The Walton EMC Blog

2011 Safety Coloring Contest Winners

Each year at the annual meeting, Walton EMC holds a coloring contest for children 12 and under. Here are the 2011 winners:

First Place, 4 and Under - Zachary Schrack

 

Second Place, 4 and Under - Shriya Sharma

 

Third Place, 4 and Under - Theodore Voivod

 

First Place, 5 to 8 - Julianna Finchum

 

Second Place, 5 to 8 - Scarlett Pastore-Manzano

 

Third Place, 5 to 8 - Cody Underwood

 

First Place, 9 to 12 - Ke'mari Pillars

 

Second Place, 9 to 12 - Connor Kennedy

 

Third Place, 9 to 12 - Caitlin Rivera

 

Thunderstorm Aftermath

Here are a couple photos capturing the thunderstorm aftermath:

 

 

Above: (left to right) Britt Hawk, Greg Pannell & Jacob Brooks. Below: Massive tree down in Bostwick.

 

 

Check out the April 5, 2011 Thunderstorm album on Facebook to see the rest. 

 

April 5 Outages #3

Here is the latest information as of about 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 5:

About 2,200 customer-owners remain without power. Additional help in the form of equipment and crews have arrived from the City of Monroe and Jackson EMC.

At last count, there are 26 broken poles on our system. Crews are working to replace these poles which sometimes takes several hours, depending on the complexity of the wiring and other factors, like traffic.

Employees are taking advantage of our newly installed automated metering system to check for outages and direct crews to trouble spots in a more efficient manner.

According to a spokesman from Georgia EMC, our statewide trade association, 40 of 42 EMCs are affected by this storm and 15 of those have requested extra help.

Crews are working hard to have most power restored by tonight, but there will probably be isolated cases where electric service will not be restored until tomorrow.

Please check the Storm Center at our website for outage tips.

April 5 Outages #2

 

 Here's one reason why it takes a little longer sometimes to restore your power.

April 5 Outages #1

We're still battling outages caused by last night's severe thunderstorms. At the height of the outages, about 20,000 Walton EMC customer-owners were out of power.

To put the devastation in perspective, there are 15 broken poles across our service territory. Replacing a broken pole is a major undertaking and requires hours to complete.

All our crews are working feverishly but safely to restore power, and have been since the wee hours. We also have help from additional contract crews. Our control center is a beehive of activity.

If you see a downed power line, please stay away!

You can keep up with the latest outage numbers here. If you need to report an outage, please contact us at 770-267-2505 or online at waltonemc.com.

It may be this evening or later before all power is restored.

We should have video and/or photos showing damage shortly.

Six Companies, One Thing in Common

Walton EMC is the common denominator for six Georgia companies.

Two heads are better than one, right? In this case, the same is true for business. Walton EMC is currently an active contributor to each program, cooperative and company listed below:

In 1974, 39 of Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMC), including Walton EMC, founded Oglethorpe Power Company (OPC), which has become the nation’s largest power supply cooperative. Changes to the industry resulted in a massive restructuring in 1997 where OPC split into two additional cooperatives totaling three independent companies. The newer cooperatives include Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) and Georgia System Operation Corporation (GSOC) which both operate under their individual CEO and board members. As a power supply cooperative, OPC's job is to build and operate power producing facilities on behalf of its EMC member-owners.

Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) serves the same 39 EMCs as OPC. GTC’s primary purpose is to plan, build, and maintain the transmission lines that carry power from production plants to the distribution facilities at the individual EMCs. 

 
Both Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC) and GTC were established during the restructuring process to better serve the needs of the EMC member-owners. GSOC is owned by 38 of Georgia’s EMCs and the responsibilities of this cooperative include implementing purchase and sales contracts, scheduling and monitoring hourly transactions, dispatching and monitoring generation assets, capturing necessary data for billing and maintaining substations.   

 
Since its inception in  2003, Green Power EMC has managed to gain support from Walton EMC and 36 other Georgia’s member-owned electric cooperatives. Green Power EMC was launched as the first renewable energy program and now remains one of the largest in the southeastern United States. By utilizing “green” resources such as biomass, solar, wind and water, Green Power EMC has given its member EMCs the option to substitute cleaner, renewable energy for a portion of their electricity needs.

 

 
Walton EMC Natural Gas was established in 2002 as an independent natural gas provider that is owned by Walton EMC. Though Walton EMC and Walton EMC Natural Gas operate as separate entities, both offer the same great service, regardless of the energy source. Consumers who use Walton EMC and Walton EMC Natural Gas have the benefit of consolidating all energy charges on one monthly bill.  

