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.

Create a wind chill with circulating fans

Temperatures outdoors are creeping back up into the high 90s and low 100s and home air conditioners are working harder. Turning on a circulating fan can help lighten the load and lower energy use.
Circulating fans include ceiling fans, table fans, floor fans, and fans mounted to poles or walls. These fans create a wind chill effect that will make you more comfortable in your home, even if it's also cooled by natural ventilation or air conditioning. Ceiling fans are considered the most effective of these types of fans, since they effectively circulate the air in a room to create a draft throughout the room.
If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. In temperate climates, or during moderately hot weather, ceiling fans may allow you to avoid using your air conditioner altogether. Install a fan in each room that needs to be cooled during hot weather.
Ceiling fans are only appropriate in rooms with ceilings at least eight feet high. Fans work best when the blades are 7–9 feet above the floor and 10–12 inches below the ceiling. Fans should be installed so their blades are no closer than 8 inches from the ceiling and 18 inches from the walls.
Larger ceiling fans can move more air than smaller fans. A 36- or 44-inch diameter fan will cool rooms up to 225 square feet, while fans that are 52 inches or more should be used in larger rooms. Multiple fans work best in rooms longer than 18 feet. Small- and medium-sized fans will provide efficient cooling in a 4- to 6-foot diameter area, while larger fans are effective up to 10 feet.
A larger blade will also provide comparable cooling at a lower velocity than a smaller blade. This may be important in areas where loose papers or other objects will be disturbed by a strong breeze. The fan should also be fitted to the aesthetics of the room—a large fan may appear overpowering in a small room.
A more expensive fan that operates quietly and smoothly will probably offer more trouble-free service than cheaper units. Check the noise ratings, and, if possible, listen to your fan in operation before you buy it.When buying window fans, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. Fans that earn the label move air 20 percent more efficiently, on average, than standard models.

Winners return from electric cooperative-sponsored youth tour

Brady Clark of Waurika, Trevor Lucas of Marlow and Ryan Yuyuenyongwatana and Rufus Lindsey II, both of Lawton, recently returned home from an eventful, fun-filled week in Washington, D.C. The young men won the 2009 Rural Electric Cooperative "Youth Tour" contest, sponsored by Cotton Electric Cooperative in Walters.

Parents are Jim and Sonya Clark, Bruce Lucas and Pam Lucas, Betty and Robert Yuyuenyongwatana, and Rufus and Claire Lindsey

The 46th annual Youth Tour began June 12 with a get acquainted banquet in Oklahoma City. The next morning, 73 outstanding teens representing 25 of the state's rural electric systems departed for the nation's capital.

In addition to visiting historical monuments, taking photos of the White House and enjoying a riverboat cruise on the Potomac River, the Oklahoma winners toured the Library of Congress, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Pentagon and Mount Vernon.

The group also hosted a Congressional Summit for the Oklahoma delegation, aides and guests, assisted by U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas and his staff. Lucas represents Oklahoma's 3^rd Congressional District.

While traveling through Baltimore, the group spent time at Inner Harbor.

For the final event of the week, the young Oklahomans met with more the 1,500 other Youth Tour winners from across the nation at a dinner and dance hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The tour is coordinated each year by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives.

Peak demand season is here

Brace yourself. Summer looks to be a scorcher this year.

Kids will be home running televisions and computers and giving refrigerator doors a workout, air conditioners will run night and day … it all adds up to a big demand.
Demand across the co-op will skyrocket, as it always does during the summer. In fact, it's the time of year when we hit a peak in demand for power, particularly from 4 to 8 p.m. on the hottest days, usually from June 20 through Sept. 9 The peak is significant.
Cotton Electric purchases power from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative owned by CEC and 18 other members – all demanding power.
As the demand grows, WFEC brings more power generators online and the cost of producing energy rises. If the demand is more than WFEC has readily available, power is purchased on the open market at an even higher price.

