Connect
Dec '24
In this issue:

A Letter from Our CEO

Thomas Golden

As we enter the holiday season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the spirit of community that defines EnergyUnited. This time of year offers opportunities for connection, gratitude and giving. I am proud to share how our cooperative has embraced these values, especially in response to recent events.

Tropical Storm Helene impacted many members in our community, reminding us of the importance of resilience and unity in the face of adversity and uncertainty. I am grateful for the dedication of our team, all of whom worked tirelessly to restore power and assist our members in the aftermath of the storm. Your understanding and patience throughout the recovery have been remarkable and we deeply appreciate your support during this challenging time.

EnergyUnited’s commitment to supporting our broader community extended far beyond our service area. After the storm, more than 100 field workers traveled to Western North Carolina to
assist with restoration efforts, providing much-needed support to the areas hardest hit by Tropical Storm Helene. I am also incredibly proud of our employees, who collectively donated over $15,000 to assist with relief efforts. In addition, the EnergyUnited Foundation granted $25,000 to Samaritan’s Purse in Wilkes County, an organization that has been instrumental in helping Western North Carolina rebuild and recover.

Notably, the EnergyUnited Foundation expanded its grant offerings to include large grant opportunities and the timing truly could not have worked out more fortunately, given the destruction from the storm. The Foundation reviewed nearly 40 nonprofit applications, and we are pleased to announce a total of $100,000 was granted to four organizations making a significant impact in our community.

They are:

1. Children’s Home of Iredell (Iredell County), which provides high-quality therapeutic care for children and youth.

2. Family Promise (Davie County), which provides prevention services before families reach crisis, shelter and case management when they become homeless, and stabilization programs once they have secured housing to ensure they remain independent.

3. Home Solutions (Davidson County), educates individuals and families about homeownership, financial literacy, credit, budgets, scams and homeowner responsibility, helping individuals take the steps necessary to get out of rental or boarding situations and become homeowners.

4. Carpenter’s Hands Missions (Davidson County), a group focused on disaster relief efforts and rebuilding orphanages, medical centers, schools and churches.

By supporting these organizations, we can help strengthen the fabric of our community and ensure those impacted by Tropical Storm Helene receive the assistance they need and deserve.

I encourage you to take part in the spirit of giving as we prepare for the holiday season. Whether through volunteering your time, donating to a worthy cause that is close to your heart or simply spreading kindness in your daily interactions, any small act can make a difference in someone’s life – and this is how we change the world, one kind gesture at a time.

On behalf of the entire EnergyUnited team, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday season. Thank you for being a valued member of our cooperative and for your continued support as we work together to build a brighter future for all.

Sincerely,
Thomas Golden, CEO

Covering all Bases:EU FATHER-SON TEAM PUTS SAFETY FIRST

Zach Myers (Left), Journeyman Lineman
Chris Myers (Right), Distribution Design Supervisor

Chris Myers
Distribution Design Supervisor

“At EnergyUnited, safety isn’t just something I focus on at work, it’s a value I bring home with me every day. Whether I’m spending time with my family or working around the house, I apply the same standards to keeping everyone safe. It’s second nature, and that’s The EnergyUnited Way.”

Zach Myers
Journeyman Lineman

“Watching my dad live out The EnergyUnited Way inspired me when I was growing up. Now that I work for the co-op, I carry the same sense of responsibility into my personal life. Whether I’m with friends or family, I know safety is always a priority.”

Computer safetyDuring the holidays

The holiday season is a prime time for cybercriminals to exploit the increase in online activity, shopping and digital communication. Here are key steps to ensure your PC stays secure:

Update Software Regularly

Ensure your operating system, antivirus software and all applications are updated. These updates often include security patches that protect your system from newly discovered vulnerabilities.

Be Cautious with Holiday-Themed Phishing Scams

During the holidays, phishing emails and fake shopping deals flood inboxes. Always verify links and offers before clicking or entering any sensitive information. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Transactions

Shopping or banking online using public Wi-Fi can expose your data to hackers. Use a VPN to encrypt your connection, or wait until you’re on a secure network.

Use Strong Passwords & Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Strengthen your accounts by using complex, unique passwords. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of protection.

Back Up Important Files

Regularly back up important files to an external drive or cloud service. In case of an unexpected attack, such as ransomware, you’ll have your data safe and retrievable.

Co-op Principle:Cooperation among co-ops

In the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, which wreaked havoc across western North Carolina, electric cooperatives demonstrated the power of collaboration and community of spirit. As the storm left behind a trail of destruction, the commitment of cooperatives to support each other and their members became clear.

One notable figure in this recovery effort was Cody Phillips (EU, journeyman lineman), who played a pivotal role in aiding Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation (Rutherford EMC) during the challenging restoration process. As trees toppled and power lines were downed, the urgency to restore electricity to affected members grew. Phillips’ leadership and support were instrumental in rallying resources and manpower, ensuring that the co-op could respond swiftly to the pressing needs of its community.

And the teamwork didn’t stop there – in Caldwell County, Levi, Walker, and their crew joined forces with Caleb and Chase to tackle the daunting task of pole replacements. The storm had left numerous poles damaged or down, creating a critical need for quick action. Together, this team exemplified the cooperative spirit that is the backbone of these organizations, showcasing how cooperation among cooperatives can lead to effective solutions in the face of adversity.

