THE GREYSTONE - GreyStone Power Corporation

THE
GREYSTONE
REPORT
VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 6 • NOVEMBER 2013
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
means lower
P2 Winter
rates for members
Save on
holiday
shopping
with your CCC!
Get your holiday shopping
done early and save big with
your Co-op Connections® Card
(CCC)! Members enjoy discounts
at more than 325 participating
local vendors when they present
their CCC.
Retail offers include discounts on jewelry, cards, boutique clothing, custom framing
and florists. You can shop locally,
or visit one of the national retailers available at the CCC website,
www.connections.coop/greystone
power. National deals include
offers from Six Flags, ProFlowers,
Lands’ End and Omaha Steaks.
Another way to save on your
holiday shopping is through My
VIP Savings, an Internet mall that
gives you CashBack dollars with
each purchase! More than 1,000
of your favorite online stores
are included, such as Walmart,
Macy’s, Best Buy and Target. The
CCC website is your portal for
these savings and even more.
continued on page 4
keeps
P3 Right-of-way
your lights on
students
P4 Five
win scholarship
We believe in affordable electricity
“At GreyStone, we believe in
friends of the co-op to send a message
affordable electricity. We can’t afford
to the EPA. “We need your help to urge
unaffordable electricity,” said Gary
them to stick by an ‘All-of-the-Above’
Miller, president/CEO of GreyStone
energy strategy, using every resource
Power, in answer to the Environmental available for generating electricity,
Protection Agency’s (EPA) most recent instead of an ‘All-But-One’ strategy,
proposal governing carbon emissions
rejecting coal plants as part of the enerfrom new power plants. “We need your gy mix,” said Miller.
help to stop these costly regulations.”
Simply go to www.Action.coop
The EPA is being directed by Exec- and click on the Take Action button.
utive Order to push for coal standards
It takes about a minute to complete
that are impossible to reach using curthe requested information and send a
rent viable technology. If adopted, these message. The default message may be
regulations could stop the building of
continued on page 2
new coal plants in the U.S.
In addition, coal-generated
electricity could come to
an end, shutting down
existing coal plants all over
America, and leading to
vast increases in the cost of
electricity.
“Coal has been a
workhorse for the electric
industry for all these years,
and has enabled Americans to have low-cost
electricity, with its accompanying benefits. Your
co-op has spent millions of
dollars to reduce emissions
from coal plants, and as of
today we have made great
progress,” he said.
The National Rural
Electric Cooperative Asso- GreyStone President/CEO Gary Miller urges members to
ciation has made it easier
contact their elected officials to ensure common sense legthan ever for members and islation that will keep electricity affordable.
92147-NL-1113
We believe
continued from page 1
edited in any way you desire. A high
volume of messages to the EPA in support of a common sense approach to
environmental regulations is the coop’s goal. “We urge all of our members
to engage as many audiences as possible in this effort,” he said.
“Affordable and reliable electricity
has been our mission for our members
since our co-op began 77 years ago.
Achieving that mission has enabled us
to improve the quality of our lives. If
we are to keep the privilege of affordable electricity, we must be heard,” said
Miller.
Winter means lower rates for GreyStone members
GreyStone’s winter rates begin
this month, and members will continue to benefit from the co-op’s
low rates. When GreyStone’s rates
are compared to neighboring electric providers, it’s easy to see that
GreyStone members enjoy more
power for the dollar.
Every winter and summer,
a survey by the Georgia Public
Service Commission (PSC) ranks
electric providers by rates based
on total electric bill amounts. A
winter 2013 Residential Rate Survey by the Georgia PSC shows that
among the 41 electric membership
corporations (EMCs) in Georgia,
GreyStone ranked seventh lowest
for 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
of use. The average member uses
about 1,000 kWh in a month.
The cost of 1,000 kWh of electric use under GreyStone’s winter
rates is $98.25, while the average
for four other local electric providers is $108.72. For all 41 EMCs in
the Residential Rate Survey, the
average cost for 1,000 kWh of electric use is $113.80.
22
GreyStone’s winter residential rates are 6.55 percent less than Georgia Power’s rates
and among the lowest rates for Georgia electric cooperatives. The last rate increase for
GreyStone was in 2008.
Members can see how their electric
rates compare to neighboring electric
service providers by visiting the Public
Service Commission’s website, www.
psc.state.ga.us. Find GreyStone’s rates
under the Residential section of our
website, www.greystonepower.com.
GreyStone’s winter rate schedule
runs from November through May.
The first 650 kWh cost $0.0740
per kWh. The next 350 kWh cost
$0.0720 per kWh, while any kWh
over 1,000 cost $0.0637 per kWh,
the highest rate block. There is also
a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)
which costs $0.0152 per kWh. The
PCA recovers fluctuations in the
cost of fuel supply.
Right-of-way maintenance keeps
your lights on
Thousands of miles of power
lines cover GreyStone’s service
area, and it takes regular maintenance from right-of-way (ROW)
crews to keep the lines clear. Keeping those lines clear helps keep
your lights on.
“It’s our responsibility to provide reliable electric service to our
members,” said Operations Department Manager Steve Findley. “One
of the most important elements in
meeting this goal is an appropriate
vegetation management program,
which includes tree trimming
and pruning, ground clearing and
mowing, and using growth-regulating chemicals, when appropriate.”
ROW crews may soon be headed to an area near you. For November, crews are scheduled to work in
the Dallas area of Paulding County,
along Cartersville Highway/Highway 61 and nearby roads. Roads
scheduled for ROW work include
Cochran Road, Dabbs Bridge Road,
Ferguson Place, Harmony Grove
Church Road, Douthit Bridge Road
and Old Dallas Highway.
