Jemconews aug2016 final pages

AUGUST 2016 | IN THIS ISSUE STATE-OF-THE-ART SECURITY PROTECTION NEED TO KNOW – FRAUD ALERT – AVOIDING SCAMS THE KINGSMEN QUARTET TO PLAY ANNUAL MEETING

PERSPECTIVE

INNOVATIVE ELECTRICITY A few years ago, some mechanical engineering students built a shoe that used the energy produced when walking to power an LED light. Now, they’re using that kinetic energy to charge cell phones, smartwatches, GPS devices and other portable electronics, asking users, “How much power will you make today?”

Obviously, you couldn’t walk long enough to run your air conditioner in August, but having a tool available that can charge your phone while you’re hiking might give you the boost you need to make an important phone call.

This month we’re spotlighting some of our own thoughtful engineers, charged with thinking innovatively about how to approach situations and seize opportunities that best benefit our members.

One area where our engineers are thinking ahead is a pilot program for a new electric water heater that works with our load management system. We’ve been using water heaters with our load management program for more than 20 years to reduce our peak demand and save members money. New Department of Energy regulations require any new electric water heater larger than 55 gallons to connect to a load management system. We see this as an area where we can assist our members as the inventory of large tanks are depleted. So we have 50 people testing a new water heater that ties into our grid which we can cycle off as needed when we reach peak demand.

We want to make sure if you need these appliances, we can offer them and support the technology. This program could not only reduce

peak load and help avoid the need for additional electric generation, it could give you greater control over your appliance through mobile applications.

Another opportunity Jackson EMC’s engineers are developing is providing you with solar power. If you want to install solar energy at home, you can get assistance from engineers in planning, as well as loans and rebates to make it possible. But, roof-top solar panels don’t work for everyone, so through our partnership with Green Power EMC, we’re investing in large-scale solar operations to benefit all of our members.

Two large solar installations in Hazelhurst cover hundreds of acres and feed enough electricity onto the grid to power nearly 10,000 homes.

Through our Sun Power for Schools program, middle and high school students learn about energy conversion and study the real-time strength of solar power generation. I’m excited to think about the next generation of engineers and the innovation that they will bring.

Have an innovative idea? Send me an email at chip@jacksonemc.com.

Chip Jakins, President/CEO

W A Y S T O S A V E : COOL SUMMER TIP: PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS Programmable thermostats save money by turning up the temperature when you are away from home or at night, limiting the amount of time air conditioning equipment runs.

You can save as much as 10 percent on heating and cooling by simply turning back your thermostat 7-10 degrees from its normal setting for 8 hours a day.

With a programmable thermostat, you can do this automatically by scheduling the times you turn on the air conditioning.

Programmable thermostats can store multiple daily settings that you can temporarily manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.

VOL. 67, NO. 8, AUGUST 2016 (ISSN 1061-5601), IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE MEMBER SERVICES DEPT. OF JACKSON ELECTRIC MEMEBERSHIP CORP., 461 SWANSON DRIVE, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA 30043. SUBSCRIPTION $3.50 PER YEAR AS PART OF YEARLY MEMBERSHIP. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LARENCEVILLE, GA AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. April Sorrow, Editor. | POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JEMCO News 461 Swanson Drive Lawrenceville, GA 30043

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JEMCO news | August 2016

jacksonemc.com

EMC SECURITY Ja ckson E M C m em b e rs h a v e a c c e s s to s ta te - ofthe-a r t s ecur it y p r o te c ti o n th ro u g h E M C S e c uri ty, a compa ny joint ly - ow n e d b y W a l to n E MC , Gre y Stone Power and J ack s on E MC . E M C S e c u ri ty h a s grow n ove r th e p as t 18 y e a rs to b e a mo n g th e l a rg e st i n the U. S . The comp a n y i s c u rre n tl y ra n k e d as the 36t h lar g es t s ec u ri ty fi rm i n th e n a ti o n a n d the 15t h lar g es t r es i d e n ti a l s e c u ri ty fi rm.

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EMC SECURITY IN 201 5

225

256,591

break ins

trouble signals acted on

A fter 18 years, I’m s till a m a z e d a t th e s p eed of

EMC S ecu ri t y’s res p o n s e wh e n m y a la r m g oes off.

Most o f t h e t i m e – fo r tu n a te ly – it’s wh e n we

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for g et t o d i sarm th e s y s te m a n d o p e n a door.