 

 
Located in Suwanee, EMC Security is a home security and alarm monitoring company that is equally owned by Walton EMC, Jackson EMC, and Greystone Power. EMC Security offers a multitude of services for your home or business including fire detection, video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, home theater equipment and installation, structured wiring and central vacuums.

Don't Get Caught!

Even though NOAA's Climate Prediction Center says this year's winter will be warmer and drier than normal, that doesn't mean there's not a chance for frozen precipitation.

The nemesis of power lines in the South is the pine tree. It seems they actively look for power lines to fall across. Their soft wood, coarse growth rings and top-heavy design make them perfect for the task when frozen precipitation builds on needles and limbs.

That means not only do our line technicians have to put the wires back together when your power goes out; they also end up doing a fair amount of tree work just to get to the downed lines.

If you're new to our area, snow doesn't usually present a problem. If the flakes are dry and small, and we get a little help from the wind, snow tends not to stick to pine trees.

If you were around in March 2008, you lived through an exception to that rule. An unusually heavy, wet and rapid snowfall kept some homes on Walton EMC's system in the dark for up to four days.

The real terror to power company employees is ice. The largest outages ever on Walton EMC's electric system were caused by ice storms.

The biggest was in 2000. Remember Y2K, the biggest non-event in history? We all held our breath on New Year's Eve and nothing happened. Little did we know in just three weeks we'd be hit with back-to-back ice storms.

The first hit on the weekend when Atlanta hosted the Super Bowl. Just when we thought things were getting back to normal, another ice storm hit at the end of the week. Thankfully it turned out to be small.

You will do well to take a few precautions just in case we're surprised by an ice storm this winter. Check the Storm Center on waltonemc.com for all types of information, including how to prepare for a winter storm, what to do if the lights go out and power outage frequently asked questions.

And hopefully all this preparation will be for nothing.

 

 

EMC Security Expands Service with Home Technology Division

More than the name implies, EMC Security is now a single source provider for all your home technology needs.

"With less new construction going on, we have decided to switch more of our focus to the end user rather than just the builder," explained Scott Adams, Salesman and Designer for EMC Security's Home Division.  

Services offered by EMC Security include, multi-room audio and video, home theater equipment and installation, structured wiring, home networking, security systems and even central vacuums.

"We have just picked up a new product called Control4, which gives the user whole-house automation," said Adams. "With this can unit, you will be able to combine your lighting, HVAC, security and audio all into one control panel."

For EMC Security, the goal is to make your life more manageable by simplifying your home technology needs. Not only can they sell you a product but installation is a breeze with a trained representative from EMC Security.

Customization is key when it comes to any of the offerings. Whether your purchase priority is price, quality or service, EMC Security has you covered.

To learn more about the services offered by EMC Security, click here.

 

Safety Coloring Contest

A new event at this year’s annual meeting let customer-owners’ children show their artistic ability while learning a valuable safety lesson.

More than 135 Kids’ Fest attendees 12 years and under entered the first Walton EMC safety coloring contest for a shot at gift cards and having their artwork displayed in the Realite, on waltonemc.com and in co-op office lobbies.

"You can bet these kids all know never to fly a kite near power lines," said Debra Jackson, contest coordinator. "Hopefully they'll share what they learned with family and friends.

 

 Four and under first place-Noah Stone

Four and under second place-Connor Castillo

 

Four and under third place-Evan Montogmery

Five to eight years first place-Abigail Kennedy

 
Five to eight years second place-Caragan Cherry

Five to eight years third place-Nayyah Diaz 

Nine to 12 years first place-Nikki DeLong 

 Nine to 12 years second place-Mallory Bassett

Nine to 12 years third place-Katie Story 

Check the Drain Pan

A friend's air conditioner ruined his upstairs ceiling the other day and it made me remember to warn you about this.

If the indoor part of your air conditioning system -- called the air handler --  is located in the attic, it's a good idea to check its drain system occasionally.

Here in the South, a big part of your AC's job is to remove humidity from the air. That moisture goes through the ductwork and into the air handler where collects on the cool coil inside. It then drips down and exits a drain in the unit. The drain should be plumbed with a pipe that takes the moisture outside.

Since the unit has a ceiling underneath, it should have a backup drain system. If the indoor unit is installed properly, it will have a sheet metal pan below to catch the water in case the primary drain fails.