The price of power throughout any year is based on peak usage during the previous five years. In other words, the price CEC pays for power in 2009 is based on the average of CEC's peak demand for 2004 through 2008.
The lowest demand during those years was in 2004, the year that will drop out of the formula when calculations are made for 2010.
So, the cooperative's demand during the hottest part of the year will have a significant impact on bills during the summer and beyond.
There is an aspect that we all control – demand – and lowering it from 4 to 8 p.m. on peak days will pay off in the long run.
WFEC plans to notify the co-ops by noon on days a peak is predicted. Cotton Electric has developed a variety of ways for members to get that message, too:

Sign up for Beat the Peak notices. Visit our Web site, http://www.cottonelectric.com/, fill out a very short form and select the form of notification you prefer: Text message, e-mail or both.
Give us a call at 580-875-3351. We'll sign you up for Beat the Peak messages to go to your cell phone or land line.

Follow Cotton Electric on Twitter.
Check our Web site or Facebook page.
On peak days, be energy aware. Keep an energy industry saying in mind: The cheapest kilowatt is the one not used. Put off using the clothes dryer or dishwasher until after 8 p.m. Cook dinner on the grill instead of inside – a double savings since the air conditioner doesn't have to cool air heated by the range or oven. And speaking of the air conditioner, set the thermostat a couple of degrees higher. If you must dry clothes and cook inside, don't do it at the same time. In other words, stagger out the demand during those crucial four hours.
Cotton Electric has set a modest goal of a 5 percent reduction in demand over last year. That would mean dropping the demand by 4,635 kW from 4 to 8 p.m. on the peak days.
The more members of the cooperative who participate, the easier this will be to achieve. For example, a clothes dryer's demand is 5 kW and 927 dryers running at once would have a total demand of 4,635 kW.
If these dryers never ran during the entire peak period, the savings of 4,635 kW to the cooperative would be on next year's power bill. Additionally, the environment would be helped and perhaps the need for new generation delayed.
Put another way, in March 2009, CEC served 17, 485 farm and residential meters. If each lowered demand by 0.3 kW during the peak period, about what it takes to power a television or computer monitor, the goal would be achieved with a bit of a cushion.
The cooperative has power in its numbers. Together, we can Beat the Peak.

Manning the phones during an outage

A big thunderstorm rumbled through the Cotton Electric Service area this afternoon. It was one of the wicked ones with high winds, lots of rain, lots of lightning and, of course, lots of power outages.

Not long after it hit the Walters headquarters, an announcement was made that we were all to "log on" and begin taking calls. When there is a large outage, we all pull together to help get things back up and running. For those of us who work "inside," that means helping with the rush of phone calls from members.

It was my first time to answer phones during a weather event. I could remember how to use the new outage software from training in February, but was a little nervous about talking to members. I wasn't sure what to say and didn't really have a script. I got a quick lesson in customer service by listening to Lisa Bowers and Rachel Bowman when they took a few calls. Lisa and Rachel work with me in the Marketing Department at Cotton Electric.

After the first few calls, I realized the members were as familiar with the routine as my colleagues. Members are encouraged to call any time there is any type of problem. There have been many times I've published information about reporting outages.

Many of the first calls were fairly simple notifications that power was out. Most were in the area north and east of Lawton, around Elgin. A substation at Hulen was down for nearly an hour, affecting 1,625 members. The Walters sub, affecting 1,055 was down briefly. We also had broken poles in the Hastings area.

The software lets us know how many calls we have posted in relation to active outages. At one point it said 215 on over 50 outages throughout the service area.

After about 45 minutes, some of the callers were repeats. "Just calling to see if you sent someone out," and "Can you tell me how long the power's going to be out?" The answers were "Yes, someone is working on that," and, "No, but we'll get it back up as quickly as possible."

The software also has a map showing were all the callers are located. The little telephone icons would sprout up from west to east, following the storm.

Talking to the members was interesting. I told one gentleman we would get someone out as soon as possible and he said, "Well, they can't do anything right now. It's raining too hard!"

A woman called and was afraid to go in her house. A tree branch was across a line and pulling wires on the outside of her house.

Another woman reported a line down and crossing the road about a half-mile away. "By the way," she said, "My power is out, too!" Yes, ma'am.

It wasn't too bad, helping out this first time. Good experience for when things might get really bad.

If the power's out, call us. The number is 875-3351 in Walters or 800-522-3520 for the rest of the service area. A dispatcher is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

-- Karen Kaley

You have the power

The Current newspaper introduced a new series at the beginning of 2009 called "You Have the Power … to control energy consumption." Each month, a topic is given a thorough look.

