Did You Know…

Since it’s founding in 1938, Cobb EMC has been led by a board of directors whose primary mission is to work with the co-op’s management and employees to assure members are provided with reliable electricity at the best possible price.

COBB EMC MISSION STATEMENT:
Cobb Electric Membership Corporation shall provide safe, adequate and reliable electric and other energy related services to its members/consumers.

Our primary focus will be to provide superior service through a professional staff, competitive rates and sound business principles.

The organization further dedicates itself to being a good corporate citizen within the community and a recognized leader in the utility industry.

KEEPING ELECTRIC RATES AFFORDABLE

When Dwight Brown was appointed CEO by the Board of Directors of Cobb EMC in 1994, the rates for electricity were among the highest in Georgia, and had risen consistently from the 1980s through 1993. Over a 15-year period, from 1993 to 2008, Cobb EMC had no rate increases and returned more than $33 million dollars in rebates to its members.

Among the 15 largest EMCs in America, only Cobb EMC showed a decline in members’ utility costs over the 15 year time period from 1993 to 2008. Rates at the other largest EMCs increased anywhere from eight to 67 percent while Cobb EMC’s rates declined by four percent.*

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in 1994, Cobb EMC’s rates to consumers were 30 percent higher than the national average. By the beginning of 2008 – the last point in time for which DOE data is available – Cobb EMC’s rates were 2.5 percent below the national average.

Cobb EMC actually enacted rate reductions in the last ten years while costs across the nation for electricity escalated dramatically. It was also a time when the co-op’s membership grew from 117,000 in 1994 to more than 195,000 today and in a time when demand for electricity among Cobb EMC members nearly doubled.

How was this achieved? The board of directors, working with Dwight Brown and his management team created a new model for the way electricity was purchased and provided to members. In the process they created a system that resulted in significantly lower prices for EMCs to acquire power. These savings are passed along to consumers – thus Cobb EMC members enjoy lower costs today as a result of this disciplined leadership and have saved, in the most conservative estimate, more than $377 million since 1994.

ASSURING THE RELIABILITY OF YOUR ELECTRICITY

To meet increased demand and maintain a consistently high degree of reliability, Cobb EMC has installed state-of-the-art equipment and built a distribution system unmatched by any other electric company in the country.
At the heart of the improvements are an automated distribution system and network operations center that make up one of the most technologically advanced electric facilities anywhere in the world, all of which help ensure a reliable and consistent power supply for all members.
Cobb EMC’s superior infrastructure and technology mean outages are minimized. When an outage does occur, power is restored quickly and effectively. Cobb EMC crews are among the best-trained and most experienced in the industry. This is demonstrated by their professionalism and concern for safety and the efficient restoration of service.
Considering the dedication of its employees and its advanced technology, it’s no coincidence that Cobb EMC is ranked by a national independent survey in the top five in the southern U.S. for power quality and reliability and also ranked in the top 15 overall for customer satisfaction. Cobb EMC always strives for superior customer service.

AN EXPERIENCED AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cobb EMC’s board of directors have the experience and track record that gives members the assurance that they understand how to meet the needs of members while keeping costs in check. Board members are local residents and are members of Cobb EMC. Thus the directors have a vested interest in the success of the co-op they and all members own. The board’s efforts are always focused on putting Cobb EMC “members first”.
Cobb EMC board members have completed extensive training and are certified through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Certification is achieved through demonstration of in-depth knowledge of the industry and proficiency in the management of an electric cooperative.
Every business decision made during the term of the current management and board of directors has been made in consultation with attorneys, CPA’s and other industry experts, and in every instance was within the bounds of law and always made with the best interests of “members first” and done with the long-term prosperity of the co-op in mind.

THE COST OF THE LAWSUIT TO MEMBERS

The lawsuit brought by a small group of members has cost the co-op – and therefore its members – many millions of dollars thus far. One of the plaintiffs in that suit is on public record as stating that he does not care if the lawsuit costs the co-op $30 million.

*Source: Department of Energy, based on summer 2009 survey.