February 2015 action.coop 14AYour Local Touchstone Energy® Cooperative

February 2015

Dates to RememberFeb. 2 . . . . . . . .Walter Harrison application deadline (postmarked)Feb. 10 . . . . . . .Washington Youth Tour application deadlineFeb. 14 . . . . . . .Valentine’s DayFeb. 16 . . . . . . .Presidents Day (office will be open) March 3 . . . . .SRET Scholarship application deadline (postmarked)

Local Students Advance to State Wiring Contestwo local students recently placed in the EMC/FFAAgricultural Career Development Event (CDE), held

at Camp John Hope in Perry, Ga. Caroline Waldrep, asenior at Mary Persons High School, took first place, andRobby Watson, a senior at Upson-Lee High School, fin-ished second in the Area III competition.

The FFA and electric membership corporations(EMCs) of Georgia, including Southern Rivers Energy,offer scholarships to area and state winners to encouragethese students to pursue their academic and career goals.Students in the wiring contest are scored based on apractical wiring exercise, written exam and presentationon the method of completing a particular electricalwiring task. The comprehensive, hands-on program hasbeen teaching high school students the safe, efficient useof electricity for more than 40 years.

The practical wiring exercise is particularly popularwith students and teachers, who point to the benefits ofhands-on learning. “Students in a hands-on program will

remember the materialbetter, feel a sense ofaccomplishment whenthe task is completedand be able to transferthat experience easierto other learning situa-tions,” says JoshHendricks withSouthern Rivers Energy.

Caroline is thedaughter of Bill andSarah Waldrep, ofForsyth, and the AreaIII FFA President. Shehas been a state winnerin land judging and extemporaneous speaking and hasat least qualified for state while competing in livestockjudging, agricultural mechanics, nursery landscaping andfloriculture. Her first place win earned her a $500 schol-arship and a spot at the state competition Jan. 10.

Robby Watson is the son of Larry and Paula Watson,of Thomaston. He has been a member of the FFA forfive years, competing in various CDEs as well as show-ing livestock. He is also the president of the Art Cluband a member of the ULHS swim team and NationalHonor Society. He plans to pursue a degree in agricul-tural education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural Collegethis fall. For finishing second, he received a $300 schol-arship and the opportunity to compete against the toptwo finishers from five other area contests for a $1,000scholarship in the state wiring contest.

T

Upson-Lee High School seniorRobby Watson, left, (with FFAadviser Josh Rabalais) placed sec-ond at the Area III Wiring Contest.

Caroline Waldrep, cen-ter, a senior at MaryPersons High School,took first place at theArea III Wiring Contestat Camp John Hope inPerry. She is joined byher FFA adviser andfather, Bill Waldrep (left),and Josh Hendricks,Energy ServicesRepresentative atSouthern Rivers Energy.

14B GEORGIA MAGAZINEsouthernriversenergy.com Your Local Touchstone Energy® Cooperative

f you love the big trees in youryard, you might not want to see

Southern Rivers Energy’s tree-trim-ming crews coming. But keepingtrees and other vegetation awayfrom overhead power lines is nec-essary to keep your neighborhoodsafe and the electricity on.

It’s important to maintain aclearance of 15 feet on either sideof the power line, so branches,leaves and tree trunks won’t touchthe wires, even when they sway inthe wind. So crews come outevery few years to cut branchesthat are within an unsafe distance.

Trees and bushes that touchpower lines can conduct electricityand interrupt the delivery ofpower to your house. In that case,it may not be hazardous, but yourlights might blink on and off. Moreserious problems occur when thetrees or branches fall and rip downlines or damage equipment. Thatcan cause a lengthy power outagefor your home and all of your

Tree Trimming Keeps Everyone Safe

neighbors’ houses.An even greater concern is that a

tree touching a power line can pose asafety hazard to anyone who comes

into contact with the tree or the line. If the tree or other vegetation is

growing too close to a power linenear your home, give SouthernRivers Energy a call so someone cancheck to see if it needs to betrimmed.

A word of caution: Don’t trim ityourself. It takes a trained profes-sional to work that close to a powerline without getting hurt.

And next time you plant a tree in your yard, consider how tall andwide it will eventually grow. If it willpotentially come within 15 feet of apower line, plant it a little fartheraway.

By law, everyone—includinghomeowners—must contact Georgia811 by dialing 811 or 1-800-282-7411at least 48 hours before beginningany mechanized digging on yourproperty. If you are unsure whetheryou should notify Georgia 811before you break ground, remem-ber—even if your digging project issmall, it’s always best to call.

CALL DIG

Visit www.gaupc.com for more information.

BEFOREYOU

One free, easy call gets your utility linesmarked AND helps protect you from

injury and expense.

I

February 2015 14Csouthernriversenergy.com Your Local Touchstone Energy® Cooperative

re you ready for winter’s cold grasp? Snow and iceare inevitable when dealing with winter storms,

but being prepared can make a world of difference.Southern Rivers Energy recommends the following tipsto help you prepare for wintry blasts.

