Serving Georgia Together Pine EMC . slashpineemc.com. Snapping Shoals EMC. ssemc.com. Southern Rivers Energy . southernriversenergy.com. Sumter …

GEORGIA’S ELECTRICMEMBERSHIP CORPORATIONS

Serving Georgia Together

Turning on the lights. Plugging in the coffee maker. Just normal parts of your morning routine.The mission of Georgia’s electric membership corporations is to

ensure that electricity is always there to make these and other

essential parts of your daily life possible. Supporting these EMCs

are Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation

and Georgia System Operations Corporation, along with the EMCs’

statewide trade association, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.

Working together, they serve Georgia in the same manner as other

fully integrated utilities across the country.

This brochure explains each of these organizations and their

relationships to each other.

Georgia’s electric membership corporations serve more than 70 percent of the state’s land area.

EMCs Are Rooted in Rural AmericaElectric cooperatives are private, independent electric utilities owned by the members

they serve. Democratically governed businesses, electric cooperatives are anchored

firmly in the communities they serve and are responsive to their consumers’ needs.

Electric cooperatives began to spread across rural America after President Franklin D.

Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935, an idea conceived at

the Little White House in Warm Springs, Ga. The executive order establishing the REA and

the passage of the REA Act a year later marked the first steps in a public-private partnership that

has lasted for more than 70 years. That partnership has bridged the vast expanse of rural America

to bring electric power to businesses and communities willing to organize cooperatively for the

provision of safe, affordable and reliable electric power on a not-for-profit basis.

Today, there are more than 900 electric cooperatives in the United States, 41 of them in Georgia.

These nationwide cooperatives provide reliable and technologically advanced service to 40 million

Americans while maintaining a unique consumer-focused approach to business.

Georgia’s EMCs

Georgia’s electric membership corporations serve more than 70 percent of the state’s land area.

Altamaha EMC altamahaemc.com

Amicalola EMC amicalolaemc.com

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC brmemc.com

Canoochee EMC canoocheeemc.com

Carroll EMC cemc.com

Central Georgia EMC cgemc.com

Coastal Electric Cooperative coastalemc.com

Cobb EMC cobbemc.com

Colquitt EMC colquittemc.com

Coweta-Fayette EMC utility.org

Diverse Power Incorporated diversepower.com

Excelsior EMC excelsioremc.com

Flint Energies flintenergies.com

Grady EMC gradyemc.com

GreyStone Power Corporation greystonepower.com

Habersham EMC habershamemc.com

Hart EMC hartemc.com

Irwin EMC irwinemc.com

Jackson EMC jacksonemc.com

Jefferson Energy Cooperative jec.coop

Little Ocmulgee EMC littleocmulgeeemc.com

Middle Georgia EMC mgemc.com

Mitchell EMC mitchellemc.com

North Georgia EMC ngemc.com

Ocmulgee EMC ocmulgeeemc.com

Oconee EMC oconeeemc.com

Okefenoke Rural EMC oremc.com

Planters EMC plantersemc.com

Rayle EMC rayleemc.com

Satilla Rural EMC satillaemc.com

Sawnee EMC sawnee.com

Slash Pine EMC slashpineemc.com

Snapping Shoals EMC ssemc.com

Southern Rivers Energy southernriversenergy.com

Sumter EMC sumteremc.com

Three Notch EMC threenotchemc.com

Tri-County EMC tri-countyemc.com

Tri-State EMC tsemc.net

Upson EMC upsonemc.com

Walton EMC waltonemc.com

Washington EMC washingtonemc.com

EMCs: A Historical Perspective

Georgia EMC, OPC, GTC and GSOC exist to serve the state’s electric membership corporations, or EMCs.

EMCs are consumer-owned, consumer-governed, not-for-profit cooperatives whose purpose is to

ensure safe, reliable and affordable delivery of electricity to homes and businesses. Together, Georgia’s

EMCs deliver more than 33 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and have approximately 180,000

miles of transmission and distribution line — the state’s largest energy distribution system.

Many EMCs have been asked by their consumer-owners to deliver more than electricity. Responding

either individually or in alliance with others, these co-ops often provide other utility or telecommunication

services, from natural gas and geothermal heat pumps to Internet access.

