"We had a banner year, this year," says Carroll EMC President/ CEO Chip Jakins at Wednesday's annual Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative Power Breakfast. He's talking mostly about recognitions and accolades in 2011, that include 'One of Georgia's Best Places To Work;" A national award of marketing excellence for the company's Pre-Pay Program; and a 1st place prize from the National Cooperative Communicators Association, among others.

2011 awards aside, Jakins says there are challenges ahead for Carroll EMC in 2012, including projections that consumer growth will remain flat. "... and we're going to continue our austerity measures. Our budget is going to be very thin and we're going to be very mindful of the economic condition as we move forward," he says. "Plant Vogtle is under construction... and then there is a Presidential election. Depending on how that goes, the renewable energy standards and climate change bills could be very much in the forefront again."

Jakins says the "fixes" planned for in 2012 are mostly the same that were planned for in 2011. "We're going to need to not stop with Plant Vogtle. We're going to need more nuclear in this country if we get to where we need to go," he says. "We're going to need clean coal plant sites and we're going to need approval of those sites. If the climate change bill and the renewable energy standards push forward, we're going to need equitable carbon emmissions. The south is going to have to get fair treatment in this."

Jakins concludes that consumer education will be important in 2012. "We are going to have to let our members know what any changes mean to them and how it impacts their electric bill."

Carroll EMC is celebrating their 75th Anniversary in 2011.