current lines March 2017
A monthly publication for Tri-County EMC members
In this issue:
Rate Changes in April
Bright Ideas Grants
Bright Ideas Grants, Cont’d.
Upcoming Scholarships, Recipe Box
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
Rate Changes Beginning In April
A
s mentioned in the January Current Lines, there will be a change in rates on your April bill statement. Following a 2016 study, the TriCounty EMC board of directors determined that in order to cover costs to serve each rate class and to continue delivering electricity at the lowest cost, changes must be made to the current rates. “At Tri-County, we are committed to delivering electricity to you at the lowest possible cost and ensuring that rates are set fairly among different rate schedules,” commented Ray Grinberg, the cooperative’s chief executive officer. “It is our philosophy that our rates should be set accordingly to cover costs and that one rate class shouldn’t subsidize another.” If you are a residential or commercial (general service) customer, there is a change in how the
What can you do with
$1
Electricity continues to be a great value. Just a few kilowatt hours can do an amazing amount of work and bring comfort and entertainment to our homes. Check out what just $1 of electricity, about 8.3 kWh, can do for you.
first 20 kWhs of usage is billed. Right now, those first 20 kWhs are included in your minimum bill charge. Beginning in April, you will be charged for those 20 kWhs at the applicable rate for your rate class. For most accounts, this change will result in an increase of about $2 per month. General Service Demand Rate (GSD) customers will also see an increase in the minimum bill from $35 to $62 per month. Like the residential and other commercial rates, the first 20 kWhs will also no longer be included in this minimum bill charge. (28381001) Tri-County members are encouraged to review the detailed rate schedules, which are available at www.tri-countyemc.com/home-rates.cms and www.tri-countyemc.com/business-rates.cms.
$1=
8.3kWh
What’s Changing On My Bill? The first 20 kWhs will no longer be included in the monthly minimum bill charge. c
The General Service Demand Rate minimum bill charge will increase from $35 to $62 c
Run a
hair dryer continuously
1,500-watt
for 5.5
hours Wash
8 loads
of laundry in a 18 cu. ft.
Operate a
refrigerator for 8
days
55 inch
Watch a
LED TV
for 127 hours
Charge an
iPhone 6 1,383 times
frontloading washer
including warm wash and cold rinse
BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL TEACHERS
L
ast month, Tri-County EMC surprised 27 local teachers with $30,000 in educational grants. Since 2008, Tri-County EMC has provided nearly $190,000 in grants to local schools through the Bright Ideas Grant Program. Funded by unclaimed capital credits, the grants help teachers improve education in their classrooms through innovative classroom projects that would otherwise not be funded. (85672001) Georgia certified public or private school teachers in grades Pre-K through 12 in Baldwin, Jones, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties qualify to apply. Outside judges evaluated the anonymous applications for innovation, objectives, goals, student involvement and budget. Thank you to all teachers who applied in 2016-2017. The next deadline for applications is December 7, 2017. To see photos of our grant winners and to find out more about the Bright Ideas Grant Program, visit tri-countyemc.com/bright-ideas.cms or call 1.866.254.8100.
$190,000 awarded since 2008
Passed in 2001, House Bill 431 allowed electric co-ops in Georgia to use unclaimed capital credits to fund education and economic development efforts within their service areas. Since that time, Tri-County has funded nearly $190,000 in Bright Ideas Grants to support local education.
