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CONNECTIONS
MAY 2015 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Georgia Public Service Commission ranks cooperative
seventh in state
Cobb EMC’s
residential winter
rate ranking
decreased since
last year for an
average household
using 1,000
kilowatt-hours,
Chip Nelson
according to the
President and CEO
Georgia Public
Service Commission’s
Residential Rate Survey. The biannual
survey provides two overviews comparing
rates of all of Georgia’s 94 electric
providers and those of Georgia’s 41
electric membership cooperatives (EMCs).
At the 1,000 kWh use level, Cobb EMC
now ranks seventh out of Georgia’s 41
EMCs and 16th out of all 94 providers in
the state.
Cobb EMC members save approximately
$15 when compared to the average
electric utility customer. Our electric rates
remain lower than both the cooperative
average ($118.34) and the state electric
providers average ($117.06).
These rankings reaffirm our commitment
to safely delivering reliable, competitively
priced electricity.
Energy efficiency seminar
The 2015 Georgia PSC winter survey
ranks electric providers on rates in effect
for the month of January, based on total
electric bill amounts of 500, 1,000, 1,500
and 2,000 kWh. For more information or to
view complete surveys, visit the Georgia
Public Service Commission’s website at
http://www.psc.state.ga.us/electric/surveys/
residentialrs.asp.
Cobb EMC remains committed to going
above and beyond to address your evergrowing energy needs and looks forward
to another great year as your EMC, doing
great things together.
$118.34*
$112.04*
$102.88*
CONNECTIONS
Georgia Power
|
M AY 2 0 1 5
Office closing
Cobb EMC will be closed May 25 for
the Memorial Day holiday. Employees
are always standing by for emergencies.
Please call our automated outage
system at 770-429-2100 in the event
of an outage.
*Charge for 1,000 kWh
Cobb EMC
Upcoming events
On June 4 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
experts will share tips on how to
save money on your electric bill.
To RSVP: www.cobbemc.com/
energyefficiencyseminar
Annual meeting
The 2015 annual meeting will take
place on Sept. 19.
Stay up-to-date with the most
current annual meeting information
and applicable deadlines and
requirements at www.cobbemc.com/
annualmeeting.
COMING SOON
cobbemc.com
Cobb EMC continues to provide members
low-priced electricity
Find your copy of the
annual report right here
in GEORGIA Magazine
this summer.
EMC Average
20A
CONNECTIONS
Cobb Electric
Membership
Corporation
BRINGING YOU THE
www.cobbemc.com
Email: [email protected]
President and CEO
Chip Nelson
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman
Bryan Boyd
Vice Chairman
Tripper Sharp
Secretary-Treasurer
Editorial Staff
David McClellan
Eric Broadwell
Kelly Bodner
Edward Crowell
Malcolm Swanson
David Tennant
Rudy Underwood
Brooke Melton
Angela Croce, CCC
POWER
Six electrical safety tips
Electricity exists in our lives every day. During
National Electrical Safety Month, make sure
you take the steps to use electricity safely.
Below are simple tips to avoid potential electric
hazards at home.
1. Inspect your outlets. Loose-fitting plugs
2.
3.
4.
5.
can cause shocks or start fires. Replace any
missing or broken wall plates to safely hide
electrical components.
Do you have young children at home?
Then you may consider installing tamperresistant receptacles, which offer a built-in
shutter system to prevent objects from being
inserted.
Inspect appliance cords for cracking, fraying or damage. Find and relocate
appliance cords that may be hidden under carpets or rugs.
Lightbulb wattage should match fixture requirements. Take a look to make
sure you’re burning the correct bulb. While you’re at it, ensure bulbs are secure
so they don’t overheat.
Remember to clean the dryer’s lint filter after every load. A dirty lint screen
can be a fire hazard. Unlike a clean lint screen, which can also save energy!
Head outside and check all outdoor connections, appliances and tools for
frayed cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housing. Use the test and
reset button to ensure GFCI outlets are functioning properly.
Contacts & Office Hours
6.
Phone: 770-429-2100
Report an outage: 770-429-2100
Fax: 770-429-3330
Source: Safe Electricity
In person:
1000 EMC Parkway
Marietta, GA 30060
BRINGING YOU THE
POWER OF
Walk-in hours:
Monday – Friday
(8 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Drive-through hours:
Monday – Friday
(7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Member Care Center hours:
Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Saturday
(8 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
Express Pay drop box is available for
non-cash payments 24/7
OF MEMBERSHIP
ENERGY
Keep the lights on with a greener, renewable
energy source!
Cobb EMC is proud to offer its members environmentally friendly green power through
Green Power EMC.
