Members Celebrate the Power of Community at Coweta-Fayette EMC’s Annual Meeting

PALMETTO, GA, Oct. 7, 2025 – More than 3,000 Coweta-Fayette Electric Membership Corporation (CFEMC) members took part in this year’s Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day, held Tuesday, October 7, at the cooperative’s headquarters in Palmetto.

The Annual Meeting is a cornerstone of the cooperative business model—an opportunity for member-owners to take part in the democratic process that sets co-ops apart. This year, members re-elected Therol R. Brown (Seat 1, Fayette County), Daniel C. Langford, Jr. (Seat 2, Fayette County), and J. Neal Shepard, Jr. (Seat 1, Coweta County) to three-year terms on the board of directors. The Nominating Committee received no other nominations, and the incumbents were reappointed by acclamation.

Registered members also voted to approve the minutes from the 2024 Annual Meeting, received this year’s free member gift—a rechargeable mini car vacuum—and were entered to win the grand prize, a $1,000 credit on their electric bill. Members could register in person or through early registration at CFEMC offices the week prior. The business meeting and grand prize drawing were streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, with recordings and reports available here.

In his address to members, Board Chairman Neal Shepard highlighted the cooperative’s ongoing strength and preparation for the future. “Looking ahead, we know the energy landscape will continue to change,” Shepard said. “Large industries and businesses are making Georgia their home, bringing new demand for electricity. Your cooperative is ready… investing in technologies and forward-looking solutions that strengthen reliability and keep your lights on, your homes comfortable, and your businesses powered.”

Shepard reaffirmed that system reliability remains CFEMC’s top priority, a commitment echoed by CEO Chris Stephens in his remarks.

“This year brought both challenges and successes,” Stephens shared. “We faced severe weather, set a new system peak, and met record energy demand without compromising reliability. That’s a testament to the strength of our infrastructure, the planning of our engineering team, and the dedication of our line crews.”

Stephens noted that CFEMC continues to deliver reliable, affordable energy at rates well below the national average.

“While the average cost of electricity nationwide is $0.1747 per kilowatt-hour, CFEMC members pay about $0.1312,” he said. “That means a typical household using 1,500 kilowatt-hours saves around $65 each month, that’s real money that stays in your family’s budget.”

He also announced that $4 million in capital credits will be returned to members who received energy in 2006 and 2024 and that a recent Power Cost Adjustment reduction will save the average household about $5 per month.

Members can watch the full business session, hear updates from True Natural Gas and the Coweta-Fayette EMC Trust Board (which oversees the Operation Round Up program), and view the grand prize drawing here.

This year’s lucky grand prize winner was Mark L. Blanchard who received a $1,000 credit toward their CFEMC electric bill.

Coweta-Fayette EMC is a member-owned energy company, serving over 82,000 accounts, headquartered in Palmetto, Ga.  Coweta-Fayette EMC is an equal opportunity provider and employer /M/F/Y/D