January 2017 – Connections Member Newsletter

CONNECTIONS

JANUARY 2017 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

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When two high school students embarked on the 2016 Washington Youth Tour (WYT), they became part of a Cobb EMC tradition spanning nearly 40 years.

Since 1977, Cobb EMC annually sends two students on a week long trip to Washington, D.C. From a total of 52 applicants, Cobb EMC and its volunteer Women’s Task Force selected the following delegates to win the George R. Ford Scholarship and attend the WYT: Olivia Klingler, Etowah High School; and Veena Jaipradeep, Milton High School.

“The Washington Youth Tour has allowed me to have a greater interest in politics,” said Jaipradeep. “Learning about all the different roles in society that associate with politics broadened my mind on the big impacts government roles have.”

But the WYT isn’t an all-expenses-paid sightseeing tour. Delegates visit many historic locations, learn lessons in leadership and meet with U.S. representatives and senators.

Want to represent Cobb EMC on the 2017 tour? Visit cobbemc.com/youthtour to download an application and to see how delegates are chosen.

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JANUARY 2017

Upcoming events Office closing Cobb EMC will be closed Jan. 2, in observance of New Year’s Day, and Jan. 16, 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 cobbemc.com/outage.

Open board meeting The Cobb EMC board of directors will host an open board meeting on Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. in the Cobb EMC board room. To RSVP, visit cobbemc.com/boardmeeting or call 678-355-3225.

COMING SOON!

Our new website and mobile application launch in March. We’ve redesigned with you in mind!

Soon, it’ll be easier than ever to manage your account and find cooperative information on our website. Want to connect on the go? Download our easy-to-use mobile app, MyCobbEMC, to pay your bill directly from your smartphone or tablet.

cobbemc.com

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Cobb EMC sends local students to Washington, a 40-year tradition

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Cobb Electric Membership Corporation

BRINGING YOU THE

www.cobbemc.com Email: memberservices@cobbemc.com President and CEO

Chip Nelson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Vice Chairman

Editorial Staff

Edward Crowell

Brooke Melton Leslie Thompson Traci Washington Angela Croce, CCC

Contacts & Office Hours Phone: 770-429-2100 Report an outage: 770-429-2100 Fax: 770-429-3330 Pay by phone: 1-855-730-8714

OF MEMBERSHIP

Cobb EMC expands renewable generation portfolio: Purchase agreement with Southern Power increases cooperative’s solar participation

Tripper Sharp

Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm Swanson

Eric Broadwell

Kelly Bodner

Bryan Boyd

David McClellan

David Tennant

Rudy Underwood

POWER

Chip Nelson President and CEO

Cobb EMC has expanded our cooperative’s wholesale energy portfolio to include solar energy from the Sandhills Solar Facility, the largest solar facility operating east of the Mississippi River. The 146-megawatt photovoltaic solar project, which is owned by Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, marked the launch of commercial operation with a ribbon cutting ceremony in November 2016.

Sandhills Solar Facility, which consists of approximately 1.6 million solar modules, began construction in September 2015 on a 911acre site in Taylor County, Georgia, our state’s largest producer of solar power.

Thanks to a 25-year power purchase agreement, Cobb EMC will add 111 MWs of generation from the Sandhills facility to its wholesale power supply portfolio.

In addition to solar, our renewable energy portfolio includes hydro, biomass and reclaimed methane gas from landfills.

We will continue to explore other projects that are beneficial to our members while still keeping costs low—the lowest in the state, in fact.

In person: 1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30060 Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday

(8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Drive-through hours: Monday – Friday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Member Care Center hours: Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Express Pay drop box is available for non-cash payments 24/7

COO David Johnson (second from right) represents Cobb EMC at the Sandhills Solar Facility ribbon cutting ceremony.

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BRINGING YOU THE

POWER OF ENERGY

Redecorating? Window treatments can block chilly winter winds and summer sun. cobbemc.com/conserve

Cobb EMC linemen pick up 13 awards at the 2016 International Linemen’s Rodeo:

Linemen win big at 2016 International Linemen’s Rodeo

First Place • Journeyman – Senior Division • Journeyman – EMC Division

Cobb EMC linemen showed off their skills at the 33rd Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo, an event that tests linemen’s ability to perform under any conditions. Cobb EMC crews dominated many of the challenges against some of the world’s best linemen.

