The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc., located in Newberry County, South Carolina, on Monday, September 28, 2026.

         Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:29 p.m. Chairman Johnnie Dickert delivered the invocation, and a quorum was determined to be present.

         The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:

Barbara C. Bishop

J. Craig Kesler

Melanie B. Hawkins

William Lominick, Sr.

Johnnie L. Dickert

Douglas E. Hipp

John W. Nichols

Leon Fulmer

 

         Also present were President and CEO and CFO Arthur Guy; Drew Davidson, Vice President of Engineering and Operations; and Tara Chapman, Executive Assistant. Attorney Thomas Pope was absent.

         President and CEO Guy began the meeting by introducing Mr. Drew Davidson, Vice President of Engineering and Operations, who presented the Engineering and Operations reports for August 2026.

         Mr. Davidson reviewed the outages experienced during the month, noting that the increase in outages was primarily attributable to a transmission outage.

         Mr. Davidson also presented the results of the Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) testing conducted on oil samples collected from all substation transformers and regulators. He explained that the DGA testing is performed to be able to identify potential equipment problems so that they can be identified and addressed before a failure occurs.

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes from the August 2026 Regular Board Meeting. Trustee Hipp moved to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

         Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee convened for its regular meeting on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The members of the committee are Trustees Johnnie L. Dickert, J. Craig Kesler, William Lominick, and J. Wayne Nichols. All committee members were present, along with President and CEO Guy.

         Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the cash disbursements for August 2026. All expenditures were found to be in order, and the report was presented to the Board as information. The Board accepted the report by consensus.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed the meetings, events, and activities he participated in during the month, including being appointed to Central Electric Power Cooperative’s Board.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed the August 2026 operational data in detail. Write offs for August 2026 totaled $4,284.18. Trustee Hipp made a motion to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed the August 2026 Operational Support reports and noted that herbicide maintenance was completed along the Prosperity and Hollands Substations distribution lines.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed details regarding the NRECA Regions 2&3 conference scheduled for October 2026. Six Trustees indicated plans to attend the conference.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed information regarding the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC) Winter Conference scheduled for December 2026. Eight Trustees indicated plans to attend.

         President and CEO Guy informed the Board of the scheduled dates for the Cooperative’s annual Employee Christmas Party and Children’s Christmas Parties.

         President and CEO Guy reported on the success of the 2026 Operation Round UP Golf Tournament, held on September 14, 2026. The tournament raised a total of $33,465.13. He explained that proceeds would be divided equally between the Newberry WIRE Chapter and the Intercommunity Services to support community needs.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed the summary of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.’s Special Called Member Meeting and Board Meeting held on September 9, 2026.

         President and CEO Guy informed the Board that the Cooperative’s PAC and ECHO luncheon was scheduled for September 29, 2026.

         President and CEO Guy presented a sponsorship request for the Kiswire Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Follow discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to receive the request as information at this time. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

         President and CEO Guy requested the Board’s approval to appoint him as Newberry Electric Cooperative’s representative to serve on the boards of the following organizations: Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc., The Broadband Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc., CEEUS, Inc., Line Equipment Sales, LLC, and CarolinaConnect. Following discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to approve the appointment of President and CEO Guy as Newberry Electric Cooperative’s representative to the boards of the organizations listed above. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

            President and CEO Guy informed the Board that ECSC had requested the designation of a voting delegate and alternate for its upcoming Annual Meeting, as well as nominations for representation on the ECSC Board of Trustees.

         Trustee Hipp made a motion to designate President and CEO Guy as the voting delegate and Chairman Dickert as the alternate voting delegate for the ECSC Annual Meeting. The motion also included the nomination of President and Ceo Guy and Chairman Dickert to serve as Trustees on the ECSC Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

         President and CEO Guy informed the Board about Newberry College Athletics sponsorship. After discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to move forward with the sponsorship. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

         President and CEO Guy reviewed a memorandum received from John Frick, Chief Executive Officer of ECSC, requesting contributions in support of political fundraising efforts. Following discussion, Trustee Nichols made a motion to receive the request as information at this time. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

         President and CEO Guy advised the Board that the Member and Public Relations Committee would need to schedule a meeting to review and discuss arrangements for the Cooperative’s 2027 Annual Meeting. Following discussion, the Committee members agreed to meet on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.    

         President and CEO Guy informed the Board that the regularly scheduled November 2026 Board Meeting conflicted with the ECSC Winter Conference and would need to be rescheduled. Following discussion, the Board agreed to reschedule the November Regular Board Meeting for Monday, November 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The Finance Committee Meeting was also rescheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

         Trustee Hipp made a motion for the Board to enter Executive Session. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

         Following discussion, in Executive Session, Trustee Hipp made a motion to return to regular session. The Motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

            The next scheduled Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

         There being no further business and without objection, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the September 2026 Regular Board Meeting at 8:22 p.m.

 

 

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SECRETARY                                                                                    APPROVED

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CHAIRMAN