Amicalola EMC Shines a Light on Local Communities in More Ways Than One

For over 70 years, Amicalola EMC has provided safe, reliable and affordable power to the communities served by the electric cooperative.

It has also provided much more than electricity; working in a number of ways, with a deep rooted sense of responsibility, to enhance the quality of life in its service area. That’s the cooperative business model – owned by those it serves – strictly existing to serve its members. As a non-profit, members of Amicalola EMC enjoy capital credit refunds; $1,663, 390 was refunded this month to members who had service during 1992.

Beginning three years ago, due to a change in Georgia’s unclaimed property laws, Amicalola EMC is now allowed to distribute unclaimed refunds in communities served by the cooperative for education, economic development and certain 501(c) 3 charities. It is important to note that state law will only allow these funds to be used for these approved purposes and will not allow the unclaimed refunds to be used to offset rates or pay power bills.

In 2013, just over $270,000 is being distributed, to include $43,000 to local volunteer fire departments; $111,000 to high school seniors for college scholarships; $60,000 to BRIGHT IDEAS teacher grant winners; $10,000 to Pickens County Habitat for Humanity; $5,000 to the Good Shepherd Clinic of Dawson County with a matching $5,000 from CoBank, (a national cooperative bank serving industries across rural America), and $25,000 to Reinhardt University for local scholarships. Other donations include $4,000 to Clear Creek Middle School in Gilmer County and $5,000 to R.M. Moore Elementary School in Cherokee County.

These financial contributions are one of the many ways that Amicalola EMC continues to shine a light on local communities in more ways than one.