(Jasper, GA) — Amicalola EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative that operates under the cooperative business model, which is guided by seven key principles. One of these principles is members’ economic participation. This means members share equally in the cooperative’s assets and receive refunds when revenues exceed the cost of providing electric service.
This year, the Amicalola EMC Board of Directors approved the return of more than $2.1 million in capital credits to members who received electric service in 2004. Members with active accounts saw the refund as a credit on their September power bill, while those without an active account received a check by mail—provided a current mailing address is on file.
Unclaimed funds are retained for five years. Following a 2005 change to Georgia’s unclaimed property laws, Amicalola EMC is permitted to use unclaimed funds within its service area to support three community-focused purposes: education, economic development and some 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. 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.
This year, Amicalola EMC is providing approximately $517,985 in community funding across our service area. This year’s donations include $140,000 in high school scholarships, $50,201 in Bright Ideas teacher grants, $47,000 to area fire departments, $5,000 or $10,000 to local development authorities, $15,000 to each local Chamber of Commerce, $10,000 to each local food pantry, $10,000 to Lumpkin County’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery, $5,000 to the Rotary Club of Jasper, $5,000 to the Rotary Club of Gilmer for a Veteran’s dinner, a little over $20,000 to our Operation Round-Up Trust (and a matching $15,000 from CoBank, a national cooperative bank serving industries across rural America.) Other organizations receiving funding include the Gilmer Christian Learning Center, the Funk Heritage Center, Reinhardt FCA, Dawson Junior High Ag Program, Weekend Snack program, City of Ball Ground, City of Nelson and the Pickens Veteran’s building.
Amicalola EMC remains a dedicated supporter of the communities it serves. In addition to providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity, the cooperative is committed to promoting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life for local residents.
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Amicalola EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative which provides electricity and related services to over 58,000 locations in Bartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Murray and Pickens counties.