The hard work and dedication to what our crews do on a day-to-day basis helps to perfect their craft before competing against hundreds of teams. Their hard work paid off. Out of 206 teams competing, they placed fourth in the overall competition, first in the Senior Division, first and second in the EMC division, second in Hurtman Rescue and second in Transformer Change. The teams were evaluated in five areas—safety, work practice, neatness and ability, equipment and handling and timely completion of the event.

This is the 20th year Cobb EMC employees took part in the rodeo, and a monumental year for Tony Jordan, operation skills development coordinator.

Jordan, who served on the Cobb EMC rodeo team since its inception, is preparing for retirement. “I am proud of what Cobb EMC has accomplished in it’s two decades at the International Rodeo. I want to thank everyone for allowing me to be a part of something I truly love to do and watch,” said Tony Jordan.

“I am very humbled for the support from my co-workers, peers, management and marketing. Especially Chip Nelson and all of our board of directors.”

Second Place • Journeyman – EMC Division • Hurtman Rescue • Transformer Change Fourth Place • Journeyman – Best of the Best • Damper Change Fifth Place • Transformer Change Seventh Place • Journeyman – Best of the Best • Damper Change Eight Place • Damper Change Ninth Place • Journeyman – EMC Division Tenth Place • Journeyman – EMC Division

As the rodeo team moves on without his guidance, Jordan wants the linemen to keep safety at the top of their priority list and hopes they will continue to add more awards to the Cobb EMC trophy case.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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BRINGING YOU THE

POWER OF MEMBERSHIP

BYRON McCOMBS

Washington Youth Tour is one of three annual scholarships available to you, our members. cobbemc.com/myemc

Youth Tour 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 finalists.

Olivia Klingler was selected for the 2016 summer internship.

“I want to thank Cobb EMC for making this internship available. It was a great experience and I learned a lot,” said Klingler. “I feel so honored to have had this opportunity.”

During her internship in the Cobb EMC education and community relations department, Klingler was assigned multiple projects, including organizing volunteer activities and coordinating events for Cobb EMC employees and local charities.

Where are they now? Cobb EMC’s first delegate takes a look back Nearly 40 years ago, Christie Benton boarded her first plane and flew to Washington, D.C., as Cobb EMC’s inaugural Washington Youth Tour delegate.

Designed to build leadership skills, the Washington Youth Tour offers high school juniors a scholarship, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The tour still resonates with Benton, who met President Jimmy Carter in the White House Rose Garden during her time in Washington. She attributes her adventurous spirit and confident attitude to the Youth Tour, a trip that opened many doors for the then 16-year-old.

While in Washington, Benton was selected to serve on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Consulting Board, now known as the Youth Leadership Council.

Benton went on to attend Wesleyan College in Macon where she graduated early with a degree in business and soon after began her career as a banker and stockbroker.

Since 1977, Cobb EMC has awarded 65 Washington Youth Tour trips.

Pictured right: Christie Benton, firstever Cobb EMC Washington Youth Tour delegate, meets politicians Herman Talmadge, left, and Sam Nunn.

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BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP Our Home Energy Efficiency Makeover Program is back!

Know anyone in need? Cobb EMC is partnering with the Cobb Heating and Air Conditioning Association and Gas South to give one deserving member a Home Energy Efficiency Makeover!

Nominate a family in need of energy efficient home improvements for the chance to win. To be eligible, homeowners must live in a primary residence served by Cobb EMC.

2016 winners You could be next!

Entries must be submitted by January 15, 2017.

Nominate a member and tell us their story! www.cobbemc.com/makeover

Cobb EMC

ENERGY

MAKEOVER Sponsors

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BRINGING YOU THE

POWER OF SAFETY

Take precautions in cold weather, including bringing in your pets and leaving your faucets dripping so the pipes won’t freeze. cobbemc.com/safety

Cobb EMC’s safe digging brings home the gold In October, Georgia Utilities Coordinating Council (GUCC) presented a Cobb EMC service crew with the Golden Backhoe award for their devotion to safe digging practices.

Each year at its fall conference, GUCC chooses a recipient who has demonstrated a commitment to safe digging practices. Cobb EMC’s crew beat out contracting companies, municipalities, gas, electrical, water and sewer companies to win the award.

