South Carolina utility's customers fired their board after pay scandal. Now, they're taking over
ST. MATTHEWS -- Back in July, when the board of her electric cooperative hid in a backroom to avoid angry customers at its monthly meeting, Barbara Weston grabbed a microphone and announced she was starting the meeting herself.
Standing before 80 other Tri-County Electric customers, the 64-year-old Eastover resident aired their collective grievances: The co-ops part-time board had paid themselves handsomely at the expense of Tri-Countys customer-owners, given themselves health and life insurance, and rigged the election process for board members to protect themselves.
Thats our money, she shouted. It is not fair. It is not right, and we are not trusting them with any more of our money or our time.
Six months and a customer revolt later, Weston now leads the Midlands co-ops board. The retired teacher and eight other newly elected directors took their seats in Tri-Countys board room for the first time Thursday night, electing Weston as board president with their first vote.
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