Of the state’s 41 EMCs, 38 receive wholesale power through Oglethorpe Power Corporation and rely

on Georgia Transmission Corporation for power transmission. Georgia System Operations Corporation

serves to control and monitor electric generation, transmission and distribution assets. Some EMCs also

have entered into long-term, supplemental power supply contracts with third-party power suppliers and

purchase hydropower from the Southeastern Power Administration. Three EMCs in north Georgia receive

their power supply under contract from the Tennessee Valley Authority and one other from a contract

with Southern Power Company.

A study conducted by Georgia Tech indicated that the EMCs have a $6.1 billion economic impact on

the state of Georgia. The EMCs positively affect the state in other ways as well. They work as integral

partners with their communities. Georgia’s EMCs design industrial parks; partner with local schools

to offer scholarships and youth development programs, such as 4-H and FFA; light Little League fields;

sponsor community beautification; and collect and deliver food to families in need. These EMCs also

partner with their trade association, Georgia EMC, as well as the Georgia Department of Economic

Development and other entities, to bring new jobs to the state.

THE ABCs OF EMCs

Georgia Electric Membership Corporation

Statewide trade association for Georgia’s EMCs

Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Generating power for 38 Georgia EMCs

Georgia Transmission Corporation

Delivering power to 38 Georgia EMCs

Georgia System Operations Corporation

Controlling and monitoring electric generation, transmission and

distribution assets

Enabling the state’s EMCs to speak with one voice

Strength in NumbersGeorgia Electric Membership Corporation is the trade association serving Georgia’s 41 electric

membership corporations, Georgia Transmission Corporation, Oglethorpe Power and Georgia

System Operations Corporation. Through Georgia EMC, the state’s electric cooperatives join

together to maximize their strength and efficiency in addressing the challenges they all face.

The services of Georgia EMC include safety and training programs, legislative advocacy at the

state and national levels, economic development, youth and community programs, media relations

and a monthly magazine for Georgia’s EMC consumers. A 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit association,

Georgia EMC is a member-owned organization governed by a board of directors composed of

one representative from each member cooperative.

For more information, visit georgiaemc.com.

Georgia EMC Offices

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EcholsLowndes

Charlton

Seminole

Thomas BrooksGradyDecaturCamden

Lanier

Clinch

Miller Colquitt Cook Brantley

AtkinsonMitchell

Baker

Ware

BerrienEarly

PierceTift

Calhoun DoughertyMcIntosh

BaconIrwinClay Coffee WayneWorth

Ben Hill ChathamTurner

LeeRandolph Appling

Terrell Jeff DavisQuitman

Long

Crisp

Liberty

Wilcox TelfairSumterStewart Webster Chatham

Bryan

EvansDoolyWheeler

Tattnall

Toombs

MontgomeryPulaskiSchley Dodge

TreutlenMaconChattahoochee

CandlerMarion BleckleyEffingham

MuscogeeBullochHouston

Peach

Laurens

Taylor

JohnsonEmanuel

CrawfordHarris Talbot Twiggs

Bibb JenkinsUpson

Wilkinson Screven

JonesBaldwinMonroeLamarPike

Troup Meriwether WashingtonBurkeJefferson

GlascockSpaldingHeard Butts Hancock

PutnamCoweta Jasper RichmondFayette WarrenHenry

Clayton

McDuffieColumbia

TaliaferroNewton Greene

RockdaleDouglas

Carroll Morgan

Haralson WaltonOconee

LincolnWilkes

ClarkeOglethorpePaulding

CobbPolk Barrow

Gwinnett

Fulton

Madison ElbertJackson

ForsythCherokeeBartowBanks Hart

HallFranklin

Pickens

Floyd

Chattooga

Dawson

Gordon StephensLumpkin

WhiteHabersham

GilmerWalker

DadeUnion

Catoosa

Whitfield

Fannin

Murray

Towns Rabun

AtlantaDekalb

Community andEconomic Development,Government Relations

Atlanta Office Executive, Finance/Administration

Communications &Member Services,

& Georgia MagazineTucker Office

Training, Education& Safety

Smarr Office

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Clayton

McDuffieColumbia


RockdaleDouglas

Carroll Morgan


LincolnWilkes


CobbPolk Barrow

Gwinnett

Fulton



HallFranklin

Pickens

Floyd

Chattooga

Dawson


WhiteHabersham

GilmerWalker

DadeUnion

Catoosa

Whitfield

Fannin

Murray

Towns Rabun

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Smarr Office

Our Mission:To promote the EMCs of Georgia by providing member-focused leadership and a unified voice through advocacy education and communication