As the new editor, I saw it as a way for me to learn about the new industry I found myself in and share what I have learned.

The series began with a lot of smoke about fireplaces, learning that more heat can go up the chimney than into a home if not properly enclosed.

In February, it was a shock to find how important surge protectors are and I sheepishly went out and bought a proper one to replace the power strip serving my computer and its peripherals.

I looked through all I could find about windows in March. There was so much to say about enhancing existing windows or replacing them, it took two pages of the paper.

The subject of water heaters boiled to the surface in April. I found that making simple changes might keep me from getting too steamed when my power bill arrives.

This month, Beat the Peak had its day in the sun. All Cotton Electric members are urged to conserve energy this summer, particularly on peak demand days.

If you missed any of these articles, an abbreviated version of The Current can be found here.

• Karen Kaley

E-bill is back online!

Cotton Electric is pleased to announce that members can once again make electronic payments on their accounts through our Web site.

The service had been suspended for about four months while the cooperative searched for a way to safely provide the convenience.

Members can go to our Web site, cottonelectric.com and click on the Pay Online link in the upper right corner. Clicking on the Pay by Check link in the next window will get you started.

There is a minor glitch! If you do not have a phone number on file with Cotton Electric, it will decline the payment. To correct this, simply call 580-875-3351 and we will update the file.

Another convenient option is automatic bank draft. Setting this up is easy. Download an application form here or call or come by the Walters or Duncan office and request an application form.

Complete the form and return it to the co-op along with a voided check or deposit slip and we'll get you set up.

For more information on the draft payment option available for Cotton Electric members, call the senior billing clerk at 875-3351 or 1-800-522-3520.

Do you need help budgeting for your electric bills?  If so, consider enrolling in our Average Monthly Payment (AMP) plan.  The AMP plan helps smooth out your electric bills over a 12-month period which makes planning and paying easier.

To read more about the AMP plan and download an application click here or contact our Customer Service department at (580) 875-3351.

Co-op Connections adds new benefit

Cotton Electric is proud to announce the Co-op Connection Card discount program has now added free coupons from Coupons.com, for brand name grocery store items from cereals to juice to detergent, and that's just a start. Check back everyday to see what money savings coupons are available before you head out on your next trip to the grocery store.

All you have to do is go to the Connections Web site at: http://www.connections.coop/ and click on Coupons button on the left side of the screen. Then check the clip button if you would like to print a coupon. Check as many coupons as you want to print and when you are finished, click Print Now on the bottom of the page.

It is so quick and easy and the discounts are incredible. Some examples of the substantial savings include $1 on Kellogg cereals, $1.50 on Clorox, $1 on V8 juice, and the savings just keep getting bigger and better for you as members of Cotton Electric.

As an added bonus, Coupons.com also provides an expansive recipe section to give you great ideas for delicious meals.

As always, Cotton Electric is here to save you time and money and we're always looking out for you.

Co-op Connections program marks 1st anniversary

Cotton Electric launched the Co-op Connections program one year ago. Cards and key fobs were sent to every member in Spring 2008. Since then, members have received discounts on a variety of products and services offered locally and nationally simply by presenting their card.
The program has continued to grow, with new businesses joining the lineup every month. The only cost to participating businesses is the discount they offer. In exchange, their name is listed on the Co-op Connections Web site and in advertising promoting the program in this newspaper. The Current also features a Co-op Connections business partner each month.
Area businesses interested in participating can contact Bryce Hooper at 580-875-3351.
Members needing replacement cards can call the same number and ask for Marketing.

Loco restored

The Loco substation is up and running. Power has been restored to all but about 50 members in the Duncan area.

Outage update

At noon, we were working on about a dozen outages, most in the eastern half of the Cotton Electric service area. Many are due to broken poles. Western Farmers also has transmission poles down. As a result, the substation at Loco is down, affecting 573 members. A pole down near Duncan is affecting 45 members. Crews have been working since early this morning to restore power.

First posting

Greetings to all!
This first posting comes on a stormy day. It has been raining heavily in the Cotton Electric service area for several hours. Lots of lightning, unfortunately, means outages. At this moment, there are six reported outages affecting nearly 600 members. Crews have been dispatched and we'll get the power back on as quickly as possible. Check back for updates.