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Four County EMC’s Mitchell Keel Retiring

Keel dedicated 27 years of service to electric co-ops

Keel (right) at a Poletop Rescue competition for NC electric cooperatives

Four County Electric Membership Corporation’s CEO Mitch Keel will retire effective June 30, following a 27-year career serving electric cooperatives.

“Working here at Four County EMC has been the highlight of my career,” Keel said. “We have a great board of directors to work with and very capable employees. They want to move the co-op forward, and that makes a big difference.”

A native of Eastern North Carolina, Keel joined Four County EMC in Burgaw as CEO in 2004. During his time with the co-op, he has focused on innovation and deploying new technology as a means of better serving members and the communities they call home.

Under Keel’s leadership, Four County EMC deployed an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project, allowing two-way communication between the co-op and its meters. More than 200 miles of fiber optic cable, connecting substations and co-op offices, also improved communication between co-op systems and allowed for faster response times during outages.

Four County EMC and its members weathered several storms during Keel’s tenure, including devastating effects from Hurricane Florence in 2018. Nearly 90 percent of the co-op’s members lost power following Florence, and widespread flooding slowed restoration efforts. Building on that experience, the co-op recently enhanced a storm response process that includes partnerships with five strategic locations throughout its service territory – camps and community centers where visiting line crews can rest and recuperate during restoration efforts.

“With the unpredictability of Mother Nature, it’s crucial that we continuously improve our emergency plans to ensure that power is restored to our members as quickly and safely as possible,” Keel said of the initiative.

Keel has served North Carolina’s electric cooperatives on several statewide boards and committees throughout his career, including as president, vice president and secretary- treasurer of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Four County EMC, Keel was general manager of Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative in Missouri for 10 years. He also managed electric utility systems for the cities of Kinston and Ayden, and was an electrical engineer for the Greenville Utilities Commission. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and was an honor graduate of the U.S. Army’s electrical engineering school. Keel also studied electrical engineering at NC State and earned his business degree from Mt. Olive College.

In retirement, Keel and his wife, Cindy, look forward to spending time with their three children and nine grandchildren.

“While we will miss his commitment and leadership, we are in a better position due to his many contributions,” said Four County EMC Board President Franklin Williams. “He has paved the way for the cooperative’s future.”

Keel at a Four County EMC annual meeting

Don Gatton Named Incoming CEO for Four County EMC

Don Gatton, who currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Four County EMC, has been named incoming CEO through a unanimous vote by the co-op’s board of directors. Gatton will assume the role July 6 following CEO Mitch Keel’s retirement. Gatton has served the co-op for a combined 13 years, both as director of Safety, Training and Loss Control and in his current role. From 2016 through 2018, Gatton served as Job Training & Safety Specialist with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Olive College and a Master of Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.

NC State: Hurricane Season Could Be Above Average

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season could see 15 to 18 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin, according to researchers at NC State University. The Atlantic basin includes the entire Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

That number would put the season above average, even given a recent redefining of what “average” means. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced its current measure for average, based on the 30-year period between 1991 and 2020, is 14 named storms, with three major hurricanes. The previous measure for average, between the years 1981–2010, was 12 named storms.

Of the predicted storms this season, seven to nine may become hurricanes, with two to three possibly being major storms.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Visit ncstormcenter.coop for tips on how to prepare.

Pee Dee Electric CEO Elected to National Board

Donnie Spivey, CEO and executive vice-president of Wadesboro-based Pee Dee Electric, was recently elected to represent North Carolina on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Board of Directors. NRECA works on behalf of more than 900 local electric co-ops across the country.

“I am honored to have been selected to represent the electric cooperatives of North Carolina,” Spivey said. “I look forward to serving as a voice for North Carolina on the national level, as well as gaining perspective that I can bring back and apply here at home.”