Green energy is available on a first-come, first-served basis to Cobb EMC members in
blocks of 150 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month. Since the costs to create green electric
energy are higher than those of traditional energy sources, a small premium of $5 per
month, per block, will be charged in addition to your established rate.
Learn more and reserve your green energy:
www.cobbemc.com/greenpower
20B
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M AY 2 0 1 5
Powe r OF ENERGY
Summer energy efficiency: myth vs. fact
Summer heat is on its way, and if you are unfamiliar with energy-efficiency cooling tips,
now is the time to learn. We always encourage members to conserve energy. It helps us
keep your energy costs affordable.
www.cobbemc.com/
conserve
Myth: Time of day doesn’t matter.
Fact: Time of day does matter when running electrical
loads. Avoid peak times of use and save energy.
Myth: When I’m not home, keeping my
air conditioner at a lower temperature
throughout the day means it doesn’t
have to run harder to cool my home
FACT:
when I return.
Fact: To save energy,
set your thermostat to
a higher temperature
during the day, and lower
it when you return home.
Myth: Closing vents
on my central airconditioning system
will boost efficiency.
Did you know that 90 percent
of the energy used to operate
a washing machine comes
from using hot water? Switch
from hot to cold and start
saving!
POWE R OF MEMBERSHIP
Fact: Closing
vents can
cause the
compressor
to cycle too
frequently and
the heat pump
to overload.
Remember … Because we’re
locally owned by you, our
members, money remains
in our local community.
www.cobbemc.com/
aboutcobbemc
POWE R OF SAFETY
Find out more ways to save energy at www.cobbemc.com/conserve.
Better than candy: help around the house
Candy and flowers are a great way to show Mom how much you appreciate her this
Mother’s Day. A better token: Take over a few of her jobs for the day.
Strap on your tool belt and haul out the stepladder, and do a few of the high-effort
jobs that Mom has been meaning to tackle. Here’s where to start:
If it’s raining or damp outside,
enjoy the day indoors.
Condensation makes the
ground slippery and creates
too many chances for injury
when working outdoors.
www.cobbemc.com/safety
• Use a long-handled attachment to Mom’s vacuum cleaner to suck the dust off the
tops of curtains and window blinds. While you’re on the ladder, vacuum the corners
where walls intersect with the ceiling and other walls.
• Dust the tops of bookcases, cabinets and shelves. Once you finish, vacuum the floor
to pick up any mess you may have knocked off the shelves during dusting.
• Wipe off the blades of ceiling fans. Remove decorative fixtures from ceiling-mounted
lightbulbs and wash and dry them thoroughly, to remove built-up dust and dirt.
• Use a screwdriver to tighten handles and knobs on kitchen and bathroom cabinets
and on furniture around the house that has drawers or doors.
• Scout out leaky faucets in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room—and even on
outdoor spigots. Replace washers where needed.
• Gently pull the refrigerator away from the wall and sweep the floor behind it. Do the
same behind the washer and dryer.
As you walk around the house looking for small messes to clean up and easy repairs
to make, you’ll find plenty of ways to make Mom smile this Mother’s Day.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
20C
Did you know?
A lineman’s gear
weighs about 50
pounds. That’s a
lot of extra weight!
Cobb EMC linemen suit up for safety
Cobb EMC’s team of linemen cover more than 9,000 miles of power lines for our members
in Cobb, Cherokee, Fulton, Bartow and Paulding counties.
But keeping our linemen safe doesn’t come easy. Dangerous situations are commonplace for this dedicated team,
so making sure each is outfitted with proper safety equipment is a crucial priority. Take a look at what goes into suiting up
our own first class lineman—step 2, Ian Hansman, who maintains lines in our service districts.
At Cobb EMC, we want all of our members to understand how we operate and what’s involved in bringing power into your
homes and businesses. It takes a team to provide safe, reliable electricity to our members. Our line crews play a key role in
helping keep the lights on, and a dedicated group of employees work behind the scenes as well. Stay tuned for more profiles
in our reliability series.
Hard hat: A hard, plastic hat features a wide brim
to keep debris out of a lineman’s face. Inside slots
are universal to fit a flame-retardant liner and
accessories like ear protection. Each lineman
inspects his hat routinely for damage and durability
and replaces it before it incurs wear and tear.
Safety glasses: These protect the eyes and
deflect any debris that makes it past the
hard hat, particularly materials that fly or
splatter like molten metal.
Rubber gloves: A lineman first dons
insulated rubber gloves for protection
from electrical currents. He then layers
leather gloves with vinyl cuffs to prevent cuts from sharp objects. As the
voltage levels with which a lineman
works increase, gloves are supplied
in increasing thickness. Arm protector
sleeves tuck inside gloves to protect
the lineman’s arms from contact with
power lines as he works.
