Copper Theft – Expensive AND Dangerous

Volume 12, Number 10
Lyons, Georgia
May 2012
Copper Theft – Expensive AND Dangerous
L
ook at a piece of copper, and you can see why
it’s been popular with artists for 10,000 years.
Its reddish-orange luster enhances jewelry and
other decorative art. Ancient weapon makers
also found it useful—axes with copper heads
date back at least 5,000 years. More recently,
engineers discovered that
copper was an excellent conductor of
electrical current.
In the past few
years, copper’s popularity has seen an
uptick among another
group: criminals.
Whether it’s the
tough economy or
methamphetamine users
needing money to pay for
their next fix, the relatively high price of
the metal has led to a wave of copper theft.The
Electric Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
estimates there are more than 50,000 copper
thefts from electrical utilities each year.
Substation grounding
Copper is swiped from many places, including
construction sites, warehouses and abandoned
homes. In some areas, crooks drag away entire
air-conditioning units so that they can remove
the copper tubing at their leisure.
But copper theft from utility poles and substations carries a particular concern. Copper energizes current-carrying conductors (wires) as well
as playing a key role in grounding.
Substations—which contain expensive equipment for controlling the flow of electricity from
high-voltage transmission lines to your home—
must be grounded to the earth to prevent damage
from lightning strikes and fault currents. When
your co-op grounds equipment in a substation, it
makes an electrical connection to a buried network of wires, called a ground grid, that dissipates
the excess charge safely over
a wide area.
But burying wires
causes them to corrode.
“[Buried] aluminum undergoes galvanic corrosion
and can turn to dust in two
years,” explains Emory
Barber, director of cable
and systems engineering
at Southwire Company,
one of the nation’s largest
manufacturer of transmission
lines.“Given the same conditions, copper
can last 60 years or more.”
Despite the extreme danger that comes with
entering a substation, the copper wire inside makes
for an attractive target—all a thief has to do is
make a couple of cuts and get out. For the relatively small value of the stolen copper, crooks
leave a mess that can be very expensive to clean up.
ESFI estimates the value of copper stolen from
utilities each year—whether grounding wire substations, grounding wires off poles, or even
power lines themselves—to be about $20 million.
But the financial impact can run three times that
amount.When copper bandits strike, not-for-profit
co-ops have no choice but to pass the replacement costs on to their members.
continued on next page
GA09420G
continued from front page
A substation or pole that’s left ungrounded
becomes a dangerous place. Sometimes the
thieves touch or cut the wrong conductors,
exposing themselves to lethally high voltages.
Errant currents can damage electrical equipment,
taking the substation or line “down” and interrupting power to consumers.The electricity
can even endanger co-op employees, causing injury or death. ESFI estimates about 35 Americans die each year because of copper or other
metal theft.
Foiling thieves
To prevent theft before it happens, co-ops
have embarked on multipronged initiatives. In
Georgia, there is a $3,000 reward for information
that leads directly to the arrest and conviction
of someone involved in copper theft from any
electric utility’s property.
Altamaha EMC was the first utility company in Georgia to pay the $3,000 reward
for the report of a copper theft. In late 2011,
after seeing two individuals taking copper
ground wire from distribution poles maintained by Altamaha EMC near their home, a
couple contacted the local sheriff’s office. An
arrest was made based on the information provided. If you see suspicious activity around an
electric substation, pole or other utility facility,
call the designated hotline: 1-877-732-8717.
Some co-ops are replacing stolen copper
wire with copper-clad steel. Copper-clad steel,
which has been around since 1915, boasts the
electricity-carrying properties of copper but
contains very little scrap value. Although
bendable, it can’t be cut and removed with
normal tools—even hydraulic bolt cutters.
As the economy remains shaky, and the price
of scrap metal shoots up, copper has become a
target for theft from electrical substations, which
creates expensive clean-up for co-ops and a
potentially fatal risk for thieves. Legislation aimed
at combating metals theft was passed in the 2012
Georgia General Assembly. These new laws will
require scrap metal recyclers to require picture
identification from anyone selling scrap metals.
Always keep in mind that no one should be
in an electric co-op substation except trained
employees. Report any suspicious activity to
local law enforcement and your electric cooperative. Your diligence can help stop criminals
and may even save a life.
In the dark?
Help us find you fast.
Your accurate phone number on file means:
• Instant pinpoint location
• Quicker deployment of line personnel
• Faster repair time
• Shorter outage duration for you
Altamaha EMC does not sell
members’ private information.
Don’t get
caught in
the dark
All members who update their contact information
by June 15th will be entered to win a $50 bill credit.
You must update your information to be eligible for drawing.
Please contact us to update your mailing address, home phone number,
work phone number, cell phone number and email address.
