SMECO 75 Bike Ride Benefits Wounded Warrior Project

Participants in the SMECO 75 Bike Ride on Saturday, June 7, begin their journey at the co-op’s headquarters in Hughesville.

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) employees hosted their annual bike ride this June featuring three bike routes of 29, 47, and 75 miles, starting at the co-op’s headquarters in Hughesville, MD, and going as far as Colton’s Point in St. Mary’s County.

Profits from the bike ride will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Last year, SMECO employees raised $35,760 through the bike ride held in June and a charity golf tournament held in September. The events are supported by a group of volunteers, vendors, and the SMECO executive team. The Co-op selects a different organization each year to benefit from the fundraising events. Proceeds from the 2014 bike ride total nearly $25,000.

“I heard one comment repeatedly from the participants,” said Austin J. Slater, Jr., SMECO president and CEO. “They said that what makes this event better than all the others are SMECO’s volunteer employees, who make all difference in the world! They are helpful, friendly and welcoming!”

Natalie Brown, SMECO’s community relations specialist, added, “We had an awesome day! The weather was great and we welcomed more than 470 cyclists who participated, making the 2014 event the largest one yet. Rest stop captains were ready for the crowds with plenty of water and snacks on hand, all while having a bit of fun with this year’s 80’s theme. Thanks to the amazing team effort and to the support that our volunteers provided, cyclists passed on many compliments about the ride.”

Brown added, “We get a lot of support from local organizations like the Oxon Hill Bike Club, but we are especially grateful to business partners who participate by donating resources to help make the SMECO 75 Bike Ride a successful fundraiser. Major contributors include Adams, Jenkins and Cheatham, Alexander Chiropractic Center, CGI, Cigna, Comverge, ICF International, Infor, IP Data Systems, NextEra Energy, Opower, Prudential, Siemens, The Meltzer Group, and Willis, and we thank them for their contributions.”

SMECO is a customer-owned electric cooperative, and we are proud to be a J.D. Power 2014 Customer Champion. We are one of an elite group of 50 U.S. companies to be named to this list.

SMECO provides electricity to more than 156,000 services in southern Prince George’s County, and in Charles County, St. Mary’s County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County. Co-ops are distinctly different from investor-owned utilities because co-ops are owned by their customers, and these members elect the men and women who serve on the Board of Directors.

Co-ops also issue capital credits to their members. What are capital credits? They are the member’s share of the co-op’s margins, based on how much electricity the member purchased and the rate at which the account was billed. SMECO’s margins—revenue less expenses—are used as working capital for new construction and system improvements. When SMECO’s Board of Directors determines that a percentage of the capital credits can be distributed to members through a general refund, capital credits will be issued by check or credited to members’ electric bills.