Electricity plays many roles in our lives, from powering baby monitors, cell phones and lighting, to running HVAC systems and appliances. No wonder we get so comfortable with its instant availability that when we flip a switch, we expect most systems or devices to do the job. 

     With some cold evenings still ahead before spring, some members may opt to use a space heater to chase the chill. But before you plug-in that heater and snuggle under the electric blanket for one more warm winter’s nap, take the time to look around your home and check for potential safety hazards.

     Remember, every electrical device has a purpose and a service lifespan. While we can extend the use of our favorite gadgets with maintenance and care, nothing will last or work properly forever. When electricity is involved, failures can present electrical hazards that might be avoided with a periodic inspection.

   Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

     Outdoor outlets or those in potentially damp locations in a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room often include GFCI features. They’re designed to sense abnormal current flows, breaking the circuit to prevent potential electric shocks from devices plugged into the outlets. 

     The average GFCI outlet will last about ten years, but in areas prone to electrical storms or power surges, they can wear out in five years or less. Check them frequently by pressing the red test button. Make sure you hit the black reset button when finished. Contact a licensed electrician to replace any failing GFCI outlets.

   Loose or Damaged Outlets or Switches

     Unstable electrical outlets or wall switches with signs of heat damage or discoloration can offer early warnings of potential shock or electrical fire hazards. Loose connections can allow electrical current arcing. If you see these warning signs, it may be time to contact an electrician.

    Surge Protectors

     Power strips with surge protectors can help safeguard expensive equipment like televisions, home entertainment systems, and computer components from power spikes. Voltage spikes are measured in joules, and surge protectors are rated for the number of joules they can effectively absorb. That means if your surge protector is rated at 1,000 joules, it should be replaced when it hits or passes that limit. When the limit is reached, protection stops, and you’re left with a basic power strip.

     Some surge protectors include indicator lights that flicker to warn you when they’ve stopped working as designed, but many do not. If your electrical system takes a significant hit, or if you don’t remember when you bought your surge protector, replacement may be the best option.

    Extension Cords

     If you use extension cords regularly to connect devices and equipment to your wall outlets, you may live in an underwired home. With a growing number of electrical devices connecting your family to the electricity, you get from Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, having enough outlets in just the right spots can be challenging. Remember, extension cords are designed for temporary, occasional, or periodic use. Never use an extension cord or power strip for a space heater.  If an extension cord or power strip gets noticeably warm when in use, it could be undersized for the intended purpose, and the power strip could melt.

     If the cord shows any signs of frayed, cracked, or heat-damaged insulation, toss it out and replace it. If the grounding prong is missing, crimped, or loose, a grounded cord will not provide the protection designed into its performance. And always make sure that extension cords used in outdoor or potentially damp locations are rated for exterior use.

     According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 51,000 electrical fires are reported each year in the United States, causing more than $1.3 billion in annual property damage.

     Electricity is a necessity for modern living, and UCEMC is committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable power to all of our members. We hope you’ll keep these electrical safety tips in mind so that you can note any potential hazards before damage occurs. 

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     Could you use extra income? Apply for a job with the U.S. Census Bureau and work here in the Upper Cumberland!

     Competitive wages and reimbursement for mileage are paid weekly for employees doing fieldwork, and there are office and in-field positions available. 

     These temporary positions feature flexible hours for those looking to earn extra money, even if you already have other commitments. 

     Census results determine our representation in Congress, and they help inform how billions of dollars are distributed for hospitals, schools, roads, and more. Help ensure that everyone in the Upper Cumberland is counted in 2020 so that we’ll get our share! 

APPLY ONLINE: 2020census.gov/jobs

For more information or help applying, please call 

1-855-JOB-2020

The Millard Oakley Library may promote itself to Livingston as “Your Window to the World,” but no one in the state can say they’ve seen the world from the window quite like Mike McCulley. McCulley was the guest speaker at the Oakley library recently. Many in the audience – now grandparents – were only children when the Livingston Academy graduate piloted the Atlantis Space Shuttle in October 1989 and secured his standing as Livingston’s “Hometown Astronaut.”   

