Credits to Be Issued to SMECO Members

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative‘s eligible active members will receive credits on their bills, and checks will be issued to eligible former members, as the company is refunding members’ capital credits totaling nearly $6.6 million. Special refunds of about $2.4 million will be paid throughout the year to include estates of deceased members.

“We are happy to issue capital credit refunds to SMECO members when our financial obligations have been met. Passing savings on to members is a basic co-op principle,” said Sonja M. Cox, SMECO president and CEO.

She added, “SMECO members invest in their cooperative every time they pay their bill, and receiving their share of a portion of SMECO’s margins is one of their rewards.”

SMECO’s margins for 2020 totaled more than $27 million. SMECO uses margins — revenue minus expenses — as working capital for new construction, system improvements, and facility upgrades.

“Our members help to finance SMECO’s operations, and they realize one of the benefits of being a co-op member when they receive a refund,” Ms. Cox said.

At the end of each year, SMECO’s margins are allocated to a special account for each member, based on how much electricity the member purchased and the rate at which the account was billed. SMECO’s Board of Directors regularly evaluates the financial condition of the cooperative and determines when SMECO members’ capital credits will be refunded. Refunds will be credited to members’ bills beginning July 12 and checks will be mailed to eligible former members beginning July 19.

All eligible active members will receive a credit on the bill for their primary account. If members wish to contact SMECO to designate their primary account, they may call 1-888-440-3311. Eligible former members will receive a full refund of the balance in their capital credit account if the balance is $100 or less. Any remaining balances attributable to allocations made in the years 1986 and 1987 will also be issued to eligible members and former members. Whenever SMECO members move out of the co-op’s service area, they should contact SMECO to update their mailing address in order to receive refund checks in the future.

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative is a customer-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to more than 150,000 services in southern Prince George’s County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County, and Calvert County.

To learn more about SMECO, visit their Leader member page. Visit SMECO on their Facebook Page and Twitter.