CONNECTIONS
The Official Newsletter of Cobb Electric Membership Corporation | MAY 2024
FREE MEMBER EVENTS Every year, Cobb EMC hosts free events for members to explore topics that impact energy efficiency in the home. Additionally, we offer programs that support efficiency habits and help our members save.
SAFETY IS THE BACKBONE OF RELIABILITY At Cobb EMC, safety is our #1 priority, from the ongoing training of our employees to resources and webinars for members and classroom safety programs for our kids. Our commitment doesn’t stop at education and training. Providing reliable, dependable power 24/7 year-round requires a focus on safety in everything we do.
Save these dates! Homeowners’ Association Meeting: May 16 EV Seminar: May 23 Energy Efficiency Webinar: June 27 Solar Energy Seminar: July 30 Visit our website to learn more about these events: cobbemc.com/events
Small change, big difference Since inception, the Cobb EMC Foundation has awarded more than $8.6 million to local charities and nonprofits. Thank you to members who round up their bills each month through Operation Round Up. For a full list of recipients or to learn how to request funding, visit cobbemc.com/foundation.
Our office will be closed on May 27 for Memorial Day. Crews are always standing by for emergencies. If you have an outage, report it at 770-429-2100 or via our outage center. cobbemc.com/outagecenter
SYSTEM UPGRADES
One of the most important things we do to provide reliable electricity is maintaining and updating our infrastructure. Just like we service our vehicles with regular oil changes and inspections, the electric grid must also be maintained. We regularly inspect, improve and monitor 9,000-plus miles of line across five counties. This can include changing old poles, building new substations or replacing aging underground cables. Learn more at cobbemc.com/reliable.
Beyond this ongoing maintenance, we routinely clear trees and overgrown vegetation, a vital step in providing safe, reliable power. Trees and brush can be conductors of electricity, and trimming is necessary to avoid outages and safety hazards for our crews and the general public. For example, if trees are touching power lines in our members’ yards, they can cause a potential hazard. If children can reach those TRIMMING TREES AROUND LINES trees, they could climb into a danger zone. Electricity can arc from a power line to a nearby conductor such as a tree. Any tree or branch that falls across a power line creates a potentially dangerous situation. By proactively trimming trees, we provide a safe environment for our crews and communities while improving service reliability and speeding up restoration time. Learn more at cobbemc.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPACT SAFETY? When it comes to safety, there are ways you can help, too. Don’t attach signs or other items to utility poles, as it poses a danger to our lineworkers. We can work together to enjoy the beauty of trees and reliable electricity. Check out our helpful guide on tree and shrub planting around power lines and Cobb EMC equipment at cobbemc.com/trees. Plus, find DIY electrical safety tips on the following page.
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