CONNECTIONS
The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | JANUARY 2022
UPCOMING EVENTS Scholarship information sessions We are proud to offer the Cobb EMC Foundation Scholarship, which awards 14 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each to eligible students with a primary residence served by Cobb EMC. The annual scholarships are funded and administered by the Cobb EMC Foundation board. Join us for one of two virtual information sessions to learn more about the scholarship and application process. Sessions are not required to apply for the scholarship. The application deadline is Feb. 25. Virtual information sessions Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Learn more at cobbemc.com/ cfscholarship.
Small change, big difference Since inception, the Cobb EMC Foundation has awarded more than $6.7 million to local charities and nonprofits. Thank you to members who round up their bills each month through Operation Round Up. Visit cobbemc.com/foundation for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.
WHY WERE NATURAL GAS PRICES IN GEORGIA HIGH LAST FALL? If you were shopping for low rates from natural gas companies in Georgia last fall, you probably noticed a drastic rise in natural gas prices with companies across the board. We wanted to share a little about why prices have risen and how our subsidiary Gas South – and other natural gas companies – set rates. It starts with the NYMEX Like other natural gas companies, Gas South doesn’t produce natural gas. They purchase it to sell to homes and businesses after a price has been set by the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the world’s largest exchange for energy products. At the NYMEX, traders meet and set prices based on several different factors. Why has the NYMEX been high? Supply and demand is a huge consideration when it comes to setting the price of natural gas, and it’s at the heart of why prices have risen — higher than they’ve been since a spike in 2008. More than a decade ago, gas and oil companies began using more efficient methods to extract natural gas from beneath the earth. That helped create a nice reserve to put into storage. Demand had also been relatively low during this period. So, needs were met, and prices stayed low. Hurricane Ida impacted prices after it blew through last August, leaving a wake of destruction that, among other things, shut down natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico by 94%. Despite the setback, there was still a nice reserve prior to this summer, but record temperatures helped siphon much of that off. Natural gas is the largest source of electricity production in the U.S. — power plants make about 40% of their electricity from it. When the heat wave hit, electricity use skyrocketed as people ran their air-conditioning units into overtime. The capacity of interstate pipelines was unable to handle the volume of gas needed to meet demand, thus constraining pipeline flow (unusual for the summer season), which often pushes prices up. Cobb EMC is well prepared for high load situations like this with our diverse mix of resources, interconnection agreements with other utilities through our generation and transmission cooperative (Oglethorpe Power) and with our long-term power contracts with Southern Power. In short, supply wasn’t meeting the demand. And that boosted the price of natural gas set by the NYMEX, causing home and business owners throughout the U.S. to pay more for their gas. How can you cut your natural gas costs? The price of natural gas fluctuates, despite being relatively stable from 2008 until now. It’s impossible to say for certain where rates will be in the future. But there are ways to protect your pocketbook. For more information about Gas South, available rate options and natural gas savings tips, please visit gassouth.com and gassouth.com/blog.
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CONNECTIONS | The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | JANUARY 2022
THE PROOF IS IN THE POWER
GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY Over the years, you’ve probably heard or read about Cobb EMC’s concern for our community. This is one of the core principles that sets cooperatives apart from other types of utilities and businesses. We’ve always taken this mission and responsibility to heart. It’s who we are as a co-op. Over the past two years, like so many of you, we’ve risen to meet new challenges and strengthen the safety net for our community, particularly for those who are most vulnerable. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve made numerous adjustments to programs and operations to maintain business continuity while staying focused on the bigger mission of helping our consumer-members during this turbulent time. While our purpose is to provide affordable, safe and reliable energy to you, the members we serve, we have a greater mission — to be a catalyst for good. You’re probably aware of our Operation Round Up program, where we receive donations from generous members like you who have “rounded up” the amount due on their electric bill to help our most vulnerable neighbors in need. Or our Youth Tour program, where we send our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong immersion to experience democracy in action. We also have a strong commitment to safety — not just for our employees, but for our community as well. We visit schools to teach children of all ages how to stay safe around electricity. We hold safety demonstrations at community meetings and other gatherings. Cobb EMC invests in the economic development of the community through an active role in our local chambers of commerce throughout our five-county service area. You’ll also see our employees serving on local boards, coaching youth sports, volunteering at charitable events and more. Because when you work at a co-op, you understand how important a strong community is — after all, without you, the co-op wouldn’t exist. We know that our core job is to keep the lights on, but our passion is our community. Because we live and work here too, we want to make it a better place for all. Concern for community is the heart and soul of who we are. And no matter what the future brings, you can count on your electric co-op to care about you. Learn more about our community impact on the following page.
