770-502-0226 Our Team Appreciates Your ... · 8/1/2014 · January 2011 Although it’s hard to...

Anthony H. Sinclair, President and CEOC. Bradford Sears, Jr., AttorneyDouglas B. Warner, Attorney

BOARD OF DIRECTORSElwood Thompson, ChairmanK. M. Spaller, Vice Chairman

J. Neal Shepard, Jr., Secretary-TreasurerTherol Brown

W. L. ClementsJames W. Fulton

Ross HenryAlice J. Mallory

Mildred A. Winkles

POWERlinesEditor: Mary Ann Bell

807 Collinsworth Road, Palmetto, GA 30268(770) 502-0226

Coweta-Fayette EMC is an Equal Opportunity

Affirmative Action Employer/M/F/V/H

770-502-0226 www.utility.org

January 2011

Although it’s hard to believe we are once againstarting a new year, I find it only natural and helpful toreflect back upon 2010 – in what areas did we excel,and how could we enhance the co-op to serve you betterin 2011 and beyond?

To get your feedback, we conducted aMember survey at our Annual Meeting inOctober, and over 737 attendees participated.We appreciate the time and effort fromeveryone who completed the surveys, andwe most especially thank those of you whoincluded comments and suggestions.

We have reviewed these survey resultsin great detail, because the opportunity tohear from you is something we value and use to deter-mine the goals and tasks needed to meet or exceed yourexpectations.

As we reviewed the results, we were extremelypleased. It’s a privilege for me to lead your great employeeteam every day, and I see the wonderful service they provide. The survey clearly confirmed that you alsoknow our employees are doing a great job for you.

For instance, Members who completed the surveyand rated us in the 8-10 range (based on a 1-10 numberscale, with 10 being the highest score) fell into the fol-lowing percentage categories:Question #5 Member Satisfaction 88% Question #6 Member Expectations 82%Question #7 Comparisons to Ideal Utility 89%Question #8 Member Loyalty to C-F EMC 90%

The industry standard for these four survey ques-tions is typically in the low 80% range. Although weexceeded that number significantly in most areas, wewill continue striving to get as close to 100% as humanlypossible. We provide our employees with high – butachievable – goals and supply them with the resourcesand support needed to be successful.

In other survey results, we had many individualMember comments complimenting our quick responseduring electric outages. Mother Nature, along with theassociated summer thunderstorms and winter snow/iceissues, is something we cannot control. We are extremely

adept at preparing for emergencies, however, and actingquickly during weather events. Our knowledgeable, pro-fessional line crews are the best in the business, and theyare dedicated to getting your power back on as soon as

possible.We also found out from our Member

survey that we need to communicate ourenergy efficiency programs and financingopportunities more clearly, as well as further expand the EMC website’s value-added features. This will be a priority project for our staff and employees in 2011– I am predicting you will be extremelypleased!

In addition to these comments, several Membersalso said they would like us to keep our rates as low aspossible, and that is our goal, too. In the last quarter of2010, we negotiated some extremely favorable long-termpower contract arrangements that should provide uswith excellent, competitively-priced wholesale energy formany years to come. The low price of natural gas –which is the fuel source for a significant part of our gen-eration assets – is now benefiting our Members and willdo so in the future. The production fracturing and hori-zontal drilling techniques recently developed to produceknown natural gas reserves in shale rock have beenastonishingly successful. This dramatic change in thecommercially-producible natural gas reserves right herein the U.S. is estimated to keep costs down for manyyears. We are ecstatic and thankful for this new and(until recently) unimaginable phenomenon.

Again, I would like to thank you for the opportunityto serve you. We will forever strive for improvement.Serving you in the best way possible is not just a part of our corporate vision and mission statement; it is apersonal promise from each of our employees in thecooperative family. . . and from me directly to you.

For the Team,

Anthony H. Sinclair “Tony”

Our Team Appreciates Your Support and Confidence

Don’t let your TVuse energy when

you’re not watching it!

You bought an ENERGY STAR-qualifiedTV to save energy, but there's evenmore you can do to boost its efficiency.Here’s a tip from Coweta-Fayette thatcan help you save power – and money.

TVs are bigger than they used to be,and some of the largest ones can useas much electricity each year as a new,conventional refrigerator. But ENERGYSTAR-qualified TVs use roughly 40 per-cent less energy than standard models.

When your ENERGY STAR TV is turnedon, you know it's using energy effi-ciently, but if the TV is on when no oneis watching it, that costs money. Soyou hit the “off” button. And that'swhen the “energy vampires” go to work. . . although your TV is switchedoff, it still uses power.

Here are a couple of things you can doto stop that power drain. Many high-definition TVs have a quick-startoption. By turning it off, you’ll saveenergy and add only a few seconds tostart-up time. To stop those “energyvampires,” use a power strip as a centralturn-off point. When you’re not watch-ing your TV, simply flip the strip’s offbutton. If you have set a timer torecord a TV program, however, you'llneed to keep the recorder plugged inand drawing power.

For other tips on how to save energy –and money! – visit Touchstone Energy’sefficiency website, or call the energyexperts at Coweta-Fayette EMC. Findout how the little changes add up atwww.TogetherWeSave.com.

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Announcing

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Relyco FIRSTCALL is available 24-hours a day, 365-daysa year. Instant two-way communication with trainedpersonnel who can summon appropriate help is thenext best thing to constant caregivers.

Relyco will install the system at no cost to you and monitorit for only $25 per month.

Relyco Security is proud to be able to offer this serviceto our community. Call 770-253-4053 today for more information.

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EMC Lineman Programs Spark Interest in Schools

Looking for a fun, rewarding experience this summer? Ifyou are a high school sophomore or junior, you could be oneof two students to win an all-expense paid trip to our nation’scapital from Coweta-Fayette EMC.

This prestigious and unique leadership opportunity ismade available once a year to prospective students inGeorgia. If chosen, you will join more than 100 other teens inrepresenting our state during the 2011 Washington YouthTour, scheduled for June 9-16.

The fast-paced, high-energy program is designed to givestudents a taste of democracy in action, while also encouragingthem to become public servants and exposing them to ourcountry’s rich history through visits to national landmarks.

“Arlington Cemetery made me realize we live in a won-derful nation that thousands of individuals are willing to givetheir lives for, and we should not take freedom for granted,”remarked one former student delegate.

That sentiment, expressed by many former participantsand chaperones, underscores the significance of the program– to participate in an unforgettable week-long journey in thenation’s capital that includes face-to-face meetings with stateand national leaders, leadership training and discussions onimportant issues with students from other states.

“When I was a junior in high school, I participated in the2002 Washington Youth Tour,”said a recent teacher chaperone.“I met wonderful people I will always keep in touch with.Getting to experience the workings of the federal governmentinspired me to work in the political process of my country,which I continue today.”

The tour beginsin Georgia as stu-dents get to knoweach other, learnabout Georgia's 42EMCs and theelectric cooperative industry andenjoy a private tour of the birthplace of rural electrification -the Little White House in Warm Springs.

The group then travels to Washington, D.C. to connectwith more than 1,500 students from across the country.While there, delegates will embark on a cruise down thePotomac River, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the UnknownSoldier in Arlington Cemetery and tour the U.S. SupremeCourt, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Mount Vernon, theNational Cathedral and Ford’s Theater.

Students will also visit memorials honoring PresidentsFranklin Roosevelt, Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington, as wellas World War II and the Vietnam and Korean Wars.Additionally, they will have the opportunity to watch the U.S.Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Platoonperform at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Students will also visitthe Smithsonian Institute, Newseum and Holocaust Museums.

Entrants will be required to write a 500-word essay from achoice of topics supplied by the EMC. Deadline for the essaysis March 15. Students interested in learning leadership skills,developing life-long friendships and making a pilgrimage toour nation’s capital should contact Amy Lott by phone at 770-502-0226, extension 4423, or by e-mail at [email protected] more information and a kit of resource materials.

Electric line workers wear many hats... and not only thehard variety.

Coweta-Fayette’s linemen not only keep the lights on andthe public safe in our service area, but they also educate chil-dren in local schools about the importance of electricity and itsrelated precautions: proof the job doesn’t end at the utilitypole.

Every year, our linemen visit over ten schools in the falland spring to talk about their jobs, review electrical safety andpass around their gloves and gear. Sometimes, they even scalea pole or climb into a bucket truck – two activities that arealways a big hit.

This commitment to community falls in line with our core values, or cooperative principles, and is an aspect of thejob readily embraced by our dedicated line crews; after all, aneducated and aware public is a safe one!

In addition to lineman demonstrations in schools, theEMC partners with Western Elementary School in CowetaCounty and Brooks Elementary School in Fayette County tohelp educators with resources, special requests or simple recog-nition. The cooperative and its sister schools coordinate onevents like tree plantings and poster contests, as well as fund-ing for study programs. Each May, Coweta-Fayette also handsout school-wide teacher appreciation gifts at both facilities.

