What does it really take to keep the lights on as energy demand surges and costs rise?

In this year-in-review episode of SMECO Connects, host Sonja Cox and co-host Tom Dennison reflect on the biggest challenges and wins of 2025—from resource adequacy and affordability pressures to data centers, infrastructure upgrades, and community impact. They pull back the curtain on how an electric cooperative navigates reliability, rising demand, and member-focused decision-making during a time of rapid change.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The growing challenge of resource adequacy and why new generation matters

• How SMECO works to balance affordability, reliability, and long-term planning

• What data centers, infrastructure investments, and community partnerships mean for the future

As SMECO looks ahead to 2026, this conversation offers clarity, transparency, and reassurance—reminding members that behind every power line is a team committed to serving its community.

🎧 Tune in to better understand the energy challenges ahead—and how SMECO is preparing for what's next.

Follow & Connect:
Host: Sonja Cox
Co-Host: Tom Dennison

SMECO on Instagram: somdelectric
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Your voice doesn't just matter — it shapes everything we do.

In this episode, Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison dive into how member feedback directly influences decisions across the co-op, from streetlight repairs and power reliability to new programs, technologies, and major strategic initiatives. They share real stories from the field, explain what goes on behind the scenes, and reveal how even one phone call or comment can spark meaningful improvements for thousands.

Key Takeaways:

• How small complaints often uncover major system issues
• Why new tech like LED UV cells is changing responsiveness
• Real examples of member feedback shaping programs like Green Rider, online voting & broadband decisions
  
  

Whether it's a compliment, a concern, or a big idea — your voice truly guides our direction. Tune in to see how your feedback helps power a stronger, safer, more connected community.

Your power stays on because two people quietly protect the environment behind every pole, line, and substation.

In this episode, Sonja and Tom sit down with Environmental Affairs Coordinators Grayson Jenkins and Carl Freeman to uncover the little-known work that keeps SMECO reliable and environmentally responsible. From wetlands and permitting to oil-spill response and wildlife protection, they break down the real challenges of balancing infrastructure with nature.

Grayson and Carl share how they manage complex environmental regulations, respond to emergency transformer spills in the middle of the night, and help protect ospreys, eagles, owls, and other species through SMECO's Avian Protection Plan. You'll also hear surprising stories—from wetland matting to rescue booms to Boy Scout-built owl boxes—that show how deeply SMECO is committed to stewardship.

Key Themes:

• Wetlands, permitting, and protecting sensitive environments
• Oil spill response and transformer safety
• SMECO's Avian Protection Plan & wildlife conservation
• Community partnerships, including local landowners and the Boy Scouts
  
  

Tune in to see how the power you rely on every day is supported by a team working tirelessly to protect the land, water, and wildlife of Southern Maryland.

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