MARCH 2026 | IN THIS ISSUE
KNOW WHAT'S BELOW BEFORE YOU START DIGGING SPRING INTO SAVINGS WITH ENERGY REBATES SAVE MONEY BY INSULATING WHERE IT COUNTS
If you’ve driven down a road on a bright, sunny day and noticed a crew trimming trees near power lines, you may have wondered, “Why are they cutting trees when there’s nothing wrong?”
When it comes to trimming trees we do it to keep you safe and your power reliable.
We prioritize safety for our members, crews and the community. Trees are natural conductors of electricity. If limbs grow too close to energized lines, they can create a serious hazard. A branch touching a power line can energize the tree and the ground below it. During storms, strong winds can send limbs into power lines, creating dangerous conditions for you, your family and our crews.
Jackson EMC proactively maintains vegetation along more than 15,000 miles of energized lines across our 10-county service area. Every section is regularly trimmed on a maintenance schedule. Members are notified in advance when
crews will be working. The work they do takes skill and care with the use of specialized training and equipment. The contractors we work with are certified arborists and our Jackson EMC crew leaders supervising the work are certified arborists, too. They know how to trim a tree the right way so it stays healthy and stays a safe distance from our lines.
In addition to keeping you safe, tree trimming plays an important role in reliability. Trees and vegetation growing too close to power lines and equipment are the most common cause of power outages. They cause even more trouble during storms, when high winds send limbs into power lines and knock out service for you and your neighbors. That’s why we don’t wait for something to go wrong.
We know you depend on safe, reliable service to power your home, business and many other things in your family’s daily life. When the power stays on during a storm, it’s often because of the
Spring is a great time to consider energy upgrades for your home. Jackson EMC offers rebates to help make those improvements more affordable. You can grow your energy savings by planning to take advantage of a rebate from your cooperative, including:
• Up to $400 for an electric heat pump replacement when you buy a qualified all-electric ENERGY STAR-rated heat pump
• Up to $1,400 in home energy evaluation and improvement rebates when you complete a home energy evaluation and make energy-efficient improvements based on recommendations from your evaluation
• Up to $250 for a Level 2 electric vehicle charger for your home
• Instant rebates on smart thermostats from the Jackson EMC Marketplace
As your cooperative, we're here to help you save energy and lower your monthly costs. Our rebates make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable.
work that happened in advance with our crews – most likely on a quiet, sunny day. You may not always see the connection between a trimmed tree and your dependable electric system, but I can assure you that our team does. We’re constantly working behind the scenes to reduce risks and strengthen the system that serves you.
The next time you pass one of our vegetation crews at work, I hope you’ll see it as what it truly is: neighbors helping neighbors – protecting our community and helping ensure the lights stay on.
Have a story to share about our vegetation crews and their role in providing reliable electricity? Send it to me at chip@jacksonemc.com.
CHIP JAKINS, President & CEO
Your home offers some great opportunities to save money and energy. Simple, smart upgrades can help lower your monthly electric bill and improve your comfort year-round.
Need some guidance on where to focus? We can help with these tips.
Start with Weatherization
Seal any gaps around windows, exterior doors and attic access doors. Use weatherstripping or caulk to stop air drafts. This step is the easiest and most economical way to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Insulate attic spaces to at least R-38. The R-value is often printed directly on the paper or foil backing of the insulation. A higher R-value means better insulation and improved comfort in your home.
Check floors over crawlspaces or unheated basements. An insulation value of R-19 in floors provides more comfort and helps to lower energy bills.
If you want an accurate assessment of your home’s energy efficiency, our home energy evaluation can help. With advanced diagnostics, we compile a prioritized list of personalized recommendations to help you decide where improvements will have the most impact.
Jackson EMC’s home energy evaluation is available for a base fee. Members can benefit from rebates to help offset the cost. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com/evaluation.
Trees and vegetation growing too close to power lines are one of the most common causes of power outages.
“Keeping trees and limbs away from power lines is one of the most important things we do to keep the lights on for you and your neighbors,” said Chad Hemphill, operations superintendent for Jackson EMC. “If a tree goes down on a line, it can interrupt power for everyone in the area.”
Jackson EMC proactively maintains vegetation under and near power lines to protect the electric system. Every section of the cooperative’s more than 15,000 miles of energized lines is trimmed on a four-year cycle. Members are notified in advance when tree trimming crews will be working in their area.
Tree trimming near power lines requires specialized training and equipment. Jackson EMC works with trusted contractors who are certified arborists and have
the expertise to trim vegetation safely while supporting the long-term health of trees.
Contractor crews are supervised by Jackson EMC crew leaders, who are also certified arborists.
“We take great care when trimming trees near our lines and equipment,” said Josh Martin, right-of-way supervisor. “Having certified arborists on the job each day shows members we value keeping trees healthy while reducing the likelihood of prolonged outages.”
Reliability isn’t the only reason vegetation maintenance matters. Trees are natural conductors of electricity. If a tree or limbs touches a power line, electricity will travel through the tree to the ground and create a dangerous safety risk.
“For your safety, never try to trim trees near power lines,” said Hemphill. “If you’re concerned about a tree near our equipment, give us a call and we’ll assess the situation.”
If you see downed lines, stay far away and call 911. Always assume lines are energized and dangerous.
