CONNECTIONS JANUARY 2019 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Upcoming events Office closing Cobb EMC will be closed Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day, and Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Employees are always on call for emergencies. To report an outage by phone, call 770-429-2100. You can also report an outage online at cobbemc.com/outage or with the free Cobb EMC app.
Open board meeting The Cobb EMC board of directors will host an open board meeting on Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. in the Cobb EMC boardroom. To RSVP, visit cobbemc.com/boardmeeting or call 678-355-3225.
HVAC Tuneup Rebate The HVAC Tuneup Rebate begins March 1. To get a reminder email, go to cobbemc.com/enewsletter.
small change
BIG DIFFERENCE
The Cobb EMC Community Foundation has awarded more than $3,909,878 to local charities and nonprofits, as of October 2018. Thanks to generous members who round up their bills. Visit cobbemc.com/foundation for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.
Cobb EMC and Gas South promote lifelong reading Cobb EMC and Gas South recently hosted Literacy Week, a weeklong celebration of reading and writing at 48 schools across metro Atlanta. Throughout the week, more than 18,000 students were visited by 11 award-winning children’s book authors including several from Georgia, as well as NASA author, speaker and space historian Andrew Chaiken and New York Times bestselling author Brian Lies. “Literacy Week offers students a chance to expand their creativity through writing and illustration and encourages them to build lifelong reading habits,” says Mark Justice, director of education and community relations at Cobb EMC. “We’re dedicated to the communities we serve, and we’re proud to work with Gas South and our local schools to provide these kinds of interactive learning opportunities.”
“We look forward to Literacy Week every year – it’s amazing to see the students engage with local authors,” says Carley Stephens, Gas South community affairs program manager. “When children are exposed to reading and writing in unconventional ways, they are even more engaged, which helps them succeed. We’re proud to partner with Cobb EMC to make this happen.” Pictured below: author-illustrator Michael White at Frey Elementary.
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO New year, new savings From the Cobb EMC family to yours, we want to wish you a happy new year! During these cold winter months, we’re working with our subsidiary, Gas South, to help you save money on your electric and natural gas bills. Our partnership offers Cobb EMC consumers a permanent discount on Gas South’s residential and business rates, along with no deposit or connection fee. Collectively, our consumers have saved almost $100 million through our ownership of Gas South. Peter Heintzelman President and CEO
I’d encourage any of you who are not already a Gas South customer to consider switching and saving.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In addition to savings, we share a strong commitment to the communities we serve. The Cobb EMC Community Foundation has given roughly $4 million to local nonprofits. Gas South has donated approximately $4.5 million to local nonprofits and recently committed to give 5 percent of their profits to organizations that help children in need, with a goal of donating $1 million annually by 2020.
David McClellan, Chairman Edward Crowell, Vice Chairman Rudy Underwood, Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Bodner Bryan Boyd Eric Broadwell Tripper Sharp Malcolm Swanson David Tennant
We also work together to make our communities stronger through science olympiads and Literacy Week for local students, along with our annual Home Energy Efficiency Makeover, where we help a local family improve their home’s energy efficiency to put them on a better financial footing.
CONTACTS & HOURS Phone: 770-429-2100 Fax: 770-429-3330 Pay by phone: 1-855-730-8714
Together, we proudly serve 500,000 households and businesses, and we take that responsibility seriously. Cobb EMC and Gas South will continue to work together to bring you savings and strengthen the communities in which we live, work and play.
In person: 1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30060 Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday
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(8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Drive-through hours: Monday – Friday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Account questions: Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
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Report outage 24/7: 770-429-2100
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Express Pay drop box is available for non-cash payments 24/7
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EDITORIAL STAFF Brooke Melton Traci Washington Angela Howerter, CCC
As a Cobb EMC member, you're already saving on your energy costs with some of the lowest electric rates in the state. So why not sign up with Gas South, Cobb EMC's subsidiary, for even more savings on your natural gas? • Get a permanent discount on Gas South’s low rates • Never pay a deposit (that's up to a $150 value) • We’ll waive your connection fee (for an instant $60 in savings) • Get additional savings in bill credits for enrolling online You’ll know your choice is making a difference, because, along with Cobb EMC, we're committed to strengthening our community. That’s why we give back 5% of our profits to help children in need. Sign up and start saving today.