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#1
IN THE NATION FOR RESTORING OUTAGES QUICKLY
#2
IN THE NATION FOR RELIABILITY
TOP 10 IN THE STATE FOR LOW RATES
LEADERSHIP Kevan Espy, President & CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Tennant, Chairman Rudy Underwood, Vice Chairman Kelly Bodner, Secretary-Treasurer Bryan Boyd Eric Broadwell Edward Crowell David McClellan Tripper Sharp Malcolm Swanson
CONTACT US Phone: 770.429.2100 Pay by phone: 1.855.730.8714 Web: cobbemc.com
CONNECTIONS | The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | JANUARY 2022
OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT As a cooperative, we don’t just serve the community — we’re part of the community, and we believe in investing in the neighborhoods where we live and work. Our impact:
PHILANTHROPY As a community-focused electric cooperative, we belong to the communities we serve, and we thank our consumers who are part of it all. That’s why you’ll often find us at community events and sponsoring local organizations. Generous Cobb EMC members who opt to round up their bills to the nearest dollar have given more than $6,700,000 to benefit neighborhood nonprofits since 2013. The Cobb EMC Foundation donated $879,340 to 90 organizations in 2021. Our employees delivered 125 blankets to MUST Ministries Inc. through our Volts of Joy program. Employees volunteered 2,400+ hours in the community mentoring students, hosting career days and representing civic, nonprofit, sports and religious organizations. Our annual Flock the Yard initiative reached more than 10,000 people and raised over $1,900 for Cancer Support Community Atlanta and the YMCA’s Breast Cancer Survivors Programs.
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Local nonprofits and schools rely on Cobb EMC’s support. We believe by supporting education, career growth and job training, our community thrives, helping us to grow and succeed together.
We’re proud to support the communities we serve by energizing large employers, encouraging investment and job growth in our region and assisting members with energy-efficient programs.
Cobb EMC has given 225 local students scholarships worth $705,000.
In 2021, 1,101 members received a $50 voucher for an HVAC tuneup to ensure their HVAC systems are operating efficiently.
The Cobb EMC Foundation awards 14 scholarships ($5,000 each) annually for college or tech school. The Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program for high school juniors awards scholarships ranging from $500$1,500. Cobb EMC offers students an opportunity to win a need-based $1,000 Walter Harrison scholarship annually. $31,819 in grants were awarded to 68 public school teachers to help fund STEM programs, school gardens and other activities during the 2020-21 school year.
383 members applied for an incentive for energy-efficient home improvements in 2021, including EV chargers, energy-efficient upgrades, smart thermostats and battery storage. Plus, low-income members gained access to energy efficient programs. Members saved $2,557 through the Co-op Connections® program in 2021. Our team conducted more than 250 energy audits to help members make energyefficient home improvements in 2021.
Employees collected diapers, coats, gifts, and business clothing for local nonprofits.
16 authors shared their work with 49 schools and more than 25,000 students during Cobb EMC’s and Gas South’s 2021 Literacy Week.
Cobb EMC and Gas South, in partnership with Cobb Water and the Cobb Heating and Air Conditioning Association, awarded a local family with a Home Energy Efficiency Makeover to help their household save on energy-related expenses.
Learn more at cobbemc.com/community.
Learn more at cobbemc.com/schools.
Learn more at cobbemc.com/benefits.
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CONNECTIONS | The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | JANUARY 2022
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MARKETING PARTNER
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Visit: GasSouth.com/cobb Call: 855.802.2766 Promo Code: 450