SMECO Introduces 100% Renewable Energy Rate Option

Editor

Editor

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Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has received approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission to make a 100 percent renewable energy option available for residential and commercial accounts.



SMECO will purchase renewable energy credits (REC) to cover the total amount of energy used by the members who sign up for the green energy option, called “Rider G.” Since SMECO is already obtaining 32 percent of its energy from renewables, members who sign up for Rider G will be charged an additional rate to pay for renewable energy for the remaining 68 percent of the energy they use each month. The Rider G rate will be updated on or about January 1 of each year for changes in REC prices and purchase percentages. The rate may also be adjusted at other times whenever significant market pricing changes occur.

SMECO members who are interested in the Rider G rate can find more information or sign up online at smeco.coop/go-green. Members who purchase energy through an alternate supplier are not eligible for SMECO’s Rider G green energy option, but there are alternate suppliers that may also provide a 100 percent renewable option or contracts with various levels of renewable energy. Alternate suppliers can be found under the link “Shop for Electricity” on the Maryland PSC’s website, www.psc.state.md.us

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 169,000 member accounts 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 co-ops are owned by their customers. Co-op 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 co-op and determines when members will receive a refund. Since 1937, SMECO has refunded more than $110 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 Twitter at www.twitter.com/somdelectric.

The SMECO 24/7 mobile app is available at www.smeco.coop/247.


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David

David

Opinions are my own...
PREMO Member
Just another willy nilly approach to solving a big problem. I've long been a tree-hugger, but it is obvious to me now that there is no serious plan to accomplish anything. Just what amounts to virtual 'sound-bites' to appease people and for the insiders to put a lot of money in their pockets while pretending to be heroes.

The interim solution seems to be to build some new, modern nuclear plants to provide energy for the next few decades. In the mean time technology will improve and someone can come up with a real plan. Not too long ago, we were having blackouts due to an inadequate and aging power grid. Is anyone addressing that?

Even Toyota refuses to jump on the electric vehicle bandwagon. They believe hydrogen is the answer. Of course, it requires power to produce the hydrogen. Nuclear and hydro power could provide clean power for that.

This whole charge towards EVs is mainly lip-service and I don't see the real issues with implementation being addressed:
  1. Where is the clean electricity coming from to charge the batteries.
  2. Fire departments don't have the equipment to deal with battery fires. Usually, they just dump a ton of water on them to control it until they burn themselves out. Just imagine all of the toxic fumes being spewed into the air from one EV battery fire. Probably more than negates and clean-air benefits derived from having the EV in the first place.
  3. Is the grid going to sustain all of the new requirements?
  4. Are there adequate charging stations? Are the charging stations standardized or is every manufacturer going to require a different interface.
  5. What about recycling the old batteries. People have a start on this, but there is a long way to go.
  6. Where are the rare earth minerals coming from? Russia and China control much of this now. Even Elon said if things don't improve, Tesla may need to get into the mining business.
  7. Last but not least, how many people are going to hurt themselves or others when they get behind the wheels of these nearly silent, electric land rockets?
One of the biggest farces is that in Maryland, you are not allowed to store the electricity you generate from your solar panels. It has to be fed back onto the grid. Talk about a giveaway to big corporations.
 
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Kinnakeet

Kinnakeet

Well-Known Member
Editor said:
View attachment 163760

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has received approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission to make a 100 percent renewable energy option available for residential and commercial accounts.



SMECO will purchase renewable energy credits (REC) to cover the total amount of energy used by the members who sign up for the green energy option, called “Rider G.” Since SMECO is already obtaining 32 percent of its energy from renewables, members who sign up for Rider G will be charged an additional rate to pay for renewable energy for the remaining 68 percent of the energy they use each month. The Rider G rate will be updated on or about January 1 of each year for changes in REC prices and purchase percentages. The rate may also be adjusted at other times whenever significant market pricing changes occur.

SMECO members who are interested in the Rider G rate can find more information or sign up online at smeco.coop/go-green. Members who purchase energy through an alternate supplier are not eligible for SMECO’s Rider G green energy option, but there are alternate suppliers that may also provide a 100 percent renewable option or contracts with various levels of renewable energy. Alternate suppliers can be found under the link “Shop for Electricity” on the Maryland PSC’s website, www.psc.state.md.us

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 169,000 member accounts 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 co-ops are owned by their customers. Co-op 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 co-op and determines when members will receive a refund. Since 1937, SMECO has refunded more than $110 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 Twitter at www.twitter.com/somdelectric.

The SMECO 24/7 mobile app is available at www.smeco.coop/247.


Note: Youtube video and link to https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rec.asp inserted by somd.com.
Click to expand...

32% lmao
 
LightRoasted

LightRoasted

If I may ...
If I may ...

Hell yeah! Sign me up! I'm ready to pay extra on top of the 25% increase that began in February. Inflation? What inflation? /s
 
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