A thank you to legislators

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE who contribute to serving our members. The most obvious that come to mind are the lineworkers and operations staff, who build, maintain and restore the poles and wires that bring power to your homes and businesses.

Of course, there’s also our member services representatives and admin- istrative personnel, who support you whenever you come to our office, call or email us. Your democratically elected board of trustees devotes hours of class time, research and collaboration to best govern our cooperative.

But there are others we should credit that don’t typically wear the Lynches River Electric logo on their shirts. In the past, and especially over the last two years, our cooperative has benefitted sig- nificantly from our local legislators in Columbia and those representing us in Washington, D.C. They understand that what’s good for cooperative members is good for all their constituents.

Many of these state leaders showed their support of cooperatives and our local youth by participating in last year’s Virtual Youth Experience. Last June, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, as well as U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and Gov. Henry McMaster, discussed the day’s issues with teens selected by South Carolina cooperatives during the week- long web conference, which will be held again this summer.

We are appreciative of all of these elected leaders, because we know they hear us when we’re speaking up for you. Every time a new Congress convenes,
or our state legislature gavels in a new session, electric cooperatives have the opportunity to educate policymakers on issues that matter most to our members and the communities we serve.

In just the last few years, members of the General Assembly have listened as we spoke on your behalf regarding coopera- tive governance and transparency, rural broadband access, consumer protections for solar buyers and wholesale power costs. The voice of South Carolina coop- eratives is also valued by our U.S. sena- tors and representatives on Capitol Hill.

New legislative sessions have begun in 2021 and this edition of South Carolina Living is your guide to the men and women who represent you in Columbia and Washington, D.C. I would encourage you to make note especially of those rep- resenting our area.

If you are so inclined, send them a message of gratitude for their service toward the betterment of our communities and state.