Flippin' the Switch
Flippin' the Switch
S7 E1: New Year, Smarter Power with Member Services
Your winter bill doesn’t have to be a mystery. We sit down with Member Services representative Staci Berkner to unpack the hidden habits that raise costs, the simple tweaks that actually work, and the free tools that help you manage energy like a pro. From the 68-degree thermostat baseline to spotting when auxiliary heat kicks in, we walk through how to interpret your daily usage, connect it to real-life choices, and act before a small spike becomes an expensive surprise.
We also highlight key dates and opportunities around the cooperative, including the virtual annual meeting streaming Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m., and details on youth basketball camp scholarships for rising sixth and seventh graders. Along the way, you’ll get winter readiness tips, safety reminders, and a clear path to making 2026 your most efficient year yet. Ready to take control? Follow your daily usage, try one small habit change this week, and explore the free EnergyWise tools at joemc.com.
Welcome back, listeners, and happy 2026. We're kicking off the new year with the focus on smarter energy use and simple habits that can make a real difference at home. You've heard the phrase new year, new me, and we're helping you turn that into action with easy tips and tricks to improve how and when you use your energy. And what better way to do that than speaking with one of our own member service representatives? Today we'll be talking with Stacey Berkner, an MSR here at Jones Onslow. Hey Stacy, thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER_00:Hi, thank you.
SPEAKER_01:So, how long have you been an MSR at Jones Onslow? And did you start off in that position?
SPEAKER_00:I did start off in that position and I started in April of 2021.
SPEAKER_01:So almost five years. So I've got a list of questions that I'm sure our members would love to know the answer to and planning their new year and just how they can be smarter around the home. So you ready?
SPEAKER_00:Yes, ma'am.
SPEAKER_01:Awesome. So for listeners who may not interact with member services often, can you explain how you and your team help Jones Onslow members day to day? What do you mainly talk about when you receive phone calls? Kind of run me through what a normal conversation with a member would look like and your day-to-day.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. So typically we are the frontline, so the first contact for members. Um, so we assist them from anything with taking payments to um discussing usage, um, even down to setting up, like if they have a new construction home or a business and they need to speak with engineers. Um, we, you know, point them in that direction and set up um those services so that the engineers can contact them.
SPEAKER_01:Great. And what are the most common questions or concerns members bring to member services at the start of a new year? I'm sure you get your regular calls that you know how to address, but around this time of year, what are you typically hearing from our members?
SPEAKER_00:Um, so of course, they, you know, a lot of the questions revolve around their usage and the ways to save, um, especially, you know, with the holiday changes and of course Thanksgiving and Christmas just passing. Um, and those things typically use, you know, a little bit more usage. For sure. Um, but then also, you know, this time of year they do bring up, you know, our virtual annual meeting coming up and um the capital credit season coming.
SPEAKER_01:So what are some everyday habits you see that can really impact a member's energy bill without them even realizing it?
SPEAKER_00:Um, so things that actually impact it, you know, with usage um is like leaving your lights on, um, leaving unused appliances plugged in. Um, and of course, you know, running like multiple small loads of laundry or the dishwasher. So if you can tweak those things just a little bit, then that can certainly like save um your usage. But those are that as well as like HVAC system, you know, those are the things that use a lot of your usage. Um, so those small changes can help.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, so let's talk about the Jones Onslow app and member portal. What tools are available to help members track their energies there?
SPEAKER_00:Um, so we actually have some really great tools on the mobile app as well as the website. Um, both of them you can use your like see your daily usage. Um, so you can track that daily, but then also um more so like on the website, we have a lot of energy saving tools and tricks um under our energy-wise tab. There is a it's the home energy calculator. And there's like a simple form to it, then also a more advanced tool. Um, the simple one, you it gives you options to choose like your square footage of your home and the type of appliances you have. I mean, it actually gives you like an estimated what you should be using. And then there's also another one, the home energy users and losers, which then pinpoints, you know, what uses the most in your home and you know what uses only a little bit. It actually gives you a percentage.
SPEAKER_01:That's great. So members can know exactly where their energy is going and from what appliance or system in their home. That's right, that's great. And those tools on our website are free for our members to use, correct? Absolutely. So you do not have to pay for these features. You simply just log on to our website, you go to our energy-wise tab, and all of those resources will be available to you. How can members use daily usage notifications to become better energy managers?
SPEAKER_00:Uh well, it's information that is easy to connect to real life. I mean, once you get that notification, um, you can pretty much reflect on the day before because it's going to be the usage from the day before. So you can think, you know, if you had extra guests over, if you did do extra laundry, or if the weather was extremely cold or rainy or hot, but it helps you kind of take a look at that and remember that way you can make small adjustments, or if you know your usage is exactly where you want it to be, then you know, give yourself a high five and keep going with what you were doing.
SPEAKER_01:And for those alerts, do those alerts help members avoid bill surprises and just kind of equip them with the knowledge to know, okay, I'm using way too much energy versus okay, I'm I'm in a good spot.
SPEAKER_00:Right. So it will kind of give you an idea like, well, I used, you know, a little bit more usage than what I normally do. I need to kind of get that figured out. Or if it's an excessive amount, then you know that's kind of an indicator something may be going on. Right. Um, and so you can start investigating it a lot sooner versus waiting a whole month.
SPEAKER_01:So it definitely allows you to prepare if there's anything going on in your home, um, if you need to get your HVAC serviced and stuff like that. So that's great. Once members see their energy use data, what's the next step to turning that information into real savings?
