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March 2024

Cyber scams aren’t just reserved for big businesses anymore, individuals are increasingly becoming the victims of cyber scams and, unfortunately, many people can’t tell something is a scam until it’s too late. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of common scammer tactics — read along to make sure you will not fall prey to any of these actions.

1. Urgency or threats: Scammers like to use a sense of urgency and even threats to get people to do what they want them to do. A very common example of this is the scam that begins with you getting an email that you’ve been charged hundreds of dollars for a service with an urgent call to action — “call within one business day.” They are trying to make you feel rushed because when people are rushed they feel flustered and don’t act as rationally.

2. Mimicking legitimate brands or businesses: Scammers WILL and DO take the time and spend the money to take out advertising to impersonate a known business. Before clicking a link, always check that the web address is legitimate (i.e., amazon.com) rather than something insidious like amazonstore.sitescam.com (though scammers are more subtle than that).

3. Sheer volume: Scammers and other bad actors send out an estimated 3.4 BILLION (yes with a B) spam emails DAILY. If they only get 1% of people to click on or respond to those attempts, that’s still 34 million responses. So it’s easy to see why people lost over $6 billion to scammers between 2021 and the end of 2023.*

PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE ONES YOU LOVE WITH THESE ACTIONS:

1. Talk with people: If you are ever questioning the legitimacy of a potential charge, do not call the scam company — call your bank. Most banks and large companies have teams of people dedicated to tracking down bad actors and, at the very least, will often publish information to their customers about attacks. Also, if you are the recipient of an attack like this, share the event with loved ones and friends — spreading the knowledge is important.

2. Pause, think critically and trust your gut: If you get an email that your power is about to be cut off for non-payment when you know you’ve paid it or even if you’re not sure, call the number on your bill. If you’re not sure where to look or just confused about what to do next, call a friend or family member and work through it with them. Two people working a problem is always better than having to deal with it alone.

*https://aag-it.com/the-latest-phishing-statistics/

To learn more on protecting yourself from scams,

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Who doesn’t enjoy the beautiful tree canopy in North Carolina, especially on a warm spring or summer day? At EnergyUnited, our Vegetation Management (VM) team places a special focus on trees and how they affect the safety, reliability and cost of electricity we supply our members.

The Vegetation Management team possesses extensive industry experience and expertise in operations, natural resources, forestry and horticulture. Each year, the team develops and updates the cooperative’s vegetation management plan to ensure the safe, reliable and cost-effective delivery of power for more than 140,000 member connections.

For EnergyUnited, this goal is accomplished by leveraging a diversified strategy that includes methods such as directional pruning, mechanical trimming, mowing and low-volume herbicide application. As a result of this strategy, we are able to limit the frequency of future maintenance activities, thus avoiding unnecessary wildlife disturbances. Plus, the low-growing plant communities that are cultivated by the cooperative using this approach provide habitat and food for various wildlife species, including pollinators like bees and butterflies.

In addition to these methodologies, our team has also implemented a new program to remove problematic trees that pose the greatest risk to the cooperative’s vegetation management cycle. In 2023, crews were able to remove 3,329 trees through this program.

As our team inspects individual circuits or rights-of-way, they are also working closely with members and surrounding property owners regarding the removal and proper placement of trees or shrubbery to avoid interference with EnergyUnited infrastructure, while balancing the desire to provide shade and habitat.

As we prepare for spring landscaping and planting, it is critical to consider the location and impact on any nearby utility infrastructure.

• Always call 811 to request the location of any underground facilities on your property before you dig.
• Damaging underground utility lines can be costly and even deadly.
• Visit our Vegetation Management page at EnergyUnited.com/Vegetation-Management to find our planting guide and more information about our cooperative’s vegetation management program.

By following a sustainable approach to tree trimming, EnergyUnited ensures the balance for reliable electricity and the preservation of natural habitats and resources. That’s the power of EnergyUnited tree trimming.

In 2023, EnergyUnited’s VM distribution workplan included the routine trimming and mowing of 837 miles along with 1,400 miles of low-volume herbicide work. Similar progress is expected in 2024 as well.

Kerri Brewer (LEFT) Project Facilitator
Lissa Giles (CENTER) Knowledge Development and Quality Supervisor
Eileen Pierce (RIGHT) Region Line Manager

EnergyUnited is proud to recognize Women’s History Month to celebrate the invaluable contributions of women throughout history. This time offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on the resilience and groundbreaking accomplishments of women in various fields, particularly those in the energy industry.

At EnergyUnited, we are proud to recognize the diverse skills and perspectives of women who lead and support teams across the cooperative. By recognizing and celebrating their achievements, we are not only honoring their contributions but are also inspiring future generations to pursue careers in the energy industry.

This March, EnergyUnited invites you to join our cooperative in commemorating Women’s History Month. Together, we can continue to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to a dynamic energy landscape and a brighter energy future.

Spring is right around the corner, so why not make the sustainable switch to electric lawn equipment? Take a look at a few of these benefits:

• Lower maintenance with fewer parts (no belt, oil or filter) to upkeep means going electric is more affordable in the long run and also makes it the more reliable choice!
• No emissions from the fumes (and not stinky either!).
• Quieter equipment means you can take care of your lawn even in the early morning without upsetting your neighbors!

Source: Unitil.com/blog/benefits-electric-lawn-equipment

We work hard to keep your lights on and your home warm and comfortable, but even we can’t control Mother Nature. When outages happen our teams act quickly to restore power as soon and as safely as possible, but for members who want to make sure their home stays empowered no matter the weather, then a Generac generator may be the thing for you!

To learn more about Generators and keeping your home empowered 24/7.

Click here

ASK ABOUT OUR FREE 10-YEAR WARRANTY!