Laurens Electric Cooperative Members Reelect Three Trustees at 2026 Annual Meeting
June 10, 2026
Laurens Electric Cooperative held its 2026 Annual Meeting on June 5, with 5,066 members taking part in drive-thru registration and voting for the board of directors on June 4 and 5 at the co-op’s main office in Laurens.
Members reelected three incumbent trustees: Charles Adair of Clinton to represent District 4, Marcus E. “Marty” Cook of Gray Court to represent District 7, and Mitchell Powers of Enoree to represent District 9. Adair, who has served on the board since 1987, currently serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Powers, who joined the board in 1988, serves as secretary and treasurer.
During the business meeting, Powers reported that the cooperative’s finances remain strong. That financial position allowed the board last year to approve the return of more than $1.5 million to members in the form of capital credits.
President and CEO Matthew Stanley noted that the co-op continues to experience record growth in its service area and is one of the fastest growing electric cooperatives in South Carolina, a trend he said provides stability for both the co-op and the communities it serves.
Several members went home with prizes. Allison M. Howard of Clinton won the retired LEC fleet vehicle, and Carl D. Burkel of Pelzer won a $100 gift card courtesy of CEEUS. Winners of the $1,000 college scholarships for high school seniors were Thomas L. Copeland of Clinton on behalf of student Katherine Wiggins and Rachael Connor of Greer on behalf of student Sierra Connor.
A full recap with photos will appear in the July issue of South Carolina Living magazine.
Founded in 1939, Laurens Electric Cooperative is a member-owned rural electric cooperative serving more than 64,000 consumers in Laurens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Abbeville, Newberry, and Union counties. The co-op operates its main office on Highway 14 in Laurens, with drive-through locations in Mauldin and Joanna.
