2021 Director Election Results
‍The 2021 Director Election results are in. Michael A. Mason of North Robertson County has been re-elected to serve a new three year term on CEMC’s board of directors.

Director candidates must meet Aug. 3 deadline
‍Members of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation who are interested in serving on the board of directors can obtain petitions from the general manager’s office. Each petition must be signed by at least 15 members. The petition must be completed and turned back in by the deadline of Tuesday, Aug. 3, which is 60 days prior to the 2021 annual meeting. This year’s meeting will be held Saturday, Oct. 2, at Stewart County High School in Dover.  

An election will be held for the following director positions: South Stewart, North Robertson and North Sumner. Anyone with a valid membership in good standing as of Aug. 3 can vote in director elections. Those applying for membership after Aug. 3 will not be eligible to vote in this year’s election but are welcome to attend the meeting and register for prizes. (CEMC Bylaws Article 3 — Section 3.05)

Contractor Inspecting Wood Utility Poles
‍‍Osmose Utilities Service Inc., a contractor working for Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, will be working to inspect, test and treat wood utility poles within the cooperative’s service area. Workers are expected to be present for the next several months. 

The purpose of the program is to inspect and treat the poles on a cyclical basis. CEMC hopes to prolong the life of existing poles by applying decay-preventing treatments and replacing those that are no longer safe enough to leave in its plant. Osmose workers can be identified by the hardhats and brightly colored safety vests they wear. They will also carry laminated ID badges and their vehicles will be marked with magnetic signs. who have concerns about the legitimacy of workers on their property are encouraged to contact CEMC at (800)987-2362 for more information.

Cumberland Connect
‍CEMC, your electric co-op since 1938, is making the biggest investment in our history. Introducing Cumberland Connect, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of CEMC that is dedicated to bringing our membership cutting edge internet, phone, and streaming services.Just as we saw the need for electrical service back then, we see the need for cutting edge technology services today. We’re dedicated to our communities, our membership, and our co-operative values. We’re excited about this ambitious, multi-year project. Together, we will enrich the lives of rural Tennesseans for years to come. More Information

Beware of third-party payment processors

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation cautions its members when using third-party payment processors like Doxo.com. Such companies, which allow consumers to pay a variety of bills online—including CEMC bills—often charge a fee for their service. While third-party bill payment processors are legal, they can be misleading. Doxo.com and similar services may appear to be affiliated with CEMC; however, they are not. Nor are they official payment sites for CEMC. 

If using Doxo.com, be aware that member payments may arrive late, resulting inl ate fees or even disconnection due to nonpayment. 

The quickest, most economical way for CEMC members to make a payment is by using one of the convenient payment options offered by CEMC—none of which charge a fee. 

Bank Draft Payment: Payments are automatically drafted from your checking/savings account each month on your due date. 

Auto Pay: Payments are automatically drafted from credit or debit card each month on your due date. 

Credit/Debit Card by Phone: Pay your bill by phone using your credit card or debit card. 

Mail: Mail your payment in the return envelope included with your monthly statement. (To avoid late fees, please mail payments several days prior to the due date.)

SmartHub: Pay your bill through the app or online with a credit/debit card. 

District offices: You can make payments at our district offices.Our district offices are open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For your convenience, each district office is equipped with a payment kiosk station that is available 24/7. Kiosks accept cash and credit/debit cards.

Project Help: neighbors helping neighbors

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, in cooperation with local energy assistance agencies, offers a program in which members who choose to participate can donate $1 or more each month to help provide some relief to individuals who are struggling to pay their utility bills.  The program, Project Help, allows members to contribute an additional $1 on their electric bills each month to help pay the utility bills of the elderly, disabled and/or those who are not economically self-sufficient. Project Help is a voluntary program. All money collected from Project Help goes to energy assistance agencies in our communities, which determine how these special funds are distributed.  

Here’s how the Project Help Program works:

‍Who is eligible to receive Project Help funds? To qualify, Project Help recipients must contact their local energy assistance agencies. They will be required to provide proof that they are unable to bear the cost of heating their homes and that they do not exceed the annual income limit established for the assistance program.  