At Jackson EMC, we help you power through every season safely and reliably. By taking a proactive approach to tree trimming, we’re working to protect your service, your safety and the community we share.
Thanks to your participation in Operation Round Up, lives are changing across our community.
That impact is showing up at Navigate Recovery, a Gwinnett County nonprofit that recently received a Jackson EMC Foundation grant to support its Lightway recovery program. The program provides long-term housing and comprehensive support for women working to rebuild their lives after addiction.
Navigate Recovery shared its gratitude for the partnership, saying this support from Jackson EMC members is helping to create stability and hope for the women it serves.
Thank you for being part of something bigger and helping strengthen the communities we call home.
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded a total of $90,719 in grants to organizations.
$20,000 to Good News Clinics, Inc., Gainesville, for its Foundations for Wellness Program to provide lab tests and medications for uninsured and low-income residents in Hall County.
$15,000 to Hebron Community Health Center, Inc. (Truth’s Community Clinic), Lawrenceville, for its Direct Patient Care Program to provide medical testing and supplies for uninsured and low-income residents in Barrow and Gwinnett counties.
$10,000 to Barrow Ministry Village, Inc., Winder, for its Counseling Sponsorship Program to provide individual and group counseling sessions for residents in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Oglethorpe counties.
$7,500 to Mom Squad Worldwide Agency, Inc. for its Maternal Mental Health and Family Dynamics Program to provide mental health support sessions for participants in Gwinnett County.
$7,500 to Rachel’s Gift for its Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Program to provide families experiencing the loss of a child with support group counseling in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
$6,360 to Angel House of Georgia, Inc., Gainesville, for its Angel Fund Program to support women battling addiction with residential treatment sponsorships for residents in Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties.
“This is a recipe that concocted myself. By using the spice cake mix as a base
-SUSAN ABERNATHY, Gainesville
INGREDIENTS:
spice cake mix (do not follow cake instructions on box)
egg
cup applesauce
stick butter, melted
medium granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into small pieces
tsp of each: allspice, ground cinnamon and ground cloves (optional)
cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Brown sugar to sprinkle on top prior to baking (optional) Apple cider (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray non-stick spray into muffin pan. Mix all listed ingredients. If too dry or thick, add apple cider or more applesauce. Bake 15-20 minutes until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
$6,000 to Lifewell Ministries, Inc., Snellville, for its Health Program to provide individual and group counseling support for residents in Banks, Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
$5,000 to Ser Familia, Inc. for its Mental Health Service Program to provide counseling sessions for individuals experiencing trauma in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
$4,175 to Families First, Inc. for its Vance Behavioral Health Program for counseling sessions for families in Gwinnett County.
$3,350 to Center Point Georgia, Gainesville, for its Mental Health Community Outreach Program to provide support for community-based workshops for residents in Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties.
$3,334 to Navigate Recovery for its Lightway Addiction Recovery Program to provide housing and comprehensive support for individuals affected by addiction in Gwinnett County.
$2,500 to the DL Handy Foundation, Inc. for its Project Uplift Program to provide counseling sessions for individuals in need in need throughout Jackson EMC’s service area.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO APPLY FOR A JACKSON EMC FOUNDATION GRANT, JACKSONEMC.COM/FOUNDATION
QUEEN
Q: How can members help lower energy demand during “peak hours”? - Susan
A: I’m glad you asked! “Peak demand” refers to times of day when the need for electricity is at its highest. At Jackson EMC, we typically see daily peak demand between 7-9 a.m. in the winter, when members are warming their homes and getting ready for the day, and 3-8 p.m. in the spring and summer, during the hottest part of the day when HVAC systems are working hard to cool homes and businesses.
Peak demand matters for members because when the demand for electricity spikes, we may need to rely on more expensive energy sources to meet that need. By managing demand efficiently, we help control these costs, keeping electricity more affordable for all co-op members.
You can help by making small changes. In the spring and summer:
• Shift using appliances like washers, dryers and dishwashers to evenings
• Close curtains and tilt blinds up during the day to divert heat
• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees
You can also sign up for our Sync to Save program, which rewards members for reducing their energy use during peak demand. Sync to Save allows participating members to have their smart thermostats adjusted slightly during high-demand periods, such as very hot days. Just for signing up, you’ll get a one-time $50 enrollment incentive. Each year you stay in the program, you’ll get a $25 bill credit.
JACKSON EMC OFFICES
1000 Dawsonville Highway Gainesville, GA (770) 536-2415
85 Spratlin Mill Road Hull, GA (706) 548-5362
850 Commerce Road Jefferson, GA (706) 367-5281
825 Buford Dr Lawrenceville, GA (770) 963-6166
EMC SECURITY
55 Satellite Blvd., NW Suwanee, GA (770) 963-0305 or (706) 543-4009 YOUR POWER. YOUR COMMUNITY. A PUBLICATION FOR
jacksonemc.com
If you’re planning any springtime digging, be sure to contact Georgia 811 first. Even small projects – like planting a flower bed or small bush – can put you at risk of hitting underground power or gas lines.
Contacting 811 before you dig is free and easy. Georgia 811 notifies local utility providers, including Jackson EMC, so underground lines can be marked with flags or paint. The markings help you dig safely and avoid costly damage or dangerous disruptions.
If you see markings, dig with care. Taking this simple step helps protect you, your neighbors and essential utility services.
Temporary survey markings