Within seco n d s, m y p h o n e is r in g in g , a n d i t’s one of th ei r f ri en d l y r e p s to m a k e s u r e we ’r e okay, s aid G r eg Bro o k s , E MC S e c u ri ty ’ s v e ry fi rs t c u s to m e r.

Whi l e B r ook s has r e m a i n e d a c u s to m e r fo r 1 8 ye ars, he d id n’t hav e to s ta y l o n g e r th a n a month.

No cus t om er ev er s i g n s a c o n tra c t, s o th e y a r e fre e to leav e at any ti me .

10

seconds average response time

12

other actual emergencies

150

medical emergencies

41 fires

$16.95

monthly rate for 18 years

“We tak e g r eat p r ide i n o u r s e rv i c e a n d b e i n g abl e to of f er m ont h-to -mo n th mo n i to ri n g s e rv i ce, whi c h has b een one o f th e m a n y c o mp a n y sta ndar d s ad her ed to s i n c e o u r i n c e p ti o n ,” sa i d Vince R aia, p r e s i d e n t o f E MC S e c u ri ty .

Custo m er s lik ely ha n g a ro u n d fo r th e l o w pri ce t oo. I n 18 y ea rs , th a t h a s re ma i n e d consta nt at $16. 95 a mo n th a s w e l l . F o r B ro o k s, though, it ’s ab out m o re th a n th e l o w p ri c e .

“They wor k har d t o m a k e y o u fe e l s e c u re a b o ut your se curi t y com p any , ” h e s a i d . “ I c a n a l s o g i v e thei r se rvi c e t echs hig h m a rk s . Al w a y s c o u rte o u s , I’ m espe cially im p r es s e d th a t th e y ’ re s o re s p e c tful of my hom e. ” EMC S ecur it y has a l s o b e e n p ro v i d i n g a d v a n c ed smart-hom e t echno l o g y fo r te n y e a rs , o ffe ri n g custo m er s p eace o f m i n d th ro u g h th e a b i l i ty to ma nag e not only th e i r s e c u ri ty s y s te m b u t tempe r at ur e, d oor l o c k s , v i d e o c a me ra s , a n d l i ghts f r om a s m ar t p h o n e o r ta b l e t.

Cal l 770- 963- 0305 to l e a rn mo re a b o u t E MC Secur it y ’s s ecur it y s o l u ti o n s a n d s c h e d u l e a fre e on- s it e cons ulta ti o n .

VISIT EMCSECURITY.COM TO LEARN MORE

jacksonemc.com

JEMCO news | August 2016

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Providing our members with safe, reliable power is what Jackson EMC is all about. Our engineers work in some areas you might not realize in order to keep the lights on for our 220,000+ members.

HERE’S A LOOK AT FIVE OF THE AMAZING ENGINEERS WHO WORK AT JACKSON EMC.

LOAD FORECASTING Forecasting the amount of electricity our members will need this year, and 10 years in the future, allows us to plan for growth. We use several prediction models and look at data to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to supply members with affordable, reliable service.

VIPER SWITCH

RELIABILITY What this means for you?

This technology helps limit the impact of an outage. Viper switches can potentially reduce an outage from impacting thousands of members to

TOMMY PARKER PLANNING

JONATHAN WEAVER FORECASTING

Lori manages the department

Planning for a system as

Jonathan works in power

in charge of communication

large as Jackson EMC

generation, planning for

systems. Everything from

takes coordination and time.

green power, solar energy

fiber optics, radios and

Tommy works on 10-year

programs, forecasting

phones to monitoring and

long-range plans and three-

member needs, distributed

controlling substations,

year construction work plans

automation and load

meters and line switches.

that include everything

management. He works to

Communication between

from where substations

make sure there is enough

people and equipment is vital

should be built to which

power coming through our

for employee safety, reliability

lines need to be upgraded

lines to supply all 220,000+

and the day-to-day business

and where new lines will

members with enough

operations. Lori’s also in

be needed. Engineers

electricity, and at a low

charge of the apparatus

are needed every step of

price. He pays attention to

shop that ensures meters,

the way, from planning

population growth trends,

transformers and other

construction to computer

weather forecasts and the

equipment operates correctly.

programming and then

cost of power generation

installing new technology

so decision-makers can

as it becomes available.

have informed models.

