Black River Electric Cooperative
Black River Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit rural electric distribution utility serving 36,000+ residential, commercial, and industrial meters across four South Carolina counties through 4,000 miles of energized line and a wholly-owned economic development subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1940
- HeadquartersSumter, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Black River Electric Cooperative does
Black River Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit rural electric distribution cooperative incorporated on February 5, 1940, headquartered in Sumter, South Carolina, with a branch office in Cassatt (Camden area). The cooperative distributes electricity to more than 36,000 residential, commercial, and industrial meters across Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties, operating approximately 4,000 miles of energized line and delivering roughly 680-684 million kWh annually. It is governed by a nine-member elected Board of Directors representing nine districts on three-year staggered terms, and operates as a nonregulated distribution utility.
The cooperative generates revenue primarily through monthly electricity distribution charges (kWh consumption plus facilities fees) to members, supplemented by outdoor lighting subscriptions ($17-$40 per month for LED fixtures), community solar unit subscriptions ($17 per unit/month, up to 3 units per member), prepaid electric service with reduced deposits, and bank-draft incentives ($1 monthly credit). Additional revenue and member-value programs include residential and commercial electric service, the Capital Credits retirement program (over $2.6M returned in 2025 plus $1M+ through Discount Capital Credit), the Generac Generator Program (certified dealer partnership), the Smart Thermostat Program with Energy Smart, Help My House energy efficiency financing, net metering, and EV charging infrastructure (15 Level 2 stations). The cooperative is rolling out an Advanced Metering System across the service area to enable better usage monitoring and member account management.
Black River purchases wholesale power under a long-term all-requirements contract with Central Electric Power Cooperative extending through 2058, supplemented by supply from Santee Cooper, Duke Energy, and the Southeastern Power Association. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Black River Economic Development Corporation, actively recruits industrial employers and jointly manages Black River Industrial Park with the Sumter Economic Development Board, anchoring major tenants including Caterpillar, Diebold, Federal Mogul, and The King Company. A 9% rate increase took effect across all rate classes on February 1, 2025, driven by wholesale power cost increases beyond the cooperative's control following the end of a Santee Cooper rate freeze in December 2024.
Black River Electric Cooperative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black River Electric Cooperative
- Legal name
- Black River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Website
- https://blackriver.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1940
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Black River Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit rural electric distribution utility serving 36,000+ residential, commercial, and industrial meters across four South Carolina counties through 4,000 miles of energized line and a wholly-owned economic development subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black River Electric Cooperative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Distribution Utility Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Utilities (22)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)
Keywords
Where Black River Electric Cooperative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sumter
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Black River Electric Cooperative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Electric Distribution Service: Monthly electricity distribution service to residential and commercial members across Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties. Revenue generated through kWh consumption charges and facilities fees.
- Outdoor Lighting Service: Yard and street lighting with installation, operation, and maintenance. Members pay monthly rates for LED lighting options.
- Community Solar: Community solar farm subscription program where members can subscribe to units that produce energy credited to their bills.
- Prepaid Electric Service: Pay-as-you-go electricity service allowing members to pay in amounts they choose with reduced deposit requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Residential Service Membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | Commercial Service Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Outdoor Lighting - 100W LED |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Outdoor Lighting - 400W LED |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Outdoor Lighting - 1000W LED |
| Subscription | Monthly | Community Solar Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bank Draft Program |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Prepaid Electric Service |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Service Cutoff/Disconnect Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Black River Electric Cooperative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black River Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that delivers electricity and related energy services to residential, commercial, and industrial members across Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties in South Carolina. It operates 4,000+ miles of energized line serving 36,000+ meters and supplements core electric service with member programs including community solar, outdoor lighting, capital credits, prepaid billing, EV charging, and energy efficiency offerings.
Product overview
Black River Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility providing electric distribution services to residential and commercial members across Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties in South Carolina. The cooperative operates as a single unified utility offering core electric service alongside numerous member benefit programs. Key products include standard Residential and Commercial Electric Service, supplemented by energy programs (Community Solar, Net Metering Rider), efficiency offerings (Smart Thermostat Program, Help My House, Energy Audits), convenience payment options (Online Bill Payment Portal, E-Billing, Bank Draft, PrePaid, PayGo), infrastructure services (Outdoor Lighting), member benefits (Capital Credits Program), and emergency/alternative energy solutions (Generac Generator Program, Electric Vehicle Charging with 15 Level 2 stations). The cooperative also provides Outage Viewer mapping and extensive electrical safety education resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Electric Service Standard electric distribution service for residential members in Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties, including new service applications, outage reporting, and multiple billing options.
- Commercial Electric Service Electric distribution service for commercial members with commercial rate schedules, outdoor lighting options, and dedicated support for businesses including industrial park tenants.
- Outdoor Lighting Yard and street lighting service for residential and commercial members with installation, operation, and maintenance included. Available in 100W LED ($17/month), 400W LED ($25/month), and 1000W LED ($40/month) tiers.
