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Category: UCEMC News

The Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) is an electric power distribution cooperative. UCEMC is owned and operated by its members and distributes electric power through more than 4,735 miles of lines to more than 52,000 members located primarily in Jackson, Overton, Putnam and Smith Counties and northern DeKalb County. Several members are served in “fringe” areas of Clay, Fentress, Macon, Pickett, White, and Wilson Counties.

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Welcome to the New UCEMC.Com!

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

This month, we’re happy to announce the launch of our newly redesigned official website ucemc.com. On behalf of all of us here at Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, we welcome you!

We feel that while our old website served us well for many years, technology continues to develop and with this redesign, we’re employing the most current tools to provide you with up-to-the-minute account news and information and the best possible service for both residential and business members.

Accept no substitutes

Make sure your browser confirms that you are on the official website of UCEMC. Several so-called bill pay websites exist that have apparently hijacked our logo and contact information, leading you to believe that you can safely and securely pay your UCEMC electric bill on their site. Beware of these impostors! Check out the complete story “Scam Alert”  and learn how to avoid these third-party websites. If you use one of these bill pay websites, your electric bill could be paid late – if it’s paid at all – and you’ll be charged a hefty fee for “allowing” them to pay your electric bill. You also run the risk of having your service disconnected if your payment through one of these bill pay sites is delinquent. Click on Pay My Bill on ucemc.com to safely and securely pay your bill on time with confidence.

Get acquainted with ucemc.com

Our new site has a modern layout and design and is optimized to view in multiple devices for your convenience. Enjoy the beautiful Upper Cumberland scenery on the top of the pages while you peruse the handy navigation bar for options. The drop-down menu from MY UCEMC provides you with every option from service requests for your residence or business to safety tips and the forms and documents to download. Check out our Safety Demonstration Trailer video while you’re here.  In a hurry and need to pay your bill quickly? Clicking on PAY MY BILL will take you directly to the secure customer portal. Frequently Asked Billing Questions are also in this menu.  Tips to help you save on your bill in the coldest winter or the hottest summer will help you get your home ready for anything Mother Nature has in store. Keep up with the latest news and Upper Cumberland happenings by visiting our NEWSROOM. Did you hear about that scam targeting electric cooperative members in our area? Read more here about how the scam works and what you need to do to keep your information safe.

For the family members

Are your students looking for an interesting term paper subject? By clicking on ABOUT in the navigation bar, they can enjoy the historic video and learn about UCEMC’s history and its people while testing their knowledge about all things electric with our Safety Quiz. The young artist can find an “outlet” for their creativity by downloading our Safety Hounds coloring book.  Each fall, high school juniors in the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership service area can score a scholarship and a trip to Washington D.C. for their winning composition skills. Learn more about the Washington Youth Tour here. Be the first to know about career opportunities at UCEMC by looking under the Careers tab, and while you’re here, read up on the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the cooperative and learn about your neighbors who sit on the cooperative’s board of directors.

Get organized

The new website structure is more organized and uses thematic associations and a search bar to assist in navigation.  Now, you may go to any page to choose from various menus leading to content that interests you. There’s something for everyone!

Seeing is believing

We’re focusing on multimedia with this new website. Images, videos, and other multimedia content are emphasized to maximize the impact of our messaging and to make your visit to the website more enjoyable. We’re still evolving and soon, social media will be a big part of this website experience. Be sure to watch the UCEMC Cares video to learn about how your pennies can add up to positive change in the community. Sign up to “Round-Up” your bill to the nearest dollar to make the Upper Cumberland the best place to live and grow.

Local People. Local Power.

We encourage you to explore the new site and while much has changed, many of the resources that we have provided over the years are still part of the new site. Thanks to everyone who has given us feedback on the site design, helping to create the more connected, organized and user-friendly UCEMC website you see today.

                                                                

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Vigilance is Key to Co-existing with Nesting Osprey

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Carthage, TN.   The Ospreys are back in the Upper Cumberland and while these protected raptors are a majestic and pleasing sight for birdwatchers, their dried-wood nests can mean chaos for UCEMC power line maintenance crews in the area.

Ospreys, also known as fish hawks or river hawks, prefer to build their nests high above their ideal fishing spot – primarily on power poles near the water – on Cordell Hull Lake, the Caney Fork and Cumberland Rivers. The Osprey is one of the largest birds of prey in North America with a wingspan of more than five feet.

NEWSFLASH – Meet the new Ospreys Babe…

Meet The Opsrey Babe

“These huge nests are not made out of little twigs, but of hefty sticks and tree limbs that could start a fire, knock out power to thousands of customers, or when damp and in contact with the line, possibly electrocute the Osprey,” explains Chris Saling, UCEMC’s District Manager in Gainesboro.

