About WIRE

Women Involved in Rural Electrification (WIRE) is a statewide community service organization founded in 1981 by the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. Our mission is rooted in our motto: “People Helping People.”

WIRE members lend a hand to those in need—supporting victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, and house fires, while also contributing to homeless shelters, children's homes, and initiatives like Habitat for Humanity and the Palmetto Project.

Our Mission

WIRE works to:

  • Promote awareness and understanding of the rural electrification movement

  • Support member-owned electric cooperatives in their mission to improve life in rural South Carolina and beyond

  • Foster open communication between local, state, and national cooperative associations

  • Assist rural electric organizations with legislative and public relations initiatives

  • Build partnerships with other women’s organizations to advance support for rural electrification programs

Who Can Join?

Membership is open to women who are:

  • Consumer-members of a cooperative

  • Employees or spouses of employees

  • Retirees or former directors and their spouses affiliated with electric cooperatives

Local WIRE chapters are established by electric cooperatives to serve their own communities, all working within the South Carolina WIRE network and the Cooperative Service Network. Each cooperative appoints a Key Woman to serve as a liaison to state, national, and local leadership.

NEC WIRE Chapter

Established in 1982, local WIRE chapters—including the NEC WIRE Chapter—are the charitable arm of South Carolina's electric cooperatives. These chapters have made a lasting impact by helping individuals and families through a wide variety of community projects.

What We Do:

  • Host several fundraisers annually to support local outreach and assist members with utility bills

  • Organize the Operation Round Up Golf Tournament—our largest fundraiser for over a decade

  • Meet quarterly and stay actively involved in the community year-round

Interested in Joining?
If you’re a member of the cooperative, we’d love to welcome you into the NEC WIRE Chapter! Contact Jocelyn Dussault at jdussault@nec.coop to learn more.

Scholarship Opportunity

Returning to college?
WIRE offers the Jenny Ballard Opportunity Scholarship—a financial assistance program for women going back to school to earn a degree.

 

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