Showing the Love' to Our Member-Owners - Randolph EMC
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FEBRUARY 2021
Watts Working
‘Showing the Love’ to
Our Member-Owners
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and
at Randolph EMC we love making a positive
difference in the lives of our member-owners.
While the co-op’s primary goal is to provide safe, reliable and
affordable electricity, we take pride in being able to offer you
so much more. What follows are just a few ways the co-op is
“showing the love” to you, our valued member-owners:
Energy Savings Solutions Concern for Community
utilities return some of their
To help you manage your energy There are a variety of outreach
profits to shareholders,
use and budget, we provide a programs we offer that go
Randolph EMC is a not-for-profit
variety of valuable programs and above and beyond to serve our
business. So, the margins are
services. This includes tools like community. For example, each
allocated to the membership
year, we provide Bright Ideas
energy use monitoring and high in the form of capital credits.
education grants to support
usage alerts, available free to This is just a small sampling
innovative classroom projects
each member. We also offer the of how we “show the love,”
in our local schools. With your
FlexPay program, which makes and we take pride in doing
contributions, we also support
you more aware of the energy you REMC members struggling with so throughout the year. Rest
use by prepaying for electricity. financial hardships through our assured, your co-op remains
Or, our budget billing program People Helping People program. committed to serving you,
that equalizes your monthly strengthening the communities
bill payments. Our energy use Capital Credits we call home and building a
One of the tangible benefits of brighter future for everyone.
advisors are also available for free
being a member-owner of this
energy audits to help members To learn more about the benefits
co-op is that revenues above
with high bill concerns or those you have as a member-owner,
operating costs are returned
who want to learn how to make contact your local office or
to you. While investor-owned
their homes more efficient. visit RandolphEMC.com.
B 5 Ways to
Stay Cozy
This Winter
C Help During a
Power Outage D Give a Smarter
Valentine’s
Day Gift
E Randolph EMC
Mobile App F Dale Lambert’s
AWARE
Column
H Space
Heater
Safety Tips
A newsletter for the member-owners of
5 Ways to Stay Cozy this Winter
Baby, it’s cold outside! When you’re feeling chilly
at home, there are several budget-friendly ways you can 3 On winter days when the sun is
shining, take advantage and harness
keep comfortable without turning up the thermostat. natural warmth from sunlight. Open
Here are five easy ways to stay cozy this winter: all curtains, drapes and blinds in your
home to let the sunshine in—you’ll
1 Whether you’re experiencing extremely
cold winter temps or you simply “run cold,”
be able to feel the difference.
4
an electric blanket can deliver warmth Another way to make your home cozier is
quicker and better than a regular blanket. to use a humidifier. Cold air doesn’t hold
Electric blankets can include a variety of water vapor like warm air, so by adding
features, like timers and dual temperature humidity inside your home, you can feel a
settings (if your cuddle buddy prefers little warmer. A favorable level of humidity
less heat). This winter consider an electric inside your home can also help clear
blanket instead of turning up the heat, sinuses, soften skin and improve sleep.
and your energy bill will thank you.
2 One of the easiest ways to stay cozy at 5 Beyond adding visual appeal to your
home, area rugs can also provide extra
home is to keep your feet warm. Our insulation and a warm surface for your feet
feet play a critical role in regulating on cold winter days. Use large area rugs
body temperature, so when your feet in rooms where you spend the most time.
are warm, your body automatically feels You’ll enjoy the new colors and textures
warmer. Try a pair of comfortable wool of the rug, and the additional warmth
socks or house slippers to stay toasty. will help keep your home comfortable.
These are just a few ways you can stay cozy this winter without turning up the thermostat. Don’t
forget the hot chocolate!
B Watts Working | February 2021 | RandolphEMC.com
Stay Connected & Informed During a
Power Outage with These Convenient Tools
SPOTT Alerts Outage Map
Outages.RandolphEMC.com
Use the convenience of text messaging
to stay connected during a power outage See the number of current outages
at your service location. Make sure your across REMC’s system, along with an estimated
mobile number is listed in your account, number of how many members are affected.
then text TEXTREMC to 1-877-736-2633 to The site updates every two minutes to give
enroll. After that, text this number to report an you the latest information. The outage map is
outage, request the status of an outage, and also integrated directly in REMC’s mobile app.
be notified when power has been restored.
Outage Reporting Hotline Web & Social Media
1-877-736-2633 Stay connected with REMC online at
Whenever you experience a power outage, RandolphEMC.com and on Facebook
you should report it to 1-877-736-2633. This & Twitter. We’ll post frequent updates and share
automated system will recognize your location photos and other emergency information.
and immediately alert dispatchers of the
RandolphEMC.com
outage. It will also tell you the status of the
outage if it has already been reported. Keep Facebook.com/RandolphEMC
this number handy if a storm is in the forecast! Twitter.com/RandolphEMC
Join PHP to Make a Change
with Your Spare Change
It’s only small change—1¢ to 99¢ per month—
but when you multiply that by thousands
of generous Randolph EMC members who
participate in People Helping People, it makes
a BIG difference in your local communities.
