What Edisto Electric Cooperative does

Edisto Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned rural electric cooperative founded in 1939 and headquartered in Bamberg, South Carolina. It distributes electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers across an exclusive eight-county service territory in South Carolina (Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, and Orangeburg), operating a physical distribution network of power lines, transformers, and substations supplemented by TWACS automated meter reading, bi-directional revenue metering, and an online billing portal. The cooperative is part of the Touchstone Energy national branding alliance and NRECA, and holds a strategic wholesale power alliance with Santee Cooper and the South Carolina Power Team (20 distribution cooperatives plus Palmetto Economic Development Corporation).

The cooperative's product surface extends well beyond regulated electricity distribution to include the Surge Guard meter-base surge protection program (Meter-Treater devices leased at $5-$6/month), a distributed solar interconnection program with a published 4.662 cents/kWh Value of Solar net metering rate, a ChooseEV electric vehicle adoption program, a Smart Thermostat demand response program ($50 enrollment credit), a Green Power renewable energy program, and certified Generac standby generator sales, installation, and loan services. Billing flexibility is provided through levelized billing, bank draft, and a Social Security/Disability due-date alignment program.

Edisto operates on not-for-profit cooperative principles: revenue in excess of operating expenses is allocated back to members as capital credits and periodically retired as cash disbursements, with no equity shareholders. Member governance is exercised through an elected board of trustees that meets monthly at headquarters, and the cooperative runs a community programs portfolio including Washington Youth Tour, R.D. Bennett ($5,000) and W.I.R.E. Jenny Ballard ($2,500) scholarships, a Speaker's Bureau, and partnerships with regional and state economic development organizations. The firm employs 11-50 people across its headquarters and two district offices (Barnwell and Reevesville/St. George).

Name

Edisto Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Edisto Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://edistoelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Edisto Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric cooperative founded in 1939 that distributes electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers across an exclusive eight-county franchise in South Carolina, operating as a not-for-profit with capital credits returned to members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI), DER Aggregation & Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) (EUAMAJAC), EV Charging as DER (Managed Charging, V2G/V2B) (EUAMAJAL)

Keywords

• Rural electric distribution
• Electricity distribution service
• Member-owned cooperative
• Demand response programs
• Solar interconnection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bamberg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution/Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from electricity distribution to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. As a not-for-profit cooperative, all revenue in excess of operating expenses is allocated back to members in the form of capital credits rather than distributed to shareholders.
2. Capital Credits: At the end of each fiscal year, revenue received in excess of operating expenses is allocated back to the membership as capital credits. These allocations are held for capital improvements and eventually returned to members as 'retirements' or 'disbursements' determined by the Board of Trustees based on the cooperative's financial condition.
3. Surge Guard Protection Program: Monthly leasing of surge protection devices (Meter-Treater) including $5/month for 200 amp service and $6/month for 400 amp service with a 36-month minimum lease agreement, plus optional extended warranties and in-home surge protection devices for purchase.
4. Solar Interconnection Services: Application fees for solar interconnection: $150 residential, $250 non-residential. Members receive a credit on their bill for excess solar energy at Edisto's Value of Solar rate of 4.662 cents/kWh.
5. Generator Sales and Installation: Edisto Electric is a certified Generac dealer and installer providing standby generators with free in-home assessments and generator loan programs. Revenue comes from generator sales and professional installation services.
6. Green Power Program: Members can purchase Green Power to directly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere, providing an optional premium service for environmentally conscious consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Edisto Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit rural electric cooperative that distributes electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers across eight South Carolina counties (Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, and Orangeburg). It sells electricity as its core product and layers on subscription programs (Surge Guard surge protection, Green Power renewable energy), demand response enrollment (Smart Thermostat), solar interconnection with net metering, certified Generac standby generator sales and installation, and online account management, with surplus revenue returned to members as capital credits.

