Per Article IV, Section 4.05 of the bylaws of the Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, notice is given of three impending vacancies on the Cooperative’s Board of Directors due to expiring terms of three incumbent directors.

• One directorate term will expire in District One, and one director will be elected or re-elected from District One, which consists of the areas served by UCEMC in DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson counties.
• One directorate term will expire in District Two, and one director will be elected or re-elected from District Two, which consists of the areas served by UCEMC in Putnam and White counties.
• One directorate term will expire in District Four, and one director will be elected or re-elected from District Four, which consists of the areas served by UCEMC in Jackson County. Deadline for a petition to become a candidate on June 14, 2020. 

Any member meeting the qualifications for a director as specified in Article IV, Section 4.02, of the Cooperative’s bylaws may petition to become a candidate for election to the Board of Directors.          

Any candidate for director must file a qualifying petition with the Secretary of the Cooperative, Alan Pippin, or with the Cooperative’s General Manager, Jimmy Gregory, on or before June 14, 2020.

Qualifying petition forms and copies of the Cooperative’s bylaws and the Board’s policy governing Directorate Election activities are available by request at any cooperative office:

• 1794 West Broad Street, Cookeville, TN 38503;    1-800-261-2940
• 320 Celina Highway, Livingston, TN 38570;      1-800-261-2940
• 1085 N. Grundy Quarles Highway, Gainesboro, TN 38562; 1-800-261-2940
• 138 Gordonsville Highway, South Carthage, TN 37030;  1-800-261-2940
• 907 Main Street North, Carthage, TN 37030;   1-800-261-2940

All petition packages will be issued from UCEMC’s Corporate Office, 907 Main Street North, Carthage, TN 37030.

A Credentials Committee, appointed, meeting, and acting per Article IV, Section 4.07 of the Cooperative’s bylaws, will determine the eligibility of each petitioner to become a qualified candidate.

If required to comply with Article IV, Section 4.11 of the Cooperative’s bylaws, a District Directorate Election will be held on August 29, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Cooperative’s office in each directorate district.

           According to the USDA:

• A fully-stocked freezer will stay cold for two days.
• A half-full freezer will keep items frozen one day.
• An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold four hours after power is lost.
• Be sure to check the temperature inside your fridge once electricity is restored to determine if the food is safe to eat.
• The refrigerator should be at or below 40 degrees with the freezer at or below zero degrees.
• If a prolonged outage is expected, place items that can be frozen in the freezer.
• Food such as milk, cheese, and eggs can be packed with ice in a closed cooler. 

UCEMC will continue to provide excellent and reliable electric service, but we are now taking extra safety precautions for members and our employees. Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) threat to the health and safety of our members, UCEMC lobbies will now CLOSE on Monday, March 23, until further notice. We appreciate your understanding and patience during these challenging times.  

Bill payment and other Cooperative business may be conducted safely and securely by utilizing other UCEMC options:

• Online at ucemc.com – Click on PAY MY BILL to get to the Customer Service Portal. Enter your account number that’s on the bill and your password. New to online bill pay? Click on NEW USER to set up your online bill payment option.
• UCEMC Mobile App and Mobile Web App – Look for our name in the App Store or the Android Market. If you can’t find our App in the Android Market, that likely means your phone is not supported. Our Mobile Apps are secure and no personal information stores on your mobile device. 

Pay by Mail: Send your check or money order to UCEMC, P.O. Box 159, Carthage, TN. 37030. 

Pay by Phone: You may pay by phone during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. by calling your local district UCEMC office:

• Carthage District – 1-800-261-2940
• Cookeville District – 1-800-261-2940
• Gainesboro District – 1-800-261-2940
• Livingston District – 1-800-261-2940
• Corporate Office – 1-800-261-2940

PaySite Kiosks – Two kiosks allow you to pay your UCEMC bill any time, 24/7 with cash, check, or credit card.

• Carthage: 907 Main Street
• Cookeville: 1794 West Broad Street.

Drive-Thru Window – You may continue to pay your bill from the comfort of your vehicle at UCEMC district office locations during regular business hours.

New Service – Applications and instructions for applying for new service are available at the Drive-Thru Window until further notice.

The news and information we hear about the coronavirus changes by the hour and can be unsettling. Here at Upper Cumberland Electric, we’re concerned about the health and safety of our members and will strive hourly to stay in step with national guidelines and regulations.

 During these stressful times, we understand that the elderly and those who are considered “high-risk” may prefer to stay at home and social distance themselves from a crowd. UCEMC has several convenient electric bill payment options to offer you some peace of mind.

Online at ucemc.com – Click on PAY MY BILL to get to the Customer Service Portal. Enter your account number that’s on the bill and your password. New to online bill pay? Click on NEW USER to set up your online bill payment option.