Have you ever wondered exactly what itmeans for Coweta-Fayette EMC to becalled “your Touchstone Energy® coop-erative?” If so, here’s a refresher courseon our nationwide brand and the advan-tages it provides.For several years now, you may havenoticed the graphic symbol accompany-ing your EMC’s familiarname on utility buckettrucks, power bills andco-op signs, but there'smore to Touchstone thanjust a logo. WhenCoweta-Fayette joinedthe alliance ofTouchstone Energy coop-erative electric utilitiesacross the country – now more than700 co-ops in 46 states deliveringenergy and energy solutions to over 27 million members daily – we becamea part of a nationwide brand andmarketing effort that identifieslocal, consumer-owned businessesproviding high standards of service to customers large andsmall.

The foundation of everyTouchstone cooperative’s serviceto its members consists of fourcore values already long asso-ciated with the electric co-opbusiness model:

IInntteeggrriittyyMembers always come first. Not-for-profit electriccooperatives deliver energy to their consumer-owners at the cost of service. In contrast,investor-owned utilities typically distribute theirprofits to investors across the nation or even theworld – not necessarily to those they serve.

CCoommmmiittmmeenntt ttoo CCoommmmuunniittyyCo-ops put time, money and expertise to work build-ing the local economy, investing in community and

business development projects, educatingstudents about safety and the environ-ment, donating to charities and volunteering for special projects.

IInnnnoovvaattiioonnTouchstone cooperatives provide newsolutions and state-of-the-art technolo-gies to meet consumers’ needs. We offeronline energy audits, the TouchstoneEnergy Home Program and other effi-ciency information programs to help residential and business members save

money. Our Co-op Connections Card also givesconsumers the opportunity to experience incredi-

ble discounts at participating localand national businesses.

AAccccoouunnttaabbiilliittyySince consumers own co-ops, together,they chart the course for the busi-ness – every member has an equalvoice in running the enterprise.Unlike an investor-owned utility, inwhich the investor with the mostshares has the most clout, co-op

business is conducted through a locally-electedboard of directors and an annual meeting wherepolicy is proposed and voted on by members, eachhaving one vote. Electric cooperatives are smallenough to listen and close enough to notice theneeds of a single customer. Each co-op employeeis committed to meeting higher standards of cus-tomer satisfaction through Touchstone Energy’songoing training programs.

The dictionary definition oftouchstone is a test of gen-uineness. Touchstone buildsupon co-op strengths, sym-bolizing everything that elec-tric cooperatives representtoday – electric power andthe strength of communitycommitment.

Touchstone Energy: the power of human connections.

2010 Winners Anthony Taijeron-John(left) of Fayetteville and Daniel Graves of Sharpsburg

Washington Youth Tour -the Journey of a

Lifetime!

As a Touchstone Energy cooperative, Coweta-Fayette EMCproudly offers the Co-op Connections card, a free service providing members with local and national deals on a varietyof products and services.

Currently, we are partnered with over 90 area businesses andnumerous national chains. For a full menu of discounts andbargains, visit wwwwww..uuttiilliittyy..oorrgg.. To see national listings, logon to wwwwww..ccoonnnneeccttiioonnss..ccoooopp..

CCoolllleeggee aannddTTeecchhnniiccaallSScchhoollaarrsshhiippssNNoowwAAvvaaiillaabblleeWe take education seriouslyhere at Coweta-Fayette EMC,and we think it’s among ourcorporate responsibilities tosupport local students and theeducational systems within ourservice area.

That’s why we established theMelissa Segars MemorialScholarships and the GriffinTechnical and West GeorgiaTechnical Scholarships, all ofwhich are funded through theEMC’s Operation Round Upprogram. The Melissa SegarsScholarships are available in$3,000 and $1,500 amounts,and applications may bepicked up at your high schoolcounselor’s office or on ourwebsite at wwwwww..uuttiilliittyy..oorrgg(click on “For MyCommunity,” followed by“Schools”). Applicants mustbe graduating seniors whoreside in our service area andhave been accepted at anaccredited college or university.Applications for Melissa Segarsmust be turned in to aCoweta-Fayette EMC office byMarch 1.

Technical scholarships areavailable in $1,000 amountsand can be obtained fromeither of the technical schoolsor from our website.Applicants must live in ourservice area and may be highschool seniors or older adultswishing to return to school fortechnical training. Theseapplications are also due byMarch 1, but must be submittedto one of the above technicalschools you have chosen toattend.

TToouucchhssttoonnee EEnneerrggyy:: MMoorree TThhaann aa LLooggoo

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