Employees of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently donated more than $18,000 to the Arc of Southern Maryland. The money will support the non-profit agency’s programs for Southern Maryland residents who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. SMECO employees collected the money through several fund-raising efforts in 2006, including hot dog sales at the Annual Members’ Meeting and the Charity Golf Tournament. Each year, SMECO selects a different charity to benefit from employee contributions. With nearly 450 employees, SMECO personnel embody the co-op’s mission: to enhance the quality of life in Southern Maryland.

Pictured from left are Frank Mudd, SMECO vice president of human resources; Harriet Yaffe, Arc executive director; Richard Jarboe, coordinator of the Charity Golf Tournament; Shannon Koppers, Arc director of finance; M. Lynn Hayden, Arc director of human resources; and Natalie Brown of SMECO’s Employee Community Involvement Committee. Pictured from left are Frank Mudd, SMECO vice president of human resources; Harriet Yaffe, Arc executive director; Richard Jarboe, coordinator of the Charity Golf Tournament; Shannon Koppers, Arc director of finance; M. Lynn Hayden, Arc director of human resources; and Natalie Brown of SMECO’s Employee Community Involvement Committee.

SMECO is a customer-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to over 139,000 services in southern Prince George’s County, and in Charles County, St. Mary’s County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County.  Co-ops are distinctly different from investor-owned utilities because co-ops are owned by their customers, and these members vote for men and women who sit on the Board of Directors.  As one of over 600 Touchstone Energy Co-ops, SMECO promotes values that are important to its customer-members: Accountability, Integrity, Innovation, and Commitment to Community.

Co-ops also issue capital credits to their members.  What are capital credits?  They are the member’s share of the co-op’s margins, based on how much electricity the member purchased and the rate at which the account was billed.  SMECO’s margins—revenue less expenses—are used as working capital for new construction and system improvements.  Each year, SMECO determines what percentage of the capital credits can be distributed to the members.  Capital credits are then issued by check or credited to the member’s electric bill.