TIP OF THE MONTH If you only want to heat or supplement inadequate heating in one room, small space heaters can be less expensive to use than your central heating system.—Source: energy.gov

CONNECTIONS

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JANUARY 2016 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

Upcoming eventsOffi ce closingCobb EMC will be closed on the following days:

Jan. 1: New Year’s Day

Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Employees are always on call for emergencies. Please call our automated outage system at 770-429-2100 in the event of an outage, and visit our outage center at www.cobbemc.com/outage.

Open board meetingThe Cobb EMC board of directors will host an open board meeting on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Cobb EMC community room. To RSVP: www.cobbemc.com/boardmeeting

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Cream of the crop. The best and brightest. Upper echelon. High achievers. Just about any superla-tive fits each year’s group of Georgia delegates for the Washington Youth Tour (WYT), sponsored by the state’s electric membership corporations, including Cobb EMC. Every delegate’s accomplish-ments and interests are highlighted during the kickoff banquet each year, before the high school students begin their whirlwind week of teambuilding, traveling, sightseeing, learning and bonding. There are some common themes: Not only are these young people very smart—and polite—but they also do a lot. Active in their churches. Busy with volunteer work. Gifted athletes. Beta Club. National Honor Society. Eagle Scouts. The list goes on and on. Considering the rigorous applica-tion process (which varies by EMC), it’s not surprising that the students chosen as WYT delegates have such impressive backgrounds. Some EMCs test applicants on their knowl-edge of electric cooperative history. Others receive recommendations from school counselors. Many co-ops conduct in-person interviews with the best candidates.

A big reason why these del-egates—who begin Washington Youth Tour week as strangers—bond so quickly and develop lasting friend-ships is that they are all driven to succeed. Those biographies shown at the kickoff banquet list the delegates’ college plans and career aspirations, and it’s clear that all set the bar high for themselves. Ready to count yourself among the success stories? The 2016 Washington Youth Tour will be held June 9-16. To apply now, visit cobbemc.com/youthtour.

Be a part of the Washington Youth Tour

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SAVE MORE WITH CO-OP CONNECTIONS®:

Cobb EMC Washington Youth Tour delegates Nethra Rajendran, left, and Yeseul Heo.

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Cobb Electric Membership Corporation

www.cobbemc.comEmail: memberservices@cobbemc.com

President and CEO Chip Nelson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman Bryan Boyd

Vice Chairman Tripper Sharp

Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm Swanson Eric Broadwell Kelly Bodner Edward Crowell David McClellan David Tennant Rudy Underwood

Editorial Staff Brooke Melton Angela Croce, CCC

Contacts & Office HoursPhone: 770-429-2100Report an outage: 770-429-2100Fax: 770-429-3330

In person:1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30060

Walk-in hours:Monday – Friday (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Drive-through hours: Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Member Care Center hours: Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)Saturday (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Express Pay drop box is available for non-cash payments 24/7

77 years of service to our membershipCobb EMC members have much to celebrate as we embark on a new year rich with opportunity. But first, let’s reflect on our 2015 milestones. Our board of directors, management and employees delivered on our promise to put you, our members, first and to provide safe, reliable power at the best possible price.

Low priced electricityWe believe reliable electric service at a competitive price is something you can count on Cobb EMC to deliver on a daily basis. Our dedication to competitive prices rang

true in the latest Georgia Public Service Commission Residential Rate Survey: second lowest among EMCs and fourth lowest among all electric utilities in the state of Georgia at the 1,000 kWh use level.

Savings passed to the membershipIn addition to being one of the most affordable electric utilities in the state, Cobb EMC lowered your electric bills even more in 2015 by returning more than $18 million in Wholesale Power Adjustments. These savings were passed along on your bills.

Small change turns into millionsThe Cobb EMC Community Foundation reached a milestone of giving more than $1.3 million back to local communities since its inception in 2013. These donations have helped to support over a hundred local charitable organiza-tions and educational projects through Operation Round Up®.

So, as you can tell, we worked hard for our members over the last year. But what I think is even more important is our focus on what’s ahead in the new year.

It’s easy to be greenOur co-op recognizes a rising interest in green energy options and solar ener-gy. That’s why we now offer Cooperative Solar, a program for residential mem-bers who want to participate in solar energy production without the expense of maintaining a solar energy system at home. Information about the program is available at www.cobbemc.com/coopsolar.

A bright future aheadThe solar facility in Taylor County—the largest single-site project in Georgia—is expected to achieve commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2016. Once this solar-generated energy begins flowing, Cobb EMC will receive approxi-mately 10 percent of our capacity portfolio mix from solar and about 5 percent of the energy needed to serve our members.

Investing in our future leadersWe strive to be a recognized leader in the utility industry, but we also want to be a good community steward. As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, we’re proud to help our members pursue the dream of a college education. For the second year, the Cobb EMC Community Foundation will award 14 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each to eligible high school seniors.

