[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ON ITS 75TH 
                            ANNIVERSARY YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Southern Maryland 
Electric Cooperative--known colloquially as ``SMECO''--on 75 years of 
serving communities in Maryland's Fifth District. Since its humble 
beginnings bringing power to a handful of farmers, SMECO has become a 
major utility that fuels economic growth across Southern Maryland.
  In 1937, SMECO was first incorporated in the wake of President 
Roosevelt's New Deal initiative to connect rural areas with 
electricity. With assistance from Roosevelt's Rural Electrification 
Administration, SMECO brought affordable light and power to families in 
Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert Counties for the first time. Over the 
years, SMECO expanded its service and brought electrical power to 
communities the major urban and suburban utilities had left in the 
dark.
  As one of the oldest and largest electricity cooperatives in the 
country, SMECO is owned by the families and businesses it serves, with 
all profits reinvested in infrastructure improvements or as rebates to 
shareholders. What began with 400 families just before the Second World 
War today provides power to over 147,000 homes and businesses across 
Southern Maryland.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all the people of our District, I want to 
thank the men and women of SMECO for their hard work throughout the 
years. Whether it is a snow storm or a hurricane, they immediately go 
to work and, within days, restore power for most shareholders who have 
lost their connections as a result of downed wires. I commend them for 
their focus and diligence during these emergencies and for continuing 
to earn praise from shareholders for their preparedness and 
responsiveness along with respect from utility management professionals 
across the country.
  I also join in celebrating this milestone of 75 years of creating 
opportunities for rural Marylanders. For three quarters of a century, 
the men and women of SMECO have played a vital role in the economy and 
community of Southern Maryland for which they are to be commended.

                          ____________________