16 The Tennessee Magazine

CEMC Cumberland EMC CEMC Management and Staff

Jim Coode, General ManagerRandy Holt, Operations Division ManagerLynne Wilson, Admin. Services Div. ManagerChris Davis, Engineering Division ManagerMichael Batson, Financial Services ManagerBarbara Harper, Member Services Manager

Howard Whitaker, District Operations Manager

CEMC Co-op News EditorScott SheltonP.O. Box 3300

Clarksville, TN 37043

Open Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.800-987-2362

Ashland City officeNicky Roberts, District Operations Supervisor

Clarksville officeJ.D. Bumpus, District Operations Supervisor

Dover officeTerry Odom, District Operations Supervisor

Gallatin officeAllan Cook, District Operations Supervisor

Portland/White House officesHomer Mayes, District Operations Supervisor

Springfield officeLarry Richardson, District Operations Supervisor

CEMC Board of DirectorsJoe H. Whitaker, Sumner County,

PresidentWesley H. Aymett, Cheatham County,

Vice PresidentShela K. Williams, At Large,

Secretary-TreasurerJerry T. Peacher, Stewart County,Assistant Secretary-Treasurer

Gene E. Cook, Robertson CountyStephen E. Douglass, Stewart CountyMichael A. Mason, Robertson CountyC. David Morgan, Montgomery CountyCarrol O. Poole, Montgomery CountyTommy G. Whittaker, Sumner County

Mission StatementCumberland Electric Membership Corporation

is committed to providing dependable, affordable electric service through the expertise and

dedication of competent leadershipand a well-trained and responsive workforce.

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation

Serving Cheatham, Montgomery,Robertson, Stewart and Sumner

counties.

We’re different.We’re looking out for you.

Electric cooperatives are differentfrom other businesses you deal

with. To tell you the truth, I like beingdifferent. And the fact that you’re read-ing this article shows you like that dif-ference, too. We’re different because

we’re looking out for you.Now, more than ever, that’simportant because we needto work together to keepyour electric bills affordable. Congress did not pass a

comprehensive climate billlast year. In January 2010,the U.S. Environmental Pro-tection Agency (EPA) beganregulating greenhouse gases— an action made possibleby a 2007 Supreme Courtdecision, followed by rul-ings allowing the EPA to use the CleanAir Act to curb carbon emissions. Poli-cies dealing with coal ash, even morestringent controls on other power plantemissions and state renewable-energyrequirements could alsolead to higher costs. It’shard to predict thefuture, but one thingseems certain: Govern-ment regulations aregoing to increase thecost of doing business. New regulations

won’t be the only cul-prit. Prices for fuel, materials andequipment will continue to rise.Although the recent economic slumpand corresponding drop in electricityuse provided some much-neededbreathing room, soon we will need tobuild new power plants, requiring a sig-nificant, long-term investment of timeand money.Through channels like The Tennessee

Magazine, we’re committed to keepingyou informed about policy changes thatwill impact your electric bill. We’regoing to do everything we can to keepyour electric bills affordable.To accomplish that, we’re control-

ling costs through innovation. Ourenergy-efficiency programs help you

manage your energy use. The websiteTogetherWeSave.com shows how littlechanges like sealing your air ducts,replacing old appliances or improvingyour home’s insulation can add up to

big savings on your electricbill. We also offer homeenergy audits to make sureyou’re getting the bestvalue out of the energy youuse every month.Deploying state-of-the-

art solutions like our auto-mated meter infrastructuresystem helps us controloperating costs and improveservice reliability. National-ly, co-ops are meetingmembers’ power needs witha diverse fuel mix, includ-ing renewable energy.

While we’re affordable and innova-tive, above all else we’re member-focused. No matter what comes ourway we’ll continue to put you, ourmembers, first. Cumberland Electric

Membership Corpora-tion is member-con-trolled and locallyoperated. As a mem-ber, you have a voicein how your co-opoperates. Member control

means we are account-able to those we serve

and dedicated to assisting our commu-nities — your money stays at workclose to home. Costs are rising for all ofus, but when it comes to your electricbill, our rates are set simply to cover thecost of doing business, not to generateprofits for distant stockholders. The bottom line? We exist only to

serve you and meet your needs for safe,reliable and affordable power.As you can see, we’re different.

