Southern Rivers Energy was originally chartered as Lamar Electric Membership Corporation in February 1938, after a group of local farmers got together to create a plan of action to bring power to their community through Franklin Roosevelt's Rural Electrification Administration. They worked tirelessly to construct an electrical system, and on August 11, 1938, President Roosevelt came to Barnesville to symbolically throw the switch and begin our legacy of lighting the countryside. In the conclusion of Roosevelt's speech, he asserted, "In dedicating this project, I want to express my abiding faith that we as a nation are moving steadily and surely toward a better way of living for all our people. This electrification project is a symbol of our determination to attain that objective."

J.M. Abercrombie, one of the early members and later President of the cooperative's Board, said, "Lamar EMC just about rejuvenated the farm business and became the livelihood of farm people. You could get to talking and never quit talking about how much Lamar EMC means to us country folks."

Lamar EMC began with 357 members, 144 miles of power line, and 2 employees. We now employ 56 people and provide service to nearly 15,000 members in nine counties: Bibb, Coweta, Crawford, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Pike, Spalding, and Upson.

Southern Rivers Energy, which had its named changed from Lamar EMC in 2005, is governed by an elected Board of Directors who represent our members in the business of the cooperative. Our office is headquartered in Barnesville, GA.

Mission