Vol76-3 March 2026
Member newsletter for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
January cold may impact March bills
Even though March weather feels milder, your energy bill may still reflect the bitter cold we experienced in early 2026. Those frigid days, along with snow, ice, and high winds, drove up heating use and contributed to higher energy costs across the region.
Call before you dig
SMECO has many underground electric lines.
Call Miss Utility at 811 to locate underground lines before you begin digging.
You make one call, Miss Utility contacts companies to mark electric, cable TV, phone, gas, water, and sewer lines. It’s easy and it could save your life!
Board election process begins
Every year, SMECO conducts its members’ meeting for the purpose of electing directors and voting on bylaw changes. Ballots will be mailed and members can vote by mail or online.
SMECO supports 32nd annual MATHCOUNTS competition
Each year, more than 500 regional MATHCOUNTS competitions are held in middle schools across the country. On February 7, 2026, your cooperative hosted the 32nd annual regional competition at Calvert High School. The event welcomed more than 200 middle school students representing 18 different schools in our service territory.
Standard Offer Service rate update
Total residential Standard Offer Service (SOS) rate for February:
$0.105729 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
- Winter Residential Energy Charge: $0.1060 per kWh
- February Residential PCA: ($0.000271) per kWh
SMECO’s PCA for February was 0.26% less than the current residential base SOS rate.
Community Calendar
Find out about upcoming events in Southern Maryland.
