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Lamar ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEP . O . B O X 5 8 0 ≠ P A R I S , T E X A S 7 5 4 6 1 ≠ ( 9 0 3 ) 7 8 4 - 4 3 0 3

M E S S A G E F R O M I N T E R I M M A N A G E R B A R R Y M U R C H I S O N

This month, the American peoplewill take to the polls to choose the

next president of the United States,members of Congress and state legis-lators. As electric cooperatives striveto meet our present and future energyneeds, we are asking lawmakers of allstripes what they’ll do to ensure thatconsumers continue to enjoy safe, reli-able and affordable electric power.

Today, many policymakers andelected officials believe renewableenergy—like wind, solar and biomass(tree trimmings, farm byproducts,animal waste and landfill gas)—pro-vide the solution to addressing cli-mate change and establishing energyindependence. But to keep the lightson and electric rates affordable, elec-tric cooperatives will need to make

use of all available generationresources, including renewables,nuclear power and fossil fuels likecoal and natural gas.

Our nation’s electric system, com-monly referred to as the grid, relies ona network of power plants, transmis-sion lines and distribution facilitieswoven in an intricate web to provideus with electricity. When a piece ofthis puzzle doesn’t fit or goes missing,brownouts and blackouts can occur.

By 2030, demand for electricity ispredicted to increase by 30 percentover current levels, and our countryhas used up the excess power capacityit once had available. That means wewill need to build power plants, all ata time when costs for constructionmaterials such as steel, copper andconcrete, and generation fuels such asnatural gas and coal, are skyrocketing.The challenges we face are immense.

As a result, electric cooperatives areurging lawmakers to invest in technol-

ogy that will allow us to help allhouseholds become more energy effi-cient. It makes sense for lawmakers to fast-track plans for building newtransmission lines—connecting ruralregions where renewable electricity isgenerated to the population centerswhere it’s consumed—to cut throughthe red tape that prevents construc-tion of nuclear power plants and thecapture and permanent storage of carbon from coal-fired power plants(as a way to reduce carbon dioxideemissions blamed for contributing toglobal climate change).

These steps will not only strengthenour nation’s electric infrastructure andhead off an impending electric powercrisis, but also will significantly lowergreenhouse gas emissions. Even better,they will help ensure that any climate-change goals ultimately adoptedremain politically and economicallysustainable over the decades necessaryto make a difference.

Now’s the time to make your voiceheard. In addition to casting your voteNovember 4, you can also help edu-cate and inform lawmakers aboutthese concerns. Electric cooperativesare currently engaged in a grassrootscampaign called “Our Energy, OurFuture: A Dialogue With America.”Nearly 400,000 letters and e-mailsalready have been sent to Congress byyour fellow consumers from all acrossthe United States, each asking criticalenergy questions. To join the effort,visit WWW.OURENERGY.COOP.

In partnership with the federal gov-ernment, electric cooperatives met thegreatest engineering challenge of the20th century—spreading the benefitsof electric power to the most remotecorners of our nation. The time hascome once again for Congress to stepup and make certain we continue toenjoy the electric service we dependon at a price we can afford.

Now’s the Time To MakeYour Voice Heard

Heading to the polling

place is an important

privilege Americans enjoy.

Please exercise your

rights not only by casting

your ballots but also by

contacting your elected

representatives and let-

ting them know what you

want them to do for you.

R E M E M B E R T O V O T E T U E S D A Y , N O V E M B E R 4

YO U R VO T E C O U N TS !

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LAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

1485 North Main StreetP.O. Box 580 • Paris, TX 75461Phone (903) 784-4303

For general information and outages after hours, call (903) 784-4303 local or 1-800-782-9010 toll-free

Operating in Lamar, Red River, Delta and Fannin counties

Find us on the web atwww.lamarelectric.coop

INTERIM MANAGERBarry Murchison

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIRMANAllen Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sumner

VICE CHAIRMANBill E. Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . RenoSECRETARY-TREASURERBilly Hines . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clarksville

James Sam Cooper . . . . . . . . RoxtonCharles Dooley . . . . . . . . . . . AnnonaMark Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ParisRon E. Tippit . . . . . . . . . . . ClarksvilleMike Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . DetroitLyle Yoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pattonville

YOUR “LOCAL PAGES”This section of Texas Co-op Powermagazine is produced by LEC eachmonth to provide you with informa-tion about current events, safety,special programs and other activitiesof the cooperative. If you have anycomments or suggestions, pleasecontact the local office.

