Use caution around downed power lines

For your safety, it’s important to know how to identify a potential hazard and to know what actions to take during emergency situations involving electric utility lines or equipment.

Power Line Safety

College scholarships awarded to four local high school seniors in Southern Maryland

SMECO awarded four scholarships to high school seniors for 2018. Each year, SMECO awards four college scholarships to students who live in the Cooperative’s service area. Scholarships are based on the applicants’ scholastic achievement, financial need, and school and community involvement. SMECO has awarded scholarships to 104 students in the 26 years since beginning the program in 1993.

Scholarships

Local students attend the 2018 Youth Tour

In early June, four local high school students from SMECO’s service territory joined other cooperatives from around the nation at the 2018 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. SMECO chaperones Natalie Cotton and Charlie Herbert took Ashley Ehrmantraut from The Calverton School, Emma Jones from Gwynn Park High School, Jackson Lynch from The Kings Christian Academy, and Phillip Reed from North Point High School to the Youth Tour.

Youth Tour

Around Town Calendar

Stay vigilant and watch out for scams

SMECO wants to help customers recognize when scammers are trying to cheat them out of their hard-earned money. Protect yourself with these tips to stay safe from scams.

Know what you owe.
Use the number printed on your bill to call your service provider.
Legitimate businesses usually send letters in the mail if there is an issue.
Government agencies like the IRS do not call or email people, they send letters via the U.S. mail.
Only give payment information over phone or email if you initiate contact.
Do not meet strangers at a location in order to pay them, your personal safety could be at risk.
Scammers can make the name of real businesses appear on a customer’s caller ID.
They can also trick you by duplicating voice recordings and imitating utility phone systems.
Scammers frequently target the elderly, people who speak English as a second language, and businesses.

If you don’t want to fall for a scam, be skeptical, and learn to tell the difference between what is real and what is fake.

For more information about scams, visit our website at smeco.coop/stop-scams

// CONNECT WITH US //