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If I decide to install solar, what are the next steps?

§  Submit an interconnection application
Complete the interconnection form and submit it to SEC for review and approval before installation begins.

§  Install the system after approval
Once approved, your solar contractor can move forward with installation. Local building permits and requirements apply.

§  Complete required inspections
After installation, your local county building inspector will inspect the system. The county will then provide the required approval documentation to SEC.

§  SEC site inspection and paperwork
An SEC representative will contact you to schedule a site inspection and complete the required purchase and sale agreement.

§  Permission to operate
After all requirements are met, SEC will notify your installer when permission is granted to operate the system.

Donation Request Form

Southside Electric Cooperative Donation Request Form

At Southside Electric Cooperative, we are committed to supporting initiatives that make a lasting impact in the communities we serve. Our primary focus areas include youth development, education, wellness, frontline workers, military support, and fighting poverty. We proudly fund projects that empower young people through leadership opportunities and educational programs, ensuring they have the resources to succeed. Additionally, we invest in wellness initiatives that promote healthy living for all ages and provide critical support for frontline workers and military personnel who serve and protect our communities. We are equally dedicated to supporting efforts that address the root causes of poverty, helping individuals and families overcome economic hardships and build brighter futures. If your organization aligns with these values and objectives, we encourage you to submit a request for consideration.

Southside Electric Cooperative Donation Request Form

At Southside Electric Cooperative, we are deeply committed to supporting initiatives that create a lasting impact in the communities we serve, guided by Cooperative Principle #7, Concern for Community. This principle drives us to focus our efforts on key areas, including:
  • Youth Development and Education: Empowering young people through leadership opportunities and educational programs, ensuring they have the resources to achieve their full potential.
  • Wellness Initiatives: Promoting healthy living for individuals of all ages in our communities.
  • Frontline Workers and Military Support: Honoring and supporting those who serve and protect our communities.
  • Fighting Poverty: Addressing the root causes of poverty to help individuals and families overcome economic hardships and build brighter futures.
Priority is given to projects and initiatives that benefit the residents of the 18 counties within SEC’s service territory, ensuring our funding makes the greatest impact in the communities we serve. If your organization’s mission aligns with these values and goals, we encourage you to submit a request for consideration.
To include date, time, location, who is hosting the event, estimate of number of attendees, etc.
Which counties will be impacted by your request(Required)
Contact Name(Required)
Mailing Address(Required)
Max. file size: 100 MB.
Vegetation Call-In Support for MSR Teams

Vegetation Management Guidelines for Member Inquiries

When members call in with questions about vegetation management, use the following key points to provide clear and consistent information. These cover SEC's policies on brush cleanup, tree removal, and herbicide usage.

  • Brush: SEC contractors have three business days to clean up from the initial dropping.
  • Trees: SEC does not remove downed wood; SEC only cleans up brush in the maintained right-of-way.
  • Herbicide: For more information, visit the SEC website at Vegetation Management FAQs.

Vegetation Call-In Support

If a member still has concerns or questions regarding vegetation procedures (brush, trees, herbicide) please complete the form below which will route to the vegetation team including Matt Hall and Bobby Moseley.

Member Name(Required)
Service Address(Required)
View & Search Unclaimed Capital Credits List
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Is this a new billing system?

No, SEC has been billing for demand since January 2020. This is a restructuring of demand billing. The new change allows SEC to more accurately allocate its expenses based on how they are incurred by the Cooperative. At the same time, the billing change allows the Cooperative to most equitably charge members based on their demands on the system.

Is this a rate increase?

No. SEC will not collect any additional revenue due to this restructuring. This is a revenue-neutral change for the Cooperative.

How will this change affect members?

Most members will not see an increase or any change in their monthly bills. Some may see a decrease. A small number of members, estimated at 600 of the roughly 48,000, who place a high demand on the system, although they may not use a great amount of electricity, will see an increase in their bills.

The amount of the increase depends on members' demands on the system, and it is something those members can control. Think back to the example of turning on five appliances at once. By only switching on the electric stove and washing machine at the same time, the member can decrease demand and reduce any increase in the monthly electric bill. Members will be billed on the highest demand for the month. That means members can reset their power demand each month.

Notice of Board District Consolidation

March 18, 2010

Number of Territorial Districts/Directors Reduced Under Revised SEC Bylaws

During their February 25, 2010 meeting, your Board of Directors of Southside Electric reviewed and approved revisions to the Cooperative’s Bylaws. This action was taken in accordance with Article XII, “Amendments.”