We’re working together to keep yourelectric bills affordable. We’re control-ling costs through innovation. Andwe’re continuing to put you, our mem-bers, first. No matter what the futurebrings, one thing is certain: We’re look-ing out for you.

Jim CoodeGeneral Manager

Cumberland Electric MembershipCorporation

We exist only to serve you and meet

your needs for safe,reliable and

affordable power.

CEMC Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation

17January 2011Visit us online at www.cemc.org

New Outage Management System in use

Anew state-of-the-art Outage Management System is in useat Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. This

software-driven program is designed to allow utility crews tomore rapidly restore electrical service to your home or businesswhenever an outage is reported to the CEMC control center.When you dial CEMC’s toll-free outage number, 1-800-987-

2362, you will first be asked to identify yourself using any oneof three numbers found on your most current electric bill – (1) your account number, (2) your primary telephone numberor (3) your meter number (refer to the image below for thelocation of these numbers on your bill). You will then beprompted to give the reason for your call using the numbers onyour touchtone phone. You will:• Press 0 for “No Power,”• Press 1 for “Partial Power,”• Press 2 for “Flickering Lights,”• Press 3 for “High Voltage,”• Press 4 for “Low Voltage” or• Press 5 for “Report Hazard Only.”

If you are calling to report a hazard, you will be prompted toidentify the type of hazard using your touchtone phone. Youwill:• Press 1 for “Wires Down,”• Press 2 for “Trees on Wires,”• Press 3 for “Car Hit Pole,”• Press 4 for “Broken Pole,”• Press 5 for “Dig In” or• Press 6 for “Transformer Fire.”This will help CEMC more accurately dispatch repair crews

to the scene of the outage and get your power back on faster.To help us do this, it is a good idea to write down your accountnumber, your primary telephone number and your meter num-ber, or keep your most recent electric bill handy in the event ofan emergency.CEMC is committed to responding to and repairing all out-

age calls as quickly as possible. With our new Outage Manage-ment System and your help, we believe this is an attainablegoal.

By referring to this sample bill, you will see the three important numbers that can be used to identify you if you ever need to calland report an outage or other electrical problem. Only one of these numbers is needed for our automated system to help you: youraccount number, primary telephone number or your meter number. You do not need to report all three numbers.

1

2

3

CEMC Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation

18 The Tennessee Magazine

Sango Elementary School

J.W. Wiseman Elementary School Gateview Elementary School

Cumberland Heights Elementary

Area students help stamp out hungerThese are just some of the schools that participated in Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation’s

annual food drive. Thanks to everyone who participated by donating thousands of grocery items. Your

contributions helped put food on many tables during the 2010 holiday season!

Pleasant View Elementary School

North Stewart Elementary School Dover Elementary School East Robertson Elementary School

Clyde Riggs Elementary School

19January 2011

CEMC Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation

Visit us online at www.cemc.org

Cumberland Electric Memberhsip Corporation congratulates thetop spellers in this school year’s All-County Spelling Bee forCheatham County fifth-through-eighth-graders. From left areJulia Rowe, eighth grade, Cheatham Middle School, first place;Cameron Reid, seventh grade, CMS, second place; Trevor Gaines-Perry, seventh grade, CMS, third place; Noah Guthrie, fifth grade,Harpeth Middle School, fourth place; Donovan Taylor, eighthgrade, Sycamore Middle School, fifth place; and Austin Snook,fifth grade, CMS, sixth place. As sponsor of the event, CEMCawarded cash prizes to the winning students.

David Harvey and Steve Gilmore of Technical Innovation install aTV monitor in the lobby of CEMC’s Clarksville Headquarters.Each of CEMC’s office facilities now has the monitors, whichshow current and upcoming events, local weather conditionsand a crawling news feed. “The monitors are an effort to contin-ue to get timely and pertinent information out to our mem-bers,” says Mark Cook, supervisor of geographic informationsystem and network administration. “We realized that many ofour business offices see dozens of our members on a daily basis,and we wanted to provide a new medium to post informationabout our organization.”

Lobby monitors now in place

Top spellers earn rewards

Katie Warren, center, of Stewart County High School, was pre-sented a $3,000 college scholarship during the annual meetingof the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. Her shortstory, written as part of her application for last year’s Washing-ton Youth Tour, was judged the best in Tennessee. With Katie are,from left, Jim Coode, CEMC general manager, and board mem-bers Stephen Douglass and Shela Williams. Both board mem-bers are Stewart County residents, along with Jerry Peacher,who was not available for the photo.