‍How are the funds administered? When CEMC receives your Project Help donation, 100 percent of the money goes directly to the assistance agency that administers the program in your county. The agency distributes the assistance based on qualifying needs.  Who contributes to Project Help? Everyone can contribute to CEMC’s Project Help program. The minimum donation is $1 per month.  

‍How long do I donate to Project Help? You are billed each month on your CEMC statement for the amount you wish to donate. You will continue to be billed each month until you notify CEMC that you would like to discontinue your donation.  

‍How will I know I am donating each month? You will see a separate line on your CEMC statement to show your Project Help donation.

‍How do I sign up? If you would like to donate $1 or more each month to Project Help, you can do so by marking the box on your bill stub and completing the Project Help section on the back of your bill. Or contact CEMC’s Customer Service either by phone at 800-987-2362 or live chat on our website, www.cemc.org. By donating to Project Help, you can make a difference for someone in need this winter. Please consider joining us in warming the homes of our neighbors by contributing to Project Help. A dollar a month can truly make a difference.
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Why does CEMC plan outages

Have you ever received a notification from Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation informing you of a “planned outage?”You may have wondered, “What is a planned outage?” and, “Why does my electric utility need to perform one?” Occasionally, the equipment we use to bring power to your home needs to be replaced, repaired or updated. When this happens, we plan an interruption to electric service as a way to keep our crews and our members safe. 

We do our best to plan these outages during times when you will be least inconvenienced, so we often perform planned outages during school and business hours. We also try to avoid planning these outages during winter or summer months. We understand these are peak times of the year when you depend on running your heating and cooling units the most.

While they may sound slightly inconvenient, planned outages are actually beneficial. Regular system upgrades are necessary for optimal performance, and they increase reliability. Repairing and upgrading our equipment are also critical to maintaining public safety. If older lines need to be replaced, we plan for the project and then repair or replace the line; that keeps everyone safe.

Planned outages also allow us to keep you informed of when and how long you will be without power. We will notify you at least two days prior to a planned outage so you can be prepared. We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep you safe and to keep our system running smoothly. So, the next time you hear about a planned outage, know that it is one of the best ways we can provide you with quality electric service

‍‍‍CEMC member falls victim to scam
‍CEMC/Cumberland Connect has been alerted of a scam attempt in our area! Please remember, even if the call appears to be from CEMC or Cumberland Connect, neither CEMC or Cumberland Connect will call members demanding payment, soliciting services, or asking for credit card information either over the phone, online or in person.  Members who have doubts about the legitimacy of a call or email are advised not to give out any personal information, hang up, and call CEMC/Cumberland Connect directly at 1-800-987-2362.

‍‍‍Please make room for roadside crews
‍When the power goes out, so do Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation’s line crews. Lineworkers are the first to respond after an outage occurs, and they work tirelessly, often in dangerous conditions, to restore power to the communities we serve. If you are traveling and see one of our crews on the side of the road, we kindly ask that you move over if possible and give them a little extra space to work. We care deeply about the safety of all, and this extra precaution ensures just that.

If you approach a crew while traveling on a two-lane road, moving over to the next lane might not be an option. In this case, we simply ask that you slow down when approaching roadside crews. If you approach a crew while traveling on a four-lane road, and safety and traffic conditions allow, we ask that you move over into the far lane.

In 2011, following efforts by Tennessee’s electric cooperatives and municipal utilities, the state’s Move Over law was revised to include utility workers as well as the already covered police, firefighters and other first responders. The requirements of the Move Over law are simple. On a four-lane road, if safety and traffic conditions allow, a driver approaching a utility vehicle with flashing lights must move into the far lane. On a two-lane road or when changing lanes is not possible, a driver must reduce speed.

Utility crews are not the only ones who could use the extra space. Emergency responders, such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, often find themselves responding to emergency situations near busy roadways. We ask that you follow the same procedures mentioned above to help keep these crews safe.
There is plenty of room for all. Let us work together to keep everyone safe on our local roadways.