Palmetto Electric reports strong turnout at 2026 annual meeting

More than 4,400 members participated in Palmetto Electric Cooperative’s 2026 Annual Meeting, where cooperative leaders highlighted economic development projects, community giving efforts and rising operational costs.

According to the cooperative, 4,477 members registered and voted during the annual meeting process, which included drive-thru registration and voting April 30 through May 2 at Palmetto Electric’s Ridgeland office.

registration gifts and answered questions during the event.

“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,” Palmetto Electric President and CEO Berl Davis said in a statement.

The theme of this year’s meeting was “Driving Opportunity.” A business meeting livestreamed Saturday afternoon focused on economic development efforts, investments in local communities and challenges facing the cooperative during the past year.

Palmetto Electric said its Utility Tax Credits program and partnership with the SC Power Team provided funding support to industries in southern Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties during 2025.

The cooperative said it helped attract TS Conductor to Hardeeville through construction of a new substation designed to support the company’s energy needs. The cooperative also said Utility Tax Credits funding supported growth at the Southern Carolina Industrial Campus and TICO Manufacturing in Ridgeland.

Palmetto Electric also highlighted its support for the Don Ryan Center for Innovation in Bluffton, which the cooperative said helped startup companies and expanded programming intended to attract corporate headquarters and regional offices.

Community giving efforts were also a focus of the meeting.

Through Operation Round Up, members increased the program’s lifetime impact to more than $11.2 million, according to the cooperative. In 2025, the Palmetto Electric Trust distributed $606,405 through the program to organizations and individuals needing assistance, including $39,150 in Bright Ideas grants awarded to 44 teachers.

The cooperative also addressed higher operating expenses and rate changes implemented during the past year.

Palmetto Electric said it implemented a rate adjustment in January 2025 because of higher equipment, material and wholesale power costs, along with the expiration of the Santee Cooper Rate Freeze.

cooperative said it also promoted programs intended to help members manage electricity use and reduce costs, including H2O Select, Smart Thermostat and Beat the Peak. MyEnergy Online and in-person home energy audits were also promoted as tools to help members monitor energy consumption.

Palmetto Electric said it expanded PalmettoLink broadband service in underserved areas while continuing work to improve electric system resiliency. The cooperative also returned about $3.2 million in capital credits and said it was recognized as one of South Carolina’s Best Places to Work in 2025.

Board incumbents David C. Howard, Carolyn Grant, Greg Cook and Dr. Earl Bostick Sr. were re-elected after running unopposed.

Board officers elected were Jeremiah E. Vaigneur as chairman, D. Terrell Smith as vice chairman and Grant as secretary-treasurer.

Jeredean Chance won the meeting’s grand prize, a 2017 Ford Explorer.