- Community Solar
Quantifiable outcome
- $2.6 million in capital credits retired and returned to members in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Black River Electric Cooperative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black River Electric Cooperative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Black River Electric Cooperative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CaterpillarcoreIndustrial company located at Black River Industrial Park in Sumter. Partnered with the Cooperative through its subsidiary, Black River Economic Development Corporation, for mutual economic development. Represents the cooperative's role in attracting major employers to the region.
- DieboldcoreIndustrial company located at Black River Industrial Park in Sumter. Partnered with the Cooperative for mutual economic development through Black River Economic Development Corporation.
- Federal MogulcoreIndustrial company located at Black River Industrial Park in Sumter. Partnered with the Cooperative for mutual economic development.
- The King CompanycoreCompany partnered with the Cooperative for mutual economic development in the service territory.
- Central Electric Power CooperativecoreGeneration and transmission cooperative that coordinates power supply for Black River and 19 other SC distribution cooperatives. Black River participates on Central's Board of Trustees. Governed by long-term wholesale power contract extending through 2058.
- Santee CoopercoreOne of the wholesale power suppliers for Black River Electric Cooperative. Rate freeze ended December 2024, resulting in cost increases passed to cooperative members beginning 2025.
- Duke EnergyminorOne of the wholesale power suppliers providing electricity to Black River Electric Cooperative.
- Southeastern Power AssociationminorWholesale power supplier for Black River Electric Cooperative as part of the cooperative power network.
- Black River Economic Development CorporationcoreSubsidiary of Black River Electric Cooperative that actively recruits and promotes industry in the service area. Jointly manages Black River Industrial Park with Sumter Economic Development Board.
- Sumter Economic Development BoardcoreJoint management partner for Black River Industrial Park. Collaborates with Black River Economic Development Corporation on industrial recruitment and development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black River Electric Cooperative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Santee Cooper: South Carolina state-owned electric and water utility that supplies wholesale power to Black River — adjacent wholesale supplier and broader SC utility peer, but not a retail distribution competitor.
- Central Electric Power Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative that is Black River's wholesale power supplier and on whose Board Black River participates — adjacent supplier/partner in the SC cooperative power network, not a retail competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Duke Energy Carolinas: Investor-owned utility serving North and South Carolina with generation, transmission, and distribution — broader incumbent peer operating across overlapping geographies and serving similar end-uses, though as an IOU rather than a cooperative.
- Dominion Energy South Carolina: Investor-owned electric utility serving customers across South Carolina — broader incumbent peer providing comparable residential/commercial electric service in the same state, but as a regulated IOU rather than a member-owned cooperative.
Direct peers
- Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative: South Carolina distribution electric cooperative serving residential, commercial, and industrial members — directly comparable member-owned distribution utility model in the same regulatory and operating environment as Black River.
- Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative: South Carolina and North Carolina electric distribution cooperative serving the Upstate — comparable member-owned distribution utility with overlapping service area in northwestern South Carolina.
- Lynches River Electric Cooperative: South Carolina electric distribution cooperative serving Chesterfield, Lancaster, and parts of surrounding counties — closely comparable rural distribution co-op model and product offerings.
- Berkeley Electric Cooperative: South Carolina distribution electric cooperative serving Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties — comparable member-owned distribution model with similar residential/commercial/industrial member programs.
- Santee Electric Cooperative: South Carolina electric distribution cooperative with residential and commercial members in the eastern part of the state — directly comparable rural distribution co-op structure, scale, and product mix.
- Palmetto Electric Cooperative: South Carolina electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Ridgeland serving Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties — directly comparable distribution co-op with similar member programs and Touchstone Energy branding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black River Electric Cooperative social profiles
Digital presenceBlack River Electric Cooperative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black River Electric Cooperative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Black River Electric Cooperative subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Black River Electric Cooperative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black River Electric Cooperative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black River Electric Cooperative
What does Black River Electric Cooperative do?
Black River Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that delivers electricity and related energy services to residential, commercial, and industrial members across Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties in South Carolina. It operates 4,000+ miles of energized line serving 36,000+ meters and supplements core electric service with member programs including community solar, outdoor lighting, capital credits, prepaid billing, EV charging, and energy efficiency offerings.
Is Black River Electric Cooperative a public or private company?
Black River Electric Cooperative is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Black River Electric Cooperative founded?
Black River Electric Cooperative was founded in 1940. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Black River Electric Cooperative based?
Black River Electric Cooperative is headquartered in Sumter, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black River Electric Cooperative make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Electric Distribution Service is the primary driver. The others are outdoor Lighting Service, community Solar and prepaid Electric Service.
Who are Black River Electric Cooperative's main competitors?
Others on record are Santee Cooper and Central Electric Power Cooperative. Broad incumbents are Duke Energy Carolinas and Dominion Energy South Carolina. Direct peers are Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Lynches River Electric Cooperative, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Santee Electric Cooperative and Palmetto Electric Cooperative.
Does Black River Electric Cooperative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black River Electric Cooperative.
What industry is Black River Electric Cooperative in?
Black River Electric Cooperative's product category is Electric Distribution Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADABAC, Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities), with a secondary code of EUADABAI, Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies). Its NAICS code is 22112 and its SIC code is 4911.