January 2026 CARROLL ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION’S NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS
Renewable Energy Did Santa bring you an electric vehicle (EV) this Christmas?
Carroll EMC Members can receive a onetime $250 rebate for installing an approved electric vehicle home charger. Saving money now and long-term is just another perk of owning an EV. Eligible chargers are Level 2 chargers. They provide charging through a 240V plug and require the installation of additional charging equipment by a qualified electricianinstaller. These typically deliver 10-20 miles of range per hour of charging. Many electric vehicle owners benefit from Carroll EMC’s time-of-use (TOU) rate. This is an optional rate that offers Members the opportunity to save money by shifting their electricity use to off-peak hours. For more information, visit carrollemc.com/time-of-use-rate.
Considering solar but don’t want the high costs and complications associated with rooftop solar panels? Cooperative Solar allows you to purchase solar power at a monthly, affordable rate, regardless of the location of your home or whether you own or rent. Energy is produced and maintained at Carroll EMC’s off-site solar energy facilities, and you can purchase energy shares from us at a nominal monthly rate. As a subscriber, you’ll receive clean and renewable solar energy at no hassle to you. No maintenance, no long-term contracts and no financing. So easy!
January 2026
Carroll EMC Newsletter
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Georgia’s Largest WYT Delegation Ever by Lindsay Penticuff
In June 2025, Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMCs) sent their 60th—and largest ever—delegation of students to Washington, D.C., for the allexpenses-paid, weeklong Washington Youth Tour (WYT). Representing 38 Georgia EMCs, 116 high schoolers attended, along with 14 chaperones sent by co-ops and three representatives from Tuckerbased Georgia EMC. The tour was June 13-20. “The 2025 Youth Tour was a huge success!” says Andy Paul, WYT Director and Public Relations Representative with Georgia EMC. “Our students got to see historic events happening in our nation’s capital, meet with legislators and tour several museums.” Highlights of last year’s event included stops at the Smithsonian Institution museums, the National Archives, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery and the World War II, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans memorials. On Capitol Hill day, students met with U.S. representatives in a congressional town hall, then spent time
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with U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock on the Capitol steps. Paul says one of the most memorable parts of the Youth Tour was participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Four delegates—Reginald Ward from GreyStone Power Corp. in Hiram, Leila Eastmead from Planters EMC in Millen, Chloe Toole from Walton EMC in Monroe and J.C. Nimmer from Satilla REMC in Alma—represented Georgia’s EMCs during the ceremony. Each year, one Georgia student-delegate on the Washington Youth Tour is chosen to join the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Leadership Council (YLC). Kevin Ray from Grady EMC in Cairo was selected by his peers as the 2025 YLC representative. Apply for the 2026 Washington Youth Tour The 2026 Washington Youth Tour is scheduled for June 12-19. The allexpenses-paid trip will feature visits to and tours of some of the United States’ most iconic and historic venues in addition to opportunities for high school student delegates to meet with many of our state’s national leaders at a town hall event. Apply online at carrollemc.com by February 6 for this year’s tour.
Georgia Magazine
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH
Save the time of writing and mailing checks for your monthly electric bill, and save money, too, by signing up for Carroll EMC's free automatic bill payment plan. Your bill will be automatically drafted from your checking or savings account. You will still receive a monthly statement about 14 days prior to your scheduled bank draft denoting the amount that will be automatically drafted on the due date. Receive a $2.50 credit each month when you sign up for a total of $30 saved a year! To sign up, call us at (770) 832-3552 or visit carrollemc.com/bill-payment-options for more information.
January 2026
Winter weather can cause your home heating system to work overtime. Check for air leaks and drafts around doors and windows, then seal them with weatherstripping or caulk. Close fireplace dampers when not in use, and consider installing insulating curtains to help keep warm air inside. You can also save energy by lowering your thermostat a few degrees. Even small adjustments like these can reduce heating costs and improve comfort during the coldest months.
Carroll EMC Newsletter
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TIPS TO AVOID
ENERGY SCAMS 155 N. Hwy 113 Carrollton, GA 30117 member.services@carrollemc.com carrollemc.com (770) 832-3552
PRESIDENT/CEO Tim Martin
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alvin Ginn, Chairman Donnie Brannon, Vice Chairman Ronnie Jordan, Secretary/Treasurer Don DeFoor Eddie Gore Nan Philpot Lynn Joyner Emmett Harrod Delores Goldin
EDITOR
WRITER
Kelly Jimenez
Brittany Shadix
OFFICE HOURS Carrollton Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buchanan Monday and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
24-HOUR OUTAGE LINE To report a power outage, call (770) 832-3552, option 1.
Beware of “winter bill relief” energy scams. Scammers often exploit high winter bills by offering fake discount or relief programs. They may ask for upfront payments or personal details to lower your rate. Legitimate utilities never demand gift cards, wire transfers or payment through apps like PayPal or Venmo. Always verify offers directly by calling your utility’s phone number located on your energy bill—do not call any phone numbers provided in a suspicious email or text. Remember to take time to confirm before you pay; real savings programs won’t pressure you for immediate action.
Offices Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Carroll EMC offices will close Monday, January 19, inobservance observanceof ofMartin MartinLuther LutherKing KingJr. Jr. 19 in Day. Please use the PaySite kiosks, mobile app, text-to-pay, website or automated phone payment system to make a payment during this time. Carroll EMC has personnel on standby 24/7, year-round. Even on holidays, Carroll EMC is prepared for storms and outages.
Remember: If you have multiple accounts, you will need to enter your account number for that location.
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Scholarship Deadline Reminders Don’t forget to apply for these scholarships and opportunities while you’re on holiday break. • Walter Harrison Scholarship: One high school senior or undergraduate student is chosen to compete for a $1,000 scholarship. Apply at carrollemc.com by January 30. • Lineman School Scholarship: Aspiring electrical lineworkers can win a $5,000 scholarship to use toward school and training. Apply at carrollemc.com by March 6. • Copeland Scholarship: $800 scholarship. Applicants can check the University of West Georgia website, westga.edu/scholarships, for details.
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Carroll EMC Newsletter
Georgia Magazine