Current Lines - June 2013

current lines June 2013

A monthly publication for Tri-County EMC members

In this issue:

Green Power EMC, page 1

Summer energy saving tips, page 2

Plant Vogtle, page 3

No Sweat, Recipe Box, page 3

Support renewable energy through Green Power EMC Renewable energy is a well-known term in today’s society, as well as within the utility industry. Individuals, companies and organizations are constantly trying to do their part to “go green”. While many individuals recycle and use energy efficient bulbs, some are taking it to the next level to generate their own energy by installing solar panels and other forms of renewable energy devices.Tri-County EMC offers an alternative for members that want to invest in renewable energy, but don’t want the hassle of installing their own renewable energy equipment.

Green Power EMC, Georgia’s first renewable energy program, allows members to purchase 150 kWh blocks of green-e certified energy. By using biomass, including methane collected from Georgia’s landfills, low-impact hydropower, solar power and wood waste to generate environmentally friendly energy, Green Power EMC’s goal is to give cooperative members the power to help the environment.

This renewable energy is available in subscription blocks of 150 kWh per month.

Because the costs to create renewable electricity are higher than those of traditional electric generation, each block of green power costs $4, about 2.6 cents per kWh, in addition to your applicable Tri-County EMC rate. A portion of the sale goes to support continued growth of energy generated from cleaner resources.

While the cost is slightly more than the normal Tri-County EMC energy rate, purchasing blocks from Green Power EMC is an efficient way to go green. In fact, by adding just $8 per month to your bill, you can get the same amount of renewable energy for your home as you would from a 2.5 kW solar panel. Purchasing one block of green power at $4 per month makes a difference too. Using one green block for one year is equal to the environmental impact of not driving your car for 21 months, planting 2.5 acres of forest, or recycling 2.34 tons of aluminum.

Since 2003, Green Power EMC has produced 640,339,946 kWh of clean energy by partnering with 38 member electric cooperatives across Georgia.To learn more about Green Power EMC, visit www.greenpoweremc.com. To purchase blocks of green power through Tri-County EMC, visit www.tri-countyemc.com or call 1.866.254.8100. (80037001)

$4

1 green power block per month for 1 year

• 21 months of not driving your car • planting 2.5 acres of forest • recycling 2.34 tons of aluminum

Conserve energy during peak hours Keep electric rates low by using electricity during hours when it’s not in high demand. On-peak hours during the summer are from 3:00-8:00 p.m., when most people use the most electricity. Off-peak hours include early morning, after dark and weekends.

The less on-peak electricity you and your neighbors use, the less overall demand there is. Lower demand means we don’t have to buy as much power—or build as many power plants.

You can do your part to conserve energy during on-peak hours by saving high-energy tasks for off-peak times and by enrolling in our No Sweat load management program.

Some tips: • Install a timer on your water heater so it won’t come on during peak hours.

You’ll still have plenty of hot water in the morning because it can run overnight.

• Wait until off-peak hours to run your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer.

• Wait for off-peak hours to run your pool pump. It can use more electricity than any other appliance except for the air conditioner.

Summer energy saving tips for your home Summer officially arrives this month and as temperatures rise, so does your home energy usage. Fortunately, there are many ways to stay cool this summer, while saving money. Combat high energy usage and lower your bill with the following tips: Maintain air filters and HVAC equipment Well-maintained equipment runs more efficiently, so replace or clean filters as needed. Units that are overcharged or have low coolant levels will cost you more in the long run. Be sure to have your air conditioning unit serviced every 1-2 years.

Set your thermostat as high as is comfortable The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. Setting your thermostat at the recommended temperature of 78°F instead of 72°F can save 6-18% on your cooling bill. (47384002) Install a programmable thermostat A programmable thermostat allows you to set different temperatures for different time periods throughout the day. Once you program it, you won’t have to touch it again. The thermostat automatically resets according to your instructions.

Plant trees or shrubs for shade A good landscaping plan can do wonders.

For instance, properly placed trees around the house can save you between $100 and $250 annually on your electric bill.

Plant deciduous trees that will grow high, spreading their branches over the south side of your house. On the west side, plant trees with lower crowns to block the afternoon sun.

Draw your drapes Keep your blinds, shades and curtains closed on the south and west-facing windows during the day to block the heat of direct sunlight.

To learn more about the No Sweat load management program, visit tri-countyemc.com/no-sweat.da

Stop cool air from escaping Add weather-stripping on doors and windows and caulk the cracks to keep cool air inside and hot air from leaking into your home.

