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JANUARY 2016 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Upcoming events
Be a part of the Washington Youth Tour
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JANUARY 2016
A big reason why these delegates—who begin Washington Youth Tour week as strangers—bond so quickly and develop lasting friendships is that they are all driven to succeed. Those biographies shown at the kickoff banquet list the delegates’ college plans and career aspirations, and it’s clear that all set the bar high for themselves. Ready to count yourself among the success stories? The 2016 Washington Youth Tour will be held June 9-16. To apply now, visit cobbemc.com/youthtour.
Cobb EMC will be closed on the following days: Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Employees are always on call for emergencies. Please call our automated outage system at 770-429-2100 in the event of an outage, and visit our outage center at www.cobbemc.com/outage.
The Cobb EMC board of directors will host an open board meeting on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Cobb EMC community room. To RSVP: www.cobbemc.com/ boardmeeting
TIP OF THE MONTH If you only want to heat or supplement inadequate heating in one room, small space heaters can be less expensive to use than your central heating system.
cobbemc.com
Open board meeting
LOUIS TONSMEIRE
Cream of the crop. The best and brightest. Upper echelon. High achievers. Just about any superlative fits each year’s group of Georgia delegates for the Washington Youth Tour (WYT), sponsored by the state’s electric membership corporations, including Cobb EMC. Every delegate’s accomplishments and interests are highlighted during the kickoff banquet each year, before the high school students begin their whirlwind week of teambuilding, traveling, sightseeing, learning and bonding. There are some common themes: Not only are these young people very smart—and polite—but they also do a lot. Active in their churches. Busy with volunteer work. Gifted athletes. Beta Club. National Honor Society. Eagle Scouts. The list goes on and on. Considering the rigorous application process (which varies by EMC), it’s not surprising that the students chosen as WYT delegates have such impressive backgrounds. Some EMCs test applicants on their knowledge of electric cooperative history. Others receive recommendations from school counselors. Many co-ops conduct in-person interviews with the best candidates.
Office closing
—Source: energy.gov
Cobb EMC Washington Youth Tour delegates Nethra Rajendran, left, and Yeseul Heo. 24A
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Cobb Electric Membership Corporation
BRINGING YOU THE
www.cobbemc.com Email: memberservices@cobbemc.com President and CEO
Cobb EMC members have much to celebrate as we embark on a new year rich with opportunity. But first, let’s reflect on our 2015 milestones. Our board of directors, management and employees delivered on our promise to put you, our members, first and to provide safe, reliable power at the best possible price.
Chip Nelson
Bryan Boyd
Vice Chairman
Tripper Sharp
Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm Swanson Eric Broadwell Kelly Bodner Edward Crowell David McClellan David Tennant Rudy Underwood Editorial Staff
Brooke Melton Angela Croce, CCC
OF MEMBERSHIP
77 years of service to our membership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman
POWER
Low priced electricity We believe reliable electric service at a competitive price is something you can count on Cobb EMC to deliver on a daily basis. Our dedication to competitive prices rang true in the latest Georgia Public Service Commission Residential Rate Survey: second lowest among EMCs and fourth lowest among all electric utilities in the state of Georgia at the 1,000 kWh use level. Chip Nelson President and CEO
Savings passed to the membership In addition to being one of the most affordable electric utilities in the state, Cobb EMC lowered your electric bills even more in 2015 by returning more than $18 million in Wholesale Power Adjustments. These savings were passed along on your bills.
Contacts & Office Hours
Small change turns into millions The Cobb EMC Community Foundation reached a milestone of giving more than $1.3 million back to local communities since its inception in 2013. These donations have helped to support over a hundred local charitable organizations and educational projects through Operation Round Up®.
Phone: 770-429-2100 Report an outage: 770-429-2100 Fax: 770-429-3330
So, as you can tell, we worked hard for our members over the last year. But what I think is even more important is our focus on what’s ahead in the new year.
In person: 1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30060 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
It’s easy to be green Our co-op recognizes a rising interest in green energy options and solar energy. That’s why we now offer Cooperative Solar, a program for residential members who want to participate in solar energy production without the expense of maintaining a solar energy system at home. Information about the program is available at www.cobbemc.com/coopsolar. A bright future ahead The solar facility in Taylor County—the largest single-site project in Georgia—is expected to achieve commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2016. Once this solar-generated energy begins flowing, Cobb EMC will receive approximately 10 percent of our capacity portfolio mix from solar and about 5 percent of the energy needed to serve our members. Investing in our future leaders We strive to be a recognized leader in the utility industry, but we also want to be a good community steward. As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, we’re proud to help our members pursue the dream of a college education. For the second year, the Cobb EMC Community Foundation will award 14 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each to eligible high school seniors. At Cobb EMC, three things never waver—our reliability, our employees’ continued commitment to our members and the company’s focus on the community. As we start a new year together, I offer my sincerest wishes for your good health and prosperity in 2016!