MEMBER BENEFITS:≠ Level billing≠ Automated meter reading≠ Free bank draft service≠ Visa, Discover and MasterCard

accepted

LAMAR ELECTRICCOOPERATIVE

Lamar Electric Cooperative installed a fabricated eagle’s nest in a wildlife conservationproject coordinated by Stanley V. Graff at his ranch in Red River County.

Graff became interested in erecting the artificial nest after reading a newspaperarticle about a manmade nest replacing a nest that had collapsed. Graff has spotted aneagle on his property and is working with the Fort Worth Zoo and the Texas Parks andWildlife Department. He hopes the nest will attract eagles there to breed. Bald eaglesmate for life and return to the same nest each year to reproduce.

Graff contacted LEC to participate in the project. LEC equipment and crews wereon-site to dig the holes, set the poles and lift the nest to its location atop two polesnear a lake on Graff’s property.

Fabricated Nest Could Attract Bald Eagles

Lamar Electric Cooperative lent its pole-setting equipment and expertise to a project toerect an artificial eagle’s nest on a ranch in Red River County. It is hoped that it will attract a bald eagle family.

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LAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

When you show your Co-op Connections

Card!

At your electric co-op, we don’t simply send electricity to yourhome. We look out for you and your entire community. Andwe do so for a very simple reason—it’s our community, too.That’s why we are always working to keep the lights on andour costs down. Because we pay the same bills you pay. Yourhometown is our hometown. And together, we can’t go wrong.

Lamar ElectricCooperative Looking out for you.

HAPPYTHANKSGIVING

from

LamarElectric Cooperative

=======

Our offices will be closedThursday and Friday,

November 27-28, in observance of the holiday.

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$3,533.27 SavedOn prescriptions by members using their Co-op Connections® Card

In August, 153 prescriptions were filled and members saved $1,711.10, averaging 24 percent off the retail price.

This valuable member benefit is absolutely free!

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LAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

1st Choice Pest ControlOFFERING $10 OFF INITIAL GENERAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE≠ Commercial and residential pest control services for termites, roaches, ants, fleas, ticks and other insects

and rodents≠ Termite pre-treats for new construction and Real Estate Inspection reports≠ Ricky Williams, state-certified licensed applicator. Call (903) 785-5679 to schedule an appointment.

Papa Murphy’s PizzaOFFERING $3 OFF FAMILY-SIZE PIZZA (LIMIT 3 PER ORDER)≠ Take and Bake Pizza handmade in their kitchen, home-baked in your oven.≠ Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Located at 2705 Lamar Ave.

in Paris. Phone (903) 785-0036 ≠ Matt Terry, owner

Quality Craft Picture FramesOFFERING 20 PERCENT OFF CUSTOM FRAMING INCLUDING FRAME, MAT AND GLASS≠ Custom-made picture framing, shadowboxes, needle work, well-known artist prints, ready-made frames, mirrors and more.≠ Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Located at 2030 Clarksville St. in Paris. Phone

(903) 785-2760≠ Owners Harold and Doris Cody invite you to come in and see what they have to offer.

This information is provided by Lamar Electric Cooperative (LEC) on an informational, “as is” basis. LEC does not endorse or war-ranty any business listed and makes no representation or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of thebusinesses or the quality of their services. To the full extent permissible by applicable law, LEC disclaims all warranties, express orimplied. LEC will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this information, including, but not limited todirect, indirect, punitive and consequential damages.

Even if you have medicalcoverage, compare

your coverage to the discounts. Sometimes the Co-op Connections discount is better than

your medical insurance!

