Making life betterAS I SEE IT Manager’s Viewpoint

16 The Tennessee Magaz ine

Appliances account for about 13 percent of your home’s energy use. If they haveenergy-saving settings, use them! If they’re nearing “voting age,” consider re-placing them with new, energy-efficient models. And remember to try “smart”power strips for smaller appliances and electronics that continue to draw powereven when turned off. For more tips, visit EnergySavers.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

What would make life bet-ter in our service terri-tory? I’m not talkingabout winning the lottery

— that only makes life better for oneperson or a small group. Butmore jobs? Better healthcare? Improved parks? Thoseare areas that benefit every-one in Tennessee. Cumberland Electric

Membership Corporation ex-ists to power communitiesand empower you, our mem-bers, to improve your qualityof life. The cooperative busi-ness model offers the perfecttool for tackling tasks too bigfor one person to handlealone. But we need a com-mon purpose to effectively wield thepower of cooperation. Think about the impact electricity

made in rural areas 75 years ago. Farmproduction jumped. Things like runningwater, lights and stored food were possi-ble — and with those leaps, our ances-tors’ lives were given new opportunities.A few of you may remember our be-

ginnings from your younger days — you

know full well the power of neighborsuniting behind a common purpose. Butthe vast majority doesn’t rememberwhen this area rolled up its sleeves andworked together to get the lights on.

Back when life was hard —before cooperation changedthe landscape of the commu-nities we serve.Does that mean we don’t

need a cooperative anymore?Is our job done? Are there nochallenges, no roadblocks toa brighter future for our chil-dren? What’s next for us?To be honest, that’s up to

you. CEMC is more than a

power provider. We’re proofthat when folks unite with a

single focus, we can bring dreams to re-ality. Our purpose — powering thiscommunity and empowering you, ourmembers — can make life better in Ten-nessee.We exist today because 75 years ago

co-op members like you believed theycould turn darkness into daylight.Thanks for allowing us to work coopera-tively with you.

Cumberland Electric Membership CorporationCEMC Management and StaffJim Coode, General ManagerRandy Holt,Operations Division ManagerLynne Wilson, Admin. Services Div. ManagerChris Davis, Engineering Division ManagerMichael Batson, Financial Services ManagerBarbara Harper, Member Services ManagerHoward Whitaker, District Operations Manager

CEMC Co-op News EditorJulie WallaceP.O. Box 3300Clarksville, TN 37043

Open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 800-987-2362Ashland City officeNicky Roberts, District Operations SupervisorClarksville officeKenny Davis, District Operations SupervisorDover officeTerry Odom, District Operations SupervisorGallatin officeAllan Cook, District Operations SupervisorPortland/White House officesHomer Mayes, District Operations SupervisorSpringfield officeLarry Richardson, District Opera-tions Supervisor

CEMC Board of DirectorsJoe H. Whitaker, Sumner Co., PresidentWesley H. Aymett, Cheatham Co., Vice PresidentShela K. Williams, At Large, Secretary-TreasurerK. Jean Beauchamp, RobertsonCo., Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Stephen E. Douglass, Stewart Co.Michael A. Mason, Robertson Co.C. David Morgan, Montgomery Co.Jerry T. Peacher, Stewart Co.Carrol O. Poole, Montgomery Co.Tommy G. Whittaker, Sumner Co.

Mission StatementCumberland Electric MembershipCorporation is committed to provid-ing dependable, affordable electricservice through the expertise anddedication of competent leadershipand a well-trained and responsiveworkforce.

Jim Coode,General Manager,Cumberland

Electric Membership Corporation

March 2013 17

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation’snewly constructed Bledsoe substation, locatedon Hartsville Pike in Gallatin, was energizedDec. 13, bringing increased reliability to mem-

bers in south Sumner County.The substation currently serves approximately 3,000

members with an average load between 9 megawatts and11 megawatts. In addition to the reliability boost, thenew substation also allows CEMC to vacate the use of

two joint-use stations with Gallatin Department of Elec-tricity, resulting in significant savings in monthly rentalfees. “We were using three distribution circuits out of sub-

stations owned by Gallatin Department of Electricity tosource our members,” says Chris Davis, engineering divi-sion manager. “This is a much better option for CEMC.”Construction on the Bledsoe substation began in July

2012.

