MENU A WORD FROM WAYNE A Word from Wayne: What is beneficial electrification? If you’re like most Americans, you’re interested in saving money on energy costs and in doing your partto help the environment. But wouldn’t it be great if you could do both? Well, you can! It’s through a concept called “beneficial electrification.” This utility industry term means the innovations in energy technologies are creating new ways LEARN MORE Southern praline brownies Sloppy Pig Catering | LaGrange, GA 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter 2-1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter and brown sugar, LEARN MORE Be aware of phone scams Attention members: Please be aware that we have received notice of various phone scams occurring in service territories. Callers identify themselves as an employee of Diverse Power or a contractor working for Diverse Power. The caller may claim a member has a late bill and will be disconnected if not paid while on the phone. LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Right tools for the job Whatever the outdoor project, take the time before you begin to make sure you have the right tools for the job, and always inspect electric tools for frayed cords, cracks in the insulation and proper connections. Tools that are used outdoors have a higher risk of wear and tear. Replace any damaged tools. It is LEARN MORE Lazy cucumber pickles – 6 cups cucumbers, sliced– 1 cup Vidalia onion, sliced– 1 cup bell pepper, chopped– 1/2 teaspoon salt– 2 cups granulated sugar– 1 cup vinegar– 1/2 teaspoon celery seed Mix together cucumbers, onion, pepper and salt. Let stand for 2 or more hours. Then, mix together sugar, vinegar and celery seed. Pour over cucumber mix. LEARN MORE Diverse Power helps Calhoun students reach for excellence On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 two Calhoun County School System seventh-grade students were awarded REACH Scholarships, which were sponsored by Diverse Power. The REACH Georgia Scholarship Program is a needs based mentoring and scholarship program aimed to help students achieve postsecondary success. Students who complete the program will receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 LEARN MORE Let’s talk about principles Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance. These principles are a key reason why America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of our members first. Diverse Power Incorporated Newsletter | Georgia Magazine These principles are, in LEARN MORE Lineman Appreciation Day If you were asked to associate an image or a person with Diverse Power, I bet you would picture a lineworker. One of the most visible employees of the co-op, lineworkers work tirelessly to ensure our community receives uninterrupted power 24/7. Lineworker is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the LEARN MORE Support Local Farmers Families are cooking at home more often, so they need fresh produce and meat. And farmers—and anyone who is trying to stay in business while everyone is limiting trips to the store—need your support to keep their heads above water. LEARN MORE Cheryl Meadows: Celebrating 9 years Cheryl Meadows: Celebrating 9 years LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Prepare for old man winter Prepare for old man winter LEARN MORE It’s not too late for a heater inspection it’s not too late for heater inspection LEARN MORE Kathleen’s Red Velvet Cake Kathleen’s Red Velvet Cake LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Make sure safety is on your holiday menu this year The kitchen can be a busy place during the holiday season: prepping and preparing favorite recipes. This year, people are spending time in their own homes and kitchens more than ever before. Whether you are a seasoned cook or novice baker, it’s important to keep electrical safety in mind. In the United States alone, approximately LEARN MORE Operation Round Up Turns Cents into Dollars Operation Round Up turns consumer-members’ cents into dollars as 26 students were recently awarded scholarships by the Diverse Power Foundation. Headed by a nine-member volunteer board, the Diverse Power Foundation distributes funds raised through Operation Round Up, Diverse Power’s philanthropic program, in which consumer-members round up their power bills to the next dollar with the LEARN MORE Be safe and on guard against phone and cyberscams We have been made aware that some electric cooperatives have reported a rise in scammers posing as employees. The imposters call members’ homes threatening to disconnect electric service if not paid immediately by a prepaid money card. Please be aware that Diverse Power will never contact you by phone about late/delinquent payments or threaten to LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Taking