Otis Singleton
Georgia has 41 electric cooperatives, also known as electric membership corporations (EMCs) or rural electric membership corporations (REMCs). These cooperatives have been serving Georgia's rural regions and counties since the mid-1930s and, as of 2016, they provided electricity to 157 of the state's 159 counties, covering approximately 73% of Georgia's land area. The cooperatives are represented by Georgia EMC, a statewide trade association that works to advance the political and economic interests of its members.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of electric cooperatives | 41 |
| Percentage of counties served by electric cooperatives | 73% |
| Number of counties served by electric cooperatives | 157 |
| Total number of counties | 159 |
| Number of Georgians served by electric cooperatives (millions) | ~2-3 |
| Number of Georgians employed by electric cooperatives | 6,000+ |
| Number of distribution lines operated by electric cooperatives | 195,000+ |
| Diversity of board members (cooperatives with known data) | 96.5% White, 3.5% African-American, 0% Hispanic |
| Diversity of the state population | 54.3% White, 31.5% Black, 9.3% Hispanic |
| Gender diversity of the state population | 48.8% Men, 51.2% Women |
| Gender diversity of cooperative board members | 90.9% Men, 9.1% Women |
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What You'll Learn
- Georgia EMC: a statewide trade association representing all 41 co-ops
- Oglethorpe Power Corporation: one of the nation's largest power supply cooperatives
- Georgia Transmission Corporation: generates electricity for Georgia's electric cooperatives
- Georgia System Operations Corporation: manages electrical systems, software, and cybersecurity
- Green Power EMC: the first renewable energy provider for Georgia's electric cooperatives
Georgia EMC: a statewide trade association representing all 41 co-ops
Georgia EMC is a statewide trade association that has been representing all 41 of Georgia's electric cooperatives (also known as electric membership corporations or EMCs) since the mid-1930s. Georgia EMC works to further the political and economic interests of the state's co-ops, which are scattered across Georgia's rural regions and counties.
The 41 co-ops that are members of Georgia EMC include Altamaha EMC, Amicalola EMC, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Canoochee EMC, Carroll EMC, Central Georgia EMC, Coastal Electric Cooperative, Cobb EMC, Colquitt EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Diverse Power, Excelsior EMC, Flint Energies, Grady EMC, GreyStone Power Corporation, Habersham EMC, Hart EMC, Irwin EMC, Jackson EMC, Jefferson Energy Cooperative, Little Ocmulgee EMC, Middle Georgia EMC, Mitchell EMC, North Georgia EMC, Ocmulgee EMC, Oconee EMC, Okefenokee REMC, Planters EMC, Rayle EMC, Satilla REMC, Sawnee EMC, Slash Pine EMC, Snapping Shoals EMC, Southern Rivers Energy, Sumter EMC, Three Notch EMC, Tri-County EMC, Tri-State EMC, Upson EMC, Walton EMC, and Washington EMC.
In 2016, these 41 co-ops provided electricity to 157 of Georgia's 159 counties, or approximately 73% of the state's land area. Georgia EMC also represents Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC), Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC), and Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC). Oglethorpe Power Corporation, for example, is one of the nation's largest power supply cooperatives and primary energy producers in Georgia. Georgia System Operations, on the other hand, manages and monitors the electrical system, demand, software systems, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection for the EMCs.
Georgia EMC lobbies lawmakers to ensure that new laws benefit its members and partners with the Georgia Department of Economic Development to assist co-ops in improving the economic vitality of the communities they serve.
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Oglethorpe Power Corporation: one of the nation's largest power supply cooperatives
Georgia has around 41 electric cooperatives, also known as electric membership corporations (EMCs) or rural electric membership corporations (REMCs). These cooperatives have been serving Georgia's rural regions and counties since the mid-1930s, providing electricity to a significant portion of the state's counties and land area.
One of the notable electric cooperatives in Georgia is the Oglethorpe Power Corporation, which is among the nation's largest power supply cooperatives. Oglethorpe Power was formed in 1974 as a not-for-profit cooperative owned by the 38 electric membership corporations that it serves. The utility's headquarters are in Tucker, Georgia. Oglethorpe Power handles electricity generation, while Georgia Transmission Corporation owns and operates the transmission lines and substations, and Georgia System Operations Corporation provides system and administrative support.
Oglethorpe Power has an impressive portfolio of power plants, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, and hydroelectric energy sources. The corporation owns a significant portion of the Rocky Mountain Hydroelectric Plant, a pure pumped-storage hydroelectric plant that can store and produce electricity according to demand. Oglethorpe Power is also a co-owner of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Generating Station, the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, and several other power plants. The corporation has annual revenue of $1 billion and assets worth over $7 billion, serving approximately 4.1 million to 4.4 million customers.
In recent years, Oglethorpe Power has been at the forefront of the country's nuclear energy advancements. The corporation is a 30% partner in the project to build two new AP1000 nuclear reactors at Vogtle, with $3 billion in loan guarantees from the Department of Energy. Oglethorpe Power is also committed to sustainability and community support. In 2008, the corporation announced the construction of a massive woody biomass power plant, a carbon-neutral facility aimed at powering nearly half of Georgia's population. Oglethorpe Power also actively supports various organizations, such as donating to The Burn Foundation of America and hosting the Heroes Invitational Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Sua Sponte Foundation.