At times, trees adjacent to
or outside of the cooperative’s
right-of-way fall, causing outages
which affect GreyStone members.
GreyStone is not responsible for
the cleanup or removal of trees or
debris resulting from these situations. If a tree falls onto a road
or on private property, crews will
move it only if necessary to gain
access to cooperative-owned facilities. The focus for crews responding to outages is to restore service
quickly and safely. It is the member’s responsibility to remove limbs
and debris that remain.
Members should contact
GreyStone concerning dead trees,
leaning trees or tree limbs that may
potentially come in contact with
the distribution system. Call us
at 770-942-6576 and select menu
option five.
Happy holidays!
Our offices will be
closed on the
following dates:
• Nov. 28 and 29
• Dec. 24 and 25
• Jan. 1
Right-of-way (ROW) crews cut tree growth adjacent to and in close proximity of
power lines. Trees and other vegetation can threaten electric system reliability.
3
GreyStone Power: Home of the
World Champion Lineman Team
The goal of this publication is to educate and
keep you, our members, informed about the
cooperative you own. Please send suggestions
or ideas for articles to the editor.
Editor: Ashley Kramer
Communications Staff: Vicki Harshbarger,
Ashley Kramer, Amanda Busby, Trisha McBee,
Jacques Vincilione
Stay Connected
Board of Directors
J. Calvin Earwood,
Chairman
John Walton,
Vice Chairman
Jennifer DeNyse,
Secretary-Treasurer
J. Edwin Garrard
Jim Johns
Milton Jones
L. Burnell Redding
Charles Rutland
Maribeth Wansley
Mailing address
P.O. Box 897,
Douglasville, GA
30133
President/CEO
Gary A. Miller
Call Center open
Monday-Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Holiday shopping
continued from page 1
Need a card? You may request a
plastic card or key fob by calling 770370-2273. The CCC is a free benefit
for members and their families—that
means anyone who has electric service
with GreyStone!
Latest CCC offers:
Baby Jane’s Home Cooking
Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-443-3063
$1 off lunch or dinner.
Candlewood Suites Atlanta West
Lithia Springs . . . . . . . . . . .678-238-1980
10% off best flexible rate.
Energy Hair Studio & Spa
Hiram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-384-0355
Complimentary Ultimate Treatment and
blow dry with hair cut ($15 value).
Appliance Parts & Service, Inc.
Hiram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-898-7836
10% off parts with repair.
ADA Medical Supply
Austell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678-398-0505
13% off retail price for cash items. Not
applicable for health care insurance
claims.
LT Pool Service Inc.
Douglasville . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-949-2295
10% off in-store purchase; $100 off new
liner install; $150 off new aboveground
pool; or $200 off new inground pool.
Yogli Mogli Frozen Yogurt
Douglasville . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-838-9000
15% off total purchase.
44
To Report an Outage
1-866-473-9786
Douglasville office
4040 Bankhead Hwy.
770-942-6576
Dallas office
120 GreyStone Power
Blvd.
770-942-6576
Visit our website
www.greystonepower.com
Co-op Connections Card
770-370-2383
770-370-2273
www.connections.coop/
greystonepower
GEMC Federal
Credit Union
770-949-3557
770-445-2800
www.gemc.org
SurgeMaster Plus
770-370-2070
Co-op Square
facebook.com/greystonepower
EMC Security
770-370-2030
770-963-0305
www.emcsecurity.com
Gas South
1-866-563-8129
Use promo code 510
to receive GreyStone
discount.
www.gas-south.com/emc
Operation Round Up®
www.greystonepower.com
(To sign up)
Green Power
www.greystonepower.com
(To sign up)
Five students win scholarship
Five deserving students were
awarded the GreyStone Power Foundation, Inc. Scholarship, which is
funded by Operation Round Up®.
Winners of the $3,000 scholarships
included students Joshua Barnett,
Kelsey Dobbs, Jordan Gunnell, Sarah
Kim and Tyler Willingham.
GreyStone members are helping
these students reach their education
goals by volunteering to round up
their power bills to the next dollar each month. There are more
than 25,000 members who give to
the Operation Round Up program,
which costs each participant approxi-
Village Pharmacy
Douglasville . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-501-5165
10% off over-the-counter purchase or
15% off the purchase of three or more
NOW food items.
Synergy Home Care of NW Atlanta
Hiram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678-909-3043
8% off first month of service for new
clients (minimum of 20 hours per week);
free home assessment and emergency
medical alarm included.
Crane Institute Certification
Villa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-783-9262
$10 off initial or re-certification with
Qualification & Certification Combo for
operators (cranes, digger derrick, etc.).
mately $6 annually.
Along with funding scholarships,
Operation Round Up also provides
desperately needed funds to nonprofit organizations in our community.
Funding is allocated by the Foundation Board of Directors, which is
made up of nine representatives from
GreyStone’s service area.
Members can apply for scholarships and sign up to participate in
Operation Round Up on GreyStone’s
website, www.greystonepower.com.
Select the Community tab for more
information on scholarships and
Operation Round Up.
OSHA recognized; NCCA accredited.
PC Wizard
Douglasville . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-906-0524
10% off all labor charges.
Updated offers:
Mary Kay Cosmetics: Sherry Pace
Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678-343-3776
15% off all orders. Purchase gift card for
just $10 ($13 value).
Joe’s Crab Shack
Douglasville . . . . . . . . . . . . 770-947-5991
One free appetizer (value up to $11) with
purchase of an entrée. Only one good for
parties of four. Not valid with any other
discount or coupon.