In The Loop

April is the month we celebrate linemen! With April 14 being Georgia Lineman Appreciation Day and April 18 being National Lineman Appreciation Day, we can't think of any better way to celebrate these brave men and women then talking to two of our own CFEMC Linemen. From the hazards they face to the rewards of the job (as well as a few sneaky bullfrogs), join us as we sit down with Journeyman Lineman Ben Young and Apprentice Lineman Jake Harrod to hear some Lineman Tales!

Not only is March Women's History Month, but it also hosts International Women's Day. In the Loop is thrilled to be joined by Annalisa Bloodworth, President & CEO of Oglethorpe Power and Barbara Hampton, President & CEO of Georgia Transmission. These powerful women talk about their start in the power industry, the issues they've faced and where they see the future of power and Georgia and beyond. 

Youth Tour is a cornerstone program for electric co-ops, but why? What's it all about? In the Loop has the scoop on Youth Tour, from who can apply, what they'll be doing and why this program will make any high school resume POP! So if you're a high school junior - or know one - take a quick listen and apply before the Feb. 14 deadline! 

Baby, it's cold outside! We recently experienced not one, but TWO winter storms - within 10 days of each other! While both presented different challenges and impacts, our CEO Chris Stephens explains how CFEMC's team ensured our members had power during these cold times through restoration and a reliable system and energy mix. 

CFEMC has several scholarship options and NOW is the time to apply! Whether you're wanting to pursue a technical career or begin your college career, we'll be discussing the four different scholarship opportunities available through January 31, 2025. Don't delay, empower your future today!

While CFEMC often gives back to our communities throughout the year, the holiday season is a special time when employees donate their time and dollars to help those in need. Join us as we talk about sending goodie boxes to deployed troops and helping local food pantries. 

We've seen the cost of just about everything go up, but the one thing that helps power our lives remains a good value - electricity. Our PCA (Power Cost Adjustment) is just one way CFECM works to keep our rates stable and affordable. Join Taylor and CFEMC President & CEO Chris Stephens as we learn what the PCA does, what makes up our rates and how we pass savings back to our members.

It seems every day there's a new way for scammers to gain your personal information or steal money. Posing as a utility is a favorite scammer activity, so we're here to set the record straight while also offering other helpful tips to avoid becoming a scammer's next victim. 

Vegetation Management, we don't normally think about it until a storm hits and trees cause outages. As Hurricane Helene heads our way, we talk with CFEMC's Right of Way Foreman, Richard Davis about our vegetation management program, danger trees, what members can do to help as well as important safety tips for after the storm. 

On June's episode of In The Loop, we're going to talk all about Coweta-Fayette EMC's accounting practices and financial responsibility, including budgeting, checks and balances, audits, CFEMC's work plan, capital credits, and ultimately why it's important for members to stay In the Loop about the financial stability and strength of Coweta-Fayette EMC.Joining us to tell us more is CFEMC's new Chief Financial Officer, Brandee Holt. Follow along to learn all about her background, her new role, and how she works to oversee CFEMC's accounting practices.

Join us for another exciting episode of In The Loop, where you'll learn all about Coweta-Fayette EMC's award-winning Summer Teacher Tour program, featuring CFEMC's Economic Development Coordinator Maggie Reenstra.Follow along to hear all the details, including what the program entails, how it got started at Coweta-Fayette EMC, and how teachers can get involved this summer!

On this episode of In The Loop, learn all about “Take Aim at Progress”, a charity sporting clay shoot fundraiser for Georgia Electric Membership Cooperatives (GEMCs) and Vendors that raises money for NRECA's International Foundation in order to bring electricity to impoverished countries.Hear from Coweta-Fayette EMC's President & CEO Chris Stephens about the establishment and growth of the program, how it assists America's co-ops in raising funds and actively supporting rural electrification in developing countries, and why it is important for us to support this program each year.

On this month's episode, we're excited to celebrate lineman appreciation! Here at Coweta-Fayette EMC, we will celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 8, and we ask all our co-op members to join us to help honor the brave men who power our world. This month, we had the opportunity to interview Coweta-Fayette EMC's Executive VP of Engineering and Operations Clarence Wright about why the role of a lineman is so vital to Coweta-Fayette EMC, and why it's important for us to recognize their efforts. Follow along to hear all about what our linemen do, how we keep them safe on the job, and how we will celebrate lineman appreciation.

