canyon Camp near Hin-ton’s beautiful Red Rock Canyon, where students watch safety demonstrations, climb a utility pole, and watch a co-op crew at work. Plus, they will

sharpen their leadership skills by working with newfound friends as they set up and operate their own cooperative business.

NFEC-Sponsored Youth Programs Offer Students Fun,

Memorable Experiences

To attend Energy Camp, interested students need to write an essay. Information on the essay topic, along with an entry form and other program details will be delivered to schools in January.

YouthPower Energy Camp is May 30 through June 2.

Northfork ElectricCooperative, Inc.

Operating inBeckham, Roger Mills, Washita,

Greer, Custer, Harmon, and Dewey

SCOTT COPELANDGENERAL MANAGER

BOARD OF TRUSTEESJimmy Taylor-Pres ....................Elk CityCharles Hickey-V. Pres ..............ReydonRansom Snowden-Sec-Treas ........ ErickChris Mackey ................................SayreLarry Smith ............................CheyenneLloyd Joe Patton ..........................Sayre Brent Meador .............................Elk CityBrendon Atkinson......................Attorney

SAYRE OFFICEKenny Waugh .................Mgr. of MarketingLisa Dailey...............Mgr. of Office ServicesJeff Mohr ................Mgr. of Acct. & FinanceKay Brown ..........................Adm. AssistantRichard Bowdre ................Operations Mgr.

REYDON OFFICEBarbara Swope ................655-4557

FOR OUTAGES AFTER 5 P.M. CALL

1-800-NO-VOLTS(1-800-668-6587)

or(580) 928-3366

OFFICE HOURS8 AM TO 5 PM

MONDAY-FRIDAY

ADDRESSP.O. Box 400

SAYRE, OK 7366218920 E. 1170 Rd.

This institution is an equal oppor-tunity provider and employer.

Tips for Weathering Winter Storms

Winter storms can bring bitterly cold temperatures, high winds, and even ice and snow. Such weather can cause hazardous road conditions, downed power lines, and extended power outages. Safe Electricity shares tips on preparing for and safely weathering winter storms.

Before a storm ever begins, tune into your local weather service for the weather forecast. It is important to know the differences among various watches and warnings.

Winter Storm Watches signify that stormy conditions, including heavy snow, freez-ing rain, or sleet, are likely within the next few days. You should be alert, as this means adverse conditions could begin within the next 12 to 48 hours.

Winter Storm Warnings call for stormy conditions to begin within the next 24 hours. Those in the range of the warning should be mindful of the impending conditions and con-sider canceling plans to travel outside of the home.

Blizzard Warnings advise those in the affected areas to seek refuge immediately due to high levels of snow, strong winds, and resulting near-zero visibility to those traveling on the road.

Heavy snow and accumulating ice can easily bring tree limbs down onto power lines, cutting off power to homes and businesses. If power lines go down because of a winter storm and the electricity goes out, first notify Northfork Electric of the outage at 580-928-3366 or 1-800-NO VOLTS. Have an emergency kit prepared for your home before a storm strikes to help you and your family weather the storm and the outage safely and comfortably. Some of the items this kit should include are bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, a weather radio and extra batteries.

If you are using an alternative heating source during a power outage, be sure to know how to use it safely and that you have all supplies for it gathered. To help you and your family stay warm during an outage, dress warmly, cover windows at night, close off unneeded rooms, and place draft blocks at the bottom of doors.

When the power is restored, there will be a power surge. To protect your circuits and appliances, switch off lights and unplug appliances. Leave one light switched on as a quick reminder that the power is restored.

Due to the potential for a winter storm to bring down power lines, individuals should only venture outside if absolutely necessary. Downed power lines could be submerged in snow and ice, making them difficult to see. Therefore, stay indoors if possible. If you must go outside, use caution and treat all downed and hanging lines as if they are energized. Stay away, warn others to stay away, and immediately contact your utility company.

A power line does not need to be sparking or arcing to be energized. It’s best to assume all low and downed lines are energized and dangerous. Lines that appear to be dead can be-come energized as crews work to restore power, or sometimes from improper use of emer-gency generators.

If travel is necessary, be especially cautious driving, and keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Its supplies should include a windshield scraper, a first aid kit, a cell phone charging adaptor, booster cables, a blanket, and a flashlight with extra batteries.

Never drive over a downed line because that could pull down the pole and other equip-ment, causing additional hazards. If you see a downed line, contact Northfork Electric imme-diately and do not get out of your car, the safest place is inside the vehicle.

