Manage Efficiency and Find Incentives
TVA's Energy Right Solutions® and eScore® programs help NGEMC Members save energy and money.
*A note on eScore: After Sept. 15, 2018, any rebate application submitted to the eScore Program for the following upgrades will no longer be eligible for rebate: Air Sealing, Attic Insulation, Heat Pump Water Heater, Heat Pump, Geothermal Heat Pump, Dual Fuel Heat Pump, Central Air Conditioning, Tune-Up, and Duct System. Rebates will be available before Sept. 15 until funds are depleted. Rebates and incentives will continue when switching to select electric appliances or systems from gas or other fuel.
FilterEasy® with NGEMC
NGEMC has partnered with FilterEasy® to offer a convenient air filter subscription service that helps improve air quality and reduce energy use. FilterEasy delivers new air filters to your doorstep just when it's time to change your HVAC system filters. Your first shipment is free when you subscribe.
Surge Protector FAQ
Today more than ever, your world depends on electronics. Whether you are using a computer, watching TV, or charging a smart phone, the quality of your power is critical.
A surge is a sudden, quick increase in voltage. Though usually small and unnoticed by you, over time these surges can damage sensitive electronic equipment. In an average home, these small surges can occur many times a day.
Yes, refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, copier machines, laser printers, hair dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and power tools—just to name a few—are responsible for creating surges.
Surges created by a storm or single lightning strike near your home can seriously damage electronics. Power lines and utility poles that are damaged by animals, fallen tree limbs, and car accidents can also cause surges. Surges can enter your home through telephone, CATV, or power lines.
You can start with installing a “circuit panel” or “service entrance” style surge protector (also referred to as a surge suppression device) in your home. This device either reduces electricity spikes, or stops them from entering the house all together. This will protect your larger appliances, such as ranges, water heaters, washers, dryers, dishwashers and motors. A qualified electrician or your local utility can ensure proper installation. Proper installation is key because even the best surge protector in the world is useless unless it is correctly installed.
But don’t stop here! To further protect your electronic equipment against surge damage, you need to install a surge protection device within fifteen feet of that equipment. This can be done with a simple plug-in unit or one that wires directly to your equipment.
The best way to protect yourself form surges is through the combination of service entrance surge protectors, and additional protection 15 feet from electronics.
Not necessarily. Damaging surges can enter your home through phone and cable circuits just as easily as power lines. The same rule applies as before: protect your phone and cable cords within fifteen feet of your equipment. At locations that combine electric power with either cable television or telephone, make sure that the surge protector protects everything.
Yes. A surge protection device is only as effective as the electrical grounding circuit that is made available to it. Surge protection devices divert surge current to grounding wires in your home and then ultimately to earth where they are safely diverted away from your equipment.
A qualified electrician or your local utility can make that determination for you. Since most permanently wired surge protectors will require an electrician for installation, this may be a good time to have your grounding examined. Additionally, surge protection strips are only effective if used on three-prong (grounded) outlets.
No. Like most products, surge protectors vary in quality. Careful attention must be paid to how a surge protector meets your requirements. Read the information on the box carefully and consult the information under the "Surge protector checklist" heading.
Look for surge protection devices that carry a “UL 1449” label. Surge protectors also carry a “joule” and/or “surge-current” rating. The higher the rating of these two categories, the better is the quality of the internal surge-stopping components. Another important performance characteristic is the “clamping voltage.” This is the voltage that the surge protector will let through to your equipment before it diverts it to ground. A quality device will have status lights that will display correct input wiring configuration and failure indicator lights or buzzers to signify whether the device is working properly. See Surge Protector Checklist tab for more information.
Expect to pay about $45–$100 for a higher quality eight-outlet plug strip with an internal phone protector. Stay away from those $8 specials. A residential circuit panel-mounted surge protector of higher quality will cost in excess of $100.
No. A variety of conditions can indicate that it is time to replace surge protectors. Two of the most prevalent signals are a failure indicator light going off and/or a buzzer sounding. Some surge protection strips are also designed to permanently turn off upon failure.
Contact NGEMC's Energy Services team who can provide information about proper selection, installation and use.
- UL Listing (“UL 1449 Listed” is good. “UL 1449 Revision 2” is better).The following terms do not indicate adequate surge protection: “UL tested,” “meets UL,” and “UL.” The surge protector should indicate that it is “UL listed.”
- For a plug strip, the clamping voltage should be UL 330 volts, the surge-current rating should be at least 36,000 amps, and the joule rating should be at least 360 joules.
- For permanently installed surge protection, the clamping voltage should be no more than UL 400 volts, the surge-current rating should be at least 36,000 amps, and the joule rating should be at least 360 joules.
- Failure indicator light or buzzer
- Status light (for indicating proper wiring and grounding)
- Recessed on/off switch on strip surge protectors
- Multi-mode protection (line to neutral, line to ground, neutral to ground)
- Adequate plug spacing (wide enough to plug in power supplies if needed)
It is highly recommended that a surge protection device incorporates phone/modem and/or coax protection to cover all plug-in connections and any given piece of electronic equipment.
Surge Protector for TVs and VCRs should also include:
- Coax plugs
Surge Protectors for Computers, Telephones, and Telephone Answering Machines should also include:
- Telephone line plugs
Renewable Energy at NGEMC
Meet WattSun, NGEMC's exploration into solar power and learn more about TVA's Green Power Switch and Green Power Provider programs.
Incentives and Rebates

Water Heater Replacement incentives are available to qualifying customers through the TVA Energy Right Solutions for the Home Water Heater Program.
Small commercial customers may also be eligible for water heater replacement initiatives.
Rebates in the form of bill credits are available to qualifying NGEMC customers who replace their old water heater in existing homes with a new, all-electric model. Customers must meet the following requirements before bill-credits can be applied.
- Provide proof-of-purchase within 60 days of purchase along with model and serial number and proof from manufacturer or retailer that water heater is all-electric, has a DOE minimum energy factor of 0.86 and has a minimum tank size of 30 gallons,
- Complete and sign a rebate application. (Application is subject to approval.)
- Water heater must be installed at location designated on account to be credited.
- Water heater is subject to onsite validation inspection.
- Limit one to two water heaters per household.
For single family dwellings:
- $25 bill credit: replace water heater with a standard electric water heater
- $50 bill credit: replace water heater with a qualifying high-efficiency electric water heater.
- Must have a minimum tank warranty of 10 years and an energy factor of 0.90 or higher,
- May also be classified as a heat/pump/water heater, or
- May be classified as an integrated water heating system that combines water heating with the heating/cooling system.
For more information, log onto www.energyright.com and search “Water Heaters.”
LED Outdoor Lighting
Learn more about adding an outdoor light maintained by NGEMC to your account.
Getting Started
New to NGEMC or need to move existing service to a new location? Get started here.
Contact Us
1850 Cleveland Highway
Dalton, GA 30721
Phone: 706.259.9441
Lobby and drive-through open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
3368 Battlefield Parkway
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Phone: .706.866.2231
Lobby and drive-through open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
1128 South Wall Street
Calhoun, GA 30701
Phone: 706.629.3160
Lobby and drive-through open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
13822 Highway 27
Trion, GA 30753
Phone: 706.734.7341
Lobby and drive-through open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday.