Outage update – 8:20 p.m., Jan. 30, 2010

WALTERS – Cotton Electric crews worked throughout the day Saturday and are being called in to get some rest. “Safety and productivity become an issue after dark,” said Steve Lyons, vice president of operations.
Work will start up again around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. All field crews and construction crew will be joined by eight new line crews in the continued effort to restore power.
CEC crews will work in the Medicine Park area and the Hulen/Pumpkin Center area. Several crews will work in the Marlow and Duncan area. Because of the number of broken poles, power restoration in these areas may take 7 to 10 days.
“We still have major transmission problems,” said Warren Langford, CEO. Damage to Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) structures has power out at CEC substations. Langford said, “If the Cache substation is not energized tomorrow, we will attempt to back feed the sub and try to pick up as many members as we can.
“We’ve made some progress today,” he said. “We restored power to approximately 8,000 members.” As of 8:40 p.m., 9,510 members were still without power due to transmission and distribution issues.
Langford pointed out that this is a dangerous time and cautioned members to stay away from downed power lines.
Members with Internet access can monitor outage information of the Cooperative’s Web site, cottonelectric.com. A link shows the location of outages and the number of members affected. The site is updated regularly.
Members are reminded that to report service outages or other electrical problems, please call (580) 875-3351 or (800) 522-3520. A local dispatcher is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Stay safe during winter storms

Snow and ice storms are an inevitable part of the winter season. However, they can lead to downed power lines and outages. Preparing for a coming storm should include checking flashlight batteries and making sure there is an ample supply of alternative fuel sources, such as firewood.
A Cotton Electric dispatcher is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When an outage occurs, members can call 580-875-3351 (Walters local calling area) or 1-800-522-3520. Every effort is made to restore power as quickly as possible. For a widespread outage, contract crews are engaged to supplement the work of the CEC crews.
Members with access to a computer can monitor outage information on the cooperative’s Web site, cottonelectric.com. A new link shows the location of outages and the number of members affected.

Remember the following tips to stay safe and warm should you find yourself in the dark after a severe winter event:

Never touch a fallen power line, and assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. Call Cotton Electric to report it immediately. Avoid contact with overhead lines during cleanup and other activities.
In the event of an outage, an alternate heating source — such as a fireplace, propane space heater, or wood stove — may be used. Extreme caution should be taken.
Plan to stay in an area of the home where the alternate heat source is located.
Fuel- and wood-burning heating sources should be vented. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions.
Make sure carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are working properly.
Do not use a gas-powered oven for heating. A gas oven may go out or burn inefficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Do not use a gas or charcoal grill inside the home. Do not use charcoal briquettes in the fireplace.
If you use a portable generator to power a heating source, be sure the generator is located outside your house for proper ventilation. Do not use a generator in an attached garage. Follow manufacturer’s directions for operating the generator.
Take special care not to overload a generator. Use appropriately sized extension cords to carry the electric load. Make sure the cords have a grounded, three-pronged plug and are in good condition.
Never run cords under rugs or carpets.
Never connect generators to household wiring. The reverse flow of electricity can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.

Ideally, your family will stay warm until the power comes back on. But keep an eye on family members for signs of hypothermia, which include shivering, drowsiness and mental and physical slowness. The elderly and young children are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia. Call 911 immediately if you notice these symptoms. At least one telephone in the house that does not depend on electricity should be available in the case of a power outage.


Cotton Electric Cooperative, organized in 1938, currently provides electric service to over 20,000 meters in eight counties of Southwest Oklahoma including Caddo, Carter, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Tillman, Jefferson and Stephens counties.

This winter, set your thermostat to cheap

Temperatures have dropped and the Oklahoma wind is sweeping down the plains. Cotton Electric Cooperative offers a few tips for keeping your hard-earned money from blowing away on high energy bills.

One of the simplest ways to conserve energy use during winter months is to set your thermostat as low as is comfortable. Another is to manage the warmth offered by the sun, opening draperies and shades on south-facing windows during the day and closing them at night. Closing the damper on an unused fireplace will keep warm air indoors.

Space heaters and electric blankets should always be turned off when unattended. Going a step further and unplugging them and other appliances not in use can trim energy use by taking them out of a standby mode.

A low cost way to assist your heating system and increase its efficiency is to change air filters. Frequency depends on the household, but fresh filters should be a part of every cold weather home maintenance routine.

Air leaks will cause your heating system to work harder and longer, meaning higher energy bills. A rattling window or fluttering curtain can be indicators of problem areas. Locking a window will tighten the seal, as will a fresh application of caulk or weather stripping.

Exterior doors often allow wintry air into the home. Stopping a draft at the bottom of a door can be as simple as rolling up an old blanket. Some craft vendors and retail stores offer draft-stoppers that are whimsical or decorative. A more permanent solution is weather stripping, which will address leakage all around the door.

A larger investment can bring more savings in the long-term. Installing a programmable thermostat means the system will not work as hard to heat an empty home. A great deal of home heat is lost because of inadequate insulation in attics. Adding a few inches can go a long way toward lowering wintertime energy bills.

Energy conservation a New Year’s resolution that easy to keep

It’s an annual tradition: The beginning of a new year marks the beginning of plans to make lifestyle changes.
Many resolutions are made but difficult to carry out. Cotton Electric Cooperative can suggest one that is easy to stick with: Energy conservation. This pledge is as simple to carry out as changing a light bulb.
A light fixture will use as much as 75 percent less electricity simply by switching from an incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb. Every time you turn on that light, you save energy.
The lifespan of a CFL is an added bonus. They can last up to 10 times longer than an incandescent, meaning your resolution can still be going strong for years to come.
This resolution might even count as a two-fer, saving energy and money. A CFL can save about $30 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb.
Here are a few other simple ways to carry out a resolution to conserve energy:
Open window shades and curtains to make use of the sun’s warmth in the winter. Do the opposite in the summer, blocking the heat and easing the job of your air conditioner.
Pull on an extra sweater and set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter. Better yet, consider installing a programmable thermostat to control how much energy is used to heat and cool your home when you are away.
Your heat and air system will work much more efficiently when air filters are changed on a regular basis. Keep intake vents free of obstruction and run a vacuum brush over them now and then.
Keep an eye out for vampires at night. Every glowing LED you see after the lights are out indicates an appliance that is using energy. With a single switch, a good surge protector can turn off groups, such as your computer and all its peripheral attachments.
Close the damper when your fireplace is not in use. An open flue is similar to an open window and all the warm air your furnace produced will go straight up the chimney.

Stop the

Gazing at a department store wall covered with flat-screened televisions, a couple debates the differences in type, size, clarity and price. They wonder if they should stick with cable or switch to satellite.

They will also need to buy accessories. They talk about a DVD player and ask a passing sales associate about a cabinet they have seen elsewhere in the store.

They may spend over $1,000. But they forget one item that, at less than $100, would have the smallest price tag in the purchase and could prove to be the most valuable: A surge protector.

The lightning associated with thunderstorms can wreak havoc. Large, power-grabbing appliances can have an adverse effect on sensitive electronics. Connecting the television, DVD player, even the cable or satellite to a surge protector can make the difference.

What is a surge?

A surge is a short, sudden rush of electric current. A surge can raise the normal amount of voltage flowing in your home, which can damage appliances, sensitive electronics and many other items.

What are some causes of surges?

According to Steve Lyons, vice president of operations for Cotton Electric, most surges in the CEC service area can be attributed to lightning. Oklahoma is ranked ninth among states by the National Weather Service in frequency of lightning flashes per square mile.

Most Cotton Electric members live in a rural setting, with wide open spaces between them and their nearest neighbor. Lightning is a terrific ball of energy that will seek out the nearest, tallest feature of the landscape. That is often a house, its outbuildings, trees and service poles.

