CLARKESVILLE — Approximately 1,700 members and guests gathered Thursday, September 25, at Habersham EMC’s headquarters for the cooperative’s 87th Annual Meeting. Attendees enjoyed a barbecue meal, safety demonstrations, and fiber technology exhibits while hearing updates about the cooperative’s progress and future plans.
Commitment to members and community
HEMC President and CEO Bryan Ferguson said the cooperative’s mission remains centered on its members and the communities it serves. He credited technology upgrades and a strategic right-of-way plan with helping HEMC achieve a record low in outage occurrences.
HEMC ranked eighth lowest in the Georgia Public Service Commission’s summer rate survey, according to an HEMC press release. Ferguson attributed it to financial stewardship and the board’s long-range planning. He also highlighted the cooperative’s safety record — employees have gone 7.9 years without a lost-time accident — and praised members for contributing to Operation Round Up. The program distributed over $91,000 in the past year to individuals, families, and organizations within its service area.
Customer satisfaction award
Ferguson also announced that HEMC received the 2024 Customer Satisfaction Award for Co-op Utilities from The American Customer Satisfaction Index. The recognition, based on member feedback, places HEMC in the top 25 percent of electric cooperatives nationwide. It is the second consecutive year HEMC has earned the award.
Board of Directors election
During the meeting, members re-elected Dustin Hulsey, Dan Thurmond, and David Wall to the Board of Directors. Following the business session, the board convened and selected officers: Hulsey as chairman, Billy Cantrell as vice-chairman, and Kenneth McEntire as secretary-treasurer.
Door prize winners
Members who registered to vote were eligible for door prize drawings, including a $500 grand prize, which went to Lisa McClure of Cleveland. The absentee voting prize was awarded to Suzanne Fry of Clarkesville.
The annual meeting underscored Habersham EMC’s continued focus on providing safe, reliable service to its more than 28,000 members.
Founded in 1938, Habersham EMC maintains more than 3,900 miles of line serving six counties in Northeast Georgia.
