GEORGIA S ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP 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: A Historical Perspective EMCs Are Rooted in Rural America Electric 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 Altamaha EMC altamahaemc.com Excelsior EMC excelsioremc.com Mitchell EMC mitchellemc.com Southern Rivers Energy southernriversenergy.com Amicalola EMC amicalolaemc.com Flint Energies flintenergies.com North Georgia EMC ngemc.com Sumter EMC sumteremc.com Blue Ridge Mountain EMC brmemc.com Grady EMC gradyemc.com Ocmulgee EMC ocmulgeeemc.com Three Notch EMC threenotchemc.com Canoochee EMC canoocheeemc.com GreyStone Power Corporation greystonepower.com Oconee EMC oconeeemc.com Tri-County EMC tri-countyemc.com Carroll EMC cemc.com Habersham EMC habershamemc.com Okefenoke Rural EMC oremc.com Tri-State EMC tsemc.net Central Georgia EMC cgemc.com Hart EMC hartemc.com Planters EMC plantersemc.com Upson EMC upsonemc.com Coastal Electric Cooperative coastalemc.com Irwin EMC irwinemc.com Rayle EMC rayleemc.com Walton EMC waltonemc.com Cobb EMC cobbemc.com Jackson EMC jacksonemc.com Satilla Rural EMC satillaemc.com Washington EMC washingtonemc.com Colquitt EMC colquittemc.com Jefferson Energy Cooperative jec.coop Sawnee EMC sawnee.com Coweta-Fayette EMC utility.org Little Ocmulgee EMC littleocmulgeeemc.com Slash Pine EMC slashpineemc.com Diverse Power Incorporated diversepower.com Middle Georgia EMC mgemc.com Snapping Shoals EMC ssemc.com
THE ABCs OF EMCs 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. 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 Numbers Georgia 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 Towns Rabun Union White Dade Catoosa Dade Catoosa Fannin Towns Fannin Towns Habersham Rabun Rabun Lumpkin Union Union Stephens Whitfield Whitfield Gilmer White Gilmer White Walker Murray Walker Murray Dawson Franklin Habersham Banks Hart Habersham Lumpkin Hall Lumpkin Dade Catoosa Chattooga Gordon Fannin Towns Stephens Forsyth Chattooga Gordon Stephens Pickens Rabun Union Pickens Jackson Madison Dawson Franklin Elbert Whitfield Dawson Franklin Gilmer Banks Hart Hall White Walker Murray Banks Hart Barrow Hall Bartow Cherokee Forsyth Habersham Floyd Gwinnett Lumpkin Clarke Bartow Cherokee Forsyth Executive, Finance/ Community Floyd Jackson Madison Oglethorpe and Chattooga Gordon Stephens Pickens Administration Elbert Oconee ekalb Economic Development, Wilkes Jackson Madison Polk Communications Walton Elbert Barrow Government Relations Dawson & Franklin Lincoln Member Gwinnett Services, Clarke Banks Hart Atlanta Office Polk Barrow Cobb Hall Gwinnett Paulding & Georgia Magazine Rockdale Morgan Floyd Bartow Cherokee Forsyth Oglethorpe Taliaferro Cobb Clarke Oconee E Haralson Dekalb Wilkes Newton Greene Paulding Oglethorpe Walton Lincoln McDuffie Columbia Tucker Office Community and Jackson Madison Elbert Oconee Douglas Fulton Henry Economic Haralson Development, Dekalb Wilkes C Warren 20 WaltonCarroll Polk Rockdale Barrow Government Relations Atlanta Lincoln Morgan Douglas Fulton Clayton Taliaferro M Jasper Gwinnett Putnam Richmond Clarke Atlanta Office Cobb Newton Greene ing Butts Hancock & Carroll Atlanta Rockdale Morgan Paulding Oglethorpe McDuffie Columbia Glascock Oconee Clayton Haralson 85 Taliaferro Newton Greene Fayette Henry Dekalb 20 Coweta McDuffie Jasper Columbia Warren Wilkes Walton 75 Douglas Fulton Lincoln Putnam Richmond Lamar Baldwin Monroe Heard Jones Jefferson 85 Burke Fayette Henry Spalding Butts Warren 20 Hancock Washington Carroll Atlanta Rockdale Morgan Clayton Taliaferro Glascock Coweta Jasper Putnam 75 Newton Greene Richmond Heard Spalding Butts Hancock Pike Troup Meriwether Lamar McDuffie Baldwin Glascock Monroe Burke Jones Jefferson Training, Education Our Mission: Columbia Bibb Wilkinson 85 Jenkins Fayette Henry Screven Washington Warren 20 Coweta & Safety Jasper Crawford Putnam 75 Richmond Twiggs Smarr Office Johnson Pike Heard Spalding Butts Troup Meriwether Lamar Hancock Baldwin Upson Monroe To promote Burke Jones Jefferson the EMCs of Georgia Glascock ylor Washington Bibb Peach Emanuel Wilkinson Jenkins Screven Harris 75 Talbot by providing Pike Crawford member-focused Houston Bleckley Laurens Troup Twiggs Johnson Treutlen Candler Meriwether Lamar Baldwin Upson Bulloch Monroe Jones Jefferson Burke Training, Education Washington Macon & Safety Effingham Bibb Wilkinson leadership Taylor Peach and a unified Jenkins Emanuel 16 Screven voice Pulaski Smarr Office Montgomery Harris Muscogee y Talbot Crawford Upson Twiggs Marion through Johnsonadvocacy HoustonBibb Bleckley education Laurens Dooly Dodge Wilkinson Evans Treutlen Candler Jenkins Bulloch Screve Wheeler Toombs Harris Macon Taylor Chattahoochee Talbot Crawford Ef umter Peach Emanuel and communication 16 Chatham Twiggs Johnson Pulaski Montgomery Wilcox Telfair Muscogee Tattnall Bryan Schley Marion Houston Bleckley Laurens Taylor Dooly Dodge Crisp Peach Emanuel Treutlen Candler Evans Muscogee Bulloch Chattahoochee Macon Stewart Webster Wheeler Toombs Jeff Davis Sumter Effingham Lee Chatham Marion Houston Bleckley Laurens 16 Ben Hill Long Liberty Treutlen Candler Bulloch Pulaski Montgomery Wilcox Telfair Tattnall Brya Turner Appling Chattahoochee Macon Schley Crisp 16 Dooly Quitman Dodge Pulaski Toombs Evans Montgomery Worth Coffee Wayne Schley Dodge Jeff Davis
A Leading Power Supply Cooperative Formed 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 Portfolio Diversity Georgia, with 2011 assets of more than $8 billion Nuclear Nuclear 16% 38% Hydro and annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. Assets 4% Coal Gas are projected to increase to more than $11 billion as 20% 54% Coal Gas OPC s 30-percent share of the two new units of the 29% 29% Hydro Alvin W. Vogtle nuclear plant are placed into service in 2017 and 2018. 10% 2012 Capacity 2012 Energy 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 sequestration 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.
