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
How to raise the thermostat and stay comfortable Summer in Georgia means it’s airconditioning season, which can cause a spike in your energy use. To help lower the spike, try these quick do-ityourself jobs to boost A/C efficiency: 1. Get an inexpensive caulk gun and caulk around your windows and doors. Little cracks can be a big energy waster because they let your comfortable, air-conditioned air out of the house. 2. Inspect the interior side of your home’s exterior walls. There, you’ll find cable and phone cords coming inside. They’re surrounded by tiny gaps that double as escape hatches for cool air. They also let hot outdoor air sneak indoors. Caulk around them. 3. Add insulation to your attic. Most homes are built with plenty of attic insulation to keep the hot air that pounds on your roof from finding its way inside. But over time, that insulation deteriorates or gets knocked out of place. If that has happened in your attic, freshen up the insulation. After you’ve completed the above steps, push the thermostat up to 78 degrees and turn on your ceiling fans. You’ll save energy and still feel comfortable.
THE PROOF IS IN THE POWER
TOP 3
in the nation for reliability
TOP 5
in the state for LOW RATES
#1
in the nation for restoring outages quickly
For year-round energy savings tips, visit cobbemc.com/energyefficiency. ai1589830328142_Cobb_EMC_Member_Newsletter_Ad_8.5x5.5_July 2020_BLEEDS.pdf 1 5/18/2020 3:32:11 PM
LEADERSHIP Peter Heintzelman President and CEO cobbemc.com/aboutus
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cobb EMC's wholly-owned subsidiary, Gas South can save you money on your natural gas. Sign up today to enjoy these member benefits: • A permanent discount on Gas South’s low rates • Zero deposit (keeping up to $150 in your pocket) • Waived connection fee (instantly saving you $60) • Additional savings in bill credits when you enroll online at GasSouth.com/cobb Plus, you'll know your choice is making a difference, because, along with Cobb EMC, Gas South is committed to strengthening our community. That’s why we’re donating over $1 million in 2020 to support families in our communities impacted by COVID-19.
CONTACT US
Experience the Gas South difference. Sign up and start saving today.
VISIT
GasSouth.com/cobb
18B |
Tripper Sharp, Chairman Eric Broadwell, Vice Chairman Rudy Underwood, Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Bodner Bryan Boyd Edward Crowell David McClellan Malcolm Swanson David Tennant
CALL 855.802.2766 use promo code 450
B | JULY
Phone: 770-429-2100 Pay by phone: 1-855-730-8714 Web: cobbemc.com
INNOVATION IN FULL BLOOM A new garden has opened up, and it’s all about sustainability, clean energy and community. The Solar Flower Garden – located at Cobb EMC headquarters in Marietta – isn’t your typical garden. It’s the garden of the future serving up a firsthand look at Smartflowers. Smartflowers are 16-foot-tall solar systems that, like flowers, open their solar petals each morning to follow the sun across the sky increasing solar energy generation. “The Solar Flower Garden is a reflection of our commitment to sustainable energy and providing a greener future for our members and community,” says Cobb EMC President and CEO Peter Heintzelman. Cobb EMC is using the smart
technology to add clean, solar energy back to the grid and to power operations. The Solar Flower Garden is one part of our commitment to increasing our renewable energy footprint. We also utilize rooftop solar, solar car canopies and a battery storage system, which is charged by the energy we generate from solar. During certain times, we can share clean energy back to the power grid. In an effort to make EV charging more accessible in our community, the garden also connects visitors and commuters to a Level 3 DC fast charger. Cobb EMC is proud to partner with our friends from Gas South on the Solar Flower Garden.
Solar Flower Garden The Solar Flower Garden is now open to the public. We encourage all guests to practice safe social distancing. WHERE TO VISIT: 1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30101 WHEN TO VISIT: Monday – Sunday, dawn to dusk
Impact After one year of operation, the three Smartflowers in the Solar Flower Garden will produce 15,000 kWh of clean energy, or ...
To learn more about the garden, visit cobbemc.com/garden.
175 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
1,193 gallons of gasoline avoided.
3,705 smartphones fully charged.
| 18C
GET THE ALERTS YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT THEM. Introducing text alerts from Cobb EMC.
Managing your account just got more convenient with text alerts. Get real-time account alerts sent directly to your phone so you can stay informed even on the go. Outage Alerts
Billing Alerts
• Power outage in area • Estimated restoration time • Power fully restored
• Bill due • Bill available for viewing • Payment received
To receive text or emails alerts, you must opt-in from your computer or through the Cobb EMC app. Visit cobbemc.com/account to sign up today.