Join us for another episode of In The Loop and learn all about  Coweta-Fayette EMC's Operation Round Up. This month, we're answering common questions from members about the program, including what ORU is, how it started, and how members can get involved. Joining us for the second month in a row is Megan Phillips, CFEMC's Community Relations Coordinator. Visit our website at www.utility.org to sign up for Operation Round Up and help us make a difference in our local community!

Join Coweta-Fayette EMC's Rachel Camp and Megan Phillips to hear all about CFEMC's current youth program offerings, including Washington Youth Tour for high school juniors and scholarship opportunities for high school seniors. Listen to learn about the program details, including upcoming deadlines, eligibility, and how to apply.

Happy Holidays from Coweta-Fayette EMC! On this special episode of In The Loop, learn about about how Coweta-Fayette EMC shares in the Christmas spirit each year. Teresa Johnson, CFEMC's Supervisor of Customer Service Branch Offices, joins us to talk about our annual Christmas project and how CFEMC employees worked together to volunteer and raise funds to assist local organizations in the community, as well as pack and ship Hero Boxes to our military service members during Christmas. 

November is a time of thanks AND giving! On this special episode, learn how participants of our internal leadership development program, VISIONEMC, worked with local organization, RiverLife, to give back to our community.Hear from Coweta-Fayette EMC's Customer Service Representatives April Bell and Savannah Staples about how their community project developed and ultimately impacted numerous Coweta County residents. 

Join us for a special episode of In The Loop, where we'll hear from CFEMC's Apprentice Lineman Connor Hoff about his participation in the NRECA International Foundation's recent rural electrification project, where 15 linemen from Georgia co-ops traveled to Sesaltul, Guatemala to help bring electricity to 90 families in need. Hoff shares his first-hand experience in Guatemala, including what a typical work day in Sesaltul looked like, how it compared to line work back home, and what it was like bringing power to those in need.

On this special episode of In The Loop, we're excited to talk all about our upcoming Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day! Megan Phillips, CFEMC Community Relations Coordinator, joins us to share what members should expect at the event, including concessions, activities and amenities offered, parking information, as well as what time to arrive. The event will be held on Saturday, October 14 at CFEMC's Palmetto Headquarters. Please join us to learn more about your electric cooperative!

Tune in to listen to this special episode of In The Loop, where we had the pleasure to sit down with Coweta-Fayette EMC's Board Chair Jim Fulton to talk all about the roles and duties of a board member, as well gain access to recent board highlights, including an update on CFEMC's rates, the incorporation of renewables, and the upcoming challenges and opportunities CFEMC may face in the future.

Welcome back to In The Loop! On this month's episode, we'll be talking all about power outages and how our system operators work behind the scenes to keep the lights on and answer our member's calls 24/7. We'll be joined by Coweta-Fayette EMC's Supervisor of System Control Dawn Hunter to answer some frequently asked questions about power outages, including typical causes, different ways to report an outage and what a member might expect during an outage, and she's going to explain how system operators are trained to serve our members while simultaneously keeping our employees safe on the job.

Learn all about True Natural Gas on this month's episode of In The Loop! We are joined by Jason Sutton, True Natural Gas Asset and Special Project Manager, to talk about TNG's history and operations, their relationship with CFEMC as a subsidiary, and their involvement in green energy and renewables. Follow along as we answer some commonly asked questions about their business and hear all about an exciting project they're currently involved in. To learn more and to sign up for True Natural Gas service, call 770-502-0226 or visit https://www.truenaturalgas.com/.

On this month's episode, hear from one of Operation Round Up's grant recipients, Elevate Coweta Students, about how the organization serves the youth in our community and how, you, our members, can get involved. Executive Director Kevin Barbee joins us to share Elevate's mission, talk about their programs and their needs, and explain how exactly they use grant funding, like those awarded from ORU, to thrive.CFEMC's Operation Round Up has helped Elevate Coweta Students directly with funding through awarded grants over the past 3 years -Together, we do make a difference!  Sign up for Operation Round Up today at www.utility.org.

This month, we're honored to recognize and celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Month. This is a special time for us to express our appreciation and pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of our lineman here at CFEMC, the power behind the power. The work of our line crews is important 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and they remain on standby to respond during times of crisis.On this special episode of In The Loop, we are joined by Coweta-Fayette EMC Crew Chief Doug Worley and Journeyman Steven Robinson to talk about how they work to respond when disaster strikes and what a typical storm restoration cycle looks like for them.

