Cooperative Review, August 2024

Member newsletter for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative

Youth Tour paved career path for SMECO employee

In 1974, SMECO’s first group of students traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour. Close to 200 Southern Maryland high schoolers have joined other talented students from cooperatives around the country since then.

Youth Tour paved career path

Youth Tour visits D.C.

In June, four high school students from SMECO’s service area traveled to the nation’s capital for a week of education, entertainment, and engagement with other teens from across the U.S. for the 2024 Youth Tour.

Youth Tour visits D.C.

SMECO awards college scholarships to high school seniors

SMECO has awarded four $2500 scholarships for 2024 to high school seniors who live in the cooperative’s service area. Recipients receive awards based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and school and community involvement.

SMECO awards scholarships

Governor signs executive order to implement greenhouse gas reduction goals

In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly adopted the most ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals in the country when they passed the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. This law sets a goal to reduce GHG emissions in Maryland 60 percent by 2031 from the baseline year of 2006, and to reach “net zero” carbon emissions by 2045. Reaching these goals will impact every part of Maryland’s economy and will require a collaborative and determined effort throughout the state.

GHG reduction goals

Standard Offer Service rate tracker

Total residential Standard Offer Service (SOS) rate for July: $0.086305
per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

• Summer Residential Energy Charge: $0.0874 per kWh
• July Residential Power Cost Adjustment (PCA): ($0.001095) per kWh

SMECO’s PCA for July was -1.27 percent of the current average annual
base energy.

SOS rate tracker

Community Calendar

Find out about upcoming events in Southern Maryland.