Okefenoke REMC’s 86^th Annual Meeting of members was held on Saturday, September 13 at Brantley County High School in Nahunta, Georgia. There were 476 registered members in attendance, who came together to take part in a long-standing cooperative tradition of mixing business and community engagement.

Soloist Lanie Mae Keller entertained members as they arrived, procured some refreshment and visited with community information tables including: Ferst Readers promoting childhood literacy, Southeast Georgia Health System providing blood pressure checks and cardiac health information, Brantley County Nutrition Services, OREMC Cooperative Solar Information, OREMC Electrical Safety Demonstration and “Dress Like a Lineman” photos.

At 10 a.m. OREMC Board President Wayne Combs opened the business meeting, which began with the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the National Anthem led by Brantley County High School AFJROTC Color Guard and the Brantley County Middle & High School Choirs.

Mr. Combs welcomed all those in attendance with his message about the power of community. He discussed how by the community, for the community was on full display this past year with respect to power restoration and community support following Hurricane Helene. The storm left 80 percent of our system out but completely restored within five days. Then, just four months later we contended with Winter Storm Enzo, the second ice/snow storm to impact the OREMC service area in seven year.

He said the monumental effort to restore power after such major storms was indicative of how every decision at OREMC is with members best interests at heart. We don’t have shareholders, we have family, friends and neighbors.

Mr. Wayne also said, “We stay focused on our mission of providing safe, reliable and affordable power by ensuring we can meet current member demand and respond to member growth by building capacity, resiliency and reliability by installing smart-grid technologies. Additionally, OREMC reinvests in the community by supporting youth and  education, and through the OREMC Foundation which has awarded 190 grants totaling nearly $700,000 over the past four years. Working together we build a stronger, more connected co-op community, that powers our shared future.”

Following Mr. Combs was General Manager John Middleton with an update on OREMC’s financial position and rates.

Referring members to the Annual Report, he explained the $9.3 Million increase in Net Utility Plant is driven by continued strong growth in new consumers, as well as our ongoing focus on reliability improvements. Correspondingly, OREMC saw in increase in cash/cash equivalents and total assets this last year as result of increases in accounts receivable and electric plant in service

Mr. Middleton then discussed that revenue year over year had increased by $16.8 million. He noted this substantial increase was primarily the result of higher sales to a very large industrial consumer. Extremely hot weather this summer also significantly increased sales to, and revenue from, other consumer classes.

Operating expenses also increased by $14.1 million.  Of that, $10.7 million was higher wholesale power costs associated with increased sales. Distribution maintenance expense increased by $2.6 million, $1.3 million of the increase was restoration expense incurred due to winter Storm Enzo in January. Enzo caused ice related damage over a significant portion of our system.

Mr. Middleton summarized by saying, “Continued strong growth in new consumers, as well as ongoing system upgrades to improve service reliability are key factors driving the significant increases in electric plant. That being said, Net margins for the year ending June 30, 2025 were $7.2 million, an increase of $2.2 million over last year.”

Relative to rates, Mr. Middleton reported OREMC remains competitive as we are lower than both the EMC average in Georgia and Georgia Power during both the summer and winter. Along with fellow co-ops in Georgia and Florida, OREMC continually monitors ever-changing legislative and regulatory issues, working to make sure our co-op voices are heard and decisions are reflective or members’ best interests. But there are always ongoing challenges.

Concluding the business meeting, the results of this year’s Board of Directions election were announced. Re-elected to three-year terms were: Clyde Mizell, Nassau County, FL; Steve E. Rawl Sr., Northwest Camden County; Joe Loomis, Glynn County.

Following the business meeting, 75 door prizes donated by OREMC and many of our vendor partners were raffled off, along with two $500 grand prizes and a prize for the “Oldest Man” and “Oldest Woman” in attendance. All registered members were given a ticket that they could redeem for a BBQ Plate prepared by the Brantley County FFA