Spring/Summer Quarter - Western Farmers Electric Cooperative

Spring/Summer 2013
Ener Com
A Quarterly Publication of
Western Farmers Electric Cooperative
1

Ener Com
Spring/Summer Quarter, 2013 Volume XVI, No. 1
Western Farmers Electric Cooperative
P. O. Box 429
Anadarko, OK 73005
(405) 247-3351
www.wfec.com
Cover:
Spring has finally arrived
in Oklahoma, with colorful
wildflowers scattering along
the roadways and countryside.
Canola fields are also in full
bloom throughout the area,
including this one near the
Wichita Mountains.
(Photo by Sondra Boykin)
Gary R. Roulet..................................................................CEO
Brian Hobbs..................................VP, Legal & Corporate Svc.
Mark Faulkenberry...........................Manager, Mktg. & Comm.
Sondra Boykin, CCC.......................................................Editor
Mark Daugherty, CCC..............................Writer, Photographer
Maria Crowder.........................................Writer, Photographer
Kansas
Northwestern
Alfalfa
Kay
Oklahoma
Cimarron
New Mexico
Farmers’
Kiwash
Northfork
Harmon
Southwest
Rural
Caddo
Cotton
Oklahoma
Rural
East Central
Oklahoma
Canadian
Valley
Kiamichi
Roosevelt
County
Texas
Red River
Valley Rural
Southeastern
Choctaw
Lea
County
Central
Valley
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Top Contest Winners Awarded
Scholarship Dollars, Grants
TThrough creativity and research, three Oklahoma high
school students were awarded scholarship dollars as a
part of the Go Go Geo Scholarship Video Challenge.
These awards were presented during a luncheon banquet
on April 22 in downtown Oklahoma City. The banquet
culminated a two-day event, in which five contest
finalists, along with their parents, met with sponsors,
judges and other industry representatives.
The Go Go Geo event was designed for the
promotion of geothermal technology through the
creative use of video and social media. The competition,
consisting of a regional round and a state round, was
sponsored by the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives,
along with geothermal manufacturers, ClimateMaster,
Bosch and WaterFurnace, serving as co-sponsors.
Ean Bonjour, a senior at Stillwater High School, was
awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarship dollars by
taking first place honors in this video challenge, which
allowed eligible students the chance at showcasing
their creativity, while competing for almost $60,000 in
scholarship dollars and school grants. Entries consisted
of unique videos, created
by high school juniors
and seniors from across
Stories, Photos by
Sondra Boykin
Oklahoma and southeastern New Mexico, with over 50
videos submitted.
Bonjour’s award included $3,000 in scholarship
dollars from the regional round and $7,000 for the
top finish at the state level. For his first place finish,
Stillwater High School, will also receive a total of
$5,000 in educational grant money from the two
rounds of competition.
Second place went to Casee Cole, a junior at Pond
Creek-Hunter Junior-Senior High School, which
(Continued on Page 4)
What were they thinking
TThe latest video editing software has empowered people all over the world
to tell their stories through movies, revealing both creativity and originality
through these new techniques that are easily accessible for all ages.
This creativity was certainly evident among those entering the Go Go
Geo Scholarship Video Challenge, as students utilized musical talents,
developed scripts, used artistry with drawings and graphics or took their
imagination to the great outdoors.
For five entrants, their skills and originality earned them a place in the final round of competition of the
video challenge. So, just what led them to their unique ideas for explaining geothermal technology
For Ean Bonjour, who took the first place honors in the competition that earned him $10,000 in
scholarship dollars, it was a family-related idea that led him to his portrayal of the Wizard of Oz characters.
“Our high school had just performed the Wizard of Oz, so my sister offered this as a suggestion,” he pointed
out. He added that it also tied in with the Emerald City and some of the themes involving “going green”.
(Continued on Page 6)
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Contest winners
included a $3,000 scholarship from the regional
contest, in addition to $3,500 for the state finish.
