JEFF LEWIS, General Manager
In September, we held our 83rd Annual Meeting of Members, and it was a huge success. Like the past few annual meetings, we offered drive- through registration and we set a record with 1,614 members registered, easily meeting our quorum of 565. Thank you to everyone who registered and voted. We appreciate you taking the time to visit with us. I’m still new to our community, compared to some of our staff who seem to know everyone. I enjoyed meeting so many of you while seeing familiar faces as well.
This year, you voted for one of four districts that were up for election. District 1, Travis G Burriss; District 5, W. Terry Ricketts; and District 6, Patsy W. Wilson, ran unopposed while District 4 had two petitioned candidates. We are pleased to welcome our newest board member, Joe M. “Mike” Price, who received 69% of the members’ votes.
While voting, we wanted to ask how many members read South Carolina Living. Surprisingly, 95% voted they do indeed read the magazine and many commented on how much they love it. We appreciate your feedback. A lot of work goes into the magazine, locally and statewide.
Thank you to all that donated to our Trust Board/Operation Round-Up during drive-thru registration. You helped raise over $6,000 for our local food pantries. At least one food pantry in every county Little River serves will receive a donation.
Year-end accomplishments
We’ve experienced another great year of growth. Our system grew 3.1% in the calendar year 2022. We added 381 meters to the system, a 44% increase over 2020.
Little River is in sound financial standing. As a result, we returned over $300,000 in Capital Credits to our members. Capital Credits reflect each member’s ownership in the cooperative. Any margins or revenues related to the sale of electric service remaining after all expenses have been paid are returned to the cooperative members in proportion to their electrical use.
Safety
The accomplishment I’m most proud of is how safely our employees carry out their jobs. We want our employees to return home to their families every night. I’m happy to report we have shattered our record set last year and are now up to 1,370 days without an accident, which is almost four years. I want to extend my gratitude to all the hardworking employees who tirelessly maintain our lines, respond to emergencies and keep the power flowing. Your dedication to excellence and safety is second to none.
I’m proud to be part of Little River Electric Cooperative and confident in our collective ability to shine even brighter in the years to come. Let us embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead with the same spirit of cooperation and determination that has defined us for years. Thank you for your continued support.
Happy holidays
I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas. In observance of the holidays, our office will close at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24–25. The office will also be closed Monday, Dec. 25, Tuesday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 1. As always, crews will be on standby during the holiday season.
JEFF LEWIS,
General Manager
