Colquitt EMC

To simply add power to a small storage shed turned out to be an absolute nightmare!!! Initial contact and communications were very promising.

The only real request I had was to be notified "at least" 2 days in advance of EMC's arrival to move / install power, so I could schedule time off work to be on sight. (I work 40 to 50 hours a week and MUST schedule for this !!). I was assured by 2 different EMC individuals that this was not a problem, as they had my contact information. I get a call for initial inspection the same day I requested service, instructing me on payment and procedures, and was assured the crew would be at my location first thing in the morning to limit my time off from work.

WOW - things are looking great!! When I get home that same day, I observe tire marks all over my backyard, which have created ruts on top of my septic drain field! Ok, I can overlook this, just so long as there's no damage done. Pay the required fee 2 days later (by personal check [my receipt] thank goodness).

I was instructed that work wouldn't be performed until after Thanksgiving. No problem! This is where things go downhill in a hurry!! 2 weeks after this date," I CALL" to inquire about install.

I was told that NO work order is found - MUST pay first or did I receive a white, yellow or pink copy of work order when I made payment? (Which I did not!) I informed this individual that there is a credit on my EMC account with an assigned EMC location number. After 3 return phone calls from an individual who at this time seams VERY irritated, I am told it was "an internal paperwork error" (NO apology by the way !!). I reminded them of notification of service, so I could plan accordingly.

An individual "shouts" from across the room - Thursday or Friday!! I politely asked them which day. "THURSDAY" was the rude reply! It's not over yet!

At 9am Thursday, I call to inquire about crew arrival time. NO answer - having to leave voice message. I go to work at this time only to have the EMC crew show up at 10am with NO notification!!! WOW - first thing in the morning is 10 am!!!

I leave work and hurry home to find the crew using a mini excavator digging a trench to install a power line, even though I was told they would be using a trencher to minimize yard damage. I was told trencher was needed somewhere else! Really?? I notice at this time the ground rods have been damaged by the excavator, and I was assured it would be repaired.

After informing the crew of a water line, guess what happens next? You got it!! I must add that the crew did repair the water line. Work is progressing along nicely now when all of a sudden "everyone" stops working!

ITS LUNCH TIME! Its 11:30am! WHAT?!? I ask if I needed to be on sight for the remainder of the job?

I was told by the crew that it was not necessary for me to be on sight. MISTAKE on my part!! Upon arriving home later that day I found the ground rods had not been repaired, there were EMC location flags partially buried (not removed), pieces of installation waste lying around, a large piece of old wire with a disconnect box connected to it lying in the yard and a very poor attempt at covering up the trench. However, thank goodness there was power to our shed!!!

We spent over 2 back braking hours repairing what I feel was EMC's responsibility!! VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED in what should be a profession company!

The power company guys wanted to spray our trees/yard with poison. We asked them to cut the branches instead.

They said they would come back to trim branches... but they did not.. It touched the transformer and blew out our power. We have been without electricity all day.

No well water, no way to cook, refrigerators cant run. And at 4 pm they still have not come out to address the issue. I am not happy. My freezers and refrigerator- meat and groceries -will be ruined.

They have wasted at least 8 hours with power off. I would have expected that a transformer was high priority, but obviously it is not.