A beneficial new year
Looking forward to 2021, I am excited about the many opportunities ahead of us. I foresee continuing many of our traditional efforts, such as providing a great value for Central Georgia EMC (CGEMC) members and having a positive impact in the communities we serve. I am eager to watch our gas subsidiary, Fuel Georgia, continue to grow to offset operating costs for our electric consumers.
We are planning to increase our utilization of electric vehicles within the CGEMC fleet in the coming year. Also, we are on track to expand our carbon-free energy portfolio in 2021 with a 46% increase of solar and nuclear resources.
I am very excited about the role that CGEMC is taking to fill in the expansion of broadband service across our territory. We have worked diligently for two years on potential solutions, and I am hopeful for some major announcements during the first quarter of 2021.
Though we look forward to all that the new year brings, we remain committed to providing you (our customer-owners) the highest quality services at the lowest practicable cost. Thank you for being an important member of our cooperative family.
— George L. Weaver, CGEMC President/CEO
now accepting scholarship applications!
Calling all college students! Twelve $1,000 scholarships will be awarded statewide to students with exemplary academic records. The funds may be applied to educational expenses at any accredited two- or four-year university, college, or vocational/technical institute in Georgia. The scholarships are available to any college-level students regardless of age.
Two applicants will also receive a $500 Central Georgia EMC scholarship!
The application process is underway. For full qualifications and to download your scholarship application, click the link below. Completed applications are due by February 5, 2021.
2020 home energy rebates expiring soon!
CGEMC is a member-owned electric cooperative. Caring for our members includes finding ways to make an energy-efficient lifestyle a little bit easier on the wallet. If you are building from the ground up or upgrading an existing home, we offer direct rebates for qualifying home improvements.
We have partnered with Go Energy Financial to offer our members the Home Plus Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Loan program. Low annual percentage rates and a quick application process make energy upgrades simple.
Here are a few reasons to consider making energy efficiency upgrades in your home:
- You will earn long-term returns on your investment. Upgrading outdated appliances can save you from 5 to 30 percent on your energy bills.
- Potentially increase your property value. Energy-efficient homes frequently sell for a higher price than traditional homes with comparable features.
- Efficient energy usage reduces your overall carbon footprint on the environment. By choosing ENERGY STAR®-rated products, you will use less energy to get the same job done.
* Rebates require the installation of a CGEMC load management switch. For specific qualifications and rebate forms, please visit www.cgemc.com or call 770-775-7857 to request rebate paperwork. Rebates are subject to change without notice and will end on December 21, 2020.
Capital credit checks are on the way!
Capital credit refunds totaling approximately $2,676,810 are being mailed during December. This year’s checks are your portion of margins over and above the cost of providing services during 2002.
Capital credits are just one of the many additional benefits of your membership. According to the cooperative business principles that govern our not-for-profit business model, capital credits may be returned to each customer-owner on a pro-rata basis.
responding to the call: Hurricane zeta
Hurricane Zeta was the sixth hurricane to make landfall in the United States and the fifth named storm to strike Louisiana in 2020. Zeta brought high winds and power outages to North Georgia and beyond. Though we were not without system damage, the moderate impact in CGEMC's territory made it possible to send team members to Central Alabama to assist with widespread power restoration. Thanks to our crew members who are always willing to serve in the time of need!
Connecting with our mini-members
Commitment to the community is a cornerstone of our cooperative. Our ability to visit schools for in-person safety demonstrations and career days is limited for safety reasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are working on creative ways to connect with our mini-members that adhere to recommended safety protocols. However, we certainly miss the energy that a face-to-face meeting generates!
When Jackson Elementary School asked for our help with their yearly egg drop experiment, our CGEMC bucket truck professionals were excited to go! The outdoor event was perfect for social distancing, and the students enjoyed seeing the bucket truck at work, even if it was a little farther away.
Co-op kids
Looking for a fun STEM activity for the kids? Check out The Fuel Lab from our friends at Fuel Georgia! In this episode, they make a self-propelled boat with items from the kitchen.
supporting our communities
Central Georgia EMC presented 23 checks in October, totaling $265,650 to area Chambers of Commerce, Industrial Development Authorities, and School Boards throughout the service territory.
