Unplugged Newsletter

Roulet Report

January 18, 2013

Unplugged

How many of you read Oklahoma Living Magazine? This publication from the Oklahoma Association of Cooperatives (OAEC) has a circulation of nearly 300,000 and features many cooperative issues. You can also receive a free Oklahoma Living app on Itunes plus your cooperative newsletters for free, and electronically on-line.

Another free app available is for the Co-op Connections card. The app will inform you of discounts and deals available both locally and all across the country.

Lastly, a new OAEC’s 54th Legislature App is now available. This app contains information about each legislative office, Senator or Representative in Oklahoma, both state and federal. This app contains their contact information, or you can just learn more about Oklahoma representation.

So much information is now available through free electronic media, there is no reason employees should wonder what is going on in the world around them. Try some of them out.

”Tell me about Delta Dental”

Are the plans that WFEC offers through Delta Dental different than dental plans we’ve had in the past? The plan names are different – WFEC’s “B” plan (the plan for which the premium is paid 100% by WFEC) is now called the “Base” plan, or “01.” WFEC’s “A” plan (employee shares the cost of the plan 50/50 with WFEC) will be referred to as the “Buy-up” plan, or “02.” What’s good about the new plans? Lots! For starters, any

dollars spent toward preventive care, like twice-per-year exams, x-rays and cleanings, do not count toward the individual $2,000 per year plan maximum. Also, Delta has a great website, www.deltadentalok.org. At this website, you can look up not only your claim history, but also the history of each tooth in your mouth that has been treated since you started with Delta Dental. You can print your own paper ID card from the site; you can also print a dental claim form if you need one for an out-of-network dentist. Tell me how to use the Delta Dental network. The WFEC plan uses a double network, the Delta Dental PPO-Plus Premier networks. The Premier network is the largest network, and offers strong discounts. Many dentists who belong to the Premier network also belong to the Delta Dental PPO network. The Delta Dental PPO network has the deepest discounts for employees and their families. Dentists who are affiliated with these Delta Dental networks have agreed to accept lower rates of reimbursement and have also agreed to electronically file claims on your behalf. Claims payment is sent from Delta to the dentist directly. You may seek care from any licensed dentist – you are not limited to dentists in the Delta Dental networks. However, if you see a non-participating dentist, you may be responsible for submitting your own claims. Delta will not pay the dentist directly – Delta will pay you, and you will pay the dentist. Because no prior arrangement has been made between Delta and the non-network dentist, the payment rate will be based on the lesser of the dentist’s submitted fee or the Oklahoma statewide prevailing fee for the particular service that the dentist is providing. Is there a deductible? Yes, just like previous WFEC plans. The $50 deductible is only required for Class III services – caps, crowns, implants, etc. Anything else I should know? Delta Dental offers vision discounts through EyeMed. Participating providers include LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical and Target Optical. Log in to the Delta Dental website for further details – www.deltadental.org.

The Red Hills Wind Farm near Elk City has 82 turbines and can produce 123 megawatts of electricity.

WFEC’s Manager of Risk Management Richard Ross and Environmental Specialist Robert LeForce recently met a team of Canadian consulting engineers in Oklahoma City and drove them to the Red Hills Wind Farm located near Elk City. The purpose of the group’s trip was to verify the Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) produced by the Red Hills Wind Farm in 2011. The Red Hills Wind Farm is owned and operated by Acciona Energy North America.

VCU’s are similar to Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) in that they both represent renewable attributes. REC’s are measured in megawatt hours. An REC represents the renewable attributes or amount of greenhouse gas that is not emitted into the atmosphere for each megawatt hour of production. Each VCU is measured in terms of equivalent carbon emission reduction. Each REC is the equivalent of 2/3 ton of Co2 or 2/3 of a VCU. The VCU’s must undergo a distinct verification audit as specified by the Verified Carbon Standard. VCUs are more valuable as carbon offsets on the environment market than REC’s.

The Canadians represented the firm of Conestoga-Rovers Associates (CRA), headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario. CRA is a company that provides environmental consulting, engineering, construction, and information technology (IT) services. With cold temperatures and patches of snow on the ground at the site, LeForce said the Canadians looked like they felt right at home in Oklahoma. Look for more information about VCUs in upcoming WFEC publications.

The engineers from CRA concluded that the Red Hills Wind Farm is producing clean energy and avoiding thousands of tons of CO2 emissions each year.

Richard Ross and Robert LeForce at the Red Hills Substation. Each Acciona wind turbine at Red Hills stands 390

feet tall.

Hugo’s Electrical/HVAC Technician Bobby Wallace just

thought he was alone near conveyor 8 recently. He was

walking to the top of the conveyor and when he got to within 10

feet or so, he picked up a set of eyes in his 06038 peripheral

vision. Let’s just say... it scared the hoot out of him!!