Closeup Osprey Nest

In the spring, Saling and his crew walk a fine line to co-exist with the Osprey while preventing the power outages caused by the massive nests. “Just in the last couple of weeks, nests have caused two outages; one near Granville and another near the Zinc mine. We have twelve active nests on our poles already with more expected each week.”

Adult Ospreys mate for life and return to the familiar area where they were hatched to raise their young.

Huge Osprey Nest

In an effort to outwit the Osprey – and protect it from electrocution – UCEMC crews are installing anti-perching devices on poles where nests are underway. The plastic sleeves bounce when the bird lands on the device, causing an unsteady surface on the power lines.

Empty, old, or partially built nests can be safely relocated nearby. A nest containing the eggs of this protected bird cannot be moved by orders of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

“The key to this battle every year is to find the nest when the first stick is dropped and before the eggs are laid,” Saling adds. “We work with the TWRA and keep out a watchful eye to stay ahead of the game. A male and female Osprey can complete their construction and be sitting on eggs in three days.” On Friday, April 5th, the Osprey featured in the DTC live Osprey camera, proudly showed-off her first egg to viewers.

Ospreys Perched on Utility Pole

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It’s down and it’s deadly

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Severe storms any time of year can cause downed power lines, poles, and extended outages. If you happen upon a downed line, stay as far away as possible.

Always assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous. Avoid going near it or anything in contact with the power line. Call UCEMC!

  • Downed power lines can energize the ground up to 35 feet away. Keep your distance!
  • NEVER DRIVE over a downed line OR through water that is touching the line.
  • NEVER try to move a downed power line, even if you think the line is de-energized or even if you think you’re using a nonconductive item – this could still cause injury or death.
  • If you see a downed line, notify UCEMC immediately!
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Trees and power lines: The Odd Couple

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Trees that contact power lines or those wires knocked down by trees during a storm can electrocute you and possible ignite a fire. If anything, such as a tree, makes contact with an energized line or if a broken power line falls to the ground or lands on a vehicle or fence, electricity will flow to the ground and spread out in irregular concentric circles. This is known as the Ripple Effect.

 

Trees and power lines: The Odd Couple
Tree Inspections

To keep your family safe, UCEMC will regularly inspect trees and other tall vegetation growing near power lines to identify potential problems and act on those issues immediately.

Pruning near power lines

Tall trees and other plants growing too close and touching power lines need to be regularly pruned or removed altogether. UCEMC identifies and removes trees that are dead, dying, or leaning before they can fall on power lines. Help us keep you safe by calling our attention to potential problems that you see with limbs and power lines.

 

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Livingston Enterprise: LED Pilot Project Set for Livingston

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

By Kayla Scruggs –

Livingston residents will have a chance to see Livingston in a “new light” as the Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved to participate in a pilot program for residents to have a visual test of LED lighting in town. The action came during a special called work session on Thursday night.

“They’ll love it. The light that it emits is a much more pleasing light to the human eye,” said Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) General Manager Jimmy Gregory, adding later, “It is different. If you’re approaching an LED, you can’t tell there’s a light on until you get pretty close to it, and there it is,” said Gregory, describing LED’s ability to appear like natural lighting.

The location in town to undergo the estimated 20-30 lights to be installed for LED lighting pilot program has yet to be determined. UCEMC District Manager Ben Winningham estimated that residents could see the LED lights for the pilot program within a few weeks, as the lights may take a while to order. If the city agrees upon 30 lights for the pilot program, after the lights come in, the installation could take about two to three days, according to Gregory.

The pilot program allows residents an opportunity to test out the LED lighting at no cost to the City of Livingston and may lead to an LED change-out for the entire city system.

“Mayor Hayes approached me about this particular item about six or seven years ago…” said Gregory, of the possibility of transferring to LED lighting for the entire city, “At that time LED lighting was very expensive. They were $800-$900 to a thousand dollars a fixture. Since then, the prices have come way down. These projects have become way more workable, feasible.”

LED lights use about two-thirds less energy than comparable high intensity discharge, or HID lighting, which is the lighting system the city has now.

“LED is different, totally different – it’s a cone shape, very directional light. There’s no light scatter. This HID system, there’s a lot of light scatter forward, to the side and up, backward. In every direction, just light scattered,” said Gregory.

Gregory explained how billing would work if the city elected to make an entire citywide change-out with the new lights.

“The bill the city gets is in two components. There’s an energy charge, but the part I’m talking about is an investment charge. Upper Cumberland is willing to put the capital up and invest the capital money into a streetlights system,” said Gregory.

According to Gregory, UCEMC will provide the lights, polls, hardware and the material needed to light the city up.

“We pay that out of our general fund, and we recover that by adding a component to your bill each month as an investment charge,” said Gregory, “What it is, is 12 percent annually on that total investment, or one percent a month, that’s on the City of Livingston’s bill every month in the form of an investment charge, and it’s there for life – never goes away.”

