CONNECTIONS
The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | MARCH 2024
FREE MEMBER EVENTS Every year, Cobb EMC hosts free events for members to explore topics that impact energy efficiency in the home. Additionally, we offer programs that support efficiency habits in the home and help our members save. Save these 2024 dates!
BRIGHTENING OUR COMMUNITY
HVAC Tuneup Rebate: March 1 Homeowners’ Association Meeting: May 16 EV Seminar: May 23 Energy Efficiency Webinar: June 27 Solar Energy Seminar: July 30 Visit our website to learn more about these events: cobbemc.com/events
Annual Meeting Save the date for our Annual Meeting on Sept. 14, 2024, to learn about our progress, ways to save on your electric bill and to vote for director candidates. Members who would like to run for the board, sponsor bylaw amendments or speak longer than five minutes at the Annual Meeting must submit written notice to the secretary of the board of directors by the following deadlines. Find more details about these bylaw requirements at cobbemc.com/ annualmeeting.
MINI-GRANTS FOR TEACHERS
Mutual aid to our neighbors in need: “Cooperation Among Cooperatives” is one of our Seven Cooperative Principles that guide us. Our crews recently assisted Three Notch EMC in restoring power to members in Donaldsonville, Ga., following storms in their area. Supporting future linemen: We’re proud to support the next generation of linemen by partnering with the SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS Georgia Northwestern Technical AND OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE College (GNTC) and the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy (CITA). Cobb EMC is helping to relocate a training yard at GNTC and building a new training yard at CITA. These facilities will prepare future linemen with the skills needed to be safe and successful in the field. Learn more at cobbemc.com/reliability.
May 24: The 2024 nomination petitions for districts 2, 3, 9 are due. June 6: Member-sponsored bylaw amendments deadline. Aug 9: Deadline to request to speak longer than five minutes.
Cobb EMC awarded mini-grants totaling $28,000 to 60 elementary, middle and high school teachers across the electric cooperative’s fivecounty service area. The mini-grants fund a variety of experiential and active learning projects, including career prep, STEM, community gardens, art and more. Other ways Cobb EMC supports our community and our educators include career days, student mentoring and scholarships. Learn more at cobbemc.com/community.
SUPPORTING GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY
Affordable and reliable electricity is a key ingredient for a successful economy. At Cobb EMC, we understand the importance of building powerful connections and having a place for businesses and families to call home. From developing the workforce of the future, to providing the best products and services available, Cobb EMC is more than your electric provider: We are your community partner in economic development. Learn more at cobbemc.com/ economicdevelopment.
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CONNECTIONS | The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | MARCH 2024
A BALANCED TEAM FOR RELIABILITY The most successful basketball teams transmission companies for resource are those with consistent performance and infrastructure planning, ensuring and players specializing in various skills, a reliable power supply. Our operations creating a balanced powerhouse on team proactively improves and the court. Similarly, ensuring reliable maintains our infastructure to provide electricity involves a diverse mix of perfect power, including grid always available fuel sources like modernization, ongoing system natural gas and maintenance and coal for consistent disaster response power generation. planning. On On average, we inspect Just as a average, we inspect nearly 10,000 poles, trim basketball team nearly 10,000 poles, 400 miles of vegetation needs different trim 400 miles of along lines in the rightplayers for different vegetation along of-way and upgrade situations, a lines in the right-of200 protection devices resilient power grid way and upgrade annually. Learn more at requires multiple 200 protection cobbemc.com/reliability. energy sources devices annually. to handle various challenges. Cobb EMC members like you Diverse fuel sources contribute also play a vital role on the team. to grid stability, offering different Understanding the impact of weather characteristics such as generation on energy demand is crucial. Extreme patterns and storage capabilities. temperature changes lead to This diversity creates a balanced increased electricity use, especially and adaptable energy system that during peak times in the morning can handle fluctuating demand and early evenings when we all tend and unforeseen circumstances to to use electricity at the same time. maintain reliable electricity. By adopting energy conservation Diverse energy sources are essential, practices during temperature but that’s not the only thing we need extremes, you’ll save money on your to have reliable electricity – or a electric bill and help to keep you, your winning team. At Cobb EMC, we family and neighbors comfortable collaborate with generation and and connected.