Photo by Bobby Wallace.

Hoot Goes There

Start The New Year with a Financial Plan

The beginning of a new year signals a fresh start; a time to reflect on the last 12 months and to look forward to the year ahead. While you may have resolved to be physically healthier this year, it’s also important to factor your financial health into your resolutions. Here are a few ideas to help you stay financially fit this year. Budget. You’ve heard it a million times before: your best defense for keeping your finances in shape is a solid budget. Look at your budget from the past year. Did you stick to it? What will help you stay on track this year? Consider altering your method of tracking your spending to find a system that suits your needs and habits.

Set goals. We all have at least one financial goal we’re working towards, yet if you don’t do something to make it “official” you can easily lose sight of it. Think of ways that will help keep your goal in focus. Maybe it’s designating a goal buddy who can check in with you from time to time to make sure you’re on track, or maybe it’s as simple as writing your goal on a piece of paper and hanging it where you’ll see it often. Have more than one goal? Make a prioritized list and note your desired completion dates for each. Tackling one at a time can make them all feel more attainable.

Start your taxes. The April tax deadline may seem far away, but the sooner you start your taxes, the sooner you’ll obtain your refund, if you qualify to receive one. Starting early also allows ample time for addressing any speed bumps you may encounter and helps ensure you pay only the taxes necessary—if you’re rushed, you’re more likely to make a mistake. Plus, the closer it gets to the tax deadline the busier tax professionals, like CPAs, become, making it more difficult for you to get in to see them. If you can, make your appointment today! Source: feedthepig.org

Timberly and Travis Goucher welcomed their first child on December 29. Travis Brett Goucher Jr. arrived, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 20 ½ in long. Travis was born at the Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. Travis Senior is a transmission engineer I in Transmission, Engineering & Operations.

Juana and Tim Smith recently welcomed their newest granddaughter on January 9. Whitley Elizabeth Smith was born, weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 17 1/2 inches long.

Proud parents are Jacob and Sarah Smith. Whitley was born in Norman at the new hospital and was welcomed home by big brother Sebastian, who is three years old. Mother & baby are doing great.

Tim is an operations planning engineer III in Transmission, Engineering & Operations.

New Arrivals

Lauren Taylor McDonald was born on January 11 at Comanche Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 ½ inches long. Proud parents are Justin and Mary McDonald. Proud grandparents are Debbie and Larry Arthur.

Larry is the tax & internal controls accountant in Anadarko.

Energy Efficiency Tip

It’s simple to save money on water heating. Besides heating and cooling your home, heating your water uses more energy than anything else in the house. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the typical family spends up to 18 percent of its utility dollars on water heating. It’s simple to lower that cost. Here are eight tips:

1. Get rid of your old showerheads and bathroom faucets: They pump out way more water than you need to comfortably get clean. In their place, install low-flow faucets and aerating showerheads. The less water you use, the less you have to pay to heat it.

2. If you notice a leaky faucet, repair it immediately. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a faucet that drips 20 times per minute will waste a full gallon of water every day. If that happens to be hot water, you are washing money down the drain with every drip.

3. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees. The Department of Energy says that’s a safe and sanitary temperature, and it will keep you comfortable at bath time too.

4. Insulate your electric hot water tank—but don’t cover the thermostat. If your tank is gas or oil-fueled, don’t cover the top or bottom of the heater or its burner compartment. You might need to ask a plumber for help. 5. Wrap the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater—for about 6 feet.

6. Drain about a quart of water from the tank every three months to remove sediment. Built-up gunk in the water heater can make it inefficient because it has to work harder to transfer to heat to the water. 7. If you’re in the market for a new water heater, choose a high-efficiency model with the Energy Star label. High-efficiency water heaters use 10 percent to 50 percent less energy than traditional models.

8. Water heaters last for up to 15 years, but new models are so much more energy efficient than older ones. It’s worth it to replace yours if you’ve had it for seven or more years. Source: Oklahoma Living

Recipe SearchOklahoma Living magazine is compiling a cookbook as part of the publication’s 65th anniversary celebration. The cookbook, which will include reader-submitted recipes as well as historic recipes from the magazine’s archives, will be approximately 160 pages, full color and hardbound. Readers are invited to participate in the historic, Oklahoma cookbook by submitting their favorite recipes. “Our readers are so valuable to us, and we’re thrilled to invite them to take part in this special opportunity as we celebrate six-and-a-half decades of publishing our magazine,” Anna Politano, Oklahoma Living managing editor, said. Recipes 10104 can be submitted online at http://ok-living.coop/contests/?page=submitrecipe or by mail to Oklahoma Living magazine, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309. The deadline for submission is February 15, 2013. The cookbook will be available for purchase in Fall 2013, just in time for Christmas gift giving.