Best short story wins top prize

MCHS goes with geothermal system

When Clarksville-Montgomery County School System officialswere making plans to renovate Montgomery Central HighSchool in Cunningham, they wisely included a geothermal heat-ing and cooling system. The pipes shown above, which will even-tually be below the surface of the water, will be filled with regu-lar tap water to carry heat into the school in winter and awayfrom the school in summer. Geothermal systems have provenover and over again to save consumers money. Daniel BooneHigh School in Gray in East Tennessee, for example, saved$33,000 the first year it had a geothermal system. According tothe Tennessee Valley Authority, owners of buildings using geot-hermal have cut 25 percent to 50 percent off their utility bills.

CEMC Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation

20 The Tennessee Magazine

CEMC offers college scholarships and Washington Youth Tour opportunities

High school juniors and seniors are encouraged to use thesecold winter days and nights writing short stories that

could earn them fabulous prizes from Cumberland ElectricMembership Corporation. Some sto-ries will bring their writers a scholar-ship, and some will send their writersto Washington, D.C., with a chance towin a scholarship!

Scholarship programCEMC’s scholarship program is

for students who will be graduatingfrom high school this coming spring.Ten students will be chosen to receivea one-time awards of $1,000 that canbe used toward their freshman yearexpenses such as tuition, textbooks,lab fees or other required classroommaterials. The program is coordinat-ed by each school’s senior guidancecounselor.To be considered, applicants must

meet the following eligibilityrequirements:• Must be a graduating high schoolsenior whose parents or guardians are members of CEMCand receive electric service from CEMC at their primary resi-dence;• Must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade pointaverage (GPA);• Must enroll or plan to enroll as a full-time student at anaccredited Tennessee college, university or trade school byfall 2011. (Two border schools, Murray State University andWestern Kentucky University, are also eligible institutions.)• Must submit a completed application, including two refer-ence letters: one from a teacher or other school official andone from another community leader.• Must write an original essay of at least 300 words explain-ing what the student most looks forward to by attendingcollege. All essays will be judged on the basis of content,composition, grammar and neatness.The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Feb. 25, 2011.

Children of CEMC, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Associa-tion (TECA) or Tennessee Valley Authority employees,directors or attorneys are not eligible to apply.

Washington Youth TourA $1,000 scholarship is certainly a wonderful prize, but

being awarded a spot on the Washington Youth Tour is con-

sidered “priceless,” according to those lucky enough to haveexperienced it.Twelve high school juniors from the CEMC service area

will be chosen for the trip to Wash-ington, D.C., during the week ofJune 10-16, 2011. They will be partof a 180-member contingent of Ten-nessee students and chaperones whowill join thousands of their peersfrom all over the United States visit-ing the unforgettable sites of thenation’s capital, including face-to-face encounters with members ofTennessee’s congressional delega-tion.To enter, students must write a

short story up to 900 words in lengthtitled, “Electric Cooperatives: iPowerthe Future.” Complete details areincluded in the booklet picturedbelow and available for downloadfrom our website at www.cemc.org.The booklet contains a wealth ofinformation about electric coopera-tives to help provide students with

facts about their subject matter, plus photographs from lastyear’s Youth Tour.An added incentive to entering the contest is the possibility

of winning a college scholarship. TECA will award scholar-ships valued at $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 during the trip.Last year, one of CEMC’s trip winners, Katie Warren of Stew-art County High School, was awarded the top prize. The yearbefore, one of our students won the $2,000 scholarship.The deadline to enter is Feb. 23, 2011. Trip winners will be

notified by letter in April. Winners of the TECA scholarshipswill be announced in June.Good luck to everyone!

Member Services Assistant Stephanie Lobdell,left, enlists Amy Harvison, senior guidance coun-selor at Sycamore High School, to promoteCEMC’s scholarship program.

Anyone interested inapplying for a spot onthis year’s Washing-ton Youth Tour shouldpick up a copy of thisbooklet, “ElectricCooperatives: iPowerthe Future.” It canalso be downloadedfrom our website,www.cemc.org.