The lights would reportedly be maintained at UCEMC’s expense, unless a fixture has to be changed out. If a fixture has to be changed out, the cost of the fixture is added the city’s total investment charge.

The cost to light the entire city an LED lighting system could cost anywhere from approximately $700,000 to $1 million but there would reportedly be no money needed up front.

At the end of the fiscal year in June 30, 2018, the amount the city spent was a total of $169,674 for the streetlights alone using the current HID lighting, with a total of 1,308 streetlights in town.

Gregory estimated that the savings the city could see from the LED transfer would be $3,000 to $5,000 per month.

“That’s basically seven cents for the (city) tax payers that we’re saving,” said Alderman Chris Speck, a figure based off estimated numbers provided by UCEMC.

A motion to allow UCEMC the authority to do the LED lighting pilot program at no cost to the City of Livingston was made by Alderman Ken Dodson and was seconded by Alderman Kelly Coleman. All were for.
Alderman Ronald Dishman was absent.

Official Communication of UCEMC

Paying Online? Beware of UCEMC Impostors

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Official Communication of UCEMC

We all enjoy the convenience and privacy of paying our bills online – especially if we’re multi-tasking while waiting at the airport or sitting in our cubicle at work. If you’re reading this, you’re on the official website for the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. The word “official” is right up there in your browser bar, letting you know you’re in the right place.

From here, you can get the latest information about UCEMC programs and energy-saving ideas, learn about cooperative membership, and most importantly, you can review usage and pay your monthly electric bill. 

UCEMC has a warning, however, if you pay your bill through third-party or “impostor” UCEMC websites.  

These so-called “bill payment” websites often show up at the top of Google results when you search for UCEMC and they can be very misleading.

The posers feature the UCEMC logo, photos of the office locations, business hours, and correct contact information. But here’s the thing: if you’re paying your bill and you’re not on the official ucemc.com website, your payment might not reach us on time. In many cases, the payment might not reach us at all. Many of these sites aren’t based in the U.S., and it’s risky to put your personal information out there for the world to see.

Look on your browser bar to indicate that you’re on UCEMC’s secure and OFFICIAL website. Accept no imitations.

Join local people right here each month to confidently and securely pay your UCEMC bill. While you’re at it, check out the latest energy-saving tips from the experts, news you can use, UCEMC history, and important outage and safety information.

We’re glad you’re here!

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”                                                                                                                                                                           -Oscar Wilde

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Elaborate Scam Targets Utility Customers

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation is warning its members about an elaborate scam attempt that is targeting utility customers. The scam starts with a person calling who states that if you don’t pay your bill immediately, your service will be disconnected. If you do not pay immediately with your credit card or with a service called “Pay Pac,” they ask you to call “customer service” through another number.

When you hang up and call that number, it becomes a 3-way “conference” call which is routed to the actual customer service department of your utility. While you’re on the phone with your utility company, the scammers are on the line, listening for any information you give, including your account number, credit card information, and even your bank account number.

Known numbers used in this scam:
Caller ID: 765-357-0159
Call back: 855-303-7775

UCEMC reminds its members:
Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation will never call members to request credit card, banking or other financial information over the telephone.

  • Although all forms of payments are accepted, UCEMC will never call members demanding a specific payment method be used.
  • UCEMC will never call members requesting payment outside of normal business hours.
  • If you have any doubts about who might be calling regarding your electric bill, contact UCEMC: Corporate Office – 1-800-261-2940
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Where Power and Opportunity Meet

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Amazon recently announced that it plans to build a new operations center in Nashville. This is big news for the entire state as the project is expected to bring more than 5,000 jobs and millions of dollars in investment to the region. Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis have recently made headlines for industry announcements as well.

All of this attention on the state’s urban centers makes it easy to think that opportunity can only be found in a big city. Here in the Upper Cumberland, we know better. Opportunity and growth are all around us. 

Last year, nearly half of all new jobs created in Tennessee – more than 9,700 – were created in the state’s rural and suburban counties. These communities may not be growing at the pace of Nashville or Knoxville, but our area is quickly becoming more attractive to businesses planning to expand or relocate here.

A major growth spurt is happening now Cookeville. Colorobbia USA, Inc. and it family-owned ceramic and glass company headquartered in Italy, has invested $5 million to build a 50,000-square-foot facility here. The plant is projected to provide jobs in distribution and technical assistance for approximately 30 people. Academy Sports just completed a $100 million facility and is set to provide 700 well-paying jobs near Tennessee Tech. Not far down the highway in Baxter, Brazilian tile giant, Portobello, is projected to create around 220 new, high-quality, family-wage jobs once that $150 million facility is completed in 2021

Smith County has received $1.45 million in grants to expand the county’s industrial park. A $350,000 grant from TVA will be used to purchase the property and to clear trees within a 119-acre tract. Other grants from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will pay for site grading and three building pads – the first step toward attracting high-tech, high-paying jobs to the county. 

