Current Lines: September 2008

Welcome to the September edition of Current Lines newsletter, a monthly publication of Tri-County EMC. Below are a few samples of the articles in this current newsletter.

New Rates Begin October 1 On October 1, 2008, Tri-County EMC’s new rates will take effect. Changing will be residential and general service commercial rates, the monthly minimum bill charge and outdoor lighting rates. For residential customers on the new basic rate, the average monthly usage of 1,223 kWh would result in an increase of 6.57% or $8.10. At the same average usage level, customers on the Total Electric Rate, which has seasonal rates, will see a summer increase 9.69% or $11.61 and a winter increase of 12.46% or $13.38. Commercial customers on the general service rate will see a 5.2% average increase. >>> New Service Fees On September 1, a new fee schedule will take effect for all Tri-County EMC services. Additionally, the following changes will take place on October 1 for credit card, e-check and bank account draft payments:  n a 1.5% fee for credit card transactions. n a .5% fee for e-check transactions.  n a termination of the 2% discount for due date  checking account draft.  Membership $5 Account Establishment $25 Trip Charge $35 Collection $35 Reconnection $50 After-Hours Reconnection $100 Meter Test $35 Meter Reread $35 Relocation $25 Cut Seal $50 Meter Tampering $150 Obvious Theft $500 Load Calculation $50

Annual Meeting 2008

Tri-County EMC’s Annual Meeting will take place Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Gray office. Your Annual Meeting package should arrive by the first week in October. When you complete and return your ballot, you will be entered in a drawing for one of 11 cash prizes. Meet this year’s director candidates of Post 1. (3835-01)

Dan Greene District 1 Bibb, Jones & Twiggs counties	Brenda P. Green District 2 Jasper, Morgan & Putnam counties	Sammy Hall District 3 Baldwin & Wilkinson counties
Dan Greene of Jones County has served as a Tri-County EMC Director for 21 years. He is the president of D.C. Construction and a past president of the former Jones County Dairyman Assn. He is a graduate of Jones County High School and the University of Georgia (UGA) cum laude.	Putnam County’s Tri-County EMC Vice Chairman Brenda P. Green has served the EMC for 15 years. She worked with Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Pataula EMC. Mrs. Greene attended Mercer University, completed the REA Borrower Accounting-Electric curriculum and is a National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn. Credentialed Cooperative Director. She was Board vice chair of Central Georgia Technical College and owned an electrical construction business.	Eleven-year Tri-County Board member Sammy Hall is a retired educator of 31 years with Baldwin County Schools, the chairman of Overview Community Action agency, a member of the Milledgeville/Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce, the Baldwin County Retired Educators Assn. and a former chairman of the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners. He is a graduate of Baldwin County Schools, Georgia Military College, Georgia College and UGA.
Dan Green	Brenda P. Green	Sammy Hall

Statement of Nondiscrimination Tri-County EMC is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap shall be excluded from participation in, admission or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any of this organization’s programs or activities. The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is C. Hill Bentley, CEO. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination, may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

Operation Roundup Scholarships

Tri-County EMC offers $2,000 in scholarships this fall through Operation Roundup. Scholarship criterion include academics, financial need and community involvement. Preference will be given to nontraditional students. The application deadline is Oct. 15. Applications are available in the lobbies of both offices or under the community tab at tri-countyemc.com. <<

---

Did You Know? ...

Energy Tip of the Month

Detecting air leaks is as easy as 1–2–3. Inspect around the areas noted below for any cracks or gaps that could cause air to penetrate your home. Once found, seal with the appropriate sealant (caulk, spray foam or weather stripping).                                                                                           

• Door and window frames
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Outdoor water faucets
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Bricks, siding, stucco and foundation
• Air conditioners
• Vents and fans
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Cable TV and phone lines

 To detect leaks, choose a cool and windy day.

•  Turn off the heat source and close windows and doors.
• Turn on all exhaust fans that blow air outside, such as
  bathroom fans or stove vents.
• Light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites. Wherever the smoke is sucked out of or blown into the room, there’s a draft. <<