UCEMC Mobile App and Mobile Web App – Look for our name in the App Store or the Android Market. If you can’t find our App in the Android Market, that likely means your phone is not supported. Our Mobile Apps are secure and no personal information stores on your mobile device. 

Mobile Apps are supported on the following platforms:

• iOS 7.0 and above (iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad)
• Android 2.3x and Android 4.x.x

Our Mobile Web App version supports the following browser:

• Google Chrome on Android OS 2.3 and 4.x.x
• Safari on iOS 7.0 and above
• Internet Explorer on Windows Phone 7
• BlackBerry browser on BlackBerry OS 6 and above

Our Mobile Apps are native Apps that can be downloaded and installed on your compatible mobile device. The Mobile Web App is a web portal that runs directly in the mobile browser on your smartphone or other mobile devices. Both will give you secure access to account information and will allow you to make payments on one or more accounts directly from your mobile device. The native Apps also allow you to register your accounts to receive push notifications for account milestones, such as approaching or a missed due date. Push notifications are not available through the Mobile Web App.

Pay by Phone: Members may pay by phone during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m – 4:30 p.m. by calling their local district UCEMC office:

• Carthage District – 1-800-261-2940
• Cookeville District – 1-800-261-2940
• Gainesboro District – 1-800-261-2940
• Livingston District – 1-800-261-2940

PaySite Kiosks – Two kiosks allow you to pay your UCEMC bill any time, 24/7 with cash, check, or credit card.

• Carthage: 907 Main Street
• Cookeville: 1794 West Broad Street.

Drive-Thru – You may continue to pay your bill from the comfort of your vehicle at UCEMC district office locations during regular business hours.

Co-ops are owned by the members we serve. This fact impacts everything we do here at Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. People always come before margins, and our employees are serious about the responsibility we have to provide power and support to our communities during these trying times.

The Cookeville District office of Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation has reopened after sustaining significant damage from the tornado that ripped through Putnam County on March 3. 

While all business has resumed at the Cookeville office, two banks will continue to take UCEMC electric bill payments temporarily as a convenience to anyone displaced by the storm.  Putnam County members may pay their bill with a check or money order at the First Freedom Bank, 376 West Jackson Street in Cookeville, or at the bank’s Algood location, 614 West Main Street, across from Walmart and Potters. Immediate payments on Pre-Pay accounts must be made at the Cookeville office to prevent service interruption.

The Bank of Putnam County will temporarily accept UCEMC bill payments at three locations in Cookeville: 140 S. Jefferson, 237 S. Willow Avenue, and 1108 East 10th Street, and in Baxter at 404 Main Street. The Bank of Putnam County will accept cash, check, or money orders.

As of Saturday, March 7, power was restored to all UCEMC members whose homes were not too damaged to safely receive electricity.

Cookeville Office Photos after the Tornado

OUTAGE UPDATE 3/4/2020: UCEMC crews have restored power to more than 1800 homes in the Carthage area. However, 150-200 outages in Carthage remain due to 16 broken poles. In Cookeville, lines to 2000 homes along Highway 70, West Locust Grove Rd., and Bloomington Rd. are out of service and are being worked on at this time. The UCEMC Cookeville District office sustained significant harm, and communications systems are down. We are re-routing outage calls to other district offices to serve you. Thank you for your patience as we all work together in this recovery and repair effort across the UCEMC service area.

UCEMC offers these tips to help you stay safe:

• Be wary about being out on the roads until the “all clear” by officials.
• Don’t go into standing water; there may be a downed power line that you can’t see nearby.
• Stay far away from all UCEMC equipment, downed poles, and power lines.
• Please allow our crews to do our jobs to get your power restored. 

Make the most of your clothes dryer by ensuring an appropriate vent hose length. A shorter, unobstructed vent hose increases the efficiency of your dryer, dries clothing faster, and reduces lint buildup, which can create potential fire hazards.

     These last weeks of a rainy winter might be delaying your outdoor plans but look around the house. There you’ll find at least three hidden opportunities to save energy––and money, especially if you enjoy do-it-yourself projects that don’t require a loan or a professionally-stocked toolbox.

If your goal is making your home more efficient, but you don’t want to break the bank, there are several DIY projects you can tackle now to increase energy savings. Here are three inexpensive efficiency upgrades that can help you save energy throughout the year. 

Trim Dryer Vent

Level of difficulty: easy. Supplies needed: tin snips, gloves, measuring tape, and masking tape. Estimated cost: about $25 depending on the supplies you already have.