But many times, the backup system doesn't function. That's what happened to my friend.

The drain pan may also have its own pipe that's plumbed to the outside. Problem is, many times blown attic insulation gets in the pan and stops up that pipe. You should check and make sure the drain pan is clear of debris and that the pipe connected to it is open.

The primary drain is probably plumbed to a "hidden" location. The outside end of the backup drain pipe should be placed where you'll notice it dripping. That way, you'll know something's up with the primary drain.

The alternative fail-safe method is for the pan to have an electromechanical float switch that cuts the unit off if the pan gets full of water. With the unit running, use your finger to trip the lever on the float switch and make sure the unit cuts off.

Here's hoping you never have unsightly water stains on the ceiling.

Keeping Your Cool

Here are great tips to beat the heat and help your energy bill:

• Keep blinds and drapes closed on the sunny side of the house. You'll be surprised how much difference it makes to keep out solar radiation.

• If your home has large expanses of exposed glass, consider window tint.
• It  won't help right now, but plant hardwood trees on the southern and western sides of your home. The leaves shade the home in the summer and fall off in the winter to let the sunshine through.
• Keep the doors and windows closed. Okay, I know this one seems obvious. But how many times have you caught the kids leaving the doors wide open?
• Use ceiling and floor fans to create a wind chill effect. This may allow you to set the air conditioner thermostat a tad higher.
• Put off heat-producing chores -- like cooking, drying and ironing -- until the evening. Hey, now you have an excuse to go out to dinner.
• Turn off lights. If your fixtures are equipped with incandescent bulbs, they're using 90 percent of the electricity they consume to produce heat. Yep, that's right, old-fashioned light bulbs are more of a heater than a light source.
• Better yet, replace all those old bulbs with compact fluorescents. You'll light for one-fourth the energy and the bulbs don't create near as much heat the AC has to get rid of.
• Speaking of the AC, keep it in tip-top shape. It works hard when the weather is hot. Keep the filter changed, make sure indoor vents are not obstructed and don't block the airflow around the outdoor unit. Having your AC unit checked regularly isn't a bad idea, either.

Walton EMC is a ...

 

 
Webster defines a cooperative or co-op as “an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services.”

Walton EMC is an electric co-op that began in 1936 when seven community leaders each invested $1 toward providing power for rural northeast Georgia. Moving forward to 2010, Walton EMC is now one of the largest of almost 1,000 electric co-ops in the nation.

Though co-ops come in many shapes and sizes, all follow seven internationally recognized principles:

1. Voluntary & Open Membership

Walton EMC provides its services to any commercial or residential consumer inside its ten-county service territory that includes Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Dekalb, Greene, Gwinnett, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Rockdale, and Walton Counties. 

2. Democratic Member Control

Each year, the third Saturday in June is reserved for Walton EMC’s annual meeting held at the Walton County Agricultural Education Center. At this meeting, customer-owners are given the opportunity to elect board members who make executive decisions for the co-op.  

3. Members' Economic Participation.

We don’t have customers at Walton EMC; we have customer-owners. When you pay your initial membership fee, you become part-owner of the co-op.  Because we are not-for-profit, excess revenue is returned to customer-owners in the form of capital credits assigned to their account based on individual patronage.

4. Autonomy & Independence

Walton EMC is a stand-alone company that functions based on the democratic control of our customer-owners. We do not rely on government funding nor do we enter into any agreements that would sacrifice the integrity of our self-governing organization. 

5. Education, Training & Information

Each year, Walton EMC sponsors participants for the Young Couples Co-op Conference, Youth Leadership Conference, and Washington Youth Tour. Our co-op also hosts field trips for local schools and organizes school programs to educate students about Walton EMC.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives

Walton EMC has entered into several business endeavors with other co-ops. EMC Security is a company that is equally owned by Walton EMC, Jackson EMC and Greystone Power. Power supply contracts are negotiated jointly with Satilla REMC and Colquitt EMC. Our co-op is also an active member of Georgia EMC, a trade organization of all electric co-ops in Georgia.  

7. Concern for Community

Concern for community is a priority for Walton EMC. Our co-op partners with numerous charitable organizations including the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, March of Dimes and the United Way. We developed and administer a community assistance program called Operation Round Up that provides grants to local service organizations and needy individuals. Walton EMC also offers programs and scholarships to benefit youth within the community. 

Blood Drive This Thursday at Walton EMC Auditorium

Walton EMC is hosting a blood drive this Thursday, April 15th, from 8:00 to 5:00 in the Monroe Auditorium located at 842 US Highway 78. 

