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Something to Celebrate... Pee Dee Electric Cooperative Announces Another Large Rate Decrease Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PDEC) held its annual meeting on Saturday, October 23. The event, with COVID-19 precautions in place, featured live music, prize drawings including a choice between Honda Side-by-Sides or $10,000 cash, and an annual business session. During this once-a-year gathering, the member-owners of the electric co-op voted to receive a 10% rate decrease for the months of December 2021, January, and February 2022. This reduction will be applied automatically, and members will see it as a line item on their monthly bills. “We know that the winter months are a time when our members use the most energy and see their highest bills,” stated James Goodson, Chairman of the PDEC Board of Trustees. “We are so pleased to be able to show our appreciation by offering this significant rate decrease for that period.” Established in 1939, PDEC entered into a partnership with Marlboro Electric Cooperative (MEC) in September 2020. Known collectively as MPD, this strategic collaboration aligned the two neighboring co-ops with the goal of creating economic benefits, long-term efficiencies and overall improved service for members residing in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion and Marlboro counties. MEC is the lowest cost electric power provider in South Carolina according to the Federal Energy Information Administration (EIA), and this significant decrease is a major step towards aligning the two organizations’ electric rates. “We’re so proud to have been able to provide our members with a 5% rate decrease last winter, as well as the much larger 10% discount this past summer,” said William Fleming, Jr., MPD’s President and CEO. “The ability to offer an additional 10% rate decrease during the coldest and highest use months of the year demonstrates the benefits of the strategic alliance between the two co-ops. The ability to effectively perform as one of the largest electric cooperatives within the State and country provides each co-op the opportunity to regularly decrease rates and continue to improve member reliability across the entire region.”
Women in Philanthropy Awards Pee Dee Nonprofit Grants On Monday, November 15th, The Darla Moore Foundation announced a partnership with the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund to expand scholarship availability to 26 high schools in eight Pee Dee region counties. The new counties include Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Williamsburg, and Clarendon and will begin in the 2021-2022 scholarship cycle. The program gives students a chance to earn up to $10,000 a year toward tuition and up to $40,000 over their college career.
Leadership Florence Participates in Healthcare Day The Florence Chamber Leadership Florence class of 20212022 held its November session on Tuesday, November 9th celebrating Healthcare Day. The 34-member class heard from several local healthcare organizations, which included visits to McLeod Regional Medical Center, MUSC Health Florence Medical Center and HopeHealth. Each organization had a very informative presentation for the group. The Chamber wants to thank MUSC Health for sponsoring breakfast, McLeod for sponsoring lunch and HopeHealth for providing group treats and special gifts for the participants.
Hand Surgery Associates Welcomes Dr. Nicholas R. White Nicholas R. White, MD has joined Robert W. Moore, MD at Hand Surgery Associates in Florence. Dr. White is a board-certified surgeon who has practiced for five years in Florence before accepting a prestigious hand fellowship at the University of Miami to specialize in surgery of the hand. Prior to the completion of his hand fellowship, Dr. White graduated from Wofford College and earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. White’s surgical interest include endoscopic carpal tunnel release, advanced nerve repair, and non-operative treatment of Dupuytren’s disease. Dr. White is now accepting new patients. Please call (843)676-2720. Hand Surgery Associates is located at 1498 Freedom Blvd., Florence, SC 29505.
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VIPMagSC.com
September2021 December 2021