Cobb EMC’s state-of-the-art automated system recognizes and restores outages remotely.

Think ahead: power outage safety Cobb EMC has a 99.99 percent reliability rating. This means that your power is almost always on. Despite the near perfect score, a power outage can happen at any time, and it’s often caused by something out of the co-op’s control. Whether the lights go out because of a storm, animals or equipment failure, we encourage our members to be prepared for any situation.

Two ways to report a power outage 770-429-2100 cobbemc.com/outagecenter

Before a power outage: •• Keep an emergency preparedness kit stocked, including flashlights, batteries, cash, supplies and nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food.

•• Buy ice or freeze water-filled containers to help keep food cold during an outage.

•• Make sure you have a backup source of power to charge anything batteryoperated or power dependent, like a medical device or your cell phone.

•• Keep your gas tank full.

•• Store copies of personal documents (insurance policies, birth certificates, medical information) together in one easy-to-find, secure place.

During a power outage: •• Never use a generator, grill or camp stove inside your home, garage or inside any enclosed space. These devices can release carbon monoxide, a poisonous and sometimes fatal gas.

•• Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside.

•• Use flashlights for lighting instead of candles. Candles can cause fires.

•• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

After the power comes back on: •• Throw away food that has spoiled or was exposed to temperatures higher than 40 degrees for two hours or more, or food that has an unusual odor or texture.

•• Restock your emergency kit.

Source: Department of Homeland Security, American Red Cross

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BRINGING YOU THE

POWER OF COMMUNITY

Co-ops like Cobb EMC play an important role in community development, such as educating and investing in today’s youth. cobbemc.com/community

Cobb EMC employees build gifts that keep on giving

Your little change makes a BIG difference

Radio Flyer wagons bring joy to thousands of children each year and serve a great purpose inside many hospitals. Since 2011 Chad’s Bracket, a nonprofit organization based in metro Atlanta, has been equipping red wagons with IV stands to cart young, ill patients around hospitals and at home.

According to pediatric health care specialists, the wagons are more than just a big toy being wheeled around hospitals. They believe wagons bring normalcy and a ray of light into a place where sickness and large, intimidating medical equipment are far too common. Outside of hospitals, the wagons help families carry and transport children who require 24/7 medical equipment, including IVs and feeding tubes.

Inspired by the comfort the red wagons bring to sick children, Cobb EMC and employees are supporting the cause. From October 2016 to December 2016, dozens of employees gathered to build 30 wagons. Roger Leggett, founder of Chad’s Bracket, visited the group during the build and shared his vision with Cobb EMC employees. He hopes to get as many wagons as he can into hospitals across the world and with Cobb EMC’s large wagon donation, he’s one step closer.

Leggett started the project in 2011 after his granddaughter was diagnosed with brain cancer. He and his son, Chad, wanted to create a way for nurses to easily transport children and the medical equipment they need. After Chad unexpectedly passed away, Leggett created Chad’s Bracket to keep his son’s legacy alive.

The Cobb EMC Community Foundation awarded more than $2,251,356 in Operation Round Up® funds, to date, with $77,285 going to the following nonprofits in November: • Boys & Girls Clubs of Bartow County • Calvary Children’s Home • Cobb Community Foundation • Cobb County Bar Association • Cobb County Safety Village Foundation • Cobb Senior Citizens Council of Cobb • Dave Krache Foundation • Destiny’s Daughters of Promise • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) • Goshen Valley Foundation Visit cobbemc.com/roundup for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.

Leggett constructs the wagons with the IV poles at no cost and works with multiple organizations to get the equipment. The wagons are closely inspected by Chad’s Bracket and engineers before hospital staff uses them. Cobb EMC’s donation was given to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

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cobbemc.com

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP

Make 2017 your best year yet!

This new year, save more and live healthier with your Cobb EMC Co-op Connections® Card.

Present your free card at any of the 60,000+ national and regional pharmacy chain stores— including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target and many more, to receive 10% to 85% discounts on prescription drugs. Also save on dental, vision, hearing, lab work and imaging, and chiropractor visits. The Co-op Connections Program is free to all Cobb EMC members and one card can be used for the entire family.

Don’t have a card? You can download the free app on your mobile phone to find discounts on the go! www.cobbemc.com/healthysavings

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