Trystan Casey
South Carolina is home to 19 electric cooperatives, which together form the state's largest electric power system, delivering power to almost 2 million citizens. The cooperatives operate on a not-for-profit basis, serving homes, businesses, and industries in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas. They are fundamental to their communities, providing academic scholarships, helping families in need, and contributing to community needs through the Operation Round Up program. In 2019, a controversy involving the Tri-County Electric Cooperative led to the passage of a bill by the South Carolina Senate to increase transparency and oversight of co-ops in the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of electric cooperatives in South Carolina | 19 |
| Number of accounts | 800,000 |
| Number of people served | Almost 2 million |
| Number of power lines | 75,000 miles |
| Number of distribution cooperatives supplied by New Horizon | 5 |
| Number of counties served by Tri-County Electric | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
South Carolina has 19 electric cooperatives
South Carolina is home to 19 electric cooperatives, which together operate the state's largest electric power system. This system serves almost 2 million citizens across all 46 counties, with 75,000 miles of power lines.
The cooperatives are not-for-profit and are owned by members of the communities they serve. They are also among the largest taxpayers in the state.
In 2019, a controversy involving the Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, led to the passing of a bill to make co-ops more transparent and subject to oversight by state regulators for the first time. The bill was designed to prevent similar issues arising in the future, such as excessive trustee salaries and benefits, and an unusually high number of meetings.
The South Carolina Power Team, formed in 1988, has helped bring more than $9 billion in capital investment to the state, with a focus on rural counties. This has resulted in the creation of over 50,000 new jobs.
South Carolina's electric cooperatives also have a strong focus on community support. For example, the Operation Round Up program allows consumers to contribute to community needs by rounding up their power bills to the next dollar, with the pooled resources going towards good causes.
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They serve almost 2 million citizens
South Carolina's electric cooperatives serve almost 2 million citizens, or around 800,000 accounts. Together, they operate the state's largest electric power system, with 75,000 miles of power lines.
The cooperatives serve all 46 counties in South Carolina, providing power to homes, businesses, and industries, mostly in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas. Their distribution system covers 70% of the state's land area.
The cooperatives are not-for-profit and offset the costs of maintaining their large distribution system by operating on a cost-of-service basis. They are fundamental to their communities, and cooperative volunteer organizations award academic scholarships and help families in need.
The South Carolina Power Team, formed in 1988 by independent electric cooperatives and state-owned Santee Cooper, has brought more than $9 billion in capital investment to the state. The Power Team focuses its economic development efforts in rural counties, and their work has resulted in more than 50,000 new jobs.
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Co-ops are among the state's largest taxpayers
South Carolina's electric cooperatives are among the state's largest taxpayers. The state's 20 electric cooperatives provide power to almost 2 million citizens, serving more consumers than any other utility in South Carolina. They serve homes, businesses, and industries, mostly in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas.
Electric cooperatives in South Carolina operate the state's largest electric power system, with 75,000 miles of power lines. They build and maintain three times the miles of power lines of any other utility, and their distribution system covers 70% of the state's land area.
Co-ops are not-for-profit, cost-of-service organizations that return more than $1 billion to their consumer-members annually. They are community-focused and support initiatives such as academic scholarships and programs like Operation Round Up, which allows consumers to contribute to community needs by rounding up their power bills to the next dollar.
In 2023, co-ops secured seven of the top 10 spots in the J.D. Power Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, achieving the highest average score among all electric utility providers. However, in 2019, South Carolina's electric cooperatives were involved in a corruption scandal, leading to proposed reforms and increased state government oversight.
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Co-ops are subject to governance audits
South Carolina is home to 19 electric cooperatives that provide power to almost 2 million people across all 46 counties in the state. Together, these cooperatives operate the state's largest electric power system, with 75,000 miles of power lines.
Audits are a way to ensure that the governance structure is functioning as intended and that all parties involved understand their roles and responsibilities. They can also help identify any areas where improvements can be made in terms of decision-making processes. For example, an audit may reveal that certain decisions are being made without proper input from the members, or that the board of directors is overstepping its authority in certain areas.
Additionally, audits can play a crucial role in financial accountability, especially for co-ops that receive grants or funding from government agencies. In such cases, the co-op should be prepared to report on its financial dealings and ensure that funds are being used appropriately. Audits can also be relevant for co-ops with investment shares or other public securities, as these may be subject to different regulatory requirements.
It is worth noting that some co-ops may be exempt from annual audits, particularly non-distributing co-ops or those without investment shares. However, even in these cases, members must vote on whether to dispense with an audit, and this decision must be reaffirmed annually. Overall, audits are an essential tool to maintain transparency and accountability in the governance of co-ops, ensuring that they remain true to their purpose and serve the best interests of their members.
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Co-ops are not-for-profit
South Carolina's electric cooperatives serve almost 2 million people across all 46 counties in the state. Together, they operate the state's largest electric power system, with 75,000 miles of power lines.
Cooperatives are businesses owned by "member-owners". They are democratically controlled, with each member having a say in how the business is run. The services and goods provided by the cooperative benefit and serve these member-owners. Importantly, cooperatives are not always non-profits or charities. They can operate as corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), or non-profits.
While cooperatives are not inherently non-profit, they differ from traditional businesses in that they do not return profits to investors. Instead, they operate at cost, returning profits to the members who use the cooperative. This is done through patronage dividends, which are based on members' participation in the cooperative.
Nonprofit organizations, on the other hand, cannot distribute profits to members or investors. Their primary source of funding often comes from tax-deductible donations from community members and foundations, and they are limited in the amount of business activity they can conduct unrelated to their charitable purpose. Additionally, nonprofits have more restrictions on their activities, as they must be organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or other exempt purposes.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 20 distribution electric cooperatives in South Carolina.
Almost 2 million citizens across 800,000 accounts.
70% of the state's land area.