The efforts of these individuals and their teams highlight the essence of electric cooperatives: working for the benefit of their members rather than external stakeholders. Unlike traditional utility companies, cooperatives operate on a not-for-profit basis, prioritizing the needs and welfare of their members above all else. This member-driven model fosters a deep sense of community, making it natural for cooperatives to rally together during emergencies.

Helene at a glance

EnergyUnited Restoration: More than 800 separate outage events affecting approximately 41,000 members.

• 318 field workers, including linemen and tree trimming specialists

• More than 170 broken poles – nearly a third of replacement poles annually

External Communications: Nine press releases plus member emails and social media posts.

Mutual Aid: 107 field and support workers released to WNC co-ops after EU restoration efforts were completed.

Disaster Relief: $41,000 donated by EnergyUnited, EU employees and the EnergyUnited Foundation.

SUSTAINABILITY CORNER
Making sustainable Investments

CEO Thomas Golden recently sat down with the Charlotte Business Journal to discuss EnergyUnited’s sustainability efforts across our service area. Below is an excerpt from the article.

Significant investments to impact sustainability are large and intended to last as many as 50 years. That means those decisions must be weighed carefully and made using the best technology and data available.

EnergyUnited has better access to that data through investments made in advanced metering infrastructure, which provides real-time data to both the consumer as well as the utility to understand how they’re using energy.

“Before we make those big investments, we’re able to better understand our system,” Golden says. “We’re not going to spend money, time or resources on things that aren’t going to improve the quality of our members’ lives.”

Likewise, the utility is using data to more smartly control the cost of the significant effort it extends to trim trees that threaten to overgrow and cause power outages. Rather than continuing to trim all trees near power lines at considerable time and expense, Golden says EnergyUnited uses data to determine which are “trouble trees” and takes those out completely. The approach allows the utility to maintain reliability without spending as much on maintenance and the diesel fuel needed to power those trimming vehicles. The utility also educates its members about the benefits of planting trees in places that won’t interfere with power transmission.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:JEREMY DRUMMOND

Jeremy Drummond is the manager of Fleet and Facility Services at EnergyUnited. Together with his team, Jeremy manages 12 facilities, 280 vehicles and the grounds at each location. We sat down with Jeremy to learn more about the scope of his responsibilities and how it impacts our members.

Q. What does your day-to-day look like?

No two days are exactly alike, but overall we are responsible for maintaining all facilities, grounds and vehicles for EnergyUnited. We travel across our service area and coordinate upkeep for our buildings and fleet. Additionally, we make sure our grounds are serviced and safe.

Q. How does your job differ between building and grounds management to fleet maintenance?

A significant amount of our time is spent on fleet maintenance. For example, our bucket trucks and transmission trucks enter a lot of different environments, including rights-of-way. It’s possible for them to pop a tire or encounter rough terrain that could compound into larger, more profound damage down the line. For this reason, we assess our fleet routinely to ensure our trucks are ready to traverse even the worst conditions. This is part of our commitment to safety and our dedication to 99.9% reliable energy. Without trucks that can access damaged poles to restore an outage, we start to compromise our reliability. For example, we recently went out to assist Rutherford EMC and French Broad EMC in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene and were able to answer the call for aid quickly and efficiently because our fleet and supplies were all in top condition.

Q. What challenges do you encounter with facilities and grounds management?

Our sites are held to a higher standard, given the nature of our industry. Plus, the fact that we are member-owned means we are very intentional and thoughtful about our upkeep. We focus on longevity and fixing and maintaining the building to extend its lifespan. Plus, we also work with a safety mindset especially for those individuals who still pay their bills at the drop boxes and payment kiosks onsite. Facilities is responsible for our ever-evolving infrastructure and site security initiatives, energy conservation initiatives, and new construction projects.

Thanking
Our Crews

We want to thank the linemen and crews who worked diligently to restore power in the wake of Helene — and also those who traveled to western North Carolina to provide aid to our neighboring co-ops.

THE ENERGYUNITED FOUNDATIONProvides $100,000 to local nonprofits

The EnergyUnited Foundation approved four $25,000 grants to benefit nonprofits across our service area, plus an additional $25,000 for Samaritan’s Purse Ministries to provide aid for Tropical Storm Helene.

As a reminder, all donations from the EnergyUnited Foundation come from members rounding up their monthly bill through our Operation Round-Up program. We are grateful for all of those pennies, dimes and quarters that make for big changes across our communities. Thank you for your donations.

JUNIOR MEMBER
AMBASSADOR DEADLINE: 12/15

High school sophomores and juniors can still apply for the Junior Member Ambassador program. Eligible students will be considered for up to three different community engagement opportunities.

Apply by clicking here

STAY UPDATED
WITH TEXT outage ALERTS

We do our best to prevent outages but when they do happen we want to make sure we keep you informed. Enroll in our text alerts through My EnergyHub today.

Sign in to My EnergyHub by clicking here

Attention
Members

At EnergyUnited, we are dedicated to keeping our members informed. On January 1, 2025, there will be a $2 increase in our Basic Facilities Charge, due to the rising costs of equipment and materials needed to deliver reliable electric service. This adjustment affects residential, commercial and industrial members proportionally.

We understand that times are challenging, and as your not-for-profit utility, we are focused on balancing the cost of power while keeping energy safe, reliable and affordable. Thank you for being a valued EnergyUnited member.

Happy
Holidays!

Our offices will be closed December 24-25 in observance of Christmas.

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