Sawnee EMC + Natural Gas = A Great Deal

Sawnee EMC and one of Georgia’s lowest cost natural gas marketers, Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas, have joined forces to offer a “great deal” on natural gas service for Sawnee EMC members. 

Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas is the affiliate gas marketing company of Coweta-Fayette EMC, an electric cooperative with headquarters in Newnan, Georgia.  Sawnee EMC members can expect the same friendly customer service they have come to expect from us.  In addition to their competitive natural gas rates, Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas offers several convenient billing and payment options such as e-bill and budget bill, as well as easy-to-understand bill statements.

If you are a business owner and use natural gas, this great deal applies to you, too.  All members, residential and commercial, can sign up or switch to Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas. 

What are you waiting for?  Sign up today!  It’s easy; simply contact our Customer Call Center by calling 770-887-2363 and one of our friendly and helpful representatives will be glad to sign you up today. Want to sign up on the Web?  No problem, point your browser to www.sawnee.com and click on the natural gas link on our homepage.   Start saving on your natural gas bill with a name you can trust.  What could be better?  

Signed Up for Load Management Yet?

You may be thinking to yourself, “What is load management and what can it do for me?”  Load management is a program that controls electricity consumption on the days when the demand for electric energy is at its highest.  The load management season generally runs from June 1^st through September 1^st.  When you have a load management switch installed on your central air conditioner or heat pump, the switch cycles your unit off for brief intervals during times of peak demand, thus saving electricity. 

How does the switch work?  The load management switch is used to cycle the air conditioners off for approximately 7 ½ minutes out of every 30 minutes.  The hours of this activation can be Monday through Friday between 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Why is it important to reduce peak demand?  Peak demand determines, in part, the overall cost of electricity we purchase.  As peak demand grows, we must build or buy more peaking generation facilities to keep up with this growth which increases our cost to you, our consumers.  By helping to control peak demand, you can help keep power cost down and, at the same time, conserve energy.

Isn’t there a rebate?  Yes, there is. The switch is installed at no cost, and is maintained by us, free of charge.  You will also receive an annual $10.00 rebate per switch – payable as a $5.00 credit on your August and September billing statements.  Sign up now and receive and additional $10 bonus

Ready to sign up?  It’s easy to participate!  Just call one of our Customer Service Representatives at 770-887-2363 or sign up online at www.sawnee.com.  Help us keep your cost as low as possible.  Sign up today.

Power Theft
 

Sawnee EMC is constantly working to stop the theft of electricity.  No one should ever enter or tamper with Sawnee equipment, including meters.  Not only does it cause all members to pay more for their electric energy, but it can create a dangerous situation and lead to property damage, personal injury and, in rare cases, death.

Members should be aware that Sawnee EMC has a program in place designed to monitor theft and the core issues associated with energy theft.  Fines for theft can get expensive and, when caught, the party will pay up to $500 per event, plus the cost of the stolen energy.  Given all of the risks and the cost, it is just not worth it. 

Know someone who you suspect is stealing electric energy?  You can report suspected energy theft or tampering anonymously through our Theft Tip Line at 678-455-1550.  You can do your part to help us keep everyone safe.

Our Mission

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation exists to serve the changing needs of members by enhancing the quality of life by actively supporting community developments and identifying and serving the members' needs.

Quotable Quote "To love is to admire with the heart; to admire is to love with the mind"   Elizabeth Bibesco

Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Summer?

That is an important question to ask yourself this time of year.  Warmer weather is here and those hot summer days are not far behind.  So, is your air conditioner ready?  Keep reading for some helpful tips to keep your A/C running as efficiently as possible this summer:

·         Provide good air flow to outdoor cooling equipment.  Your air conditioner depends on large quantities of flowing air in order to operate properly.  Check to see if your unit is clear of all tall bushes or grasses, leaves and other debris.  Provide at least two (2) feet of clearance on all sides of the equipment and five (5) feet at the top for proper ventilation.

·         Keep the condensing coils clean.  These coils should be cleaned every year.  If you have a company service your air conditioning unit(s), this is usually part of the service contract.

·         Operate the cooling equipment wisely.  To get the most out of your air conditioner and to save money, you must operate it efficiently.  We recommend keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees for the summer months. 

·         Change the filters regularly.  Clogged filters can restrict the air flow through your system, reduce efficiency and lead to other problems within your system.

·         Make sure the cooling equipment is the right size for the area.  Units that are too large can cycle “on” and “off” quickly and sometimes do not run long enough to remove moisture from the air, resulting in high humidity levels inside the home.  Remember, comfort is a function of both temperature and humidity.

By following these simple tips, you can improve the efficiency of your air conditioner and lower your cooling bills, no matter what the weather is this summer.  For more information on how to make your home energy efficient, look us up on the Web at www.sawnee.com or call one of energy specialists at (770) 887-2363, ext. 7-579.

Simple Rules For Spring Planting

Daylight savings time is here and the days are getting longer.  If the urge to get out in the yard and do some landscaping is getting stronger, be sure to keep these tips in mind:

·         Call Before You Dig:  Call the Utilities Protection Center of Georgia (770-623-4344 or 1-800-282-7411) to have all underground utilities marked before you begin digging.  In most cases, digging without having utility lines located is illegal and very dangerous.  You do not want to be reason that the neighborhood is out of power.

·         Plant for the Future:  Plant trees and large shrubs well away from overhead and underground power lines to avoid safety and outage problems in the future.  Small trees and shrubs (such as crepe myrtles, Burford hollies and dogwoods) should be planted at least 20-30 feet away from overhead power lines.  Medium trees (such as Bradford pears and cherry trees) should be planted 30 to 50 feet from the overhead lines.  Large trees (such as oaks, maples and pines) should be planted more than 50 feet from overhead power lines.

·         Stay Away From Those Green SEMC Boxes:  Don’t plant shrubs and bushes close to underground transformers or other enclosures.  When it comes to underground lines and equipment, stay at least 20 feet away when planting to allow easy access to our equipment during outages and routine maintenance procedures.  Planting too close can also create a safety hazard for our employees.

Enjoy the warm weather and working in your yard this spring and summer, just be sure to remember these important rules.  Got questions?  Call us at (770) 887-2363 or email us at customerservice@sawnee.com and we will get you an answer.