Spivey began his career at Pee Dee Electric in 1985 as a staff assistant, and was promoted to District Manager in 1993. In 1999, he was promoted to CEO and executive vice-president. He is a past president of the NCEMC board of directors and currently serves as chair of the Power Supply Committee. In addition, he is a member of the boards of directors of NCAEC and ACES Power Marketing. Spivey also serves as secretary of the Board of Directors of Sandhills Utility Services, Inc., which owns, maintains and operates the electric distribution system on Fort Bragg Army Base.

In 2013, Spivey was appointed by Governor Pat McCrory to serve on the NC Rural Electrification Authority Board of Directors and currently serves as Chairman of that Board. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Wingate University.

Spivey’s two-year term will begin with the adjournment of the NRECA Board of Directors’ 2022 annual meeting, currently scheduled for March 6, 2022, at which time Roanoke Electric Cooperative President and CEO Curtis Wynn will step down from his current role on the national board (see “Reflections on Two Years of National Service,” April 2021, page 6).

Donnie Spivey

Has it Been 75 Years Already?

Carolina Farmer first hit mailboxes this month in 1946 A lot happened back in June 1946. The Blue Angels made its first performance in the sunny Florida skies. The BBC began broadcasting for the first time since the start of World War II. And

Carolina Farmer—the precursor to Carolina Country magazine—was first mailed out to members of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. In 1969 we debuted our new name (see “A Look Back at 50 Years of Carolina Country,” January 2019, page 8). Through it all, we’ve taken pleasure in sharing stories about the people and places that make North Carolina home. We’re looking forward to what the next 75 years will bring.

Building a Brighter Future Nimble and Reliable: Natural Gas Plants

Most may be familiar with natural gas as an option, where available, for heating homes and lighting stovetops and fireplaces. But North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are using the resource for a much bigger job: generating power while helping to ensure reliability across the power grid.

The North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), which supplies power to 25 NC electric co-ops, owns two natural gas plants. The Anson and Hamlet plants, located in Anson and Richmond counties, respectively, use combustion turbines — large jet engines similar to what you’d find on a plane — to quickly ramp up power when it’s needed.

Plant facts ■ Both plants came online in 2007. ■ Each plant has six units; the Hamlet Plant’s sixth unit was added in 2014. ■ Combined, the plants provide a capacity of 672 megawatts. ■ The plants use a 1:1 mixture of demineralized water and natural gas for fuel, a mixture that helps reduce emissions. ■ Each plant stores a total 900,000 gallons of water onsite in two above-ground tanks. ■ The plants are heavily automated, and can be run with few employees or even started remotely from on offsite control center. A reliable resource ■ The plants are used as “peaking” units, providing power during times of high demand.

■ Natural gas generation can also be used to supplement renewable sources of power when not available, such as solar on a cloudy day. ■ Backup batteries provide power to control the turbines should the plants themselves lose power.

The Anson Plant

Main parts of a natural gas plant

(Anson Plant shown)

Combustion turbine units

Fuel tanks

Water tanks Switchyard

Control building

Thermal Valley

Aerotow hang gliding with Sara Sardano and pilot Craig Pearson at Thermal Valley Hang Gliding

Sometimes you just need to raise your sights for a different perspective. There are plenty of ways to take to the wide open skies above our state — from hot-air ballooning and paragliding to hang gliding where the Wright Brothers launched aviation. Whether in the mountains, Piedmont or along the coast, North Carolina has plenty of options to get a view from above.

Dancing with the wind

Aerotow hang gliding and paragliding

In the mountains, thermals — rising, heated air — serve as your passage for flight. At Thermal Valley Hang Gliding (thermalvalley.net or 828-292-7473), situated between Morganton and Lenoir, the pilot for the tandem hang-gliding experience knows exactly where those thermal columns push up, leading to an exciting flight.

