MONROE, Ga. - Some 3,000 Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) customer-owners and their families attending the cooperative's June 16 annual meeting learned what they pay for electricity should remain reasonable.

The meeting, held at the Walton County Ag Ed Center, gives Walton EMC customer-owners the opportunity to participate in running their cooperative.

"According to the Georgia Public Service Commission, Walton EMC has some of the lowest electric rates in the state," said CEO Ronnie Lee.

Walton EMC board member Dan Chelko informs customer-owners at the 76th Walton EMC Annual Meeting that the cooperative is ranked highest in customer satisfaction in retail natural gas service in Georgia for the second year in a row by J.D. Power and Associates. A crowd of over 3,000 participated in the electric cooperative's business session and enjoyed other activities.

"We're working hard to keep your rates reasonable," continued Lee, "but I wouldn't be telling you the truth if I told you rates weren't going to rise some. But with the action we took this year -- a new power contract -- that increase should be lower than or as low as most other utilities. In other words, you'll still be paying some of the lowest rates in the state."

Lee indicated that rates would go up for all Georgians for at least two reasons: woefully short electricity generation capacity and extremely stringent EPA regulations that are causing utilities to mothball older coal-fired electricity plants.

In his remarks, Board Chair Warren Few reminded the audience why the co-op's board of directors exists. "Every board member is a customer-owner of our cooperative too, so we want the same thing you do -- reasonable rates and reliable service.

"The reason you elect us is to make sure Walton EMC keeps straight and true to its purpose -- service to its customer-owners," said Few.

Three directors were re-elected to three-year terms. Those directors include Few of the Bostwick-Apalachee-Rutledge district, Jim Whitley of the Eastville district and Sam Simonton of the Bold Springs-Gratis district.

Customer-owners and their children also enjoyed entertainment, kids' activities, a health fair and door prizes. Olivia Jones of Monroe won the grand prize -- a retired Ford pickup.

Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves 118,000 accounts over its 10-county service area between Atlanta and Athens. Its subsidiary, Walton EMC Natural Gas, serves natural gas accounts statewide. Another subsidiary, EMC Security, serves 40,000 customers across North Georgia.