Austin Branch, a senior at Norman High School North,
received the third place scholarship award, consisting
of a total of $5,000, including $3,000 for the regional
finish and $2,000 for the state finals.
Other finalists, listed with their school, included
Kailey Kelley, Hinton High School; and Haley Madden,
Portales (New Mexico) High School. These two each
received $3,000 in scholarship dollars from the regional
round of the contest and an additional $1,000 from the
state finals.
Video entries were judged on creativity, content,
message delivery of geothermal themes and online
voting, through social media, for each of the videos
submitted. Plus in the final round, each of these factors
was also included, in addition to an interview with the
three judges. The videos of these five students are posted
at http://www.gogogeochallenge.com.
(Continued from Page 3)
The judges for this competition included Betty
Thompson, Miss Oklahoma 2012; Michael Ming,
Oklahoma Secretary of Energy; and Stephen McKeever
– Oklahoma Secretary of Science & Technology.
Ming pointed out that he was “fabulously impressed
by the students and their innovative ideas”. The judges
also commented on how each student was so respectful,
not only during the interviews, but during the informal
conversation as well.
“These students are very accomplished and it seems as
if it is all self-driven,” commented Thompson.
Each of the co-sponsors for the challenge noted that
they too were impressed by the work of the students
in creating their unique videos. “This event has built a
new grapevine with fruit that will last for many years
to come and then multiply,” commented Will Lange,
director, utility market development and hyper sales,
with WaterFurnace.
For Dan Ellis, president of ClimateMaster, the Go Go
State fnalists in the Go Go Geo Scholarship Video Challenge are pictured with contest judges
following their interviews. Those shown are (from left) Austin Branch, Norman High School
North; Michael Ming, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy; Kailey Kelley, Hinton High School; Ean
Bonjour, Stillwater High School; Casee Cole, Pond Creek-Hunter Junior-Senior High School; Haley
Madden, Portales (New Mexico) High School; Stephen McKeever, Oklahoma Secretary of Science &
Technology; and Betty Thompson, Miss Oklahoma 2012.
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Geo Scholarship Video Challenge
created a positive opportunity for
manufacturers to work together.
“I have watched this event come
together. It was really a great
idea,” Ellis pointed out.
Mark Sullivan, national dealer
development coordinator with
Bosch, thought that the contest
was great. “Any time we can
get young people involved in
our industry, it just helps the
longevity of the industry itself.”
Second and third place
finishers in the regional round of
competition, listed by placing in
each region, included: Southeast
Region - Hannah Faulkenberry,
Community Christian School,
and Jane Hughart, Checotah High School; Southwest
Region - Ashton Lierle, Fort Cobb-Broxton High
School, and Baylee Williams, Chickasha High School;
Northwest Region - Joshua Tennial, Edmond Santa Fe
High School, and Michael Mullins, Casady School;
Northeast Region - Kaylee Byrd, Jenks High School,
and Isaiah Colson, Ponca City High School; and New
Representatives of the co-sponsoring geothermal manufacturers present for the
awards presentation, included (from left) Will Lange, director, utility market
development and hyper sales, with WaterFurnace; Dan Ellis, president of
ClimateMaster; and Mark Sullivan, national dealer development coordinator
with Bosch.
WFEC Board President David Ray (center) and Mark Faulkenberry,
manager of marketing and communications, present Ean Bonjour with
a momento of his $10,000 scholarship after being named as the first
place winner in the Go Go Geo Scholarship Video Challenge.
Mexico Region - Delta Navarrete, Floyd High School,
and Bree Stacey, Clovis High School.
In the regional round of judging, first, second
and third place winners in the contest’s five regions
(divided by zip codes) were awarded scholarships of
$3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, with the first
place winner of each region advancing.
“The Touchstone Energy
Cooperatives have been excited about
this project for high school juniors
and seniors,” commented Mark
Faulkenberry, WFEC’s manager,
marketing and communication.
“Some may not realize the magnitude
of taking this important step that
represents the innovative progression
of cooperatives towards the heating
and air conditioning of homes,” he
added.
