South Carolina Electric Cooperative Engagement Program
SCECEP is a conservation-driven initiative designed to educate, empower, and mobilize member-owners of South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. Our mission is to encourage participation in co-op elections and meetings while advancing energy efficiency programs and clean energy solutions.
Why This Work Matters
Electric cooperatives serve over 1.5 million South Carolinians. As member-owned institutions, their policies directly impact household energy costs, local economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship. Transparent governance and clean energy access are essential for:
- Lowering energy bills through efficiency upgrades and solar options
- Reducing energy costs for low-income communities
- Ensuring members have a say in decisions made by their cooperative
Scorecard Summary
In the spring of 2025, SCECEP evaluated 19 electric cooperatives across South Carolina on 10 core governance and clean energy metrics. Each cooperative was scored out of a total of 100 points. Metrics assessed include board transparency, member-owner access to decision-making, rate transparency, energy efficiency programs, and access to clean energy programs.
Top Performers
- Laurens (90)
- Blue Ridge (90)
- Berkeley (90)
- Coastal (90)
Average Score Across All Cooperatives
%
Low Performers
- MPD (25)
- Black River (60)
- Edisto (60)
- Little River (65)
Electric Cooperatives Scorecard
Blue Ridge
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE : | 90 |
Little River
Visit the Little River website.
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 0 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 5 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services?
Narrative/Justification: Little River Electric Cooperative does not offer a robust energy efficiency program, but does offer several resources for member-owners to increase their home's efficiency, so they recieved partial points for that category.They do not offer community solar, and therefore did not qualify for those points. Additionally, there is no means to contact the board directly apparent from the website, or an emission reduction goal, so they also did not receive those points. |
| Community Solar | 0 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal? |
| SCORE: | 65 |
Aiken
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 0 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate?
Justification: Aiken Electric Cooperative's website has no mention of a residential solar program so they did not qualify for those points. |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Aiken Electric Cooperative's website has no mention of an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE : | 80 |
Edisto
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 0 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 0 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services?
Justification: Edisto Electric Cooperative does not offer a robust energy efficiency program or a community solar program. There is no public information or indication of what lies behind the "Member Login" as it pertains to bylaws and other coop/membership information, and no information about board members is found on the public-facing website, therefore they did not qualify for the points corresponding with those questions. |
| Community Solar | 0 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Edisto Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 60 |
Palmetto
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners?
Narrative/Justification: Palmetto Electric Cooperative's voting takes place exclusively at the Jasper County headquarters, which is less accessible for Beaufort and Hampton county member-owners, therefore they received partial points for that category. |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 5 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Narrative/Justification: Palmetto Electric Cooperative's voting takes place exclusively at the Jasper County headquarters, which is less accessible for Beaufort and Hampton county member-owners, therefore they received partial points for that category. |
| SCORE: | 85 |
Coastal
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Coastal Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal, and therefore did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 90 |
Laurens
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Laurens Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emission reduction goal, therefore they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 90 |
Newberry
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 0 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services?
Justification: Newberry Electric Cooperative does not offer a robust energy efficiency program so they did not qualify for those points. |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 5 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate?
Justification: Newberry Electric Cooperative has no clear set rate for their residential rooftop solar program on the website so they received partial points for that question. |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Newberry Electric Cooperative does not have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 75 |
Mid-Carolina
Visit the Mid-Carolina website.
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 5 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services?
Justification: Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative does not offer a robust energy efficiency program, but does offer several resources for member-owners to increase their home's efficiency, so they received partial points for that category. |
| Community Solar | 0 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program?
Justification: Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative does not offer community solar, and therefore did not qualify for those points. |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 75 |
Tri-County
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 5 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: TriCounty Electric Cooperative uses a net billing rate (not net metering), which credits the distributed energy providing member at the wholesale rate, vs the retail rate, which is why they recieved 5 points for that question. They also do not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE : | 85 |
Berkeley
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Berkeley Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 90 |
Santee
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners?
Justification: Santee Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an early voting period for their annual meeting, for which we deducted 5 points from the democratic control question. |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 5 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 0 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program?
Justification: Santee Electric Cooperative does not offer community solar, and therefore did not qualify for those points. |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 5 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate?
Justification: Santee Electric Cooperative’s residential rooftop solar program did not outline rates on the website, so they received partial points for that question. |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Santee Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 70 |
Horry
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 5 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate?
Justification: Horry Electric Cooperative's residential rooftop solar policy does not include a clear compensation rate, so they received partial points for that question |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Horry Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 85 |
MPD
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 0 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 0 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 0 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 0 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 0 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 0 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program?
Justification: MPD does not appear to offer community solar therefore did not qualify for those points. |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 5 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: MPD does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal, and therefore did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 25 |
Lynches River
Visit the Lynches River website.
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 5 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services?
Justification: Lynches River Electric Cooperative does not offer a robust energy efficiency program, but does offer numerous resources for member-owners, so they received partial points for that category. |
| Community Solar | 0 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program?
Justification: Lynches River Electric Cooperative does not offer a community solar program, and therefore did not qualify for the corresponding points |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Lynches River Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 75 |
York
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate?