VISIT
GasSouth.com/cobb
CALL 855.802.2766
use promo code COBB
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What if you could lower your daily commuting cost? With electric vehicles (EV), you can! Huge leaps have been made in battery technology, enabling EVs to go farther (up to 300 miles), become more affordable and more efficient. By making the change to EV, we can all save more money, and enjoy more mobility. This changes EVerything. Learn how Cobb EMC is supporting EV adoption: cobbemc.com/ev
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ENERGY-SAVING TIPS THAT
ACTUALLY WORK
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KICK-START THE NEW YEAR WITH ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HOME AND YOUR WALLET. We all like to save money. Now is the time to take simple steps to save big on your energy use, so you can save on your bill. Below is your guide to get started.
Turn back the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day to save on heating and cooling bills.
Use a power strip for electronic equipment and turn it off when not in use.
Seal air leaks around doors and windows to avoid wasting heated air.
AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS: $83
AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS: $100
AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS: $83-$166
Fix leaking faucets. Did you know one drip per second wastes 1,661 gallons of water?
Replace your five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with ENERGY STAR models.
AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS: $35
AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS: $75
Source: energy.gov (Savings are based on national EIA average end-use expenditures; actual savings will vary depending on home, climate, products and use.)
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Prepare for winter storms When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Heavy snow and ice can lead to downed lines and power outages. During extremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous. Our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power during an outage, but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself. Stay warm. Plan to use a safe, alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution when using, and never leave the heating source unattended. If you are using gasoline-, propane- or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember that fuel- and wood-burning sources of heat should always be properly ventilated. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using. Stay fed. The CDC recommends having several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage. Stay safe. When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down. It’s best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines, always assume they are live. Stay as far away from the downed lines as possible, and report the situation to Cobb EMC by calling 770-429-2100. Winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous, and planning ahead can often be the difference between life and death.
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How to report outages Cobb EMC offers several ways for you to report a power outage or a streetlight outage. Power Outage Phone: 770-429-2100 Online: cobbemc.com/outage App: cobbemc.com/app Please do not report power outages on Cobb EMC social media pages; they are not connected to our outage system. Street Light Outage Phone: 770-429-2100 Online: cobbemc.com/lighting App: cobbemc.com/app Repairs are typically made within 7-10 business days.
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BE STORM READY WITH THE COBB EMC APP Add the Cobb EMC app to your storm season checklist by downloading it to your smartphone. cobbemc.com/app
Report An Outage
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View Current Outages
Contact Our Team
Save at the pharmacy and beyond All Cobb EMC members are eligible to participate in the free Co-op ConnectionsÂŽ discount program. The program gives participants access to hundreds of local and national discounts. Save at the pharmacy, as well as at your favorite restaurants, attractions, stores and more.
We’re proud to power your lives
Ready to start saving? Request a discount card today! cobbemc.com/discounts
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From scholarship recipient to intern Anna Nichols, a senior at Harrison High School, earned a spot on the Washington Youth Tour last summer and secured a fully paid summer internship from Cobb EMC. “I loved working as an intern at Cobb EMC with the warm hospitality and sense of community there,” says Nichols. “No day was the same as I helped plan events, attended meetings, volunteered with service projects and assisted in school power education.” During the internship in the Cobb EMC education and community relations department, Nichols was assigned multiple projects, including organizing the Cobb EMC Task Force summer meeting. Nichols says the internship enhanced her leadership and communication skills, and provided valuable experience. Pictured, from left: Cobb EMC Youth Tour delegates Thomas Tucker, Raeah Woodson, Kevin Goshay and Anna Nichols.
Scholarship opportunities for students Cobb EMC Community Foundation Scholarship
$5,000 The Cobb EMC Community Foundation will award 14 scholarships to students accepted to a college, university, vocational or technical school. Deadline to apply: Friday, March 1 Where to apply: cobbemc.com/scholarships Walter Harrison Scholarship
$1,000 Cobb EMC and Georgia EMC will award up to three scholarships to students who excel in academics and demonstrate a financial need. Deadline to apply: Friday, Feb. 1 Where to apply: cobbemc.com/scholarships The 2018 Cobb EMC Community Foundation Scholarship recipients.
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