Reasons to Give Blood:

• 38,000 blood donations are needed everyday.

• Less than 38% of the U.S. is able to give so, every eligible donation is needed. 

• The first 60 pre-registered donors will receive a goody bag and soft pack cooler.

• Donors will be entered in a drawing for (5) $15 Wal-Mart gas cards. 

• All donors between April 1 - June 30, 2010, will be entered in a drawing by the American Red Cross for a chance to win a cruise for two.

To sign up, please call Kimberly Gilmore at 770.266.2308 or make an appointment online by clicking here.

2010 Washington Youth Tour Delegates Chosen

 
Eight finalists competed for their spot to represent Walton EMC on the 2010 Washington Youth Tour. Pictured are (left to right) Simon David, Parkview High (alternate); Rachel Harrison, South Gwinnett High; Erin Springstead, North Oconee High (winner); Silvia Vaca, Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology (winner); Nikhil Ramesh, Gwinett School of Math, Science and Technology (winner); Hayden May, Parkview High (alternate); Davis Roper, North Oconee High (winner); Kyle Beckett, North Oconee High.  

Each spring, four delegates are selected to represent Walton EMC on the Washington Youth Tour, which takes place in June.  

After filling out an application, all participants receive a Walton EMC information packet. The competition begins with a written test based on the packet material. Students with the top eight scores on the test advance to the interview round, where they are narrowed to four delegates and two alternates.

For these four students, the award for hard work and dedication comes in the form of an all-expense paid trip and the opportunity to meet U.S. politicans while touring several of our nation's landmarks. In addition to Washington D.C., part of the tour will focus on our state government with a visit to the capital in Atlanta. 

If you know or will be a high school sophomore or junior during the 2010-2011 school year, look for information on the contest next January.  

Highlighting Walton EMC Commercial Customer: Oasis Bowl

Mike Stephens and Jim Self tell the story of golfing buddies turned business partners.

Using his extensive background in construction and real estate, Stephens decided to combine forces using Self’s bowling center startup experience to create what is now Oasis Bowl.

The first Oasis Bowl establishment opened its doors in Buford in 2004, followed by a second location in Loganville in late 2007. Both facilities house a snack bar, arcade, and 32 bowling lanes. Expanding with a third bowling center location in Covington is well underway.

“As a family-focused company, our main goal is to give our customers a clean, save and fun environment that they can all enjoy,” explained Self. “The great thing about bowling is that it doesn’t matter if you're 5 or 105, everybody can participate.” 

Like most entertainment venues, the weekend is usually the most profitable. For Oasis Bowl this is no exception, so when a storm interrupted power one Friday evening, a great deal of financial urgency was placed on management.

“Without power, we are not in business,” said Self. “It’s one thing for the power to go off on a Monday afternoon but a Friday night is an entirely different story.”

From the time Oasis Bowl contacted Walton EMC with the power outage until the power was restored was exactly one hour and 27 minutes, as timed by Self. 

“I was totally expecting for the employees at Walton EMC to tell us that they could get to it at some point on Saturday, so I was really impressed with the customer service,” said Self.

Oasis Bowl provides a number of deals and packages to accommodate every bowler. For the working adult, there is Monday thru Friday social and competitive bowling leagues and the packages for the kids include birthday parties, team parties, and day camps.

To learn more about what Oasis Bowl has to offer, visit their website.

 

Running a Marathon Without All the Work

Next to central heat and air, water heating is the second largest contributor to energy cost in your home, which means that your system should be efficient and economical. Whether you are replacing an existing unit or installing a unit in your new home, efficient and economical comes in the form of a Marathon.

Marathons are energy efficient, lightweight water heaters that are guaranteed to never leak and last as long as you own your home. Check out the diagram below to see what else sets Marathon apart from standard steel water heaters:

As the premier Marathon dealer serving the Atlanta and Athens area, Walton EMC can sell you a Marathon and then help you pay for it with financing and rebates.

Payment options include 90-day same as cash and 12-month financing at a prime rate. In addition to financing, we also offer rebates. To qualify, you must be a customer-owner installing a Marathon inside your home within Walton EMC’s service territory.

 Rebates:

• $200 – Replacing a fossil fuel unit with a Marathon.
• $150 – Installing a Marathon inside a new home.  