Owners Craig and Laura Pearson want to share their joy of free flight with the public, and hope some participants catch the flying bug and return for advanced training to become solo pilots. After a 15-minute ground school session on flight expectations, then helmet and safety glasses fittings, the passenger on this tandem ride slips into a body hammock nestled under the glider’s canopy and above the pilot. The tandem hang glider is towed into the air behind a light aircraft. At about 1,500 feet, the tow rope is released, freeing the glider to swerve and move up and down with the wind and thermals as fuel.

The 360-degree scenery of the mountains and foothills stretches to a view of the downtown Charlotte skyline on clear days. The quiet is punctured by just the wind and fun chit-chat with the pilot (and a few loud “woo-hoos”). Passengers also learn basic controls of the glider. The flight can range up to a mile high and lasts on average 10–35 minutes, before descending and landing on the runway like an airplane.

Aerotow hang gliding is “a way families can share a memorable experience and walk away with a positive feeling for hang gliding,” Laura says. And feel the freedom of flight.

Thermals also fuel the fun north of Wilkesboro at the Sky Retreat’s Blue Ridge Paragliding Center (theskyretreat.com or 704-907-6963). Owners Dima and Merin Sazinas have traveled all over the world as professional ballroom dancers and paragliders, but, thanks to Google Earth, found a home overlooking the Blue Ridge valley where their passion for paragliding (and dancing) could be shared.

Located at 3,300 feet, an engine isn’t needed for flight here, just patience (or “para-waiting,” as Dima quips). For a “butter smooth” safe

VisitNC.com

Powered paragliding at Kitty Hawk, Outer Banks tandem flight, a steady south to southwest wind is ideal. But that isn’t a daily occurrence. With the ever-changing weather conditions, Dima and his crew fly just shy of 100 tandem flights a year. He provides a two-week window to interested flyers, then a two-day notice once conditions look good for flight. When conditions are right, the tandem paragliding experience is worth the wait.

Once in the air, Dima and his tandem partner lift to about 3,800 to 4,300 feet. To go higher, he says, will give you a view of just the treetops. At this elevation, gliders go sightseeing at the nearby Cascades waterfall and to the Dark Sky Observatory in Ronda, as well as gain a bird’s eye view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

When talking to Dima about paragliding and the freedom it provides, you notice why he has a passion for it. Dima smiles and explains that with every maneuver, the air is your partner, you are “dancing with the wind.”

A view of the Piedmont

Hot air ballooning

For a quiet, leisurely float above the verdant landscape in Iredell County, check out Big Oh! Balloons in Cleveland (bigohballoons.com or 704-872-7761). For the past 40 years, Big Oh! owners Charles Page and Kristie Darling have been taking folks on hot-air balloon rides to cross an item off their bucket list, celebrate birthdays, become engaged or even get married.

“People have so many fantasies about hot-air ballooning, and many different reasons for wanting to soar,” says Kristie. “Our rides feature smaller baskets — where passengers stand with the pilot during the flight — so the rides can accommodate two to three people for the one-hour journey.”

The couple can also coordinate rides for larger groups.

“Statesville and Iredell County are home to balloon manufacturer FireFly Balloons; we have about a dozen balloon pilots that partner with each other. We’ve had as many

VisitNC.com Sky Retreat

Ballooning over Candler

“During flight you’ll feel like you’re suspended in space, gently supported by a cloud…”

Paragliding near Wilkesboro

Kitty Hawk Kites

Hang gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites, Outer Banks

as 21 balloons launch at one time for group rides.”

Even if you’re not into taking flight, visit Statesville for the 47th Annual Carolina BalloonFest from Friday, October 15, through Sunday, October 17. That’s when the county celebrates the colorful sport with dozens of hot-air balloonists offering tethered and free-floating rides, plus arts and crafts and entertainment. The event raises funds for charity.

Sailing over the dunes

Hang gliding and parasailing

Coastal North Carolina’s fame as the birthplace of aviation carries on through the Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School, with multiple locations on the Outer Banks. Offering hang gliding along the same sandy dunes where Wilbur and Orville Wright took their first flight, the school replicates the experience in modern terms.

