The 86th annual meeting of the members of Excelsior EMC was held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at the Bulloch County Agricultural Complex in Statesboro, Georgia, with approximately 301 members participating.
Upon arrival at the meeting, Excelsior EMC members drove-through to register, receive a registration gift, and enter into a drawing for a chance to win one of ten $100 gift cards. Members then entered the main arena of the agricultural complex for the in-person business meeting. Promptly at 1:10 p.m., Steve Minor, Cooperative Attorney, called the business session to order.
After the invocation by Director G.W. Johnson Jr., the National Anthem, and approval of the minutes of the last meeting, five employees were recognized with a service award for a combined total of 135 years of service to the Cooperative.
Receiving service awards were:
- Nelsan Hobbs, 20 years
- Jody Wilson, 20 years
- Matt Smith, 30 years
- Jim O’Brien, 30 years
- Chris Howell, 35 years
Following the presentation of employee service awards, Greg Proctor gave the President/CEO’s Report. In his report, Proctor began by thanking members for attending the annual meeting. In Proctor’s report, he provided members an overview of how the cooperative is continuing to provide a safe work environment and reminded members to promote safety in their daily lives.
Proctor commented on the growth of the cooperative and the major projects that were completed in 2023, including the voltage conversion and capacity increase at the Jimps Substation and the reconductoring project along Highway 301. He also noted the cryptocurrency processing consumer that was added last year.
Proctor mentioned major storm events that Excelsior EMC experienced in August 2023. He noted the two most impactful -- the thunderstorm on August 8 and Hurricane Idalia on August 30 -- and the assistance provided by other EMCs, contractors, and retired employees.
Proctor described the efforts being made to increase the overall resiliency of the system in order to make Excelsior’s distribution system more robust and how the cooperative has been identifying projects that will increase the capacity, as well as improve the reliability of the electrical grid.
Proctor explained to members that safety is the cooperative’s highest priority and that Excelsior had its fourth consecutive year of work with no lost time due to an accident. He thanked Excelsior EMC employees for their awareness and the safety culture that they exhibit daily.
Proctor then took time to thank Excelsior EMC employees for their hard work. He explained that it is the people that make everything possible and that these team members are the ones that keep the lights on for members.
Proctor noted that the cost of wholesale power decreased in 2023, but inflation keeps increasing the cost of everything the cooperative purchases, therefore increasing the cost of all new power lines added to the system.
Proctor detailed the addition of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4, which came online in mid-2023 and early 2024, respectively. He noted that with these units coming online, Excelsior EMC would benefit from clean energy provided by the plants for the next 60 to 80 years.
Proctor explained that each year the Board conducts a detailed review of capital credits. The 2024 revisions and updates to the Cooperative’s capital credit study, along with management recommendations that there be no general retirements or estate retirements during 2024, were reviewed and approved by the Board during their April meeting.
Proctor thanked the Board of Directors for their role in guiding the direction of the cooperative and noted their commitment to making decisions that provide the best in safe, reliable and cost-effective service for Excelsior EMC’s members.
Proctor closed his annual report with thanks to the members for their support throughout the year and for their attendance at the annual meeting. He noted that the Excelsior EMC employees are honored to be able to serve their members and strive to improve every day.
Three directors were elected to serve three-year terms.
These were:
- G.W. Johnson Jr., District 4
- Amy Hendrix, District 5
- Grady McCray, At-Large
After the meeting was adjourned, door prizes were awarded, and all attendees enjoyed ice cream.