“The advancement of geothermal
technology is quickly making
this option very viable for many
homeowners, who may be interested
in making a change,” he added.
wfec
5

Ideas for videos
(Continued from Page 3)
Bonjour, with the help of his mother, Rose,
transformed their living room into a work area for
making costumes, as well as shooting the video, which
took several weekends. Bonjour
did his own video editing and that
too was time consuming to get the
timing just right.
As for his research, Bonjour
went to Oklahoma State University
and visited with Dr. Jim Bose,
who has worked extensively with
research agencies, manufacturers
and contractors about the benefits
of ground source heat pump
systems. He noted that he learned a great deal about
geothermal during his visit.
Casee Cole, a junior at Pond Creek-Hunter Junior-
Senior High School, utilized the changing seasons for
her video presentation, based on geothermal technology
being beneficial year-round.
Cole used several landscape settings, including a
wheat field near her home, as well as a park in Enid.
Then, she also benefitted from a late season blizzard in
her area. She explained that she did a lot of research for
her project, which took about a week and a half to film.
Cole received $6,500 in scholarship dollars for her
second place finish in the video challenge.
Austin Branch, a senior at Norman High School
North, had a brainstorming session with several friends
one evening as they were staying at his home. After
ideas were tossed around, the suggestion to create
unique lyrics to the theme song of “Fresh Prince of Bel-
Air” was the final choice. “Obviously, I don’t rap,” he
commented, but as Branch and his friends stayed up
all night, rap lyrics about geothermal technology were
created by morning.
Branch said it took about two months to get all of
the video shot and edited. Since several of his shots were
outdoors, weather conditions played a role at times. Branch
noted that he did not know much about ground source
heat pumps in the beginning of the project, but learned a
lot through researching the seven message themes.
Branch earned a third place finish for this work,
with $5,000 in scholarship dollars awarded.
Haley Madden, a senior at Portales (New Mexico)
High School, used pictures and
words on a dry erase board to
tell her story about geothermal
technology. She noted that it
took a long time for her to edit,
as the drawings, words to describe
the action in each scene, her own
voice and a song, all had to be
put together and synchronized.
She too said she learned a
lot about geothermal technology
through her research and worked at creating her
presentation in an understandable way to demonstrate
the benefits of using geothermal.
Madden earned $4,000 in scholarship dollars as a
regional winner and state finalist.
Kailey Kelley, a junior at Hinton High School,
explained that she basically wrote an essay with the
seven message themes included. She noted that this step
involved a lot of research time in order to include the
benefits and criteria of a geothermal system.
She noted that it took several days to edit the
video, with graphs and visuals being synchronized
with the script that was being read on the video. Kelley
also earned $4,000 in scholarship dollars as a regional
winner and state finalist.
For the contest, the seven message themes targeted
the benefits of geothermal technology; as well as the
costs involved; impacts on the utility company; and
how technology and installation time has evolved with
geothermal units.
wfec
The videos of these five students are posted at:
http://www.gogogeochallenge.com.
Also, interviews with the finalists can be seen at:
www.wfec.com.
6

New 2013-14 officers elected
for WFEC Board of Trustees
O
Officers for the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) Board of Trustees were elected during an
Organizational Meeting, hosted Wednesday, April 17 at the cooperative’s Anadarko headquarters. The Board’s
Organizational Meeting followed the Annual Meeting of Members, in which 22 of the existing trustees were
returned to the Board, with one new addition.
These meetings were
hosted after the regular
monthly Board of Trustees
meeting.
David Ray (seated),
who serves on the Board
of Kiamichi Electric
Cooperative in Wilburton,
was re-elected as WFEC
Board President for the
coming year. Other officers,
all re-elected to their
current positions, include
(standing, from left) Gary
Crain, who serves on the
Board of Canadian Valley
Electric Cooperative
in Seminole, assistant
secretary-treasurer; Charles
Hickey, a trustee from
Northfork Electric Cooperative in Sayre, vice president; and Mike Lebeda, a trustee from Kay Electric Cooperative
in Blackwell, secretary-treasurer.
