Lynches River Electric Cooperative

Lynches River Electric Cooperative was organized in 1939 to provide electricity to citizens in rural areas where electric energy was not currently available.

In the 1930's, private power companies were not interested in serving remote areas. It was more profitable for them to serve primarily towns and along main highways.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration in response to the needs of rural citizens. Early cooperative incorporators were required to collect a $5 membership fee from those choosing to become part of the cooperative. A right-of-way easement and three members per mile of power line were essential in an area before plans were made to build a power line.

The first power lines were energized in late 1939 with approximately 710 original members and 175 miles of line.

Today, Lynches River is the area's leading provider of reliable electric energy and services. With over 20,000 consumers, Lynches River is the 13th largest electric co-op in South Carolina.

Lynches River Electric Cooperative serves Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties.

Mission Statement:

Lynches River Electric Cooperative is a member owned electric cooperative committed to delivering reliable electric energy and related services at a competitive price, which will improve the quality of life of its members and communities.

Values:

Integrity: We conduct business in an honest manner. We place trust in employee and member opinions. Faith and confidence in the organization, honor, trust, respect, treating others the way we want to be treated, and doing what is right, are standards of integrity, which drive our company.

Commitment: We are committed to our members, customers, employees, and communities. We will follow through with our commitments as stated. We will maintain our tradition of citizenship and service with actions that demonstrate care for the people and communities around us. We will work to create an environment that nurtures employee pride and self-esteem, and a productive workforce.

Excellence: We continually strive to improve our products and services. To prosper both as individuals and as a company, we give our individual best and personal commitment to maintain the highest standard of excellence in all that we do.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership: Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights, one member, one vote, and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
3. Members Economic Participation: Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence: Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
5. Education, Training, and Information: Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
7. Concern for Community: While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.