SPOTLIGHT
OCTOBER 2013
October 2013
Baked
Butterscotch
Apples
From The CEO’s Desk…
J. Ronald McElheney
Electric Cooperatives Offer Value Far
Beyond Affordable, Reliable Electricity
6 Golden Delicious apples
1 (3 ounce) box ‘cook & serve’
butterscotch pudding mix
1/2
stick butter, sliced thin
3/4
cup of water
Wash and core apples and then cut into
halves. Place cut side up in an 8x8 pan
that has been lightly oiled. Sprinkle dry
pudding mix evenly over apples and add
the water. Arrange butter slices evenly
over apples and cover with foil. Bake at
350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Serves
6 to 8.
Spotlight is published monthly by Jones-Onslow Electric
Membership Corporation for its customers. Correspondence
should be directed to Jones-Onslow EMC, attn: newsletter
editor, 259 Western Boulevard, Jacksonville, N.C. 28546.
Board of Directors
District One
Hugh Batts
Cecil Hargett
Douglas Parker
Dale Powell
District Two
John Pierce, Chairman
Iris Horne
Mack Whitney, III
District Three
Horace Phillips, Vice Chairman
Thomas Waller, Secretary/Treasurer
Robert Daughety
Here at Jones-Onslow EMC, we work hard to deliver safe,
affordable, and reliable electricity to our 70,000 plus members every
day. But we don’t stop there. Because we’re a cooperative, we strive
to do much more, to find ways of providing real value to you and
the communities we serve.
So what exactly does real value mean? Well, in some ways it’s
basic, like having the option to connect with a real, local person
when you call our office, rather than just a recording. It could be
finding a copy of this newsletter with your electric bill every month,
which keeps you informed about Jones-Onslow business as well
as the goings-on in the utility industry in North Carolina and our
nation. It’s getting the lights back on more quickly after a hurricane
or tropical storm, thanks to mutual-aid agreements that bring line
crews in from other co-ops to help us restore power. Or maybe it’s
enjoying the comfort of a new energy-efficient heat pump that you
purchased with the help of a HVAC/Energy Star rebate that you
received from the cooperative.
Using your Co-op Connections Card to get discounts at local
businesses and national retailers is a tangible benefit of being a JonesOnslow customer. I’m pleased to report that cooperative members
have saved over $900,000 on pharmacy prescriptions alone since we
issued the cards a little over four years ago. If you have misplaced
your card and would like a new one, stop by one of our offices or call
us at (910) 353-1940 or (800) 682-1515 and we’ll get one to you.
October marks National Cooperative Month, when we take
time to celebrate cooperatives and talk about why our not-forprofit, consumer-owned business model is special. Offering our
members real value—and working to improve the quality of life in
the communities we serve—is just one way we set ourselves apart.
To learn more about cooperatives, visit co-opsusa.coop.
Chief Executive Officer
J. Ronald McElheney
Contacting Us
Jones-Onslow EMC
259 Western Boulevard, Jacksonville, N.C. 28546
(Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm)
1225 Highway 210, Sneads Ferry, N.C. 28460
Local ~ (910) 353-1940
Toll Free ~ (800) 682-1515
Power Outage ~ (910) 353-7117 or (800) 681-4146
web site ~ www.joemc.com
PAGE 4
Cooperative Offices Will Be Closed
On Monday, November 11,
In Observance Of Veteran’s Day and on
Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29,
In Observance Of Thanksgiving.
Spotlight
potlight
A Monthly Publication for the Customers of Jones-Onslow EMC
Don’t Let A Blink Or
A Flicker Ruin Your Day....
Blinks and flickers you might have never
noticed years ago are brought to our attention today by the world of digital electronic
devices all around us.
Today, when walking in the home after
work or from an evening out, the first thing
we notice is a “flashing clock”. But, what this
lets you know is that Jones-Onslow’s electrical
distribution system is actually working the
way it was designed—here’s the explanation.
Blinks and flickers occur when an obstruction, like a tree limb, comes in contact
with a power line or transformer. To
minimize the possibility of damage to
the cooperative’s electrical distribution
system and your home (and the sensitive electronic equipment in it), a
circuit breaker (called a recloser)
interrupts the circuit for a fraction of a second.
If, for instance, a tree
limb remains on the line,
the recloser opens (cuts
power) a second time,
and again tries to close
(provides power). If the obstruction is still on the line after the third
try, the breaker stays open (cuts
power). At this point, coopera-
tive crews will need to be dispatched to the
location, examine the situation, remove the
obstruction and reset the breaker.
As mentioned previously, system blinks
actually mean that Jones-Onslow’s electrical distribution system is working the
way it should.
Older digital clocks and other devices are the most vulnerable to blinks; newer models
are designed to ride out small
voltage fluctuations.