Winterize your homeWinter storms wreak havoc on your home. By win-

terizing your living space, you’ll be prepared forextreme cold and hazardous conditions.

• Remember to maintain and inspect heating equip-ment and chimneys every year to ensure they’re work-ing safely and properly.• Caulk and weather strip doors and windows to

make the most of your heating system. Freezing tem-peratures often cause water pipes to burst. Protectpipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic. Allowfaucets to drip during extreme cold to avoid frozenpipes. • Consider installing storm windows for better insu-

lation. You can also cover windows with plastic (fromthe inside) to keep the cold out. • Make sure everyone in your family knows where

the home’s fire extinguisher is located and how to useit properly. House fires occur more frequently duringwinter months, as people tend to use alternative heat-ing methods that may not be safe.

Prepare a winter survival kitSevere winter storms often bring heavy accumula-

tion of ice and snow, which can lead to downedpower lines and extended outages. SRE crews alwayswork hard to restore power, but having a winter sur-vival kit on hand is a smart idea.

• Food: Store food that does not require cooking,such as canned goods, crackers, dehydrated meats anddried fruit. Keep a large supply of water on hand;ready.gov recommends five gallons per person per day.• Medication: Be sure to refill all prescriptionswhen a major storm is predicted, in advance of apotential major power outage.• Identification: Keep all forms of identification

handy, such as driver’s licenses, photo IDs and SocialSecurity cards. Bank account information and insur-ance policies are also good to have on hand. • Other items: First-aid kit, blankets, flashlight, bat-

tery-powered radio and extra batteries.

Bundle Up for Winter Storms

A Stay warm and safeIf an outage occurs, plan for an alternate heating

source. A fireplace, propane space heater or wood-burning stove would be sufficient. Fuel and wood-burningheating sources should always be vented, and make surecarbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working prop-erly. Always practice extreme caution when using alternateheating sources. If you decide to use a portable generator during anoutage, make sure it is placed outside the home forproper ventilation. Be careful not to overload the genera-tor. Use appropriate extension cords that can handle theelectric load.

Follow these tips, and your family will stay warm inthe event of a power outage. For more information onpreparing for winter storms, visit southernriversenergy.comor ready.ga.gov.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Associa -tion, the Arlington,Va.-based service organization for thenation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electriccooperatives.

BY ABBY BERRY

Did you know?Space heaters are responsible for 32 percentof house fires, according to the National FireProtection Association.

• Place your space heater on a level, nonflammable surface.

• Make sure your space heater has an auto shutoff function.

• Never pair your space heater with an extension cord.

• Never leave a space heater unattended when in use.

• Purchase space heaters that are cool to the touch.

ovember’s election ushered manynew faces into the political arena.

It is important to learn where theystand on key issues, including energypolicy and regulation. Last year, weasked you to voice your opinion,through the website action.coop, onnew Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) regulations that will have a sig-nificant impact on the price of electric-ity if they are implemented as pro-posed. This was part of a grass-rootseffort to get the attention of lawmakersin Washington and the EPA. Co-op members across the country

participated, and through action.coop

14D GEORGIA MAGAZINEtogetherwesave.com Your Local Touchstone Energy® Cooperative

NUse Your Voice

we successfully sent more than 1 millionmessages to the EPA urging them towork with electric utilities to come upwith an all-of-the-above approach inaddressing energy and environmentalconcerns. Letting lawmakers know youare aware of the issues and are countingon them to do what it takes to keepelectricity reliable and affordable is vitalin keeping them accountable for theiractions and informed of what their con-stituents expect. Every member has a voice in their

cooperative. Every person has a voice inthe democratic process. Make sure yoursis heard.

Erin Cook, Editor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Harvey Lemmon, Chairman

Harry Park, Secretary

Millie Alexander, Treasurer

William Averett, Jr.

John W. Dumas

Stephen Goodman

John Pope

Nedam Walker

STAFF

Michael J. McMillan, President/CEO

Charles Lowery, Vice President of

Finance and Administration

Ernest H. Neubauer, P.E.,Vice President of

Engineering and Operations

Bobby Ferris, Director of Marketing/Energy Services

Patricia BeckerCustomer Service Supervisor

Donald Jones, Construction & Maintenance Superintendent

OUTAGE HOTLINE

1-866-244-4890For quality control purposes, your call may be monitored.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Friday8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Drive-inWindow AvailableClosed Saturdays,Sundays & Holidays

Southern Rivers Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Official publication of Southern Rivers Energy

P.O. Box 40Barnesville, GA 30204

www.southernriversenergy.com

EVERY MEMBER HAS A VOICE.TOGETHER THEY WORK IN HARMONY.Every electric co-op member has a say inwhat’s best for the community. Power to thepeople, from the people. Doesn’t that soundgood? Learn more about the power of yourco-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.