JEFFERSON, Ga. (September 7, 2011) In a study just released by J.D. Power and Associates, Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) ranked highest in customer satisfaction among midsize utilities in the South.  This marked the fourth year that Jackson EMC had been included in the study, the second consecutive award and the third time the cooperative has received the honor.

“Jackson EMC is extremely pleased to receive this honor again,” said Randall Pugh, the cooperative’s president/CEO.   “This award recognizes every aspect of our organization, from system reliability to community involvement.  Our employees have an incredibly strong commitment to and pride in the service they provide our members, and this award demonstrates that commitment.  I am so very proud to work with people like these folks, who demonstrate their dedication each and every day.”

The study ranked both large and midsize utilities in the East, Midwest, South and West.  Midsize utilities serve 125,000-499,999 residential customers, while large utilities serve 500,000 or more customers.  Factors examined by the study included power quality and reliability, price, billing and payment, corporate citizenship, communications and customer service.

“As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, owned by the people we serve, our mission is to provide our members with high quality service and reliable, affordable power.  Our members’ response to this study is very gratifying, and reaffirms the strategic areas emphasized within the cooperative, which are price, reliability, member communications, customer service and stewardship,” said Pugh.

Headquartered in Westlake Village, CA, J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors, including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction.  The firm’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of customers annually.  J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Jackson EMC, a cooperative owned by the members it serves, provides electricity and related services to more than 205,700 meters in 10 Northeast Georgia counties, with offices in Jefferson, Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Neese.  To learn more, visit www.jacksonemc.com.