Georgia Magazine - October 2021 - 33

COOPERATIVE Concerns
By Jackie Kennedy
Electric co-ops: Cooperation is
part of the mission
A
s self-governing, not-for-profit organizations, electric
membership cooperatives (EMCs) focus on cooperation
with other EMCs and the members for whom they
provide electricity. For Georgia's EMCs, every day is about
cooperation, but October is designated as National Co-op
Month, so this is a good time to take a closer look at how electric
cooperatives do business.
Like all cooperatives-including Land O'Lakes, a farmerowned
dairy co-op, and REI, which specializes in outdoor
recreational equipment-EMCs adhere to the Seven Cooperative
Principles.
1. Voluntary and open membership. All consumers who
obtain electricity from an EMC in Georgia are member-owners
of the organization, regardless of gender, social status, race,
politics or religion.
2. Democratic member control. Electric cooperative
members are encouraged to attend their co-op's annual meetings,
where they can vote on important issues and elect directors
who live in the communities they serve. Governed by their
consumer-members, EMCs continuously look to the future to
meet the long-term needs of their members and communities.
3. Members' economic participation. Wall Street has
no say over an electric cooperative's business. Only members,
not shareholders, are invested in an EMC, meaning only those
consumer-owners reap the financial benefits. In short, electric
cooperatives put people over profit.
4. Autonomy and independence. Electric cooperatives
don't compromise their autonomy or member control when
making business decisions. They are independent entities that
work with a relatively simple mission: to supply members with
safe, reliable and affordable electric power and to support the
communities they serve.
5. Education, training and information. Georgia's EMCs
provide education and training for all employees, particularly
the lineworkers who build and maintain the electric distribution
system. In addition, electric co-ops communicate information
to members through newsletters and social media. Along with
consistently reminding members of safety issues and informing
them of new products and services, EMCs keep members up
to date on power outages during storms and restoration efforts
after storms.
6. Cooperation among cooperatives. Georgia's 41 electric
cooperatives routinely work in partnership to empower their
members and build a stronger co-op economy. After damaging
storms, neighboring EMCs send their employees to assist
co-ops that have sustained damage and help restore power. The
state's EMCs work collaboratively to influence elected officials
Marietta-based Cobb EMC organized a Career Clothing Drive to
benefit female clients of MUST Ministries, a Marietta nonprofit.
Employees helping with the effort included, from left, Sabrina Babar,
administrative assistant, fleet services; Johnny Rainer, manager,
member care; and Itrellis Ross, director, member care.
to uphold or pass laws that improve the quality of life for EMC
members.
7. Concern for community. Georgia's EMCs are perhaps
best known for how they adhere to this seventh cooperative
principle. Electric cooperatives were formed more than 80 years
ago to bring power to rural communities, and since then, they
have continued to meet needs in their service areas. Whether it's
helping to bring high-speed broadband to the whole community
or hosting a motorcycle ride to raise funds for one family,
EMCs and their employees are quick to lend a helping hand.
Many EMCs in Georgia assist nonprofits in meeting community
concerns through Operation Round Up or other charitable
initiatives. (Operation Round Up is a program in which members
agree for their bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The
amount rounded up is donated to local projects and charities.)
EMCs also help young people by providing scholarships, working
with Partners in Education and holding leadership events
such as the Washington Youth Tour, a weeklong trip to the
nation's capital to teach students about American history and
government.
Jackie Kennedy is the editor of Newnan-Coweta Magazine.
www.georgiamagazine.org
33
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Georgia Magazine - October 2021

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