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LeeRandolph Appling


Long

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Bryan

EvansDoolyWheeler

Tattnall

Toombs





Peach

Laurens

Taylor

JohnsonEmanuel


Bibb JenkinsUpson

Wilkinson Screven





Clayton

McDuffieColumbia


RockdaleDouglas

Carroll Morgan


LincolnWilkes


CobbPolk Barrow

Gwinnett

Fulton



HallFranklin

Pickens

Floyd

Chattooga

Dawson


WhiteHabersham

GilmerWalker

DadeUnion

Catoosa

Whitfield

Fannin

Murray

Towns Rabun

AtlantaDekalb






Smarr Office 20

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Bryan

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Tattnall

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Peach

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Taylor

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Bibb JenkinsUpson

Wilkinson Screven





Clayton

McDuffieColumbia


RockdaleDouglas

Carroll Morgan


LincolnWilkes


CobbPolk Barrow

Gwinnett

Fulton



HallFranklin

Pickens

Floyd

Chattooga

Dawson


WhiteHabersham

GilmerWalker

DadeUnion

Catoosa

Whitfield

Fannin

Murray

Towns Rabun

AtlantaDekalb






Smarr Office

A Leading Power Supply CooperativeFormed in 1974, Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC) is among the nation’s largest power supply

cooperatives in revenue, assets and kilowatt-hours delivered. OPC provides power to 38 of Georgia’s

41 electric membership corporations, or EMCs. These EMCs, in turn, serve nearly half of Georgia’s

population and more than 70 percent of the state’s land mass.

OPC is one of the largest private corporations in

Georgia, with 2011 assets of more than $8 billion

and annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. Assets

are projected to increase to more than $11 billion as

OPC’s 30-percent share of the two new units of the

Alvin W. Vogtle nuclear plant are placed into service

in 2017 and 2018.

In 1997, OPC spun off its transmission and system operation functions into two new corporations

to address changes in the industry and to better meet the needs of its Member Systems. This restructuring

created Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) and Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC).

The three corporations work closely together to ensure that their business strategies are aligned to provide

maximum benefit to the member EMCs.

OPC manages and maintains a balanced and diverse portfolio of power-generating assets and

contracts to provide reliable, long-term capacity and energy for its member EMCs. These wholly owned,

co-owned, managed or purchased assets include gas, nuclear, coal and hydroelectric facilities. In 2009

and 2011, OPC added substantially to its asset base with the purchase of about 2,000 megawatts (MW)

of gas-fired capacity. OPC’s portfolio of owned and leased generation includes a total of 7,074 MW of

capacity (summer reserve capacity). In addition, the corporation manages another 725 MW under contract.

OPC places a strong emphasis on environmental compliance and stewardship. By 2015, the corporation

will have invested approximately $1.5 billion to maintain compliance with various regulations. OPC is

committed to helping preserve the environment through various initiatives, including a carbon sequestra-

tion program, community participation and research. This commitment allows the corporation to provide

clean and affordable energy to its members while working to preserve the environment today and for

future generations.

For more information, visit opc.com.

Portfolio Diversity

Gas54%

Nuclear16%

Coal20%

Hydro10%

Nuclear38%

Coal29%

Hydro4%

Gas29%

2012 Capacity 2012 Energy

One of the state’s largest privately owned corporations, with assets of more than $8 billion

To meet Georgia’s electricitydemands, GTC constructs more than $100 million in new transmission facilities each year.

Meeting the Demands of Dynamic GrowthGeorgia Transmission Corporation is charged with providing a safe and reliable electric

transmission grid for approximately 4 million people and with getting it ready for millions more.

To meet growing demand, the corporation constructs more than $100 million in new high-voltage

power lines and substations each year. GTC is a not-for-profit corporation owned by 38 of the state’s

EMCs, and it serves as the link between power generation and the EMCs’ individual electric

distribution systems.

