Kay Electric Cooperative300 W Doolin Ave • PO Box 607

Blackwell, OK 74631

Tele: (580) 363-1260Toll Free: (800) 535-1079

www.kayelectric.coop

Convenient Bill Paying Options

Pay online using our secure site at www.kayelectric.coop

Pay via telephone during office hours by using a major credit card at 800-535-1079

Pay in person at KEC or use our 24-hour payment drop box in Blackwell

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

District 1...............Jake OlsenDistrict 2...............Chad OttoDistrict 3...............Ron ShoffnerDistrict 4...............Max HohmannDistrict 5...............Mike LebedaDistrict 6...............Brady HostetlerDistrict 7...............Kent McAninchDistrict 8...............Dr. Tim BlantonDistrict 9...............Verl Brorsen

General Manager/CEO Tim Rodriguez

Kay Electric Celebrates 80 YearsWe’ve come a long way, baby!

BY CYNDI MITCHELL

I t’s a new year and this year Kay Electric Cooperative celebrates its 80th anniversary.

In 1935, less than 11 percent of farms in the United States had electric service. Today, that number has climbed to almost 97 percent. The Rural Electrification Act was enacted on May 20, 1936, but commercial power companies could not justify the expense of electrifying rural America. Instead, the task fell to rural residents themselves. Farmers in Kay County showed an interest in electrifying their area and discussed the possibility with County Agent W.R. Hutchison, who helped them obtain information.

The group held an organizational meeting on February 24, 1937, and decided to call their co-op Kay County Electric Cooperative. The directors and officers elected at this meeting include Louis Droselmeyer, president; George Fry, vice-president; W.R. Hutchison, secretary; E.W. Higgins, treasurer; and F.J. Rice, director.

A supplement to Oklahoma Living

COOPERATORjanuary 2017

the

The first section of power line spanned 275 miles in Kay County. Out of thirteen bids received to build the line, W.E. Callahan Construction Company of Dallas was the low bidder at $213,773.73. Today, that same 275 miles of line would cost approximately $8.25 million. Kay Electric energized the first 115 miles of

line on January 19, 1938. The cooperative built 700 miles of line from May 1937 to December 1941 to serve 1,400 members. The co-op held its first Annual Meeting on February 1, 1938.

Today, your cooperative owns over 2,262 miles of line, has 50 full-time employees, and serves 5,876 active meters in Kay, Grant, Garfield, Nobel, and Osage counties. Kay Electric’s service territory is split into nine districts and is represented by nine board members who serve three-year terms of office. According to Kay Electric bylaws, members elect these trustees on a rotating basis at the Kay Electric Annual Meeting.

On April 7, 2017, Kay Electric will celebrate its 80th anniversary at the KEC Annual Meeting. We have come a long way since 1937. Please mark your calendar and plan on joining us.

SAVE THE DATE!Kay Electric Cooperative ANNUAL MEETING

April 7, 2017

2 • January 2017 • The Cooperator

Remembering the Past Embracing the Future

Growing up in far western Oklahoma, this time of year meant colder weather and

quail hunting. I always looked forward to getting outdoors with my dad and hopefully shooting a few birds. Now that I’m older, I truly appreciate my rural upbringing.

Fortunately, my career in the rural electric industry has allowed me to continue living in this wonderfully diverse state. As Oklahomans, we have a lot of reasons to be thankful and to feel proud of this place we call home.

Within the rural electric industry alone, Oklahomans have played an influential role at both the state and federal levels. When the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 opened the door for the countryside to be electrified, it was Oklahoma tenacious farmers and ranchers who forged ahead to organize our first electric cooperatives. In many cases, these same individuals also built the first lines.

Perhaps you know of a past family member or neighbor who plugged the first poles in the ground to build your cooperative. That generation showed what it means when one says, “Tell me it can’t be done, and I’ll show it can.” That’s the kind of spirit that built our cooperatives.

Some say that electric cooperatives have served their purpose and should now operate like the big, for-profit utilities. I believe the cooperative model still works and provides a way for people to live and work in a rural community. Our business model is not designed to increase dividends to stockholders and grow the value of stock. Our model is to provide an essential service to people desiring

to live and work on the land, offering top quality services where other utilities would not attempt to go, mainly due to the sparse territory and lack of meter density.

While cooperatives remain committed to the original purpose established by the Rural Electrification Act, many co-ops—Kay Electric included—no longer require federal financing through the Rural Utility Service (RUS), which was formerly the Rural Electrification Administration

(REA). Kay Electric refinanced their RUS debt with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (NRUCFC)

nearly twenty years ago. NRUCFC was organized in 1967 by electric cooperatives to provide another source of non-government financing. They are an excellent partner to rural electric cooperatives and have always been there for Kay Electric during times of need.

With today’s ever-changing technologies, Kay Electric member-consumers have options available to them that our grandparents could never imagine. As your co-op, we attempt to stay on top of rapid changes and advancements in the industry by staying true to the values of our past. If you, as members, have ideas about ways to energize your home or suggestions on how today’s technologies could enhance your quality of life in the country, please let us know.

Kay Electric has been here for you since 1937, operated by the members with truly local control. We intend to be here for another 80 years and beyond. Thank you for your patronage and have a wonderful and safe winter. ■

By Tim Rodriguez, CEOkay electric cooperative

from the top

Please read your newsletter carefully. If you spot your account number hidden in these pages, please contact Kay Electric immediately to claim a $25 credit on your electric bill. If no account numbers are claimed, the prize money will carry over to the next month for a maximum bill credit of $50.

