TIP OF THE MONTH Consider purchasing rechargeable batteries—and an ENERGY STAR® charger for them—which are more cost-effective than disposable batteries. In the U.S. alone, more energy-efficient battery chargers could save families more than $170 million annually.—Source: energy.gov

CONNECTIONS

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MARCH 2016 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

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Cobb EMC will partner with the Cobb Heating and Air Association and Gas South to give one deserving member a Home Energy Efficiency Makeover. The makeover will show the cooperative’s members that home improvement projects can improve energy efficiency and lower energy consumption.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to share energy efficiency with our members,” says Kevan Espy, vice president of marketing and corporate communications for Cobb EMC. “With the makeover, we have a chance to give back to the community and show our members how they can benefit from energy- saving measures at home.”

The new program encourages the community to nominate their neighbors whose homes are in need of energy efficiency improvements. Nominations will be accepted until March 31, 2016, at 5 p.m.

To be eligible to win, homeowners must live in a primary residence served by Cobb EMC and the Atlanta Gas Light Co. pipeline system and have natural gas service at their home.

The winner will be selected through a comprehensive application screening process aimed at identifying those homes that are energy inefficient and that can benefit the most from the installation of the energy efficiency measures. Possible makeover measures include, but are not limited to, two years of free natural gas service courtesy of Gas South; HVAC and/or water heater replacement; attic insulation, duct sealing, caulking and weatherstripping; smart thermostat installation and ENERGY STAR® appliances.

The winner is solely responsible for all applicable taxes. Find program rules and entry guidelines on our website.

Nominate a Cobb EMC member to win a home energy efficiency makeover Upcoming events

Town hall meetingThe Cobb EMC board of directors will host a town hall meeting on March 28 in the Cobb EMC community room.Registration is required. RSVP: www.cobbemc.com/townhall

Energy efficiency seminarOn April 12 at 6 p.m., experts will share tips on how to save money on your electric bill. To RSVP: www.cobbemc.com/energyefficiencyseminar

Annual MeetingThe 2016 Annual Meeting will take place on Sept. 17. Stay up-to-date with the most current information and applicable deadlines and requirements at www.cobbemc.com/annualmeeting

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ENERGY MAKEOVER

Cobb EMC

Nominate a member and tell us their story!cobbemc.com/makeover

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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

Cooperative Solar project brings solar energy access to members

Balancing the need to provide reliable energy with the desire to help our members become more energy efficient, Cobb EMC has launched the Cooperative Solar program.

With Cooperative Solar, Cobb EMC makes it easy to be green and have access to solar energy. The benefits of clean, green solar power are more widely available to our residential members who want to participate in solar energy production without the expense of purchasing and

maintaining a solar energy system.

Cobb EMC has designated solar energy produced at our Azalea Solar Power facility to supply our Cooperative Solar program. Azalea Solar is a 7.7-mega-watt photovoltaic ground-mounted project, located in Washington County, that produces an average 39 megawatt-hours of solar energy per day (for the 2014-2015 period).

Cooperative Solar benefits• Rental property tenants can participate.• Neighborhood covenants do not affect access.• No worries about holes in your roof, roof integrity or orientation to the sun.• No contract, affordably priced, maintenance free.

Energy productionThe energy output from each block is approximately 160 to 270 kilowatt-hours (kWh) monthly. Energy output may be higher or lower due to time of the year, the number of cloudy days in the month and other factors.

BillingMembers can subscribe to a block of solar energy for $25 per month. Each block includes five panels. The energy output from each block will offset an equivalent amount of traditional power, allowing members to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy for an affordable price.

Cobb EMC remains committed to doing what we can to help the environment while continuing to provide our members reliable, affordable electric energy. We hope you will take this opportunity to join us in our efforts, and capture your share of the sun. For more information on Cooperative Solar, visit cobbemc.com/coopsolar.