Product overview

Edisto Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric cooperative providing electricity distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers across eight South Carolina counties. The cooperative operates as a not-for-profit organization offering a portfolio of programs including core electricity distribution, surge protection (Surge Guard), renewable energy options (Solar Energy, Green Power, ChooseEV), demand response (Smart Thermostat Program), standby generators, online account management, and various billing programs (Capital Credits, Levelized Billing, Bank Draft, Social Security/Disability). Additional offerings include energy audits, right-of-way maintenance, distributed generation interconnection, and community scholarships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electricity Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Value of Solar rate of 4.662 cents/kWh for net metering credits to solar customers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Touchstone EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational branding alliance with Touchstone Energy featuring the tagline 'The power of human connections.' The alliance is part of a national branding campaign to help consumers instantly recognize their local electric co-op and associate it with reliable service and excellent value. The Touchstone Energy logo appears on Edisto Electric's service vehicles, billing statements, and other materials.
• NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing cooperative electric utilities and their consumers. Founded in 1942 to overcome WWII shortages of electric construction materials, obtain insurance coverage for rural electric cooperatives, and mitigate wholesale power problems. NRECA advocates for consumer-owned cooperatives on energy and operational issues as well as rural community and economic development.
• Santee CoopercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-owned electric utility providing wholesale power. Edisto Electric's alliance with Santee Cooper and electric cooperatives throughout South Carolina enables the cooperative to keep wholesale rates low and assure members an abundance of reasonably priced power. Santee Cooper is part of the South Carolina Power Team coalition.
• South Carolina Power TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPower production, distribution, and marketing alliance consisting of Santee Cooper, 20 electric distribution cooperatives, and Palmetto Economic Development Corporation. This coalition enables Edisto Electric to effectively serve customers and maintain consistently low rates by providing engineering assistance, incentive rates, and loan and grant programs that encourage development and create jobs.
• Palmetto Economic Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development marketing organization that is part of the South Carolina Power Team. Provides professional, experienced, personalized industrial site location counseling confidentially and cost-free to businesses considering locations in South Carolina.
• South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (SCCC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerState's largest and most prestigious broad-based business trade association. Edisto Electric partners to support economic development and business growth in the service territory.
• South Carolina Department of Commerce (SCDC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerState economic development agency representing South Carolina's pro-business economy to corporations throughout the world. Partnership supports attraction of new industry to Edisto Electric's service area.
• Southern Carolina Regional Development AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional development organization providing corporate site location executives with data and information highlighting benefits of locating industrial facilities in the Southern Carolina region.
• Charleston Regional Development AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional development organization supporting business growth in the Charleston region, highlighting reasonable business costs, thriving economy, and quality of life.
• Dorchester County Economic Development DepartmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty economic development agency offering right-to-work labor force, available buildings and sites, attractive industry incentives, and excellent transportation access near Charleston.
• Orangeburg County Development CommissionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty economic development agency highlighting Orangeburg County's mild climate, excellent location, and southern hospitality for business attraction.
• Meter-Treater, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of Surge Guard surge protection devices including Meter-Treater 240-1SL (200 amp) and RCHW-120SP-L2 (400 amp). All warranty claims for surge protection devices are made directly to Meter-Treater, Inc. by homeowners.
• GeneraccoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of standby generators. Edisto Electric is a certified Generac dealer and installer, providing home backup power solutions including automatic standby generators with free in-home assessments and generator loan programs.
• The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association of electric cooperatives that administers the R.D. Bennett Scholarship program. ECSC was led by Robert D. Bennett from 1950 to 1980, and the scholarship honors his commitment to community service.
• WIRE (Women Involved in Rural Electrification)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization co-founded by Jenny Ballard in 1981 to support women in rural electrification. WIRE sponsors the $2,500 Jenny Ballard Opportunity Scholarship for women returning to college who are members of South Carolina electric cooperatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Santee Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg Counties. Directly comparable on member-owned distribution model, similar service-territory size, and Santee Cooper wholesale sourcing.
• Newberry Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving Newberry County and adjacent areas. Directly comparable member-owned utility with similar scale, residential focus, and community-program emphasis.
• Aiken Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving Aiken and surrounding counties. Closely matches on cooperative structure, geographic scope, residential/commercial/industrial service mix, and renewable program offerings.
• Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative headquartered in Lexington. Comparable on cooperative governance, residential and commercial service mix, and Santee Cooper wholesale partnership for distribution.
• Berkeley Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties. Directly comparable on cooperative model, Touchstone Energy affiliation, Santee Cooper wholesale relationship, and member-owned distribution operations.
• Palmetto Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative serving Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties. Comparable member-owned utility operating in similar low-density coastal/rural territory with parallel solar and energy-efficiency programs.
• Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative: South Carolina Touchstone Energy distribution cooperative headquartered in Pickens serving upstate South Carolina. Comparable member-owned cooperative with similar renewable and demand-response program stack; somewhat larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Santee Cooper (South Carolina Public Service Authority): State-owned electric and water utility that is Edisto's wholesale power supplier and a member of the SC Power Team coalition. Comparable on South Carolina electricity operations, generation and transmission assets, and overlapping service territory, but operates at materially larger scale as a generation/transmission provider.
• Duke Energy Carolinas: Investor-owned utility serving the Carolinas with regulated electric distribution. Adjacent rather than direct competitor to Edisto but operates similar distribution infrastructure, AMI, and demand-response programs at much greater scale within overlapping South Carolina territory.
• Dominion Energy South Carolina: Investor-owned utility with electric distribution operations in South Carolina. Comparable distribution business model and AMI/smart-grid investments, but operates as a for-profit IOU at materially larger scale than Edisto's cooperative footprint.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/edistoelectriccooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edisto-electric-cooperative-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edisto Electric Cooperative