the mystery our of internet access It’s a common term that’s not always understood: broadband. Simply put, broadband is internet access that is faster than traditional dial-up and always on and available to use. If you are among those fortunate enough to have reliable broadband, you may not recognize the dilemma faced by approximately 1.6 million Georgians who lack access to LEARN MORE ‘Bandit’ and ‘Buford T.’ call LaGrange home Owner and president of Ragan Grading & Septic Tanks Inc. is the proud owner of an interesting find in LaGrange, Georgia. At age 16, after watching the 1977 hit film, “Smokey and the Bandit,” Ken Ragan developed a passion for Pontiac Trans Ams that he has never been able to shake. Roughly seven years ago, LEARN MORE Broccoli Salad – JOANN HAMMOND | LAGRANGE, GA. INGREDIENTS– 1 cup mayonnaise– 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar– 1/4 cup granulated sugar– 1 bunch broccoli, cut in bite-size pieces– 1/2 cup raisins– 1/2 cup sweet onions, chopped (Vidalia, if in season)– 6 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled Mix mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar together well to make dressing. Toss LEARN MORE Diverse Power’s 84th Annual Meeting of the Members On May 13, Diverse Power employees safely greeted and registered 257 consumer-members attending Diverse Power’s Annual Meeting, including 215 at the co-op’s LaGrange headquarters and 42 at Cuthbert’s Pataula District office. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated changes to this year’s meeting. The 2020 Annual Meeting of the Members was held solely for the purpose of the LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Now offering EV charging station and EV incentives Electric cars are catching on in many areas of the country, including the state of Georgia. Diverse Power is a strong believer in the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and is aiming to support EV owners by adding a quick charging station to the growing network of charging stations across the state and offering EV LEARN MORE 2019 Capital Credits Assignment All members, except those with a different contract for electric service, arehereby notified that Diverse Power’s patronage capital credit assignmentfor the year 2019 is 1.56 percent, and the total amount of capital creditsbeing assigned is $1,431,297. Because of our structure as a cooperative,each dollar a member pays in excess of the cost of providing electricity LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Diverse Power Approved fro Retail Broadband Affiliate In March 2020, Diverse Power, in conjunction with our affiliate company, Kudzu Networks Inc., became the first electric membership cooperative (EMC) in Georgia to file documents with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) in compliance with Senate Bill 2 (SB 2). On April 21, 2020, Diverse Power became the first electric membership cooperative in the LEARN MORE Tollerson Receives Cooperative Council’s Distinguished Cooperator Award Diverse Power Board Director Roy Tollerson has been named a 2020 Distinguished Cooperator by the Georgia Cooperative Council. Tollerson accepted the award at the council’s annual meeting on March 9 at the Georgia Farm Bureau headquarters in Macon. The honor goes to those who have made outstanding achievements in and exemplary service to the cooperative LEARN MORE Sausage Cheese Balls Ellen McMillian | LaGrange, GA 1 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1 pound sausage 2 1/2 cups baking mix, such as Bisquick Mix all ingredients well. Form into small balls and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until browned. Note: Be sure to shred your own cheese rather than using pre-shredded cheese; LEARN MORE Establishing roots in Calhoun It may be chilly outside, but it’s warm inside the Calhoun County UGA Cooperative Extension greenhouse. The Calhoun County Cooperative Extension received one of ten Diverse Power Foundation community grants awarded this past January and is now starting to reap the benefits of all the hard work of its volunteers. The ROOTS (Realizing Our Opportunity LEARN MORE LOOK WHO WENT ON TOUR! Selection for the weeklong leadership tour of the nation’s capital is based on an applicant’s grades, extracurricular activities, civic responsibility and leadership potential. Diverse Power annually chooses two or three delegates from its 14-county service area. Applicants submit two recommendations and write an autobiographical essay including their future plans and goals. Semifinalists are interviewed and LEARN MORE Rum Balls Recipe by: Jackie Kennedy, LaGrange, Ga. 1 (11-ounce) box vanilla wafers, finely crushed (about 2-1/4 cups crumbs) 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup powdered sugar, divided 1 cup