In this two-part series, we hear all about how Coweta-Fayette EMC has advanced throughout the years. For this series, we're fortunate enough to be joined by two long-standing employees who will share their unique experiences.In part 2, we're joined by CFEMC's VP of Operations, Wendell Webb, who has been employed with CFEMC for 50 years, to hear about how the co-op has experienced rapid growth and technological updates, specifically in line work, safety initiatives and training.

In this two-part series, we hear all about how Coweta-Fayette EMC has advanced throughout the years. For this series, we're fortunate enough to be joined by two long-standing employees who will share their unique experiences.In part 1, we're joined by CFEMC's Chief Operating Officer Stanley Sitzler, who has been employed with CFEMC for 45 years, to hear about how the co-op has experienced rapid growth and technological updates.

Welcome to the 3rd season of In The Loop! We're kicking off the new year with Energy U, Coweta-Fayette EMC's newest FREE learning module. On this episode, Mrs. Chellie Phillips, VP of Communications and Public Relations at CFEMC, joins us to discuss what Energy U is, how our members can benefit from it, and how to gain access to it.

On our last episode of the year, we're excited to celebrate the holidays and wrap up season 2 with Coweta-Fayette EMC's recent community project with local organization, Hope Revisited. Follow along to hear all about how CFEMC employees funded and implemented the project as a part of an internal professional development program and how exactly it will help our community in the future.

Hear from CFEMC Bright Ideas Grant Recipients on this month's episode of In The Loop! Follow along with us as we surprised teachers in our community with B.I.G. awards and hear all about their award-winning projects.Every year, Coweta-Fayette Trust Board awards Bright Ideas Grants to local educators in our community through CFEMC's Operation Found Up Foundation. These grants help fund innovative classroom projects that wouldn't typically be funded otherwise. This year, CFEMC awarded over $29K in Bright Ideas Grants to 24 deserving teachers. Julie Eidson, East Coweta Middle School teacher, talks about her fun project, “Soil your undies"; Seth Bishop, McIntosh High School teacher talks about his energy-efficient project, "Solar Powered STEM"; and Tracey Hunt, Centralhatchee Elementary School teacher, talks about her innovative project, "Math Through Literature".Together we are creating a BIG impression on the minds of our future leaders!

On this month's episode of In The Loop, we're switching gears and talking all about cybersecurity. In honor of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month being celebrated in October, we're eager to discuss the importance of staying safe online. Joining us is Coweta-Fayette EMC's Computer Services Technician Jennifer Jones. Follow along to hear cybersecurity tips for our members, including how to avoid cybersecurity threats, and what a member should do if they have a questions about protecting themselves at home.

On this episode of In The Loop, we're excited to talk all about electric vehicles – And with National Drive Electric Week approaching on September 23, it's the perfect time! Join us as we sit down with Jimmy Adams, Coweta-Fayette EMC Vice President of Energy Services; Matt Stitcher, Coweta-Fayette EMC Crew Chief; and Jeff Opsahl, Coweta-Fayette EMC Supervisor of System Administration and Data Analytics to talk about how CFEMC supports the use of electric vehicles and gain first-hand knowledge of their personal experiences with their own EVs.

Tune in to this episode of In The Loop to learn about how CFEMC takes steps every month to help our members keep their electric bills low. Coweta-Fayette EMC's Energy Services Coordinator Shamika Lastie joins us to explain the role of Energy Services at CFEMC, including what a member should do if they have questions regarding energy usage, consumption or efficiency.

Hear all about Washington Youth Tour - The Trip of a Lifetime on this episode of In The Loop! Coweta-Fayette EMC Washington Youth Tour delegates Niyah Cameron, a rising senior at Whitewater High School; and Jack Terrell, a rising junior at Newnan High School, share their experiences from the tour this summer.

On this episode of The Loop, we hear from Dionne Russell, Lead Customer Service Representative at Coweta-Fayette EMC. Join us to discuss the role of a Customer Service Representative while answering some commonly asked questions from our members.

Learn all about Bright Ideas Teachers Grants on this month's episode of In The Loop. Follow along to hear an overview of the program and how Operation Round-Up helps to make these opportunities possible.Megan Phillips, Community Relations Coordinator with CFEMC, joins us to talk about how CFEMC works to support education through assisting our local educators with special classroom projects. Apply now  at https://utility.org/bright-ideas-grant-application-2022/. The application deadline is August 12.

National Lineman Appreciation Day is a time to express our utmost appreciation to those who work so hard to power our nation. It's our honor to celebrate the hard work, innovation and dedication of Electrical Lineworkers.This month, we had the opportunity to interview Coweta-Fayette EMC Crew Chief Josh Minnifield about the ins and outs of being a lineworker for a cooperative. Join us as we talk about what he enjoys most about the job and what led him to want to become a lineman.

