November 2018 – Connections Member Newsletter

Get free electricity from Cobb EMC! Page E

November 2018

RELIABLE POWER FOR LESS Cobb EMC is ranked one of Georgia’s most affordable electric providers! Page C

CONNECTIONS

NOVEMBER 2018 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

Upcoming events HOA meeting The next Cobb EMC Homeowners’ Association Meeting will be held Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Each HOA represented by a board president or representative will receive a $50 account credit.

Register: cobbemc.com/hoa

Office closing Cobb EMC will be closed Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving.

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 for iPhone and Android.

small change

BIG DIFFERENCE

The Cobb EMC Community Foundation has awarded more than $3,832,078 to local charities and nonprofits, as of September 2018. Thanks to the generous members who round up their bills.

Visit cobbemc.com/foundation for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.

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Cobb EMC cares about public safety in our community Cobb EMC has a long-standing history of celebrating public safety personnel in our five-county service district. We’re dedicated to honoring those who protect and serve the communities where we live and work.

FED & THANKED

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PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL

Annual Cobb EMC events, such as Steak Out and Five Alarm, are designed to recognize public safety heroes who commit their time to serving our community.

4 K-9

ONGOING

Over the last several years, Cobb EMC has helped fund four police K-9 dogs. Most recently, Volt, a K-9 for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Canine Program.

Cobb EMC regularly participates in Public Safety Appreciation Week. Each year, employees deliver tokens of thanks to local police headquarters, fire stations and emergency call centers.

SPONSORSHIPS

SUPPORT

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO We all share a common goal – keeping your bills as low as possible.

Your electric bills are now $18 lower than the average electric utility in Georgia.

In fact, the Georgia Public Service Commission again ranked us in the top 10 for Georgia’s most affordable electric providers.

But we aren’t just working to lower your electric bills. Thanks to our ownership of Gas South, our members have collectively saved nearly $100 million, which helps keep our electric rates low.

Cobb EMC members who are also Gas South customers save approximately $80 each year – that’s real money for your family!

I want to again thank everyone who joined us for our 80th Annual Meeting. This company was built by the community we serve, and we appreciate and value your participation.

If you missed the Annual Meeting, here are 8 things you should know: 1. We’re ranked the fifth most affordable EMC and eighth most affordable electric utility in Georgia.

2. We rank in the top five nationwide for reliability.

3. We’re the first utility in the nation to offer free overnight charging at home for electric vehicles (EVs). Learn more about EVs at cobbemc.com/ev.

4. The NiteFlex rate, which rewards you with free electricity for shifting energy use, is now available to members. Learn more at cobbemc.com/niteflex.

5. We’re offering electric vehicle test drives and events.

6. We lead the pack in solar expansion with the largest solar offering of any EMC east of the Mississippi River.

Peter Heintzelman President and CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS David McClellan, Chairman Edward Crowell, Vice Chairman Rudy Underwood, Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Bodner Bryan Boyd Eric Broadwell Tripper Sharp Malcolm Swanson David Tennant

CONTACTS & HOURS Phone: 770-429-2100 Fax: 770-429-3330 Pay by phone: 1-855-730-8714 In person: 1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30060 Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday

(8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

7. Members automatically get affordable solar.

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

8. We’re continuing to replace 60,000 streetlights with LEDs.

Account questions: Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Report outage 24/7: 770-429-2100 Express Pay drop box is available for non-cash payments 24/7

Wattson, Cobb EMC’s safety ambassador, welcomes a young member to the 80th Annual Meeting.

EDITORIAL STAFF Brooke Melton Traci Washington Angela Croce, CCC

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Ways to save

In addition to keeping the lights on, Cobb EMC is dedicated to helping you save on your electric bills.

Rates among the lowest in Georgia Cobb EMC members save about $18 each month when compared to the average electric utility in Georgia. That’s more than $200 per year.

We’re proud to be ranked eighth most affordable in the state among 94 electric providers, and fifth most affordable among 41 EMCs, according to the 2018 Georgia Public Service Commission Summer Residential Rate Survey.

Low rates and high reliability are our main priorities. Over the last 10 years, we’ve reduced outages 21 percent, which puts us in the top five nationwide, out of 3,000-plus electric utilities, for reliability.

We’re always in the background working to ensure the power we deliver to your home is reliable, safe and affordable.

what can you do with your savings?

Cobb EMC members using 1,000 kWh a month save $18 on each bill when compared to the average electric utility in the state. How much can you buy with your savings in one month?

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5 gallons of milk 4 lattes

13 song downloads

2 dozen donuts

4 tips to lower your electric bill in cold weather Looking to lower your bills this winter? We’ve got tips to help you save on your energy dollars.

Reduce waste heat by installing a programmable thermostat.

Lower your water heater temperature. The Department of Energy recommends using the warm setting (120 degrees) during fall and winter months.

Unplug electronics like kitchen appliances and TVs when you’re away.

Replace incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs, which use at least 75 percent less energy.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

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Are you ready for free electricity?

What if you could charge your electric car, run your A/C or use your appliances for free?

Now you can, with NiteFlex! The new NiteFlex rate is designed for consumers who want to save money by shifting energy use to times of day when electric rates are the lowest. The NiteFlex rate is ideal for electric vehicle owners recharging their vehicles overnight and smart appliance users.

Benefits of NiteFlex

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• Take advantage of 400 kWh of free energy use. • Lower your bill by adjusting when you use energy.

To sign up for the NiteFlex rate, call 770-429-2100. To learn more, visit cobbemc.com/niteflex.

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FREE!

Clearing the way for reliable power Trees are one of the most common causes of power outages in our service area. Heavy winds, ice and snow can cause trees and limbs to fall on overhead lines, threatening blinks or power outages for an entire neighborhood.

To reduce tree-related outages and provide reliable power, we routinely trim trees along our power lines.

This trimming zone is referred to as our “right of way.”

Maintaining the right of way is necessary to avoid outages and safety hazards for our crews and the general public.

Trees and limbs can cause energized lines to fall to the ground, posing a safety hazard to anyone nearby.

We work hard to provide reliable and safe electric service, but we need your help.

As you’re planting trees and shrubs around your home, make sure your landscaping leaves enough distance between your plants and our power lines and equipment.

Follow the guidelines below to plant trees in the right place so they won’t interfere with power lines in the future.

Tree planting guidelines Mature trees 40 feet or taller should be planted 50 feet away

Mature trees less than 40 feet tall should be planted 30 feet away

Small trees and shrubs less than 25 feet tall should be planted 20 feet away

Working on a yard project? Remember to call before you dig.

The first step in safe digging is to call 811. In Georgia, it’s the law.

Make sure to call 811 three business days before a digging project to avoid coming into contact with underground utility lines.

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2018 Winners Someone you know could be next!

Nominate a neighbor for a home energy makeover Cobb EMC is partnering with the Cobb Heating and Air Conditioning Association, Gas South and Cobb County Water System to give one 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. Entries must be submitted by January 18, 2019.

To learn more or nominate a neighbor, visit cobbemc.com/makeover.

We’re proud to power your lives

cobbemc.com