SPEAKER_00:Just making effective changes or realizing something's not right and being able to investigate it sooner.
SPEAKER_01:So obviously, we are in a very cold season. Our energy usage is gonna spike because of our HVAC usage sometimes. Um, just being conscious of that, I feel like is at the forefront of a lot of messaging that we put out on social media to educate members. But as an MSR, do you find there's anything else in the home that makes that energy use spike besides the HVAC system?
SPEAKER_00:So there is. Um, if anything is malfunctioning with your HVAC system or your hot water heater, both of those things um can cause a significant spike.
SPEAKER_01:So watch that water heater and also make sure that you do not turn up that temperature too much, that auxiliary heat will come on. It's a nightmare. So just being able to be aware of what we need to do in our homes, that it really does make a difference on your bill.
SPEAKER_00:Yep. We recommend the heat to be at 68.
SPEAKER_01:68 degrees, everybody. You heard it here first. So during this time of year, what's your favorite part about helping members understand their energies better?
SPEAKER_00:Um, honestly, just helping them understand their energies, um, educating them so that they can take charge and be aware of what's going on in their space, education and powers.
SPEAKER_01:Totally. I know that before I started working here at Jones Onslow, you know, you get thrown into all this knowledge about the electric utility industry, but also your daily usage. And, you know, I know myself I'm in my home mindlessly, you know, doing things that I need to get done, touching my thermostat, using hot water. And I just am going about my normal day. Sometimes we really just don't realize how much energy we're expending in multiple ways in our home. So knowledge is power, always. So closing out our questions, what is your top piece of advice for members who want to make 2026 their most energy efficient year yet?
SPEAKER_00:Um, my biggest advice would be to use the tools on the mobile app and website, uh, stay aware of your usage and focus on the small manageable changes because they can make a big difference. Um, and of course, if members ever have questions, we're always happy and willing to help.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, ma'am. And what number can they call to reach you guys?
SPEAKER_00:Um, so our number is 910-353-1940.
SPEAKER_01:And they will answer any and all questions you guys might have. And as always, please head to our website www.joemc.com for all of this information. Also, those energy saving tools that Stacey was talking about, those are free to our members. We have tools of all different shapes and sizes for you to be set up for success in 2026. Well, what better way to prepare ourselves for success this year by talking to one of our MSRs? Stacy, thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you. Mark your calendars. Jones Onslow EMC is excited to share that our annual meeting will once again be held virtually in 2026. The virtual meeting will stream live on Friday, March 27th at 10 a.m. During the meeting, we'll highlight the cooperative's accomplishments over the past year, share updates on ongoing initiatives, and discuss plans for the future. And just like in previous years, members can look forward to some great prizes. Registration details coming soon. Your cooperative, your meeting, and your chance to be part of the action. Hey there, listeners. Natalie here with the very first edition of What's Happening for 2026. Let's jump in. The new year has ushered in some pretty chilly weather. When winter weather strikes, Jones Onslow EMC members can count on their cooperative to be ready. Long before the first cold snap arrives, our crew and staff are always preparing to keep power flowing safely and reliably, no matter what the forecast holds. Members can play a role in staying safe and comfortable during winter storms by taking a few simple steps. Number one, prepare an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, blankets, and non-perishable food. Number two, charge phones and devices ahead of storms and keep a battery-powered radio on hand. Number three, stay informed by bookmarking our outage map and following Jones Onslo EMC on social media. Number four, avoid downed power lines and report them immediately. And number five, plan ahead for medical needs if you rely on electricity for medical equipment. Winter weather can be unpredictable, but preparation makes all the difference. As a member-owned cooperative, Jones Onslo is committed to keeping you safe, informed, and powered through every season. Jones Onslo EMC is now accepting applications for rising sixth or seventh graders for scholarships to attend basketball camps at two North Carolina universities this summer. Young men can apply for a scholarship to attend the Carolina Basketball School, which will be held June 27th through the 30th at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Young women can apply for a spot at the Wolfpack Women's Basketball Camp, which will be held June 14th through the 17th at NC State University in Raleigh. The scholarships cover all expenses at the overnight camps, which provide a glimpse into life on a college campus. To apply, students must be a sixth or seventh grade student during the 2026-2027 school year at a qualifying school. The application is open and it must be submitted by March 31st. To learn more and apply, visit NCelectric Cooperatives.com/slash sport dash camps. During the winter months, your heating system works harder to keep your home comfortable. If you notice higher energy use this time of year, your heat pumps auxiliary heat, commonly known as heat strips, may be playing a role. Heat strips are important parts of your system, but knowing when and how they operate can help you use energy more efficiently and manage your electric bill. If your system frequently runs in auxiliary mode during milder winter weather, when temperatures are above 35 to 40 degrees, or if you notice your energy bills are consistently higher than expected, it may be worth having a licensed HVAC professional check your system to ensure it's operating properly. While we can't control winter weather, we can control how we use energy at home. You can help your heating system run more efficiently and manage winter energy costs by adjusting thermostat settings gradually, avoiding unnecessary use of auxiliary heat, and use a programmable thermostat when possible. For more energy saving tips and resources, visit the energywise section at joemc.com. Stay plugged in and view our monthly e-newsletter online on our website or follow us on social media for more updates on what's happening at your co op. I'm Natalie signing off. Well, folks, that's all for today's episode of Flippin' the Switch. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with Jim and Zillin's flow. We'll see y'all next time.