SMECO Connects

In this podcast, Robbie Gill, CEO for YMCA of the Chesapeake, joins Tom Dennison to discuss the new YMCA opening on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. This organization will offer many opportunities for our community to come together, serve, and engage in activities. The YMCA provides a wide range of opportunities, including health and wellness programs, community activities, camps, swimming, fam...

In this podcast, Dr. Meenakshi (Menna) Brewster, health officer for St. Mary's County Health Department, joins Tom Dennison to discuss how the Health Department partners with local government agencies to build strong community connections and strengthen regional preparedness during emergencies. Dr. Brewster also highlights the Department's collaboration with local schools and law enforcement to es...

In this episode, Kolby Corrigan and Scott Bacon meet with Tom Dennison to explain how they coordinate with vegetation management crews to keep the right-of-way clear around SMECO power lines to ensure greater reliability. Learn more about our preventative approach to vegetation management and how our team works to identify hazards that could create outages well before they happen. Learn more about...

In this episode, Jennifer Raley and Brian Holmes meet with Tom Dennison and Sonja Cox to explain methods for new home buyers to save energy. SMECO offers resources, EmPOWER Maryland programs, and support from experienced energy analysts to help you build an action plan to reduce your energy usage and lower costs. Log in to Account Manager to view your energy use 15-minute intervals so you can bett...

In this episode, Tom Dennison meets with Sonja Cox to break down what happened during the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session and what it meant for energy policy. They discuss actions taken in Annapolis to help manage utility costs, including adjustments to EmPOWER Maryland mandates and efforts to address ongoing energy supply challenges affecting Maryland residents. Follow & Connect: Host: Son...

In this episode, Eugene Bradford and Tami Fellner break down several key elements of the bill. Bradford and Fellner also discuss the process for rate setting and the efforts your cooperative takes to improve its commodity purchasing power to help reduce the impact of rising power costs. Learn more about your bill here: smeco.coop/my-account/paying-your-bill/about-the-bill Follow & Connect:  Host:...

The extended stretch of brutally cold weather this past winter contributed to higher-than-usual electric bills for many SMECO members. We understand how challenging that can be and we are here to help. Learn more about the assistance opportunities available to you at SMECO.coop/Bill-Assistance .   Follow & Connect: Host: Sonja Cox Co-Host: Tom Dennison SMECO on Instagram: somdelectric SMECO on X:...

Ever opened your electric bill and wondered, "How did it get this high?" ⚡ In this episode of SMECO Connects, host Tom Dennison sits down with two of SMECO's frontline customer care representatives—Dan Wallace and Leah—to unpack one of the biggest concerns members have right now: high winter electric bills. They share what's really driving the recent spike in bills across Southern Maryland, from...

When a winter storm hits, the snow melts, but the costs can linger for months. On this episode of SMECO Connects, hosts Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison break down the real impact of Winter Storm Fern and the prolonged cold that followed. While SMECO's electric system held strong thanks to years of reliability upgrades, record cold drove power market prices to levels not seen since the 2014 polar vortex...

What really happens behind the scenes of your electric bill? In this episode of SMECO Connects, hosts Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison sit down with CFO Beth Kennedy and Controller Angela Verras to unpack the audit process, financial transparency, and the systems that keep SMECO strong. From independent auditors reviewing customer bills to long-term planning that protects reliability, this conversation...

When the lights go out, the clock starts ticking—and Dale is one of the first people in the hot seat. From restoring thousands of homes in minutes to making split-second safety calls, his job in SMECO's operations center blends adrenaline, strategy, and teamwork under extreme pressure. In this episode, Dale shares his journey from lineman to distribution system supervisor, what really happens behi...

What really drives your electric bill—and what's happening in Annapolis right now that could shape it for years to come? In this episode of SMECO Connects, hosts Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison break down the Maryland General Assembly's 90-day session, rising power costs, and why being at the table matters for SMECO's member-owners. Drawing on decades of experience, they share how smart advocacy, long-...