THE VALUE OF YOUR
MEMBERSHIP
#1 #1 #1
IN THE NATION FOR RELIABLE POWER1 IN THE NATION FOR RESTORING OUTAGES QUICKLY1 IN THE STATE FOR LOW RATES AMONG ALL UTILITIES2
highest-rated natural gas provider in the state3
LEADERSHIP
Kevan Espy, President & CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A Diverse Fuel Mix is a Slam Dunk for Reliable Electricity Just like a basketball team depends on players with different skillsets, we depend on a variety of fuels to generate the electricity that powers life 24/7. Renewable energy sources like solar are key players in our fuel portfolio, but the sun doesn’t always shine. A diverse team of fuels ensures we have electricity whenever we need it.
Coal
Hydro
Solar
6%
7%
Nuclear
Natural Gas
12% 37% 38%
Rudy Underwood, Chairman Eric Broadwell, Vice Chairman Tripper Sharp, Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Bodner Bryan Boyd Edward Crowell David McClellan Malcolm Swanson David Tennant
CONTACT US
Phone: 770.429.2100 Pay by phone: 1.855.730.8714 Web: cobbemc.com
1-According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 2023 benchmark year study results. 2-According to the Georgia Public Service Commission Summer 2023 Rate Survey.
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3-According to Google reviews as of 2023. Gas South is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cobb EMC.
The Value of Your Membership Our team of dedicated employees works year-round to provide you with reliable, safe and sustainable power you can count on and the lowest rates that keep money in your pocket for what matters most. We’re powered by the purpose of serving our members and delivering value beyond electricity. How does Cobb EMC deliver value to you, our members? This spring, we’re providing you with information highlighting the value of your membership and ways you can take advantage of member benefits.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL THE WAYS WE BRING YOU VALUE: cobbemc.com/yourvalue
Courtesy of the SafeAmerica Foundation
CONNECTIONS | The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | MARCH 2024
COBB EMC MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY The Cobb EMC Foundation works together with our members to build a brighter future for those in need by granting funds to local nonprofits. Thanks to your generosity, the Cobb EMC Foundation poured $914,715 into our community in 2023 to benefit members in our five-county service area. Small change can make a big difference when neighbors work together. Most Cobb EMC members generously round up their monthly bills through Operation Round Up to donate to local nonprofits with outreach programs that benefit members within our service area. On average, members donate about $6 per year through Operation Round Up, and the yearly maximum is $11.88. Nonprofits rely on our support to continue to make a difference in our community. We are thankful for generous Cobb EMC members who make it possible. You can view the impact your change has in the 2023 Community Impact Report at cobbemc.com/foundation.
PREPARE EARLY FOR
STORMS
Severe weather can happen at anytime, but spring is typically peak season for tornadoes. Now is the time to prepare for storms before they strike – see tips below. Learn more about how Cobb EMC proactively prepares for storms and outages at cobbemc.com/ outagecenter.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Charge your devices and enroll in outage alerts by texting 898362 to report outages and stay in touch.
Monitor the weather. Know the difference between a weather warning and watch.
Have a backup plan for those who depend on medical equipment that requires electricity.
WHAT WE DO We trim approximately 400 miles of trees in the right-of-way annually to reduce outages.
Smart meters on our grid allow us to detect and restore outages faster with automation.
We hold annual storm drills to ensure safe, dependable and efficient operations.
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CONNECTIONS | The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | MARCH 2024
BRACKET CHALLENGE: ENERGY MYTHS VS. FACTS Acting on some common misconceptions can reduce the comfort of your home, while others can cost you energy dollars. Follow along as we separate fact from fiction in the Energy Savings Showdown! Get more trophy-worthy energy tips at cobbemc.com/save.
Myth: It’s not worth my time or money to seal small air leaks.
ENERGY
SHOWDOWN
Fact: Typical homeowners can save up to 10% on their total annual energy bill by sealing and insulating.
Fact: For a cozy home and lower bills, energy efficiency is the winner!
Fact: You can save money by sealing small air leaks.
Myth: Closing off unused rooms saves on heating/cooling costs. Fact: Open interior doors to give your forced-air system the airflow it needs for efficiency.
Fact Leaving interior doors open saves on heating/cooling.
Fact Limiting energy use during peak times helps save energy. Myth: Time of day doesn’t matter when it comes to using energy.
Fact Time of day does matter.
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