SAFE DRIVING DECISIONS
For the last few years, Arizona has turned to its drivers for some creative highway safety signs. “Don’t hurry. Be happy,” one sign says in a nod to a popular song. Another says, “I’m just a sign, asking a driver to use turn signals,” in reference to a famous line from a rom-com movie.
Arizona’s transportation department receives thousands of entries in its annual safety message contest – an initiative to bring awareness about driving safely. One official said the contest starts conversations for “making better decisions behind the wheel so everyone can reach their destination safely.”
We feel the same way here at Jackson EMC. Our linemen work daily along roadways to maintain our electric grid and restore power during outages. It’s a hazardous job, but they follow safety procedures, like wearing high-visibility
Experience
clothing and using proper traffic control procedures to keep their job site safe. But they need your help as well.
Just like other first responders, our crews need you to be mindful as you approach their roadside work zones. Georgia’s Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down when approaching first responders, utility vehicles, DOT vehicles, HERO units and wreckers stopped on the side of the road and operating in an official capacity.
For our linemen, following the law isn’t just a legal requirement. It’s also a sign of respect to honor the lives of those who work in potentially dangerous conditions. Moving over gives them a safety buffer and reduces the risks of accidents or injuries. At the end of each day, we want our linemen to return home safely to their families.
Switching to Jackson EMC’s Auto Pay program makes paying your monthly bill effortless. Here’s why you should consider enrolling in Auto Pay:
• Never Miss a Payment. With Auto Pay, your bill is paid on time, every time. This ensures you avoid potential late fees and the hassle of missed payments.
• Save Time. Making a payment each month can be time-consuming. You can free up your valuable time with Auto Pay.
• Peace of Mind. Knowing your bills are automatically taken care of each month can make you feel at ease.
HOW TO ENROLL
At Jackson EMC, our safety culture is critical to protecting our community and our employees. We can all do our part and show our respect by slowing down or moving over.
Have an idea for a safety slogan or a story to share about the move over law? Share chip@jacksonemc.com.
CHIP JAKINS President & CEO
Enrolling in Auto Pay is simple and convenient. Follow these steps to get started:
MyJacksonEMC Website:
• Log in to your MyJacksonEMC account at MyJacksonEMC.com.
• Click on the “Bill & Pay” section.
• Select “Auto Pay Program” to enroll.
MyJacksonEMC Mobile App:
• Log in to the MyJacksonEMC mobile app.
• Tap “Bill & Pay”
• Select “Auto Pay Program” to enroll.
$152.32
Upgrade Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Resources from Jackson EMC
Taking on a home improvement project can be rewarding –especially when it comes to making energy efficient upgrades. By upgrading your home’s HVAC unit or insulation, you can benefit from the year-round energy savings and rebates from Jackson EMC. How do you get started?
1. Get a Home Energy Evaluation. Our high-tech Home Energy Evaluation uses advanced technology to measure your home’s energy efficiency and gives you a prioritized list of home improvement recommendations. Visit jacksonemc.com/evaluation
2. Find a Contractor. By using a contractor in our Participating Contractor Network, you’ll be connected to qualified contractors who have completed specialized training by Jackson EMC. Be sure to get quotes from multiple contractors. Visit jacksonemc.com/contractors
3. Consider a Loan. Jackson EMC members may qualify for a low-interest HomePlus Loan for financing a variety of energy-efficient home improvements, such as replacing a water heater or heat pump. Visit jacksonemc.com/homeplus
4. Apply for a Rebate. Jackson EMC members may also be eligible for rebates for qualified all-electric heat pump replacements and making energy-efficient improvements based on their home energy evaluation. Visit jacksonemc.com/rebates
Our residential energy advisors can help you navigate options available from the cooperative by calling 1-800-462-3691.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JACKSONEMC.COM/REBATES.
Where Savings Meet Comfort
“When I got my first Jackson EMC bill, I really couldn’t believe how low it was,” said Chandler Todd, a Right Choice™ homeowner in Hall County. “I had come from [an apartment] that was smaller, and my bill was higher than it is here.”
Todd lives in one of more than 16,000 Right Choice homes built in Jackson EMC’s service area. An exclusive program of the cooperative, Right Choice homes exceed industry standards for energy efficiency and comfort.
