This October, in honor of National Co-op Month, we want you to know how you can be more involved with Kenergy. You’re a member, after all.

1. Follow us on social media

If you don’t already, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This is an easy way to access the latest co-op news and updates, not only during outages and severe weather events, but also regarding annual meeting, member appreciation days, community volunteering opportunities and more. We also highlight employees and co-op members, share recipes and offer electrical safety tips.

2. Read Kentucky Living

The most widely circulated magazine in the state, Kentucky Living has been telling the co-op story for more than 75 years. We were so proud to bring this magazine back to our member mailboxes in January of this year. In print and online at KentuckyLiving.com, the magazine is your trusted source for news and updates about Kenergy, information about electric cooperatives across the state and energy issues nationwide. In addition, there are beautiful photos, delicious recipes, informative articles and inspiring stories about co-op members from our communities.

3. Vote in our elections

Kenergy is guided by a board of directors—and every consumer-member has a vote in the elections that select these leaders. We communicate regularly about our election processes and timelines. Stay up to date by following us on social media, reading Kentucky Living and visiting our website at www.kenergycorp.com. And most importantly, when it’s time to vote, show up and make your voice heard. We welcome your participation.

4. Give back with us

One of the best ways to experience what Kenergy is all about is to partner with us in giving back to our community. It’s where the co-op spirit really shines. A few of our favorite opportunities throughout the year include the Washington Youth Tour, Operation Roundup and our scholarship program. Co-ops are more than just electric utilities. We make life better in our communities. And when you join us in giving back, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference.

Pumpkin season is here! Here's a tip to make a safer jack-o-lantern.

Instead of using a candle or a household lightbulb to light up your jack-o’-lantern this Halloween, consider battery-operated lights. Another option is one of the new LED bulbs available. These options are much cooler, creating less risk of fire or burns. LEDs only use a quarter of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs, and may last 25 times longer. Many of the new LEDs have programmable colors and patterns to make your jack-o’-lantern even spookier.

If you still use a plug-in fixture in your, no matter what kind of bulb or LED you use, be sure to unplug it before you leave it unattended or turn in for the night.

Kentucky’s farmers will be shifting into high gear soon as they move into their fields to bring in crops. All that increased activity puts farmers and farm workers at greater risk.

Combines and grain augers are large pieces of equipment. It might be easy to assume that machinery will easily pass power lines, but that isn’t always the case. The biggest cause of electrocutions on farms is equipment accidentally touching power lines.

Here are some tips Kentucky’s electric cooperatives recommend for farmers to protect themselves and their workers:

• Always look up and around before moving or raising equipment. Keep in mind that power lines sag between poles, especially on hot days. Stay at least 20 feet from all power lines and power poles.
• Never try to raise power lines to allow passage of tall equipment.
• When considering the height of equipment, don’t forget about the radio antennas and GPS receivers that may reach another couple feet above the roof.
• Fully lower grain augers and other portable equipment before moving them.
• When moving equipment near power lines, have a spotter to ensure your safety. If you’re not completely sure equipment will fit under a power line, find an alternate route around it.
• Watch out for power poles. Striking one may cause live lines to drop on your equipment.
• If you’re in equipment that touches power lines, stay in the cab and call for help. Tell others to stay away.

Working the land has enough hazards in the work itself. Moving to and from the fields shouldn’t be one of them. This harvest season, plan your route in advance and use great care when moving any large equipment near electrical equipment.

All Kenergy offices will be closed Friday, August 30th and Monday, September 2nd for Labor Day. We hope you have a safe holiday celebrating with family and friends.

As always, you can drop payments at our office nightly drop boxes, make payments on our SmartHub mobile app, or by accessing your account 24/7.

There’s no need to lose your cool when you get your summer electric bill during the hottest days of the year. Instead, try some alternatives to cranking up the air conditioning when the sun is blazing and it hasn’t rained in days.

1. Install a dehumidifier. If it feels as humid indoors as it does outdoors, there’s too much water in the inside air. If you see water dripping out of the air conditioner or if you have to set it so low that you’re freezing just to reach a comfortable humidity, the dehumidifier will help.

2. Cook outdoors or eat cold food. Salads, raw veggies and fruit make great summer meals, and they don’t require you to turn on the stove or oven, which can make the air in the kitchen too warm. Instead, gather the family for a barbecue and fire up the outdoor grill or serve a cold buffet on extra-hot evenings.

3. Hang bright curtains. Red, orange and yellow tend to deflect heat, so for curtains, those colors are energy efficient. Closing the curtains or blinds during the day will keep the sun from heating up the home you’re trying to keep cool. Or install solar screens or a window tint to let in the light but keep out the heat.

4. Run fans. Ceiling fans with blades that turn counterclockwise pull heat up out of the room while sending a soft breeze down into it, so anyone nearby will feel cooler. Portable electric fans placed in windows facing outward can suck heat out of a room on days when you want to give your air conditioner a break.

5. Run your dishwasher and clothes washer and dryer after dark. Appliances that use heat to operate also throw some heat into the rooms where they are located. So run them during the coolest part of the day, after the sun goes down.

We have updated our pay-by-phone number. Please use 1.844.958.2904 to pay your energy bill over the phone.

A random computerized drawing of 340 applicants was held July 1st for three (3) $1,000 scholarships and twenty-four (24) $500 scholarships. Scholarships can be used for tuition, fees, campus housing, textbooks, computers, school supplies, and other costs directly related to the recipient's education.

Congratulations to our winners!

$1,000 Winners

Kayla Jones

Evan Michalek

Ashtyn McGaw

$500 Winners

Caroline Connor

Olivia Ford

Harrison Bowman

Chloe Coomes

John Brasher

Lauren Hayes

Noah Rhinerson

Molly Ladnier

Alexis Gay

Jaedan Frankenberger

Ryan Gatton

Emma Haynes

Claire Boeglin

Travis Conway

Samuel Miller

Conner Johnson

Breighton Gogel

Larkin Jarboe

Madeline Jones

Aaron Ring

Adyson Mattingly

Jackson Evans

Blake Mullins

Nolan Huff

All Kenergy offices will be closed Thursday, July 4th for Independence Day. We hope you have a safe holiday celebrating with family and friends.

As always, you can drop payments at our office nightly drop boxes, make payments on our SmartHub mobile app, or by accessing your account 24/7.