Other Board members, listed with their respective cooperative, include: Colin Whitley, Alfalfa Electric
Cooperative; Bob Thomasson, Caddo Electric Cooperative; Charles Wagner, Central Valley Electric Cooperative
(NM); Bob Holley, Choctaw Electric Cooperative; Gene Peters, Cimarron Electric Cooperative; Charles Spencer,
Cotton Electric Cooperative; Jerry Rempe, East Central Rural Electric Cooperative; Donnie Bidegain, Farmers’
Electric Cooperative (NM); Bob Allen, Harmon Electric Association; Leslie Hinds, Kiwash Electric Cooperative;
John Ingle, Lea County Electric Cooperative (NM); Ray O. Smith, Northwestern Electric Cooperative; Rusty
Grissom, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative; King Martin, Red River Valley Rural Electric Association; Jerry Partin,
Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative (NM); Gary Jones, Rural Electric Cooperative; Lloyd Owens, Southeastern
Electric Cooperative; Fred Stowe, Southwest Rural Electric Association; and Heath Sirmons, Altus Air Force Base
(non-voting member).
wfec
7

Keystone XL pipeline to benefit
WFEC, Oklahoma cooperatives
It has been described in many ways - from a
critical infrastructure project that will have a
positive impact on the United States to a negative
environmental risk. The TransCanada Keystone XL
pipeline, currently under construction in Oklahoma,
is important for future energy security and for
strengthening the American economy, sources have
said. While opponents believe the pipeline will
worsen climate change and negatively impact water
resources and sensitive habitats.
For Western Farmers Electric Cooperative
(WFEC) and two of its member cooperatives, it is a
desirable electric load that is boosting the economy
across their service territories. But, it certainly isn’t
a project that has been without hurdles. WFEC staff
has been dealing with this Keystone project since
2008.
The proposed 1,179-mile Keystone XL Pipeline
Project consists of a 36-inch-diameter crude oil
pipeline, beginning in northeastern Alberta, Canada,
and extending south to Steele City, Neb. Along with
transporting crude oil from Canada, the Keystone
XL Pipeline will also support the significant growth
of crude oil production in the United States from
producers in the Bakken region of Montana and
North Dakota.
This pipeline will also allow Canadian and
American oil producers more access to the large
refining markets found in the American Midwest,
according to sources. The third phase of the pipeline,
known as the Keystone-Cushing Extension, will
also deliver both Canadian and domestic oil over
400 miles south to refineries on the Gulf Coast near
Houston.
The U.S. reportedly consumes 15 million barrels
of oil each day, according to the Keystone XL project
website. About 60 percent of that oil (eight to
nine million barrels) must be imported from other
8
countries. Top suppliers
of crude oil to the U.S.
are Canada (29 percent),
Saudi Arabia (14 percent),
Venezuela (11 percent),
Nigeria (10 percent) and
Mexico (8 percent).
Story by
Sondra Boykin
Photos by
Scott Williams
Despite growing domestic oil production, both
the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the
International Energy Agency have forecast that the
U.S. will continue to import 3.5-to-7.5-million barrels
per day into the year 2035, to meet American demand.
Cooperative’s Role
WFEC is building substations through which
Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC) and
Southeastern Electric Cooperative (SEC) will provide
electric service to the pipeline pumping stations
within their respective service territories. There are
five pumping stations that cross Oklahoma, and
through negotiations, these two cooperatives are
serving two of these five facilities. TransCanada
information explains pumping stations are located
about every 50 miles along the pipeline.
Scott Williams, commercial and industrial
marketing manager for WFEC, said plans call for
the substation construction to be complete and
functional by this summer. “We’ve been working on
this project for a few years now, so it’s rewarding to
see it coming together. And the benefits to CVEC,
SEC and WFEC will be immediate. Members of both
cooperatives will be affected in a positive way.”
