Berkeley Electric Cooperative

What Berkeley Electric Cooperative does

Berkeley Electric Cooperative is the largest not-for-profit electric cooperative in South Carolina, distributing electricity to over 100,000 member-accounts across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in the state's Lowcountry region. Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Moncks Corner, the cooperative operates as a member-owned utility under a regulated franchise structure, with members also serving as owners who elect the Board of Trustees and receive profits back in the form of capital credits. The core product is electricity delivery, augmented by an extensive set of member-facing programs including smart thermostat rebates, electric vehicle support, renewable energy options, energy efficiency loans (HomeAdvantage), surge protection, outdoor lighting, dual-fuel heating systems, standby generator programs, and vegetation management. Member account management is delivered through the NISC SmartHub online portal and mobile applications, with a 24/7 outage hotline for service continuity.

The cooperative's business model is a recurring subscription on metered residential and commercial electric usage, billed monthly, with capital credit refunds issued as bill credits. Pricing is structured across standard residential and commercial rate schedules plus a Time of Day Rate option for peak-shifting behavior. A for-profit wholly-owned subsidiary, Berkeley Propane, extends the commercial footprint into propane delivery, tankless water heaters, and gas logs. Community engagement is a structural component: Berkeley Electric runs Operation Round Up charitable giving, Bright Ideas education grants, a Veterans Monument, a Youth Tour, and the SC Living Magazine, and distributes a weekly Power Talk podcast alongside a Spanish-language sister show, Conversaciones Electrificantes, the latter targeting the Lowcountry's Latin population on YouTube and local FM radio. The cooperative also operates a 14-week Electrical Lineworker Program in partnership with Trident Technical College at the Thornley Campus in North Charleston, providing scholarships and integrating students into district crew work to build a localized talent pipeline.

Operationally, the cooperative combines a regulated electric distribution franchise with grassroots political advocacy through the ACRE and COPA programs, which channel member voices to state and federal representatives. Member services include key account management for commercial accounts, dedicated outage communications, and energy audits. Strategic partnerships include Redwood Materials for lithium-ion battery recycling and Trident Technical College for workforce development. Headcount is reported in the 251-500 range, and the organization maintains a multi-channel presence across Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Name

Berkeley Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Berkeley Electric Cooperative

Website

https://berkeleyelectric.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Berkeley Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric utility serving over 100,000 member-accounts across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina, offering electricity distribution, energy efficiency programs, and propane services through subsidiary Berkeley Propane.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Cooperative power distribution
• Residential electricity supply
• Energy efficiency programs
• Propane distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Moncks Corner

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electric Utility Services: Berkeley Electric Cooperative generates revenue through electricity distribution services to over 100,000 member-accounts in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. As a not-for-profit cooperative, any margins are returned to members in the form of capital credits. The cooperative also offers propane services through its for-profit subsidiary Berkeley Propane.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Berkeley Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to more than 100,000 member-accounts across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina as a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative founded in 1940. It also operates Berkeley Propane, a for-profit subsidiary delivering propane to homes and businesses, and offers member account self-service through the SmartHub portal and mobile apps alongside energy efficiency, renewable energy, and community programs.

Product overview

Berkeley Electric Cooperative operates as a not-for-profit electric utility providing electricity delivery to over 100,000 member-accounts in South Carolina. The core offering is electricity distribution service, supplemented by the SmartHub member portal for account management. The cooperative offers various energy efficiency programs including smart thermostat rebates, electric vehicle support, renewable energy options, and energy efficiency loans. Additional services include propane delivery, outdoor lighting, surge protection, backup generation, and vegetation management. Community engagement is supported through Capital Credits (profit sharing), Operation Round Up charitable giving, SC Living Magazine, and two podcasts (Power Talk and Conversaciones Electrificantes). The cooperative also operates a 14-week Electrical Lineworker training program in partnership with Trident Technical College.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berkeley Propane: A for-profit subsidiary of Berkeley Electric that delivers propane safely and efficiently to homes and businesses.

Products and services

• Electricity Distribution Service
• SmartHub Member Portal
• Berkeley Propane
• Surge Protection (Surge Guard)
• Outdoor Lighting Service
• Standby Power Generation (Generator Program)
• Dual Fuel Heating System
• HomeAdvantage Energy Efficiency Loans
• Electrical Lineworker Training Program

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Redwood MaterialsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Berkeley Electric Cooperative participates in a battery recycling program where collected lithium-ion batteries are sent to Redwood Materials for recycling into electric vehicle and clean energy applications. The cooperative serves as a collection site for damaged, defective, or recalled lithium-ion batteries as part of a county-wide safety initiative.
• Trident Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerkeley Electric Cooperative has partnered with Trident Technical College to develop a 14-week Electrical Lineworker Program that trains students for careers in the electric utility industry. The cooperative provides scholarships covering tuition ($1,000) and books, and students work alongside district crews when not in class. Classes are held at Trident Tech's Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Duke Energy: Duke Energy is one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the US and a major electric provider in South Carolina, including in the broader Lowcountry region. Serves as the primary IOU competitor in adjacent service territories with overlapping customer base.
• Dominion Energy South Carolina: Dominion Energy South Carolina is an investor-owned electric utility serving the central and southwestern parts of South Carolina. Broad incumbent with overlapping territory, comparable end-customer offerings, and similar regulatory environment.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: Touchstone Energy is a national network and brand alliance of 750+ member-owned electric cooperatives in the US, of which Berkeley Electric is a member. Useful for benchmarking branding, community programs, and shared services.

Direct peers

• Cobb EMC: Cobb EMC is one of the largest member-owned electric cooperatives in the US, serving metro Atlanta. Highly comparable scale, member-owned governance, capital credit programs, and breadth of energy services and community programs.
• Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative: Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative in upstate South Carolina, with comparable size, governance, capital credit, and community engagement programs. Strong direct peer for benchmarking operations.
• Palmetto Electric Cooperative: Palmetto Electric Cooperative is another member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving the Lowcountry of South Carolina, with overlapping geography in the Hilton Head area. Highly comparable cooperative model, customer base, and service mix.
• Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC): NOVEC is a large member-owned electric distribution cooperative in Virginia serving residential and commercial members in a fast-growing region. Comparable cooperative structure, capital credit model, and member services portfolio.
• Central Electric Power Cooperative: Central Electric Power Cooperative is a generation and transmission cooperative serving distribution co-ops in Missouri. Comparable in the cooperative utility ecosystem, though focused on G&T rather than last-mile distribution.
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Pedernales Electric Cooperative is the largest electric distribution cooperative in Texas, serving a large and growing territory. Directly comparable as a member-owned electric distribution co-op at significant scale, with similar mix of distribution, member programs, and adjacent energy services.

Regional players

• Santee Cooper: Santee Cooper (South Carolina Public Service Authority) is a state-owned electric and water utility serving South Carolina, including wholesale power supply to electric cooperatives. Comparable in serving SC electricity demand but operates as a generation-heavy state utility rather than a member-owned distribution co-op.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BerkeleyElectr3
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC343PNQBaFNzkGk5PPNYXSQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerkeleyElectricCooperative
• Instagraminstagram.com/berkeleyelectriccoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Berkeley Electric Cooperative