Upgrading your water heater is a budget friendly decision, but for evens more savings, pair Marathon with a solar water heating system from Power Partners Solar. Switching to solar power as a source of renewable energy benefits your budget and your environment.

To get more information on Marathon and Power Partners Solar, visit our website.

 

A New Calling for EMC Security

A new calling and monitoring center, that is.

EMC Security has recently installed a state-of-the-art monitoring center located at the corporate office in Suwanee, Georgia. In addition to the Suwanee location, EMC Security also utilizes another monitoring center located in Gainesville, Florida. With separate systems in two locations, EMC Security is honing in on the industry practice known as redundancy.

“With two monitoring center campuses, we are able to simultaneously observe all accounts,” explained Suzanne Farr, monitoring center supervisor. “If we have a blip in either system, we are able to continue without any interruption of service.” 

Equally owned by Walton EMC, Jackson EMC and Greystone Power, EMC Security currently monitors approximately 45,000 accounts.  The addition of the new monitoring center allows EMC Security to better serve their customers through advanced software capabilities.

“Customization is a huge factor when it comes to the new software used by EMC Security. We are able to input procedure preferences into each account based on what the customer wants,” said Farr.

Schools are different than warehouses, which are different than houses, which are different than car dealerships - hence the customization. With the new software implemented by EMC Security, customers are allowed to specify not only who they would like to notify, but also how to contact the person such as text message, email, or phone. Notifications for each account can be based on the signal (fire, intrusion, etc.) as well as the time of day.

EMC Security offers a number of security solutions including video surveillance, access control, fire and life safety, and intrusion detection. To find out more visit the EMC Security website by clicking here.   

 
 

ENERGY STAR - More Than a Label

Walton EMC is proud to partner with ENERGY STAR as an official Energy Efficiency Program Sponsor. Using the platform provided by the program, our co-op promotes improving the environment through energy efficiency. For Walton EMC, improvements comes in the form of energy efficient appliances, lighting and home improvements.

ENERGY STAR is “a partnership among government, business, and consumers, united in the pursuit of a common goal – to protect our environment for future generations.”

ENERGY STAR provides a number of tools, resources and strategies to Program Partners. We encourage all of our customer-owners to look for the ENERGY STAR label when shopping for energy-related products:

 

Along with the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR is working to build environmentally friendly homes and promote improved energy performance in existing homes. Beginning this month, if you purchase an ENERGY STAR certified appliance, you may be eligible for a rebate from the State of Georgia. Learn more at www.georgiarebate.com.

Got a Minute?

That's all it takes to watch one of our Energy Minute videos, but you'll get lots of tips on how you can save money on your power bills. Check out some of our latest ones:

Be Your Own Energy Auditor with Our Energy Calculators

When you get your power bill out of the mailbox each month, more than likely your eyes go straight to the total, right? 

Most people just want to find out what they owe, but have you ever stopped to think what actually makes up that number? Sure, it's your energy use, but each appliance that uses energy contributes to that final cost.  The energy calculators on our website can pinpoint specific areas where you can lower your bill as well as your impact on the environment.  

Home Energy and Carbon Footprint Analyzer

The Home Energy and Carbon Footprint Analyzer offers a number of tools to help you identify areas of your home that use the most energy and ways to break your not-so-favorable usage habits. You start by filling out a few general questions regarding your home, such as the age, square footage and number of occupants. Once the information is entered, the analyzer will calculate the consumption and separate the information into usage categories. There is also a "Ways to Save" section that provides energy saving tips based on your usage results. This calculator even goes a step further to translate your monthly energy consumption into carbon footprint components such as acres of trees, cars on the road and barrels of oil. 

Check it out here.

Heating System Comparison Calculator

The Heating System Comparison Calculator is a great help when considering the operating cost of various heating systems inside your home. This calculator allows you to gather information on any heating system using different rate structures and discount programs. Check it out here.

Cooling System Comparison Calculator

The Cooling System Comparison Calculator provided the same capabilities as the Heating System Comparison Calculator expect that the focus is placed on cooling rather than heating. Heating and cooling combine for the highest energy usage in your home, so use the comparison calculators to make sure that your heating/cooling system is the most energy efficient option for your household. Use it here.

Appliance Calculator

With the Appliance Calculator you can estimate how much you pay a month to use the dishwasher and television. Don't mistake this information as useless facts. Learning which appliance have become energy hogs can help you to reduce consumption and cost. Calculate yours here.

*Note: Energy consumption varies by household based on a number of factors, therefore all calculations should be considered estimates and not specific values.