Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) will hold its 88th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 6 p.m., at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall. Members may vote to elect directors for five available positions on SMECO’s Board of Directors and consider proposed bylaw amendments. Voting is open and will remain available until 4:30 p.m. EST on August 12, 2026.
“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.”
The cooperative’s Board of Directors is comprised of 15 directors. Each year, five directors are elected to serve three-year terms. In 2026, 12 candidates are on the ballot for five Board seats: one in Calvert/Anne Arundel counties, one in Charles County, one in Prince George’s County, and two in St. Mary’s County.
Those who wish to serve on SMECO’s Board of Directors must be an active member for at least 12 months prior to the election, maintain their principal residence in the county they represent, and meet all other qualifications outlined in SMECO’s bylaws, including requirements related to employment, conflicts of interest, public office, and felony convictions.
Ballots were mailed and emailed on July 13, 2026, at 8 a.m. Voting will be open until August 12, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST. In accordance with SMECO Bylaws, there will be no on-site voting at the annual meeting. Any member who has questions or concerns is encouraged to contact SMECO.
Review candidate bios and proposed bylaw amendments and learn more about the 2026 Annual Meeting at smeco.coop/annual meeting.
SMECO—The Cooperative Difference
SMECO was incorporated in 1937 and is one of the 15 largest electric cooperatives in the United States with more than 181,000 member services in Charles County, St. Mary’s County, southern Prince George’s County, and most of Calvert County.
Electric cooperatives are shaped by the communities they serve, because cooperatives are owned by their customers. Cooperative members elect the men and women who serve on the Board of Directors. Members share the responsibility of ownership by financing the cooperative’s operations, but they also share its rewards.
At the end of each year, SMECO’s margins (profits) are allocated to members’ capital credit accounts. SMECO uses its profits to invest in new construction, system improvements, and facility upgrades. The Board of Directors regularly evaluates the financial condition of the cooperative and determines when members will receive a refund. Since 1937, SMECO has refunded more than $133.5 million.
As a cooperative, SMECO will always put its members first and be responsive, reliable, and resourceful—the power you can count on.
Follow SMECO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SMECO.coop and on X at www.x.com/somdelectric.
The SMECO 24/7 mobile app is available at www.smeco.coop/247.