The pharmacy will need the group and member numbers on the back of the card to process the

discount.

Want to do some price checking on your

prescriptions? Visitwww.rxpricequotes.comto see the discounted price from our local

pharmacies.

Co-op Connections®

Lamar Electric

Cooperative, Inc.

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LAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

When severe weather causespower outages, employees of

Lamar EC begin working immediatelyto restore service as quickly as possible.Primary lines serving hundreds of cus-tomers are serviced first, then the sec-ondary lines serving just a few areserviced. Medical facilities and individ-uals on life-support systems get toppriority.

When your lights go out, look out-side and see whether your neighborsare also in the dark. If they’re not,check your fuse box or circuit breakerto see if you can locate the problem.

If the outage has affected yourneighbors, call Lamar EC at (903)784-4303 or 1-800-782-9010.

Outages that occur in severeweather, or that last for an extendedperiod of time, can place a heavy bur-den on the system at the momentpower is restored. To prevent an over-load on the system and possiblyanother outage, take these steps:

≠ Turn off every inside light exceptone.

≠ Turn down your thermostat.≠ In cold weather, close windows

and drapes to save heat. Pick one roomon the warm side of the house (prefer-ably one with a fireplace). Close thedoor to the rest of the house and useblankets to insulate your windows.

≠ If the outage lasts over 60 min-utes, turn off your electric water heater.

≠ Make sure your kitchen range isoff, both the surface and the oven.Never use it for heat.

≠ Turn off all unnecessary appliances.≠ Avoid opening the freezer door.

A full, freestanding freezer will keepfood at freezing temperatures for abouttwo days; a half-full freezer about aday. For more information about foodsafety during and after a power outage,call the USDA Food Safety Hotline at1-800-535-4555.

≠ If you see a downed power line,STAY AWAY! And call Lamar EC atonce!

≠ Leave your porch light on soworkers will know when your powerhas been restored.

≠ When power comes back on,slowly switch your appliances andlights back on and gradually returnyour thermostat to its normal setting.

What To Do When theLights Go Out

10 Ways To Save Energy—and Money—this Winter

No money for new windows orthicker insulation? Here are 10

cheap and easy ways to shave yourenergy use this winter—without feel-ing cold:

1. Turn on your ceiling fan—yes, inthe winter. Switch the direction of thefan to clockwise ( just flip the switchon the fan’s base into the “winter”position), and run the unit slowly. Itwill circulate the warm air that rises toyour ceiling and make you feel warmerwhile you’re in the room.

2. Add weatherstripping or caulkaround windows and doors to keepwarm air from leaking out and cold airfrom sneaking in.

3. Rearrange your furniture. Moveit away from heating vents. Push yourmost frequently used furniture awayfrom exterior walls, which can feelcolder than interior walls.

4. Install a programmable thermo-stat. Turning back your thermostat by10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a daycan save you up to 15 percent on heat.

5. Open drapes and blinds everyday to let the warm sun in. Close themwhen it gets dark.

6. Repair leaks in your ductwork’sseams and joints with a duct-sealingcompound.

7. Wear a sweater so you can lowerthe thermostat a few degrees. You cansave 1 percent on your heating bill forevery degree you drop the heat.

8. Close the vents and doors inunused rooms.

9. Replace burned-out lightbulbswith compact fluorescent lights. CFLsuse 75 percent less energy than incan-descent bulbs.

10. Switch to cold water for wash-ing clothes and dishes.

P R E PA R I N G F O R S E V E R E W E AT H E R

L A M A R E C

works hard to keep the power on for its customers, but severe

weather can sometimes put us in the dark. You'll be safer and less

inconvenienced if you have the following emergency supplies on hand:

≠ flashlight with fresh batteries≠ radio with fresh batteries≠ candles and holders≠ blankets≠ matches≠ wind-up clock≠ firewood and kindling

≠ manual can opener≠ charcoal grill with charcoal ≠ paper plates and plastic utensils≠ lighter≠ bottled water ≠ nonperishable food≠ extra batteries

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