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Prior to 1936 there was not much of Rural America that had electricity. In 1936 The Rural Electrification Act, (part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal), was passed and that ignited moves in a lot of rural areas to have electricity. But really the work had just begun. Rural Electric Cooperatives were formed to provide the service to the rural areas all across the United States. Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) was organized in 1937 when a group of businessmen met and decided that this rural area needed power too. You see back then the only areas served with electricity were the cities. The EMC started, and still is operated, as a non-profit, member-owned, Rural Electric Cooperative. This group of businessmen held its first meeting in May 1937 on the campus of Young Harris College. They elected a Board of Directors and made it their goal to bring electricity to this mountain area. In June, 1938 the EMC was incorporated and an agreement was executed naming The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as the supplier of electricity. Agreements were made with the Rural Electrification Administration to borrow money for construction and the work began. Three employees were hired and a lot of volunteers were recruited. People joined in to help because this "new" product was wanted and welcomed. Looking back from the 21st Century it's almost impossible for people who have grown up with electricity to imagine the deep emotion felt by rural families when the lights came on. From that humble beginning the EMC now serves over 40,000 customers and will continue to grow with the community. Many new products and services are now being offered to our member-owners. |
© 2008 Blue Ridge Mountain EMC - 1360 Main Street - Young Harris, GA 30582 