These funds come from unclaimed capital credits that remain with CGEMC after five years. Capital credits are margins over and above the cost of providing service for Central Georgia EMC customer-owners for a specific year after financial obligations have been met. Unclaimed capital credits that remain after five years stay in the communities served by Central Georgia EMC for the sole purposes of funding education, economic development, and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the EMC service area.
Holiday Closings
Central Georgia EMC's office will be closed on the following days: Thursday and Friday, December 24–25, 2020, Friday, January 1, 2021, and Monday, January 18, 2021.
Our remote self-service account options and the on-site payment kiosk will be available. In case of a power outage, please call our 24-hour automated system at 770-775-7857 or 1-800-222-4877 for an immediate response. System operators are on duty to assist you.
Year-End System Maintenance
Central Georgia EMC will be performing year-end computer maintenance beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020. The customer information and payment system will not be available until 5 p.m. on Friday, January 1, 2021. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2021
Cooperative Solar gives you the opportunity to commit to a smaller carbon footprint without installing or maintaining any equipment.
Additionally, we've expanded our Cooperative Solar program to include solar fields across the state. This growth comes with an increase in capacity, enhanced performance reliability, and no waiting list!
Call 770-775-7857 or 1-800-222-4877 to learn more about adding solar energy to your monthly energy mix.
In October, the Central Georgia EMC Foundation awarded $16,531 in grants to charitable organizations in our territory.
- Atlanta Community Food Bank - $4,000 – To distribute food in Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Morgan, Newton, and Spalding counties.
- Emma's Place, Inc. - $1,000 – To purchase food for low-income residents in the CGEMC territory.
- Trail Life USA Salem Baptist Church GA 1870 - $3,531 – To purchase a trailer for camping trips and service projects.
- Foundation for Financial Education Research and Outreach - $2,500 – To improve high school students' financial literacy.
- Connecting Henry, Inc. - $2,500 – To support the annual "Community Cares Toy Shop" event.
- Flint River Council, Inc. Boy Scouts of America - $1,500 – To support the "Scouting for Youth at Risk" program.
- Foster Siblings Reunited DBA Camp to Belong - $1,500 – To support virtual holiday events for foster siblings.
Qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations in our service territory are invited to submit an application to the Central Georgia EMC Foundation.
Through Operation Round Up, our members support local organizations with a mission to make our communities even better places to live, work, and dream big. By simply rounding up your monthly electric bill to the next dollar, you can join in! Our pennies add up to make BIG CHANGE!
Co-op Connections has a new look!
Celebrate "Shop Small Saturday" With Our Co-op Connections Local Partners on November 28!
As a valued member of our electric cooperative, we are excited to bring you a new and improved Co-op Connections!
More local deals have been added through entertainment.com and new cash back online shopping has been added where you can earn up to 20% cash back when shopping online.
Take a look at Co-op Connections for Healthy Savings on pharmacy, dental, vision, and other medical-related expenses.
You can even shop for insurance and travel deals. One additional feature on the Co-op Connections mobile app is Roadside Assistance, featuring 24-hour emergency towing, fuel delivery, tire change, lockout service, and jump-start all for the discounted cost of $79.99 per service call.
We’re excited to provide you with this exclusive, free membership that has countless benefits. You can access Co-op Connections directly from the CGEMC website at www.cgemc.com.
*Deals are subject to change.
Are you a local business who would like to be included in Co-op Connections? Click the link below. It is simple and free!
Energy tip
Energy bills can increase during winter for a variety of reasons, such as house guests, cooler temperatures, shorter days and longer nights. Small actions, like turning down your thermostat, replacing old bulbs with LEDs, and washing clothes in cold water, can help you save. - energy.gov
We love a great energy saving resource, and it's hard to beat Find 101 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money. Download your free copy.
Recipe of the Month
Credits:
Created with images by Science in HD - "Workers with solutions of all-inorganic perovskite quantum dots, showing intense photoluminescence when illuminated with UV light. CsPbBr3 emit in the green and CsPbI3 emit red. Graduate students developed the first solar cells from such quantum dots showing excellent performance. The research, Quantum dot-induced phase stabilization of OE±-CsPbI3 perovskite for high-efficiency photovoltaics, appears in the journal Science." • Tim Mossholder - "Shop local" • niekverlaan - "lamp idea pear"