For more information on electrical safety and weathering winter storms, contact me at 580-928-3366.

by Heath MartinNFEC Safety Director

Why are Northfork Electric’s rates generally higher than PSO’s?

NFEC serves on average 2.6 members per mile of line, whereas municipal utilities and investor owned utilities serve on average 40+ mem-bers per mile. This means that the other utilities receive 10 to 20 times more revenue per mile of line than we do, and therefore they are much better positioned to spread their fixed costs. Regardless of customer density, NFEC has an obligation to meet our members’ needs and expectations for reliable electric service and we are committed to do so.

Electric cooperatives were cre-ated to provide dependable, affordable electric service to rural areas of our state. Today, nearly 100,000 miles of electric distribution line bring power to people who choose to live and work in both rural and urban settings across Oklahoma.

Electric co-ops are vital to rural area development. Since 1961, rural electric and telephone systems have joined in sponsoring over 15,000 proj-ects that have created over 2.5 million new jobs in rural America.

Electric cooperatives brought power to rural America when no one else would. For years, power compa-nies never ventured outside their city limits. They ignored the electric needs of the nation’s rural areas for one rea-son: There was no profit to be made.

As a result, nine out of 10 rural homes were without electric servic as late as the mid-1930s. And so electric co-ops were established, built on prin-ciple by 12074-001 people who shared the same principles – to deliver afford-able electricity to the entire nation.

Ask Your Co-op

The extension cord you needed to stretch from your Christmas tree to the nearest outlet isn’t needed anymore, now that the holiday season is over. Same goes for the ones that allowed you to plug in the strands of lights you placed around the house and the extra space heater you put in your guest room.

Pack extension cords up and put them away until next year.Lots of people leave their extension cords plugged into lamps and appliances

all year long. Those people are putting their homes and families at risk because extension cords, when used for extended periods, can overheat, shock someone or even cause a fire.

Extension cords are designed for temporary use—such as during the holi-days. Their continuous use tends to make them rapidly deteriorate, and that’s not safe.

Some tips for extension-cord safety:• Overloading extension cords makes an already-dangerous situation even

more risky.• Like any cord or electrical device, keep them away from water. They’re not

safe when they run through snow and ice.• A cord hidden under a rug or otherwise covered will probably overheat,

and that’s a fire hazard.• Plug only one thing at a time into an extension cord.• Replace worn and damaged extension cords. Do not use them.

If you’re relying on extension cords past the holiday season, that’s a sign that you don’t have enough outlets in your rooms. Call a licensed electrician to add some more.

Post-Holiday Check:

Are the Extension Cords Put Away?

Even if you love the crackle and warmth of a natural-burning wood fire in the hearth, you probably could live without the added cost to your energy bill.

Sure, the flickering flames make you feel warm while you’re sitting nearby, but wood-burning fires actually have negative efficiency. They emit little or no warmth to a room. And fireplaces are drafty, so they send warm air up the chimney.

Wood-burning fires also can create particles that pollute the air indoors and outdoors and could poison the house with carbon monox-ide.

That doesn’t mean you have to close your fireplace up forever. In-stead, try improving the efficiency and safety of your beloved hearth:

• Close the fireplace damper when you’re not burning wood. This will cut down on the loss of warm room air through the chimney.

• Cover the front of the fireplace with tempered glass doors or fireplace covers, which seal the fireplace opening and prevent room air from escaping through it.

• Install a heat exchanger, which will circulate the fire’s warmth throughout the room.

• Hire a professional to sweep your chimney and clean and main-tain the fireplace.

• Use artificial manufactured logs, which reduce pollutant emis-sions by almost 80 percent.

• Replace wood with electric “logs” that you can insert into the fireplace, or plug in an electric fireplace instead of burning wood.

Heating season is a good time to make sure the carbon monoxide detectors in your house are work-ing properly. Or, if you don’t have any, it’s time to install them.

Carbon monoxide is a potential byproduct of burning fossil fuels like gas and oil. It’s colorless and odorless, but it’s potently toxic, and can cause everything from diz-ziness to death.

Stay safe this winter by taking a few precautions:

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm outside of every bedroom.

• Replace batteries in the alarm at least twice a year. While you’re at it, change the batteries in your smoke alarms, too.

• If you notice any warning signs that carbon monoxide is at harmful levels in your home—the air is stuffy and stale; condensation appears on windows; burner flames turn yellow; pilot lights flutter or extinguish—turn the appliance off and open the windows. Call a natural gas contractor to inspect the equipment.

