A couple quotes from the CHELCO News May/June 2005 (The Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative serves many formerly rural areas of Walton and South Walton County) Hurricane Recovery, Growth top meeting agenda "South Walton has been the prime growth area for the past few years, he reported, but growth has expanded to Freeport with new subdivisions and commercial development. Growth has really picked up in Walton County, north of Freeport, and in the Mossy Head Area. Two developments are in the planning stages in Mossy Head, and a Mossy Head Industrial Park has been a recent news item, Smith said. Growth has also reached north Okaloosa County in the Baker, Auburn, and Laurel Hill areas." "Last year, CHELCO ended the year with 40,000 memberships, a great milestone in the co-op's history. Smith reported that, according to the current trend, more than 4,000 new members will be added during 2005. "This requires lines to be built, substations to be built, and other necessary infrastructure to provide service to these new members." he said. "We have recently approved a long range engineering study, and Alabama Electric Cooperative, our power supplier, is procuring land for a new substation in the Holt area."" Notable growth New services in 2004- 2,999 Total services 12/31/04- 40,005 Miles of line (underground and overhead)- 3,385 Fastest growing areas- South Walton 7.62% Mossy Head- 5.34% Auburn- 4.31% Top substations Grayton Beach- 10,970 accounts Bluewater Bay- 5,525 accounts DeFuniak Springs 3,312 accounts Auburn 3,013 accounts
