I am a member/customer of Cobb EMC. Over the last several years I have been actively involved in getting a new board of directors elected and supported change at the EMC to encourage open governance that is focused on low rates and fairness to member/customers.
The Ripoff Report alleging an illegal charge to customers is innacurate on its two major points.
Firstly, the Round-up Charge for charity is strictly voluntary. Member/customers can opt out of the charge and Cobb EMC will even refund any Round-up payments made for the entire year if a customer so chooses.
Secondly, the money collected from the Round-up charge is donated to charities that are vetted by an independent committee of member/customerss in good standing that are selected by the Board of Directors. This committee represents a cross section of the EMC's electricity consumers.
Prior to the new Board there was no clear charge on a rate payer's bill that reflected how much of the bill was being donated to charity. Furthermore, the donations were made internally by a committee of Cobb EMC employees with no oversite by members/customers.
The new Board of Directors has done a great job on this issue by making the whole processs transparent and allowing customer/members to opt out of the Round-up Charge if they choose.