Williams goes on to point out the availability of
electric service from WFEC and a commitment from
these two cooperatives to provide reliable, affordable
electric service are among the reasons TransCanada
chose them as the project’s power supplier. The
benefits of having the pipeline running through

this portion of the state will not only be felt by
the cooperatives, as local communities are already
enjoying the advantages. The construction jobs that
TransCanada has brought to the region are infusing
much-needed dollars into those communities.
“This is a huge project,” said CVEC’s Manager of
Operations Cordis Slaughter. “It’s been in discussion
for two to three years, but actual construction
began within the last year.” He goes on to explain
the pipeline will run about 30 to 40 miles through
CVEC’s service territory. “The pressure in the
pipeline drops after traveling that 50 mile distance.”
“The pumps in those stations will use electricity
to restore the desired amount of pressure to the pipe
so the oil can continue down the pipeline.”
“What is attractive about this load is that it is
constant. It isn’t like a residential load that peaks and
drops throughout the day, and it’s not a seasonal load
that comes online for a few weeks or months each
year,” said Slaughter. “This is a constant load that is
online 24/7. That allows for a more efficient use of
CVEC’s investment.”
“Pipeline employees are renting motel rooms,
and RV parking spaces, they are eating in restaurants,
buying fuel at gas stations, and shopping in local
stores,” noted CVEC General Manager George Hand.
“They are improving the economy as school systems
and city and county governments are benefiting from
the additional tax dollars. The economic boost to
these areas from the jobs during construction and the
ongoing operation is certainly significant.”
Bob Weaver, manager of marketing and economic
development at CVEC, indicated that a number of
people are moving into the area, even to the extent
of creating a shortage of homes. He pointed out
that mobile home parks have been established to
accommodate many of those being moved into the
area. “Motel rooms are full, local restaurants are
crowded and local businesses are busy,” Weaver
noted. “It is really good to see new growth and the
benefits of this construction have been exciting.”
Jim Coleman, director of member services at
SEC, headquartered in Durant, explained that this
is a significant load for their cooperative. He also
noted that this project has been a big boost for the
economy as well throughout the construction phase.
“Not only has the area benefitted through the
addition of jobs, but positive impacts have been seen
for the local economy as well,” Coleman commented.
He added that restaurants, hotels, convenience stores
and grocery stores are among those seeing an increase
in business.
Project Facts:
(from Pipeline Project website)
http://keystone-xl.com/
• In May, 2012, TransCanada filed a new
application for a Presidential Permit with the
U.S. Department of State, a requirement for
building any cross-border pipeline. TransCanada
also chose to proceed with the southern portion
of its Keystone expansion as a separate project,
the Gulf Coast Pipeline Project.
(Continued on Page 10)
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WFEC Station Specialist Billy Young (center) discusses plans at the Keystone XL Pipeline site with Larry
Sibbald of TransCanada (right, back to camera), Rob LeForce, WFEC environmental specialist (far right)
and the construction manager for the site (left). For WFEC and two of its member cooperatives, it is a
desirable electric load that is boosting the economy across their service territories. But, it certainly isn’t a
project that has been without hurdles. WFEC staff has been dealing with this Keystone project since 2008.
Keystone pipeline
(Continued from Page 9)
• In January, 2013, Governor Dave Heineman
approved TransCanada’s proposed route in
Nebraska. The revised route will minimize
disturbance of land, water resources and special
areas in the state.
• On March 1, 2013, the U.S. Department of State
released a Draft Supplementary Environmental
Impact Statement (Draft SEIS) on Keystone XL
that reaffirmed “there would be no significant
impacts to most resources along the proposed
Project route.” With an anticipated decision on
the Presidential Permit in 2013, the Keystone XL
Pipeline has a projected in-service date of 2015.
• The pipeline will have capacity to transport 830,000
barrels of oil per day to Gulf Coast and Midwest
refineries, reducing American dependence on oil
from Venezuela and the Middle East by up to 40
percent.
• The $5.3-billion Keystone XL Pipeline Project is the
largest infrastructure project currently under way in
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the United States. Construction of the 1,179-mile
pipeline will require some 9,000 skilled American
workers.