The energy from a lightning strike can enter a home in a number of ways: Above and under ground through telephone, cable and satellite lines, plumbing pipes and the electrical system.

Another big surge cause is critters – many a snake, squirrel or bird will perish when they come into contact with an electrified part of the system.

Outages have a number of other natural causes such as wind and ice. Some are accidental, like a car hitting a power pole or farm equipment becoming entangled in guy wires.

Power fluctuations can also come from within your home. Known as sags and swells, the flow becomes uneven when compressors for refrigerators or air conditioners come on, for example. The damage caused by this uneven flow happens over time, gradually degrading the circuitry in electronic devices.

"Today's homes and businesses are filled with many electronic devices that are very sensitive to voltage fluctuations," said Mike Stephens, power use advisor for Cotton Electric.

"As we add more devices, they compete with each other for power available on the various circuits within the home."

Why is surge protection important?

Power fluctuations are unpredictable and happen all the time. Disconnecting every electronic device in your home in anticipation of a thunderstorm is not practical. A surge protector quietly waits for that brief, powerful moment when it does its job, taking the jolt and possibly burning itself out before the damage can go any further.

How can you protect your home?

With the caution that there is no 100 percent guarantee that all measures taken will prevent damage – especially in the case of lightning – Stephens recommends starting outside.

"Grounding is the most important factor," he said, "and every home has a grounding electrode near where utility service enters." Grounding provides a short path that electricity may follow to the earth, where it can be dissipated.

However, wires leading from various service devices to the grounding electrode are sometimes disconnected. Because all service – electricity, phone, cable, satellite – often uses the same ground, it is a good idea to have an electrician check to make sure it is connected properly.

The electrician may be there to install a whole-house suppressor. These are generally installed at the service panel and are designed to deal with most voltage fluctuations from external sources.

They offer protection for larger appliances that usually do not have plug-in type protectors.

The cost of a whole-house suppressor can range from $80 to $250. Don't forget to consider the electrician's fee.

This type of suppressor won't stop all excess voltage from coming into the house and does nothing to manage the fluctuations caused by various motors coming on and going off inside. A second line of defense is an army of plug-in type suppressors.

Now let's be clear here: We are not talking about power strips! "Those are just fancy extension cords," said Harold Anderson, system analyst for Cotton Electric. If the item you are considering is just a series of outlets and one on/off switch, it is probably not offering protection, just accessibility for several devices.

Anderson said, "Surge protection should be on everything electronic ... anything of value."

A proper surge protector usually has indicator lights to show the device is working. Aside from a lit on/reset switch, there may be a light indicating the status of ground and protection.

Be prepared to read the packaging of a surge protector. Its labeling will include information about its ability to protect, which is more important than how much it costs or how big the equipment warranty may be.

Look for these terms:

• Peak Surge Current: This represents the maximum transient current that the suppressor can handle during a surge. If you are applying surge suppression only at the point-of-use, you need to look for a peak current rating of 55,000 amperes or higher.
  


• Clamping voltage: This is the maximum level of voltage allowed to pass through the protector. It should be no higher than 330 volts.
  


• Response time: This is how fast the device will react to a power fluctuation. A good suppressor should act in less than a nanosecond.
  


• Joules – This measures the amount of energy a device can dissipate. The higher the joules, the better the protection and the longer the life of the surge protector.
  

When selecting a surge protector, resist the temptation to choose the least expensive product. Protecting thousands of dollars worth of equipment is worth the $40 or higher price tag.

As mentioned before, there is no guarantee that the might of electricity will always be thwarted by these devices. Some products offer a limited warranty that should be read carefully. The keywords will be "limited" and "up to," meaning the warranty is good only in certain situations and any compensation will be only for the value of the items affected.

The main influence of the selection should be the purpose intended. "You want to match the surge protector to the device you are trying to protect," said Stephens. Packaging labels can help in the selection of suitable protection.

How can I get through the "blinks"?

