Albemarle Soundsis published monthly by

Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation

P.O. Box 69Hertford, NC 27944

(252) 426-5735

Gary Ray, General ManagerChris Powell, Editor

Website and member portal:www.aemc.coop

Outages:1-800-274-2072

24-hour payments: (252) 426-4419

We are members of NC 811. Call 811 or 1-800-632-4949

two business days before you plan to dig. They will contact us to locate any underground

electric lines. It’s the law.

July 2016 Proudly serving the members of Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation

Albemarle EMC Carolina Country JULY 2016 21

AEMC Mourns Passing of

Former General Manager

Albemarle EMC bid a fond farewell to former General Manager Dorris White, who passed away recently at the age of 88.

White worked for Albemarle EMC for 52 years, eventually being promoted to general manager in 1983. She continued to serve in that capacity until her retirement in 1998.

“The Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation family has lost a beloved member in the passing of Ms. Dorris B. White,” said Gary Ray, general manager of EMC. “On behalf of our board of directors and employees, many of whom had the honor of working with Ms. White,

we send our sympathies to her family. She will certainly be missed.”

White was a pioneer in the utility industry. She was the first woman to serve as general manager of an electric cooperative in North Carolina and, at the time, was one of three women general managers in the country.

Byrum Completes Fastest Pole Top Rescue

Lineman Matt Byrum was able to complete the pole-top-rescue training in the least amount of time, earning himself a spot at the state competition in Raleigh.

Byrum completed the training in 1 minute, 57 seconds. Pole-top rescue simulates the rescue of an injured lineman. The simulation includes the following: The lineman must run to a truck, make a Mayday call, get tools and then run to a pole where a training dummy has been suspended. The lineman must then don all climbing and protective gear, climb the pole, attach a rope, lower

the dummy to the ground, climb down the pole, remove climbing gear and gloves, then administer CPR.

“I’m proud of our guys,” said Glenn Parks, manager of operations for Albemarle EMC. “All were able to complete the pole-top training in under 5 minutes.”

The linemen also trained how to perform bucket rescues.

The late Dorris White is shown receiving a plaque from L.A. Harris, who is a current Albemarle EMC board member.

Albemarle EMC Carolina Country JULY 2016 22

Board Candidate Qualifications

In August, Albemarle EMC’s nominating committee will select a slate of directors to run for the Albemarle EMC Board of Directors. To ensure Albemarle EMC is governed professionally and ethically, the co-op’s bylaws contain a list of qualifications for candidates. A person must comply with or meet the following:- Have the capacity to enter legally binding contracts.- Be a member of the cooperative.- Reside principally in the directorate district from which a director is to be chosen, and continuously and materially use, receive, or purchase electricity from the cooperative at the member’s primary residence.- Possess a valid high school diploma or equivalent certification. - Must not have been convicted of a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property.

A member shall be disqualified from being or remaining a director, as a result of a conflict of interest, if: the member is a current, former, or retired employee currently receiving any benefit from an electric supplier or is the spouse of a current, former, or retired employee currently receiving any benefit from an electric supplier; provided, however, a former employee who is not a retiree currently receiving any benefit from the cooperative and has not worked for the cooperative within seven years of the date of the relevant director election or selection is not disqualified.- The member is a close relative of a director or of an employee of an electric supplier.- The member is employed by, materially affiliated with, or shares a material financial interest with any other director.- The member is or has been employed by, materially affiliated with, or has a material financial interest in any individual or entity which regularly, directly or substantially competes with the cooperative or its subsidiary or affiliates, including investor-owned utilities or municipalities providing similar services provided by the cooperative, unless the person has not been so employed or affiliated with individual or entity for a period of at least seven years from the date of the Director election or selection.- The member is employed by, materially affiliated with, or has a material financial interest in any individual or entity which regularly sells goods or services to the cooperative or any cooperative subsidiary or affiliate.- The member seeks or applies for employment with the cooperative. Any director seeking to be employed by the cooperative must submit his or her board resignation prior to such time as he or she submits an application for employment or otherwise solicits the cooperative for such employment.

The two methods of seeking election are nomination by nominating committee or nomination by petition. By Aug. 12, candidates should contact the nominating committee, which will be published in the August issue of the Albemarle Sounds. Elections for contested board seats will be held at the Annual Meeting on Oct. 8.

Members Receive Wholesale Power Cost

AdjustmentsFrom November 2015 through May, a total of $357,668.68 was

returned to Albemarle EMC members through Wholesale Power Cost Adjustments on their bills.