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JANUARY 2016
POWER OF
MEMBERSHIP
BYRON McCOMBS
BRINGING YOU THE
Check out the SmartHub app! It’s an easy way to manage your account from your phone or tablet. cobbemc.com/smarthub
Washington Youth Tour 2016 tentative itinerary
Finalist excels as intern As part of Cobb EMC’s ongoing commitment to the community, a paid internship is awarded annually to one of the Cobb EMC Washington Youth Tour (WYT) finalists. The students underwent an application and interview process with members of the corporate communications department. Alexis Clark was selected for the 2015 summer internship. Traditionally, Cobb EMC’s intern (Alexis Cobb EMC strives to make the Clark) assists in announcing door-prize internship a rewarding experience winners at the Annual Meeting. by asking interns to make a list of 10 things they would like to learn during their internship and then works to make those things happen. Clark reflects on her experience. “Cobb EMC was truly one of the most impactful experiences I’ve ever had. The knowledge that I gained was invaluable.”
WYT delegates—in their own words What lesson that you learned from the Youth Tour do you think will serve you best in life? The importance of both interpersonal and intrapersonal personality was something I gained from the Youth Tour that I had not known before. After I was thrown in a group of over a hundred teenagers like me, I found the true value of socializing and interacting with others. —Yeseul Heo (Sequoyah High School) Do you think the Youth Tour will help you become a better leader? If yes, how so? I felt my leadership skills growing stronger each day I was there. I got to communicate with so many people. I sat down and talked with a lot of delegates over this trip, and we exchanged stories about school, life, our favorite TV shows. It strengthened my communication skills and taught me how to talk to people I would have never thought I had anything in common with. —Nethra Rajendran (Pope High School) GEORGIA MAGAZINE
June 9: Kickoff banquet, Atlanta June 10: Team-building activities; flight to Washington, D.C. Dates TBD for the following: • Tour and lunch at Mount Vernon; dinner at Union Station; evening guided tour of memorials; photo op of White House • Guided tour of Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans memorials; Arlington National Cemetery guided tour; dinner performance of “Peter Pan” at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Md. • All States assembly; tour Smithsonian museums; cruise on Potomac River • Tour Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral; Sunset Parade at U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima statue) • Meet with Georgia’s congressional delegation; tour Newseum and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum; All States farewell event June 16: Return flight to Atlanta Note: Itinerary subject to change
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GREEN
It’s easy being with COOPERATIVE SOLAR.
Capture your share of the sun. The Cobb EMC Cooperative Solar program allows members to participate in solar energy production without the expense of purchasing and maintaining a solar energy system. Sign up today at www.cobbemc.com/coopsolar.
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BRINGING YOU THE
POWER OF
ENERGY
Swap out lightbulbs for high-efficiency ones, and you’ll save over the long winter months. cobbemc.com/conserve
Cobb EMC wins 2015 International Lineman’s Rodeo Cobb EMC linemen beat out nearly 1,000 of their colleagues from around the world to win the World Championship title at the 32nd Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo, an event that tests linemen’s skills under poor conditions. The daylong competition, held Oct. 17 in Bonner Springs, Kansas, is designed to improve safety training, which is critical in an industry where safe work practices can mean the difference between life and death. This was the 19th year that Cobb EMC employees The award-winning teams from Cobb EMC display took part in the prestigious their hardware after an impressive showing at the rodeo competition, and the International Lineman’s Rodeo. fourth time they won the top award. Their unmatched skill, safety and speed proved exemplary as they won the World Championship through a combination of top scores and best times in four events, bringing home numerous awards. “We’re very proud to have the best linemen in the world,” says Chip Nelson, president and CEO of Cobb EMC. “Cobb EMC spends a great deal of time on training, making safety a top priority for our No. 1 asset, our employees.” Cobb EMC linemen have a strong track record at the event, winning World Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2007. This year, they placed first in several categories including “Journeyman Best of the Best,” “Journeyman Seniors Division” and “Journeyman Rural Electric Co-op Division,” garnering the World Championship title for 2015. The Lineman’s Rodeo attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman tasks and skills. The first Lineman’s Rodeo was held in September 1984, with twelve participating teams from Kansas and Missouri. The rodeo has grown with this year’s competition including 303 apprentices and 229 teams, representing 118 utilities from Jamaica, Canada and the United States. GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Track your energy use! SmartHub® offers several tools you can use to compare and view your electric usage. Key features: • Analyze and understand your energy usage trends to find the best ways to cut back your use. • Create and track a monthly budget to avoid an unexpected utility bill. • Set a point or range in time to compare the difference between your usage at different times of the day, month or year. SmartHub learning videos are available at: cobbemc.com/aboutsmarthub
