Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO)

SMECO is a cooperative that provides electricity service for southern Maryland. SMECO was formed on Feb. 5, 1937 as the Southern Maryland Tri-County Cooperative Association, facilitated by President Franklin Roosevelt's Rural Electrification Administration (REA). Southern Maryland at the time was not a lucrative enough market to draw private capital to create a commercial electric utility. In the end, this was a blessing for customer-owners. SMECO rates are far lower than those paid by fellow Marylanders in areas serviced by for-profit corporations.

SMECO headquarters is based in Hughesville, Maryland.

Management

Executive Officers

Salaries paid to SMECO executives in 2005. Source: Md. PSC.

• Austin J. Slater, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer (2005 Salary: $253,931)

• Ken Capps, Vice President, Engineering and Operations and Chief Operating Officer (2005 Salary: $186,063)

• Sonja M. Cox, Vice President, Financial and Economic Services and Chief Financial Officer

• Mark A. MacDougall, Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel (2005 Salary: $200,203)

• Frank Mudd, Jr., Vice President, Human Resources (2005 Salary: $137,060)

• Joseph Trentacosta, Vice President, Information and Customer Services and Chief Information Officer (2005 Salary: $158,655)

Note: All salary figures based on the 2005 Annual Financial Report SMECO files with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC).

Board of Directors

Board Officers

• Joseph V. Stone, Jr., Chairperson

• Samuel J. Hammett, Vice Chairperson

• Kenneth L. Dyson, Secretary-Treasurer

• Fern G. Brown, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer

Directors by County

• Calvert County
  • Samuel J. Hammett
  • W. Michael Phipps
  • Nancy W. Zinn
• Charles County
  • John H. Bloom
  • Gilbert O. Bowling
  • Fern G. Brown
  • Kenneth L. Dyson
  • Richard A. Winkler
• Prince George’s County
  • Daniel W. Dyer
  • James A. Richards
• St. Mary’s County
  • Samuel M. Bailey, Jr.
  • W. Rayner Blair III
  • J. Douglas Frederick
  • Francis E. Hewitt
  • Joseph V. Stone, Jr.