Vol75-09 September 2025
Member newsletter for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
Legislative Energy Relief Refund to benefit SMECO members
Many residential SMECO members saw a credit on their bill in August, thanks to the Legislative Energy Relief Refund, a statewide effort to help offset high energy costs. This refund was created through Maryland House Bill 1035, enacted by Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly in 2025.
Prepare for colder temperatures with an HVAC tune up
Heating and cooling your home can account for up to 50% of annual energy use, so it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for colder weather. Fortunately, SMECO’s Home Energy Improvement Program offers opportunities to help you prepare your home and save.
Need help paying your bill?
You may be eligible for help from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) or the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) offered by the state.
Right tree in the right place
Trees are a major cause of power interruptions for SMECO members. We devote many resources to vegetation management on SMECO rights-of-way.
When carefully selected and placed, a tree can provide your family with many years of enjoyment without threatening your electric service.
Standard Offer Service rate update
Total residential Standard Offer Service (SOS) rate for August: $0.114650 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
- Summer Residential Energy Charge: $0.1057 per kWh
- August Residential Power Cost Adjustment (PCA): $0.008950 per kWh
SMECO’s PCA for August was 8.46% greater than the current residential base SOS rate.
Call before you dig
SMECO has many underground electric lines.
Contact 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.
Community Calendar
Find out about upcoming events in Southern Maryland.
