Georgia EMCs Continue Power Restoration

/PRNewswire/ -- As of 4:00 p.m., Georgia's EMCs are reporting approximately 1900 customers without power. Those affected are in north and middle Georgia.

Most of the outages have been caused by ice accumulation on trees and power lines. The outage numbers have fluctuated throughout the day when some outages have been restored as new outages have been reported.

Crews are working non-stop to restore power. Customers are reminded to stay away from fallen power lines, report outages to their local EMC, and call for safety instructions when clearing tree limbs and other vegetation near power lines and electric facilities.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to more than four million people, half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area.

Georgia Transmission, a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 39 EMCs, owns more than 3000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 600 substations. These facilities deliver power to Georgia's EMCs who serve nearly 50 percent of Georgia's population (4.5 million).

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Georgia EMCs Report Power Outages

/PRNewswire/ -- As of 5:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 10, the electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) are reporting approximately 600 customers without power in Gordon, Whitfield, Walker and Chattooga Counties. Outages have been caused by heavy snowfall which is weighing down tree limbs causing them to fall on power lines.

The EMCs began preparing for the storm Friday and mobilized employees and contract crews, prepared trucks with emergency equipment and procured necessary materials.

They have stocked supplies of poles, wire, connectors, transformers and other materials frequently used in the restoration process. They have also contacted unaffected EMCs to arrange for additional restoration assistance.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to more than four million people, half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area.

Georgia Transmission, a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 39 EMCs, owns more than 3000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 600 substations. These facilities deliver power to Georgia's EMCs who serve nearly 50 percent of Georgia's population (4.5 million).

Latest EMC Outage Updates:

http://www.georgiaemc.com/stormcentral/storm.aspx

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EMCs Warn Consumers: Beware of Scam Artists

/PRNewswire/ -- The electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in Georgia are warning consumers to be wary of imposters who have manufactured another telephone scam in order to obtain personal information.

In the latest scheme, the thieves contact EMC consumers, informing victims that the government is paying $350 towards the electric bill of senior citizens. The fraudulent caller claims that in order to process the check, he or she needs social security numbers and EMC account numbers.

If the scam artist obtains this information, including credit card numbers, he or she will call the EMC consumer a few minutes later to "verify" the information in an attempt to defray suspicion and give the scammers more time to use the data to make fraudulent purchases.

Sadly, utilities and consumers have already been victims. Earlier this year, thieves contacted customers by phone, informing victims that their electric bill was past due and that an urgent credit card payment was needed to avoid loss of service within 24 hours.

If a customer suspects a caller is fraudulent, EMCs recommend trying to write down the incoming phone number via caller ID. If anyone has been the victim of this scheme, or has any information leading to possible suspects, they are asked to contact their local EMC and law enforcement agency.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area.

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Electric Co-Ops Answer Pleas for Help in Kentucky

/PRNewswire/ -- Facing the biggest natural disaster in the state's history, Kentucky has called upon EMCs in Georgia for the second time in recent days to send additional crews and equipment to restore electricity to approximately 500,000 cooperative consumers.

Last week, 12 EMCs from Georgia and Georgia Transmission Corp. sent nearly 100 line workers to help sister cooperatives repair extensive damage in the aftermath of the worst and most destructive storm to ever hit the region. Heavy snow and thick ice brought down trees and power lines causing approximately $63 million in cooperative damages.

"A lineman from Sumter EMC in Americus said it's the worst storm he has seen in his career," noted Jim Wright, vice president of training, education and safety with Georgia EMC. "And he's been in the industry for almost 50 years."

Recognizing the daunting task of getting the lights back on, Georgia's EMCs have deployed an additional 150 workers from 29 EMCs, bringing the total number of Georgia co-op employees in Kentucky to nearly 250. Due to the extent and widespread nature of damage, crews from Georgia could be there up to three weeks.

"We've gotten reports of 10,000 broken poles," said Wright. "That's hard to imagine because resetting poles is backbreaking work and slow going, yet it never dampens the spirits of these men. They will not rest until the lights come on."

"Every co-op member in Georgia would be proud of the job they're doing under extremely harsh conditions," Wright says.

The crews are providing assistance through mutual aid agreements between the nation's nearly 1,000 electric cooperatives to help one another during natural disasters, including storm restoration efforts.

In total, more than 900 electric co-op employees are working long hours, seven days a week, to help repair distribution lines and substations damaged by the winter storm. In addition to assistance from Georgia, help is also coming from Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

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Metals Theft Summit Brings Renewed Commitment to Catch Thieves

PRNewswire/ -- "I'm sure we all wish the passage of a law could eradicate a criminal act, but it doesn't work that way," said Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) Director Vernon Keenan.

Keenan made the remarks at a Metals Theft Stakeholder Summit held Oct. 6 in middle Georgia and telecast in Atlanta. Keenan referred to legislation passed in 2007 which allows prosecutors a greater ability to seek a felony conviction (rather than a misdemeanor) for the crime of metals theft. Despite changes to the law, however, metals thefts continue to rise at an alarming rate.