Justification: York Electric Cooperative's compensation rate for their residential rooftop solar program is not available on their website, so they were given partial points for that question. |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 5 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: York Electric Cooperative's does not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 85 |
Broad River
Visit the Broad River website.
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 5 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services?
Narrative/Justification Broad River Electric Cooperative does not offer a robust energy efficiency program, but does provide several resources and tools to member-owners, so they received partial points for that category. |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 10 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Broad River Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emission reduction goal, and therefore did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 85 |
Fairfield
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 10 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 5 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate?
Narrative/Justification: Fairfield Electric Cooperative's rooftop solar policy does not include a clear compensation rate, so they received partial points for that question. |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 10 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Fairfield Electric Cooperative does not appear to have an emission reduction goal, so they did not receive those points. |
| SCORE: | 85 |
Black River
Visit the Black River website.
Scorecard last updated: June 30, 2025
| Metric | Score | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open/Transparent Board Meetings | 10 | Does the co-op make board meetings and documents open, accessible and transparent for member-owners? |
| Access to Board Directors | 10 | Does the co-op provide accessible and regular means for member-owners to communicate with Board Directors? |
| Governance & Co-op Oversight | 10 | Are bylaws posted on the co-op website? |
| Bylaw Access | 10 | Are bylaws democratically controlled by member-owners? |
| Fair Elections | 10 | Are election processes accessible, fair and democratic? |
| Energy Efficiency Efforts | 0 | Does the cooperative offer substantial energy efficiency resources either through financing programs or direct services? |
| Community Solar | 10 | Does the co-op offer a community or shared solar program? |
| Residential Rooftop Solar | 0 | Does the cooperative offer a distributed energy program? Is there a clear compensation rate? |
| Fixed Fees (also known as base charges) | 0 | Are monthly fixed fees determined on a basis that is clearly communicated to members and aligned with energy usage? |
| Emission Reduction Goal | 0 | Does the cooperative have an emission reduction goal?
Justification: Black River Electric Cooperative has no public information in regards to fixed fees, rooftop solar, or energy efficiency programs, and therefore did not qualify for the corresponding points. They also do not appear to have an emissions reduction goal so they did not qualify for those points. |
| SCORE: | 60 |
Scorecard Methodology
Key Strengths of High Performers
- Public posting of board meeting information and governance documents
- Transparent and accessible board election processes
- Availability of energy efficiency programs such as Help My House and other pay-as-you-save offerings*, and clean energy initiatives
Common Areas for Improvement
- Limited or no access to board members and meeting schedules
- Inaccessible or outdated election procedures
- Incomplete or missing online rate and governance information
- Lack of structured clean energy programs or education
Most Polarizing Metrics
Certain metrics revealed wide disparities between cooperatives, highlighting opportunities for improvement:
- Energy Efficiency Efforts: Some co-ops offer robust home upgrade programs, while others provide little or no support.
- Community Solar: Several co-ops have strong programs; others offer no access.
- Residential Solar: Rules for member-owned solar vary widely across the state.
- Access to Board of Directors: Some co-ops publish contact info; others provide no way to engage.
- Emissions Reduction Goals: A few cooperatives have published measurable emissions targets, but most have no stated goal.
These disparities suggest opportunities for peer learning and targeted advocacy to bring lower-scoring co-ops up to best-practice standards.
What is PAYs?
Pay As You Save (PAYS) is a program that helps co-op members make energy-saving upgrades to their homes without paying any money upfront.
How does it work?
- Member-owners get an energy check-up: The co-op sends a professional to a member’s home to see what upgrades would save the most money—like better insulation, energy-efficient heating and cooling, or LED lights.
- They cover the cost: If a member qualifies, the co-op pays the full cost to install the energy upgrades. The member doesn’t need a loan, credit check, or down payment.
- Members pay it back through their bill: Instead of getting a separate bill, members pay for the upgrades right on their monthly electric bill. But because their energy savings are bigger than the cost they’re paying, their total bill still goes down.
Example:
- Before upgrades: A member pays $200/month for electricity.
- After upgrades: The member uses less energy, saving $50/month.
- The member’s PAYS charge is $30/month.
- So now they pay $180/month — and their home is more comfortable and efficient!
For more information, contact your electric cooperative and inquire about Pay As You Save energy efficiency programs today!
Partners
Next Steps for Member-Owners
Attend your co-op's next board meeting
Board meetings are where decisions about rates, programs, and policies are made. Showing up signals to board members that member-owners are paying attention and care about how the co-op is run. Your presence can encourage more transparency and accountability in the process.
Request access to bylaws and board contacts if not readily available
Bylaws outline the rules that govern your cooperative, including how elections are run and how members can introduce changes. Having board contact information makes it possible to ask questions, share feedback, and advocate for fairer voting and more accessible participation.
Ask about energy efficiency and solar programs
Programs like home efficiency upgrades or community solar can lower bills and make clean energy more accessible to all members, not just those who can afford upfront costs. Asking about them pushes your co-op to prioritize affordable, forward-looking energy solutions.
Vote in board elections to shape the future of your cooperative
Board members make the key decisions that affect everything from transparency to clean energy investments. By voting—and encouraging others to vote—you help ensure that leadership reflects the priorities of member-owners, not just a small group of incumbents.
Together, we can build a cleaner, more transparent, and accountable energy future for South Carolina.