If your dryer vent hose is too long, your dryer is working harder than it has to, using more energy than necessary. The vent hose should be long enough for you to pull the dryer out a couple of feet from the wall, but the shape of the tube should form a line––it should not have a lot of slack, with twists and curves. A shorter, unobstructed vent hose increases the efficiency of your dryer, dries clothing faster, and reduces lint buildup, which can create potential fire hazards. 

Measure, mark, and trim the hose to the desired length, then reattach the hose to your dryer and exterior vent. If you’re unsure about the hose length, check out YouTube.com for a quick video tutorial.

Seal Air Leaks

Level of difficulty: moderate. Supplies needed: caulk and caulk gun, weather stripping, gloves, putty knife, paper towels. Estimated cost: $25 to $50 depending on the materials you purchase.

Sealing air leaks in your home can help you save 10% to 20% on heating and cooling bills. Apply caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring, and plumbing to seal in conditioned air. It would help if you also weather-stripped exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Types of caulking and weather-stripping materials vary but ask your hardware or home store for assistance if you’re unsure about the supplies you need. For more information, the Department of Energy provides step-by-step instructions for caulking and weather stripping:

Insulate Attic Stairs Opening

Level of difficulty: moderate. Supplies needed: rigid foam board, faced blanket insulation, tape for foam board, measuring tape, utility knife, caulk and caulk gun, plywood. Estimated cost: $50 to $100.

A properly insulated attic is one of the best ways to optimize energy savings and comfort in your home. Still, many homeowners don’t consider protecting the attic stairs, or the opening to your attic space. Even a well-insulated attic can leak air through the stair opening, but luckily, there’s an easy fix.

An insulated cover box can seal and insulate the attic stairs opening. You can build your insulated cover box or purchase a pre-built box or kit from a local home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s for about $60. If you decide to build your own, check out these step-by-step instructions from the Department of Energy: . If your attic opening is in a garage that you do not heat and cool, this upgrade will not be as effective.

Saving energy doesn’t have to be hard. With a little time and effort on these rainy days, you can maximize energy savings and increase the comfort of your home just in time for the dog days of summer.

Based on an article by Abby Berry, who writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

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                                                                                   Photo by Lisa Fotios

Spring is just around the corner, and you can practically smell the freshly-cut grass. If you’re in the market to upgrade your lawn care equipment, you may want to consider electric (or battery-powered) options.

Gas-powered lawn mowers and trimmers may be your go-to, but times they are a-changing’. Electric lawn care equipment offers consumers faster charging times, longer battery life, and quieter, greener products compared to their gas-powered counterparts. Here are three ways you can electrify your lawn care this spring.

Electric Lawn Mowers

Electric lawnmowers have come a long way over the last few years. Early models required corded connections, which were tricky to manage––but we’re ready to cut the cord. Newer cordless electric mowers are certainly more expensive than gas-powered mowers. Still, much of that upfront cost is recoverable. Electricity is a less expensive fuel than gas, and electric engines generally require less maintenance than gas engines. Cordless electric mowers typically range from $200 to $500.

Electric mowers are suitable for most lawn care needs. The batteries typically require about one to two hours to fully charge, and most batteries can run for a full hour. That said, if you have a large yard (half an acre or larger), a gas-powered option may be best to suit your needs.

Electric Trimmers

Cordless electric string trimmers are an excellent option for most lawns. Traditionally, like lawnmowers, string trimmers have typically been powered by gas. But new versions of electric trimmers are improving and are now considered worthy competitors of gas-powered models.

Cordless electric trimmers are much quieter and simple to start, but most batteries last only about 30 to 45 minutes. So, if you have a lot of space to trim, you may want to consider a back-up battery or plan to work in short bursts. If you’re interested in purchasing an electric trimmer, the main factors to consider are the battery’s life, charge time, and power. Costs can vary depending on your needs, but you can find a quality version for about $100.

Electric Leaf Blowers

After cutting and trimming your lawn, you’ll need to clear off those walkways and patios for the finishing touch. If you don’t want to deal with the maintenance of a gas-powered blower or the restraints of a corded blower, a cordless electric version is a great option.

Cordless electric leaf blowers are lightweight and easy to maneuver. They don’t offer quite as much power as gas-powered and corded blowers, but if your leaf-blowing and clearing needs are minimal, a cordless electric leaf blower can get the job done. Costs for a cordless electric blower vary depending on power and battery quality. Expect to pay about $150 and up for a dependable model.

If you’re looking to electrify your lawn care equipment, be sure to do your homework. Search online for the latest reviews, and check trusted websites like ConsumerReports.org. With a little research, you’ll be well on your way to Lawn of the Month – with less maintenance, hassle, and noise (and your neighbors will thank you!).

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.