One of the state s largest privately owned corporations, with assets of more than $8 billion
To meet Georgia s electricity demands, GTC constructs more than $100 million in new transmission facilities each year.
Meeting the Demands of Dynamic Growth Georgia 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. 1997 Year Founded 1997, when Oglethorpe Power divested itself of the transmission business 38 Customers 38 electric membership cooperatives $2Billion Total Assets Including: More than 3,000 miles of transmission line More than 600 substations
A Powerful Partnership Georgia 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. 10,000 GSOC 10-year Peak Load Growth* 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 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 statewide 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 Megawatts Enough to supply the energy needs of more than 13,000 homes 279,000 Vehicles The equivalent number of cars taken off Georgia s roads through Green Power EMC s initiatives 35,000,000 Kilowatt-hours The amount of energy savings Georgia s EMCs helped their member-consumers realize in 2011 183 Megawatts Capacity available to reduce summer peak demand using 145,500 load management switches
Georgia s Electric Suppliers Assigned Service Areas DADE WALKER CHATTOOGA CATOOSA MURRAY WHITFIELD FLOYD POLK HARALSON 11 CARROLL HEARD 1 EARLY LEE HALL OGLETHORPE OCONEE DOUGLAS DEKALB WILKES WALTON FULTON ROCKDALE TROUP MERIWETHER HARRIS BARTOW COBB SEMINOLE DECATUR GILMER FAYETTE COWETA TALBOT MARION CHATTAHOOCHEE QUITMAN STEWART WEBSTER CLAY GORDON PAULDING 22 MUSCOGEE 9 MILLER BAKER UPSON RANDOLPH TERRELL 33 9 10 CALHOUN PICKENS TAYLOR SUMTER MITCHELL GRADY HENRY MACON UNION CHEROKEE FORSYTH 12 2 FANNIN CLAYTON SPALDING SCHLEY GWINNETT LAMAR MONROE DOUGHERTY 3 WORTH THOMAS DOOLY CRISP BIBB COLQUITT JONES TIFT BROOKS RABUN HABERSHAM WHITE LUMPKIN STEPHENS DAWSON NEWTON BUTTS CRAWFORD TOWNS 4 5 8 PIKE20 21 32 34 13 23 41 19 PEACH FRANKLIN BANKS HART 7 JACKSON BARROW CLARKE 14 JASPER PUTNAM TWIGGS WILCOX COOK IRWIN DODGE BERRIEN LOWNDES LAURENS TELFAIR CLINCH WARE EMANUEL CHARLTON BURKE SCREVEN BULLOCH JEFF DAVIS APPLING LONG 36 37 COFFEE WAYNE BACON McINTOSH ECHOLS ELBERT MORGAN GREENETALIAFERRO COLUMBIA MCDUFFIE HOUSTON BLECKLEY 31 PULASKI TURNER 40 18 BEN HILL MADISON BALDWIN 35 24 HANCOCK WILKINSON 30 LANIER 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. 6 15 17 WASHINGTON 29 MONTGOMERY EVANS TOOMBS WHEELER TATTNALL ATKINSON WARREN GLASCOCK JOHNSON LINCOLN JEFFERSON 28 TREUTLEN 39 16 RICHMOND PIERCE JENKINS CANDLER Electric Membership Corporations Georgia Power Company (GPC) Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) Unassigned Electric Power Board of Chattanooga and City of Dalton EMC Boundaries 26 BRANTLEY 25 27 38 CAMDEN BRYAN LIBERTY GLYNN EFFINGHAM CHATHAM Key to Electric Membership Corporations 1. North Georgia 2. Tri-State 3. Blue Ridge Mtn. 4. Amicalola 5. Habersham 6. Hart 7. Jackson 8. Sawnee 9. Cobb 10. GreyStone 11. Carroll 12. Coweta-Fayette 13. Snapping Shoals 14. Walton 15. Rayle 16. Jefferson 17. Washington 18. Tri-County 19. Central Georgia 20. Southern Rivers 21. Upson 22. Diverse Power 23. Flint 24. Oconee 25. Planters 26. Excelsior 27. Canoochee 28. Altamaha 29. Little Ocmulgee 30. Ocmulgee 31. Middle Georgia 32. Sumter 33. Three Notch 34. Mitchell 35. Irwin 36. Satilla 37. Coastal 38. Okefenoke 39. Slash Pine 40. Colquitt 41. Grady
Rev 04/13