This program is funded by cooperative members
who round up their electric bill to the nearest
whole dollar each month. For example, if
your bill is $74.22 it would be rounded up to
$75.00 and that extra 78¢ goes directly into
the People Helping People assistance fund.
This unique program provides assistance for Randolph
EMC members and community organizations. Your contributions can and do make a difference right
Some examples of donations include assistance here at home. To become a member of this great
for victims of house fires and floods, cancer program, sign up at RandolphEMC.com/PHP or call
patients, elderly members with overwhelming your local REMC office.
prescription costs, local food pantries and more.
1·800·672·8212 | February 2021 | Watts Working C
Give a
Smarter Valentine’s Day Gift
This Year
This Valentine’s Day skip the grocery store flowers and box of chocolates and instead get
that special someone in your life a sweet tech gift to help them save energy and money.
These days, it seems like there is a “smart” version of just about everything! Some smart
devices work independently without an internet connection but need to connect to
Wi-Fi if you want to control them from your smartphone or other mobile device. Here
are a few of high-tech gifts for the home that your sweetheart is sure to love:
Smart vents Smart blinds
You may not pay much Consider installing smart
attention to your heating blinds throughout your home,
and cooling vents, but which have a built-in motor so
with the invention of new that they can be raised or
smart vents you could be singing a different lowered with the click of a
tune. These automatically adjusting vents can remote. Or you can take it a
redirect airflow out of rooms that are over- step further by setting your smart blinds on a
conditioned and into rooms that need it. schedule so that they automatically open when
the sun rises and close when it sets.
A set of smart vents for your home can be the
perfect complement to your smart thermostat This is particularly helpful during these cold
and both will have your wallet feeling happy winter months when you want to let light in
when your monthly energy bill arrives. during the day to help keep your home warm
and comfortable.
Smart thermostat
Smart thermostats make Smart outlets
it easier than ever to Smart outlets, which plug into
maximize the efficiency of traditional electrical outlets,
your home’s heating and allow you to control whatever
cooling system by learning you plug into them from an app.
your behavior and making For example, you can plug your
automatic adjustments. television into a smart outlet and
then plug that into your regular electrical outlet.
Then, using an app on your mobile device, you
If you’re looking to make efficiency can turn off the smart outlet so that it’s not using
upgrades in your home, check out ElecTel any energy. The next time you want to use your
Federal Cooperative Credit Union’s Energy TV, all you have to do is turn the smart outlet
Efficient Loan to help finance them! back on and then turn on your TV as usual.
D Watts Working | February 2021 | RandolphEMC.com
YOU COULD WIN A
$50 BILL CREDIT
JUST BY PAYING
WITH OUR
MOBILE APP!
Download the Randolph
1
EMC Mobile App on the
App Store or Google Play
2 Log in & pay your bill
through the app
3 You’re entered to win!
Learn more about the app at RandolphEMC.com/MobileApp
+
NC GREENPOWER’S SOLAR + SCHOOLS PROGRAM
NC GreenPower is accepting applications for the 2021 Solar+ Schools program through February 28, 2021.
Any North Carolina K–12 school may apply for a grant of up to $27,000 toward installation costs. In addition,
awardees receive nearly $14,000 in related benefits, such as donated SunPower solar modules, a STEM
curriculum and teacher training. Learn more about this opportunity at NCGreenPower.org/Solar-Schools.
1·800·672·8212 | February 2021 | Watts Working E
A Word About
Randolph Electric
From CEO Dale Lambert
MAKING THE ELECTRICITY
YOU USE DO MORE
Dear Members, PROBLEM: Low refrigerant in the 78 degrees in the summer. Also,
The dead of winter brings colder heat pump or air conditioner. have an HVAC technician check the
temperatures, resulting in higher thermostat for proper calibration.
This causes the system to revert
energy bills. Even though we are in to auxiliary heat (strip heat)
the business of selling energy and PROBLEM: Leaky or loose ductwork.
which uses up to 3 times the
meeting your electricity needs, we energy of the heat pump. This causes the heat pump,
do not want you to waste money
SOLUTION: Have a qualified
furnace or air-conditioning unit
and pay more than you should.
HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air to run longer because heated or
Taking time to do some of the little
Conditioning) technician check cooled air enters unconditioned
things correctly can add up to big
the heat pump/air conditioner spaces like your crawlspace or
savings on your electric bill and
for leaks and charge with the attic. You would be surprised
leave extra money in your pocket.
proper amount of refrigerant. how often we find this issue.
Energy efficiency remains a
key part of our efforts to keep SOLUTION: Have an HVAC
your power costs down. Best of PROBLEM: Heat pump technician check for leaky
all, energy efficiency—simply thermostat is set on Emergency or loose ductwork and make
making the electricity you use Heat or E Heat (strip heat). the necessary repairs.
do more—saves you money.