When purchasing
a new microwave or
other electronic device
with a digital clock, ask
the salesperson or manufacturer
if the equipment will withstand
occasional power blinks.
SPOTLIGHT
OCTOBER 2013
SPOTLIGHT
Helping To Protect
Your Identity...
Legislation known as the “Red Flags Rule”
requires companies to take extra steps to detect,
prevent and minimize personal identity theft—a
problem which affects nine million Americans
annually. Customers may notice extra measures
Jones-Onslow takes to ensure the security and
privacy of your information. While we regret any
inconvenience, we assure our customers these
steps are required and necessary to help fight
identity theft and protect your privacy.
In order to comply with security measures
outlined by the Federal Trade Commission which
enforces the Red Flag Rules, Jones-Onslow
cannot share any account information with
anyone other than the customer. However,
customers may contact us to add a spouse, child,
or others they wish to authorize to have access
to their account information.
In order for Jones-Onslow staff to discuss
account information or make adjustments such
as payment arrangements, the customer or
OCTOBER 2013
Water Heater Blanket
• 3/4-inch insulation with cap
• Includes tape
• One size fits all
• Installation guide
• Reduce energy loss up to 45%
• Payback in 4 to 6 months
Wrap Up in Savings
Reduce Water Heating
Costs Today!
Only
$12 00
plus sales tax
Over $50 retail
value!
*Applies only to electric water heaters that
are located in unconditioned space in the
home. Water heater wrap kit not needed if a
Vaughn or gas water heater is used in home.
Earth Massage Showerhead
• Adjustable 9-jet turbo massage
• Featured in Good Housekeeping
Kitchen Faucet Aerator
authorized individual must verify their identity
as the account holder (customer) or authorized
user, which can be accomplished using various
methods such as providing requested information
or showing photo identification.
Identity theft costs consumers and businesses
millions of dollars each year and causes difficulties
for victims trying to repair their good name and
credit. We appreciate your patience as we continue
our work to provide great customer service while
doing our part to help prevent this problem.
Energy-Savings Guides Available
Most everything we buy today seems to be increasing and more and more people are concerned about their
utility bills. Consumers are looking for ways to manage their energy use and reduce costs. Jones-Onslow has
always placed a priority in promoting energy efficiency and whether it’s on our webpage (joemc.com), in this
newsletter, or in our advertising, your cooperative is dedicated to providing useful and applicable information
about maximizing your energy dollars.
To help, four energy-savings guides are now available to customers. These guides, which can be downloaded
from our website (go to the news menu and look under brochures) or mailed upon request, provide valuable
tips designed to create greater comfort and improve performance around your home or business.
To get a free copy of any (or all) of the guides mailed to you, call the cooperative at (910) 353-1940 or (800)
682-1515. You can also send an email request to us at [email protected].
Water heater wrap kits
can be purchased at
the Jacksonville and
Sneads Ferry offices.
• Easy on/off feature
Bathroom Faucet Aerators
• Set of 2
Water Pipe Insulation
Play It Safe: Wall Outlet
Wall outlets are the bridge from electricity to appliances. They make it possible for our lamps, cell phone
chargers, coffee makers and televisions to run. Most of the time, we don’t even think about how that happens or whether there are any dangers associated with them, however, there are a few things you can look
out for to keep your home and family safe.
* Make sure to regularly check your outlets for
damages. All wires should be covered and plates
should be tightened down. If the plates are
cracked, they should be replaced immediately.
* If you have young children or grandchildren in
your home, cover your outlets with plastic child
safety plugs to keep little fingers and objects out
of tempting outlets.
* If your outlets are warm to the touch or discolored,
contact an electrician to determine the cause.
* Don’t plug too many electrical devices into an
outlet; this increases the risk of fire. If a power
strip is filling up, transfer some items to another
outlet. Turn the switch to a power strip off when
appliances are not is use.
* If you have an older home, consider upgrading
your outlets to the safer, three-prong style that
are grounded. If you don’t have three-prong
outlets, be careful to never force a three-prong
plug into a two-slot outlet.
* GFCI outlets should be installed in any area
where there is water, such as kitchens, pools,
crawl spaces and bathrooms. These outlets
monitor electricity flowing in a circuit and trip
the circuit if an imbalance is detected, protecting
people from electric shock.
* You can also save energy if electrical devices
not in use are unplugged. Pay special attention
to phone chargers, television sets and computers. These will use up energy even if they are
turned off.
* Always plug larger appliances, like refrigerators
and washing machines, directly into outlets, not
power strips.
When unplugging an item, make sure to grab the base of the plug. Pulling the cord itself can cause damage to both the cord and the outlet. Pay attention to your outlets. If you notice a potential problem in your
home, arrange for it to be fixed immediately to prevent an accident or injury.
PAGE 2
PAGE 3