At Cobb EMC, three things never waver—our reliability, our employees’ continued commitment to our members and the company’s focus on the com-munity. As we start a new year together, I offer my sincerest wishes for your good health and prosperity in 2016!

Chip Nelson President and CEO

B R I N G I N G Y O U T H E POWER O F M E M B E R S H I PCONNECTIONS

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP

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Check out the SmartHub app! It’s an easy way to manage your account from your phone or tablet.

cobbemc.com/smarthub

Finalist excels as internAs part of Cobb EMC’s ongoing com-mitment to the community, a paid internship is awarded annually to one of the Cobb EMC Washington Youth Tour (WYT) finalists. The students underwent an application and interview process with members of the cor-porate communications department. Alexis Clark was selected for the 2015 summer internship. Cobb EMC strives to make the internship a rewarding experience by asking interns to make a list of 10

things they would like to learn during their internship and then works to make those things happen. Clark reflects on her experience. “Cobb EMC was truly one of the most impactful experiences I’ve ever had. The knowledge that I gained was invaluable.”

WYT delegates—in their own words What lesson that you learned from the Youth Tour do you think will serve you best in life? The importance of both inter-personal and intrapersonal personality was something I gained from the Youth Tour that I had not known before. After I was thrown in a group of over a hundred teenagers like me, I found the true value of socializing and interacting with others. —Yeseul Heo (Sequoyah High School)

Do you think the Youth Tour will help you become a bet-ter leader? If yes, how so? I felt my leadership skills growing stronger each day I was there. I got to communicate with so many people. I sat down and talked with a lot of delegates over this trip, and we exchanged stories about school, life, our favorite TV shows. It strengthened my communication skills and taught me how to talk to people I would have never thought I had anything in common with. —Nethra Rajendran (Pope High School)

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Traditionally, Cobb EMC’s intern (Alexis Clark) assists in announcing door-prize winners at the Annual Meeting.

Washington Youth Tour 2016 tentative itinerary

June 9: Kickoff banquet, AtlantaJune 10: Team-building activities; flight to Washington, D.C.

Dates TBD for the following:• Tour and lunch at Mount Vernon;

dinner at Union Station; evening guided tour of memorials; photo op of White House

• Guided tour of Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans memorials; Arlington National Cemetery guided tour; dinner performance of “Peter Pan” at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Md.

• All States assembly; tour Smithsonian museums; cruise on Potomac River

• Tour Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral; Sunset Parade at U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima statue)

• Meet with Georgia’s congressio-nal delegation; tour Newseum and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum; All States farewell event

June 16: Return flight to Atlanta

Note: Itinerary subject to change

Capture your share of the sun.The Cobb EMC Cooperative Solar program allows members to participate in solar energy production without the expense of purchasing and maintaining a solar energy system.

Sign up today at www.cobbemc.com/coopsolar.

GREENIt’s easy beingwith COOPERATIVE SOLAR.

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BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF ENERGY

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Cobb EMC wins 2015 International Lineman’s RodeoCobb EMC linemen beat out nearly 1,000 of their colleagues from around the world to win the World Championship title at the 32nd Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo, an event that tests linemen’s skills under poor conditions. The daylong competition, held Oct. 17 in Bonner Springs, Kansas, is designed to improve safety training, which is critical in an indus-try where safe work practic-es can mean the difference between life and death. This was the 19th year that Cobb EMC employees took part in the prestigious rodeo competition, and the fourth time they won the top award. Their unmatched skill, safety and speed proved exemplary as they won the World Championship through a combination of top scores and best times in four events, bringing home numerous awards. “We’re very proud to have the best linemen in the world,” says Chip Nelson, president and CEO of Cobb EMC. “Cobb EMC spends a great deal of time on training, making safety a top priority for our No. 1 asset, our employees.” Cobb EMC linemen have a strong track record at the event, winning World Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2007. This year, they placed first in sev-eral categories including “Journeyman Best of the Best,” “Journeyman Seniors Division” and “Journeyman Rural Electric Co-op Division,” garnering the World Championship title for 2015. The Lineman’s Rodeo attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman tasks and skills. The first Lineman’s Rodeo was held in September 1984, with twelve participating teams from Kansas and Missouri. The rodeo has grown with this year’s competi-tion including 303 apprentices and 229 teams, representing 118 utilities from Jamaica, Canada and the United States.

Swap out lightbulbs for high-efficiency ones, and you’ll save over the long winter months.

cobbemc.com/conserve

Track your energy use!

SmartHub® offers several tools you can use to compare and view your electric usage.

Key features:

• Analyze and understand your energy usage trends to find the best ways to cut back your use.

• Create and track a monthly budget to avoid an unex-pected utility bill.