The Upper Cumberland is centrally located and with its strategic geographical advantage, quality of life, and well-trained workforce, our area is the obvious choice for these industries that are dedicated to offering world-class service to their
clients.

UCEMC provides electric power to all or portions of eleven counties in the Upper Cumberland, but our interest in the communities we serve goes far beyond power. We’re working to be sure that our part of the state is strong and well prepared to compete in the modern economy. 

One of our recent projects has helped to “shed light” on economic development efforts in Carthage by converting mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium street lights to an LED system, providing safety and security for those visiting the downtown area and substantial energy savings for the city. The 556-light project included changing the lights on the Cordell Hull Bridge and Main Street of Historic Carthage. This update has been well received by the public. 

Our youth programs help young people in the Upper Cumberland develop important leadership skills. In 2018, five students from UCEMC’s service area spent a week in our nation’s capital as delegates on the Washington Youth Tour, learning about government and public policy. We also sent two high school students to Nashville for the Tennessee Electric Co-op Youth Leadership Summit to strengthen their leadership and networking skills.

All the things that happen here in the Upper Cumberland may not get as much attention as those in Nashville, but what goes on here matters. It matters to all of us who live here, and it matters to our co-op. UCEMC wants to see the communities we serve succeed. We want this to be an area where businesses thrive, families prosper, and opportunities are abundant.

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Phantom Load

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Did you know that there’s a vampire in your home 24/7? Many electronics continue to use energy even after they’re turned off. If they remain plugged in after use, it’s what we call phantom load and it costs the average member more than $100 a year.

 

It sounds scary and indeed it is. Vampires are lurking around your home at this moment, sucking power from appliances and other plugged-in devices which continue to use power from electrical outlets even when they are turned off!

According to the Department of Energy, the average household has approximately 40 energy vampires in their home costing more than $100 a year. You can ward off energy-wasting vampires with these tips:

Bathroom

Hair dryers, curling irons and electric shavers left plugged into the wall while not in use can still drain electricity. Be safe and savvy by unplugging those devices when you’re done.

Kitchen

Make a habit of unplugging all unnecessary kitchen appliances including the coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven, blender, and other unused appliances.

Living Room

Older, set-top cable boxes and DVRs are the scariest vampires since they constantly drain 25-45 watts of energy when not in use. Try hooking up your entertainment center and other electronics to a power strip to easily switch off the entire system when you’re not using it. Exception: If you’re planning to record a show, your cable box must be on. Be sure to power down your video game console when it’s “game over.”

Home Office

The computer and printer still use energy when they’re idle. Plug your devices into a power strip and flip it off when you leave the room.

Bedroom

Once the cell phone or tablet is powered up, unplug the charger to avoid wasting energy.

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Coping with a Winter Power Outage

Written by UCEMC Communications on . Posted in UCEMC News.

Living without electricity is no easy task, especially during cold weather. To make the best of the situation as we work to restore your power, follow these tips from UCEMC once you’ve called to report the outage in your area:

Wrap up in warm clothes. Wear several think layers instead of one or two bulky garments. Woolen hats and thermal underwear can also help you keep warm.

Keep refrigerator and freezer door openings to a minimum. If food starts to thaw during an extended outage, place the food outdoors if it is cold enough. Choose a shady spot, and make sure the food is protected from animals.

Cook in your fireplace or outdoors on your grill or camp stove. NEVER cook indoors on grills or camp stoves since they can produce dangerous fumes.

Prepare hot foods such as soups, stews or chili. They provide warmth as well as nourishment.

In extremely cold weather, gather the family in one room and seal it off from drafts. Select a room with a fireplace or wood burning stove if you have one.

At bedtime, use several layers of quilts or blankets or use a sleeping bag.

Take advantage of natural body heat. A sleeping person gives off about 75 watts of heat, so sleep with two or more people together under the blankets or zipped-together sleeping bags.

While the power is off, turn OFF your major electrical appliances such as water heaters and heating systems. After the power comes back on, wait about 15 minutes and turn on the appliances one at a time. If your own a heat pump, be sure to check the manual before turning the heat pump back on. This will help avoid additional outages caused by overloads.

If you have a heat pump, do not immediately reset the thermostat to the “ON” position when power is restored following a winter outage. This can cause mechanical damage to the heat pump unit. Instead, follow this rule: If the power has been off more than three hours, place the system switch in the emergency heat position. This will quickly bring our home to normal temperature. Leave the switch in the emergency heat position for 24 hours. At the end of 24 hours, set the thermostat for heat pump operation. This will restart your unit in the heat pump mode.

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