Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) held its 81st Annual Meeting on August 29, 2019, at Middleton Hall in Waldorf. The Board of Directors election was conducted online and by mail prior to the meeting.
The following SMECO members were elected to serve on SMECO’s Board for three years: W. Michael Phipps in Calvert County; Gilbert O. Bowling, and Richard A. Winkler in Charles County; James A. Richards in Prince George’s County; and P. Scott White in St. Mary’s County. One bylaw amendment providing that a person’s capital credits can be used to offset arrearages was also included on this year’s ballot, and it passed.
This is the third year SMECO’s election was conducted by mail, and, for the first time, members could also vote electronically by casting their ballots online. Ballots were mailed to members on July 22. The deadline for submitting ballots by mail or electronically was August 22. Members who returned their ballots were eligible to win one of 30 electric bill credits of $50 each. More than 7,800 members voted: 6,560 voted by mail and 1,278 voted online. Election results were announced at the meeting.
Scott White, Chairman of the SMECO Board of Directors, welcomed SMECO’s members to the event and called the meeting to order. SMECO’s president and CEO, Austin J. Slater, Jr., introduced the video version of the cooperative’s 2018 annual report. The video highlighted the strides SMECO has made since installing smart meters throughout the service area. Energy use data, monthly billing information, and tips on how to save energy and money are available to co-op members online through SMECO’s Account Manager system.
Slater said that SMECO’s margins for 2018 totaled more than $27 million, and all of those funds were allocated to members’ capital credit accounts. He also said that SMECO will be refunding more than $5 million of the cooperative’s margins to members this year. “When SMECO issues capital credit refunds to members, we are making good on a basic co-op principle. We pass on savings to members because they share the financial responsibility and the financial rewards of the co-op,” Slater explained.
Some SMECO members who attended the meeting expressed their concern about the health effects of using coal to generate electricity. Slater and board chairman Scott White responded to members’ concerns and explained the current situation regarding SMECO’s adoption of renewable energy. Slater said, “Ten years ago, 40 percent of SMECO’s power purchases relied on coal. Now, just 15 percent of our power portfolio comes from coal.” He added, “We know our members are interested in electric vehicle charging, and we plan to install up to 60 charging stations at public sites throughout our service area. We are also working toward implementing time-of-use rates that will make it more affordable for members with electric vehicles to charge them at home.”
Below are the results of the voting. You may use this information at your discretion:
- Bylaw Amendment
For – 4,989 votes
Against – 544 votes
- Calvert County (one elected)
David E. Dickinson – 2,153 votes
Michael Phipps – 3,231 votes
Douglas J. Smith – 1,258 votes
- Charles County (two elected)
Gilbert O. Bowling – 3,291 votes
Kevin F. Corcoran – 1,981 votes
Kenneth W. Cross – 1,426 votes
Jeannette Devine – 2,249 votes
Nelson Torres – 1,535 votes
Richard A. Winkler – 3,067 votes
- Prince George’s County (one elected)
James A. Richards – 6,083 votes
- St. Mary’s County (one elected)
James P. Dell – 1,389 votes
Scott Randall – 1,908 votes
Scott White – 3,178 votes
