June 27, 2022 – Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (CEPCI) and its 20 member distribution electric cooperatives have joined CHARGE EV, LLC, a national electric vehicle charging network and promotional brand that supports the growing number of electric-powered cars, trucks and buses. CEPCI is a generation and transmission (G&T) electric cooperative that provides wholesale electric service to South Carolina’s electric cooperative system.
“This is a milestone to expand the CHARGE™ brand into South Carolina,” said Nate Boettcher, president of CHARGE EV, LLC. “It’s a unique opportunity to educate electric cooperative members throughout the entire state about electric vehicles and help support future EV charging infrastructure in their local communities.”
CHARGE™ is a national electric vehicle (EV) charging brand powered by electric cooperatives that also invests in EV-focused companies. CHARGE™ affiliates are part of a growing brand that leads a nationwide cooperation-among-cooperatives effort (the sixth Cooperative Principle) to help promote and educate members about EVs.
“We are eager to find solutions that help our member cooperatives serve their own members, the electricity users,” said CEPCI Member Programs Manager Scott Hammond. “CHARGE™ resources and the experiences of other cooperatives will help employees and members feel more comfortable with EVs and support those who are interested in purchasing their own EV.”
CHARGE™ affiliates also benefit from access to EV-focused companies, such as ZEF Energy. ZEF manufactures EV charging units that will work with many cooperatives’ existing load management programs. The technology allows members to delay charging their EV until off-peak hours when electricity prices are lower.
In addition to Central, the following South Carolina electric cooperatives are the newest CHARGE™ affiliates:
- Aiken Electric Cooperative (Aiken)
- Berkeley Electric Cooperative (Moncks Corner)
- Black River Electric Cooperative (Sumter)
- Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative (Pickens)
- Broad River Electric Cooperative (Gaffney)
- Coastal Electric Cooperative (Walterboro)
- Edisto Electric Cooperative (Bamberg)
- Fairfield Electric Cooperative (Blythewood)
- Horry Electric Cooperative (Conway)
- Laurens Electric Cooperative (Laurens)
- Little River Electric Cooperative (Abbeville)
- Lynches River Electric Cooperative (Pageland)
- Marlboro Electric Cooperative (Bennettsville)
- Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative (Lexington)
- Newberry Electric Cooperative (Newberry)
- Palmetto Electric Cooperative (Ridgeland)
- Pee Dee Electric Cooperative (Darlington)
- Santee Electric Cooperative (Kingstree)
- Tri-County Electric Cooperative (St. Matthews)
- York Electric Cooperative (York)
About CHARGE EV, LLC
CHARGE EV, LLC, was created in 2020 by 31 electric cooperatives in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin to promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption. As electric cooperatives partner with other companies within the EV industry, CHARGE™ will expand its national charging network to showcase hidden gems throughout rural America. Learn more at charge.coop or on facebook.
About Central Electric Power Cooperative
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. It was created in 1948 and is owned by its members, the 20 distribution cooperatives in South Carolina. Central’s member-cooperatives provide electricity to more than 1.5 million residents through more than 820,000 meters across 70% of the state’s land area. Learn more at cepci.org.