Liz Allison
Cindy Bloodworth
grants awarded
Mattie Wells Elementary School Math and Movement, $1,430.00
Turner Woods Elementary School Kindles for the Classroom, $619.86
Denise Ard
Ivy Carnes
Mattie Wells Elementary School Moving and Grooving to Sight Words and Reading, $497.58
Putnam County Primary School Beginning Engineers, $1,479.10
Jennifer Deason
27 in 2017
90
applications submitted
in 2016-2017
Pamela Elkins
Clifton Ridge Middle School STEM Graphing Calculator Activities, $1,293.50
Haley Fordham
Putnam County Primary School Full STEM Ahead, $1,349.59
GMC Prep School Stepping and Pepping Up PE, $1,114.14
Jennifer Holland
Julie Eavenson
Heather Jackson
Dames Ferry Elementary School Sensory Overload, $406.57
Dames Ferry Elementary School We’re Going On A Trip, $1,419.94
Gray Elementary School Full STEAM Ahead!, $858.85
2016-2017 GRANT WINNERS
Georgia College Early College GCEC STEAM Cultural Epidemic Project, $780.00
Scarlett Scoville
Clifton Ridge Middle School Mobymax Makes A Difference, $1387.08
Amy Lee
Lolita Moore
GMC Prep School 1920s Living Museum, $929
Gray Elementary School iPrint, iPad, iGrow, $1,466.93
MarySue McMichael
Graham Nash
Putnam County Middle School Student Takeover – Making Student Thinking Visible, $597.26
Jones County High School Box Trucks Recycling Collection, $1,440.00
Amber Simpson
Dames Ferry Elementary School It’s Off To Work We Go!, $1,378
April Smith
Putnam County High School Cocooning, $211.98
visit tri-countyemc.com/bright-ideas.cms • see photos and project details of 2016-2017 winners • download an application for next year
Vickie Thigpen
Clifton Ridge Middle School Portable Outdoor Classroom, $955.56
Richard Thomas
Gray Station Middle School Simply Shocking, $1,492.60
Jennifer Thompson
Turner Woods Elementary School Creating Thinkers, Readers & Researchers in Kindergarten, $302.35
Linda Walker
Putnam County Elementary School Students As Authors, $1,500.00
Natalie Waller
12/7
next deadline
Tate Wilson
Putnam County Primary School 21st Century Readers, $1,457.31
Clifton Ridge Middle School Reading Up, $1,222.40
Carla Whatley
Cara Youmans
Dames Ferry Elementary School Active Learning With Active Seating, $1,460.00
Dawn Wicker
Putnam County Primary School Wii are Moving, Wii are Fit, Wii are Happy!, $1,495
2016-2017 GRANT WINNERS
Putnam County Primary School Mini Needs, $1,455.40
2016-2017 GRANT WINNERS
Dawson Roberts
Scholarship Applications Due April 15 Cooperative Scholarship
Operation Roundup Scholarship
Each spring, Tri-County EMC awards three $2,000 Cooperative scholarships to students residing within the cooperative’s service area. One scholarship is awarded in each of the three Tri-County board districts. Applications are judged by an outside panel of education professionals based equally on academics, financial need and community involvement. (82218001)
In addition to funding community grants, the Tri-County EMC Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students (with preference given to non-traditional students), to help pay their college costs. Through Operation Roundup, a total of $4,000 is awarded annually to students residing in the homes of Tri-County EMC members. The applicant must be enrolled in any U.S. accredited college or university and have maintained at least a 2.0 average.
TRI-COUNTY EMC
COOPERATIVE
SCHOLARSHIP
Applications may be downloaded at www.tri-countyemc.com/ cooperativescholarship.cms. Applications are due April 15.
Did you find your account number?
Applications may be downloaded at ww.tri-countyemc.com/ roundupscholarship.cms. Applications are due April 15.
Find your complete account number inside parentheses in this issue of Current Lines and win a $50 bill credit. Call 478.986.8126 to claim your bill credit.
Recipe Box Mini Breakfast Quiches Thanks to Fannie Batchelor of Baldwin County for submitting this recipe. Did you know 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: • • • • • • • •
12 ounces of bulk sausage 8 eggs 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste ¼ teaspoon marjoram ¼ teaspoon parsley ¼ teaspoon oregano 1 green onion, chopped fine
Directions: Brown the sausage and drain off the fat. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, salt and pepper. Add spices, cheese, sausage and onion to the eggs. Mix well. Divide into muffin cups in a non-stick 12-muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 23 minutes. Serve warm. Note: These can be frozen and heated to serve at a later date.
Ray Grinberg, CEO
Owned By Those We Serve
P.O. Box 487 Gray, GA 31032 478.986.8100 FAX 478.986.4733 www.tri-countyemc.com
Board of Directors Brenda P. Green, Chairman Sammy Hall, Vice-Chairman Thomas Noles, Secretary/Treasurer George “Buck” Comer, Dan Greene, Chester Mercer, Marion Nelson, Cecil Patterson, Mike Rainey
current lines Monthly Publication for Tri-County EMC Members Kim Broun, Editor Communications Specialist