• Properly maintain your fur-nace, boiler vents and chimneys.

Check Carbon Monoxide Alarm During Heating Season

Alter Wood-Burning Fireplace to Make it More Efficient

Want information about your cooperative, a recipe from a past issue of Sparks & Flashes, or to pay your bill online? Then visit our website!

www.nfecoop.com

According to the U.S. Census Bu-reau, 33-percent of Americans lease their homes. Unfortunately, many lease agreements forbid major altera-tions to rental properties. But don’t worry, renters! Consider using these low-cost, energy-efficient tips from Northfork Electric to improve the ef-ficiency of your home this winter.

Hot savingsHeating the home typically makes

up about 48 percent of your utility bill. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter – Energy.gov recommends 68 degrees Fahren-heit to boost energy efficiency.

During the winter months, take advantage of heat from sunlight.

Open draperies and shades during the day to allow natural light to heat your home. Remember to close them in the evenings as the temperature drops and windowpanes become chilly.

Does your home have window air conditioning units? This winter, re-member to insulate the units from the outside with a tight-fitting cover, avail-able at your local home improvement center or hardware store. This keeps heated air from escaping outside. If desired, you can remove the window unit during winter months to prevent energy loss.

Another way to save on heating is to make sure your water heater is set at the lowest comfortable setting. Have you experienced scalding hot water when taking a shower? If so, it's likely that your water heater is set too high – which is a waste of energy. Older models of water tanks are often not insulated, which can be easily remedied by covering them with an insulating jacket.

Bright ideasLighting is one of the easiest

How Renters can Fight the Winter Chill

places to start saving energy, and sav-ings are not strictly limited to winter months. Try replacing a few of your most frequently used light bulbs with ENERGY STAR-qualified lights, and save more than $65 a year in energy costs. ENERGY STAR-qualified com-pact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75-percent less energy and last several times longer than incandescent light bulbs, saving money on energy bills and replacement costs. Practicing energy-efficient habits is another great way to reduce energy use. Always turn off your lights when leaving a room.

Other ways to saveLeasing an older home or apart-

ment? Odds are you have single-pane windows and old or missing caulk. Don’t let the winter chill seep indoors! Apply caulk around window frames, sashes and door panels to combat air leaks. Also, be mindful when using electronics at home. Unplug devices when not in use, and use smart power strips to save on energy use. To learn more ways to be energy efficient around the home, visit www.nfecoop.com or www.energy.gov.

by Kenny WaughNFEC Manager of Marketing

& Power Use Advisor

When you remove your out-door lights after the holidays are over, do it safely. First, suit up. Wear thick

gloves and protective glasses before doing any electrical work at home. Taking down holiday lights is electrical work. Unplug. If your strands of

lights are still connected to an outlet or to other strands when you start dismantling your holiday dis-play, you could get a shock. Plus, unplugging the lights first will help preserve them for next season.Be gentle. Don’t tug, pull,

rip or yank your lights; you could damage them. Take the lights down one section at a time, and use one hand to loop the strands around your elbow. Look up. If power lines hang

close to your roof, note if they are touching or tangled in those wires. If they are, do not touch them. If they’re in the clear, use extra care when removing them so your

hands, tools or lights do not touch. Then, call your electric cooperative and report that low-hanging wire. Power lines should not be close enough to your roof that you can touch them. Inspect. Check for broken

bulbs, fraying wires, staples—which you should never use to hang lights—and other damage. Take care with damaged lights and wires. Once they’re off of the house and the trees, throw dam-aged strands away. Consider that the weather

was probably a little bit warmer when you put the lights up in No-vember than when you take them

How to Remove Outdoor Holiday Lights Safely down in January. That could make you want to hurry the chore along so you can get inside where it’s warm. But if you rush, you could damage the shrubs and trees where your lights have been hanging for more than a month. Take care not to rip leaves or blossoms. Think about hiring a roofer

or landscaper to hang and remove your holiday lights next year. They have the proper gear and training to safely climb onto your roof and up your trees and to handle elec-tricl wires.

