Membership
Corporation
www.Sawnee.com
Sawnee EMC Announces Partnership with “Energy Star”!
Sawnee EMC is now an “Energy Star partner”! What does this mean? Simply put, it means that we have furthered our commitment to raise awareness on energy efficiency.
Sawnee EMC’s voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star” program means that we will be working toward promoting improved energy efficiency and performance to our members.
Through this partnership with “Energy Star” we plan to:
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Continue promoting energy efficiency through rebates to our members
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Participate in the “Energy Star” Change a Light Campaign (see future newsletters for more information)
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Continue to encourage our members to be aware of the energy efficiency of their home(s)
Since SEMC is a member-owned cooperative, an overall reduction in energy consumption by our member helps keep rates lower and promotes better awareness of our members' overall energy usage. We are proud to be associated with the energy efficient message that "Energy Star" promotes.
Sawnee EMC Celebrates 70th Anniversary!
On July 16, 2008, Sawnee EMC will turn seventy (70) years old. What an accomplishment this is for our Cooperative. We are featuring the achievements and challenges that this great Cooperative has seen over the past seventy (70) years in a series of articles leading up to our 70th anniversary – July 16th. We hope you enjoy reading about these events of the past seven (7) decades. This month, we are featuring the 30s and 40s, our early years. Listed below are the key events that occurred in these two (2) decades:|
1930s
• Part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” with America was the creation of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), which he signed into existence on May 11, 1935. This is significant because the REA provided low interest loans to rural Americans to form their own electric companies, called “cooperatives”. • On May 6, 1938, a meeting was held at the Forsyth County Courthouse for those interested in having electric lines run through Forsyth County and a large number of people showed support with their attendance.• Property owners found that they only had to do three (3) things to have power provided to their home: pay a membership fee of $5 (new members pay the same membership fee today), execute a right-of-way easement, and sign a contract to purchase electricity. • On July 16, 1938, Forsyth County Electric Membership Corporation was incorporated.• On June 22, 1939, the big day arrived. The switch was thrown and approximately 750 homes in rural Forsyth County and portions or three other north Georgia counties received electric power as 168 miles of power line was energized. |
1940s
• By 1940, Forsyth County EMC was operating 378 miles of line and serving more than 1,500 members. • In 1940, the EMC began mailing meter cards, and of the 1,489 mailed that first month, only 35 failed to return to the office.• At the EMC’s second annual meeting, a tradition of giving door prizes to attending members began; this tradition continues today. At this meeting, an electric churn was the first prize and other winners received electric percolators and irons. • In July 1945, the Board agreed for all members to receive a subscription to Rural Georgia, a monthly magazine now known as Georgia Magazine.• In August 1946, Forsyth County EMC purchased a 15.85 acre tract on the west side of the Atlanta - Cumming Highway to build an office and warehouse for the Corporation. • During the holiday season of 1947, a Christmas tree decorating contest was held among the members with prizes awarded for the ten (10) best trees.• In the 1940s, action was taken to adopt the “capital credits plan of operation” where all amounts received by the co-op in excess of operating costs and expenses were to be returned to the patrons on a rotating retirement basis. |
This is just a small glimpse into the beginnings of Sawnee EMC, your electric cooperative. We are proud of this great Cooperative and, whether you have been a Sawnee EMC member for 25 days or 25 years, we thank you for allowing us to serve your electric needs. If you are interested in learning more about Sawnee EMC and our 70th anniversary celebration, please visit our Web site at www.sawnee.com/70th.
Mind The Thermostat
Interested in how you can lower your electric bill
in the winter? Well, if you have a heat pump, the best thing to do is
turn down the thermostat. Take a minute and see what your thermostat is
set on. SEMC recommends a setting of 68 degrees in the winter, so if
you find that yours is higher than that, consider setting it back to a
lower setting. This quick task doesn’t cost a penny, but it will help
you save on your electric bill. Also, remember that heat pumps operate
more efficiently when the thermostat is kept at a constant
temperature...so no turning it up and down!
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.
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Quotable Quote "Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision." Peter Drucker |
Why is it so important to keep the thermostat at a constant temperature? Because, by doing so, you can minimize the operation of your auxiliary heat. Auxiliary heat is usually in the form of electric heat strips inside your heat pump and can be costly to operate. Also, if you haven’t had your heat pump serviced this season, now is the time to do so. Keep your heat pump operating at its best by keeping the area around it clean of debris and avoid restricting the air flow with overgrown shrubbery.
By taking these few steps, you can keep your heat pump operating as efficiently as possible. Stay warm this winter and be sure to contact us at 770-887-2363 or through our Web site at www.sawnee.com for more energy-saving tips.
Rounding Up Pennies Makes Sense
Did you know that Sawnee EMC has a “not for profit” foundation that supports local charities? It’s called the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation, or “Operation Round Up”. Sign up today. It is simple and easy and these pennies help make lives better for those in need in our communities. Visit us on the Web (www.sawnee.com) to learn more about how you can participate or call us at (770) 887-2363 and we will sign you up.
On September 11, 2007, the Sawnee Foundation Board awarded $17,803.68 to four (4) local charities. The funds will be used for a host of reasons, all of which will benefit the community these charities serve. Keep reading to see the difference that “Operation Round Up” has made to those in need.
• Bald Ridge Lodge - $5,000 toward construction of a facility to provide interim care before children are placed in foster care.
• Child Development Association - $5,000 to upgrade insulation at this North Fulton children’s center.
• Dawson County Mentoring Program - $2,350 to purchase training materials for their mentors.
• Creative Enterprises, Inc. - $5,453.68 to purchase materials to support work and therapy programs.
Do you know of a 501 (c)(3) or 501 (c)(4) non-profit organization that needs a helping hand? If so, help us spread the word that they could be eligible for funds through “Operation Round Up”. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis. For more information, please contact Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs, at (678) 455-1539 or via email at cindy.badgett@sawnee.com.
In Case Winter Weather Arrives...
We hope each year that we will not have to face lengthy outages due to extreme winter weather such as ice, snow or freezing rain, but no one can control the weather. So, now is a good time to make sure you are prepared should extreme winter weather hit your area. Please consider these preventative measures in case of extreme winter weather and possible disruption of your electrical service.
• Have emergency supplies available. Be sure to keep flashlights and fresh batteries, candles and matches, portable radio and cell phone in an easily accessible place.
• In an outage, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. Consider storing food in an insulated cooler and placing it outside (if temperatures are below 32 degrees).
• If your power is out, leave one light switched “on”, both inside and outside, so you and our crews working the area will know when your power is restored.
• Stay away from downed power lines. Call SEMC immediately to report any downed lines.
• Isolate generators from your electrical service. This will eliminate the possibility of electrocution to anyone coming in contact with downed lines.
Sawnee EMC is dedicated to providing dependable and reliable electrical service to its members under all types of extreme weather conditions. While we can’t control the weather, you can rest assured that we will work diligently to restore power “as quickly as possible” when bad weather hits. Questions or concerns? Contact our Customer Call Center at (770) 887-2363.
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Physical Address Business Office Hours 24-Hour Emergency Service Postal Address Phone Numbers Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation,
Inc.
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