Three easy ways to reply and enter to win…
1) Call our customer service department during office hours at
912-526-8181, or toll-free at 1-800-822-4563. Press 0.
2) Visit www.altamahaemc.com and update your contact information through the online bill pay link on the front page.
3) Complete the information below and return it with your payment.
Name: ____________________________________________
Acct #: ____________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
________________________________________________
Email: ____________________________________________
Home Phone #: __________________________
Work Phone #: __________________________
Cell Phone #:
__________________________
Please list all cell phone numbers that you might use when
calling to report a power outage.
*We respect your privacy and do not share e-mail or other personal information with third parties.
EAST LAURENS HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT AWARDED WALTER
HARRISON SCHOLARSHIP
For most high school students, they will always
remember the thrill of opening the letter which
began,“Congratulations! We are pleased to inform
you that you have been accepted to college.” However, for a growing number of students and their
families, that elation is short-lived when they are
forced to face a harsh reality: the costs of obtaining
a college degree.
There is no denying the steep financial commitment, and some would say burden, associated with
obtaining a college degree. To provide some financial relief, Altamaha EMC recently awarded the
2012 Walter Harrison Scholarship to graduating
East Laurens High School senior Hawk Young.
The $1,000 scholarship is designed to recognize
students who demonstrate academic merit and talent and a commitment to community service. It
can be applied to any accredited two or four-year
university, college or vocational-technical school in
Georgia. Young was one of seven winners selected
from across the state.
Altamaha EMC sponsors the prestigious scholarship annually to deserving high school students
and college undergraduates who are involved in
their community and possess exceptional academic
ability demonstrated by their high school (or college) performance, grade point average, SAT score
and scholastic honors. The candidates’ need for
financial assistance is also a consideration.
Young is the son of Kim Young of East Dublin,
Ga. He will attend the University of Georgia and
major in Psychology. His ultimate goal is to attend a
prestigious medical school such as John Hopkins
or Harvard Medical and become a plastic surgeon.
Young is currently ranked number one in his
class. He was chosen to serve as part of the elite
team of Student Ambassadors for East Laurens High
School and is a member of Beta Cub, Interact Club,
Anchor Club, National Beta Club, Order Leadership
Club and Future Business Leaders of America. In
Hawk Young
his junior year, he also won first place in his region
and state at the Georgia RESA Writing Competition.
Apart from school activities, Young has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels,
the local veteran’s hospital and school clean-up
projects.
The Walter Harrison Scholarship was created in
1985 by the board of directors of Georgia EMC,
Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission
Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. The
scholarship is named in honor of Walter Harrison, a
pioneer in the rural electricity movement and a
leader at the local, state and national levels in electric cooperative programs.
The scholarship is funded by Georgia’s electric
cooperatives, including Altamaha EMC, the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the
Georgia Rural Electric Supply Corp. Since 1985,
nearly $148,000 has been awarded to students
through the Walter Harrison Scholarship Program.
TIP OF THE MONTH
Don’t get your electric bill caught in a spin cycle. When doing laundry,
use cold water. If your dryer has a moisture meter, use it to prevent over
drying clothes—50 minutes often works best for a full load. And remember to check your lint filter before you run every load to help your dryer
run more efficiently (and save energy).
GO PAPERLESS
Enjoy the benefits of electronic billing
Electronic billing, statements and payments make your life easier.
They are faster and more secure than using paper – and better for
the environment.
When you go paper free, you benefit from the convenience and safety
of paperless electronic billing, statements and payments. Your payments will reach their destination more securely and faster too.
Enroll in electronic billing and you’ll enjoy these benefits:
• Avoid identity theft: 85 percent of identity theft is tied to
paper bills and payments.
• Improved record keeping: view 12 months of bills online or
as PDFs.
• Reduce clutter: online bills and PDFs are as valid as paper
records, but are filed electronically.
• Save money: paying securely online saves postage, paper and time.
It is easy to enroll in electronic billing. Simply call us at 912-526-8181,
or toll-free at 1-800-822-4563, and ask to enroll in electronic billing.
A customer service representative will be happy to assist you.
It’s a simple, safe and smart way to help you save today for a better
tomorrow.
HOLIDAY CLOSING NOTICE
Altamaha EMC offices will be closed Monday, May 28th
in observance of Memorial Day. In the event of a power
outage or other related problems, standby personnel
will be on duty. You can report power outages by calling
us at (912) 526-8181, or toll-free at (800) 822-4563.
