NGEMC has served the communities on northwest Georgia since 1936. Here is a look back at some of the biggest moments in our history. 

A Timeline of NGEMC History

  • Birth of the ERA

    President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Rural Electrification Act, creating the Rural Electrification Administration.

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  • NGEMC Chartered

    The North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation is chartered. The first lines are energized just over two months later on July 14, 1936. 
    The first office of the co-op is located in half of a brick garage in Ringgold with two nail kegs for seats, a pine table as a desk, and one second-hand filing cabinet.

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  • First Dalton office (1936-1938)

    Interior of first NGEMC office on Hamilton St.

    NGEMC’s first Dalton office opens on North Hamilton St. Dealers display electric appliances in the front windows.

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  • First Annual Meeting

    The first Annual Meeting is held.

    At the end of its first year, NGEMC has built 437 miles of line and serves 1,766 members.

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  • W. L. Manton

    W. L. “Bill” Manton becomes the third General Manager of the Cooperative. Unlike predecessors John H. Graham and John E. Thigpen, Manton serves in the role for over three decades.

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  • WWII Begins

    Throughout it's history, war will have a pattern of slowing the growth of NGEMC throughout Northwest Georgia. 

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  • January 1940 Snowstorm

    A snowstorm dumps 18 inches of snow in Lafayette, GA.

    To restore power, one crew shovels snow from the roadways to move their bucket truck down the highway. Eventually, they borrow a mule, which employee Dutch Brown rides to inspect the lines.

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  • "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"

    The Japanese Imperial Navy bombs Pearl Harbor. The U.S. enters WWII shortly thereafter.

    Several NGEMC employees and their family members are called to serve.

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  • One Decade Down...

    At the end of its first decade, NGEMC serves 8,048 members and has 808 miles of line. WWII slows growth in the area.

    Before the Cooperative finishes its second decade, growth is again slowed by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950.

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  • First Headquarters

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  • First Headquarters

    The Cooperative builds its first headquarters building at 301 N. Selvidge Street in Dalton, GA.

    The cost to build the 17,000 square foot facility is $100,000.

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  • Two Way Radios

    Two-way radios for communication with NGEMC offices and crews are in service.

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  • Twenty Years of Service

    At the end of its second decade, NGEMC has 17,782 members and 1,930 miles of line.

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  • Ice Storm of 1960

    An ice storm knocks power out across NGEMC’s service territory.

    Full restoration takes two weeks in some areas, with line workers cutting limbs by hand in below-zero temperatures.

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  • "The Eagle has Landed"

    Apollo 11 lands on the moon.

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  • Second Headquarters Completed

    The current headquarters office is dedicated at 1850 Cleveland Hwy.

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  • Elvin J. Farrar

    Elvin J. Farrar becomes the fourth General Manager of NGEMC.

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  • Super Outbreak of 1974

    During the two-day Super Outbreak of 1974, and F4 tornado carves a path of destruction 29.5 miles long through Gordon, Murray, and Whitfield counties. It is one of 148 tornados associated with the storms. The tornado which struck the NGEMC area claimed nine lives. 

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  • Trion Office

    Ground is broken on the Trion office.

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  • A Leap into the Digital Age

    SCADA (System Control and Data Acquisition) is implemented at NGEMC.

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  • A New Calhoun Office

    A ribbon cutting is held for a new Calhoun office. 

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  • NGEMC turns 50

    At 50 years, NGEMC serves 60,472 members. For the fiftieth anniversary, Cooperative historian Mark Pace publishes the definitive history of NGEMC, Out of a Dim Era, in 1986.

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  • Ron Hutchins

    Ron Hutchins becomes the fifth top-executive of the Cooperative in January. He is the first to hold the title of "President and CEO."

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  • The Blizzard of the Century

    The storm dumps 22 to 24 inches of snow across NGEMC’s service area. 65,000 members lose power, 411 poles are lost, and total damages cost $2.5 million.

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  • Opal

    Hurricane Opal strikes NGEMC’s system leaving 52,000 members without power. 18 of 22 substations go out of service. The cost of restoration reaches $585,000.

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  • NGEMC.com

    NGEMC’s first website is launched.

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  • A Foundation for Good

    North Georgia Electric Membership Foundation is established.

    Collections for the Operation Round Up program begin in the following year.

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  • Ringgold Tornado

    An EF- 4 tornado wreaks havoc on the region, causing tremendous damage and claiming 8 lives in Ringgold, GA.

    The event levels 24 miles of line, 27,000 are left without power, and 370 poles are broken. $4 million in damage impacts the NGEMC system.

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  • The Age of AMI

    Deployment of AMI (Automatic Metering Infrastructure) meters to all NGEMC members ushers in an era of advanced automation and reporting.

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  • Kathryn West

    Kathryn West takes the helm as the sixth top executive of NGEMC. She is the second President and CEO and first woman in the Cooperative’s top role.

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  • 100,000 Points of Light

    North Georgia EMC adds its 100,000th metering point, which is located in Catoosa County -- where it all began back in 1936.

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  • COVID-19

    In March of 2020, COVID-19 is classified as a global pandemic, the first in NGEMC’s history.

    The pandemic changes many operations at the cooperative. Lobbies close to the public, office employees work remotely for the majority of the year, and operations team members and line crews work in isolated small groups.

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  • Easter Sunday Storms

    On April 12, a series of severe storms, including three tornadoes, sweep through NGEMC’s service area. The resulting damage leaves 26,000 households and businesses without power. 
    172 poles are broken and miles of line are torn down. Seven lose their lives in the aftermath of the storm. Crews work around the clock for four days to restore the outages.

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