800-535-1079contact@kayelectric.coop

news briefs

Let KEC Incentives Help You Save!Kay Electric Cooperative (KEC) wants to encourage members to make their homes more energy efficient. KEC energy efficiency incentives can help you increase the level of insulation in your home and reduce the cost associated with installing an energy efficient heat pump or electric water heater.

KEC offers the following incentive rebates:

Attic Insulation: Kay Electric pays 50 percent of installing additional insulation up to $500.

Heat Pump: KEC offers a rebate of $1,050/ton (up to 5 ton max) on closed loop ground source heat pumps (GSHP) (15.5 EER/3.03 COP) and open loop GSHP systems (18.8 EER/3.6 COP).

Water Heaters: Rebates up to $300 on natural gas conversion to electric systems, new or additional installations, and new mobile home units.

For complete details and rebate forms, please visit www.kayelectric.coop or call KEC at 800-535-1070.

$25 is hiding in this issue!

The Cooperator • January 2017 • 3

co-op values

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average household owns 24 consumer electronics products, which are responsible for 12 percent of household electricity use. ENERGY STAR-certified audio/video equipment is up to 50 percent more efficient than conventional models.

Source: EnergyStar.gov

Energy EfficiencyTip of the Month

Kay Electric Cooperative (KEC) employees participated in No-Shave November, a nationwide fund-raising effort that supports cancer prevention, research and education. The goal of No-Shave November is to spark conversations about cancer awareness among participants and the general public by growing out hair, which many cancer patients lose. Participants donate the money they would typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate the public about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the disease. KEC contributed $15 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for each employee who participated. Several employees also made personal contributions.

For more information on No Shave November, please visit www.no-shave.org.#379401

Life Gets Hairy for Kay Electric EmployeesNo Shave November raises money for cancer awareness

NOVEMBER 30, 2016

November 2, 2016

LIVING by our PRINCIPLESElectric co-ops are guided by Seven Cooperative Principles. The seventh principle is “Concern for Community.” While focusing on member needs, co-ops work for the sustainable development of local communities through policies and programs accepted by their members.

Tell Your Teen About Youth Tour!Travel, friends and fun courtesy of Kay Electric

I f you have a high school junior who loves to travel and meet new friends, please encourage them to

enter Kay Electric’s Youth Tour essay contest. Eight finalists are selected from schools in KEC service territory. Each finalist wins a valuable prize:

• Top two winners participate in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington D.C., June 9-15, 2017.

Hurry, the deadline to enter is February 17!

• Two runners-up attend Co-op Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, July 14-20, 2017.

• Third and fourth place contestants win cash prizes.

Essay guidelines and rules are available at www.kayelectric.coop, or call your co-op at 800-535-1079. The deadline to apply is February 17, 2017.

4 • January 2017 • The Cooperator

Orange RitzContributed by Dorothy Toben, Blackwell

INGREDIENTS 60 Ritz Crackers, crushed1 stick oleo, melted½ cup sugar1 can Eagle brand milk8 oz. Cool Whip1 6 oz. can orange juice2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained

DIRECTIONSMix together the Ritz crackers, oleo and sugar, and press into 9x12-inch pan. Save ½ cup crackers to sprinkle on top.

Mix together milk, Cool Whip, orange juice and madarin oranges.

Spread over crust and sprinkle remaining cracker crumbs on top. Chill.

safety first

Riding The Storm Out Tips to help you weather the worst

When an ice or snow storm causes power outages, preparation is key to staying safe and comfortable. Below is a checklist of important

items to remember before, during and after the storm.

Don't• Bring grills or generators

inside. Running them indoors could be a deadly mistake. Both emit carbon monoxide that could poison you in a confined space.

• Venture out into the weather without letting someone know where you're going. If you get stuck, a friend or family member can alert authorities if you can't.

• Open your refrigerator or freezer. If you lose power, keeping their doors closed will help foods stay cold longer.

• Stand under trees or power lines if they're coated in ice. Branches or power lines weighted with ice could kill you if they fall. It's not worth the Instagram photo.

• Go near downed power lines, attempt to move them, or drive around them. Report the siutation to Kay Electric immediately at 800-535-1079 or call 911.

Do• Begin storm preparations

as soon as possible. Stock up on flashlight batteries, bottled water, snacks and other foods that don’t require cooking. Keep a battery operated AM-FM radio handy for news. If you take prescription medications, make sure you have an ample supply on hand. Remember, even if you're unsure of the storm’s path, go ahead and prepare anyway. At worst, you'll be stocked up and ready for the next big weather event.

• Leave your phone plugged into the wall, especially if there's a possibility of power outages. If the power goes out, you're guaranteed to have maximum battery life. Also, remember to switch your phone to Airplane Mode. If you're not expecting a call and don't need to be connected to the Internet, it will preserve your phone's battery for much longer. #1221001

Why call when you can text or report your power outage online?

To text your outage, sign up for outage texting at www.kayelectric.coop or call 800-535-1079.

Stay Informed during an outage by visiting KEC’s online Storm Center at www.kayelectric.coop. Our live outage map helps you track the power restoration process in progress.

To report an outage using the Smarthub app, click on the Service Status icon and then click Report an Outage. Remember to leave a call back number or other important details. If you’d like to receive a notice when your outage is restored, click Alerts and Notices and choose text, email or phone notification. Note: First time users of Smarthub will be asked to register by providing an email address, password, and KEC account number.