finely chopped pecans 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 1/4 to 1/3 cup bourbon or rum In a large bowl, combine by stirring crushed vanilla wafers, cocoa LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: A time for reflection As we near the end of 2019, it’s inevitable that we take pause to reflect on the past 12 months. Simply put, 2019 has been a year of progress. Progress in education, communication and storm assistance. The spring of 2019 ushered in a new group of students eager to learn and jog down their paths LEARN MORE A simple manger started it all When Pastor Ralph Estes, of Fort Gaines, Ga., was a young boy, his parents planted a seed for a love of Christmas with a simple manger scene. As the years went by, Estes moved from Miami, Fla., to Ohio and from Ohio to Georgia, where he and his wife, Rachel, now reside. Thirty-three years ago, LEARN MORE Green Power EMC receives Green Power Leadership award Congratulations to Green Power EMC for becoming a recent recipient of the Center for Resource Solutions’ (CRS) 2019 Green Power Leadership Award in the Market Development category. Georgia’s first renewable energy program, Green Power EMC, provides electricity through its 38 member EMCs (electric membership corporations), including Diverse Power. Green Power EMC Members’ renewable energy projects LEARN MORE Service area schools demonstrate sportsmanship and class From figuring out their next steps in life to juggling extracurricular activities and schoolwork, high school students have much to accomplish—all while they develop their character and habits that will shape the rest of their lives. For those who engage in athletic activities, this is amplified as they not only worry about their actions in LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Give thanks for rural electric pioneers They did their work more than 80 years ago, and most of them have passed away. But the legacy of the men and women who petitioned, paid for and built the electric cooperative that serves your neighborhood lives on every time you turn on the lights, watch TV or charge your cellphone. This holiday season, LEARN MORE Holy COW! This cell on wheels (COW), telecom infrastructure placed on a mobile platform, will enable Diverse Power to better respond and assist natural disaster affected areas. Currently Diverse Power, Flint Energies, Snapping Shoals EMC and Cobb EMC, Harris County government and Georgia Right of Way have joined together in building a (TETRA) radio system, which efficiently LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Celebrate Cooperative Month in October October is the month when members and employees of cooperatives celebrate being part of businesses that are consumer-owned and run by the community. The nation’s consumer-owned, not for-profit electric cooperatives are unique within the $391 billion U.S. electric utility industry. More than 900 cooperatives in 47 states provide electric service to 56 percent of the LEARN MORE Church to home: Nearly 50 years in the making What used to be a Stovall community church, currently serves as a loving home to James Jackson and his wife of 62 years, Betty. In 1970, the couple purchased the church along with the 4 acres it stands on for the sum of $3,500. “We lived in LaGrange and were driving through the area one LEARN MORE Strawberry Nut Salad August Recipe – 2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin– 1 cup boiling water– 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen, sliced strawberries, thawed and drained– 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, well-drained– 2 medium bananas, mashed– 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans– 1 pint sour cream In a large container, combine gelatin with boiling water, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Fold LEARN MORE Traveling exhibition heads to Cuthbert Museum on Main Street (MoMS), part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, is headed to Cuthbert, Ga., in January. Here the traveling exhibit, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” will be on display off the square at 72 Dawson Street. Crossroads is presented in Georgia by Georgia Humanities, the Center for Public History at the LEARN MORE Receive faster responses by updating your contact information When storms strike and outages occur, Diverse Power is often flooded with calls. Having the correct contact information helps us to access account information at a lightning pace. In addition, by using the My DPI mobile app to report outages, consumer-members are able to monitor outages in real-time as well as bypass the calling queue LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Back to school As students return to school throughout Diverse Power’s service territory, I’m reminded