“We’re not just offering rides, we’re offering full-fledged hang-gliding instruction,” says Wolf Gaidis, flight park manager and lead instructor at the Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School at Jockey’s Ridge. “Everyone does ground school for the first 25 or 30 minutes, then we take them out to the dunes for a couple hours and several attempts at flying a hang glider.”

Harnessed-in students fly solo, launching their hang gliders with the wind in their faces, running along the dunes.

“During flight you’ll feel like you’re suspended in space, gently supported by a cloud — a wow experience — before gently landing on the sand,” Wolf says.

Parasailing is also available, providing a peaceful, bird’s-eye view while being towed by a boat below. For longer rides at higher altitudes, Kitty Hawk Kites has inland sites for tandem hang gliding, where a student and instructor fly together.

“The gliders are pulled up by an ultralight via a tow rope and when they reach an altitude of around 2,000 feet the instructor releases the glider from tow for a 10- to 15-minute ride back to the ground,” Wolf says. “It feels just like flying in your dreams … an unforgettable, dynamic experience.”

Renee Gannon is the senior associate editor for Carolina Country. Pamela A. Keene is a freelance journalist who writes for magazines and newspapers across the Southeast and nationally.

Tubin ’ the Tar

Go with the flow on NC’s lazy rivers

By Tara Verna

Tara’s daughters, Isabella (background) and Rosalina, tubing the Tar River in 2017.

Margarita Galvan

Most of the tubing crew (left to right): the Verna’s: Lino, Isabella, Tara, Rosa and Leo. And their cousins, the Galvan’s: Sandro (blue shirt) and Marco.

Birding chirping … turtles sunning themselves … feet dangling from a bright orange tube into water the color of sweet tea … kids laughing and splashing … a cold sip of a drink … the silvery flip of a speckled perch … jeez it’s hot! ... bouncing off the tube for a quick cool, dip … clambering awkwardly back on … gazing up into a canopy of kaleidoscopic greenery … oh, look! A heron! Ah, the magic of tubing a lazy river in North Carolina!

Something for everyone

I’ve been tubing down the Tar River in northeastern North Carolina a few times. Each trip has been a welcome respite from stress, the pandemic, daily life — in other words, magic. You’d have to work hard to be unhappy on a lazy river, as it offers something for just about everyone. My kids found joy in splashing and dunking one another; beaching their tubes on large rocks along the way for a picnic; leaping from said rocks or half-submerged trees to cool off. I loved watching their antics, feeling the pull of the gentle current and the water flowing over my feet — closing my eyes to drink in the sun and feeling goosebumps while passing under the shade of a towering oak. My sisterin-law took a continuous stream of photos with her phone, tempting fate by holding it over the river, straining to get that “perfect” selfie or action shot. My husband kept the cooler tube close, indulging in snacks and drinks and sun with a little too much abandon, until his skin was approaching lobster-done.

Although our trip lasted about three hours and only covered 1.5 miles, the Tar River is actually 215 miles long and averages 3–6 feet deep. It winds its way southeast, from Roxboro through places like Louisburg, Rocky Mount, Tarboro and Greenville.

In the past, it was used as a major route for tar-laden barges as they headed to the sea, hence its “tar” moniker. Today, it’s home to an amazing number of species that rely on this river ecosystem, including bald eagles, osprey, beavers, deer and more.

Loafers Glory Rafting & Tubing

Getting ready to float down the Toe River

Miles of adventure

The Tar River is one of more than 40,000 miles of rivers and streams in North Carolina, so there is certainly plenty to choose from. You can go it alone or rent your equipment from a company like Tar River Life (tarriverlife.com). Most of these companies offer tubing as well as kayaking or canoeing. A few allow children as young as 3, but most encourage ages 5 and up. They’ll typically have you park your car at the end point and bus your group to the start. After you finish, you’ll have a short walk back to your car.