Safety belt: This belt wraps around
the pole while the lineman is climbing and is secured to his waist by two
metal D-rings.
Work boots: These boots weren’t
made for walking … The steel or
ceramic-toe boots are sturdily designed to protect the foot and include
extra arch support for nimble
climbing. Gaff climbers, which
wrap around work boots, have
triangular points that jab into
poles, stabilizing a lineman as
he climbs. And for added safety,
gaff climbers attach to the strap
set, located around the calf and
ankle.
20D
Clothing: Shirts and pants are flame-retardant and
made with non-metallic buttons.
Body belt: A sturdy leather/synthetic belt is designed with utility in mind. It holds up the tool pouch
and the safety belt.
Tool pouch: This leather satchel attaches to the body belt and keeps
hand tools accessible.
Arctic coat*: When most of us
are taking cover during winter
storms, our line maintenance team
is braving the elements. Water
repellent duck fabric is lined
with nylon-quilted polyester to
keep any water from seeping
into the coat. Even the zipper
has a windproof flap. Hook and
loop closures on both the zipper
and breast pockets and drawstring
waist and sleeve cuffs keep our
team bundled up and dry in inclement weather.
Safety harness*: This full-body
harness is used when a lineman works
in an elevated bucket. It attaches to the
boom of the bucket truck by a lanyard with
locking snap hooks and prevents the lineman from falling, no matter how high in the
air he may be.
Hinged hot stick*: This long, insulated
fiberglass tool enables a lineman to precisely and accurately install and remove live
electrical equipment from a safe distance.
*Not shown: Safety harness, hinged hot stick and
arctic coat
CONNECTIONS
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M AY 2 0 1 5
“Watts” in the news?
Cobb EMC’s dedication to our membership does not end with providing electricity.
We continually monitor industry developments to keep our members in the know.
Helping you stay solar energy smart
Solar energy is becoming more prominent, and we want to remind you that Cobb EMC
is ready to serve as your advocate while the topic continues to develop. We are prepared to answer questions and discuss your concerns.
Our co-op has a long-standing history of being one of the most progressive electric
cooperatives in the country. Over the last several years, we’ve been at the forefront of
adding solar projects to our energy portfolio. In fact, we’re excited to share that a new
community solar program is currently in the works.
Balancing the need to provide reliable energy with the desire to maintain affordable
costs, Cobb EMC makes environmental responsibility a priority.
Stay informed about solar energy at www.cobbemc.com/solarnews.
Power plant delay won’t affect members
The delay in construction of nuclear plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 will not affect Cobb EMC
or its members. While Cobb EMC does share in the ownership of nuclear plant Vogtle,
through membership in Oglethorpe Power Corp., the co-op is not an active participant in Vogtle units 3 and 4.
Cobb EMC relies on nuclear power to diversify our energy mix and expand our
energy portfolio in an effort to keep costs as low as possible for our members. Plant
Vogtle units 1 and 2 help make this possible by providing over 35 percent of our total
energy needs.
Before you make
a solar energy
decision …
1. Contact Cobb EMC to discuss
how solar energy will affect your
electric bills.
2. Determine if solar energy makes
sense for your home.
3. Research the company to make
sure they’re reliable.
4. Request bids from more than one
provider to be sure you’re getting
the best deal.
Cobb EMC announces 2015 Washington Youth Tour winners
Local students set sights on Georgia’s oldest student leadership event
Cobb EMC recently selected three winners for this year’s Washington Youth Tour
scholarship program.
• Second place: Nethra Rajendran, of Pope High School, will receive a $1,000 scholarship, a trip to Washington and eligibility to interview for Cobb EMC’s summer internship.
• Third place: Robert Solomon, homeschooled student, will receive a $500 scholarship.
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The 2015 Washington Youth Tour is a fully paid leadership trip sponsored by 38 of
Georgia’s electric co-ops, including Cobb EMC. As Georgia’s oldest leadership program
for teens, the Youth Tour is set to commemorate 50 years of supporting students and
teaching life lessons during the weeklong adventure.
Winners Heo and Rajendran will be part of Georgia’s largest contingent to date—112 students representing 155 counties
in Georgia—who will travel to Washington June 11 through 18. While there, these student delegates will join nearly 1,600 Youth
Tour participants from co-ops across the nation, providing another life experience: the chance to meet and learn from a diverse
group of peers representing nearly every state in the U.S.
These students also tour museums, memorials and monuments, providing a history lesson that can’t be learned from
any textbook.
The Washington Youth Tour was inspired by former President Lyndon Johnson who, in 1965, encouraged electric cooperatives “to send youngsters to the nation’s capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
cobbemc.com
• First place: Yeseul Heo, of Sequoyah High School, will receive a $1,500 scholarship, a
trip to Washington and eligibility to interview for Cobb EMC’s summer internship.