My number one priority is to keep the phone lines working so members can call in and talk to someone when they

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All of our planning activities have one goal—to ensure

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Our members want their co-op to be as green as

hundreds. We currently have 180

need to. When members

service reliability. It gives me

possible – economically and

installed and add 48 more every

need to report outages or

a tremendous level of job

environmentally. Balancing

have a question about their

satisfaction knowing the

these two desires is the basis

bill, it’s important they get to

work that I do is helping to

for our decisions in green

someone who can help.

keep the lights on for

power participation.

JEMCO news | August 2016

our members.

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reliability for our members.

“

for technology that improves

“

year. We are always looking

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“

LORI MCCUTCHEON COMMUNICATIONS

jacksonemc.com

FAMOUS ENGINEERS THROUGH HISTORY THOMAS EDISON (1847-1931) One of the most famous engineers of all time is Thomas Edison, an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly improved the quality of life around the world, including the phonograph, motion-picture camera and of course, the electric light bulb.

EDITH CLARKE (1883-1959) As the very first female electrical engineer, she brought sophisticated electrical engineering concepts to dam building in the United States. Edith Clarke spent most of her career (26 years) at General

MIKE HUDLOW DESIGNING

BRITTANY CAISON EFFICIENCY

Mike works with businesses

As a commercial and

and homeowners to design

industrial engineer, Brittany

electrical system plans

works with Jackson EMC’s

for individual locations.

business members to ensure

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY

Decisions about whether

they are using energy

(1887-1973)

wire will be overhead or

wisely. She helps identify

underground, the size of

energy efficiency issues

the transformer and the

through energy audits and

cabling are important

helps members monitor

capacity decisions that

equipment operation using

go into the work order, or

infrared imaging. When

blueprints, linemen use

members need to make

while working. Using

design changes to their

integrated GIS mapping,

lighting or HVAC system, she

Mike’s designs guarantee

works with them during the

coordination across the

design process to maximize

system for reliability.

efficiency and save

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them money.

the tools to get the job done; we have the technology, the resources, and capable people that we need to

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provide affordable, reliable electric service.

jacksonemc.com

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salaried engineer after two years on the job. In addition, Clarke won awards for her papers and a patent for a specialized calculator.

Beulah Louise Henry invented a bobbin-free lockstitch sewing machine, a doll with flexible arms, a vacuum ice cream freezer and a typewriter that made multiple copies without carbon paper. Toward the end of her career, Henry had amassed a large fortune by manufacturing her inventions through different companies.

LONNIE G. JOHNSON (1949-CURRENT) Engineer and inventor Lonnie G. Johnson earned his master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Tuskegee University. He went on

Commercial members

make up 10 percent of the

members, but they consume 40 percent of the energy.

When I help them identify

the World’s first high-powered water gun, became a he has worked on the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy

areas for energy efficiency, I know it’s very important.

to work for the U.S. Air Force and the NASA space program. Johnson’s Super Soaker, best-selling product by the early 1990s. Since then,

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At Jackson EMC, we have

Electric, where she had the distinction of becoming a

Converter, an engine that converts heat directly into electricity.

JEMCO news | August 2016

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MEMBERS MAKE IT DELICIOUS

FE RECI ATURED PES R ECEIV E

Ooey Goey Cheesecake Bars

$200

CRUST 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix 1 Stick of melted butter 1 Egg

PRIZ PACK E AGE

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix above ingredients and pat into a 12x17 pan. Do not pat up the sides of the pan. Set aside.

FILLING 1 8 oz. Package Cream Cheese 1 Stick Melted Butter 2 Eggs 1 lb. Box Powdered Sugar

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Everyone LOVES these things and I believe your readers will really enjoy them!

– WANDA RAWLS – COMMERCE, GA

1 Tsp. Vanilla 1 Cup Chopped Pecans (can put more if you like a lot of nuts)

Mix everything except pecans.

Stir in pecans and pour over crust and bake until puffed and golden, about 30-40 minutes. Let cool approximately 30-45 minutes. Cut into squares.

SEND YOUR BEST SLOWCOOKER RECIPES: ASORROW@JACKSONEMC.COM OR MAIL TO: COOPERATIVE COOKING | JACKSON EMC | PO BOX 38 | JEFFERSON, GA 30549

C O M M U N I T Y I M P A C T : SALVATION ARMY OF LAWRENCEVILLE More than 26,300 families and individuals were evicted from their homes in Gwinnett County in 2012, according to Salvation Army of Lawrenceville Major Gift Manager Michelle Watkins. To meet as much of that need as they could, the local Salvation Army assisted 598 households with rental and mortgage assistance in the fiscal year 2014.