of how important young people are to the future of our communities. In a decade or so, the teenagers starting their senior year at area high schools will be working in local businesses and serving in community organizations. A few may end up LEARN MORE Back to school safety: Dormitory 101 When the words “back to school” are uttered, most think of children returning to grade, middle and high school. Those in college are often not top of mind as they have heard the warnings of “look both ways” and “stranger danger” their entire lives. However, college students should be aware of overlooked and often under-taught LEARN MORE Introducing a new feature of Co-op Connections® Roadside Assistance is a new feature brought to the Co-op Connections program by Nation Safe Drivers (NSD). NSD has provided premier 24-hour towing and roadside assistance for over 50 years. With access to more than 45,000 towing providers nationwide, including the U.S. and Canada, you can travel with confidence wherever the road may take you. LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Rural broadband follow-up For more than 80 years, electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) have powered millions of Georgia homes, schools and businesses with reliable, affordable power. But, for many years, there has been a growing “digital divide” between rural Georgia and more urban areas, putting hundreds of thousands of Georgians without high-speed broadband internet at a tremendous disadvantage. During LEARN MORE Diverse Power Annual Meeting: 83 years and counting On May 8, 949 guests attended Diverse Power’s Annual Meeting of Members, including 824 registered consumer-members at the co-op’s LaGrange headquarters and 125 registered consumer-members at Cuthbert’s Pataula District office. Diverse Power President/CEO Wayne Livingston updated members on progress made in the Georgia General Assembly regarding rural broadband and the passing of Senate Bills SB LEARN MORE Smokin’ Mo’s Hawaiian Wings chicken seasoning of choice 4 pounds wings (drummettes and flats) 1 gallon vegetable oil 1 lemon 1 lime 4 tablespoons butter small bottle hot sauce of your choosing Season and fry wings in oil at 350 degrees until golden brown. In the meantime, slice lemon and lime into quarters. Heat butter and hot sauce to LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Get your home in shape for summer Servicing your air conditioning system and home energy efficiency are a lot like getting an oil change or tuneup for your car. Sure, it’s an expense—but it’s still cheaper than waiting until your unit breaks down to call a technician. It will also save you the stress of being left in the heat and scrambling LEARN MORE Operation Round Up cents turn into dollars Operation Round Up turns consumer-members’ cents into dollars as 37 students were recently awarded scholarships by the Diverse Power Foundation. Headed by a nine-member volunteer board, the Foundation distributes funds raised through Operation Round Up®, Diverse Power’s philanthropic program, in which consumer-members round up their power bill to the next dollar with the extra change LEARN MORE Updating Pataula’s farmers Diverse Power hosted its annual luncheon for Pataula District farmers on Jan. 18. The event brings the southwest Georgia cooperative’s senior staff and board of directors and proves to be a perfect way for farmers to communicate their needs to the co-op and for Diverse Power representatives to update farmers on improvements to the electric LEARN MORE A Word from Wayne: Rural broadband Internet connectivity has become a common thread linking advancing industries and the technology that plays an important role in our day-to- day lives at home, thus making rural broadband essential. Many industries such as manufacturing, education, agriculture and health care all depend on steady and reliable connectivity to utilize the technology of today and keep LEARN MORE April 8th is Lineman Appreciation Day Many of Georgia’s electric cooperatives, including Diverse Power, are recognizing April 8th 2019 as Lineman Appreciation Day. These men and women work in the most extreme and, at times, extremely dangerous conditions. They venture out into terrible thunder and ice storms, knowing that thousands to millions of people depend on them to keep electricity flowing. LEARN MORE Recent Posts A WORD FROM WAYNE: WHAT IS BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION? 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A member-owned cooperative, we’re delivering advanced technology, service and quality to homes and businesses in the counties we serve. Headquarters 1400 South Davis Road P.O. Box 160 LaGrange, GA 30241 Pataula District 373 U. S. Hwy 82E P.O. Box 289 Cuthbert, GA 39840 ©2006 - 2021 Diverse Power. Powered by Kelsey