GTC provides planning, construction and maintenance for a transmission system of more than

3,000 miles of lines and more than 600 substations. Maintenance includes system monitoring

and inspection, vegetation management, load planning, upgrades and repairs to keep power

outages to a minimum throughout the state.

Through a rare and progressive arrangement in the electric utility business, more than 17,000 miles

of the state’s electric transmission assets are jointly planned and operated by GTC, Georgia Power,

MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities. Under a set of Integrated Transmission System agreements, these

organizations work together to set guidelines, reduce duplication of facilities and increase efficiency.

Facilities are jointly planned and operated and individually owned, built and maintained.

For more information on GTC, visit gatrans.com.

$2BillionTotal Assets Including:• More than 3,000 miles

of transmission line

• More than 600 substations

1997Year Founded• 1997, when Oglethorpe

Power divested itself of the transmission business

38Customers• 38 electric

membership cooperatives

A Powerful PartnershipGeorgia System Operations Corporation ensures economic and reliable system operations by

controlling and monitoring electric generation and transmission assets owned by OPC, GTC, the

member EMCs and their supplemental power suppliers. GSOC works with OPC and GTC to deliver

wholesale electric power to its 38 member EMCs.

To balance moment-to-moment supply and demand requirements of its members, GSOC directs

and economically dispatches more than 7,000 MW of OPC’s generating capacity. GSOC also approves,

schedules, and monitors hourly energy and transmission transactions through GTC’s portion of the

Integrated Transmission System.

On a daily basis, GSOC operators coordinate planned and unplanned switching activities to manage

equipment outages and maintenance. And when the lights go out, GSOC is a first responder. With an

extensive supervisory control and data acquisition system GSOC’s 24/7 operators are there to direct

and coordinate outage restoration efforts to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

The control center team monitors this system with heightened situational awareness using the latest

in energy control system programs and technology. GSOC then ensures all the data necessary for

operating, monitoring, analyzing, and billing GTC’s and OPC’s assets are captured.

More information about GSOC is available at gasoc.com.

GSOC 10-year Peak Load Growth*

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

In megawatt-hours*

GSOC ensures reliable system operations by controlling and monitoring electric generation and transmission assets.

Green Power EMC has generated more than 525 million kilowatt-hours of green energy.

Maximizing the Potential of Renewable Energy and Conservation

Georgia’s first renewable energy program, Green Power EMC, provides electricity through its

38 member EMCs to approximately 4 million Georgians. A nonprofit corporation, Green Power EMC

uses green resources available in Georgia, such as a low-impact hydroelectric plant, wood-waste biomass,

landfill gas plants, solar and wind.

Landfill gas and wood-waste biomass plants are Green-e Certified. Green Power EMC is the first and

largest renewable energy utility in Georgia.

Since 2003, Green Power EMC has brought online two landfill generating sites, one wood-waste biomass

plant, two small solar facilities and a low-impact hydroelectric facility. This brings Green Power’s total

renewable generating capacity to 28 megawatts, enough to supply the energy needs of more than

13,000 homes.

Since its inception, Green Power EMC has generated more than 525 million kilowatt-hours of green

energy, providing the same environmental benefits as taking 279,000 cars off Georgia’s roads for one year

or planting 398,000 acres of trees. A portion of all Green Power EMC energy sales supports research and

continued growth of energy generated from cleaner resources.

In 2005, Green Power EMC introduced Sun Power for Schools, a program that educates students in

34 middle and high schools about renewable energy and its impact on the environment. It’s the first state-

wide program to showcase solar energy benefits by installing 1-kilowatt grid-tied photovoltaic systems that

harness the energy from the sun and provide online data monitoring to the classrooms. More schools are

being added to the program every year.

In addition to Green Power EMC, Georgia’s EMCs helped its member-consumers realize almost 35 million

kilowatt-hours in estimated energy savings during 2011 through energy efficiency programs. EMCs

also continue to support load management programs, using 145,500 load management switches installed

on air conditioners, water heaters and irrigation systems — 183 MW of summer peak load control.

For more information, visit greenpoweremc.com.