Coming home and signing autographs – a heady experience for others – is like old home week for the pragmatic McCulley. The first thing he sees upon driving within the city limits is his face on a Welcome to Livingston billboard, but he takes it all in stride. “Meeting with these nice people and talking about their interest in science and space never gets old for me,” says McCulley, who is now retired and living in Florida with his wife, Jane.  “I owe so much to my hometown, and I enjoy coming back here for a visit. They ask about the future of space exploration and my fantastic experiences back in the day. I like talking with Overton County’s people and the important role they played in my success. I look forward to hearing the questions;  I find any questions from children always interesting.”   

Michael James McCulley was born in San Diego, California in 1943, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gilson H. McCulley. His father died in an auto accident when Mike was only nine. That’s when his mother, Sarah, moved back to her hometown of Livingston with Mike and his sister Phyllis. Livingston became their new home. McCulley remembers those who influenced him during that time: his mom, his Scout leader Mr. Lowell, and his teachers Arleigh Poston and Lucille Hyder.

Upon graduation from high school, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Navy, entered Purdue University, and received his Naval Officers commission and both degrees. Following flight training, he served tours of duty in A-4 and A-6 aircraft and was selected to attend the Empire Test Pilots School in Great Britain. He returned to sea duty on the USS Saratoga and USS Nimitz.    

Selected by NASA in May 1984, McCulley completed a one-year training and evaluation program in June 1985, qualifying him as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. Mike joined the team of the STS-34. The mission featured the deployment of the Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter.

Upper Cumberland Electric always felt a special connection with the shuttle launch because McCully took along with him, the July 1989 edition of our Current Lines newsletter.  McCulley also took with him flags from other states, schools and organizations, jewelry and souvenirs for friends, family, and loved ones.

You would think breathing this rarified air would whet an appetite for travel that was out of this world. Not for a grounded and well-rounded tourist like McCulley.

“Oh, I still have an “itch” for exploration,” McCulley admits, “but it’s all about parts of America that I still haven’t seen. As far as the space program is concerned, I want to see us continue to explore and colonize space. I want us to have a human presence away from earth in the future.”     

McCulley’s advice for future voyagers in the area? “Don’t be afraid to try once, twice, or even more to reach your goals. Keep up your curiosity, your optimism, work hard. Don’t be afraid to try once, twice, three times.  I was selected as an astronaut on my third try! Never give up.”

There must be something about Overton County and its educational system that has generations of youngsters reaching for the stars and making their mark early in life. NASA Scientist Duvone Dale was born and raised in Livingston. NASA honored Dale for his faithful service and his contribution to the moon landing and the successful launch of the first Saturn V Rocket.  The Project Manager of the Hubble Space Telescope Jimmy Carlock also hailed from Overton County as did teacher and Coach Sam Brooks.

Whatever the reason this area continues to present these exemplary citizens to the world, McCulley shares with his fellow Upper Cumberland adventurers this common thread: A spirit of discovery and a desire to seek answers that just won’t be denied. UCEMC salutes our brilliant explorers!

     On August 23 and 24, 2019, UCEMC members went to the polls at the four UCEMC district offices to vote for directors seeking re-election for their seats in districts one, three, and four.

     In District 1, consisting of Smith, DeKalb, Wilson and Macon counties, incumbent Board Member C.D. (Digger) Poindexter was the only candidate running opposed in the election. Poindexter defeated Smith County realtor Robin Underwood for that District 1 post.

     James W. West retained his seat representing Overton, Clay, Fentress, and Pickett in District 3, while Jim Brown, the incumbent assistant Secretary/Treasurer was also re-elected and will continue to serve on the board representing District 4, Jackson County.

       A UCEMC member in Livingston knew better than to give his bank account information to someone posing as a “power company” customer service employee recently. Our super-alert member says the apparently not-so-bright crook called him on Wednesday, August 21, claiming to represent his “power company.” 

     “He said that I had been overcharged on my light bill and that they wanted to put the credit back into my bank account,” the member recalls, “I recognized it as a scam immediately and hung up the phone.”

  The call originated in Collinsville, Illinois. If you receive similar scam calls regarding your electric bill, you are asked to report them to your local police department and UCEMC.