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A look back

On Oct. 3, 1936, Walton EMC was chartered to give rural northeastern Georgians access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity. Today, our consumer-owned utility is one of the nation’s largest electric cooperatives. Here’s a look back at nine decades of progress:

1930s | Ninety miles of line are built to connect the co-op’s first 360 members. The home of Lindsey Powers of Walton County’s Turkey Mountain community is the first to be energized in 1937.

1940s | Electric grid expansion explodes in the post-war era, resulting in 5,000 members by 1949.

1950s | The expanded service area connects 8,000 members in 10 counties.

1960s | Branch offices open in Snellville and Watkinsville.

1970s & 1980s | Membership reaches 55,000. To meet growing demand, Walton EMC helps form Oglethorpe Power Corporation, an electric generation and transmission cooperative.

1990s | Member-funded Operation Round Up begins in 1997 and exceeds $9 million in donations by 2024. Subsidiary EMC Security opens in 1998.

2000s | Subsidiary Walton Gas begins marketing natural gas in 2002.

2010s | The prestigious J.D. Power award is received for ranking highest in customer satisfaction among U.S. residential electricity providers. Walton EMC leads all utilities in the Southeast in solar energy production.

2020s | By 2024, total refunds to Walton EMC members – a perk of cooperative membership – reaches $152 million.

Learn more about our history

Featured Articles:

  • Know your benefits

    October is Cooperative Month and a great time to celebrate being a Walton EMC member. Getting your power from a member-owned cooperative comes with these benefits: Lower Rates – Your co-op operates on a not-for-profit basis. We set our rates to cover costs, not produce a return. Walton EMC is consistently below the state and […]
  • Defense strategy

    As the co-op’s director of information services, Andy Hill leads a team that works behind the scenes battling villains known as cybercriminals – those who use computers and the internet to disrupt electric grid reliability and harm the personal security of customer-owners. Cyber incidents pose a serious threat to Walton EMC’s operations, Hill said, explaining […]
  • Kick off the holidays with Walton EMC

    In what has become a seasonal tradition, area experts will share ideas for festive decorating and entertaining at two Walton EMC Holiday Programs coming in November. Crowd pleaser Dean Pannell of Bogart, a Georgia master florist and owner of Pannell Designs & Events, brings his wit and flair to the stage to showcase practical ideas […]
  • Knowledge is power: Emergency heat

    If your home has a heat pump, you may have noticed a thermostat setting labeled “emergency heat.” “The emergency heat setting is for just what it says – a backup heating source when a heat pump malfunctions,” says Pete Ervin, member services specialist. “Using this setting when it’s not needed can cause a large spike […]