Our History
Lighting the Way Since 1938
A Vision From the Top
In the 1930s, electricity was only available to city residents. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, frustrated by the high cost of electricity to his home in Warm Springs, created the Rural Electric Administration (REA). The REA’s mission was to loan money to cooperatives and other groups to build rural power lines.
In 1936, Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act, officially establishing the REA as a full-scale federal agency.
President Franklin D Roosevelt
Founding a Cooperative, Empowering a Community
On July 25, 1938, a group of citizens met to form Habersham Electric Membership Cooperative, a nonprofit, member-owned cooperative. Their goal: bring electricity to the rural areas of Habersham, Hall, White, Stephens, Rabun, and Lumpkin counties.
Investor-owned power companies had no interest in extending lines to widely spread-out farm families. A cooperative was the only way.
August 1938: First official meeting of HEMC
7 directors elected
3 employees hired
Engineering firm J.B. McCrary contracted to build lines
May 15, 1939: First 70 miles of line energized in Habersham, Rabun, and White counties
Growth and Milestones
1942: Board expanded to 9 directors — a number that remains today
1945: After just 5 years, HEMC had built 392 miles of line and served 1,663 consumers
Members used an average of 45 kWh per month
Cost: 6.4¢ per kWh
To make bill payments more convenient, HEMC introduced “collecting agents”—customers could pay at local stores, gas stations, banks, and more. Today, members have even more options:
- Cleveland branch office
- Online
- By phone
- Bank or credit card draft
HEMC’s first office
Headquarters & Infrastructure
November 1958: Moved into new headquarters on Highway 115 in Clarkesville
Later added:
- Personnel buildings
- Warehouses
- Shops
January 2005: Engineering & Operations building opened on the hill above headquarters
July 2006: New Administration building opened in front of the E&O facility
HEMC’s 1958 headquarters
Powering Progress: Oglethorpe Power
In 1975, HEMC joined with 38 other Georgia cooperatives to form Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC), a generation and transmission facility built to serve EMC’s wholesale power needs.
Today:
OPC is the largest independent electricity supplier in the U.S.
In 1997, OPC operations expanded into:
Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC)
Handles power dispatch and transmission
Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC)
Builds and maintains transmission lines and substations
OPC
Remains the primary power supplier
Today and Tomorrow
HEMC’s team of 100+ full-time and part-time employees and 9 directors continue the mission set forth in 1938:
To provide a dependable supply of electricity at the lowest possible cost—guided by sound management practices.
We’re proud to be an innovative, member-owned cooperative and community leader serving Northeast Georgia with:
Clean, reliable energy
Affordable service
Solutions for convenience and efficiency
The 7 Cooperative Principles
Cooperatives follow a unique business model, based on 7 principles, which sets us apart from other businesses
Voluntary & Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (1 member, 1 vote), and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
Members’ Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Autonomy & Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
Education, Training, & Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.