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| What
is Walton EMC |
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Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is a not-for-profit
electric utility that supplies energy to more than 100,000 accounts
in ten Northeast Georgia
counties. It was started in 1936 to supply electricity to
people that investor-owned utilities refused to serve.
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| Who
owns Walton EMC? |
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Walton EMC is a service cooperative and owned by those
who receive its services (called members). It is one of
the largest of almost 1,000 electric
cooperatives in the country. All co-ops operate by a few
basic principles: voluntary
and open membership, democratic member control, limited
return on capital, return of surplus to members, autonomy and
independence, education of members and cooperation among cooperatives.
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| Who
finances Walton EMC? |
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Walton EMC is financed by the Cooperative
Finance Corporation (CFC). CFC is not affiliated with the
government or Rural Utilities Service, thus Walton EMC does
not receive government loans.
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| Excess
is refunded to members |
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One way ownership is reflected in Walton EMC is through capital
credits. Capital credits are the member's share of what's
left over after all the expenses are paid. Any funds left over
(called "margins") provide equity for the co-op and its members.
Walton
EMC retains these capital credits for two reasons. First,
they're used as working capital to keep us financially sound
and to allow for emergencies (tornadoes, ice storms), which
might require replacement of poles and power lines. Second,
capital credits are used to retire debt and build equity.
From
time to time, we retain the amount needed for financial strength
and distribute the balance to the members. Each member's refund
is determined by the amount they have paid the co-op. In
each of the past several years, Walton EMC has made a total
refund of $1 million or more.
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| How
is Walton EMC run? |
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Members have a direct voice in the way Walton EMC operates.
 Each
year on the third Saturday in June, the co-op holds an annual
meeting to take care of necessary business. The meeting is held
at the Walton County Agricultural Education Center on Criswell
Road in Monroe, Georgia.
Besides
business, the meeting also features entertainment, door prizes
and children's activities. Many years, exhibits such as heath
screenings are also scheduled.
Part
of the annual meeting is the election of members who serve
as directors for three-year terms. These directors represent
members in Walton EMC matters. There are ten directors of
the co-op that represent different geographical regions throughout
WEMC's service area. Walton EMC is regulated by its consumers.
The board then elects its chair, vice-chair and secretary/treasurer.
Below are the directors' names and districts. WEMC's president/CEO,
who oversees the day-to-day activities of the co-op, is also
listed.
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| Walton
EMC President/CEO and Board of Directors |
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Ronnie Lee, President/CEO
Warren
Few, District 2-Rutledge/Bostwick/Apalachee
Bud
Wiley, District 3-Farmington
Jim
Whitley, District 4-Eastville
Doyle
Mitchell, District 5-Gratis
Tommy
Adcock, District 6-Good Hope
Bobby
Williams, District 7-Mountain Park
Sam
Simonton, District 8-Bold Springs
Mary
Ann Hartman, District 9-Five Forks-North Snellville
Dan
Chelko, District 10-Centerville-South Snellville
Johnny
Allgood, District 11-Southwest Walton
Roy
Lambert, Attorney
Joe
Reitman, Attorney
Director
Districts
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