Flint News

Mapping project under way

02/08/10

Employees of Chapel Mapping Inc. are walking Flint Energies’ entire service territory recording GPS data and taking photos of Flint equipment like meters, poles and transformers. To speed up the process, they will not knock on each member’s door, but will approach Flint Energies’ equipment on your property quickly and move on to the next piece of equipment down the line. Chapel Mapping employees will be wearing a safety vest, utility belt and have a yellow, handheld GPS device and digital camera. They may be in your area this month. Please make sure there is access to all Flint equipment at your location. This two-year project will improve efficiency and aid in preparing for restoration in the event of an outage.

Flint Energies Accepting Applications for Free Trip to Washington D.C.

01/28/10

Flint Energies is currently accepting applications for the Washington Youth Tour, a program sponsored by Georgia’s EMCs.

Five high school juniors will be sponsored in 2010 to represent Flint Energies as delegates on the all-expenses-paid trip to our nation’s capital the summer before their senior year. The Tour is June 10-17, 2010 and will begin in Atlanta before flying to Washington D.C. for five full days. All transportation, lodging and food is included for those selected to attend the prestigious program.

“The Washington Youth Tour is an incredible opportunity for our area youth to experience history and develop appreciation of our nation,” says Kelly Trapnell, Public Relations Specialist at Flint Energies. “Our future local leaders are encouraged to be good citizens and see how their government works through this amazing program.”

This top-notch leadership experience and tour of our nation's capital includes meetings with state and national leaders, as well as visits to all the major sights. Participants from EMCs, like Flint Energies, all over Georgia join over 1,400 other students from around the nation — all-expenses-paid — for one incredible week in our nation's capital.

The selection process includes a written application, three references and an interview process. Students interested in applying should contact Kelly Trapnell at ktrapnell@flintemc.com or 478-218-5529.

Weathering high bills in winter

01/27/10

Flint Energies wants to remind its members that cold weather snaps can push electric bills upwards.
“With very low temperatures in the forecast, it’s important to remember that we can’t control the weather, but we can curb our home’s energy usage,” Flint Energies SVP of Member and Community Relations, Jimmy Autry says. “When temperatures plummet, electric bills typically go up.”

Autry says that’s because the colder weather makes your heat-and-air units, your homes biggest strain on your electric bill, run a lot harder. The bigger the gap between the outside temperature and the thermostat setting, the harder the unit works.

“Since your heat-and-air unit accounts for more than 50 percent of your electric bill, the more it runs, the higher your bill will be,” Autry says. “Cutting it back even a degree can save on your home’s electric bills.”

Space heaters can also contribute to a high bill when not used properly. Portable electric space heaters can provide spot heating for a limited amount of time but some savings are seen only when used for a closed off portion of the house in use when the thermostat is turned down for unused rooms in the house. And be sure you use space heaters with safety features. For consumers looking to substantially lower their heating bill, other methods are a better investment. Stopping energy leaks by using caulk, insulation or weather-stripping, installing a more efficient heating system or even installing energy efficient windows prove to be a better alternative.

Look for more ways to save at www.togetherwesave.com.

10 Quick Ways to Save Today

1. Take a quick inventory of your home, and see what you might be able to turn off or unplug – cell phone chargers, TVs, lights when you leave a room.

2. Set the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature (68 degrees or below in winter). Moving the thermostat down one degree means as much as a three-percent reduction in your electric bill.

3. Keep heating system filters clean.

4. Keep air vents clear of obstructions.

5. Open blinds/drapes on the sunny side of the house during the day, but close them at night.

6. Compact fluorescent lamps can replace bulbs in most table lamps and will save up to 75 percent in lighting energy, produce more light and last up to 10 times longer.

7. Wash full loads of clothes in the coolest water possible. Rinse clothes in cold water.

8. Keep the temperature between 36 degrees and 40 degrees in the refrigerator and 0 degrees and 5 degrees in the freezer. Use a refrigerator/freezer thermometer to check the settings.

9. Stop the dryer as soon as clothes are dry, or use the moisture sensor control to automatically shut off the dryer. Overdrying wastes energy and sets in wrinkles.

10. Dry loads one right after another. You'll use less energy because the dryer is already heated.

Flint Energies Offers Scholarship Opportunity

01/27/10

Flint Energies is currently accepting applications for the prestigious Walter Harrison Scholarship, a program sponsored by Georgia’s EMCs.

The $1,000 scholarship, based on need and merit, can be applied to defray academic expenses at any accredited two- or four-year university, college or vocational-technical institute in Georgia.
“We know this year, more than ever, household budgets are shrinking, and families are much more concerned about how they will pay for school,” says Kelly Trapnell, Public Relations Specialist at Flint Energies. “We want to do our part to support our community and our students.”

Nine scholarships will be awarded in 2010 to students in EMC households. Five applications will be selected from Flint Energies’ entries to be submitted for a chance at the nine statewide awards. A scholarship committee comprised of directors and managers of Georgia EMCs will consider grade point average, SAT scores, academic standing, scholastic honors, and financial circumstances when determining eligibility.
Students applying for the scholarship must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited undergraduate degree program, complete a two-page application, and write a two-page autobiographical sketch that includes future plans and a short statement about why the scholarship would be helpful. The scholarship is available to any college undergraduate student regardless of age.

The financial assistance offered through the Walter Harrison Scholarship is an extension of the work of EMCs to support Georgia's youth through a variety of statewide leadership and educational programs such as the Washington Youth Tour, Georgia Cooperative Council’s Youth Leadership Conference, EMC/FFA Electrification Contest and the Georgia High School Association.
Created in 1985 by the board of directors of Georgia EMC, the trade association representing 42 electric cooperatives in Georgia, the Walter Harrison Scholarship program pays tribute to the late Harrison, a pioneer in the rural electricity movement and a leader at the local, state and national levels in the electric cooperative program.

Since 1985, Georgia’s electric cooperatives have awarded more than $125,000.00 to deserving students through this program.

To request an application, contact Kelly Trapnell at ktrapnell@flintemc.com or 478-218-5529. Completed applications are due by February 1.