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

QUICK FACTS:• 7.7 megawatts• 100-acre farm• 31,800 solar panels

HOW TO SIGN UP

You can sign up online at cobbemc.com/coopsolar or by calling 770-429-2121.

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF ENERGY

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Top five energy users in your homeDo you know what’s using the most energy in your home? Whether your home is old or new, chances are you are spending more on energy costs than necessary.

1. Space cooling and 2. HeatingTogether, home heating and cooling use the most energy and take the biggest bite out of your energy budget. On the bright side, there are ways you can achieve at least 10 percent savings by taking simple low-cost or no-cost steps.

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during cold weather. • Set your thermostat to the recommended indoor temperature, 78 degrees

Fahrenheit, during warm weather.• Clean HVAC system filters to cut costs from five to 15 percent. • Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors to prevent heat escape. • Proper use of a programmable thermostat can save you 10 percent on your

monthly utility bill.

3. Water heating You can reduce water heating costs in a matter of seconds by lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, most households usually only require them set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you have a dishwasher without a booster heater, you may require water temperature within a range of 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for optimum cleaning. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

4. LightingReplacing your home’s five most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR®-certified LEDs can save you $75 per year. Another easy way to save is to always turn off unnecessary lights.

5. RefrigerationIf your refrigerator was purchased before 2001, chances are it uses 40 percent more energy than a new ENERGY STAR model. If you are considering an appli-ance update, a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses at least 15 percent less energy than non qualified models and 20 percent less energy than required by current federal standards.

For additional ways to save, visit cobbemc.com/togetherwesave.

Time for a change! Air filters work hard – remember to check them once a month.

cobbemc.com/conserve

Reserve your HVAC Tuneup rebate

A yearly tuneup is one of several steps that our members can take to increase the efficiency of their heating and cooling system.

Save money on your tuneup by taking advantage of our $50 HVAC Tuneup rebate. The program starts March 1 and will run through June 1, or while supplies last.

For program guidelines and to register, fill out the online form at cobbemc.com/tuneup.

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* Since June 2013The Co-op Connections® Card and the Healthy Savings package are not insurance, nor are they intended to replace insurance. This plan provides discounts at certain health care providers for medical services. This plan does not make payments directly to the providers of medical services. The plan member is obligated to pay for all health care services, but will receive a discount from those health care provid-ers who have contracted with the discount plan organization. For a full list of disclosures, visit www.healthysavings.coop. Discount Medical Plan Organization: New Benefits, Ltd., Attn: Compliance Department, P.O. Box 671309, Dallas, TX 75367-1309.

How the Healthy Savings Program works:

Save 10-60% on health-related services. To locate participating Healthy Savings Program providers, call 800-800-7616 or visit www.cobbemc.com/healthysavings.

Healthy Savings discountsThe same program that offers discounts at local merchants and has saved Cobb EMC members more than $80,000* on prescriptions also offers significant savings on dental, vision, hearing, lab and imaging services and chiropractic work.

Download the Co-op Connections® app to get your card on your tablet or mobile phone!

POWER OF MEMBERSHIPBRINGING YOU THE

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP

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Keep an eye on your energy consumptionAs a Cobb EMC member, you have access to a simple and convenient way to track your energy use. SmartHub®, our self-service site, lets you easily manage your account 24/7 from personal computers, smartphones and tablets.

• On the My Usage page, you’ll find a series of interactive tools that allow you to look at past and current usage, compare bills, determine average usage, track differences in usage and set a monthly target to help avoid unexpected high utility bills.

• Curious how outside temperatures affect your bills? Navigate to the Usage Explorer and view hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly energy usage compared to the average temperature. The interactive graph shows energy usage peaks and trends in your home, so you can make an effort to lower consumption.

• You can also track energy-efficient upgrades in your home, like a newly installed water heater, to see how they’re working. Simply set a marker in the Usage Planning tool to monitor energy consumption changes.