Whether you are a homeowner or a renter, we know that electrical safety is a top priority in your home - and with spring right around the corner, it's the perfect time to run through a quick check list to make sure you're in tip-top shape.On this episode, CFEMC Safety Coordinator Greg Perry joins us to go over the importance of home electrical safety to help keep you and your family safe from electrical hazards all year long.

Find out why we love Washington Youth Tour here at Coweta-Fayette EMC! On this episode, Kaleb Frady, Public Relations Representative and Washington Youth Tour Director with Georgia EMC, gives an overview of the program – which consists of an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. where high school students can learn more about our nation's capital – and why high school students should apply!  Apply now at https://utility.org/my-community/washington-youth-tour/.

Scholarships with Coweta-Fayette EMC – Follow along as we discuss the Coweta-Fayette Trust Technical Scholarship, Melissa Segars Scholarship, Lineman Scholarship and Walter G. Harrison Scholarship, including upcoming deadlines and how to apply, as well as how Operation Round-Up helps to make many of these opportunities possible. On this episode, we are joined by Ms. Alice Reeves, Board Chair of Coweta-Fayette Trust Board of Directors. Apply now at www.utility.org.

‘Tis the season of giving! Follow along to hear all about how CFEMC gives back to our community during the holidays. On this special episode, Coweta-Fayette EMC benevolent committee members and employees Lynn North and Shanda Cook explain how exactly CFEMC shares in the holiday spirit each year.

On this episode of In The Loop, we're talking about Capital Credits! Join us as we sit down with Coweta-Fayette EMC's CEO Chris Stephens to talk about what exactly capital credits are, when members should receive their capital credits in the mail or on their bill as a Capital Credit Refund, and how our cooperative principles here CFEMC set us apart from Investor Owned Utilities.

On this episode of In The Loop, Coweta-Fayette EMC's CEO Chris Stephens invites CFEMC members to attend our upcoming Drive-Thru Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day on Saturday, October 9. Listen as Chris explains the importance of the meeting, what CFEMC members may learn from attending virtually and how this year's event will look different compared to past events.

On this episode of In The Loop, we hear from Coweta County School System educator Cathrine Nolan about her experience with Coweta-Fayette EMC's Alternative Energy Summer Adventure. Held from July 20-22, the summer adventure provided a three-day experience for local teachers, specifically in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with valuable insight into the future of green energy, sustainability, and innovation.

On the latest episode of In The Loop, we discuss the ins and outs of solar energy, including the benefits and misconceptions. Jimmy Adams, Coweta-Fayette EMC's VP of Energy Services, explains how SmartChoice Solar works and why our members should get involved in the program.

On this episode of In The Loop, we discuss governmental relations & economic development! Greg Wright, Senior Director of Community & Economic Development at Coweta-Fayette EMC, explains how our members benefit from having cooperative leadership actively involved in government relations.

Join us to discuss Coweta-Fayette EMC's Bright Ideas Teacher Grant Program. On this episode of In The Loop, we sit down with Western Elementary School Principal Cheryl McChargue, a Bright Ideas grant recipient, to discuss her special project, "Day of Magic".

On this episode of In The Loop, we are joined by special guest Chris Stephens, Coweta-Fayette EMC's CEO, to discuss the recent EF-4 tornado that tore through Coweta County and caused significant damage across our system that affected many of our members. Chris explains how our staff worked to restore power to those affected in our service territory and what exactly we encountered during the process.

In honor of Lineman Appreciation Month, in the fourth episode of In The Loop, we talk with Coweta-Fayette EMC's employees Richard Davis and Jody Hand about their first-hand experiences with empowering rural communities through international electrification.

In the third episode of In The Loop, we sit down with Coweta-Fayette EMC's employees Andrew Collins, Barry Wallace, Jake Kierbow and Terry Jones to discuss what a typical day in the life of a lineman looks like –  we cover everything from training to storm restoration.

In the second episode of In The Loop, we sit down with Scott Lee, Manager of Energy Services,  to discuss energy services at Coweta-Fayette EMC to include the SmartChoice Home Program and the SmartChoice Solar Program, as well as low cost, high impact energy saving tips for our members.

In the first episode of In The Loop, we discuss the ins and outs of an electric membership cooperative, as well as the ways in which Coweta-Fayette EMC is different from our for-profit competitors.