You’ll find something unique about all of them. The Tar River trip offers a high bank at the end and if the water is deep enough, my kids love running and cannon-balling into the river. I love the stone, graffiti-covered wall at the end where we take our “after” shot, imagining we look like a rock band rather than simply drippy, tired and sunburned — but happy.

After coping with the stresses of a pandemic for more than a year, it might be just what the doctor ordered to capture a little vitamin D and downtime on a lazy river. Megan Greer, general manager of Tar River Life, finds her own version of healing in the river.

“As a staff, we tend to take the river for granted,” she says. “But after this past year, it has rekindled our passion to see people enjoy it so much — we feel so much gratitude.”

Tara Verna is the creative director for Carolina Country.

Plan your trip

With thousands of miles of river to explore across the state, there’s likely a lazy float waiting to be had not far from you. Here are a few outfitters to help get you on the water — call ahead to confirm availability.

MOUNTAINS

Deep Creek Smoky Mountain Tubing, Bryson City bit.ly/deepcreektubing | 828-488-6055 French Broad River Zen Tubing, Asheville zentubing.com | 855-936-8823 Green River Silver Creek Tubing, Saluda silvercreektubing.com | 828-894-2331 New River High Mountain Expeditions, Boone bit.ly/hme-tubing | 828-202-1981 Oconaluftee River Smoky Mountain Tube & Raft, Cherokee cherokeetubeandraft.com | 828-497-4545 Toe River Loafers Glory Rafting & Tubing, Bakersville bit.ly/toerivertubing | 828-688-9290 Tuckasegee River Dillsboro River Company, Sylva bit.ly/tuckasegeetubing | 828-507-2428 Yadkin River North Carolina River Riders, Ronda northcarolinariverriders.com | 336-244-6220

PIEDMONT

Dan River Dan River Adventures, Stoneville bit.ly/danrivertubing | 336-548-0080 Tar River Tar River Life, Bunn tarriverlife.com | 919-496-9237 Tubing rapids on the Tuckasegee River

Tubing tips

Leave your keys in your car, or attach a spare in your wheel well with a magnetic clip.

Make a day of it by arriving late morning. Bring your own rope to tie off of a bank for lunch.

Take your time and be “lazy.”

Rent a cooler tube. You’ll supply the cooler and munchies. But you can attach it to your tube and have a ready supply of drinks (no glass) and sandwiches along the way.

Rent a dry pouch for your phone.

Wear sunscreen and sunglasses.

Keep a set of dry clothes in your car.

Cousin Sandro leaps off the Tar River’s banks, at the end of our journey.

carolinacountry.com/extras Watch videos from rivers around the state to get a feel for what tubing has to offer.

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Silver Sees 8-Year High

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Silver Up 80% In Last Year

Take a look at this chart. Since the spring of 2020, silver has gone up more than 80%! And as recently as February 2021, silver has set a new eight-year high. This skyrocketing value has taken the precious metals world by storm. But what caused such a drastic increase in silver’s value, and what does it mean for you?

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CARTERET-CRAVEN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Powered by our members!

Engineering Technician Ethan Horne

Capital credits allocated for 2020

What does this mean for you?

When you pay your bill each month, you are earning line construction, equity in the cooperative. Unlike electric utilities that transformers, trucks, generate margins on behalf of investors and shareholders, inventory and other CCEC and other cooperatives return the margins earned equipment. Capital to their members. credits also help keep

At the close of each fiscal year, all revenue received in rates at an affordable level excess of expenses (margins) is allocated to members in by reducing the amount of the form of capital credits. The allocation is made after funds the co-op borrows to maintain and grow its electric the finances for the previous year have been audited and distribution system. CCEC's books have been closed. Capital credits are returned to you after the CCEC

The 2020 margins – $5,136,727.85 – have been allocated Board of Directors reviews the co-op's financial health to 46,844 members’ capital credit accounts based on the and declares a retirement of a portion of capital credits, amount of electricity each member used during the year. If typically in September. a member had more than one account active in 2020, they will have allocations for each. Unclaimed Credits