• Plan and budget your monthly electric bill with the Budget Gauge. Set a monthly target and check back often to see how you are trending toward the monthly budget goal.

Remember to download the freely available SmartHub app to view and analyze energy usage and pay your bill anywhere you go. To learn more about SmartHub, visit cobbemc.com/aboutsmarthub and watch our instructional videos.

At Cobb EMC you aren’t just a customer, you’re a member-owner, because you have ownership in our cooperative!

cobbemc.com/myemc

Convenient ways to pay your Cobb EMC bill

Set up automated drafts or make one-time payments online with SmartHub.

View and pay your bill online through your participating financial institution.

Pay by cash, check or money order at our office.

Take a copy of your bill to any MoneyGram location, including Walmart or CVS (fees may apply).

Mail check or money orderpayable to Cobb EMC.

Call 1-855-730-8714

Download the SmartHub app.

Learn more: cobbemc.com/pay

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF SAFETY

Stay safe on Saint Patrick’s DaySaint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. Many people around the world celebrate Irish heritage and the color green on March 17. Celebrations can be fun, but it’s also important not to rely only on luck to stay safe.

Here are three tips for you to consider this Saint Patrick’s Day.

1. Don’t drink and drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on Saint Patrick’s Day alone 32 percent of fatalities are from drunk driving accidents. So even if you’ve had one drink don’t get behind the wheel. Find a designated driver or call a taxi or car service for a ride home.

2. Hosting a party at home? Make sure your home is safe from electrical hazards before inviting guests over. Inspect all small appliances before use, check to make sure all outlets are grounded and protected for small children, don’t overload your outlets, don’t run any cords under carpets and avoid using space heaters.

3. Stay away from power lines if you are involved in an accident. Make sure that you or anyone driving the car you are in knows what to do in case of an auto accident with downed power lines. If you are in an accident with a power line, your vehicle may be charged with electricity. Stay in the car and tell others to do the same. If you step outside of the car you could be electrocuted. Call 911 and your local utility provider. Do not leave your vehicle until a utility professional has told you it is safe to do so. However, if you must exit your vehicle, for example, in the case of fire, jump free from the car and hop away from it with both feet together.

For more safety tips, please visit cobbemc.com/safety.

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When working in the yard, keep ladders at least 15 feet away from power lines.

cobbemc.com/safety

Write a letter to a Cobb EMC lineman

America’s electric cooperatives have designated the second Monday of April as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

On April 11, Cobb EMC will honor the dedicated line crews who often work in challenging conditions to keep the power on.

We’re inviting our members to help us celebrate by sending a letter of thanks to our linemen who sacrifice nights, weekends and holidays with their families to safely work around the clock to keep the lights on for the rest of us.

Wattson, Cobb EMC’s safety ambassador

Mail your letters to: Cobb EMC Linemen Attn: Corporate Communications P.O. Box 369 Marietta, GA 30061

BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

Career Day celebrates 25 yearsThis year marks the 25th anniversary of Cobb EMC’s annual Career Day. Each year the cooperative hosts students from Partner in Education schools to introduce them to dif-ferent career opportunities. Since 1991, the cooperative has welcomed approximately 1,600 students to experience a day in the life of a Cobb EMC employee.

Cobb EMC recently hosted 89 fifth-grade students from Allatoona, Boston, Dowell, Due West, Ford, LaBelle, Russom and Timber Ridge for the cooperative’s 25th annual Career Day. During the event, students spent the morning job shadowing employees across the company.

Filling out an application for the career for which they felt most qualified helped strengthen job search skills for each student prior to the event. Top candidates were then given ID badges for their first day on the job.

After working through the morning, students enjoyed a luncheon and door prizes, courtesy of Cobb EMC.

In addition to elementary school Career Day, Cobb EMC hosts middle school Career Day, an event designed to teach students job search skills and provide them a day in a professional setting.