The GoGoGeo Scholarship Video Challenge is go-go-going on right now!

Juniors and seniors in High School can submit their videos about the awesomeness of Geothermal Technology between now and February 22, 2013 for a shot at winning up to $10,000 for college.

If your child or a family member is a high school junior or senior, tell them to head over to www.GoGoGeoChallenge.com for scholarship details, geothermal information, and to upload their video.

If you don’t know a high school junior or senior, we’d love for you to help us get the word out.

Talk up GoGoGeo on Facebook (you can like us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/GO-GO-GEO-Video-Scholarship-Challenge/384637654953255) and Twitter (@go_go_geo #gogogeo). Blog about it. Make a phone call. Send a text. Or if technology isn’t your thing, a handwritten letter should do the trick.

However you want to go about it, just go about it; because $10,000 for college could change a student’s life.

This flu season is turning out to be a severe one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immediately recommends getting a flu vaccine, if you haven’t already. In addition to getting vaccinated, the American Red Cross suggests taking the following simple steps to prevent the spread of the flu: Wash hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand-rub.

Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away after use. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into the elbow, not the hands.

Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth, avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if sick. Watch out for these signs of the flu: • High fever, • Severe body aches • Headache • Extreme fatigue • Sore throat • Cough • Runny or stuff nose • Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children) If you or your child comes down with the flu: • Call the Doctor. Designate one person as the caregiver and have the other household members avoid close contact with that person so they won’t become sick.

• Make sure the person stays at home and rests until 24 hours after the fever is gone.

• Designate a sick room for the person if possible. If there is more than one sick person, they can share the sick room if needed. If there is more than one bathroom, designate one for those who are sick to use. Give each sick person their own drinking glass, washcloth and towel.

• Keep the following either in the sick room or near the person: tissues, a trash can lined with a plastic trash bag, alcohol-based hand rub, a cooler or pitcher with ice and drinks, a thermometer and a cup with straw or squeeze bottle to help with drinking. Run a humidifier to help add moisture. Sick people should wear a facemask, if available, when they leave the sick room or are around others.

• Give plenty of liquids (water and other clear liquids) at the first sign of flu and continue through illness.

• Treat fever and cough with medicines that can be purchased at the store. Remember, when children are ill they should never be given aspirin or products containing aspirin - especially with the flu. • Disinfect household, including doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, bedside tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, counters, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched.

• Wash everyone’s dishes in the dishwasher or with very hot water and soap, wash everyone’s clothes using detergent and very hot water, tumble dry on a hot dryer setting and wash hands after handling dirty laundry, wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids. Seek immediate medical care if the person develops any of the following symptoms: •Fast breathing, trouble breathing or bluish skin color. •Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen (adults). •Confusion or sudden dizziness. •Not drinking enough fluids, not being able to eat, or severe or persistent vomiting •Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough. •Not waking up, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held or not interacting (children). •Fever with a rash (children). •No tears when crying or significantly fewer wet diapers than normal (children). Source: news9.com

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You Otta See Them Otters!There’s all kinds of critters in the habitat surrounding the Hugo Plant in southeastern Oklahoma. There are deer, turkey, Canadian geese, bald eagles and wild hogs, just to name a few. But, one of the animals that draws the most attention are river otters. They appear periodically in the ponds surrounding the plant to catch fish. The playful otters have a migration route that includes nearby rivers, creeks and includes Raymond Gary Lake. Skillful hunters, the otters can be heard crunching on the fish they catch. There is no filleting of fish: their sharp teeth mince meat and bone faster than a Saturday Night Live Bass-O-Matic!

PC Support Technician Bryce Davis and family built a snow monster during the last snowstorm. This tradition has gone back more than 30 years in the Davis family. Bryce and his family have been building snow monsters since the early 1980’s. (If the snow is right..). Pictured left: Bryce’s children, Blain and Brynna and their snow monster. Pictured right: Bryce and younger brother Brent building a snow monster in 1985.

The Davis Family Snow Monster Tradition

Happy Birthday wishes go out to all WFEC employees enjoying a birthday.

Have a wonderful day!

Phil Kirk 1/19 Rex Downey 1/20 Julie Tackett 1/22 Kerry Ingraham 1/23 Dawne Massey 1/24 Eric Austin 1/25 Lance McCutchan 1/26 Emmanuel Adjei 1/27 Kevin May 1/29 Tim Hogan 1/29 Brandon McCracken 1/30 Frank Akin 1/31

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

Author unknown, commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin

Hidden Employee Numbers

CongratulationstoBill Schaefer and Bill Hallmark forfindingtheiremployeenumbers.

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Ifyoufindyouremployeenumberinthisedition,callBrittany HicksatExt.4335.Pleaseuseyourcredit

beforethenextpaydayifpossible.