28 MegawattsEnough to supply the energy needs of more than 13,000 homes

279,000 VehiclesThe equivalent number of cars taken off Georgia’s roads through Green Power EMC’s initiatives

35,000,000 Kilowatt-hoursThe amount of energy savings Georgia’s EMCs helped their member-consumers realize in 2011

183 MegawattsCapacity available to reduce summer peak demand using 145,500 load management switches

WARE

BURKE

CLINCH

LEE

WAYNE

LAURENS

HALL

EARLY

FLOYD

WORTH COFFEE

BULLOCH

CHARLTON

EMANUEL

LONG

CAMDEN

DODGE

FULTON

SCREVEN

BRYAN

DECATUR GRADY

LIBERTY

THOMAS

TROUP

TIFT

HARRIS

WILKES

IRWIN

COBB

JONES

APPLING

POLK

SUMTER

BROOKS

DOOLY

GILMER

BIBB

COLQUITTGLYNN

TELFAIR

MACON

BARTOW

RABUN

WALKER

CARROLL

MITCHELL

COWETA

TALBOT

BAKERBERRIEN

UNION

ECHOLS

LOWNDES

WASHINGTON

TAYLOR

WILCOX

ELBERT

GREENE

STEWART

HANCOCK

HART

HENRY

UPSON

PIERCE

CRISP

MARION

CHATHAM

TWIGGS

MONROE

HEARD

CLAY

PUTNAM

TOOMBS

BRANTLEY

JENKINS

GWINNETT

WILKINSON

GORDON

WALTON

COOK

MORGAN

MILLER

CHEROKEE

HOUSTON

McINTOSH

WHITE

TERRELL

JACKSON

TURNER

BANKS

DEKALB

ATKINSON

DADE

JOHNSON

COLUMBIA

CALHOUN

BEN HILL

EVANS

LANIER

PICKENS

DOUGHERTY

CANDLER

FORSYTH

CHATTOOGA

DAWSON

DOUGLAS

SPALDING

FANNIN

TATTNALL

PIKE

JASPER

JEFFERSON

EFFINGHAM

MURRAY

BACON

RANDOLPH

MERIWETHER

WARREN

LUMPKIN

OGLETHORPE

NEWTON

PAULDING

MADISON

WHEELER

JEFF DAVIS

RICHMOND

LINCOLN

PULASKI

BALDWIN

BUTTS

CRAWFORD

LAMAR

WHITFIELD

FRANKLIN

HARALSON

MCDUFFIE

SEMINOLE

TOWNS

FAYETTE

HABERSHAM

PEACH

OCONEE

WEBSTER

BLECKLEY

SCHLEY

TREUTLEN

MUSCOGEE

BARROW

QUITMAN

STEPHENS

CATOOSA

MONTGOMERY

TALIAFERROCLAYTON

CLARKE

CHATTAHOOCHEE

GLASCOCK

ROCKDALE

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1. North Georgia2. Tri-State3. Blue Ridge Mtn.4. Amicalola5. Habersham6. Hart7. Jackson

8. Sawnee 9. Cobb10. GreyStone11. Carroll12. Coweta-Fayette13. Snapping Shoals14. Walton

15. Rayle16. Jefferson17. Washington18. Tri-County19. Central Georgia20. Southern Rivers21. Upson

22. Diverse Power23. Flint24. Oconee25. Planters26. Excelsior27. Canoochee28. Altamaha

29. Little Ocmulgee30. Ocmulgee31. Middle Georgia32. Sumter33. Three Notch34. Mitchell35. Irwin

36. Satilla37. Coastal38. Okefenoke39. Slash Pine40. Colquitt41. Grady

In 1973, the Georgia General Assembly created the Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act, assigning power supply areas throughout the state. The state’s electric membership cooperatives were assigned 73 percent of the state’s land area, with the remaining area designated to Georgia Power Company or municipal power systems. This map is a graphic depiction of those service areas.

Georgia’s Electric Suppliers Assigned Service Areas

Key to Electric Membership Corporations

Electric Membership Corporations

Georgia Power Company (GPC)

Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG)

Unassigned

Electric Power Board of Chattanoogaand City of Dalton

EMC Boundaries

Rev 04/13

Documents

Serving Georgia Together Pine EMC . slashpineemc.com. Snapping Shoals EMC. ssemc.com. Southern Rivers Energy . southernriversenergy.com. Sumter …