CONNECTIONS
The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | JULY 2025
NOTICE OF 2024 PATRONAGE CAPITAL ALLOCATION
Each member who received electric service in 2024 is hereby notified that for year 2024, Cobb EMC’s excess margins totaled $6,201,974. Each member can calculate the amount of assigned 2024 Patronage Capital by multiplying the total amount billed for electric service in 2024 by 0.013870599.
Capital credits are your individual portion of the cooperative’s profits beyond the costs of providing electricity. As a not-for-profit business, we exist to provide you reliable electricity–not to make a profit. When we have a good year and earn profits, or margins, we allocate capital credits to our members until the board approves them to be distributed.
*Excludes taxes, Operation Round Up and other ancillary services.
CELEBRATING EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS
The Cobb EMC Foundation awarded 14 scholarships to students in our service area.
The Cobb EMC Foundation Scholarship awards 14 scholarships every year in the amount of $5,000 each to eligible students with a primary residence served by Cobb EMC. There are two types of scholarships available: College/University and Vocational/Technical College. The annual scholarships are funded and administered by the Cobb EMC Foundation Board.
This year, more than 230 students applied for the scholarship. Members of the Selection Committee reviewed each application and invited 23 finalists for an in-person interview. As a result, the Cobb EMC Foundation congratulates the following recipients starting their college journey in the fall of 2025:
• Ananya Tadepalli–Stanford University
• Andrew Boetig–University of Georgia
• Caroline Abney–University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Caroline Werner–Perdue University
• Emily Jemison–Duke University
• Hannah Owens–Kennesaw State University
• Jack Williams–University of Georgia
• Jose Arteaga–Kennesaw State University
• Kaushik Valiveti–Duke University
• Lillian Meredith–Brigham Young University
• Mayla Merhai–Georgia Institute of Technology
• Meerub Dar–Chattahoochee Technical College
• Mfreke Johnson–Georgia Institute of Technology
• William Clark–Georgia Institute of Technology
Pictured above are the 2025 Cobb EMC Foundation Scholarship recipients.
UNDERSTANDING ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Knowing key differences in Cobb EMC-owned equipment versus member-owned equipment can help speed up repairs after a storm.
As July rolls in with longer days and rising temperatures, it also brings the increased potential for severe weather. Summer storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to essential electric equipment throughout our community.
Cobb EMC is always prepared and ready to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely, but it is also important for homeowners to understand which parts of the electrical system are their responsibility and which are maintained by us at the co-op. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough.
Cobb EMC is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters and pad-mounted transformers.
Cobb EMC members are responsible for the equipment located between the electric meter and your home or business that lead into the structure and the service panel. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast located outside the home.
When severe weather damages electrical equipment, it’s important to note that any necessary repairs to the homeowner’s equipment must be conducted before Cobb EMC crews can restore power to your home or business.
During power restoration efforts after a storm, you may see a Cobb EMC bucket truck roll up to your area to assess the situation. If repairs are needed on equipment that belongs to members before power can be restored, a crew will attempt to communicate with the homeowner. Power to that home cannot be restored until the homeowner has the equipment repaired.*
*If any equipment that you (the homeowner) are responsible for is damaged during a storm and you experience a power outage, please call a licensed electrician to conduct the repairs. A professional has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs. You can find several vetted contractors on our website at cobbemc.com/ Contractors under the Storm Damage category. Once repairs are made, contact Cobb EMC directly at 770-429-2100 to let us know you are ready to reconnect power.
By working together to understand the essential equipment that powers daily life, we can all be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process if severe weather impacts our community. Visit cobbemc.com/Outage to learn more about our storm response and reliability.
DETAILS ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT YOU OWN:
Weatherhead: A weatherhead is a protective cap that houses the electrical service entrance cables. It offers weather protection, cable support and a drip loop allowing water to drip off.
Service mast pipe: A service mast pipe is the vertical conduit that extends above the roofline and carries the electrical service wires down to the electric meter and into the service panel.
Meter base: A meter base is the outdoor enclosure that securely holds the electric meter and connects utility power to the electrical system.
Service panel: Also called a breaker box or electrical panel, the service panel is the main distribution point where incoming electricity is divided into circuits and protected by circuit breakers or fuses.
Come to our member appreciation event and hear how we’re working to make your electric service more convenient and reliable. Register in person by 9:30 a.m. to receive 4 North Georgia State Fair tickets
Saturday, September 13
8-11:30 a.m. at Jim R. Miller Park 8-9:30 a.m.–Member Registration (Registrations will not be accepted after 9:30 a.m.)
Find more information at cobbemc.com/AnnualMeeting
Bring this magazine, a copy of your bill or the Cobb EMC app to simplify registration.
Partnering to Serve You Better
Did you know that the partnership between Gas South and Cobb EMC helps offer members great savings and service? As our wholly owned subsidiary, Gas South’s annual profits help keep your electricity rates low, maintain the highest reliability in the nation and strengthen our efforts to give back to the community.
And there’s more!
You also get special discounts from Gas South as a Cobb EMC member when you need great natural gas service:
• $50 in bill credits
• A 2¢-per-therm permanent discount*
• No deposit and no connection fee
Claim the same great natural gas savings and service more Cobb EMC members choose every day with Gas South, Georgia’s highest-rated natural gas provider.
*Conditions apply. See website for details.
