Lost Horizons, New Horizons

MODERN POWER FOR MODERN GEORGIA

Following World War II, Georgia changed from a rural state with a few small cities to a state dominated by Atlanta and other metropolitan centers. Surrounding these growing urban areas, suburbs increasingly intruded into the countryside. In the remaining rural areas, officials worked to attract industry and military bases in hopes of strengthening local economies. At the same time, large mechanized farms began to replace traditional small family farms.

These major changes in economic activity and settlement patterns often put the electric cooperatives in direct competition with municipal electrical companies and Georgia Power. Over the next forty years all the power providers maintained a coexistence with each other in a rapidly changing market. Often, this struggle erupted into open conflict, but on almost every occasion, these entities reached agreements with hard-nosed negotiating that allowed all to prosper.

The main areas of conflict centered on territory control, wholesale pricing, and access to hydro-electric power. In 1973, The Georgia Territorial Service Act resolved many of the disputes over territory among Georgia Power, the cooperatives, and municipals. During the 1950s and 60s, the cooperatives had proved their right in the courts to preferential access to hydro-electric power provided by federal dams. Yet, cooperatives lacked a network of transmission lines for distribution. As a result, many cooperative leaders saw the need to develop their own independent power generation and transmission. This cherished dream became a reality in 1974 when Georgia cooperatives established Oglethorpe Power, a power supply cooperative. In the mid 1970s during the energy crisis, the cooperatives made a major investment in Georgia Power, which was struggling to meet demand and remain solvent in the midst of shortages and skyrocketing costs. That investment enabled Georgia Power and the cooperatives to develop power plants to meet the state's growing need for electricity. Their cooperation demonstrated their ability to work together when common interest allowed.