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder3/4 cup white sugar 1 pinch salt 1/3 cup boiling water 3 1/2 cups milk 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Creamy Hot Cocoa

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

1 Tbsp. olive oil2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts

(season both sides with salt and pepper)

1 lg. yellow onion, diced3 lg. carrots, peeled, cut in half

lengthwise and sliced ¼-inch thick

3 celery stalks, sliced ¼-inch thick2 qts. low-sodium chicken broth1 bay leafA few sprigs of thyme2 tsp. salt½ tsp. black pepper8 oz. egg noodles2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf

parsley

Cheeseburger Spaghetti Pie

1 lb. spaghetti2 tsp. olive oil1 lb. ground beef1 sm. yellow or red onion, minced2 Tbsp. tomato paste4 Tbsp. ketchup, divided1 Tbsp. sweet relish2 tsp. yellow mustard1 lb. spaghetti, cooked, drained and

cooled4 lg. eggs, beaten1 cup shredded cheddar cheese,

divided1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

cheese1/2 tsp. salt

Heat olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or stock pot over medium high heat.

Add chicken, skin side down and cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Remove from pan and add onions, carrots, and celery. Saute for 2 minutes, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour in broth, bay leaf, and thyme.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.Cook the spaghetti according to

package directions, then drain and toss with 2 tsp. olive oil. Let cool for about 10 minutes.

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Stir in onion and cook, stirring occasion-ally, for about 5 minutes more. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute more.

Remove the pan from the heat and pour the beef and onions into a medium bowl.

Stir 2 Tbsp. ketchup along with relish and mustard into the beef and set aside.

In a large bowl, stir remaining 2 Tbsp. ketchup with eggs, 1/2 cup of the cheddar, all of the mozzarella and salt. Add pasta and gently toss to coat.

Pour half the pasta mixture into back into the skillet. Top the pasta with the ground beef mixture, spreading it evenly. Top with the remaining pasta. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup ched-dar cheese over the pie.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until the pie is sizzling around the edges and the top of the pie is golden brown. Let the pie rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring to an easy boil while stirring. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn’t scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to low. If a foam forms, skim off the top and discard. Cover and let simmer for 25 minutes.

Remove chicken. Remove and discard skin. Shred meat with a fork, add back to pot with noodles. Bring to a low boil and cook until noodles are just done, about 8 minutes. Stir in parsley and serve.

Stay Toasty this Winter with these

Comfort Food Recipes

When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. NFEC cares about your safety, and we want you to be prepared.

Heavy snow and ice can lead to downed power lines, leaving co-op members without power. During ex-tremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous. During a power outage, our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power, but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself.

• Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution, and never leave the heating source unattended. If you are using gasoline-, propane- or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember fuel- and wood-burning sources of heat should always be properly ventilated. Always read the manufacturer’s direc-tions before using.

• Stay fed – The CDC recom-mends having handy several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage.

• Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down. It is best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines, always assume they are live. Stay as far away from the downed lines as possible, and report the situation to our dispatchers by calling 580-928-3366 or 1-800-668-6587 if possible.

Winter weather can be unpredict-able and dangerous, and planning ahead can often be the difference between life and death. NFEC is ready for what Mother Nature has in store, and we want you to be ready, too.

Hidden Account NumberIf you see your account number in this newsletter, call our office, identify

yourself and the number. We will credit your electric bill $25. The number may be located anywhere in the newsletter and is chosen at random.

If you don’t know your account number, call our office or look on your bill. To get the credit, you must call before the next month’s newsletter is mailed.

One of the easiest ways to save money on your utility bill—and do your part for the environment at the same time—is to be smarter about the lighting in your house.

Here are five ways to save energy with smarter lighting choices:1. Identify the rooms where your family spends the most time. Replace the

light fixtures—overhead, undercounter and tabletop—with LED fixtures. They can last up to 50 times longer than a lamp or overhead fixture that takes an old-fashioned incandescent light bulb. And you don’t ever need to change the bulbs. In 50 years, when the fixture wears out, you’ll replace the whole fixture.

2. Buy lighting products that carry a warranty of at least two years. That goes for LED fixtures, ceiling fans with built-in lights and other products. If you buy Energy Star lighting products, the warranty is required.

3. Install ceiling fans. Choose a combo unit that includes both a the fan and a light; your electrician can install it in the spot that used to house just the overhead light. Ceiling fans move the air around and make a room feel cooler in the sum-mer and warmer in the winter.

4. Use your dimmers. They’re not just for mood lighting; they’re for energy savings, too. Most dimmers conserve energy.

5. This one’s not new: Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Train your family to do the same. Impossible? Install motion-sensing lights or add a timer to your lights so they turn off automatically when nobody’s using the room.

Save on Lighting; Save on Energy

Be Prepared for Winter Storms