News

(Jasper, Ga., Nov 10, 2025) – A dangerous tree trimming accident had a positive outcome thanks to the safety training and actions of an employee from Amicalola EMC. In recognition of his quick actions, Anthony Lowman, right-of-way crew leader at Amicalola EMC, received a Lifesaving Award from Georgia EMC during the state association’s annual meeting held on November 10 in Savannah. On July 15, Gilmer County Fire & Rescue responded to a distress call involving a man who...

This year Amicalola EMC representatives surprised 69 teachers with big checks to help fund their bright ideas. The cooperative made their way to 28 different schools in the service area throughout Cherokee, Dawson, Gilmer, Lumpkin and Pickens counties. The Bright Ideas program rewards teachers who go the extra mile to research and implement innovative classroom projects that might not otherwise receive funding. Amicalola EMC awarded a total of $46,720 this year, bringing the total to...

Early this morning rain and heavy wind gusts have caused some power outages across our service area. At 4 AM around 2,500 meters were out, with the majority being in Pickens County. As of 8 AM we are down to roughly 1,085 meters out at 33 seperate locations. To view outage in real time you can view the outage map here. Please drive with caution this morning. If you encounter a downed power line do not drive over it or go near it. It’s important to always assume lines are energized and...

Please be advised, helicopter tree trimming will resume in Gilmer County today on Highway 52 E. Once Avid Aviation Inc. finishes in this area, trimming will move to parts of Cherokee County. The tentative plan is listed below. As a reminder, brief outages may occur, but Amicalola EMC will do our best to keep disruption to a minimum. Avid Aviation Inc. will be handling traffic control, but please travel these areas with caution. Thank you to our members and the rest of the community for...

September is National Preparedness Month and Amicalola EMC is encouraging our members to prepare for emergencies before they strike. We are always working behind the scenes to ensure a rapid response in the event of severe weather. This includes stocking essential materials like power poles, transformers and wire to restore power safely and efficiently following storms. As Amicalola EMC stands ready, we also encourage consumer-members to take simple but important steps to safeguard...

On Thursday, August 21 Amicalola EMC held the annual Task Force banquet at Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper. Close to 100 consumer members from across the AEMC service area gathered together to enjoy a meal and listen to remarks from our Board Chairman Charles Fendley, CEO Todd Payne and State Representative Rick Jasperse (R) – District 11. The Amicalola EMC Task Force has served as a voice for the cooperative since 1972. The role of the Task Force is to help educate others on...

We would like to inform our members that Avid Aviation Inc., contracted by Amicalola EMC, will begin aerial tree trimming operations starting August 25, weather permitting. This innovative method uses a helicopter equipped with aerial saw blades to safely and efficiently trim trees in areas that are difficult to access by traditional means. This trimming is part of our ongoing commitment to protect power lines from overhanging limbs and reduce the risk of outages. While Avid Aviation will...

Amicalola EMC members are more than just consumers, they own the company. As a member-owner of a not-for-profit electric cooperative, each year members are assigned any monies collected in excess of operating costs. When financial conditions permit, the board authorizes a refund of these monies. This year, the board will allocate a refund of more than $2.1 million for members who had electric service during the year 2004. Individual refunds are based upon the amount of electricity...

The 2025 Nominating Committee met on July 1, 2025, and prepared a list of nominations for election of three directors at the Annual Meeting to be held on October 4, 2025. Nominated for directors to be elected by a vote of the members at the Annual Meeting are Shelley Cantrell, representing Post #4 (Pickens County & Gordon County); Kathy Burt representing Post #7 (Dawson County & Forsyth County); Edward Tucker, representing Post #9 (Lumpkin County). Other nominations may be made by...

A Nominating Committee was appointed by the Board of Directors of Amicalola EMC at its June meeting to make nominations for directors whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting to be held October 4, 2025. This Nominating Committee made up of Julie Garrison (representing Bartow/Cherokee Counties); Doug Blackstock (representing Dawson/Forsyth Counties); Tim Ingram (representing Gordon/Pickens Counties); Doug Caldwell (representing Lumpkin County); and Freddie Vick, (representing...

June 18, 2025 A quick, but strong summer storm hit our service area yesterday evening around 6:30 PM. Heavy wind, rain and lightning caused downed trees and power lines. Pickens Street in Nelson experienced outages due to a downed tree 50 feet outside of our right of way. Two broken crossarms underneath the transmission line caused a recloser to catch on fire. A broken pole was discovered on Darby Road in the Clayton/Waleska area, as well as the Hidden Hollow area of Dahlonega. In...

Outage Update - June 8 | 7:00 AM Linemen and right of way crews, dispatchers and Amicalola EMC personnel have worked through the night to clear storm damage and get the lights back on for our members. We are down to approximately 5,200 members without power. Progress is still being made, however more broken poles are being discovered. The ones that we know of right now are in the following areas: Fairview Rd - 3 phase pole Laurel Lake Subdivision - 3 phase Little Creek Dr and Lukes...