20E
“My EMC lets me manage bills at my convenience.”
cobbemc.com
It’s easier than ever to choose Paperless Billing!
Signing up is simple, and you will be entered to win
prizes throughout 2015: a $100 bill credit, a tablet and
a $500 bill credit.
Plus, you’ll enjoy the many perks of paperless:
• 24/7 online access to your account
and statements
• No more checks to write, no stamps to
buy, no bills to mail
• Email reminders when your bill is due
www.cobbemc.com/paperless
That’s the power of membership.
20F
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M AY 2 0 1 5
A little change can change lives
Operation Round Up recipients
Each month, the Cobb EMC Community Foundation board of directors administers
Operation Round Up funds to local nonprofits.
The Cobb EMC Community Foundation awarded more than $790,000 in
Operation Round Up funds to date, with $96,000 going to the following nonprofits
in March:
• 100 Black Men of North Metro Inc.: Mission is to serve as a beacon of leadership
by utilizing diverse talents to create an environment where children are motivated to
achieve and empower people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the economic
and social fabric of the communities served.
• Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America: Provides character education to
community organizations in 13 metro-Atlanta counties for youth in the first grade
through age 20.
• Brad Cohn Tourette Foundation: Aims to help children who have Tourette Syndrome
learn how to exist in the real world with others who don’t understand. Supports the
socialization, achievement and education of individuals with Tourette syndrome.
• Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Inc.: Provides scholarships and grants, secures
cutting-edge equipment for labs and classrooms, also aids in upgrading and
maintaining campus facilities.
• Cobb County Fire Explorers Inc.: Primary goals of the program are to help young
adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services and to challenge them
to be responsible citizens of their community and country.
• Cobb County Safety Village: Believes that interactive education is the key to
reducing risk and protecting our community. Our mission is to provide the highest
quality safety education and training available.
• Cobb Library Foundation: Mission is to provide the extra margin of excellence for
the Cobb County Library system by fundraising and enhancing public support for the
library and its programs.
• The Devereux Foundation Inc.: Changes lives and nurtures human potential. We
inspire hope, ensure well-being, and promote meaningful life choices.
• Family Alliance of Paulding Inc.: Strives for thriving children, healthy parents and
safe, drug-free homes. Mission is to strengthen men, women and families of all
backgrounds and life circumstances by providing parenting and substance abuse
education; building positive, rewarding and satisfying relationships between parents
and their children; and offering development and service opportunities for all citizens.
• Georgia District Kiwanis Foundation: Dedicated to serving the children of the world
and building a stronger tomorrow through young children, which is priority one.
• LGE Community Outreach Foundation: The Foundation, which is based on the
credit union principle of “People Helping People,” represents the giving spirit of
the employees of LGE Community Credit Union. Annually organizes and conducts
fundraisers to raise money to contribute to local nonprofit organizations.
• Shepherd Center Foundation: Provides a comprehensive continuum of care for
U.S. service members that have sustained a traumatic brain injury while serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Are you a
business owner?
Get connected to
our more than 175,000
members!
The Co-op Connections® Card
program gives your business the
opportunity to offer Cobb EMC
members valuable discounts.
Participating businesses will
receive free business exposure in
Cobb EMC’s publications and the
Co-op Connections website.
Join the
Co-op Connections
program.
It’s free and easy.
EMAIL:
[email protected]
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.cobbemc.com/discounts
CALL:
770-429-2111
cobbemc.com
• American Cancer Society: The nationwide, community-based, voluntary health
organization is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by
preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through
research, education, advocacy and service.
• Smith-Gilbert Gardens Foundation: Mission is to serve as a resource for
conservation, education and enjoyment of horticulture, fine arts and historic
preservation. This mission encompasses a desire to set a standard of excellence in
horticulture and educational programming for the region served.
• United Way of Greater Atlanta/Cobb County: Mission is to engage all segments
of our community to drive sustainable change in education, income, health and
homelessness, while continuing to address urgent and basic human care.
Visit www.cobbemc.com/roundup for a full list of recipients or to learn how to
request funding.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
20G
cobbemc.com
“My EMC makes it easy to manage my account—
from anywhere!”
20H
We continually strive to add value for members and
improve our service. That’s why we’ve put the power to
control your electric account in your hands. Download
the free SmartHub® app to conveniently manage all
aspects of your Cobb EMC account with your phone or
tablet. With the app you’ll have access to pay your bill,
report an outage, view your electric usage and view
member-related events.
www.cobbemc.com/aboutsmarthub
That’s the power of membership.
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