“Families and individuals come to our community center experiencing significant trauma from having lost all of their belongings thrown out in an eviction or foreclosure and having been reduced to spending nights behind abandoned buildings, in cars,” says Watkins. “Many exhibit signs of clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD as a result of these experiences.”

The Salvation Army’s Financial Emergency Services (FES) program offers immediate financial and food pantry assistance to stabilize families in crisis. To prevent homelessness, the program provides rental assistance for those behind on payments and facing eviction, financial assistance for those facing foreclosure, and professional social work, consultation, prayer and pastoral counseling for any who request services.

“Everyone needs a little help sometimes,” says Salvation Army Social Services Director Debbie Wengrow. “Foreclosures put a drag on the whole community, while keeping people in their homes helps keep the whole community going. Help from the Jackson EMC Foundation helps keep families afloat.”

In 2016, the Salvation Army celebrates 150 years of international service in 126 countries.

A lmost e ve ry yea r sin ce it was f or m ed in 2005, t he J a c k s o n E MC Fou ndatio n h as gr ant ed t he Salv at ion Ar m y of Lawrenc eville fu nds for r ent al and/ or m or t gage as s i s t a n c e .

“We ’ v e b e e n h e l p i n g f a m i l i e s s t a y i n t h e i r h o me s fo r 1 5 0 y e a r s , ” We n g r o w s a i d . “I t ’ s a b l e s s i n g t o h a ve gr e a t p a r t n e r s l i k e t h e J a c k s o n E M C F o u n d a t i o n w h o m a ke i t possible to do it properly and efficiently.”

“Funds provided by the Jackson EMC Foundation are essential to assist families in crisis,” says Watkins. “We continue to see more requests for assistance each year. Without the generosity of the Jackson EMC Foundation, there is a greater probability that families will be displaced from stable housing.”

Jackson EMC awarded its first grant to the Salvation Army of Lawrenceville in June 2006 for $15,000. To date, the foundation has granted $110,000 to help keep families in their homes.

The g o al is to kee p th os e s uf f er ing f inancial cr is is i n t h e i r 6

homes. Typical clients range from low wage earners with scant savings who lost employment to those overwhelmed by high costs from an unexpected illness or injury, according to Watkins.

JEMCO news | August 2016

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT USS.SALVATIONARMY.ORG

jacksonemc.com

O P E R A T I O N R O U N D U P : YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded

$89,559 IN GRANTS during its June meeting, including $83,500 to organizations and $6,059 to individuals.

ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT RECIPIENTS: $15,000 | American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia To provide disaster relief, including food, shelter, personal needs and clothing, to families in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe counties who have lost their home to a fire or natural disaster. $13,000 | Jubilee Partners A nonprofit Christian services community in Comer, Ga, that assists newly arrived refuges screened by the U.S. State Department settle where they can learn English, cultural and practical skills and recover from war trauma and subsistence living in refugee camps, for medical services and transportation, household supplies, special clothing and English as a second language materials. $12,000 | St. Vincent de Paul at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church An organization of volunteers who give their time to assist families that have fallen on hard times, to help fund emergency financial assistance for housing assistance, including rent, mortgage and temporary housing to avoid eviction and foreclosure and prevent homelessness.

$10,000 | Potter’s House An Atlanta Mission facility, to help feed, house, counsel and provide educational programs such as adult literacy to men who are recovering from substance abuse through an intensive residential program at this 570acre working farm in Jefferson. $8,500 | Ark United Ministry Outreach Center To provide emergency financial assistance that will help prevent eviction and reduce homelessness for workers in low-wage jobs, the disabled and the elderly in Clarke, Madison and Oglethorpe counties who are facing unexpected expenses. $7,500 | Lekotek of Georgia A charitable organization that provides children with disabilities with accessible play, adaptive technology and toys, information and resources, to provide services through its Gainesville satellite office to serve ten new families from Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin and Madison counties, and to purchase additional adaptive toys and technology. $6,000 | Creative Community Services To help purchase a van to transport youth for the STEP Program, which helps prepare young people to transition out of the state foster care system and into independent adulthood, preventing them from ending up in mental institutions, homeless shelters or jails as adults.

