Decades of innovation: 1980s

After the energy crises and soaring costs of the 1970s, Walton EMC entered the 1980s focused on controlling expenses while continuing to provide reliable, affordable electricity to its members.

Nuclear Setbacks

The push toward nuclear power to meet growing energy needs suffered a major setback with the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. New safety regulations triggered cost overruns and construction delays throughout the decade, with many new facilities being canceled.

These developments drove up wholesale power costs, which rippled through to distribution co-ops like Walton EMC. Co-op leaders, already working to manage peak electricity demand, responded by expanding consumer marketing programs launched in the previous decade.

A bright spot arrived in 1987, when Unit 1 of Vogtle Nuclear Plant near Augusta came online — projected to produce electric power for up to 80 years.

Efficiency Pays

Peak demand initiatives helped both the members and the co-op. In 1985, the Energy Resource Conservation Loan Program offered low-interest loans to help members make their homes more energy efficient. Loans could be used for improvements such as adding insulation, installing storm windows or replacing older heating and cooling systems with energy-efficient heat pumps.

Around the same time, Walton EMC began offering cash rebates to members who installed high-efficiency heat pumps. These systems increased winter electricity use, helping balance the co-op’s seasonal demand and reduce high summer peaks, while also lowering members’ power bills.

To strengthen the rebate program, the co-op adopted the Good Cents Home Program in 1987.

Pioneering Grid Technology

Walton EMC was also one of the first utilities in the country to install a SCADA system — short for supervisory control and data acquisition. This computerized system enabled real-time monitoring and control of the distribution system from a central operations center. This innovation reduced outage response times and significantly improved safety for linemen.

Growing with Gwinnett

In 1983, the co-op dedicated a new office and operations center on Lenora Church Road in Snellville to better serve the rapidly growing areas around Gwinnett County.

In a welcome development, electric rates began to stabilize in the mid-to-late 1980s.