The factor used to calculate the allocations was Each year, former CCEC members leave money behind 7.906112%. For example: If a member paid $1,755 in electric when they don’t give us their forwarding addresses. bills in 2020 (based on average monthly residential If you move from our service area, the capital credits electric use 1,200 kWh), the capital credit allocation accumulated in your account remain there until they are would be $138.75 (1,755 x 0.07906112). retired. After three years, any unclaimed funds go to the

Capital credits are a tangible benefit of belonging to state. The co-op is currently holding more than an electric co-op. Those funds $1.9 million in unclaimed capital credits. are held for a number of Members are encouraged to visit the cooperative's years and are used website to review a list of all members owed capital on the web by CCEC to fund capital needs credits. You can review the list to inform friends and family members that they may have money available for

Co-op Business Model Learn more about the for items such as power refund, too. Learn more at ccemc.com/CapitalCredits. co-op difference and 7 guiding principals at: Summer Rate Changeccemc.com/myCoop You will see a change in the energy charge on bills mailed after June 1 when summer rates go into effect. The summer residential rate, which is in effect until Oct. 1, is 9.98¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh). It reflects prices the co-op pays for wholesale power. For more information about our

Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season broke records that further contribute to enhanced grid flexibility and with a total of 30 named storms, 12 of which made efficiency. landfall in the United States, according to the National Using a sophisticated energy management platform, Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). we are carefully coordinating and dispatching these The severity of the storm interconnected resources to meet electricity demand season made headlines and and balance traffic on the grid, which improves garnered significant attention reliability and helps manage costs by offsetting the need until the tropics settled, the to build traditional power plants. weather cooled and new issues Last June, CCEC launched Connect to Save dominated the news. (CTS), our smart thermostat program, that allows At CCEC, our focus on the cooperative to minimally adjust your thermostat improving the resilience of the during times of high energy demand. This small action electric grid is a year-round multiplied across thousands of homes will create big effort. We take steps on a daily savings on wholesale power costs, which benefits the basis to ensure the electric entire cooperative membership. Currently, more than CEO JAKE JOPLIN grid can quickly and effectively 1,100 CCEC members are participating in CTS. To learn recover from storms and other threats so our members more about CTS, visit connecttosavenc.com. have the reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity We are also undertaking other measures that increase they depend on. grid resilience and strengthen our infrastructure against

The electric grid has evolved substantially in recent storms, including physical enhancements and the years and will continue to change as new advancements introduction of system redundancies that help prevent are transforming the ways co-ops and other utilities outages from occurring. transmit power and our members use it. Digital Since Hurricane Florence, we have expanded our technology is also making an unprecedented level of warehouse of materials needed for power restoration, energy monitoring and communication possible, which constructed an on-site fueling dock, boosted our radio ultimately benefits you by alerting us to issues on the capabilities and increased our contract and line crew grid and enabling tools that allow you to be more aware teams so we are ready to respond. of your energy use. Through our right-of-way maintenance program, the

On today’s modern grid, power no longer moves in cooperative trims and maintains vegetation around lines a linear path from cooperative to member. Instead, it year-round – to ensure our members enjoy the most includes a wide variety of resources and technologies reliable electricity possible. Without responsible rightspread throughout the grid, like a spider web. Many of-way maintenance, co-op members could expect more of these distributed energy resources stem directly frequent blinks and outages of longer duration. from members like you, including smart thermostats All of these efforts are part of our ongoing and water heater controls, residential solar, and even commitment to building a brighter future for the people, electric vehicles. CCEC and the state’s other electric businesses and communities we serve. To learn more cooperatives are also pursuing a range of innovative about the electric grid and how we prepare for and energy solutions, from microgrids to solar plus storage, respond to storms, visit ccemc.com.