• In addition to construction jobs, an estimated 7,000
U.S. jobs are being supported in manufacturing
the steel pipe and the thousands of fittings, valves,
pumps and control devices required for a major oil
pipeline.
• TransCanada has contracts with more than 50
suppliers across the U.S., including companies
in Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Michigan,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, Indiana, Georgia,
Maryland, New York, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Minnesota, Ohio, Arkansas, Kansas, California and
Pennsylvania.
(Portions of this story were used with permission from the
Canadian Valley Electralite, the cooperative's member
newsletter.)
wfec

Langford returned for second term
with Touchstone Energy® Board
Warren Langford, chief executive officer of Cotton
Electric Cooperative, was recently elected for a second
consecutive three-year term on the Touchstone Energy®
Cooperative Board of Directors. Western Farmers
Electric Cooperative (WFEC) nominated Langford for
this position.
As CEO of Cotton Electric, and alternate board
member of WFEC, Langford is responsible for many
leadership roles that help in providing the dependable
delivery of electric power at a price the membership
can afford. With the importance of the membership
in mind, under Langford’s leadership, Cotton Electric’s
employees and Board of Trustees live the Touchstone
Energy Brand and utilize its programs to influence
member perception.
Through his guidance, the cooperative has fully
utilized the Touchstone Energy programs and services.
He has also actively participated and hosted customers
at the NET Conferences and has seen firsthand the
value and impact that nationally coordinated efforts
have on his large power customers at levels that would
be impossible to achieve locally.
Langford has experienced many changes in his 38-
year career and knows that price and power quality
is no longer a local issue. Recent events have made it
imperative that rural
electric cooperatives
stay active and
have a united
voice concerning
legislation and issues
that affect how we do
business. Langford
believes that
through coordinated
advertising,
marketing and communication activities, Touchstone
Energy has brought a level of positive recognition that
rural electric
cooperatives
have never seen
before. And, he
recognizes the
need for the
continuance of
these programs in
the future.
During his
career, Langford
has served
in many
capacities of the
cooperative’s
operation,
from meter and line work to being a supervisor and
manager over varied departments. In his most recent
position prior to becoming CEO, Langford served as
vice president of finance and administrative services,
as well as being responsible for the cooperative’s
subsidiary, Cotton Electric Services. Langford was
instrumental in making this unique subsidiary the
success it is today.
At the local level, Langford has served his
community in the role of mayor, in addition to
being active on several industrial foundation and
economic development committees and the volunteer
firefighters association. He is also a graduate
of Leadership Oklahoma. Langford, and his wife,
Roynell, have two grown children, and reside in
Temple.
The Touchstone Energy Board of Directors consists
of 14 cooperative professionals from across the
nation, with the brand representing a nationwide
alliance made up of more than 740 local, consumerowned
electric cooperatives in 46 states.
wfec
11

Reflections of
2013 Winter
Photos provided by:
Austin Partida, Kay Electric
Jeff Hyatt, Cimarron Electric
Sondra Boykin, WFEC
12

POWER Magazine award presented
to LCEC Generation at Conference
Among those on hand for POWER Magazine's 2012 Top Plant Award presentation, on behalf of Lea
County Electric Cooperative Generation included (from left) the publisher of POWER magazine; Gary
Hurse, LCEC manager; John Ingle, LCEC Board president; Joe Broadwater, plant manager; Will Palmer,
LCEC Board member; Grant Grothen of Burns & McDonnell; Robert Caudle, LCEC Board member; and
Chris Marks, Burns & McDonnell. (Courtesy Photo)
Lea County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) Generation, LLC was presented with POWER Magazine’s 2012
Top Plant Award during the 2013 Electric Power Conference hosted in mid-May in Chicago, Illinois.
This award recognizes a plant that has entered into commercial service within the past one to two years
and leads the industry in the successful deployment of advanced technology and efficiency with minimal
environmental impact. LCEC was profiled in the Sept. 1, 2012 issue of POWER Magazine.
