News Releases

Walton EMC Makes Top 25 Electric Co-op List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2007

Contact Greg Brooks, 770/266-2307, or Heather Hodges, 770/266-2408

MONROE, Ga. – A new study by the Energy Information Agency of the U.S. Department of Energy shows that Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is among the 25 largest electric cooperatives in the country.

The data was released in December 2006 and is based on 2005 information. Co-ops are ranked three ways: By the number of customer-owners they serve, the amount of energy they sell and the revenue they generate.

Walton EMC ranked 18th in total customer-owners with 110,149, 18th in energy sales at 2,287,492,000 kilowatt-hours and 16th in retail revenue at $180,325,000.

For the last few years, Walton EMC’s growth rate has been four to five percent annually. The highest percentage of growth has historically occurred in its Gwinnett service territory, but recent trends are showing an eastward movement in the growth rate.

Part of CEO Ronnie Lee’s strategy to manage Walton EMC’s growth is to rely on the co-op’s core values. “Even though we’re one of the largest electric cooperatives in the country, it’s essential that we still provide personal service and have a strong local presence,” says Lee.

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.

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