Tap to submit
By march 24
ConnectMarch 2025
Connect
Mar
'25
Connect March‘25
In this issue:
A Letter from Our CEO
Celebrating Women’s History Month
Need help with your home heat?
Keeping You Connected
Habortown Subdivision
Final Calls For Sports Camp & Empowering the Future
Springing
ahead
ahead
Winter is coming to an end, and warmer days are on the way, making spring a welcome change. As the temperatures rise and the days lengthen, many of us start thinking about how we can manage energy usage more efficiently, especially with the time change for daylight saving. With longer daylight hours, it’s a great opportunity to adjust your habits and reduce energy consumption, as well as prepare for the unpredictability of spring weather. Whether it’s the energy we use or the changing weather that affects our communities, one thing remains constant: our commitment to you.
With spring thunderstorms ahead, EnergyUnited is focused on staying prepared. The storms we can experience this time of year often bring high winds, heavy rain and lightning, which may cause power outages. We are continuously monitoring weather patterns, maintaining our infrastructure and readying our teams to respond quickly should any storm affect our area. As always, we remain committed to restoring power to your homes and businesses as safely and efficiently as possible.
While we maintain a 99.9% reliability rate, we know that Mother Nature is beyond our control. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to prepare your home and family for potential events. I encourage you to check your emergency kits, ensure that your home’s electrical systems are in good working order and sign up for our text alerts so you can stay informed if the unexpected happens. Our website has many resources regarding outage safety, which I encourage you to check out.
Spring is the perfect time to review energy-saving tips and take advantage of EnergyUnited’s programs that help you reduce consumption and lower your bills. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, why not “go green” by making energy-efficient choices? From heat pump rebates to our demand response programs, we are here to help you make smart and sustainable decisions. Visit our website to learn more and take advantage of these offerings.
Thank you for being a part of EnergyUnited. We’re ready for whatever spring brings and are here for you, no matter the weather. And as we “spring forward” for daylight savings time, don’t forget to take advantage of the longer days ahead!
Sincerely,
Thomas Golden, CEO
For Outage Safety Tips,
For Energy Efficiency Tips,
Cheryl Wright, EnergyUnited Board of Directors Vice President
How do you think women have helped shape the energy industry and how can their contributions be further recognized?
“Women have played a vital role in shaping the energy industry for decades. In the 1930s and 1940s women used their own egg money to pay for membership fees to join rural electric cooperatives. There are women inventors, engineers and decision-makers in the rapidly changing industry. They serve as team leaders, vice presidents, CEOs and leaders on boards. Women bring a different perspective and improve business outcomes, all while opening the door for future leaders. Their contributions should be recognized with mentorship, equal pay, awards and opportunities for advancement in meaningful roles.”
Sydney Taylor, EnergyUnited MAC Member
Why is Women’s History Month important to you personally and professionally?
“Women’s History Month holds special meaning for me both personally and professionally. In my role as Community Education Coordinator at the Iredell County Partnership for Young Children, I see firsthand how women’s contributions — as teachers, caregivers and leaders — lay the foundation for children’s success and shape the communities around them. Women’s History Month serves as a reminder of the incredible women who have paved the way for progress, from trailblazers who fought for equality to the everyday heroes who created opportunities for their families. It is a time to celebrate the resilience, achievements and contributions of women throughout history while also considering the role we play in shaping the future. For me, it’s about embracing my roles as a mother and an advocate, knowing that the work I do to support the community today will have a lasting impact.”
Pam Britt, Chief Human Resources Officer
What changes or initiatives would you like to see to further support women in the energy industry?
“The energy sector opportunities for women are continuing to grow, and women are increasingly becoming the driving force behind key innovations in the energy sector. Promoting careers that are available to women in the energy sector requires more than focusing on the current workforce, but also investing in our future talent. Raising awareness for energy industry opportunities available to this next generation means starting early to increase awareness and education for young girls in elementary school all the way to high school. For women already in the energy sector, coming alongside and providing mentoring opportunities for women to connect with senior leaders in these energy companies is a great learning opportunity for future career advancement. There are many opportunities for women in energy but continued education and awareness of these roles and companies will require continued efforts to attract, retain, promote and invest in this talent.”
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE
Our Heating Assistance Program provides support for low-income members who may be struggling to make their EnergyUnited electric payments. To qualify, a recipient must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a current EnergyUnited member
- Meet the household income requirements
- Show proof of household income
To Learn More and Apply,
There’s an easy way to worry less about the costs & hassles of surprise home repairs.
EnergyUnited has partnered with HomeServe, an independent company separate from EnergyUnited, to offer you optional, affordable protection against the costs of unexpected breakdowns.
Call 1-833-397-0315 or click the link below to learn more about plans available in your area.
EnergyUnited’s preparedness drills extend far beyond our line crews and include our IT team as well. Our disaster recovery program ensures systems run smoothly, with robust backups ready to maintain uninterrupted service during disruptions.
During our recent disaster recovery drill, we tested critical systems like file servers, internet connectivity and essential member tools such as online bill payment and outage maps. These simulations help us proactively address and resolve issues should real emergencies arise.
Our expert IT team ensures all systems, including cloud-based services like email and phones, remain accessible during outages. We also focus on business continuity, preparing every department to operate seamlessly from backup locations when needed.
Through careful planning and ongoing improvement, we’re building a resilient future and strengthening our commitment as your trusted energy provider.
In honor of our roots as a rural electric co-op, we are celebrating National Pet Day on April 11. For this special day, we are asking all members to share their favorite photos of any furry friends, slimy sidekicks or barnyard besties! We are celebrating our members’ animals with an online tribute in April and would love to highlight you and your pet pals.
EnergyUnited Delivers Service Upgrade to Harbortown Subdivision
EnergyUnited recently completed a major project for members in the Harbortown Subdivision of Alexander County, located on scenic Lake Hickory. This project, designed to improve reliability and better serve the needs of the community, included replacing electrical equipment that had been in place for more than 40 years.
The subdivision, which includes about 75 homes, was originally served by a single-phase electrical design. EnergyUnited upgraded the system to a three-phase design, which will provide enhanced reliability.
As part of the project, EnergyUnited replaced 15,000 feet of original cable with 12,000 feet of new primary cable. Additionally, the team replaced 41 plastic transformer pads with new concrete pads to improve durability and relocated several pieces of underground equipment to facilitate easier access for ongoing maintenance.
Most importantly, we can’t thank our Harbortown Subdivision members enough for their patience and understanding while this work was completed.
“This was a large project that involved careful planning and teamwork from start to finish,” said Daryl Renegar, region line supervisor for EnergyUnited. “I would like to extend a special thank you to Kelly Wilson, region line engineer, for her many contributions to this project. Thanks to the collaboration between our engineering and design teams, our Foothills region employees and ULCS underground contractors, we were able to complete the work successfully and on time.”
This project demonstrates EnergyUnited’s commitment to ensuring the needs of the communities served by the cooperative. As a result of this upgrade, Harbortown residents will enjoy even more reliable power and enhanced service for years to come.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Touchstone Energy Sports Camp is March 31, 2025. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to send your 5th or 6th grader to basketball camp at one of two prestigious North Carolina college campuses (North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
This year, the NC State Wolfpack basketball camp will be held June 15-18 and UNC-Chapel Hill basketball camp will be June 25-28.
High school seniors planning to attend a college, university or technical school during the 2025-2026 academic year may be eligible to apply for one of two $5,000 scholarships! Eligible students must reside in a home serviced by EnergyUnited or attend a school serviced by EnergyUnited.
Back to Top
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
English
French
German
Hindi
Spanish
Telugu
Vietnamese