LCEC Generation is a 47 Megawatt (MW) gas-fired generation plant that was completed in 2012. It
consists of five Wärtsilä reciprocating engines with the ability to bring the plant to full capacity in five
minutes. The plant is tied directly to a 27 MW wind farm owned by Exelon, which is located southeast
of the plant. This is the first generation project in the United States to pair the Wärtsilä gensets with wind
energy.
Award finalists and winners were determined by POWER Magazine editors from nominations submitted
by designers, constructors, operators, and suppliers of power plants.
General Manager Gary L. Hurse and Lea County Electric Cooperative’s Board President John Ingle
accepted the award on behalf of the LCEC Generation Plant. Several LCEC board members and others
related to this project also attended the conference.
Established in May 1949, LCEC is headquartered in Lovington, NM, with branch offices located in
Tatum, NM and Plains, Texas.
wfec
13

WFEC, cooperative line crews
take part in switch training event
When you work with electricity, there is
no margin for error. That’s why continuing
education and training is so important.
Recently, more than a dozen distribution
cooperatives were represented at the annual
switch training certification sponsored at
the Anadarko headquarters of Western
Farmers Electric Cooperative. Technicians
from WFEC’s Anadarko Transmission
and Distribution (T&D) teams, as well as
specific plant personnel from Mooreland and
Anadarko, also participated in the two-day
training event.
Instructors were from among WFEC staff,
with classes including both classroom and onsite
training.
Certification topics covered control area
services, clearance, hot line orders and switching
procedures. The training also involved Occupational
Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) safety
guidelines and proper substation personal protective
equipment. A certification exam was administered
following the field training conducted at the nearby
Sequoyah Substation.
WFEC presenters included Station Technician Supervisor
Terry Lisenbery, who made program introductions to
attendees. Lisenbery also presented a video that focused
on safety both in and outside the workplace. OSHA rules
and safety was taught by Safety and Security Coordinator
Kooney Duncan. Personal protective equipment and
substations instruction was presented by Journeyman
Station Technician Danny Briscoe.
The certification exam covering control area services,
clearance, hot line orders and switching procedures was
conducted by Chief Transmission Operator Carroll
Reddick and Transmission Operators Michael Hall and
Bill Cook. Journeyman Systems Technician Ray Gamble
presented the section on switch station and relay.
Line switches was presented by Lead Power Line
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Journeyman Station Technician Mike Roberson (center) observes two
line workers during recent switch training at WFEC. More than a
dozen distribution cooperatives were represented at the annual switch
training certification sponsored at the Anadarko headquarters.
Technician Steve Miller and Journeyman Power
Line Technician Glen Fogle. The subject of 351R
and Beckwith 2001 Equipment was presented by
Journeyman Station Technician Mike Roberson.
A tour of WFEC's control area was given to the
participants by a team that included Transmission
Operators Quintin Rogers, Cory Green, Clay Carr
and Cook. Reddick also assisted in guiding this tour.
The Anadarko Plant was also visited by the group,
with Relief Shift Supervisor Bobby Hendrix and Hall
providing information.
Participants were also able to see how regulators
are tested in a demonstration by Journeyman Station
Technician J.D. Lewis, Briscoe and Roberson.
At the T&D building, attendees viewed a new
transformer and 125-foot boom truck, which is utilized
by WFEC line crews use. Field training was conducted
at the Sequoyah Substation, located east of the WFEC
facilities. Participants had the opportunity to experience
hands-on training under the guidance of Briscoe,
Roberson, Reddick and Gamble.
wfec

Chief Transmission Operator Carroll Reddick (front) was
among those conducting the classroom sessions for those
attending the annual switch training.
Photos by
Mark Daugherty, Brittany Hicks & Glen Fogle
Safety, both in and outside of the workplace, was
taught by WFEC staff to those attending the two-day
switch training. Substation training included handson
activities with clearance, hot line orders
and switching procedures.
15