JANUARY 2017 | BILL INSERT
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Scholarship deadlines are coming up fast! Apply now. • Four statistics you should know • Find new year resolutions for energy efficiency.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM COBB EMC New year, new opportunities for our members Cobb EMC cares about the community and local youth. That’s why we award annual scholarships to our members to help them achieve their academic dreams. Walter Harrison Scholarship Deadline: Applications must be received in the office by February 10, 2017 (no postmarked applications will be accepted.) Amount: $1,000 Washington Youth Tour Deadline: February 24, 2017 Amount: $1,500, $1,000 or $500 Cobb EMC Community Foundation Scholarship Deadline: March 10, 2017 (application must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 10, 2017.) Amount: 14 scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $5,000 each. www.cobbemc.com/scholarships
Coming soon: Your member experience, better than ever Our website and mobile application will have a new look in March! We’ve redesigned them with you in mind! Soon, it’ll be easier than ever to manage your account and find cooperative information on our website. Want to connect on the go? You’ll be able to download our easy-to-use mobile app in March with a fresh, new look.
National energy costs are on the rise Cobb EMC’s monthly Wholesale Power Adjustment (WPA) will increase to $.002 per kWh, effective in January, to recover rising wholesale electric generation and transmission costs. “Our average household uses roughly 1,000 kWh each month, so this change would mean a difference of about $2.00 on their bill,” said Chip Nelson, President and CEO of Cobb EMC. Cobb EMC’s WPA, which has been set at or below zero since September 2014, increases or decreases as necessary to follow changes in wholesale power costs. “We’re dedicated to controlling costs for members,” said Nelson. “If we see wholesale prices drop, you’ll see the WPA drop, as well.”
BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP Cobb EMC employees participate in local school career day Several Cobb EMC employees hosted three to four 25-minute sessions for eighth-grade students at Floyd Middle School’s College and Career Day. The employees discussed their individual careers, which included Strategic Planning, Corporate Analysis, Engineering Technology and Education & Community Relations. Last May, Floyd Middle School became STEM*-Certified through the Cobb County School District; Cobb EMC sponsors the Cobb STEM Certification program and proudly supports school Career Days in every service district. *Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF COMMUNITY A small amount of change can make a big difference Through Operation Round Up®, our members have contributed more than $2.2 million to our local nonprofit organizations by rounding up their bill to the nearest dollar. The maximum tax-deductible amount that each member rounds up is only $11.88 per year. Visit www.cobbemc.com/roundup to learn more about the organizations that have benefited from the program. December 2016 donations • Allatoona Resource Center • Big Brothers Big Sisters • Celebrated Life International • Cherokee Child Advocacy Council Inc./Lights of Hope • Cobb County 4-H • Cobb County Youth Museum • Cobb Police Athletic League (PAL)
• Cobb Street Ministries • Davis Direction Foundation Inc. • Foster Care Support Foundation Inc. • Military Family Support Center • Reinhardt University • Right in the Community Inc. • Youth Entrepreneurs of Georgia
BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF SAFETY 4 distracted driving stats you should know
(Federal Communications Commission, 2014) (National Safety Council, 2014)
(National Safety Council, 2014)
(Distraction.gov, 2012)
BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF ENERGY
Your New Year energy checklist It’s a new year, which means you have ample time to practice healthy energy habits. Here’s a quick checklist you can use to hit the ground running.
ATTIC & WINDOWS
Check your attic insulation
Caulk and weatherstrip to seal in warm air and energy savings
KITCHEN Keep your refrigerator full
Unplug unused appliances Cook small meals in the microwave or on an electric grill
Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances Scrape—don’t wash— dishes before loading the dishwasher
ADDITIONAL TIPS When a light bulb burns out, replace it with an LED
Change your HVAC filter monthly
68 Use a programmable thermostat to set the temperature
BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP Cobb EMC expands renewable generation portfolio Cobb EMC has expanded our cooperative’s wholesale energy portfolio to include solar energy from the Sandhills Solar Facility, the largest solar facility operating east of the Mississippi River. The 146-megawatt photovoltaic solar project, which consists of approximately 1.6 million solar modules, began construction in September 2015 on a 911-acre site in Taylor County, Georgia, our state’s largest producer of solar power. Thanks to a 25-year power purchase agreement, Cobb EMC will add 111 MWs of generation from the Sandhills facility to its wholesale power supply portfolio. In addition to solar, our renewable energy portfolio includes hydro, biomass and reclaimed methane gas from landfills.
COO David Johnson (second from right) represents Cobb EMC at the Sandhills Solar Facility ribbon cutting ceremony.
Don’t be left in the dark this winter storm season At Cobb EMC, we want to be sure our members receive the latest company information and helpful energy tips, along with important alerts. To help us keep your account information up-to-date, please visit www.cobbemc.com/update and fill out the form on the page. Your email address or phone number will not be shared with any third parties for any reason.
Nominate a positive athlete Know a high school athlete who brings positive energy to every practice, competition and the community? Cobb EMC and Positive Athlete Georgia are looking for nominations for the Cobb EMC “Positive Energy” Award, worth $1,000! The nomination deadline is March 15, 2017. georgia.positiveathlete.org
Mark your calendar
cobbemc.com
Open board meeting Where: 1000 EMC Parkway JAN Marietta, GA 30060 24 When: January 24 at 4 p.m. RSVP: (678) 355-3225 You can also RSVP at: www.cobbemc.com/boardmeeting
Holiday hours Our offices will be closed January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Employees are always standing by for emergencies. Please call our automated outage system at (770) 429-2100 in the event of an outage or visit our outage center at www.cobbemc.com/outagecenter.