• Set a point or range in time to compare the difference between your usage at different times of the day, month or year.

SmartHub learning videos are available at:cobbemc.com/aboutsmarthub

The award-winning teams from Cobb EMC display their hardware after an impressive showing at the International Lineman’s Rodeo.

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF SAFETY

Prepare for winter weather, stormsCobb EMC works year-round to prepare for winter weather and maintain—or quickly restore—power for members. When severe weather is predicted, our trucks are stocked and our crews are ready to mobilize if an outage occurs. Back at headquarters, our Power Control Center team monitors our system 24/7, so if your power goes out, we can start working immediately to get you back up and running. To stay up-to-date at home, visit our outage and storm center, which is available at www.cobbemc.com/outagecenter on both computers and mobile devices. Our outage map shows outages our crews are already aware of and provides estimated restoration times. If your outage isn’t shown on the map, it may not have been reported yet. If you lose power, call 770-429-2100 to report an outage. Here are five hints on preparing for winter storms and the power outages that may come along with them:

1. Don’t find yourself in the dark. Keep flashlights in multiple rooms and fluores-cent camping lanterns on hand.

2. When TVs and computers aren’t working, battery-powered radios can keep you informed. (Remember to replace batteries every three years and stock up early. Stores’ supplies deplete quickly when meteorologists predict a storm.)

3. Stay connected. Unless a storm takes down your phone line, landlines should still work, though cordless models will eventually run out of charge.

4. Keep cellphones fully charged, and avoid heavy use once the power goes out, as it can quickly drain battery life.

5. To protect computers from unexpected power disruptions, plug them into an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).

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Never plug two space heaters into the same outlet. It’ll trip your circuit.

cobbemc.com/safety

We are always here for you

At Cobb EMC, we are committed to working safely and effectively to protect members and employees. We strive to bring you the power of safety through safety tools and resources, such as the Storm Safety Guide.

Download your copy of tips, information, resources and safety precautions for before, during and after a storm:cobbemc.com/stormsafety

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

A little change makes a BIG differenceOperation Round Up recipientsEach month, the Cobb EMC Community Foundation board of directors administers Operation Round Up® funds to local nonprofits. The Cobb EMC Community Foundation awarded more than $1,341,150 in Operation Round Up funds, to date, with $57,500 going to the following nonprofits in November:

• 100 Black Men of North Metro Atlanta Inc.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Bartow County

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

• Cherokee Child Advocacy Council Inc.

• Cobb Community Foundation for Cobb Children’s Fund

• Davis Direction Foundation Inc.

• Georgia Symphony Orchestra

• Reinhardt University

• United Military Care

• VOICE Today Inc.

• Young Life West Cobb

• WellStar Foundation

Visit www.cobbemc.com/roundup for a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding.

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We’re pleased to help build a better quality of life for those around us.

cobbemc.com/roundup

$5,000 scholarships up for grabs

Cobb EMC is proud to offer the Cobb EMC Community Foundation Scholarship. Fourteen scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded to eligible high school seniors who live in a primary residence served by Cobb EMC.

Two types of scholarships are available:1. College/university 2. Vocational/technical

The annual scholarships are funded and administered by the Cobb EMC Community Foundation Board.

For eligibility and to download an application, visit cobbemc.com/cfscholarship

As a member of Cobb EMC you are connected to valuable discounts through your Co-op Connections® Card, including discounts from local participating businesses. Find out more at www.cobbemc.com/discounts. ounts.

SAVE MORE WITH CO-OP CONNECTIONS®: Home Services

2 Hip Chicks Designswww.2hipchicksdesigns.com

All American Decorative Concretewww.aadecorativeconcrete.com

Decorator’s Decision Inc. www.decoratorsdecisioninc.com

Guso Janitorial Services LLCwww.gusojanitorial.org

Kay P. Morgan, High Caliber Realty www.kaypmorgan.com

SafePath Security www.safepathsecurity.com

Southern Remodelingwww.southernremodeling.net

Sundial Plumbing www.sundialplumbing.com

The Garage Dudewww.thegaragedude.com

Walton Communities www.waltoncommunities.com

Automotive

Auto Cool Inc.www.autocool.biz

Autossey Automotivewww.autossey.com

Integrity Car Carewww.1ntegrity.net

Kams Auto Service Centerwww.kamsauto.com

Kennesaw Auto Center www.kennesawautocenter.com

Napa’s Premier Service Centerwww.premierservicecenter.com

Southern Imports Automotive Inc.www.southernimportsautoinc.com

We look out for you, so you can enjoy what’s important.As a Cobb EMC member, you can take advantage of discount identity theft monitoring with ID Sanctuary. Protect your family for as low as $8 per month.

Learn more and sign up today by visiting www.cobbemc.com/idsanctuary.

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