SMECO Reports Suspicious Activity

Customer-members Are Warned That SMECO Only Visits If an Appointment Is Made

Customer-members of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative have reported that suspicious people have tried to gain entry into their homes by claiming to be SMECO employees. SMECO wants all of its customer members to know that SMECO employees do not request entry into any home unless the resident has made an appointment through SMECO.

“SMECO employees do not practice door-to-door solicitation and do not request entry to your home unless you have contacted SMECO to arrange a visit,” said Tom Dennison, managing director of government and public affairs. SMECO is strongly warning customer members not to allow strangers into their homes.

If someone claiming to be a SMECO employee knocks on your door, you can call SMECO at 1-888-440-3311 to verify whether or not the person is an employee of the cooperative. Safety is always a top priority for SMECO, and the co-op wants its members to stay safe.

Customer-members are advised to contact their local police department if they see someone acting in a suspicious manner.

SMECO is a customer-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to more than 160,000 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.

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