Technologies alert co-op to outages

CCEC has technologies that alert us immediately when power goes out at a substation or at the electric meter on your home or business. That, coupled with our online outage map and text alerts, helps keep you informed. Before you call our office to report your outage, check the map at: outage.carteretcraven.coop. Be sure to bookmark this web address on your computer or smartphone. Sign up for outage text alerts by texting CCEMC to 1.800.682.2217 and get outage notifications and updates.

When powerful winds roll through our area — like cooperative uses the most reliable underground spring storms or hurricanes — and we experience technologies and materials available, such as insulated outages, we often are asked why we don’t have more of cable and protective conduit, problems with existing our power lines buried underground. underground cables can still take longer to find and fix.

While more than half of the cooperative’s lines are Additionally, the cost of installing underground cable underground, overhead lines are still more affordable to is much higher than building overhead lines, and they construct, repair and maintain. Faults on the line can be are much more expensive if they need to be replaced. visually inspected, and repairs are usually made quickly. Underground installation costs about three times more Those factors play prominently when bad storms and than overhead lines. hurricanes strike and our crews need to quickly find While it may make sense to go underground with and fix problems. power lines in new developments, replacing existing

That’s not the case with underground lines. overhead lines in developed areas is not usually a

A majority of underground lines are in newer financially feasible option. It’s costly to install lines residential in a way that minimizes subdivisions, where disruption to residents and developers and businesses. Replacement homeowners prefer means disturbing existing underground lines for landscaping and boring aesthetic reasons. In under existing driveways. fact, aesthetics is the The work, if not done main reason those properly, can cause lines are buried in new accidental damage to other construction projects, utility lines such as cable, and they do fail less phone or water. Conversely, frequently than underground power lines overhead lines, but can be accidentally damaged they are not without by crews working on other problems. CCEC Service Technicians David Seabolt and Tristan underground utilities or

While the Small install conduit for an underground training field. building projects.

Simple steps to prepare for summer heat

When it's hot, it's tempting to crank the thermostat way down. But wait! Air conditioning is a big portion of summer energy bills.

Try these tips to keep your AC from using more energy than necessary, keep your home more comfortable and save money all at the same time: è Check for leaks. Fix any caulking that is cracked around windows and doors; caulk any areas showing gaps; replace any weather stripping that is worn and weather strip any new areas that need it. This will help keep the warm air outside, where you want it. è Check registers and vents. As furniture

gets rearranged over the course of time, registers can be inadvertently blocked. Go room by room and make sure that there is clear space around each register and air vent, and that dust or pet hair is not interfering with air flow. è Change ceiling fan rotation. Running a

creates a cool breeze. It won't actually lower the temperature in the room, but it will make you feel cooler, allowing you to set the thermostat to a higher temperature while remaining comfortable. è Schedule an HVAC tune-up. Issues can

develop even when your air conditioner is not in use, and they may not be evident until the unit switches to cooling mode. Getting your unit serviced will ensure it works at maximum efficiency on hot, summer days.

Bright Ideas early bird deadline is August 16!

Attention, Educators: It could pay to be an “early bird” in applying for a 2021-22 Bright Ideas grant.

Teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of Aug. 16 will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card.

CCEC will provide Bright Ideas grants of up to $1,000 for innovative, hands-on classroom projects to teachers in Carteret County and Havelock schools. The grants are available to K-12 teachers for projects in any subject.

The co-op expects to award more than $23,000 this year.

The final application deadline is Sept. 18. Get details and apply at ncbrightideas.com.

Send us your photos!

We want to feature our members' best photos in our 2022 wall calendar. Submit high-quality digital photos depicting our area. Fourteen photos will be selected. The winning photographers will be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card. Hurry! The deadline is Aug. 15. Get details at: ccemc.com/PhotoContest

CCEC RUS Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program. intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Offices

1300 Highway 24 Newport, NC 450 McCotter Blvd. Havelock, NC

Contact

252.247.3107 1.800.682.2217 ccemc.com customerservice@ccemc.com

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