Wholesale Power Cost Adjustments (WPCA) enable Albemarle EMC to adjust power bills according to current costs of wholesale power. Sometimes wholesale power costs are lower than projected, and money is returned to members. Other times, wholesale power costs are more than projected, and the additional money is collected.

The WPCA is indicated on members’ bills as “WHOLESALE POWER COST ADJ.”

Certifications Achieved

Wayne Baker, senior staking technician for Albemarle EMC (left) recently received two certificates of completion for National Electrical Safety Code Module 1 and 2. Apprentice Lineman Brock Sutton received a certificate of completion for Overhead Line Construction II. He is congratulated by Operations Manager Glenn Parks. All certifications were received from Nash Community College.

Port Discover Awarded ACT Grant

Port Discover recently received a grant from the Albemarle Community Trust.

The $2,000 will be used to replace old windows located in the upstairs portion of the building, located in downtown Elizabeth City.

“We are currently starting a science program called “Tech Cafe” for teens in the upstairs portion of the building,” said Robin Kelly-Goss, director of Port Discover. “The funds are needed to replace the upstairs

windows, which leak.”

Port Discover board member Phil Donahue and Director Robin Kelly-Goss receive an Albemarle Community Trust grant.

How Albemarle EMC works to provide its members with the highest-quality service possible.

Albemarle EMC is at Your Service

Albemarle EMC Carolina Country JULY 2016 23

Co-op Lobbies on Members’ BehalfIt has been said that electric

cooperatives were born out of politics, and if they are ever to die, it will be because of politics.

So, it should be of little wonder that

Albemarle EMC maintains a strong presence at the General Assembly, in Raleigh and at Capital Hill, in Washington, D.C.

Often the term “lobbying” evokes negative feelings among voters who think the process is used to curry undue influence over policy makers. But the reality is this is how our government has worked for a very long time. Each industry attempts to protect its own interests. The political wrangling is often tumultuous, and the electric cooperative lobby is one of the few friends members have in the process.

Albemarle EMC uses Political Action Committee (PAC) money contributed by our employees to support the candidates we believe are most likely to look after the well being of electric cooperatives.

This PAC money also gives us a level of access to legislators that enables us to inform them of legislation that could potentially help or harm the co-op. The two PACs are the Rural Electric Action Program (REAP) and the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE).

REAP contributions are allocated to candidates by a REAP Executive Committee. The committee consists of at least one representative from each of the state’s 26 electric cooperatives. The committee then dedicates resources to political races in the General Assembly and Council of State that are the most likely to favor legislators friendly to cooperatives.

ACRE was organized in 1966 to enable electric cooperative leaders to contribute funds to the campaigns of individuals running for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. These current and future leaders speak for and protect the interests of cooperative electric systems and the consumers they serve. Since its founding, ACRE has contributed millions of dollars to worthy candidates. Each year more than 29,000 individual ACRE members donate, a true example of strength in numbers.

On March 27, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. When this law took effect, the political atmosphere as we knew it changed dramatically. Dollars raised by political action committees became in high demand. ACRE represents hardworking individuals with a voice, with a vote, and with a commitment to the quality of life provided to them by their electric cooperative.

ACRE functions to elect members of Congress who support electric cooperatives. Rural electric system employees and consumers need representatives in Congress who understand the important issues affecting rural electric cooperatives and who will fight for rural electric consumers.

ACRE funds are allocated by the REAP executive committee, which makes recommendations for contributions to congressional candidates in North Carolina. Ultimately, the decision on contributions is made by the national ACRE committee. However, the ACRE committee generally follows the recommendations of the REAP committee.

Co-ops’ long history of political involvement has earned us a seat at the bargaining table. At the state level, co-ops have used this influence to support legislation such as the “Move Over” law. The law originally required motorists to move into the far lane or slow down when approaching a law enforcement vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Cooperatives were able to successfully have that law broadened to include any utility vehicle stopped on the side of the road working.

At the national level, cooperatives have consistently opposed legislation that would unnecessarily raise the cost of electricity for consumers.

Those are but a few examples of how cooperatives’ political involvement has benefitted co-op employees and members. While PAC funds are important, the real strength is the 42 million co-op members who stand behind their electric co-op, and vote.

Albemarle EMC employees Zach Bray (left) and Chris Powell (right) recently met with Rep. Bob Steinburg. Meetings were also held with Senators Bill Cook and Erica Smith-Ingram to discuss items of importance to electric cooperatives.