Sumner county residents benefit from new substation

If spring sends you into remodeling mode, check withprofessionals before you head to the nearest hardwarestore. While home improvement projects can be verysatisfying to complete, they pose risks when it comes

to electricity. Contact Cumberland Electric MembershipCorporation for the correct procedures before tackling anyelectrical project.For outside projects, first check the area where you will

be working. Identify potential hazards. Always look up forpower lines, and avoid using long poles or ladders within10 feet of overhead wires. Will your project involve any digging? To find out where

utility lines run on your property, dial 811 a few days prior todigging. Never assume the location or depth of underground

utility lines. There’s no need: The 811 service is free, pre-vents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted andcan help you avoid serious injury. For more informationabout local services, visit www.tennessee811.com.

Spring spruce-upA safety reminder

18 The Tennessee Magaz ine

Watt’s your story?

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporationcelebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013. To com-memorate this milestone, we are gathering sto-ries from members who recall when CEMC first

brought electricity to their homes or businesses.Tell us your story of when the lights came on! These

stories will be published in future issues of The TennesseeMagazine.If you are willing to share your story, please contact

Julie Wallace, CEMC communications coordinator, bycalling 800-987-2362, ext. 1158, or send an email tojwallace@cemc.org.We can’t wait to hear your stories about how electric

power changed things for your family 75 years ago!

Employees of Cumberland Electric MembershipCorporation invites all members to this year’sMember Appreciation Days. Join us for a picniclunch and help us celebrate our 75th Anniver-

sary of serving you, our members! CEMC employees willbe at your service from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. onthese dates:• April 3 - Ashland City• April 4 - Clarksville• April 8 - Portland• April 9 - Gallatin • April 12 - Dover• April 15 - White House• April 18 - SpringfieldIn addition to a free lunch

and special giveaways, members can register to win anelectric grill to be given away at each location.We hope to see you there!

Member Appreciation Days coming soon

Pole-testing conducted in CEMC service area

Members enjoy last year’s appreciation day event inClarksville.

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporationhas contracted with Osmose Utilities ServicesInc. to inspect, test and treat all of the coopera-tive’s wood utility poles.

The purpose of the program is to inspect and treat thepoles on a cyclical basis. “We hope to prolong the life ofexisting poles by applying decay-preventing treatmentsand replace those that are no longer safe enough to leavein our plant,” says Mark Cook, CEMC supervisor of GISand network administration. “As always, our goal is toprovide a safe and reliable electric distribution system forall of our members.” Osmose crew members will be wearing hardhats and

safety vests with the Osmose logo and will carry a lami-nated ID badge. All Osmose vehicles will be marked withmagnetic signs, and each crew will have a document onCEMC letterhead stating that it is performing contractwork for CEMC. Testing for the current fiscal year began in December

2012 and will likely continue through early spring.CEMC’s program inspects, tests and treats approximately9,000 poles each year throughout its five-county servicearea.

When severe weather disrupts your electricservice or you see a situation that maycause a power failure such as tree limbs onpower lines, broken/leaning poles or haz-

ards like downed power lines, immediately call Cumber-land Electric Membership Corporation’s 24-hour servicenumber and let us know about it. With your cooperation,CEMC will be able to restore power to your area muchfaster. For your convenience, CEMC has one telephone num-

ber to serve all your needs, including power outages andservice requests:

1-800-987-CEMC (2362)Monitored 24 hours every day to serve you.

Call CEMC!

March 2013 19

QCN contractors meet

Cooperation in education

Durning the school’s career day, Portland District Line-man Tim Thurman shows students at Clyde Riggs Ele-mentary equipment linemen use daily. Thurman andDistrict Operations Supervisor Homer Mayes spokeabout their work as linemen and demonstrated howsafety equipment such as gloves and hardhats is usedfor protection while working with electricity. Studentswere also given the opportunity to try on safety glovesused by linemen.