“We continue to hear from members who live in a Right Choice home who have noticed the savings on their electric bill,” said Nelson McGinnis, Jackson EMC’s manager of residential new development. “This program was designed to help members save energy over the life of their home – and members really appreciate that.”
Right Choice homes are different because of the details.
It starts before construction, when Jackson EMC’s energy experts analyze the home’s design plans to calculate its anticipated energy use. Throughout the building process, an independent, third-party firm tests the home to ensure it meets Right Choice’s high standards for comfort and energy efficiency.
Once finished, a certified home is given a oneyear comfort warranty and a three-year energy usage warranty. Even if the home is sold to another owner, it remains on Jackson EMC’s lowest residential rate for the life of the home.
Builders, like Nathan Whitmire at Southernwood Homes, also appreciate the quality of homes built in the Right Choice homes program and the expertise of the cooperative.
“Any time we get a client that’s in Jackson EMC’s [service] area, we want to do Right Choice because we know that’s a top-notch product,” Whitmire said.
Right Choice™ Homeowner Chandler Todd
Jackson EMC’s Right Choice new home program is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Across the cooperative’s 10-county service area, more than 29 million-square feet of new homes have been certified as Right Choice.
This is possible because of our partnerships with more than 200 builders over the past two decades, who we honor each year at our Right Choice Awards for constructing new homes built to Right Choice standards.
Each Right Choice Home is...
Designed by Engineers
Before construction begins, each home’s design is reviewed by engineers to calculate properlysized heating and air conditioning installation design to get maximum energy-efficiency levels.
Tested for Home Performance
Right Choice homes follow higher energy efficiency standards, which are verified by an independent, third-party firm. This confirms the efficiency of the building envelope and equipment efficiency.
Certified
Right Choice homes have a one-year comfort warranty and a three-year energy usage warranty for the heating and cooling system.
Billed at Jackson EMC’s Lowest Residential Rate
Homeowners can save approximately 5% on their annual energy bill for the life of the home.
Eric Chafin (left) of Chafin Communities
Nathan Whitmire of Southernwood Homes
$139,757 IN GRANTS RECENTLY AWARDED
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors recently awarded a total of $139,757 in grants, including $130,000 to organizations and $9,757 to individuals.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
$15,000 to Camp Twin Lakes, a not-for-profit organization offering year-round recreational, therapeutic and educational programming for children facing serious illnesses and other challenges, to help 27 children in Jackson EMC’s 10-county service area attend its fully accessible camp.
$15,000 to Extra Special People, Watkinsville, to provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC to attend a highly-specialized, individualized summer camp experience.
$15,000 to Gainesville Housing Corporation, which provides working, low-income families of Hall County affordable living environments, improved quality of living, economic opportunities and fair housing, to provide materials for its curriculum-based RISE summer education program for at-risk youth of Gainesville and Hall County.
$15,000 to The Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry, Inc., an emergency food bank for residents of Lawrenceville and Dacula in Gwinnett County, for its Emergency Assistance Program to purchase food from local food banks and/or local grocery stores.
$15,000 to St. Vincent De Paul Society of Jefferson, for its Emergency Financial Assistance to Families in Crisis Program providing funds for rent and mortgage payments to families in Jackson and Banks counties in crisis.
$15,000 to St. Vincent De Paul Society of Winder, for its financial assistance program providing funds to Barrow County families in crisis for rent and mortgage.
Community Impact:
Historic Athens
Historic Athens is a nonprofit organization that strives to celebrate and conserve community heritage in Athens, a city known for its historic buildings and neighborhoods.
$15,000 to Young Women’s Christian Organization of Athens, to help 32 girls from low-income families attend the summer girls camp program, a structured recreational and educational summer program targeting young girls ages 5 to 14 from lowto-moderate income families and help pay for bus transportation expenses.
$10,000 to Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy, Inc., Bogart, a nonprofit organization that works with people ages 12-24 and provides mentors and other supportive people to help students access resources for 30 students in Clarke County to attend its summer camp and help defray transportation costs.
$6,000 to Camp Big Heart, Inc., which provides summer recreational experiences for children and adults with developmental challenges, for 10 campers in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC to attend its summer camp.
$6,000 to Families of Children Under Stress (FOCUS), Inc., a nonprofit agency serving children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC, to help provide 18 children the opportunity to build social skills, self-respect, character and community living skills at Camp Hollywood in Lawrenceville.
