Adding to the Charge

Rural EV co-op adds South Carolina members to its Midwest core

Many of us figured a rural EV charging cooperative would be a good idea. The evidence is growing that it is indeed popular, as one of the first co-ops added to its ranks June 27. The move is significant because it takes a startup idea that was Midwest-based and adds a southern state.

Charge EV, LLC, was created in 2020 by 31 electric cooperatives in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Now, Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (CEPCI) of South Carolina and its 20 member distribution electric cooperatives have joined Charge, 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.”

In addition to CEPCI (Columbia, S.C.), 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)