2024 March JEMCO News

Is Your Home Showing Its Age?

TIPS TO BOOST

Each month, we receive dozens of membersubmitted recipes. We get all kinds of recipes – from generational favorites to whatever is popular at the moment. When you open JEMCO News, I know that I’m competing for your attention because you’re looking for the recipe!

Those recipes are popular because they’re all so delicious. We know because we test them before the winner is announced in this newsletter. Our members have been sending us their favorite recipes for decades. There’s even a vintage cookbook where you can find 25 different recipes for pies from Jackson EMC members.

Reading a recent recipe got me thinking about how operating your cooperative is like baking a pie.

It starts with a great foundation, the pie crust. The making of our cooperative goes back to 1938, when local community leaders wanted to improve the quality of life of local people through the power of electricity. Electric cooperatives, like Jackson EMC, are led by fellow members who live in our community. It’s the “member difference” that makes cooperatives unique and keeps everything else together, just like a pie crust.

There are many ingredients involved in operating your cooperative effectively. One of those is supplying you with reliable electricity. We proactively manage our power lines and equipment to keep power flowing to homes and businesses. During a power outage, our crews work to restore power as quickly as conditions and safety procedures allow. We also strategically manage our energy portfolio to keep electricity affordable.

Serving the community is an important ingredient in our cooperative pie. We’re honored to be a partner with the many schools, civic groups and nonprofit organizations that are making a difference in the lives of others. Through your donations to Operation Round Up, the Jackson EMC Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to nonprofits and individuals in need in our community since 2005. Our employees also volunteer with many of these organizations.

Another ingredient is exceptional customer service. Our goal is to exceed your expectations with reliable, courteous and personalized service. When you call us, you’re speaking to someone in one of

Planning Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades? Explore Our Contractor Network

Are energy-efficient upgrades for your home on your to-do list?

Choosing the right contractor is crucial – their expertise can make all the difference.

Jackson EMC offers specialized training for contractors providing HVAC, insulation and weatherization improvements. Once they complete this training, they are added to our Contractor Network.

“We provide training for those in our contractor network that focuses on using a ‘whole house’ approach to identify ways that HVAC systems, air sealing and insulation can better perform for the maximum comfort and energy efficiency of your home,” said Jackson EMC’s Director of Residential Marketing Christy Queen.

As a member of Jackson EMC, you may qualify for financing of energy-efficient home improvements. To qualify for a HomePlus Loan, improvements must be made by a contractor from Jackson EMC’s participating contractor network.

our local offices. Our employees are here to help our members – whether that’s answering questions about your account or replacing a security light on your property. The dedication and talent of our employees sweeten the pie. They are some of the friendliest, hard-working people you’ll meet. Their expertise and experience are driving the cooperative forward in innovative ways.

To top it off, there’s you – our members. Ultimately, all our ingredients focus on giving you exceptional service. Your engagement in the cooperative makes it a success. We appreciate the feedback you give us when you receive a survey from us. We also love seeing members at Annual Meeting.

The ingredients in our cooperative pie make Jackson EMC a great co-op. And, if you’re looking for the actual recipe in this issue, it’s on page 8. Enjoy!

CHIP

President & CEO

STAY SAFE

Would you know what to do if your vehicle hit a utility pole?

If you're in an accident involving a utility pole, it could be more dangerous than it first seems. The entire accident site could be energized from a downed wire. If you hit a utility pole, especially if you see downed wires, don’t get out of your car.

Leaving your vehicle could expose you to thousands of volts of electricity from downed power lines.

Knowing the right steps to take is crucial for your safety.

Is Your Home Showing Its Age? TIPS TO BOOST ENERGY EFFICIENCY

As your home ages, so can the protective barriers that keep your home comfortable indoors. Now could be the perfect time to evaluate the energy efficiency of your home.

Shower Heads:

Low-flow showerheads reduce water use and water heating costs. Pre-1992 showerheads can use more than twice the flow of newer showerheads. You can shop for water and energy-saving water fixtures at jacksonemcmarketplace.com.

Appliances:

Older appliances may have aging equipment that requires them to use more electricity to operate. Newer appliances are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Refrigerators less than 10 years old use up to two-thirds less energy than older models. ENERGY STAR®-certified dishwashers have settings for air dry and shorter wash cycles that can reduce energy.

Attic Insulation:

Proper insulation helps keep your home at a consistent temperature by preventing excessive heat loss in the winter and acts as a barrier to warm air in the summer. You can lower your heating and cooling costs by upgrading to attic insulation with a value of R-38 or higher.

Ductwork:

Leaky air ducts are a major cause of higher energy bills and poor energy quality. Seal ducts permanently with mastic or a rated metal duct tape used primarily for areas around the air handler unit needing access from time-to-time, such as the filter rack. First, seal the bigger holes and high-pressure areas, such as the air handler cabinet. Next, seal elbows, joints and boots.

HVAC Unit:

If your heating and cooling system is more than 12 years old, installing a new ENERGY STAR®-certified model could help you save up to 30% to cool your home.

DIY Home Checkup Checklist:

Examine your home’s energy efficiency with our DIY home checkup checklist. This helps you identify areas you may want to consider improving to lower your energy use. You can also view instructional videos. Visit jacksonemc.com/kit.

Windows and Doors:

Aging window seals and openings from doors can lead to energy loss. Updating older weather stripping around doors and windows is an easy and budgetfriendly step to keep conditioned air in your home.

