CUMMING, GA – Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation (Sawnee EMC) announced today that it is preparing to return approximately $6 million in patronage capital refunds to over 137,500 current and former members. This refund applies to individuals and businesses who received electric service from Sawnee EMC during 2008 and/or 2009.
As a not-for-profit cooperative, Sawnee EMC annually assigns / allocates patronage capital to its members of record. Each assignment is based on the amount of revenue they provided the Cooperative through their electric bill during a particular year.
Patronage capital is defined in Sawnee EMC’s Bylaws as an “allocation of the revenue in excess of operating costs and expenses” and is required by Georgia law. Sawnee EMC’s Board of Directors regularly considers the retirement of patronage capital to its members for certain periods. The Board approves a retirement after it determines that doing so will not impair Sawnee EMC’s overall financial position.
All members who received electric service from Sawnee EMC at any time during 2008 and/or 2009 are eligible to receive their allocated portion of this general patronage capital retirement.
Each member’s refund will vary based on their 2008 and/or 2009 electric bills. Eligible members will receive an average refund of $43.
Current members, who are qualified, will see the refund as a credit on their March 2026 electric bill. Former members with a valid forwarding address on file will be mailed a check around April 1, 2026.
“It is important for us to demonstrate through this, and many other actions, that the electric cooperative business model still works for our members and our organization,” states Michael Goodroe, Sawnee EMC’s President and CEO.
“This is not the only retirement of patronage capital made by Sawnee EMC throughout the year,” states Blake House, Vice President of Member Services. “Sawnee also retires patronage capital, on a voluntary basis, to the estates of deceased members.” Over $208,000 has been retired in the past 12 months to families of former members who are now deceased.
Executors of estates of deceased members who have not yet received their refund, should contact Sawnee EMC’s Customer Service Center at (770) 887-2363, text 678-999-8124 or via email at customerservice@sawnee.coop, to find out if their family member’s estate could potentially qualify for a voluntary early retirement of patronage capital.
For additional information about this general retirement of patronage capital, please call Sawnee EMC’s Customer Service Department at (770) 887-2363, send an email to customerservice@sawnee.coop or visit www.sawnee.coop/patcap to watch our short informational video.
About Sawnee EMC
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation, a five-time J.D. Power recipient for best in customer satisfaction, is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 203,646 meters in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s total assets exceed $1 billion, with energy sales of 3.7 billion kWh and annual revenue of approximately $450 million. With a team of approximately 405 dedicated professionals and over 12,542 miles of distribution line, Sawnee always stands ready to meet the needs of its members-owners. SEMC strives daily to live up to their motto…
“At Sawnee EMC, We’re More Than Electricity, We’re Service”.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer