Some Consumers Can Choose Their Electricity Suppliers
The state of Georgia is unique in that businesses with new connected loads of 900 kilowatts or greater have the option of selecting their electricity provider. The 1973 Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act established retail competition between electricity suppliers in Georgia giving certain commercial customers a choice of electric suppliers.

The act designates exclusive service areas to 41 electric membership cooperatives (EMC), which serve 73 percent of the state's land area, and to Georgia Power Company or municipal power systems.

New connected loads of 900 KW or greater at initial full operation, excluding redundant equipment, may be served by any supplier:

• Outside municipal limits.
• In areas annexed to a municipality after March 29, 1973, if the supplier owns lines in the municipality.
• In wholly new municipalities.

One supplier's service line (below 120,000 volts) crossing another supplier's assigned area creates "corridor rights." Customers within the corridor may be able to choose the electrical supplier that owns the service line. Other potential customer-choice situations exist that require determination by the electrical suppliers.

This competition is possible partly because Georgia's major power suppliers jointly own the state's transmission lines and substation facilities. The Integrated Transmission System includes the Georgia Transmission Corporation, which provides transmission and associated services to Georgia EMCs; Georgia Power Company; MEAG Power; and Dalton Utilities. This agreement reduces the cost of electricity for Georgia consumers by avoiding duplication of facilities and through joint planning to enhance electric service reliability.

If you are an industry looking to locate in Southern Rivers Energy's service area and you meet the requirements outlined above for customer choice, please contact Director of Marketing/Member Services Erin Cook at erin@srivers.net or 770-358-1383 ext. 332.