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BRINGING YOU THE
POWER OF
SAFETY
Never plug two space heaters into the same outlet. It’ll trip your circuit. cobbemc.com/safety
We are always here for you At Cobb EMC, we are committed to working safely and effectively to protect members and employees. We strive to bring you the power of safety through safety tools and resources, such as the Storm Safety Guide. Download your copy of tips, information, resources and safety precautions for before, during and after a storm: cobbemc.com/stormsafety
Prepare for winter weather, storms Cobb EMC works year-round to prepare for winter weather and maintain—or quickly restore—power for members. When severe weather is predicted, our trucks are stocked and our crews are ready to mobilize if an outage occurs. Back at headquarters, our Power Control Center team monitors our system 24/7, so if your power goes out, we can start working immediately to get you back up and running. To stay up-to-date at home, visit our outage and storm center, which is available at www.cobbemc.com/outagecenter on both computers and mobile devices. Our outage map shows outages our crews are already aware of and provides estimated restoration times. If your outage isn’t shown on the map, it may not have been reported yet. If you lose power, call 770-429-2100 to report an outage. Here are five hints on preparing for winter storms and the power outages that may come along with them: 1. Don’t find yourself in the dark. Keep flashlights in multiple rooms and fluorescent camping lanterns on hand. 2. When TVs and computers aren’t working, battery-powered radios can keep you informed. (Remember to replace batteries every three years and stock up early. Stores’ supplies deplete quickly when meteorologists predict a storm.) 3. Stay connected. Unless a storm takes down your phone line, landlines should still work, though cordless models will eventually run out of charge. 4. Keep cellphones fully charged, and avoid heavy use once the power goes out, as it can quickly drain battery life. 5. To protect computers from unexpected power disruptions, plug them into an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
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BRINGING YOU THE
POWER OF
COMMUNITY
We’re pleased to help build a better quality of life for those around us. cobbemc.com/roundup
A little change makes a BIG difference 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 $1,341,150 in Operation Round Up funds, to date, with $57,500 going to the following nonprofits in November: •
100 Black Men of North Metro Atlanta Inc.
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Bartow County
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
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Cherokee Child Advocacy Council Inc.
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Cobb Community Foundation for Cobb Children’s Fund
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Davis Direction Foundation Inc.
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Georgia Symphony Orchestra
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Reinhardt University
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United Military Care
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VOICE Today Inc.
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Young Life West Cobb
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WellStar Foundation
$5,000 scholarships up for grabs Cobb EMC is proud to offer the Cobb EMC Community Foundation Scholarship. Fourteen scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded to eligible high school seniors who live in a primary residence served by Cobb EMC. Two types of scholarships are available: 1. College/university 2. Vocational/technical The annual scholarships are funded and administered by the Cobb EMC Community Foundation Board.
Visit www.cobbemc.com/roundup for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
For eligibility and to download an application, visit cobbemc.com/cfscholarship
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SAVE As a member of Cobb EMC you are connected to valuable discounts through your Co-op Connections® Card, including discounts from local participating businesses. Find out more at www.cobbemc.com/ discounts. ounts.
MORE WITH CO-OP CONNECTIONS®:
Home Services
Automotive
2 Hip Chicks Designs www.2hipchicksdesigns.com
Auto Cool Inc. www.autocool.biz
All American Decorative Concrete www.aadecorativeconcrete.com
Autossey Automotive www.autossey.com
Decorator’s Decision Inc. www.decoratorsdecisioninc.com
Integrity Car Care www.1ntegrity.net
Guso Janitorial Services LLC www.gusojanitorial.org
Kams Auto Service Center www.kamsauto.com
Kay P. Morgan, High Caliber Realty www.kaypmorgan.com
Kennesaw Auto Center www.kennesawautocenter.com
SafePath Security www.safepathsecurity.com
Napa’s Premier Service Center www.premierservicecenter.com
Southern Remodeling www.southernremodeling.net
Southern Imports Automotive Inc. www.southernimportsautoinc.com
Sundial Plumbing www.sundialplumbing.com The Garage Dude www.thegaragedude.com Walton Communities www.waltoncommunities.com
We look out for you, so you can enjoy what’s important. As a Cobb EMC member, you can take advantage of discount identity theft monitoring with ID Sanctuary. Protect your family for as low as $8 per month. Learn more and sign up today by visiting www.cobbemc.com/idsanctuary. 24H
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