EMCs in Georgia Take 5 of 20 Top Spots in J. D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study

Tucker, Ga. -- Electric cooperatives dominated the rankings in the 2021 J.D. Power annual survey of residential electric customers, with several EMCs in Georgia taking five of the top 20 spots.

Nationally, Walton EMC in Monroe, Jackson EMC in Jefferson, Sawnee EMC in Cumming, Cobb EMC in Marietta and GreyStone Power in Hiram were all ranked in the top 20 among all electric utilities (cooperatives, investor-owned and government-owned). In addition, each of the co-ops earned a spot on the top 20 among electric cooperatives nationwide.

“Our primary task and reason for being is serving our consumers,” said Walton EMC CEO Ronnie Lee. “Our employees and board treasure the confidence they put in us to deliver essential electric power they depend on every day.”

“Although the survey indicates members are satisfied with our service, we’ll continue to find ways to improve. That includes not only improving their electric and customer service, but also improving the ways we serve their local communities,” said Lee.

The 2021 J.D. Power Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 100,999 online interviews conducted from January through November. The survey targeted residential customers of the nation’s 145 largest electric utilities, representing more than 101 million households.

“We are encouraged by the J.D. Power study results, which reflect the diligent efforts of our board and employees to provide our members with top-notch service,” said GreyStone Power President/CEO Gary Miller. “Our mission is making life better in the communities we serve, and as we work to carry out that mission, we also strive to be number one in customer satisfaction among cooperatives.”

The J.D. Power Study measures residential customer satisfaction with large and midsize electric utility companies in four U.S. regions: East, Midwest, South and West. Utility performance was measured in six areas: power quality and reliability, price, billing and payment, communications, corporate citizenship and customer care.

“We are very pleased to be recognized in this J.D. Power review. Our Board of Directors and staff keep a service minded attitude in all that we do,” said Sawnee EMC President/CEO Michael Goodroe. “Our goal is to provide world-class customer service, coupled with reliable and affordable electricity, and we are proud that our members appreciate our efforts.”

“Every day, we focus on improving the member experience and delivering reliable electricity in the safest possible manner,” said Kevan Espy, President and CEO of Cobb EMC. “Our J.D. Power score is a direct reflection of how our employees are dedicated to giving our members exceptional service coupled with our ongoing efforts in the community we serve.”

“The electric industry is always changing, and Cobb EMC is investing in innovation to meet those changes,” said Espy. “With improvements in EVs and solar technology, it is our responsibility as a utility to research and invest in these projects, which will provide a greener future for generations to come.”

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to approximately 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.