May 2017 – Connections Member Newsletter

New scam aimed at co-op members. Outsmart a scammer, page A

May 2017

How much do you know about electric safety?

TAKE OUR QUIZ! page F

SIMPLIFY YOUR BUDGET

Our smart rate makes bills more predictable! page B

Summer living’s easy Cobb EMC gives you added convenience:

+ Low electric rates online account + Free management

CONNECTIONS MAY 2017 | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF COBB ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

Upcoming events Solar Energy Seminar Attend our free Solar Energy Seminar Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Cobb County Safety Village. Register: cobbemc.com/ solarseminar

Annual Meeting The 79th Annual Meeting will be held Sept. 16. Key dates and deadlines: • May 26: Nomination petitions for director elections must be submitted (Sec. 3.07). Terms for directors of districts 1, 6 and 7 will be expiring at the Annual Meeting.

• June 8: Member sponsored bylaw amendments must be submitted (Sec. 10.01).

cobbemc.com

• Aug. 11: Notice must be received from any member desiring to exceed the 5 minute speaking limitation for the Annual Meeting (Sec. 2.12).

Details: cobbemc.com/annualmeeting

The Cobb EMC Community Foundation has awarded more than $2,532,356 to local charities and nonprofits, thanks to generous members who round up their bills each month.

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

New scam aimed at co-op members Cobb EMC members should be on guard for the latest ploy to obtain quick cash and personal information, such as credit card and Social Security numbers.

“Be aware of callers claiming they are with Cobb EMC and demanding immediate payment or threatening immediate disconnection,” says Leslie Thompson with Cobb EMC. While utility scams are nothing new, thieves have created a new con: They manipulate an outgoing telephone number so that on caller ID the call appears to come from an EMC. If a recipient dials the fake number – he or she will hear an on-hold message which mimics a real EMC member greeting. Needless to say, the practice can catch members unaware since the phone number and greeting appear to be legitimate.

However, according to Thompson, members should be on high alert regarding any call in which someone claiming to be employed by the EMC demands immediate payment and threatens disconnection. Under these high-pressure tactics, members should never provide payment information to that caller.

“If you have doubts, call Cobb EMC at 770-429-2100 or check your account balance directly on the app or website,” says Thompson.

In addition to this most recent trick, there have been limited reports of scammers showing up at a service address in clothing marked with what appears to be EMC logos and attempting to collect a past-due bill and threatening to instantly disconnect service. According to Thompson, no one from Cobb EMC will come to a residence or business and demand payment by debit/credit/gift card or cash.

Because of the mounting threat to members, Cobb EMC will continue to work with law enforcement and educate our members about scams.

Cobb EMC will never request payment information over the phone or in person at your property. Members are always directed to the Cobb EMC website or to the automated payment phone line.

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Cobb EMC offers members summer savings, added convenience Chip Nelson, President and CEO

Temperatures may be rising, but Cobb EMC’s rates are low – the lowest in the state, in fact – according to the Georgia Public Service Commission’s most recent summer residential rate survey.

In addition to this prestigious ranking, we offer members a Smart Choice Rate that minimizes fluctuations in power bills, making it easy for your family to budget each month. By reducing your electric use during Cobb EMC’s peak conservation hours, which are between 2-7 p.m. on select summer days when our overall electric demand is the highest, you can reduce your annual electricity costs.

We’ve also made it easier to manage your account. Our new app lets you pay your bill anytime, anywhere, monitor your energy use by the hour and receive important updates from your co-op. Earlier this year, we also launched a new corporate website that is easier to navigate and includes features and changes suggested by our members.

As a company, we’re working to improve our service, keep costs low and make every day a little easier for our members.

SUMMER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS As temperatures rise, these simple tips can help you reduce your energy use:

energy -the-go Get on s with the saving C app!

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• Shift your energy use to off-peak hours.

• Reduce overall demand by not using multiple appliances/electronics at the same time.

• Close shades and drapes during the day to keep out summer heat.

• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees.

• Clean and replace HVAC filters monthly.

• Use a smart thermostat to control how and when your home uses energy.

• Avoid using your oven, which raises the temperature in your home.

• Only wash full loads of laundry.

Cobb Electric Membership Corporation www.cobbemc.com Email: memberservices@cobbemc.com President and CEO

Chip Nelson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Vice Chairman

Tripper Sharp Edward Crowell

Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm Swanson Eric Broadwell Kelly Bodner Bryan Boyd David McClellan David Tennant Rudy Underwood Editorial Staff

Brooke Melton Leslie Thompson Traci Washington Angela Croce, CCC

Contacts & Office Hours Phone: 770-429-2100 Report an outage: 770-429-2100 Fax: 770-429-3330 Pay by phone: 1-855-730-8714 In person: 1000 EMC Parkway Marietta, GA 30060 Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday

(8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Drive-through hours: Monday – Friday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

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

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

Find more energy tips and info: cobbemc.com/save

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BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP

We look out for you, so you can enjoy what’s important. cobbemc.com

Protect your family against identity theft.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. The same Co-op Connections® program that offers local and national discounts to Cobb EMC members, wants to help by offering ID Sanctuary, an identity theft monitoring and resolution service. This benefit provides you with the proactive tools and recovery assistance needed to quickly respond to an identity or fraud crisis.

Cobb EMC members should be on guard for the most recent utility scam to obtain quick cash and personal information, such as credit card and Social Security numbers. You can join ID Sanctuary and protect your family for as low as $8 per month.

Learn more and sign up today at www.cobbemc.com/discounts.