What happens when electricity demand surges faster than the grid can keep up? In this episode of SMECO Connects, hosts Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison sit down with Brian Lee and Kevin Ellenberger from ACES Power Marketing to unpack what's really happening in today's power markets—from rising capacity costs to the growing impact of data centers and AI-driven demand. They break down complex topics like...

When your lights stay on during a storm or a deep winter freeze, there's a lot happening behind the scenes. In this episode of SMECO Connects, hosts Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison sit down with Jeff Drumm, a Transmission System Operator, to explore how SMECO monitors and protects the bulk electric system that powers Southern Maryland. Jeff shares his journey from lineman to control room operator, what...

Your electric bill didn't go up by accident — and the reasons are bigger than most people realize. In this episode of SMECO connects, host sonja cox and co-host tom dennison break down the growing generation and capacity crisis impacting maryland and the entire PJM grid. They explain how plant retirements, rising demand from data centers, transmission congestion, and delayed renewable projects are...

Keeping the lights on doesn't happen by accident—it takes years of planning, precision engineering, and a relentless focus on reliability. In this episode of SMECO Connects, host Tom Dennison sits down with Ryan Schlotterbeck, Distribution Contractor Operations Director, and Hugh Voehl, Transmission Engineering & Construction Director, to break down how SMECO designs, builds, and maintains the inf...

Electric vehicles are everywhere — but are they actually practical for everyday drivers and utility fleets? In this episode of SMECO Connects, Tom Dennison sits down with SMECO experts Natasha Law and John Cockrum to break down what it's really like to own, charge, and operate electric vehicles in Southern Maryland. From home charging costs and range anxiety to electrifying utility fleets and quie...

What does it really take to keep the lights on as energy demand surges and costs rise? In this year-in-review episode of SMECO Connects, host Sonja Cox and co-host Tom Dennison reflect on the biggest challenges and wins of 2025—from resource adequacy and affordability pressures to data centers, infrastructure upgrades, and community impact. They pull back the curtain on how an electric cooperative...

Your voice doesn't just matter — it shapes everything we do. In this episode, Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison dive into how member feedback directly influences decisions across the co-op, from streetlight repairs and power reliability to new programs, technologies, and major strategic initiatives. They share real stories from the field, explain what goes on behind the scenes, and reveal how even one ph...

Your power stays on because two people quietly protect the environment behind every pole, line, and substation. In this episode, Sonja and Tom sit down with Environmental Affairs Coordinators Grayson Jenkins and Carl Freeman to uncover the little-known work that keeps SMECO reliable and environmentally responsible. From wetlands and permitting to oil-spill response and wildlife protection, they br...

Solar is booming — but understanding net metering can still feel confusing for many customers. In this episode of SMECO Connects, host Tom Dennison sits down with Tiffany Alexander and Natasha Law from SMECO's Energy & Technology Division to break down what net metering is, how solar interconnections work, and what customers should consider before installing panels. With decades of combined experi...

Every day, local law enforcement shoulders the unseen challenges that keep Southern Maryland safe — and today, we get an inside look at what that really means. In this episode, host Tom Dennison sits down with Jason Scott, SMECO's Security Director and former Maryland State Police officer, and Captain Steve Simonds of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. They share what called them to service,...

Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry—but most organizations still don't know where to start. In this episode of SMECO Connects, hosts Sonja Cox and Tom Dennison sit down with Johnny Ramondino, Co-founder & President of INVOKE INC, to explore how businesses can adopt AI effectively, responsibly, and without disrupting operations. Johnny breaks down what AI can (and can't) do today...

Two SMECO legends return to reflect on decades of service, leadership, and storm restoration that shaped Southern Maryland's resilience. In this episode, host Tom Dennison sits down with retired SMECO veterans Bill Lawman and Ron Rennick, who together share nearly 80 years of dedication to keeping the lights on for our community. From climbing poles before bucket trucks existed to rebuilding La Pl...

What does it really mean to be a community hospital—not just a hospital in the community? 💙 In this episode, SMECO Connects host Tom Dennison sits down with Albert Zanger, Chief Administrative Officer of the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, to talk about leadership, culture, and the future of local health care in Southern Maryland. Albert shares how his team built a "zero-h...