CONNECTIONS MAY 2021 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Upcoming events Annual Meeting The 83rd Annual Meeting will be held Sept.18. Key dates and deadlines: • May 28: Terms for directors and Districts 2, 3 and 9 will be expiring at the Annual Meeting. Nomination petitions for director elections must be submitted (Sec. 3.07). • June 2: Member-sponsored bylaw amendments must be submitted (Sec. 10.01). • Aug.13: Written notice must be received from any member who desires to exceed the five-minute speaking limitation for Annual Meeting (Sec. 2.12). To learn more about the board elections process, visit us online: cobbemc.com/elections
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK We value your feedback. Take our survey for a chance to win a $25 bill credit. We’ll use your responses to improve our products and your experience. Go to cobbemc.com/survey.
Cobb EMC reaffirms renewable energy goals Over the last decade, Cobb EMC has been investing in smart, renewable energy technology for its members. The cooperative, a member-owned electric utility, is on schedule to attain its renewable energy goals by 2030. The installation of rooftop solar panels on campus, the completion of a Solar Flower Garden, the activation of battery storage, and additional utility-scale solar later this year are all keeping Cobb EMC’s sustainability goals on track. “We are passionate about a greener future while keeping our electric rates low and reliability high,” says Kevan Espy, Cobb EMC interim president and CEO. “Furthermore, we’re confident that we can achieve our renewable energy goals without passing any additional costs on to our valuable members.” Cobb EMC’s renewable energy goals are to reduce carbon emissions by 75% and to increase our renewable energy portfolio by 200%, all by 2030. “These goals were developed with having an adequate and diversified portfolio in mind using our long-term power supply strategy,” says Tim Jarrell, vice president of power supply and DER strategy at Cobb EMC. Cobb EMC is also committed to finding sustainable options for its members and the future of the community it serves. The solar panels on campus and the battery storage projects are just part of that commitment.
In 2022, Cobb EMC will be among the few cooperatives in the nation that will have microgrid technology. The planned microgrid system will allow the co-op to operate autonomously if the need arises. The system will furnish a continuous supply of power to the co-op during any extended outages, which strengthens power grid resilience for faster response and recovery. “The microgrid is an evolving technology that will complement our existing solar and battery system to help create this autonomy,” says Manish Murudkar, director of DER strategy at Cobb EMC. “Our goal is to build a model for future microgrid projects and increase the quality and resiliency of our power system.” Cobb EMC members can also choose to help support a clean energy future through the Green Energy for a Penny program. For just 1 cent per kWh, you can power your home or business with local solar energy and improve your impact on the environment.
Learn more about Cobb EMC’s renewable energy goals and member programs: cobbemc.com/2030 cobbemc.com/green
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ENERGY-SAVING TIPS
THE PROOF IS IN THE POWER
FOR
SPRING & SUMMER Saving energy saves money. Did you know there are simple steps you can take at home to use less energy? Here are seven ways you can save energy in your home all spring and summer long. Use a programmable thermostat. You can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling costs by using a programmable thermostat. Set your thermostat to an energy-efficient 78 degrees in the summer. Save $25 at cobbemc.com/thermostat. Take advantage of sunlight. Open windows to naturally cool your home. Choose curtains that allow the natural sunlight in during daylight hours. Cook outdoors. In warmer weather, cook outdoors to keep the heat out of your home. Switch to LEDs. Replace five of your home’s most used lights with energyefficient bulbs to save up to $75 per year in energy costs. Get rid of phantom loads. Use a power strip to help reduce phantom load – electronics that use standby power when turned off – and you could save up to $100 a year when you unplug unused appliances and electronics. Close your garage. Keep garage doors closed in warm weather to keep the heat out. Assess your home. A home energy audit can show you where you can save the most on energy efficiency upgrades in your home. cobbemc.com/audit For year-round energy-saving tips, visit cobbemc.com/save.
TRACK YOUR ENERGY USE Take control of your energy use with the Cobb EMC app. Monitor your daily energy use to better understand your habits and then decide where you can make impactful energy efficiency changes. Download the app today at cobbemc.com/app.
20B |
B | JULY
#1
in the nation for restoring outages quickly
TOP 10
in the state for LOW RATES
TOP 3
in the nation for reliability LEADERSHIP Kevan Espy Interim President & CEO cobbemc.com/aboutus
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tripper Sharp, Chairman Eric Broadwell, Vice Chairman Kelly Bodner, Secretary-Treasurer Bryan Boyd Edward Crowell David McClellan Malcolm Swanson David Tennant Rudy Underwood
CONTACT US Phone: 770-429-2100 Pay by phone: 1-855-730-8714 Web: cobbemc.com
Prepare early for storms Warmer temperatures in Georgia can bring severe weather including heavy rains, high winds, lightning and tornadoes. The best way to stay safe during a storm is to plan ahead. • Understand the types of severe weather and warning levels. • Make a family emergency plan. • Keep an emergency kit at home that can sustain your family for three to five days. • As severe weather approaches, stay aware and know where to seek shelter with your family and pets. In the event of stormy weather, we’ll do our best to avoid power outages. The major cause of most outages is damage to power lines due to falling trees and branches. Our dedicated employees work year-round – through right-of-way tree trimming – to ensure power lines in our service territory stand little risk of being damaged by trees, branches or other types of vegetation. Because of this, we rank No. 3 nationwide for reliability, which means your power is almost always on. Despite our best efforts, during major storms, damage can occur to transmission lines, substations and power lines. When this happens, our first priority is to safely restore power to as many members as possible in the shortest amount of time.
HOW TO REPORT OUTAGES Cobb EMC offers several ways for you to report a 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.
When storms roll in, be sure to visit cobbemc.com/outage for the latest outage information.
BRIGHTENING OUR COMMUNITY
BLANKETS FOR THOSE IN NEED
SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE GENERATION
LINEMEN RESTORE POWER IN SNOW
As part of Cobb EMC’s Volts of Joy initiative, employees delivered 125 blankets to residents of the Elizabeth Inn at MUST Ministries, which serves those in need in our community.
Cobb EMC and Gas South recently sponsored elementary Science Olympiads and middle and high school science fairs for Cobb, Cherokee and Paulding County school districts. The programs encourage STEM education and impact hundreds of students on a statewide level.
In March, Cobb EMC sent crews to Kentucky to assist with power outages caused by winter storms. Crews spent more than a week working in the snow and ice to help restore power to thousands of homes. Mutual Aid is one way we exemplify the seven cooperative principles – helping co-ops out when needed most.
Learn more about our goal to spread happiness like electricity at cobbemc.com/voltsofjoy.
For more information on our Partners in Education program, visit cobbemc.com/schools.
Learn more about the cooperative principles at cobbemc.com/about.
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Visit the Solar Flower Garden Come for the experience, stay for the picnic. The Solar Flower Garden at Cobb EMC offers educational opportunities, events and EV charging. Admission is free. Hours and directions available at cobbemc.com/garden.
CobbEMC Newsletter 8.5x5_Mr.Meter Desk_March_2021_BLEEDS.pdf 1 1/6/2021 9:47:28 AM
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