Properly insulate your attic Install recommended levels of insulation to lower heating and cooling costs. On warm days, attic temperatures can get up to 140°F. Install ceiling fans A ceiling fan can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler while using less energy than a 100-watt light bulb. Remember to only run fans only when people are present in the room; ceiling fans cool people, not the air.

Go oven-less at meal time Grill outside when possible. When you need to prepare small portions of food, use the microwave, toaster or a countertop grill, all of which use less energy than a full-sized oven.

For more energy tips visit www.tricountyemc.com or find us on Facebook!

Did you know?

A 4 degree increase in AC temperature can save 10-15% on cooling costs?

Statement of Non-Discrimination Tri-County EMC is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap shall be excluded from participation in, admission or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any of this organization’s programs or activities.

Did you find your account number?

Find your complete account number in this issue of Current Lines and win a $50 bill credit.

Call 478.986.8126 to claim your credit.

Reminders:

•Tri-County EMC offices will be closed on July 4 for Independence Day.

•The AARP Mature Driver Safety Program

The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is C. Hill Bentley, CEO. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination, may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

will take place on June 27 & 28 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Community Room at Tri-County EMC in Gray. Participants may qualify for a 10% discount on their car insurance for up to three years. Please contact your insurance agent to verify eligibility. The class is limited to the first 20 registrants & is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. For more information or to register, please contact instructor Arthur Gunn at 478.457.5035.

Tri-County EMC Board of Directors visits Plant Vogtle In May, members of Tri-County EMC’s board and senior staff visited the construction site for the two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle, located in Waynesboro, Georgia.

Georgia’s electric cooperative’s will own 30% of unit’s #3 and #4, the same percentage as units #1 and #2, which have been in operation since 1981. The first nuclear units under construction in the U.S. in over thirty years, Vogtle’s new reactors will each produce 1,250 MW of capacity.

“The decision to take part in the construction of a nuclear power plant is certainly the most expensive purchase a cooperative board will ever make,” said Tri-County EMC CEO C. Hill Bentley. “But these units are the least expensive to operate of our generation portfolio. They will run around the clock for decades.”

While touring the facility, Tri-County EMC representatives were able to view the assembly of both containment vessels, the construction of the two turbine buildings, and the concrete pouring and assembly of two new cooling towers, which will be over 500 feet tall when completed. The group also saw a demonstration of each reactor’s all-digital control center. The AP1000 reactors, designed and built by Westinghouse, will feature an advanced design allowing shutdown without the need for backup power in the event of an emergency. (30602008) According to Bentley, “This is an amazing project, but one that is well thought out.

This investment will serve Tri-County’s members for generations.”

The Building Blocks to Lower Bills Your central air-conditioner is one of the biggest energy users in your home. Reduce your impact on future energy needs and earn an annual rebate by participating in Tri-County EMC’s No Sweat Air-Conditioning Program.

No Sweat pauses your central air-conditioning for a few minutes at a time on peak summer days (June-September, only 10-20 days per year). Earn $25 every year you are enrolled. Call 1.866.254.8100 or visit tri-countyemc.com to enroll.

Recipe Box Blueberry Chiffon Pie Thanks to Patsy Malm of Eatonton, GA for sharing this delicious recipe! Did you know that your recipe is worth $20 if chosen? Send your best recipes to kimb@tri-countyemc. com or mail to P.O. Box 487, Gray, GA 31032.

Ingredients: 2 lemons Cool Whip ™ 8 oz. cream cheese 1 can Eagle Brand ™milk 1 can blueberry pie filling 2 pie crusts Directions: Mix cream cheese (room temperature), juice from 1 1/2 lemons, Eagle Brand ™milk. Cook pie crusts and let them cool. Pour mixture of the above ingredients in the pie shells.

Refrigerate overnight. Top with pie filling. Top the filling with cool whip.

P.O. Box 487 Gray, GA 31032 478.986.8100 FAX 478.986.4733 www.tri-countyemc.com

C. Hill Bentley, CEO

Board of Directors Tom Thompson Jr., Chairman Brenda P. Green, Vice Chairman Thomas Noles, Secretary/Treasurer Dan Greene, Sammy Hall, Chester Mercer, Marion Nelson, Mike S. Rainey III, Rev. Charlie F. Richardson

current lines Monthly Publication for Tri-County EMC Members Kim Bonner, Editor Communications Specialist