Thousands of Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) customer-owners and their families at the cooperative's annual meeting heard their electricity rates and reliability continue to remain stable.
The well-attended area tradition, held at the Walton County Ag Ed Center on June 15, gives Walton EMC customer-owners the opportunity to hear updates and elect representatives from among themselves to run their cooperative.
"Your cooperative is in excellent condition," said CEO Ronnie Lee. "Rates and reliability are both very stable. We don't see any reason for that to change in the near future."
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Lee informed those attending that rate increases expected a few years ago have not occurred due to Walton EMC's excellent power contracts, the downturn in the economy, hard work by the co-op's employees and the discovery of an abundance of natural gas at reasonable prices.
"A few years ago, our country seemed doomed to high electric rates because of new environmental regulations that would have forced us to close down coal-fired electricity production. Fortunately, natural gas has stepped in to fill that void," said Lee.
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Customer-owners also learned Walton EMC continues to have some of the state's lowest rates - and even when costs rise and increases become necessary - they should remain reasonable.
In his remarks, Board Chair Warren Few introduced new board member Michael Lowder of the Farmington district. Lowder was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Bud Wiley. Wiley was fondly remembered for his love of and hard work for Walton EMC's customer-owners.
Few also spoke of the high regard held for Wiley. "This past October, Walton EMC employees raised over $4,000 in Bud's name for Extra Special People, an organization that helps developmentally disabled children," said Few.
Three directors were re-elected to three-year terms. Those directors include Johnny Allgood of the Southwest Walton district, Mary Ann Hartman of the Five Forks-North Snellville district and Bobby Williams of the Mountain Park district.
Customer-owners and their children also enjoyed entertainment, kids' activities, a health fair and door prizes. Nedra Jackson of Social Circle won the grand prize-a retired Ford pickup.