Why Rural Outages Are Different (and What We’re Doing About It)
At Canoochee EMC, we understand how frustrating power outages can be, especially when you’re one of the last to have your lights come back on. When storms roll through or maintenance work is necessary, our members in rural areas often experience more prolonged outages compared to those in more urban settings. But why is that?
Fewer Meters Per Mile
The biggest difference between rural and urban electric service is density. In cities, utilities often serve dozens or even hundreds of customers per mile of power line. In contrast, we may have just five to seven meters per mile of line in our territory. That means when damage occurs in rural areas, it affects fewer members, but it still takes just as much time and equipment to repair.
More Line, More Exposure
Our service area covers thousands of miles of line, often running through heavily wooded areas, across fields and through swamps. That means more exposure to falling limbs, wildlife interference and lightning strikes. Restoration takes time, especially when crews must travel long distances between outages and navigate difficult terrain.
A Look Back: Rural Electricity Didn’t Always Exist
It’s easy to take power for granted today, but less than 100 years ago, many rural communities had no access to electricity at all. Power companies at the time simply couldn’t justify the cost of building lines into sparsely populated areas. That’s why electric cooperatives like Canoochee EMC were formed—to bring power to rural America when no one else would. We’ve come a long way since then, and we remain committed to providing safe, reliable electricity to every member we serve, no matter how remote.
Why Not Just Bury the Lines?
We often hear: “If the lines were underground, we wouldn’t have this problem.” It’s a fair statement, and in some cases, underground lines are a good solution. But in most rural settings, they come with serious trade-offs:
• Cost: Installing underground infrastructure can cost five to 10 times more than overhead lines.
• Access: When something goes wrong underground, repairs are harder to locate and take longer to fix.
• Soil and Water Conditions: In parts of our region, wet soil or a high water table makes underground installation unreliable and even more expensive to maintain. We do use underground lines where it makes sense, such as in subdivisions, commercial developments or areas with high tree exposure, but for long stretches of rural service, overhead is still the most practical and costeffective option.
We’re Always Working to Improve Reliability
While some outages are unavoidable, we’re investing in right-of-way clearing, system upgrades and smart technology that helps us detect problems faster and restore power more efficiently. Our crews work day and night to respond quickly, safely and thoroughly whenever outages occur.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to improve the reliability of your electric service—no matter where you live.
Canoochee EMC Foundation Update
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n the spirit of thankfulness, we are proud to share that the Canoochee EMC Foundation has donated $32,500 to organizations throughout our service area in support of our members’ communities. The following organizations were recently awarded funding:
• Special Olympics of Georgia–$2,500
• Zeta Phi Beta–Deaf Awareness–$1,000
• Tattnall County FFA–$5,000
• South Tattnall Elementary School PBIS Program–$2,000
• South Tattnall Middle School–$2,000
• Friends of Jack Hill State Park–$5,000
• Tattnall County Family Connection–$5,000
• Tattnall County High School Construction Program–$5,000
• Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce–$5,000
Holiday Office Closure
Canoochee EMC’s offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving.
Students Set Sights on College Scholarships
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ollege students are returning in droves to universities and colleges in Georgia and across the country. While parents struggle (or celebrate) the empty nest, Canoochee EMC is helping ease the financial burden of attaining a college degree with the prestigious Walter Harrison Scholarship, a program sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMCs), including Canoochee EMC.
The $1,000 scholarship can be applied to academic expenses at any accredited two- or four-year university, college or vocational-technical institute in Georgia.
“We’re proud to offer financial assistance where possible and the Walter Harrison Scholarship can help families offset the rising cost of college,” says Joe Sikes, Communications Specialist at Canoochee EMC. “To be a good community citizen, we have an obligation to help young people. Whether it’s through the Washington Youth Tour, wiring contests or scholarships, this is how we do it.”
Walter Harrison scholarships are awarded annually to students with exemplary academic records, and 19 students will receive scholarships this year. Grade-point average, SAT scores, academic standing, scholastic honors and financial need are considered when determining a student’s eligibility. A scholarship committee
comprised of directors, managers, key staff and others at Georgia’s 41 EMCs seeks to award scholarships to remarkable students who may otherwise not be able to afford college.
The application process is currently underway, and students applying for the scholarship must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited undergraduate degree program and must complete a two-page application, and they will need to write a two-page autobiographical sketch that includes future plans. The scholarship is available to any
college-level student regardless of age.
Created in 1985 by Georgia EMC, the trade association representing the electric cooperatives in Georgia, the Walter Harrison Scholarship program pays tribute to the late Harrison, a pioneer in the rural electricity movement and a leader at local, state and national levels.
“It’s appropriate that an industry leader like Walter Harrison has a scholarship fund named after him, because our hope is to help raise another generation of leaders,” Sikes says.
To apply, visit www.canoocheeemc. com. Completed applications are due by Dec. 31, 2025.
Touchstone Energy Senior Citizen of the Month
Congratulations to Verdelle B. Davis of Ludowici for being selected as the November 2025 Touchstone Energy Senior Citizen of the Month.
Official Publication of Canoochee EMC
P.O. Box 487
Reidsville, GA 30453
(800) 342-0134
Joseph A. Sikes, Editor
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Connie Thrift District 3
President
Bob Floyd District 4 Vice President
Kim Blocker District 9 Treasurer
LaNell M. Oliver District 6
Secretary
Ed Bradley Jr. District 5
Robert Dasher District 8
Kenneth L. Durrence District 7
Lavanda Lynn District 2
Bernard Purvis District 1
Michael Wasson, Chief Executive Officer
Andy Whiten, Chief Operations Officer
Mat Olson, Chief Financial Officer
Patrick Burkhalter, Chief Administration Officer
Kyle E. Durrence, Member Services Manager
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR POWER IS OFF . . .
1. Check your fuses or breakers.
2. Check with your neighbors.
3. Call (800) 342-0134 or (912) 557-4391.
There is a dispatcher on call 24 hours a day for your convenience.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays
Branch offices
Highway 196 West Hinesville, GA 31313
Highway 280 East Pembroke, GA 31321
Use Space Heaters Safely
n electric space heater can be just the thing to warm up a particularly cool spot in your home. Wherever you place it, though, use caution.
Space heaters are the culprits in around 25% of home-heating fires, and 74% of them kill someone, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Here are some space-heater safety tips:
• Plug your bathroom space heater into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet.
• Don’t hide the electric cord under a rug or carpet. The cord could overheat and cause a fire.
A A Stop Heat Loss With Heavy Drapes and Blinds
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indow treatments do more than make your room beautiful and give your family privacy from prying eyes. They’re also an energyefficient tool to prevent heat from escaping your home when it’s cold outside. Windows and doors account for about 30% of a home’s heat loss, but using blinds can help reduce this. Follow these tips to keep drafts out:
• Leave 3 feet of space between the heater and furniture, and even walls. Keep it away from anything flammable.
• Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.
• Seal drapery edges to the sides of windows using magnetic tape or Velcro.
• Use a closed cornice board at the top of window coverings. The board will keep heat from entering the top of draperies and pushing cold air into the room.
• Make or buy curtain liners to place between the drapes and the window.
• Thermal shades can help insulate a home and are easy to make with batting fibers or fiberfill.
• Snug-fitting roller shades, mounted within the shade’s frame, can stop heat loss.
• Open the drapes on sunny, winter days to invite the sun’s warm rays indoors. Close them at night when the temperature drops.
