Connect
July
‘26
While summer brings opportunities for travel, outdoor activities and time together, it also brings higher temperatures. At EnergyUnited, we remain committed to delivering reliable service while helping you manage energy usage. As summer temperatures rise and air conditioners work harder during hot afternoons and evenings, we wanted to remind members of a few simple ways to stay comfortable while also having more control over monthly electric bills. As a reminder, our new residential rate includes a significantly lower summer energy charge, which has decreased from 7.76 cents per kilowatt-hour under the previous rate to 4.87 cents per kilowatt-hour under the new rate.
While much of the discussion has focused on the new peak demand charge, the reduction in the cost of energy itself has often been overlooked. The new rate also includes a peak demand charge based on a member’s highest period of electricity use during peak demand hours each month. This approach is intended to more fairly align costs with periods when the electric system experiences the greatest strain. While any changes members choose to make are completely voluntary, members who create larger spikes in usage during peak hours will see higher demand charges under the new rate structure. Simple actions like setting a low-cost smart thermostat a few degrees higher, using ceiling fans and spacing out the use of major appliances like dishwashers, ovens, washing machines and dryers can make a noticeable difference. Running large appliances at different times instead of all at once during peak hours can help members better manage monthly peak demand and take greater advantage of the lower energy charge. If you have elderly family members or others who are more vulnerable to heat, your comfort and safety come first. Please visit our website or contact us for additional tips, tools and resources to help you stay cool and comfortable this summer.
Just as we work in partnership to power your home efficiently and reliably for the future, we are equally committed to empowering communities through meaningful acts of service. Throughout the year, we are proud to support initiatives that reflect the cooperative spirit of compassion, leadership and service. One recent example highlighted in this issue of Connect is our international service project in Guatemala, the Brighter World Initiative. Through this effort, EnergyUnited linemen and leaders helped bring electricity to families, schools and a health clinic for the first time. Their work reflects not only technical skills but a deep commitment to service, safety and human dignity.
That same cooperative spirit that is rooted in our commitment to people and community continues here at home through programs that support local students and young leaders. We are also excited to celebrate another successful year of our Sports Camp program. These camps give young people across our service area the chance to build leadership skills, strengthen teamwork and grow confidence while learning from experienced coaches and mentors. We congratulate our 2026 Sports Camp scholarship winners: Skylar McKiver, Jayden Aponte and Clayton Goodwin.
We are also honored to recognize the winners of our 2026 Empowering the Future Scholarship: Emerson Bishop and Grace Baker. These outstanding students represent the bright future of our communities through their academic achievements, leadership and dedication to service. We are proud to support their educational journeys and look forward to the positive impact they will have in the years ahead.
Thank you for allowing EnergyUnited to serve your homes, businesses and communities. We wish you a happy and safe Independence Day as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great nation.
Warm regards,
Thomas Golden, CEO
By signing up for Text Outage Alerts you’ll stay informed on all things EnergyUnited. Sign up on the My EnergyHub app with these simple steps:
Step 1: Log on to My EnergyHub.
Step 2: Go to Settings.
Step 3: Click on “Contact Methods” and toggle the phone number to “Receive Text Messages.”
Step 4: Go back to the Settings screen and click “Manage Notifications.”
Step 5: Click “Service” and check the notifications you would like to receive. Enjoy timely alerts sent right to your phone!
Please check EnergyUnited’s social media channels for the latest information during major storms.
EnergyUnited lineworkers recently traveled more than 2,800 miles to help bring electricity to the rural Guatemalan village of El Plan Nuevo Amanecer for the first time.
Four EnergyUnited lineworkers, Chad Huffstetler, Levi Walker, Blake Ledford and Grey Karriker, joined EnergyUnited CEO Thomas Golden and Board President Brian Sisson as part of a 15-person volunteer team representing eight North Carolina electric cooperatives.
Over three weeks, crews hand-built more than three miles of power line across rugged terrain without the use of bucket trucks or heavy equipment. The project brought electricity to more than 50 homes, a school, two churches and the community’s only health clinic.
The effort was coordinated through North Carolina Electric Cooperatives’ Brighter World Initiative in partnership with the NRECA International Foundation. In addition to building power infrastructure, volunteers also helped refurbish the village health clinic and delivered medical supplies.
Access to electricity is expected to improve educational opportunities, support local businesses and increase safety throughout the community. Families can also now cook using electric burners instead of open indoor fires.
The project concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the village school, where residents and volunteers celebrated the milestone together.
District 1
District 2
District 3
This updated list is subject to change.
For more information, please email
cande.committee@energyunited.com or contact General Counsel Roy L. McDonald II at (704) 450-4671.
