May - Oklahoma Electric Cooperative

More documents

Recommendations

Info

www.okcoop.org 8 Office Closed for Memorial Day OEC’s office will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observation of Memorial Day. Emergency dispatchers and service personnel will be on call throughout the threeday holiday weekend. Call 405-321-2024 if you experience an interruption in your electric service or if you spot a safety hazard. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Powered up Incumbent officers were returned as officers for the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) Board of Trustees. The election was held during WFEC’s annual meeting in April. Bob Allen (seated), a trustee from Harmon Electric Association in Hollis, was elected as president; Bob Thomasson (standing left), manager of Caddo Electric Cooperative in Binger, vice president; Ray Smith, a trustee from Northwestern Electric Cooperative in Woodward, secretar y-treasurer; and Rusty Grissom, a trustee from Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, assistant secretary-treasurer. These four officers will serve a one-year term running from April 2010 to April 2011. Where electricity in the U.S. comes from Coal 48% Natural Gas 21% Nuclear 20% Hydro 6% Other Renewables 3% Petroleum 1% Other Gases .3% Other .3% 0 10 20 30 40 50 Source: Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy WFEC Officers for 2010-2011 Four New Mexico co-ops to join Western Farmers Western Farmers Electric Cooperative’s board has approved adding four New Mexico distribution cooperatives as members. Final consent still is needed by Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and regulators in New Mexico and Texas. WFEC is hopeful the approvals will happen by the end of summer. Together, these four cooperatives have a total of approximately 400 megawatts (MW) of load. WFEC has just over 1,500 MW of load with its current 19 member cooperatives and Altus Air Force Base. Approval for the request came after almost three years of discussions between WFEC and the four electric cooperatives. The move will not require any new transmission investments. After membership is finalized, the New Mexico cooperatives will continue to own and maintain their respective transmission and distribution systems, as they do now, and WFEC will continue to maintain its own system. Short-term generation requirements will continue to be provided from their existing contracts.
Integrity Time-of-Peak rates reward those who are serious about the supply-and-demand crisis OEC actively supports energy conservation by offering energy audits and rebates for high-efficiency water heaters and heat pumps to its members. OEC’s optional residential and small commercial Time-of-Peak (TOP) electric rates provide a yearround financial reward to co-op members who are committed to energy conservation and willing to voluntarily adjust their electricity use during summer peak periods. “It’s a proactive approach to deal with the supplyand-demand crisis,” says Randy Harnsberger, a key accounts specialist for OEC. “A member potentially could save 20 to 25 percent annually on his electric bill yearround if he elected the TOP rate and cut back during peak periods. The amount of savings depends on how drastically he is willing—and able—to cut back on the hottest days of the year.” According to Harnsberger, electricity costs are highest during hot summer afternoons when central air conditioners raise power demand to peak levels. “Reducing our energy requirements during peak demand periods helps us control the higher costs, and these (TOP) rates are designed to pass on those savings to those who are actively working to avoid across-the-board rate increases and keep the lights on,” he says. Shifting electricity use to off-peak hours allows Western Farmers Electric Cooperative’s, our power supplier, existing generating facilities to operate more efficiently and economically. “Additionally, if enough demand can be shifted to off-peak hours, we can postpone the need to build new generating facilities,” Harnsberger says. 'it is a prOaCtive approach to deal with the supply-anddemand crisis.’ How it Works: OEC’s technologically-advanced meters record the electricity use (via hourly meter readings) during peak and off-peak periods. The peak load period is daily between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. from June 20 through Sept. 9, except Sundays, July 4 and Labor Day. During the peak load period, WFEC makes daily determinations if the current day will be designated as a peak load day. If so, WFEC will notify participating members by noon—either by email or cell-phone text message—to give them time to take steps to reduce their electrical demand by 4 p.m. At 8 p.m. normal activities can be resumed. “The number of peak load days depends, of course, on the weather. There were 10 peak load days in 2008 and six in 2009,” Harnsberger says. Those members who participated in 2009 and reduced their demand on the six peak days will save as much as 25 percent on their 2010 annual electric cost. Those interested in TOP billing must sign up by June 1, 2010, to participate next year. While Harnsberger says more electric companies are using time-based billing programs—something he predicts will be mandatory with many electric companies in the not-to-distant future—there is a costly catch: “If a member elects to be billed on a TOP rate and does nothing to conserve electricity during peak periods, he will pay a lot more.” Harnsberger can use account history to prepare a cost comparison for members who are thinking about switching to a TOP rate. Call him at 405-217-6705 or email randyh@okcoop.org for more information. 9 OEC News Magazine • May 2010
Page 2 and 3: Board of Trustees President John Je
Page 4 and 5: www.okcoop.org 4 By: Patti Rogers,
Page 6 and 7: www.okcoop.org 6 trustee Trustee sp
Page 10 and 11: www.okcoop.org Accountability Gain
Page 12 and 13: N a t i o n a l E l e c t r i c a l
Page 14 and 15: 14 Energy Efficiency In-home energy
Page 16 and 17: • ’92 Pet. Det. eng, new paint
Page 18 and 19: • An entire small private school
Page 20 and 21: N of Main St on Chickasaw, $6,000.
Page 22 and 23: shop, 15 min from Norman, $77,900 w

May - Oklahoma Electric Cooperative

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?