CONNECTIONS The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | JULY 2023
Stay informed during an outage Our employees work 24/7/365 to ensure you have power you can rely on. Despite our best efforts, strong summer storms can damage our lines, interrupting your service. If you experience an outage, visit our Outage and Storm Center online to stay informed and safe at home. cobbemc.com/outage New and improved outage text alerts: Cobb EMC has enhanced notification tools to keep outage communications in the hands of our members. Text “Register” to 898-362 (TXTEMC) to enroll in outage text alerts. cobbemc.com/OutageAlerts Outage Map: See current outages, crew status, weather and more on our outage map. outagemap.cobbemc.com
Member benefit One of our co-op principles is education, training and information. We practice these principles as we serve you, our members, through this no-cost publication. Stay up to date with current news on our website: cobbemc.com/news
SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY THIS SUMMER As your local electric cooperative, Cobb EMC is committed to keeping your rates affordable. In fact, over the last two years, we have absorbed rising wholesale power costs with the help of dividends received from Gas South, our wholly-owned subsidiary, plus our rates are the lowest among all 41 EMCs in Georgia.* Did you know that you can also make a significant impact on your electric bill by reducing consumption? We’re here to help you save energy this summer. Shift your energy use: On extremely hot days, your cooling system runs more often and for longer periods. This high energy use can put additional pressure on the electric grid and increase wholesale power costs. We’re encouraging all members to pitch in and spread out the use of large appliances during off-peak hours, before 2 p.m. and after 7 p.m. on weekdays, when there is less overall demand for energy. Be mindful of cooling and heating: According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), cooling and heating account for approximately 16% of your electricity bill. While it’s essential to keep your home comfortable, there are ways to optimize your energy use. Set your thermostat as high as comfortable and consider using
ceiling fans to circulate cool air during summer months. Proper insulation and sealing windows and doors can also contribute to energy savings. Get outside: July is the perfect time to plan outdoor gatherings with friends and family. Instead of cooking indoors using energy-consuming appliances, grill outside or prepare simple and healthy picnic foods like fresh fruits and sandwiches. By avoiding oven and stove use, you can reduce your energy consumption and save on cooking costs. Visit our Energy Resource Center at cobbemc.com/save for an appliance calculator, expert-approved energy efficiency products, DIY tips to help you save energy year-round and more. To support your energysaving efforts, we also offer an app that allows you to view your daily and hourly energy use so you can monitor the real-time impact of your energy-saving actions. By making small changes to your energy-use habits, together we can help relieve pressure on the grid by conserving energy, reducing costs and saving a little money along the way. *According to Georgia PSC 2023 Winter Residential Rate Survey.
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