We are honored to recognize the winners of our 2026 Empowering the Future Scholarship: Emerson Bishop and Grace Baker. These two individuals will be attending Coastal Carolina University and the University of South Carolina respectively. Our cooperative is excited to invest in these outstanding students as they begin their collegiate studies.
EnergyUnited was thrilled to send Skylar McKiver to the Wolfpack Basketball Camp at North Carolina State University and Jayden Aponte and Clayton Goodwin to the Carolina Basketball Camp at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These young athletes were given the opportunity to learn from top-tier coaches and grow their skills and leadership qualities. Congratulations to Skylar, Jayden and Clayton!
Skylar McKiver
Jayden Aponte
Clayton Goodwin
In April, EnergyUnited joined electric cooperatives from across the nation in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 Legislative Conference. During the conference, EnergyUnited leaders met with members of Congress to advocate for legislation that supports electric cooperative members.
From strengthening infrastructure financing to improving disaster recovery and managing future energy growth, EnergyUnited leaders emphasized policies that help protect affordability and reliability for cooperative members.
Strengthening Rural Utility Financing
EnergyUnited urged lawmakers to increase funding for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Loan Program, which has supported rural electric infrastructure since 1936. As electric demand continues to grow from advanced manufacturing and increased electrification, cooperatives depend on low-cost RUS financing to upgrade generation, transmission and distribution systems without placing unnecessary financial pressure on cooperative members.
Beyond rising energy demand, EnergyUnited also relies on low-cost RUS financing to support continued population growth across the cooperative’s service territory and to meet expectations for reliability and resiliency. Affordable access to capital helps co-ops make long-term infrastructure investments that strengthen the grid, support new development and maintain the high level of service members expect.
Modernizing Permitting and Environmental Reviews
Discussions also focused on modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by supporting the SPEED Act. EnergyUnited supports reform efforts that would streamline permitting timelines, clarify when federal environmental reviews are required and reduce unnecessary delays that can slow critical energy projects. These changes would help cooperatives respond more efficiently to growing energy needs while continuing responsible environmental stewardship.
Improving Disaster Recovery and Grid Resilience
EnergyUnited leaders continued to voice support for the FEMA Act of 2025, which would improve disaster recovery efforts for rural communities. Proposed reforms in the bill would accelerate reimbursement timelines, allow recovery of interest costs tied to emergency restoration loans and prioritize resiliency investments that strengthen infrastructure before future storms occur. These updates would help protect electric reliability while minimizing financial impacts on cooperative members.
From infrastructure investments to disaster recovery and future energy planning, EnergyUnited remains committed to working with legislators to support policies that help our cooperative deliver safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to members.
AI-generated images are getting more convincing, but they still leave clues if you know where to look. From an IT and security perspective, knowing the difference is key to avoiding misinformation, fraud and personal risk.
The biggest giveaway? Details that don’t follow real-world logic. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when trying to decipher real photos versus AI-generated photos:
Start with anatomy. AI often struggles with the human body. Look for the wrong number of fingers, awkward hand positioning or missing details. Proportions can feel slightly off too, even if you can’t immediately explain why.
Check text and branding. Logos, uniforms or signs may look accurate at a glance but often include warped letters or subtle misspellings. Lighting and shadows are another clue. If they don’t align or seem inconsistent across the image, something may be off.
Scan the background. Repeating people, blurred objects or warped lines (like buildings or railings) can signal AI generation.
Bottom line: If it doesn’t follow real-world human anatomy or logic, take a closer look. Zoom in, question the details and trust your instincts. AI still leaves fingerprints.
As temperatures rise, so can your energy use, but a few simple adjustments around the home can help keep your family comfortable while managing summer energy costs. Here are several practical ways EnergyUnited members can improve energy efficiency during hot weather months:
Spread Out Your Usage. Beat the heat and the peak. Save energy when it matters most. Shifting appliance use to off-peak times during hot afternoons can support more efficient energy use for everyone.
Use Ceiling Fans Wisely. Ceiling fans can help rooms feel several degrees cooler, allowing you to raise your thermostat without sacrificing comfort. Remember: Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave the space to save energy.
Keep Blinds and Drapes Closed: Closing curtains, blinds or blackout drapes on hot afternoons can help keep indoor temperatures lower and reduce the workload on your HVAC system.
Use a Smart Thermostat: Programming your smart thermostat to reduce peak demand can help alleviate strain on the grid. Even a one degree increase in heating or reduction in cooling on your thermostat can change energy use by 3–5%.
Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance: A professional inspection can ensure your system is running at peak performance before the hottest days of summer arrive.
Small changes can make a big difference over the course of the summer. Your family and your wallet may just thank you for it
For more energy efficiency tips
