Washington EMC

What Washington EMC does

Washington EMC (Washington Electric Membership Corporation) is a member-owned electric membership cooperative founded in 1937, distributing electricity to approximately 15,500 metered accounts across ten east-central Georgia counties (Baldwin, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Johnson, Laurens, Warren, Washington, and Wilkinson) via roughly 2,931 miles of distribution line. The cooperative operates under a not-for-profit model: revenue is generated through base charges ($32.50/month post-January 2024 adjustment), per-kWh energy charges, power cost adjustments, and demand-based rates for large commercial customers, with excess margins returned to members as capital credits after approximately 20 years. It is governed by a seven-member board elected by its customer-members.

The cooperative's core technology stack centers on conventional electric distribution infrastructure enhanced by a newly completed 2,300-mile fiber-to-the-home network built in partnership with Conexon Connect and completed in July 2024. The fiber network delivers up to 1 Gbps internet service to members (nearly 5,000 connected customers via the "Connect, powered by Washington EMC" brand) and provides smart-grid capabilities for improved electric service reliability. Member-facing technology includes the NISC-powered SmartHub web portal and mobile app (iOS/Android) for billing, usage tracking, and outage reporting, plus a real-time outage viewer map. Distributed energy offerings include a solar net metering rider (residential up to 10 kW, commercial up to 100 kW) under Georgia's Distributed Generation Act and a power purchase arrangement with the Green Power EMC Hazelhurst solar project.

Washington EMC distributes its services through three physical offices (Sandersville HQ, Wrightsville, Sparta), phone support, drive-thru service, and self-service digital channels. The cooperative holds an exclusive regulated service territory, drawing generation from Oglethorpe Power Corporation and transmission from Georgia Transmission Corporation, with financing relationships through CoBank, CFC, and USDA RUS. FY2024 revenue was $51.5 million, supported by 63 employees. The Conexon Connect broadband partnership represents the most significant recent strategic move, extending the cooperative beyond electricity into rural broadband — a $54.5 million capital project partially funded by a $13.2 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the State of Georgia.

Name

Washington EMC

Legal name

Washington Electric Membership Corporation

Website

https://washingtonemc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Washington EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative founded in 1937 that distributes electricity to roughly 15,500 metered accounts across ten east-central Georgia counties, and recently extended into rural fiber broadband through a partnership with Conexon Connect.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

Keywords

• Rural electric cooperative
• Electricity distribution services
• Fiber broadband internet
• Solar energy programs
• Member-owned utility

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandersville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electric Service Revenue: Sale of electricity to approximately 15,500 metered accounts across 10 Georgia counties. Revenue generated through base charges, energy charges per kWh, and power cost adjustments. Not-for-profit model where margins are returned to members as capital credits.
2. Broadband Services: High-speed fiber internet services provided through Conexon Connect partnership. WEMC owns the fiber infrastructure and leases capacity to Conexon Connect, which provides retail service to approximately 5,000 connected customers.
3. Solar Net Metering: Net metering rider allowing residential customers up to 10kW and commercial customers up to 100kW to interconnect solar installations under Georgia's Distributed Generation Act of 2001

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Washington EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative that distributes electricity to approximately 15,500 metered accounts across ten counties in east-central Georgia. In addition to electric distribution, it offers fiber broadband internet through a partnership with Conexon Connect, member solar programs, and the SmartHub member portal for account management and energy usage monitoring.

Product overview

Washington EMC is a member-owned electric membership corporation providing electricity distribution services across ten east-central Georgia counties. The cooperative offers a portfolio including core electricity service, fiber broadband internet through a partnership with Conexon Connect, solar energy programs with net metering options, and the SmartHub member portal for account management. Member benefits include capital credits retirements, while community programs encompass Bright Ideas education grants for teachers and Operation Round Up charitable donations. The cooperative serves approximately 15,500 metered-accounts with about 2,931 miles of power lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connect, powered by Washington EMC: High-speed fiber internet service brand provided through partnership with Conexon Connect
• Bright Ideas
• Operation Round Up

Products and services

• Electricity Distribution Core regulated distribution of electric power to approximately 15,500 metered residential, commercial, and agricultural accounts across ten counties in east-central Georgia.
• Fiber Broadband Internet (Conexon Connect partnership) Fiber-to-the-home broadband internet service delivered to members through a build/operate partnership with Conexon Connect.
• Member Solar Programs Distributed solar offering allowing members to interconnect rooftop or on-site solar generation to the cooperative grid, supported by net metering.
• SmartHub Member Portal Web and mobile portal that lets members view and pay electric bills, monitor energy usage, and manage their account online.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fiber broadband reaching 100% of service territory
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Conexon ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2021Washington EMC partnered with Conexon Connect to design and build a 2,300-mile fiber network providing high-speed internet to all 12,200+ members across 10 Georgia counties. WEMC owns the fiber infrastructure and leases excess capacity to Conexon Connect, which provides retail internet service up to 1 Gigabit per second. The partnership includes a $54.5 million capital investment ($52M from WEMC, $2.5M from Conexon Connect). Project completed in 2024.
• GreenPower EMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington EMC takes output from the Green Power EMC Hazelhurst solar project. Also provides energy education programs through GreenPower EMC.
• Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an affiliate. State association for electric membership corporations in Georgia.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an affiliate. National trade association for electric cooperatives.
• Oglethorpe Power CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an affiliate. Power generation cooperative serving Georgia EMCs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Central Georgia EMC: Georgia-based electric membership cooperative operating across multiple counties. Directly comparable rural electric distribution cooperative with overlapping cooperative principles and member-service orientation.
• Jackson EMC: Member-owned electric cooperative in Georgia serving a multi-county territory. Highly comparable to Washington EMC as another Georgia EMC distributing electricity across a defined rural franchise under the same cooperative model.
• GreyStone Power Corporation: Georgia electric membership corporation providing distribution electric service to members across a multi-county footprint. Closely comparable cooperative structure, rate design, and member-service model to Washington EMC.
• Cobb EMC: Large Georgia electric membership corporation serving residential and commercial members. Comparable member-owned distribution utility with similar cooperative governance, rate-class structure, and SmartHub-style member portal.
• Excelsior EMC: Member-owned electric cooperative that has pursued fiber broadband expansion in its service territory. Comparable to Washington EMC in deploying rural fiber via partner relationships and operating under cooperative governance.
• Tri-County EMC: Electric cooperative in Georgia serving a defined rural service territory. Comparable cooperative electric utility with similar member-owned model, distribution operations, and community-focused programming.

Broad incumbents

• Georgia Power: Investor-owned utility serving most of Georgia including areas adjacent to Washington EMC's territory. Broadly comparable electric distribution business but operates under investor-owned rather than cooperative governance with much larger scale.
• Oglethorpe Power Corporation: Power generation and transmission cooperative serving Georgia's EMCs, including Washington EMC. Comparable as a cooperative entity in the same value chain, but operates upstream at generation/transmission rather than distribution retail.

Emerging players

• Conexon Connect: Rural fiber broadband provider that partners with electric cooperatives to deliver fiber-to-the-home. Directly comparable as Washington EMC's broadband retail partner, with the same fiber-deployment model applied to other cooperative customers nationwide.

Others

• National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC): Cooperative services organization supporting rural utilities and broadband initiatives. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler Washington EMC affiliates with for telecommunications and broadband capabilities in rural America.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Washington_EMC
• Facebookfacebook.com/WashingtonEMC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-electric-membership-corp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington EMC