Chad Corlew, CEMC energy programs inspector, dis-cusses electrical hazards during a safety demonstrationpresented to fourth-graders at Cumberland Heights Ele-mentary. Scenarios such as downed power lines, climb-ing trees and flying kites near lines and digging intounderground lines were covered during the demonstra-tion. CEMC’s electrical safety program is offered at nocost and can be presented to schools, community groupsor businesses. Contact Stephanie Lobdell, CEMC publicrelations coordinator, at 800-987-2362, ext. 1143, toschedule your presentation.

Cumberland Electric Membership Cor-poration hosted appreciation luncheonsin January for HVAC contractors whoare Quality Contractor Network (QCN)

members performing work within the CEMCservice area. Separate luncheons were held inSpringfield and Clarksville for the convenienceof the contractors throughout CEMC’s five-county service area. The gathering in Clarksvillewas co-hosted by Clarksville Department ofElectricity. Each session was attended by Todd Thomp-

son, Tennessee Valley Authority residential tradeally manager (bottom photo, standing), who dis-cussed updates on TVA’s Heat Pump Program.The program, implemented by CEMC, offerslow-interest financing on new energy-efficientheat pumps and allows members up to 10 yearsto pay it back in convenient monthly installmentsadded to their electric bills. If you are considering purchasing a new heat

pump, be sure to take advantage of this program.For an application or more information, visitwww.cemc.org or call CEMC at 800-987-2362.

20 The Tennessee Magaz ine

Grammy-nominated and Country Music Associa-tion award-winning country musician Jo DeeMessina will be the featured headliner atClarksville’s 11th annual Rivers and Spires

Festival in downtown Clarksville Thursday, April 18,through Saturday, April 20. Messina will take the PublicSquare stage at 7 p.m. as the main event on Saturday. Theconcert is free and open to the public. Messina will perform some of the biggest hits that made

her a superstar and one of country music’s leading ladies.Songs such as “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” “ByeBye,” “I’m Alright,” “Stand Beside Me” and “Bring On TheRain” will make up a concert you don’t want to miss.

“We are very excited to welcome Jo Dee Messina toClarksville and have her headline the festival this year,”said Doug Barber, festival director. “Each year the caliberof artists we bring to the festival is more impressive, and wethink booking Jo Dee to perform is proof of that.”In addition to the headlining act, the Rivers and Spires

festival will include more than 100 live entertainers on fivestages downtown, so there is sure to be something foreveryone. The festival will also feature arts and crafts — in-cluding the Quilts of the Cumberland — great food, theRiver Queen Pageant, talent competitions, car shows andmuch more. There will be tons of activities for the kids, in-

cluding the Family FunZone, a children’s pa-rade and the TeenZone, to name a few. Cumberland Elec-

tric Membership Cor-poration’s own “Louiethe Lightning Bug” willbe on hand in the FunZone, visiting with kidswho attend. CEMC willalso have a spot in theGreen Zone with infor-

mation about ways to be more energy-efficient in yourhome, details about various programs offered and an inter-active demonstration that illustrates how to generate powerusing physical strength. Admission is free and open to the public. A full list of

activities and entertainment is available on the festival web-site www.riversandspires.com. Applications are availableonline now for bands, artists, businesses, vendors and thosewho wish to participate in the festival.Booths as well as sponsorships are still available for the

2013 event. To participate in the festival as a vendor orsponsor, contact Barber at 931-245-4344 ordbarber@clarksville.tn.us.

Louie the Lightning bug greets youngsters who visitedthe Fun Zone during last year’s festival.

A young visitor is amazed at how much “energy” it takesto light just a few lightbulbs at the arm-powered genera-tor, a popular attraction at CEMC’s booth in the GreenZone last year.

Headlining the 2013 Rivers andSpires Festival in Clarksville,CMA award-winning artistJo Dee Messina will take thePublic Square stage at 7

p.m. on Saturday, April20.

Jo Dee Messina toheadline 2013 Riversand Spires Festival