Staying plugged in

In the past, we have advised you to unplug to avoid using energy unnecessarily.

However, this month, I want to tell you how Broad River Electric Cooperative stays plugged in on your behalf. Of course, I’m not referring to the power outlets around your home. I’m talking about being connected at the South Carolina State House.

What happens there has a significant impact on your community and your wallet. Frequently, state lawmakers consider bills that affect the cost of electricity and our ability to provide it safely and reliably.

That’s why having and maintaining a good working relationship with the men and women you’ve elected to represent you is a critical part of our role as your electric cooperative. We’re your voice at the State House when it comes to energy-related matters.

"Having a good working relationship with the men and women you’ve elected to represent you is a critical part of our role as your electric cooperative.”

Last year, the General Assembly passed the Energy Security Act, which addressed the growing strain on our state’s electric grid, opened the door for additional power generation, streamlined the regulatory processes and placed long-term grid reliability at the forefront of South Carolina’s energy planning. These were changes we’d been advocating for a long time, and we’re thankful that lawmakers listened and understood the need for a new, smart energy policy.

As former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” For the members of Broad River Electric, that means the people speaking on your behalf are co-op employees who live and work in your community.

It’s why your board trustees, members of our staff and some of our lineworkers participate in Co-op Day at the State House each February. We are joined by hundreds of others from South Carolina’s electric cooperatives, thanking lawmakers and expressing a vision for a future that keeps electricity safe, reliable and affordable.

Rest assured, our plugs will stay connected so that yours will deliver power when they are supposed to.