Georgia Magazine - June 2020 - 14

Currents

News from Georgia's electric co-ops * Compiled by Amy Schneider

EMCs support communities amid pandemic

s the state continued to adjust
to challenges presented by
the COVID-19 pandemic this
spring, Georgia's electric membership
cooperatives (EMCs) supported their
communities in a variety of ways.

Several EMCs provided members
with financial relief by retiring capital
credits and issuing credits on members' electric bills.
Palmetto-based Coweta-Fayette
EMC's board of directors approved a
special retirement of capital credits
totaling $5 million for all members
who received electric service last year.
The credits appeared on their May
Staff members at BayView Nursing Home in Nahunta receive a donated cookout lunch from
Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corp. employees Roger Sloan (second from left), right of
electric bills.
way coordinator; Darren Crews (third from left), engineering manager; and John Middleton
"Our board's action will help our
(right), general manager.
members at a time when many are
struggling," President and CEO Chris
Stephens said. "This is just another way
we are demonstrating we are about more than just providing
to recognize and show appreciation for the staff's dedication
electricity and making a profit. Our members are our friends
to caring for the patients there.
and neighbors. I know by working together, we will all get
through this. There are brighter days ahead."
Charitable donations
Douglasville-based GreyStone Power Corp.'s board of
Through their unclaimed capital credits and/or their
directors approved a record $15 million capital-credits early
Operation Round Up programs, in which members round
refund. Those who were members last year received credits
their monthly bills to the nearest dollar and the difference
on their May bills, with about 75 percent of residential mem- goes into a fund for charitable causes in the community,
bers credited $50 or more.
several EMCs expedited donations to organizations in need
The board of directors for Hart EMC in Hartwell apduring this time.
proved about $1.5 million for an Emergency Member Refund
Monroe-based Walton EMC distributed $131,770
Initiative at its April meeting. The refund was applied to May
throughout the community in March to agencies that probills for current active members who were also members last vide emergency food, shelter and medical needs. Recipients
year.
included the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Partnership Against Domestic Violence, the Salvation Army and the
Food for health care workers
United Way of Northeast Georgia.
Jefferson Energy Cooperative in Wrens provided a
Gas South, a subsidiary of Marietta-based Cobb EMC,
catered lunch to health care workers at University Hospital
announced it would donate more than $1 million this year-
McDuffie in Thomson. The cooperative hired a local busi$850,000 of that in April-to support families affected by the
ness to cater the lunch to show further support for the strugpandemic. This represents Gas South's largest philanthropic
gling restaurant industry.
commitment to date.
Middle Georgia EMC in Vienna provided lunch for the
The Sawnee EMC Foundation in Cumming approved
staff at Crisp Regional Health Services in Cordele to thank
more than $10,000 in emergency funding for summer lunch
medical professionals for their service and sacrifice.
programs at 24 local schools served by the co-op. The funds
And Nahunta-based Okefenoke REMC prepared and
will help ensure that at-risk students continue to receive
delivered a complete summer cookout for 83 employees at
lunch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BayView Nursing Home in Nahunta. The lunch was planned
The board of directors of the Jackson EMC Foundation

Georgia Magazine

June 2020

COURTESY OKEFENOKE REMC

Financial assistance to members

Georgia Magazine - June 2020

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