SEC Territorial/Director Districts Reduced to 3

Under the revised SEC bylaws, the number of territorial/director districts was reduced from 10 to 3. The number of persons to serve on the Cooperative’s board of directors was reduced from 10 to 9 with three directors representing each district. Additionally, the revised Cooperative system map (provided under separate attachment) shows County boundaries, thereby making it easier for individual members to determine, both, the district in which they reside and the person(s) who represent the district on the SEC Board of Directors.

SEC Board Action Beneficial to Cooperative/Members

The action taken by the SEC Board of Directors to reduce territorial/director districts will reduce overall director-related expenses, as well as enhances director accessibility to Cooperative members in the respective district(s). Additionally, it allows the opportunity for any member to run every year for a 3 year term on the SEC Board of directors because at least one director will now be up for re-election in each district, beginning this year (2010). Last, but not least, the Board’s action positions the Cooperative to meet the future growth and challenges that will have to be faced in the ever changing energy environment.

State Corporation Commission Stand By Service

Virginia Code ("Code") § 56-235 . 1 : 1, enacted by the 2009 Session of the Virginia General Assembly,' directed the State Corporation Commission ("Commission") to adopt regulations for electric utility standby service provided by electric utilities to "customers that operate a cogeneration facility in the Commonwealth that generates renewable energy, as defined in § 56-576." This law also required that such regulations must "allow the electric utility to recover all of the costs that are identified by the electric utility and determined by the Commission to be related to the provision of the stand-by service, including but not limited to the costs of transformers and other equipment required to provide stand-by service and the costs of capacity and generation, including but not limited to fuel costs."

Section 56-235 .1 :1 of the Code further required that within 90 days of the effective date of such regulations, each public utility providing electric service in the Commonwealth must "submit a plan setting forth how the utility will comply with the regulations if it does not already have stand-by provisions approved by the Commission that comply with the regulations ." Thereafter, the Commission is required, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to determine whether a utility's plan complies with the regulations. 1 Chapter 745 of the 2009 Acts of Assembly.

By Order dated December 2, 2009, in Case No . PUE-2009-00080, the Commission adopted regulations entitled: Rates for Standby Service Furnished to Certain Renewable Cogeneration Facilities Pursuant to § 56-235 . 1 :1 of the Code ("Standby Service Rules ,).2 Pursuant to 20 VAC 5-317-40 of the Standby Service Rules, each electric utility was required to submit to the Commission, on or before April 1, 2010, its plan for compliance with the Standby Service Rules.

On March 31, 2010, A&N Electric Cooperative, BARC Electric Cooperative, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Community Electric Cooperative, Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, Prince George Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, and Southside Electric Cooperative (collectively, ''Cooperatives") filed with the Commission a Request for Waiver or, in the Alternative, Proposed Compliance Plan ("Application" or "Compliance Plan").

In their Application, the Cooperatives requested that the Commission waive the Standby Service Rules for the Cooperatives and allow them to continue their current practice of negotiating standby service rates on a case-by-case basis. According to the Cooperatives, in negotiating an arrangement for standby service, each Cooperative would calculate the cost of the physical plant and other facilities necessary to serve the customer. The Cooperative would then collect these costs through an excess facilities charge, a contribution-in-aid of construction, or some combination of the two. The Cooperative and the customer would then enter into a formal agreement memorializing terms, which the Cooperatives argue would comply with the Standby Service Rules. According to the Application, each Cooperative has at least one existing rate schedule under which such service could be provided.3

On April 27, 2010, the Commission issued an Order for Notice and Comment in this proceeding denying the Cooperatives' request for waiver and requiring the Cooperatives to provide notice to the public and allowing interested parties to comment on the Application or request a hearing in this matter. The Commission received no comments or requests for hearing. By letter dated July 2, 2010, Staff indicated that it did not intend to file comments.

Now the Commision, having considered the matter, is of the opinion that the Cooperatives' Compliance Plan satisfies the requirements of § 56-235.1 :1 of the Code and the Commission's Standby Service Rules.

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that

(1) The Cooperatives' Compliance Plan is hereby approved.

(2) As there is nothing further to come before the Commission, this matter is dismissed and the papers herein placed in the file for ended causes.

An attested copy hereof shall be sent by the Clerk of the Commission to: Samuel R. Brumberg, Esquire, LeClairRyan, 4201 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 200, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060; and C. Meade Browder, Jr., Senior Assistant Attorney General, Division of Consumer Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, 900 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond, Virginia 23219; and a copy shall be delivered to the Commission's Office of General Counsel and the Divisions of Energy Regulation and Economics and Finance.

1 Chapter 745 of the 2009 Acts of Assembly.

2 Chapter 317 (20 VAC 5-317- 10 el seq.) of Title 20 of the Virginia Administrative Code.

3 Application at 4-5.