Consequently, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) hosted the Metals Theft Stakeholders Summit during which approximately 100 representatives from across Georgia, representing utilities, telecommunications, law enforcement, district attorneys, railroads, homebuilders, apartment owners, automobile dealers and recyclers, among others, gathered to bring attention to the widespread nature of these crimes and share the devastating impact to businesses and consumers.

Since these organizations and consumer groups have been hardest hit and have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars associated with the problem, they are partnering to galvanize their grassroots efforts in communities throughout Georgia to enhance coordination of security and communication among stakeholders and consider ways to stem the rising tide of these costly crimes.

According to Georgia EMC Vice President of Government Relations and Communications and Member Services Bill Verner, thieves are becoming increasingly bold and careless when stealing metals.

"Consumers foot the bill for the damage left by a wire thief. Utilities must pass along increased costs to replace and repair damaged equipment, and more importantly, our employees and the public are left vulnerable to electrocution hazards in the wake of many such crimes," Verner said.

"Homebuilders, already struggling in today's tough economy, must replace copper stolen from new and vacant houses. Apartment owners must increase rent to recover costs, and taxpayers are bearing the costly treatment in emergency rooms for burn victims who've been injured during the course of break-ins to energized electric substations. The costs to the consumer -- and public safety -- are tremendous," he said.

Consequences extend beyond consumers' pocketbooks. Recreation leagues have been forced to cancel soccer and basketball practice for hundreds of young athletes throughout the state, because copper has been ripped from poles which light soccer fields and basketball courts. Churches have suspended services after copper was taken from pipes and air conditioners, and a small historic church in rural Washington County was burned to the ground last year by copper thieves who tried to cover up their crime with the fire.

According to Verner, metals thefts are now causing power outages in some parts of the country. Yesterday approximately 7,400 residents in Ohio lost power following a copper theft. "When wire is ripped from a substation as happened this week in Ohio," he said, "It can result in entire neighborhoods losing power."

Since metals thefts affect a wide spectrum of businesses and associations, the summit attracted representatives from the electric cooperatives throughout Georgia, Georgia Transmission Corp., Georgia Power, AT&T, MEAG Power, Southwire, Homebuilders Association of Georgia, Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, Georgia Sheriffs Association, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Norfolk Southern, Georgia Apartment Association and Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, among others.

During the meeting, stakeholders discussed possible ways to reduce the rash of thefts, while representatives ranging from the Homebuilders Association of Georgia to Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia discussed the financial and safety impacts of these crimes and the challenges they face when attempting to enforce the law.

The EMCs in Georgia reported approximately 350 incidents of metals thefts in 2007 with costs reaching $200,000. Companies such as Georgia Transmission Corp. reported as many as 98 incidents (through September 2008) totaling $500,000. AT&T and Georgia Power spokespersons reported 56 incidents (through August 2008) costing more than $100,000, and 147 incidents (through September 2008) totaling $237,000, respectively.

Coalition members pledged to maintain an open dialogue among stakeholders; strengthen relationships among recyclers, sheriffs, chiefs of police, district attorneys, and public and private businesses; pursue additional avenues of prevention and work to close any loops in existing state law.

Stakeholders agree it will take a solid partnership and cooperation to lessen the epidemic and stem the surge of these unlawful acts, and each committed during the meeting to become an active partner in the effort to reduce metals thefts.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area.

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EMCs Mark One Year of Tougher Copper Theft Law

On July 1, the electric membership corporations (EMCs) in Georgia observed the first anniversary of legislation to bring harsher penalties to those charged with metals theft.

"Metals theft is not a victimless crime," says Bill Verner, vice president, government relations, communications and member services with Georgia EMC. "Consumers foot the bill for replacing and repairing the damage left by a wire thief."

In 2007, the EMCs and Georgia EMC led an industry effort to craft legislation aimed at toughening the existing law. The new law, which took effect July 1, 2007, forces the defendant to make full restitution to the lawful owner of the stolen metal and allows the prosecutor to prosecute based on how much it will cost to return the affected property to its original condition and not just the salvage value of the stolen metal.

According to Verner, the legislation allows prosecutors a greater ability to seek a felony conviction (rather than a misdemeanor) and keep criminals off the streets.

With copper prices soaring to $3.90 a pound, compared to $0.77 in 2003, EMCs have seen an escalation of metal thefts in substations, from utility poles, from the back of service trucks or in warehouses.

In 2007 and 2008, electric cooperatives in Georgia alone reported more than 350 separate heists of copper theft and other wire amounting to substantial financial losses, endangerment to personnel and the public, and compromising reliability.

This nationwide epidemic is ultimately costing consumers of utilities (and home builders, apartment owners, telephone and wireless providers, and even breweries) hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in Georgia alone, while electrical injuries sustained by perpetrators are most likely borne by the taxpayer for treatment at area hospital emergency rooms and burn centers.

As a result, EMCs are investigating and implementing deterrence measures such as cameras, surveillance and locking materials in steel containers at project sites.

The EMCs, Georgia EMC and numerous other stakeholders continue to work on an educational effort to advise local prosecutors, sheriffs, chiefs of police, county commissioners, mayors and scrap metal dealers about the severe economic and safety problems associated with scrap metal theft.

Members of the public should contact the local sheriff's department if they spot someone other than an authorized utility employee or approved contractor near an existing electric substation or EMC project site.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area.