HUGHESVILLE, Md. — Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) members have until Aug. 12 to cast ballots in the utility’s annual board election as the cooperative prepares for its 88th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall.
The member-owned electric utility, which serves more than 175,000 accounts across Calvert, Charles, southern Prince George’s and most of St. Mary’s counties, emphasizes democratic governance. Ballots were mailed and emailed July 13, with online and mail-in voting open through 4:30 p.m. EDT on Aug. 12. No on-site voting will occur at the meeting, per SMECO bylaws.
“One of the best things about being a cooperative is that our members have a voice,” said Sonja M. Cox, SMECO president and CEO. “Since 1937, SMECO has been committed to ensuring our members are represented through a Board of Directors that reflect the communities we serve across Southern Maryland. Our commitment to members remains at the forefront of everything we do.”
SMECO’s 15-member Board of Directors oversees policy and operations for the nonprofit cooperative, which passes costs to members without profit markup and returns margins as capital credits. Five directors are elected each year to three-year terms. This year, 12 candidates are competing for five seats: one representing Calvert/Anne Arundel counties, one in Charles County, one in Prince George’s County, and two in St. Mary’s County.
Qualified candidates must have been active SMECO members for at least 12 months, maintain their principal residence in the county they seek to represent, and satisfy additional bylaws requirements regarding employment, conflicts of interest, public office and felony convictions. The nominating committee reviewed applications earlier this year; members may also pursue petition routes.
The cooperative model dates to the New Deal era. In 1937, rural Southern Maryland residents formed what became SMECO under the Rural Electrification Administration to bring electricity to areas commercial providers overlooked. Today, SMECO operates thousands of miles of distribution lines, maintains high reliability standards, and navigates challenges such as storm response and regional growth.
Recent annual meetings have drawn strong participation. Last year’s 87th meeting saw more than 8,300 members vote. Results will be announced at the Aug. 19 gathering, which also includes proposed bylaw amendments. A quorum requires at least 500 ballots plus 50 in-person attendees.
Cox, who became SMECO’s fifth CEO in 2020 after serving as senior vice president and CFO, has led through periods of significant infrastructure investment, storm recovery and member-focused initiatives. The board, elected by members, guides decisions on rates, reliability and community programs.
Members interested in learning more about candidates or the process can visit smeco.coop/annualmeeting. Questions can be directed to SMECO customer service.
The annual meeting serves as both a business session and a celebration of cooperative ownership. In an era of large investor-owned utilities, SMECO’s structure gives local residents direct influence over their electric provider. Directors balance affordability, reliability and sustainability while representing diverse perspectives from the four-county territory.
Voting participation strengthens the cooperative’s foundation. With ballots already distributed, members are encouraged to review candidate biographies, consider proposed bylaw changes and submit their votes by the deadline. Results will shape leadership for the coming years as SMECO continues serving Southern Maryland’s growing communities.
