CONNECTIONS JULY 2020 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
small change
BIG DIFFERENCE
Since inception, the Cobb EMC Community Foundation has awarded more than $5.3 million to local charities and nonprofits. Thank you to generous members who round up their bills each month. Visit cobbemc.com/foundation for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.
The Cobb EMC Community Foundation’s response to COVID-19 The foundation put a plan in place to provide aid quickly to 501(c)(3) organizations when the COVID-19 virus and shelter-in-place orders began adversely impacting our community. This resulted in a collective donation of $50,000 to 24 organizations supporting critical needs in our service area. The foundation continues to collect emergency relief funding from members who choose to donate on their monthly bills, so we can give back when our community needs it the most. Emergency relief funding is set aside for organizations that are impacted by a state of emergency. The funds are made available as Operation Round Up funds allow. To donate, visit cobbemc.com/give.
Cobb EMC delivers critical service during a critical time When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we weren’t sure how it would unfold or affect our members. We did know that our members would need access to electricity, regardless of their financial situations. That’s why in March, Cobb EMC halted all electric disconnects due to unpaid bills, expanded payment arrangements and poured support into our community. For the first time, the Cobb EMC Community Foundation compiled a rapid emergency relief fund to benefit local organizations who were actively assisting families and seniors in our service area. The foundation also gave members the opportunity to contribute to the emergency relief fund through a one-time or recurring donation on monthly bills. Together, Cobb EMC and the foundation have collectively given $68,000 in support of members affected by COVID-19. To further support our community, Cobb EMC launched the Make-a-Mask Challenge in April which helps fill the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) in our community. With assistance from our members, we’re coordinating with local organizations and essential workers to make a difference by delivering essential employees and frontline workers the PPE they need. As the world changes around us, Cobb EMC’s commitment remains the same: delivering the reliable service you depend on. “Thanks to our employees’ ability to quickly adapt to changes in the workplace, our reliability remained largely unaffected by the pandemic,” says Cobb EMC President and CEO Peter Heintzelman. “We are continuing to deliver reliable power to our members and responding to any outages promptly while keeping our employees safe.” We will continue to monitor the ongoing health situation and take action in our community where support is needed the most. Need help paying your bill? Cobb EMC is always willing to assist members who are struggling to pay their bills. Resources are available at cobbemc.com/paymentassistance or you can call member care at 770-429-2100 (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
18A | JULY 2020