What's everyone's thoughts about Tri-State Electric Membership Corp.?

Glad to see the local paper doing some "digging" there...

Me thinks we should all go solar and stop this pay pay pay madness.

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"A better educated community benefits everyone"

The prob with solar is that it always doesn't meet the needs of the homeowner and its still quite expensive. Here in Ga we have hot humid summers and cold winters. Because of this, we have the need for a constant energy supply to regulate our home's environment. I've checked in on it and it runs around $70,000 for a full install. If i take my average Tri-State bill now and multiply it by 30 years it only come to little over $43,000. Thats a big difference in price. What we need to help bridge the gap until solar is more cost effective for us here locally is more competition. We have the Energy Barons who are basically giving us all the shaft because they know we either pay it or go back to the Stone Age.

What I am referring to is specifically how does Tri State stack up (or fail) to other electric companies you have dealt with in other places?

We all would certainly would prefer to not have to use an electric company at all, but in reality that wont be happening anytime soon.

It is interesting how Fannin County is basically the only area in North Georgia that is not supplied by Georgia Power on a wholesale basis and instead buys its power from TVA (which in theory should mean lower rates to the consumer). However apparently Georgia Power is providing power more economically to areas around Fannin (Gilmer, etc.) and it is a private, investor owned utility instead of a governmental agency.

In addition, the customer service at TriState leaves much to be desired, in my opinion. They seem to do everything possible to make your experience dealing with them as difficult and distasteful as possible - especially if you "aint from 'round here". Georgia Power seems to take the opposite approach and tries to go the extra mile for their customers. And Tri-State is SUPPOSED to be owned by the so called "members" - ha!

It sounds like the top management there dosen't give one hoot about positive economic development in the area and really is not up to the challenge of being a key player in making sure good things happen and come to the area. Hopefully someone will shed some light on this as time goes by and things can change for the better.

I too have investigated Solar power Amos and I came to the same conclusion. Great Idea and it is environmentally friendly but it is just expensive to get going. Great post that I agree with 100%

I checked out alternative energy when I was building my commercial building...quarter mil...

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A bad day off road is better than a good day at work.

I mentioned this if you remember a month back in here but really did not get much of a response. I guess the power of the paper is stronger then my mentioning it. LOL

We have only been in Blue Ride about a year now and have already noticed a pretty large jump in our monthly bill. In the ATL we had about the same square footage, ran the air conditioner in the summer (no air conditioning here) and our bills were lower in Atlanta. Hmmmmm.

Tri State also charges a minimum charge of about $35 per month - even if there is 0 usage - just for having the service connected. Georgia Power does not do this either.

Did you also know that if you called them and asked them to come out and check on your meter outside your house to make sure it is working properly...They will charge you to do it. They are the only Power company to do that. Unbelievable.