Throughout the day, students experience a networking session with Cobb EMC employees, mock interviews with human resources professionals and a luncheon. Before heading back to school, students receive certificates of achievement and journals from the cooperative.

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Involvement in our community is a priority. It’s something we’ve been doing for the last 78 years.

cobbemc.com/community

A little change makes a BIG difference

The Cobb EMC Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,522,300 in Operation Round Up® funds, to date, with $123,500 going to the following nonprofits in January:

• The Center for Family Resources

• Cobb Schools Foundation• Junior League of Cobb-

Marietta Inc.• Kennesaw State University

Foundation• Omosaze Inc.• Quality Care for Children• SafePath Children’s Advocacy

Center Inc.• Sweetwater Mission Inc.• Vision Rehabilitation Services

of Georgia• YWCA of Northwest Georgia

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

Career Day became an annual tradition after an employee asked if she could bring her child to the office to see what it’s like to work at Cobb EMC.

Air Conditioning and Heating

AccuTemp Heating & Cooling Inc.www.accutempair.com

Cheshire Heating & A/C Co. Inc.www.cheshirehvac.com D. McKeon Heating & Air Inc.www.dmckeon.com

GUS HVAC Inc.www.gushvac.com

Ragsdale Heating, Air & Plumbing www.ragsdaleair.com Attorneys

Divorce Money Matterswww.divorcemoneymatters.com

DivorceTown Help and Hope Fairwww.divorcehelpandhope.com

Hallmark, Bowman & Hallmark www.bowmanlaw.com

Beauty, Bridal and Events

Catered Southern Events www.cateredsouthernevents.com CTO Bridalwww.ctobridals.com Gala Events Facilitywww.galafacility.com

Gary and Elaine’s Photographywww.garyandelainesphotography.com

Jump Ovation Parties www.jumpovation.com

Merle Norman Cosmeticswww.merlenormanstudios.com

The Alison Agency www.thealisonagency.com

Financial and Business Services

D F Globalwww.amway.com/dfglobal

Dollar Wise Cartridgewww.dollarwisecartridgemobile.com Fifth Third Bank, Member FDIC*www.53.com Just T-shirt Quiltswww.justtshirtquilts.com/cobbemc

Picture Frame Depotwww.pfdatlanta.com

PromoURLogo www.promourlogo.com Windham Business Serviceswww.windhamservices.net

Xpress Ink & Toner www.xpressink.net

Health Care and Fitness

Blumsack Family Chiropracticwww.blumsackfamilychiropractic.com Corey Chiropractic www.coreychiro.com Eaton Chiropracticwww.eatonchiropractic.com Highland Family Chiropracticwww.highlandfamilychiro.com

Horseshoe Bend Chiropractic www.horseshoebendchiropractic.com

Max Muscle Sports Nutritionwww.maxmusclecobb.com

Relax and Wax www.relaxandwax.com

Smith Smile Orthodonticswww.smithsmile.com

Quick Weight Loss Centerswww.qwlc.com

Home Services

All American Decorative Concrete www.aadecorativeconcrete.com

Decorator’s Decision Inc. www.decoratorsdecisioninc.com Guso Janitorial Services LLC www.gusojanitorial.org Kay P. Morgan, High Caliber Realty www.kaypmorgan.com SafePath Security www.safepathsecurity.com Southern Remodeling www.southernremodeling.net Sundial Plumbing www.sundialplumbing.com The Garage Dude www.thegaragedude.com Walton Communities www.waltoncommunities.com

POWER OF MEMBERSHIPBRINGING YOU THE

Cobb EMC gives you more ways to save this SPRING! As a member of Cobb EMC, you are connected to valuable discounts from local and national businesses through your Co-op Connections® Card. Present it at any participating business and save, or look for national deals online. Find a complete list of participating local and national business at www.cobbemc.com/discounts.

*Online offer must be redeemed at www.cobbemc.com/discounts

Download the Co-op Connections app to get your card on your

tablet or mobile phone!

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