It took some thinking to come up with a December topic for this column. Then I thought, let’s add a cooperative twist to a classic story. Join our old friend, Willie Wirehand, as he takes a journey through time. Like the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, Willie encounters three spirits who teach him about the past, present, and future at the cooperative.

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Willie Wirehand was in his favorite chair when suddenly a ghostly figure appeared — the Ghost of Christmas Past. The spirit took Willie back to the days when members received postcards in the mail each month so they could go to their meter and write down the current numbers. It was a time when every reading was written by hand, and members had to wait for a bill in the mail to know their usage. As they moved through scenes of snowy front porches and members filling out postcards, Willie felt great for the progress that has made life so much easier for members today.

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Before Willie knew it, he was back in his chair, but only for a moment. The clock struck again, and in rushed the Ghost of Christmas Present.

With a friendly smile, the spirit took him away to see the technology now available to Fulton County REMC members. Gone were the days of handwritten postcards and guesswork.

Willie saw a member opening the SmartHub app on their phone, glancing at their daily usage readings with just a tap. Thanks to new metering technology, members could track their electricity usage daily, helping them make informed decisions about energy consumption.

“This is incredible!” Willie exclaimed. “Members are more empowered than ever, with access to data that helps them save energy and money, all at their fingertips.”

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE

Willie had hardly taken in all he had seen when he heard the clock chime again. This time, the Ghost of Christmas Future appeared. The spirit led Willie to a scene of a snow-covered town. The power had gone out in a few homes, but thanks to SmartHub’s future capabilities, members received an instant text notification as soon as the power went out. Even better, once the power was restored, they received a text notifying them, providing peace of mind and comfort.

THE LESSON OF WILLIE WIREHAND’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

Willie Wirehand woke up with a new appreciation for the technology that serves Fulton County REMC members and excitement for what’s to come. This Christmas season let’s remember that the heart of the cooperative is not only in the power we deliver but in ways to help us serve our members better, year after year. From all of us at Fulton County REMC, have a wonderful Christmas! Follow us on social media for future updates, and don’t forget to sign up for outage notifications through your SmartHub app!