This bypasses the heat pump
PROBLEM: Water heater/
I encourage you to visit the completely and heating is provided
Manage My Energy section of the water heater pipe leaking.
solely by the strip heat. Some folks
RandolphEMC.com website. There mistake the “E” in this setting This will cause the water heater
are several online tools available for “efficient” heating, when element(s) to energize for longer
to suggest simple energy-saving in fact, it’s the most inefficient periods of time, trying to heat
ideas you can implement in your setting your system has! the incoming water that will
home to help reduce your energy replace what is leaking out.
use, and we’re happy to provide SOLUTION: Change the mode on
paper copies of this information the thermostat from E Heat to Heat. SOLUTION: Check regularly for
for anyone who requests them. leaks. If a leak is found, have an
PROBLEM: Thermostat set too high experienced handyman or licensed
We also have energy use advisors
in winter or too low in summer. plumber fix the leak or replace
on staff to assist you with operating
the water heater if needed.
your homes and businesses as This causes the heat pump, furnace
efficiently as possible. They have or air-conditioning unit to run for
performed hundreds of energy PROBLEM: Well pump
longer periods and use more energy.
audits over the years. Here are running continuously.
a few of the major issues they SOLUTION: The department of
This can happen because of an
typically find that result in energy recommends a setting of 68
issue with the pump or because
inefficient electricity use: degrees for winter and
of a burst water pipe from inside
F Watts Working | February 2021 | RandolphEMC.comthe well, in the line to your home allows you to drill down to how much
or underneath the home. If this electricity is used each hour.
Randolph Electric Membership
occurs on the hot water side,
Furthermore, you can set up a Corporation provides safe and reliable
the water heater can energize in power with exceptional value to
High Usage Alert to be notified
addition to the well pump running, more than 32,000 member accounts
when your energy usage goes
increasing your costs even more. in Randolph, Moore, Montgomery,
above a specified amount. This can
SOLUTION: Have an experienced be very valuable in helping you Chatham and Alamance counties.
handyman or licensed plumber fix identify an appliance malfunction, This institution is an equal
the leak. potentially saving you hundreds opportunity provider and employer.
of dollars in wasted energy.
PROBLEM: Electric space heater use. Finding ways to help you save Electric Service
energy dollars is important to us. Asheboro.................... (336) 625-5177
These heaters use resistance
.................................. (800) 672-8212
heat which can consume a lot of Valuable tools like Manage My
Energy on the RandolphEMC.com Robbins: ..................... (910) 948-3401
energy and are costly to operate.
website, usage monitoring and .................................. (800) 868-7014
SOLUTION: If this type of heater is Report Outage........... (877) REMC-OFF
alerts and energy audits are just
used, only use one and move it to .................................. (877) 736-2633
a few of the ways we at Randolph
the room you are going to occupy
EMC are looking out for you. Account Info
(otherwise known as zone heating). & Bill Payments:.......... (877) 534-2319
Be sure to follow all the safety To learn about other ways to make
Business Hours:..........8 am – 5 pm, M-F
recommendations, including placing your home more energy efficient or
the heater at least three feet away schedule a free home energy audit,
visit RandolphEMC.com or call your Board of Directors
from any combustible materials.
local office. Jerry Bowman......................President
Our Mobile App and Online Member Tammie Phillips............ Vice President
Service Portal provide you full access Cooperatively Yours, Billy Maness..........Secretary-Treasurer
to your account with many Lee Isley.............................. Assistant
convenient energy management Secretary-Treasurer
tools at your fingertips. The Energy Scott Cole Larry Routh
Usage Monitoring tool charts your Dale F. Lambert Delbert Cranford Sue Spencer
electricity use each day, and even Chief Executive Officer Steve Harris
Senior Staff
Dale F. Lambert.....Chief Executive Officer
Jay Albright........... District Vice President
Adam Hargett.....Vice President of Finance
Dennis Mabe................... Vice President of
Engineering & Operations
Fred Smith....................... Vice President of
Economic Development & Compliance
Jill Vanness................................ Editor
Visit Randolph EMC Online
RandolphEMC.com
1·800·672·8212 | February 2021 | Watts Working GSpace Heater Space heaters are a great way to warm
specific rooms in your home without
having to crank up the thermostat, but
Safety Tips using space heaters doesn’t come
without risk! Use the tips below to
keep your home safe.
DO: Keep your space DO: Keep your space
DO: Plug your heater at a safe
space heater heater in low-moisture
rooms. distance (at least 3
directly into feet) from kids, pets
the wall outlet. and flammable items.
DO: Always follow the
DO: Buy a directions and take a
unit with an broken space heater to
automatic a qualified appliance
shutoff in service center.
case the unit
tips over, or
you forget to
shut it off. AUTO SHUT OFF ON OFF
DON’T: Leave your space DON’T: Place
heater unattended. your space heater
Always unplug it before you near curtains,
leave the house or go to bed. clothing, furniture
or bedding.
DON’T: Use an
extension cord
to plug in your
space heater. It DON’T: Try to
can cause the repair a broken
heater to over- space heater
heat, and can yourself.
be a tripping
hazard.
ON OFF
DON’T: Put your space heater in your
bathroom. The moisture can damage the
unit, which could cause it to malfunction.
H Watts Working | February 2021 | RandolphEMC.comYou can also read