Did you know? Some ID Sanctuary services include identity management services, fraud and credit monitoring, cyber internet surveillance and document replacement.

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BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF ENERGY

Is the Smart Choice Rate right for you?

The Smart Choice Rate puts you in control of your energy costs and helps you save.

You can lower your annual cost of service by making simple changes like spreading out the use of major appliances during peak hours.

When do peak hours occur?

• June through September • Monday through Friday • 2 to 7 p.m.

• Excludes holidays

How you can save Set your thermostat to 80 degrees or higher during peak hours and avoid using high-energy appliances – dishwashers, washers, dryers.

When you conserve energy, it helps reduce Cobb EMC’s overall electric demand and allows you to save on annual electric costs.

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How it works

How will Cobb EMC notify me of peak hours?

• Website – cobbemc.com • Email • Cobb EMC app • Social media • 770-429-2223

LEARN MORE cobbemc.com/smartchoice

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BRINGING YOU THE

POWER OF

ENERGY

Buy water-saving, low-flow toilets and showerheads when it’s time to replace your old ones. cobbemc.com/conserve

Beat-the-peak season is almost here Did you know you can help your co-op reduce how much it pays for electricity? It’s true.

All you have to do is lower your energy use during peak conservation hours.

Peak conservation hours take place on certain days in the months of June through September from 2-7 p.m. when Cobb EMC’s demand peaks. This usually occurs on weekdays when we experience the highest temperatures.

Shifting high-energy activities, like running the dryer or raising the thermostat, during peak hours helps the co-op save and in turn could help keep rates low.

Lower your energy use to beat the peak! cobbemc.com/beatthepeak

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Make one ‘green’ change per year If you’re ready to “go green,” you have a lot of choices, and making just one change each year can do wonders for your energy bills. It’ll also help make your home more efficient so it uses fewer natural resources. Here are five ideas: Start small. Replace old incandescent lightbulbs with LED light fixtures, which use 75 percent less energy. A bonus: Most of them last for around 10 years, so you can stop changing lightbulbs.

Buy smart. When it’s time to replace a home appliance, choose one with the ENERGY STAR® label, which means it meets stringent government standards for energy efficiency.

Save water. Some households waste more water than they use. Remedy that by turning off faucets while brushing your teeth and by taking shorter showers.

Plus, if you install low-flow faucets and toilets, you’ll use less water with every shower and flush.

Take control. There’s no reason to heat or cool your house for maximum comfort when nobody’s home. Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature to save energy when everyone leaves the house in the morning, and then reset it for comfort just before you get home. New models let you control them using your smartphone, which means if your schedule changes, you can “tell” your house to get ready for your early return. Save on smart thermostat installation when you go to cobbemc.com/thermostat.

Go green. Get clean, affordable, renewable solar energy for your home without the expense and maintenance that rooftop solar panels require. Your co-op offers Cooperative Solar so you can purchase solar power, regardless of the location of your home or whether you own or rent. See how you can capture your share of the sun at cobbemc.com/coopsolar.

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BRINGING YOU THE

POWER OF

SAFETY

May is National Electrical Safety Month. We’ve got tips to keep your family safe around electricity. cobbemc.com/safety

How much do you really know about electric safety?

It’s Electrical Safety Month. Celebrate by testing your electrical knowledge with the quiz below. After you ace the quiz, put your skills to the test by practicing and teaching others about electrical safety. Your knowledge could save a life.

1. Where’s the most dangerous place to use electricity?

A. Outdoors B. Around electrical devices/equipment C. Near water

5. Overloading power strips and wall outlets increases the possibility of an electrical fire.

A. True B. False

2. Exposure to low-voltage electricity cannot cause serious injury or death.

6. The safest ladder to use around electricity is?

A. True B. False

A. Fiberglass B. Aluminum C. Wood

3. You notice the electrical cord on a device is damaged or frayed.

What should you do?

While summer brings much fun in the sun, it can also bring the occasional severe storm. In the event of a power outage, you can trust that we’re ready to respond safely and quickly.

Stay up-to-date during an outage with our outage map: Our mobile-friendly outage map shows outages our crews are already aware of, and provides an estimated restoration time.

Visit the Outage Center: cobbemc.com/outage

7. How much space should there be between power lines and trees?

A. Wrap tape around the damaged area and continue using it.

B. Replace the frayed cord immediately.

C. Do nothing and keep using the cord, regardless of the frayed wires.

A. At least three feet B. Anywhere you want C. Enough space where mature trees won’t touch power lines if they fall

4. Electrical devices with this mark have been tested for safety.

A. True B. False

A. SC, Safety Certified B. ES, Electrical Safety C. UL, Underwriters Laboratory

Our Outage Center keeps you informed

8. It’s safe to run power cords beneath rugs and carpets.

Answers: 1C, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7C, 8B GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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Cobb EMC summer rates are the lowest among all 94 electric utilities in the state of Georgia

$91.69* Cobb EMC

$123.35*

Electric utility average

$127.34*

Georgia Power

Cobb EMC members saved approximately $31.66 per month on their 2016 summer bills compared to the average electric utility customer. *Monthly bill comparison. The Georgia Public Service Commission 2016 residential summer survey ranks electric providers on rates in effect for the month of July, based on total electric bill amounts of 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 kWh. For more information or to view complete surveys, visit the Georgia Public Service Commission’s website at www.psc.state.ga.us/electric/surveys/residentialrs.asp. All numbers above assume 1,000 kWh use and only apply to Cobb EMC members who pay bills on time.

cobbemc.com

Cobb EMC rates are the lowest in the state*!