It’s “National Electrical Safety” Month

May is “National Electrical Safety” month, and even though electricity is a very safe energy source, we sometimes forget how dangerous it has the potential to be.  As part of National Electrical Safety month, Sawnee EMC would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some simple tips to follow to help keep you, your family and the general public safe...both indoors and outdoors...when using electricity.

• No one can determine if an electric wire is energized simply by looking at it.  So, whenever you are near any electric wires, you must treat them as if they are energized and potentially dangerous.

• Electric cords should not be warm to the touch when in use and should show no signs of wear or damage.  If you notice any of these warning signs - it is time to replace the cord.

• Never use kites, model airplanes, balloons or other objects near overhead power lines.

• If you have a climber in your family, be sure he or she does not climb any trees that have power lines running through or near tree limbs.

• Do not play on or near underground transformer enclosures.  If you see an underground or pad mounted transformer that doesn’t appear to be locked or that you have a safety concern about for any reason, contact Sawnee EMC immediately.  Those harmless-looking green boxes can be, under the right conditions, as dangerous as a downed power line and should be treated with the same respect.

We hope you will utilize these “simple” safety tips, not just this spring and summer, but year round as well.  Remember, it takes some simple steps to keep your family safe around electricity.  Just following these, and other, basic safety rules should help keep you safe all year!  Got questions?  Call our Customer Call Center at 770-887-2363.

Budget Billing

Budget billing is a “unique” and “valuable” billing service offered by Sawnee EMC to its members.  This service is available to members that have had electric service at a location for a minimum of 12 consecutive months.  This billing service allows you to receive an electric bill based on the average usage of the location for the previous twelve (12) months.  This average usage is billed for eleven (11) months and is “trued up” to actual in the twelfth (12th) month.

This budget billing service will provide you with key information each month about your account and the effects of being on this plan, including the current usage (kWh), the difference in usage compared to your actual usage, and the dollar impact. 

Want to sign up?  It’s easy; just call our Customer Call Center at 770-887-2363 or

visit us online at www.sawnee.com.  Start planning for your energy usage and billing today. 
 

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 "Don't think that the way you are today is the way you'll always be."   Vince Dooley

Have You Signed Up For Load Management Yet?

If not, now is the time to do it because Sawnee EMC is offering a one time limited $10 sign up bonus, in addition to a rebate of $10 per installed switch per year.  Click here for more information.

What Causes Your Power To Go Out?

Have you ever thought about what might cause your power to go out?  If you take a few minutes to think about it, all of the usual suspects will probably come to mind...ice storms, wind, falling trees, etc.  While all of these are correct, did you know that many of Sawnee EMC’s power outages are caused by squirrels?  Yes, those cute, furry little creatures can wreak havoc on the power lines running to your home or business.

Situations like this occur most days throughout Sawnee’s service territory.  To keep outage times at a minimum when they occur, Sawnee EMC’s distribution system has been designed with protective devices which guard the system against these temporary events.

Our staff has identified the key components that are involved in a “typical” squirrel-related outage and has made changes to the makeup of these items (e.g. switched from steel to fiberglass components, and added insulation to exposed parts) in an effort to eliminate the problem.

You can rest assured that Sawnee’s team of dedicated professionals is working hard to keep these events to a minimum.

Notice of Patronage Capital Credit Assignments

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is a non-profit organization and as such our Bylaws require us to set aside, for each member in each operating year, any funds in excess of operating costs and expenses in the form of “patronage capital” credits.

The “patronage capital” is used as equity to reduce the level of debt the Corporation would otherwise be required to assume and is invested in the assets of the Corporation which include poles, transformers and other physical plant items.  The Corporation’s policies currently allow for general retirement of patronage capital generally on a thirty-five (35) year rotation cycle, as well as upon demand retirement to estates of deceased members.  Based on the capital furnished by the members of the Corporation in 2006, these members will receive an allocation based on this revenue equaling 5.6296% from Sawnee EMC operations and .5432% from margins that are assigned to us from associated organizations such as Smarr EMC, one of our power suppliers; GRESCO, one of our material suppliers; NRUCFC, one of our lending institutions, and others.

 You can calculate your “patronage capital” credits assigned by multiplying the total amount of your electric bills for 2006 by the factors shown below (see examples):

If you have any questions about your 2006 patronage capital assignment, please contact our Customer Call Center at 770-887-2363.

Committee on Nominations for the Board of Directors

The Committee on Nominations, which serves an important role in the affairs of the Cooperative, will soon be appointed.  This Committee will receive input from the membership and will place before the membership the name(s) of those members who seek election to the office of Director for the terms that are expiring in 2007.  For 2007, three (3) directors of Sawnee’s Board in Districts No. 2, No. 7 and No. 9 have terms that are expiring.

The Bylaws of the Corporation in Article IV Sections 4.02, 4.04, 4.05 and 4.09 outline the director election process, specifically as it relates to the Committee on Nominations and a separate process known as the Petition Process, for the directors’ districts whose terms will be expiring.  Additionally, the Bylaws describe the general powers of the directors.

Located on our Web site, at www.sawnee.com, is a list of information and downloadable documents that relate to the director elections for 2007.  There you will find a copy of the Bylaws of the Corporation that can be downloaded along with many other useful items for those interested in this year’s director election activity.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer by calling 770-887-2363, ext. 7387, or 1-800-635-9131, ext. 7387 or via email at linda.burton@sawnee.com.