October 2005
29
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Member Newsletter
Middle Georgia
Middle Georgia
The Official Newsletter of Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
P.O. Box 190, Vienna, GA 31092
October 2005
MANAGER'S
MANAGER'S
Comments
Comments
By Hugh Richardson
Retail Rate Notice
oon, our membership will be receiving our
scheduled rate changes that will take
effect Jan. 1, 2006. This year, we experienced
a significant increase in the cost of wholesale
power that is itemized in the Power Cost
Adjustment (PCA) of your monthly account
statement. As a result, our residential rate cost
has increased to just below the average cost
in 1995, virtually erasing the rate decrease our
members received from 1996 2000.
The new rate design will absorb most of
the PCA, so the itemized portion on your
statement will not be as high, with some
months actually giving a credit. The net effect
of the rate design
for next year will
also push the cost
a little higher than the 1995 cost. The Retail
Rate Notice you receive will show graphs to
this effect, the net increase of the rates and
any other expected changes. Hopefully, this
will be the last major rate design change for
several years. It is the first increase of all
rates since 1991. Keep reading our newslet-
ters, visiting our Web site and referring to
the message section of your statement for
updates. We appreciate your patience and
understanding of these changes.
S
30
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
iddle Georgia EMC's 65th Annual Meeting of
Members was a big success again this year.
Mechanic William
Smith was honored
with an Employee of
the Year Plaque for
2004. Entertainment
was provided by the
group FRIENDS. And
Chipper Jones and
family prepared the
barbecue lunch that
was served.
Also, during our
annual meeting, the
following directors
from our board were
re-elected to serve
another term from the
following counties:
Kay West--Dooly
County, District 1;
Royce Conner--
Pulaski County, District
2; and Don Wood--
Wilcox County, District
3, Post 3.
Annual Meeting Highlights
From Thursday, July 28, 2005, at the Dooly County Campground
Washington Youth Tour student
Jessica Thompson of Pineview speaks
to our members.
Children enjoy some ice-cold watermelon.
R.O.W. Crew Leader Peppy Chancy hands Rosa Lawson a
can opener.
Line Foreman Joe Tripp hands Ellis Cromer a corded phone.
Line Foreman Joe Tripp hands Doris
Rountree Emerson an alarm clock.
Thornton won this hand mixer at the 65th annual meeting.
Annual Meeting Highlights
M
M
October 2005
31
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Middle Georgia EMC's August employees cele-
brating an anniversary are as follows:
Lisa Laney
has been with Middle Georgia EMC for four years.
Kylie Jacobs
has been our cashier for three years.
And
Jody Roberts
has been our custodian for one
year. We would also like to welcome
Todd Woods
to
Middle Georgia EMC. Todd began working at the
cooperative permanently in June 2005 as an equip-
ment operator.
Special employees who are sharing anniversaries
here at Middle Georgia EMC in September include the
following:
Ann Evans
, our faithful billing clerk, has
been at Middle Georgia EMC for 33 years as of Sept.
5.
Hugh Richardson
, general manager, has been
with the co-op for 29 years. And lastly we have
William Smith
, our excellent mechanic. William has
survived his third year at Middle Georgia EMC and
was voted Employee of the Year for 2004.
MGEMC Mechanic William Smith of Vienna
shares a proud moment with his two children,
Justin and Brittany, and their big fish catches.
Years of Service Recognition
Years of Service Recognition
Lineman trainee J.P. Smith hands Martha Boatner Delonghi a coffeemaker.
First Class Lineman John McAnally gives bucket truck rides.
Middle Georgia EMC directors who were re-elected to serve on the
board are, left to right, Don Wood, Kay West and Royce Conner.
Mechanic William Smith receives Employee of
the Year Award.
32
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Board of Directors
Don Wood
President
Johnny Noble
Vice President
Kay West
Secretary
Ronnie Youngblood
Treasurer
John David McCall
Director
Jerry F. Rhodes
Director
Royce Conner
Director
Ronnie Fleeman
Director
David Dunaway
Director
Davis and Forehand
Attorneys
Staff
Hugh Richardson
General Manager
Lisa Laney
Executive Secretary,
Newsletter Editor
Randy Kent
Office Manager
Mike McGee
Manager of Operations
and Engineering
Vienna Area (229) 268-2671
Rochelle
(Day) (229) 365-2263
(Night) 1-800-342-0144
Hawkinsville
(Day) (478) 892-3436
(Night) 1-800-342-0144
Office Hours
Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
(Branch offices closed from
12-1 p.m. daily)
Closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
There is a dispatcher on call 24 hours
a day for your convenience.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Is
a Serious Post-hurricane Hazard
very year, more than 500 people die when they don't
follow simple guidelines for using gasoline and
charcoal-burning devices. This is particularly impor-
tant to remember during hurricane season when
power outages can occur.
Generators, grills and camp stoves emit carbon
monoxide gas. Exposure to the gas can cause sick-
ness or death. To avoid accidental poisoning or death,
these and similar devices should be used outdoors away
from open windows.
You can prevent accidental carbon monoxide poisoning by following
simple precautions:
·
Keep generators, grills, camp stoves or other devices that emit
carbon monoxide gas outdoors.
·
Place generators away from open windows and doors. Carbon
monoxide poisoning can occur if gases from generators outdoors
enter a window or door.
·
Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Ensure that it
has battery back-up if the power goes off.
--Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
October Is National Cooperative Month
queeze another celebra-
tion into October as you
observe Halloween and the
coming of winter. Since
1930, cooperatives around
the country--including
your electric cooperative--
have celebrated National Cooperative Month during October.
Your electric cooperative is one of about 900 utilities around the
country that operates as a cooperative. That means it is owned by the
consumers--you and your neighbors--who buy its electricity. And, like
all cooperatives, yours is governed by those consumers too, as each
member of the utility's board of directors is one of its customers.
In fact, your cooperative doesn't even call you its "customer," it con-
siders you a "member."
Members of cooperatives have the right to vote for board members
and speak up about utility matters that are important to them. This local
ownership and control means electric cooperatives know and respond
to their consumer/members.
But utilities aren't the only cooperative businesses that celebrate
their heritage in October. Credit unions are cooperatives too, as are
food cooperatives, farmer cooperatives and any other business that is
owned by the members it serves.
This October, celebrate your cooperative connection!
S
E
October Is National Cooperative Month