"Driving opportunity" at the Palmetto Electric's Annual Meeting

 

RIDGELAND, SC – 4,477 members registered and voted at Palmetto Electric Cooperative’s 2026 Annual Meeting.

Drive-thru registration and voting were held April 30, May 1, and May 2 at the co-op’s Ridgeland office. Members were able to drive-thru, register, and cast a vote for the Board of Directors election. Palmetto Electric employees were on hand to distribute registration gifts and assist members with any questions.

“I want to sincerely thank the 4,477 members who took part in the business of their cooperative and made the 2026 Annual Meeting a success,” said Berl Davis, Palmetto Electric president and CEO.

“Driving Opportunity” was the resounding theme of this year’s meeting and focused on the ways the cooperative continues to invest in its members and the communities it serves. The business meeting, livestreamed online on Saturday afternoon, highlighted economic development efforts from the past year that focused on strengthening the local economy, attracting new investments, generating jobs and improving the overall quality of life for Palmetto Electric’s members. The meeting also addressed challenges from the past year such as rising costs and an evolving energy landscape, while reinforcing the cooperative’s commitment to reliability, safety, financial stewardship and exceptional service.

  • Through Utility Tax Credits (UTC) and its partnership with the SC Power Team, Palmetto Electric provided funding to both large and small industries across southern Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties in 2025. Palmetto Electric played a pivotal role in attracting TS Conductor to Hardeeville, made possible by a new substation designed to meet the company’s advanced energy needs. Through UTC funding, the co-op continued to foster growth at the Southern Carolina Industrial Campus and Ridgeland-based TICO Manufacturing. Palmetto Electric’s support of the Don Ryan Center for Innovation in Bluffton allowed the organization to help more start-up companies succeed and expand programing that attracts corporate headquarters and regional offices to our area.

  • Palmetto Electric’s outreach in 2025 was amplified by the generosity of its members who consistently demonstrated their commitment to community through the Operation Round Up program. Through Operation Round Up, members increased the program’s lifetime impact to more than $11.2 million. In 2025, a total of $606,405 in Operation Round Up funds, administered through Palmetto Electric Trust, supported a multitude of organizations and individuals who needed assistance, including providing $39,150 in Bright Ideas grants to 44 local teachers.

  • Palmetto Electric’s not-for-profit business model means providing safe and reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost. The co-op works diligently to keep costs low, but unfortunately, some factors were out of its control last year. In January of 2025, the co-op implemented a necessary rate adjustment due to higher equipment, material, and wholesale power costs, as well as the expiration of the Santee Cooper Rate Freeze.

  • To help offset rising costs in 2025, the cooperative focused on managing controllable expenses and promoting programs and services such as H2O Select, Smart Thermostat, and Beat the Peak. These programs allow members to take the lead in reducing individual power consumption and increasing efficiency. MyEnergy Online provides the tools necessary to help members manage their energy use and pay their bills, while in-person home energy audits can also help identify additional ways for members to lower their energy consumption.

  • Palmetto Electric continued to show its commitment to its members by expanding PalmettoLink’s broadband service, further improving electric system resiliency while delivering high speed internet to underserved areas. The cooperative also returned approximately $3.2 million in Capital Credits and was recognized as one of South Carolina’s “Best Places to Work” in 2025.

  • Board of Directors incumbents David C. Howard (Beaufort County, Position 3), Carolyn Grant (Beaufort County, Position 6), Greg Cook (Hampton County, Position 3), and Dr. Earl Bostick, Sr. (Jasper County, Position 3) all ran unopposed and were re-elected. Board officers elected included Jeremiah E. Vaigneur, chairman; D. Terrell Smith, vice-chairman; and Carolyn Grant, secretary-treasurer.

This year’s grand prize winner was Jeredean Chance. She won the 2017 Ford Explorer.

 

2026 Annual Meeting Prizes

$100 Ace Hardware Gift Card: Michael Ingenito

$100 Ace Hardware Gift Card: Robert Waite

$100 Walmart Gift Card: Cristi Rozea

$100 Walmart Gift Card: Frances Della Penna

$100 Visa Gift Card (from CEEUS): Gerard Lippmann

Apple AirTag 4-pack: Franklin D. Harriott

Corkcicle Bucket Backpack Cooler: John Walker III

YETI Trailhead Camp Chair: Gary Fitzmorris

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: Joseph Goeringer

Blackstone On-The-Go Outdoor Griddle: Jon Donathan Sr.

EGO Power+ 56V Battery Trimmer and Blower Combo Kit: Ronald Davis

Pura Home Fragrance Diffuser: Valerie Novacco

Coolcabana Beach Canopy with Grass Kit: Helen Bing

EGO Power+ 5 Speed Battery Powered Misting Fan: Richard Schiebel

Ninja SLUSHi Professional Frozen Drink Maker: Evelyn Morris

Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera: Pamela Stemzynski

Tineco 3 in 1 Mop, Vacuum & Self-Cleaning Smart Floor Washer: Melvadine Bryan

Amazon Kindle 16 GB Paperwhite Reading Tablet: Linda Jenkins

Selkirk SLK Neo Pickleball Bundle: Timothy Smith

Ninja Frostvault 45 Quart Wheeled Cooler with Dry Zone : Ronald Jarrell

EGO Power+ 56V Battery Self-Propelled Lawn Mower: Edward Pelletier

TCL QD-Mini LED 55" Smart TV: William Marak Jr.

GRAND PRIZE: 2017 Ford Explorer: Jeredean Chance