Member
TIP OF TH
RECIPES
✁
ST LAURENS HIGH SCHOOL
UDENT AWARDED WALTER
ARRISON SCHOLARSHIP
(Cut Here)
Altamaha EMC has stand-by personnel on
duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the event of a power outage or other
related emergency, you can contact us
at the numbers below:
If you live in the Toombs, Treutlen,
Montgomery or Tattnall area:
912-526-8181
If you live in the Emanuel, Johnson
or East Laurens area:
1-800-822-4563
Hawk
When calling after hours,
yourYoung
call will be
answered by our automated system. Please
listen
prompts
his junior year,
hecarefully
also wonand
firstfollow
placethe
in his
regionto
report your outage or emergency.
and state at the Georgia RESA Writing Competition.
Apart from If
school
activities,
has volunyou have
troubleYoung
reporting
your outage
at
the
number
listed
above,
you
also
teered with Habitat for Humanity, Meals on can
Wheels,
call any of the following numbers:
the local veteran’s hospital and school clean-up
projects.
912-526-4357
The Walter Harrison Scholarship
was created in
of Georgia EMC,
1985 by the board of directors
912-526-0284
Oglethorpe Power Corp.,
Georgia
Transmission
912-583-2487
Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. The
912-557-6688
scholarship is named in honor of Walter Harrison, a
912-537-7871
pioneer in the rural electricity movement and a
leader at the local, state 912-537-2032
and national levels in electric cooperative programs.
912-537-9929
The scholarship is funded
by Georgia’s electric
912-538-1953
cooperatives, including Altamaha EMC, the National
912-578-5281
Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the
912-594-6609
Georgia Rural Electric Supply Corp. Since 1985,
912-526-8967
nearly $148,000 has been
awarded to students
through the Walter Harrison
Scholarship Program.
912-565-7480
Don’t get your electric bill caug
use cold water. If your dryer ha
drying clothes—50 minutes ofte
ber to check your lint filter befo
run more efficiently (and save e
May marks National Egg Month, a time
when Georgia celebrates its egg industry.
As part of the celebration, the Georgia Egg
Commission hosts its annual egg recipe
contest, set for May 16 at the Georgia National
Fairgrounds in Perry.
GO PAPERLESS
Enjoy the benefits of electronic b
Below is a recipe from the Georgia Egg
Commission for Egg Salad Boats—an
“eggcellent”
sandwich
creation
Electronic
billing,
statements
andfor
payments make you
picnics or on-the-go lunches.
They are faster and more secure than using paper – a
theEgg
environment.
Salad Boats
12 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
When
you go dill
paper
free, you benefit from the convenien
1 teaspoon
weed
3/4 teaspoon
celery salt billing, statements and paymen
of paperless
electronic
1/2 teaspoon pepper
ments
will reachsweet
theirpickle
destination
more securely and
5 tablespoons
relish
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons
sour cream
Enroll
in electronic
billing and you’ll enjoy the
2 tablespoons spicy mustard
• Avoid
identity
theft: 85 percent of identity theft i
1/4 teaspoon
hot sauce
4 tablespoons
olives,
chopped
paper
bills and
payments.
6
kaiser
rolls
• Improved record keeping: view 12 months of b
Combine
eggs, dill weed, celery salt, pepper, relas PDFs.
ish,•mayonnaise,
sour cream,
spicybills
mustard,
Reduce clutter:
online
and hot
PDFs are as valid a
sauce and olives; mix well. Set aside. Cut out a
records,
but
are
filed
electronically.
circle in the middle of each kaiser roll. Keep the
center
of themoney:
roll to serve
with the
egg salad
boat.saves postage, p
• Save
paying
securely
online
Fill each roll with the egg salad mixture and place
the center of the roll on the side. Serves 6.
It is easy to enroll in electronic billing. Simply call us at 9
more recipes the Georgia Egg
orFor
toll-free
at 1-800-822-4563, and ask to enroll in elec
Commission, visit www.georgiaeggs.org.
A customer service representative will be happy to as
— Courtesy of the Georgia Egg Commission
It’s month,
a simple,
and smart
wayrecipes
to help you save toda
Each
oursafe
newsletter
features
submitted
by our members. If you have a
tomorrow.
favorite recipe and would like to share it with
other readers in the Altamaha EMC service area,
send a copy, complete with name, address and
daytime phone number to: Tammye Vaughn,
Altamaha EMC, P.O. Box 346, Lyons, GA 30436.
Each month, a recipe will be selected for
publication. The member who submitted the
Altamaha
EMC
featured recipe will be given a $10 credit
on
their next Altamaha EMC bill. Due to limited
in observance o
space, not all recipes received will be featured.
outage or othe
Recipes printed in Plugged In are not indewill
pendently tested; therefore, we must dependbe on duty.
on the accuracy of those members who
send
us
at (912) 526-8
recipes to us.
HOLIDAY