News Releases

Customer-Owners to Hear About Electric Rates at Walton EMC Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2006

Contact Greg Brooks, 770/266-2307, or

Katie Woodall, 770/266-2572

MONROE, Ga. - Customer-owners of Walton Electric Membership Corporation will soon gather at the Walton County Agricultural Education Center on June 17 for the 70th annual meeting. One of the topics CEO Ronnie Lee will address is the skyrocketing cost of energy.

“Even though Walton EMC’s cost for wholesale electricity has increased, we’ve been able to keep rates in check,” says Lee. “2005 was the year when it truly paid to be an energy cooperative customer-owner.”

"If you figure the bill of a typical Walton EMC customer-owner using 1,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, they paid $123.90 in June 1993. Take the same customer-owner using the same amount of electricity in June 2006. The bill comes to $125.60. That amounts to only a $1.70 difference over 13 years," continues Lee.

Since its customers actually own Walton EMC, the annual meeting is held as an opportunity for those interested to have a say in running the company. Customer-owners attending will hear reports on the operation of the cooperative over the past year.

Also during the business session, customer-owners will elect two representatives from among themselves to serve three-year terms on the board of directors.

Other activities include exhibits of Walton EMC programs and energy-efficiency products. The Apostles of Bluegrass, the Old Paths Trio and Moriah Martin will each have two musical sessions in the main arena.

The first 1,000 registered customer-owners will receive the traditional bucket of gifts including light bulbs, a paring knife and a commemorative trivet by nostalgic artist Pamela Renfroe. They’ll also be eligible for several door prizes, including the main prize, a refurbished pickup truck.

Several healthcare providers are participating in Health Check. A variety of health screenings, including blood glucose and pressure, cholesterol, spine and prostate cancer will be available.

Children will keep busy at Kids’ Fest enjoying rides, activities, snacks and live events, like a safety demonstration, puppet show and clown. Everyone can cool off with free soft drinks, bottled water and ice cream sandwiches.

Get complete information and schedules here.

Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves 115,000 accounts over its ten-county service area between Atlanta and Athens.  It’s subsidiary, Walton EMC Natural Gas, serves natural gas accounts statewide.

# # #