$5,000 | Jewish Family and Career Services A nonsectarian agency providing human services programs to a diverse population of low to moderate income, underserved and in- need individuals in Gwinnett County, for basic dental services provided through its Ben Massell Dental Clinic. $4,000 | Franklin Life Pregnancy Center A volunteer, Christian ministry that provides testing, counseling and parenting classes for expectant teens and their families, to help provide the “Earn While You Learn” program that teaches parenting skills and provides essential child care items. $2,500 | Helping Mamas A Snellville nonprofit that provides essential baby items to Gwinnett County women and children in need, to help purchase diapers, cribs and car seats not available through public assistance programs.

INDIVIDUAL GRANT RECIPIENTS: $1,575 to replace a leaking back door for a young man disabled by ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis. $3,500 to help purchase a handicapped accessible van for a man injured and disabled by an ATV accident. $984 to purchase a lift chair for a disabled senior citizen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE JACKSON EMC FOUNDATION, OR TO APPLY FOR A GRANT, VISIT JACKSONEMC.COM/FOUNDATION

T HE K I NG S M EN Q UA R TE T TO PLAY ANNUAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 1 5 The Kingsmen Quartet began playing music in 1956 in the mountains of western North Carolina. Today, this powerhouse of musicians continues to define Southern Gospel music.

The Kingsmen have performed on the lawn of the White House for President Carter, for President Reagan at the opening of the World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tenn. and members who attend annual meeting September 15 will hear this group sing hit songs, such as “Gloryroad,” “Look for Me At Jesus’ Feet,” and “Love Lifted Me.” Music will begin at 6:15.

In 2000, the Kingsmen were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame followed by the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2008. The Kingsmen band was voted favorite band a record 17 times making this quartet one of the most awarded groups in Southern Gospel Music. Today, the Kingsmen consist of 2008 hall of fame inductee Ray Dean Reese, his son Brandon Reese, Randy Crawford, Bob Sellers and Chris Jenkins. jacksonemc.com

JEMCO news | August 2016

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YOUR POWER. YOUR COMMUNITY.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID

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 461 Swanson Drive Lawrenceville, GA (770) 963-6166

EMC SECURITY 55 Satellite Blvd., NW Suwanee, GA (770) 963-0305 or (706) 543-4009 jacksonemc.com |

@JacksonEMC |

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N E E D T O K N O W : FRAUD ALERT Jackson EMC takes steps to protect our members’ information.

Unfortunately, from time to time, Jackson EMC members are solicited by utility scammers and unknowingly provide information to the wrong people.

To prevent members from falling victim to potential scams, here is a list of the procedures Jackson EMC takes when communicating with members about bills: Whe n callin g th e off ic e, y ou m ay be as k ed t o v e r i f y t h e l a s t f o u r d i g i t s o f y o u r S o c i a l S e c u r i t y n u m b e r t o i de n ti fy yourself b ut you will not be as k ed f or c om plet e S o c i a l S e c u r i t y n u m b e r s ( u n l e s s y o u a r e c a l l i n g t o s e t u p n e w se r vi ce ) .

Jackso n EMC will not if y y ou by U. S. m ail of pas t d u e a m o u n t s a n d p o t e n t i a l d i s c o n n e c t i o n , a n d w i l l a s k y o u to u se t rad ition al p aymen t m et hods t o m ak e pay m ent , i n c l u d i n g c o m i n g t o t h e o ff i c e o r g o i n g t o j a c k s o n e m c . c o m .

O nly Ja ckso n EMC m em ber s who hav e s igned u p f o r p a p e r l e s s b i l l i n g w i l l r e c e i v e a n e m a i l f r o m t h e c o o p e r a ti ve notifying the m tha t t heir bill is r eady t o v iew.

Jackso n EMC will not r eques t t hat y ou obt ain pr e - p a i d c a r d s t o p a y y o u r b i l l .

O ur e mplo ye es will nev er c all or em ail y ou t o de m a n d i m m e d i a t e p a y m e n t t o a v o i d d i s c o n n e c t i o n .

If you suspect someone has reached out to you and obtained personal account or financial information, contact Jackson EMC immediately at 1-800-462-3691. Jackson EMC will never send an employee to your home or business to collect payment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES JACKSON EMC USES TO PROTECT MEMBERS, VISIT JACKSONEMC.COM/SAFETY-AND-SECURITY