$3,000 to Georgia Lions Camp, Inc., a nonprofit organization aiming to provide unique recreational experiences for the visually impaired to allow six campers in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC the opportunity to participate in its summer and winter camp programs.
Individual Recipients:
$5,000 to a man in Jackson County who is disabled to replace his HVAC unit.
$4,757 to a family in Banks County to repair an exterior wall of their home.
Founded in 1967 as the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation to save the oldest house in Athens, it has now served more than 90 homeowners.
Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation, Hands on Historic Athens replaced the roof of a resident in need. “The project that the funds were used for wouldn’t be feasible without the grant,” said Melissa Gogo, Hands On Historic Athens coordinator. The grant funds will continue to support other projects. “Funds will be distributed for at least two more projects,” Gogo said. “It will assist in making homes more weather-safe and energy-efficient while maintaining the historical integrity.”
The Hands On Historic Athens initiative helps to revitalize neighborhoods by assisting low-income homeowners with homes that are 50 years or older. Through the initiative, older homes receive modern upgrades and repairs to make them safe and habitable.
Beyond Home Security:
EMC Security Safeguards Businesses, Too
Thousands of Jackson EMC members place their trust in EMC Security to keep their homes and families safe. Did you know EMC Security also offers security solutions for businesses of all sizes?
EMC Security's quick response in December helped protect a retail store in Grayson. The store’s alarm system immediately alerted EMC Security’s monitoring center of an early-morning intrusion. Video surveillance confirmed two suspects were trying to enter the store. Police were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Customized Security Solutions for Businesses
A team of experts at EMC Security works with businesses of all sizes to design customized security systems that fits their needs. EMC Security can safeguard your business with:
• Advanced alarm systems, access control, and fire/life safety solutions that deter criminals and safeguard your property, inventory and assets.
• Real-time visibility for rapid response with video surveillance, which allows quick action against security threats and can help minimize potential losses.
• Free text alerts that send you instant alarm notifications, allow you to communicate through group chat and respond via text.
FOR A FREE BUSINESS CONSULTATION, CONTACT EMC SECURITY AT 770-963-0305 OR VISIT EMCSECURITY.COM.
Move Over When You See Working Utility Crews
Utility workers are dedicated to working safely to ensure you receive reliable electricity. As a driver, you can help keep linemen safe by moving over a lane while they work near roadways.
When you see a utility vehicle on the side of the road with its lights flashing, move over a lane to give linemen the space they need to safely complete their work.
If moving over isn’t possible, Georgia’s Move Over law requires you to slow down below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop if necessary.
The law also protects all first responders (law enforcement, fire and EMS), DOT workers, HERO workers and wreckers stopped on the side of the road and operating in an official capacity. By following this law, you contribute to the safety of these essential workers.
JACKSON EMC OFFICES
1000 Dawsonville Highway Gainesville, GA (770) 536-2415
85 Spratlin Mill Road Hull, GA (706) 548-5362
850 Commerce Road Jefferson, GA (706) 367-5281
825 Buford Dr Lawrenceville, GA (770) 963-6166
EMC SECURITY
55 Satellite Blvd., NW Suwanee, GA (770) 963-0305 or (706) 543-4009
Peanut Butter Bars
INGREDIENTS:
jacksonemc.com
cups powdered sugar
cup milk chocolate chips
Tbs. creamy peanut butter
ARECIPESFEATUREDRECEIVE PRIZE PACKAGE WITH AN AIR FRYER & GOODIES.KITCHEN
DIRECTIONS:
Melt butter and 1 cup peanut butter together. Mix until well blended. Add graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Mix until fully incorporated. Press mixture into a 13X9 baking pan, packing it down tightly. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and 4 Tbs. peanut butter in the microwave using 25 second intervals. Stir the mixture after each interval until you get the desired consistency. (The mixture can also be melted on the stovetop in a saucepan. This method usually takes around 5 to 10 minutes on medium to-high temperature.)
Mix until smooth and spread over the peanut butter/graham cracker layer. Return the dish to the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour. Cut into individual bars with a sharp knife and serve.
This is my Grandfather Jay’s recipe and it has been in my family for a few generations. He was a great cook and loved to experiment in the kitchen. This was one of the first recipes he taught me to make. With his assistance, I first prepared this dish when I was 8 years old (about 20 years ago).
JOSEPH BELL, Gainesville
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