Some power interruptions are very short – as quick as a blink – but long enough to be frustrating. It can mean more than having to reset the VCR clock. There's always a loud groan when a computer shuts down abruptly, losing all unsaved work.

Anderson recommends uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices, or battery backups. "They will get you through a blink or a short outage of about 10 or 15 minutes."

These devices offer surge protection and a little bit of time to allow a computer's software to shut down properly. They are slightly more expensive than surge protectors and should be selected according to the job they will be required to do.

They are not recommended for use with laser printers or other appliances with high power requirements.

Anderson said the rechargeable battery in most UPS units is easy to change and can last two to five years, depending on how often it is required to power your equipment.

CECF announces golf tournament

Golfers have a great opportunity to spend a day on an 18-hole championship course while helping to raise funds to help organizations and individuals throughout southwest Oklahoma.
The First Annual Cotton Electric Charitable Foundation (CECF) Summer Classic will be Sept. 14 at The Territory Golf Course in Duncan. The tournament is being held to raise awareness of CECF and to generate funds for Operation Round Up (ORU).
ORU is primarily funded by Cotton Electric Cooperative members, who “round up” their monthly bill to the nearest dollar. The funds are administered by CECF, which meets quarterly to consider grant applications. Since its inception in 2004, CECF has awarded over $360,000 to volunteer fire departments, youth, senior citizen and public safety organizations, schools, communities and individuals throughout the Cotton Electric service area.
Registration for the four-person scramble will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The registration fee of $600 per team will include range balls, cart, and a meal following the round.
Individual, team and door prizes will be awarded.
To enter, players’ names and handicap or average scores can be faxed to 580-875-3101. For information, call Melvin Jones at 580-255-5065 or e-mail mjones@cottonelectric.com.
Deadline for entries is Sept. 7.

Utility poles need no attachments

No, nothing, nada.
No wireless internet or satellite receiver, no basketball goal, no barbed-wire fencing, no garage sale sign. Nothing should be attached to a utility pole except the power equipment placed there by trained personnel.
It is a matter of access. It is a matter of safety. It is a matter of law.
A Cotton Electric utility pole belongs to the cooperative. The co-op retains rights of access to the pole in order to provide quality service to the members.
In order to gain access to a pole, attached items such as signs and fences will be removed by Cotton Electric employees.
Posters or other objects (birdhouses, balloons, flags, and even basketball nets) can create dangerous obstacles.. Also, the nails and tacks left behind from signs can snag utility workers’ boots or puncture safety clothing, making lineworkers vulnerable to slipping or even electrocution.
Items higher up on the pole will be removed if they present a safety hazard. The closer an item is to the line and any other equipment, the bigger the hazard.
An extreme example was discovered recently by Robert Martinez, a construction crew leader for CEC. “I just happened to look up,” he said, “and was surprised by what I saw.”
A wireless internet receiver had been mounted high up on a pole, so close to a transformer that some of the line brushed against the back of the device.
Martinez said, “I wondered how someone might have done that without getting killed.”
He said the receiver was within three feet of a 7200-volt primary line. Quoting safety policies followed by CEC employees, he said, “We can’t get closer than 4 feet, 2 inches to something like that without wearing insulated gloves.
“It was too close for comfort.” Martinez said it was the worst safety hazard of this type he’d seen in his 29 years with Cotton Electric. He took immediate steps to de-energize the transformer and have the device removed.
A situation like that is prohibited by Oklahoma state statute. Under Title 63, addressing public health and safety, section 981 states, “Activity within six feet of high voltage overhead line or conductor (is) prohibited.” Section 984 outlines consequences, saying a conviction can result in a $500 fine or six months imprisonment or both.
The poles seem like ideal mounts for receivers in areas with lots of trees. Those being used to bring power to the area are not an option, but members do have another alternative.
Cotton Electric will sell and install a pole for a member. A crew will determine a safe location, dig and place the pole for about $300.
The pole then becomes the property of the member to use as they please.