State-of-the-Art

Home Energy Evaluation:

Want a professional evaluation of your home’s energy efficiency?

One of our representatives will come to your home and use state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose energy issues in your home. While there’s a base fee for evaluations, Jackson EMC members can benefit from rebates to ease the cost. For more detailed information on a Home Energy Evaluation, visit jacksonemc.com/evaluation.

The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $122,394 to organizations during a recent meeting.

Organizational Grant Recipients:

$20,000 to Good News Clinics, in Gainesville, which provides free medical and dental care to the underserved and uninsured residents of Hall County, to provide clients in need with laboratory tests and medications.

$15,000 to For Her Glory, a Gainesville agency that provides breast cancer patients throughout the Jackson EMC service area with items that are not covered by insurance, such as wigs, bras, compression sleeves, gloves and nutritional supplements.

$15,000 to Georgia Mountain YMCA, in Gainesville, to provide financial assistance to help Hall County families pay for childcare at its early learning centers.

$15,000 to Hebron Community Health Clinic, in Lawrenceville, a nonprofit providing low-income, uninsured Gwinnett and Barrow County residents with medical and dental care, to fund the Next Step Program, which provides diagnostic referrals and testing and prescription medication.

$15,000 to Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, Inc., for its Emergency Housing Assistance Program to provide rent or mortgage assistance for families in the Norcross area of Gwinnett County who are experiencing temporary or long-term hardships.

$15,000 to YMCA of Georgia’s Piedmont, Inc., in Winder, for its Pryme Tyme afterschool program, which provides homework help, sports, arts and crafts to children from economically disadvantaged families in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.

$12,445 to Oconee Therapeutic Riding (formerly Butterfly Dreams Farms) to provide therapeutic and hippotherapy treatment for special needs and at-risk children, youth and their families, to help families from Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties attend therapy sessions that use a horse’s movement to improve neuromuscular function.

$12,130 to Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, which provides primary and preventative medical and dental care to pharmaceutical assistance for low-income and uninsured families in Gwinnett County to purchase exam tables and stools for its women’s health environmental upgrade.

$2,819 to Reins of Life, Inc., a Franklin County nonprofit that offers hippotherapy treatment for special needs and at-risk children, youth and their families, to help five clients from Franklin and Banks counties attend therapy sessions that use a horse’s movement to improve neuromuscular function.

SHIFT AND SAVE

Lower Your Bill

Could you run your dishwasher at night? Or, could you shift when you do your laundry?

If so, consider switching to Jackson EMC’s Time-of-Use rate, an option for members who can shift their energy use during peak times to save money throughout the year. Using less on-peak power means lower costs for the co-op, and ultimately, lower rates for members.

How Does it Work?

• We’ll install a special meter that tracks when you use electricity.

• You can use electricity any time, but the rate will be higher during designated peak times in the summer.

• During non-peak times, you’ll benefit from a lower rate for the rest of the year.

• You must remain on the Time-of-Use rate for at least a year when you can then elect to be removed from the rate plan.

When are On-Peak Times?

• June 1-September 15, excluding weekends and holidays.

• On weekdays, from 3-8 p.m.

• The rate charged for electricity during on-peak hours is higher at 34.35 cents per kWh.

• Avoid using electricity as much as possible during these days and times.

When are Off-Peak Times?

• September 16-May 31

• On June 1-September 15, on weekdays from midnight to 3 p.m., and from 8 p.m. to midnight.

• The rate charged for electricity during off-peak hours is lower at 7.35 cents per kWh.

• You’re encouraged to shift your higher energy use to these days and times.

Who Should Consider Switching?

• Residential members who can significantly shift when they use electricity during the summer peak days and hours, especially when using their air conditioner, washer and dryer, and dishwasher.

• Members looking for ways to save on their bill. The regular residential rate is 8.06-11.66 cents per kWh year-round.

How Can I Sign Up?

• Sign up by May 1 by calling 1-800-462-3691 or visiting your local Jackson EMC office.

8.06¢-11.66¢

(3-8 p.m. weekdays)

YOUR POWER. YOUR COMMUNITY.

A PUBLICATION FOR JACKSON EMC MEMBERS

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 jacksonemc.com

jacksonemc

Jackson EMC JEMCTV1 jackson_emc @JacksonEMC

MEMBERS MAKE IT DELICIOUS

Chocolate Chess Pie

INGREDIENTS: stick of melted butter

Tbsp. cocoa, unsweetened small can of evaporated milk (5 oz.) eggs, beaten

DIRECTIONS:

cups of sugar

tsp. vanilla extract unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Mix cocoa, sugar and melted butter. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Add milk and vanilla and mix well. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake for 35-45 minutes. Serve with strawberries dusted with sugar.

This chocolate chess pie is a family favorite in 83-year-old Carol Shope’s Gainesville home. Carol’s friend Jan Tanner Jones shared the recipe with her. The two friends were classmates at Candler Street School in Gainesville. “I have used this recipe and let others have it all of these years and it’s the best one I’ve ever eaten,” Carol said. “Jan passed away when she was just 30-years-old and I think of her every time I make this pie. I have to make it several times a year as everyone in the family loves it.”

CAROL SHOPE, Gainesville

SEND US YOUR BEST RECIPES: RECIPES@JACKSONEMC.COM OR MAIL TO:

COOPERATIVE COOKING | JACKSON EMC | PO BOX 38 | JEFFERSON, GA 30549 FIND RECIPES AT JACKSONEMC.COM/RECIPES.