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Georgia Transmission Corporation: generates electricity for Georgia's electric cooperatives
Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) is a vital entity that works alongside electric cooperatives (co-ops) in Georgia to ensure a reliable and affordable energy supply for local communities across the state. These co-ops, also known as electric membership corporations (EMCs) or rural electric membership corporations (REMCs), have a long history of serving Georgia's rural regions and counties, dating back to the mid-1930s.
In 2016, Georgia's electric cooperatives, scattered across the state, numbered forty-one individual co-ops. These co-ops provided electricity to a significant portion of Georgia, covering 157 of the state's 159 counties, or approximately 73% of its land area. This extensive reach has helped bridge the urban-rural divide in access to electricity, which was a significant issue during the Great Depression when only about 10% of rural Americans had electricity compared to 90% of their urban counterparts.
Georgia Transmission Corporation plays a crucial role in maintaining and strengthening Georgia's power grid. They work in partnership with the electric cooperatives they serve, striving to keep electricity dependable and affordable for homes, businesses, and essential facilities like hospitals. Their mission is clear: to ensure that the lights stay on across the state.
The state's electric cooperatives are represented by Georgia EMC, a statewide trade association that advocates for the political and economic interests of the co-ops. Georgia EMC also represents Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC), Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC), and GTC itself. This collective representation ensures that the cooperatives have a strong voice in lawmaking processes and economic development initiatives, ultimately benefiting the communities they serve.
Georgia Transmission Corporation's commitment to the state is evident in its efforts to keep energy reliable and affordable. Together with the electric cooperatives, they work tirelessly to empower local communities and keep the lights on for Georgia's residents, businesses, and essential services.
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Georgia System Operations Corporation: manages electrical systems, software, and cybersecurity
Georgia is home to 41 electric cooperatives, also known as electric membership corporations (EMCs) or rural electric membership corporations (REMCs). These cooperatives have been serving Georgia's rural regions and counties since the 1930s, providing electricity to 157 of the state's 159 counties, or about 73% of Georgia's land area.
The Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC) is a crucial part of this network, managing and monitoring the electrical system, demand, software systems, and cybersecurity for EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC), and Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC). GSOC ensures that member-consumers of EMCs, OPC, and GTC have safe and reliable access to electricity.
Georgia's electric cooperatives are committed to delivering reliable electricity to communities across the state. GSOC plays a vital role in this endeavour by ensuring the smooth operation of electrical systems and software. The corporation also keeps a close eye on cybersecurity, protecting critical infrastructure for its member organizations.
As a statewide trade association, Georgia EMC represents all 41 of Georgia's electric cooperatives. It also represents OPC, GTC, and GSOC. Georgia EMC lobbies for laws that benefit its members and partners with the Georgia Department of Economic Development to enhance the economic vitality of the communities served by its member cooperatives.
Georgia's electric cooperatives employ over 6,000 people and operate more than 195,000 miles of distribution lines, making it the largest electric distribution network in the state and the largest statewide electric cooperative distribution in the United States. The cooperatives are dedicated to providing efficient and sustainable energy solutions to the people of Georgia.
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Green Power EMC: the first renewable energy provider for Georgia's electric cooperatives
Georgia has 41 electric cooperatives, also known as electric membership corporations (EMCs) or rural electric membership corporations (REMCs). These cooperatives have been serving Georgia's rural regions and counties since the mid-1930s. In 2016, they provided electricity to 157 of the state's 159 counties, covering approximately 73% of Georgia's land area.
Green Power EMC is the first renewable energy provider in Georgia, obtaining green power from renewable facilities across the state, including solar, landfill gas, hydro, and wind sources. It was founded by Georgia's EMCs in 2001 and is a not-for-profit cooperative that secures renewable energy resources for 38 of Georgia's EMCs.
As a member of Green Power EMC, cooperatives can obtain solar and landfill gas energy for their consumers. By harnessing Georgia's natural resources, Green Power EMC helps power homes with clean, emission-free energy. For example, Central Georgia EMC members can purchase "green power" electricity created from renewable resources through Green Power EMC.
The cost of Green Power EMC's energy is slightly higher than that of traditional sources due to the cost of the technologies involved. However, members can participate in Green Power by adding an additional 150 kilowatt-hour block of power to their energy mix for a small fee.
Through its growing solar portfolio, Green Power EMC, in partnership with local EMCs, supports community-scale solar projects across Georgia. This includes donating solar panels to schools and powering robotics competitions, showcasing their commitment to sustainable energy solutions and the future of renewable energy in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 41 electric cooperatives in Georgia.
Electric cooperatives in Georgia are also known as electric membership corporations (EMCs) or rural electric membership corporations (REMCs).
Georgia's electric cooperatives are represented by Georgia EMC, Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC), Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC), and Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC).
Georgia EMC is a statewide trade association that works to further the political and economic interests of Georgia’s electric cooperatives.
