News

San Miguel Electric Cooperative works every day to improve the lives of South Texans. Here’s
what we’ve been up to.

Mar 17 2025 5:00 AM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Announces 2024 Charitable Contributions to Local Community Organizations, as well as to Program Returning Horned Lizards to Their Natural Habitat

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMECI) has announced its 2024 donations to local communities in Atascosa and McMullen Counties, contributing more than $34,000 to organizations that include the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, the Texas Ramp Project and volunteer fire departments. San Miguel employees also gave generously of their time and skills to those in need.

Dec 24 2024 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. is Awarded USDA New ERA Funding, Which Will Support its Conversion from Lignite-fueled Power to Solar and Battery

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMECI) has been awarded a more than $1.4 billion investment by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) program, which will provide grants and low-interest loans to expand energy that prioritizes greenhouse gas reductions. The Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program is offered through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Sep 10 2024 7:00 AM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. to Leverage New Low-Emission Energy Sources at its South Texas Power Plant

There have been several historical developments recently at our not-for-profit generation and transmission rural electric cooperative here in Atascosa County, Texas.

Sep 06 2024 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Named Finalist for a USDA New ERA Funding Program that Prioritizes Low-Emission Energy Systems for Rural Electric Cooperatives

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. has been named a finalist for a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service program that would provide grants and low-interest loans to expand energy that prioritizes greenhouse gas reductions.

Apr 01 2024 6:00 AM

San Antonio Zoo® Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project...

What iconic Texas native species feeds on ants but is also impacted by ants? The Texas horned lizard – commonly referred to as the “horny toad” – lives and dies by the state’s ant population.

Jan 05 2024 12:00 PM

Work Done During San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s Fall Outage Will Help Power Texas Through the Colder Winter Months

For those living in Texas, fall is a transitional period from the extreme temperatures of summer to much lower temperatures in the winter. For electric power producers, it’s the same. The San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc., (SMEC) for example, has prepared for the year ahead by instituting its Fall outage to ensure that its South Texas coal-fired plant is ready to meet the peak demand of the state’s colder months.

Dec 14 2023 6:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Announces 2023 Charitable Recipients

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) has announced its 2023 donations to the local community, contributing more than $28,000 to 33 organizations. The recipients are volunteer fire departments and charitable entities dedicated to helping area residents, including children, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged. In addition to the monetary contributions, employees donated their time and talents to local groups.

Aug 04 2023 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Awards Local Charities through CoBank’s Sharing Success Program

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMECI) has announced its 2023 CoBank Sharing charitable contributions. This year’s beneficiaries are the Pleasanton Education Foundation, the Jourdanton Education Foundation and the Atascosa County 4H Council. San Miguel’s contributions will be matched by the CoBank’s Sharing Success program.

Jun 28 2023 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Educates the Educators at TMRA’s Unique and Award-winning Teacher Workshop

Building aquifers, flumes and earth-science cross sections may remind you of your early school days, but at one South Texas mine last week, it was par for the course for a group of adults.

May 19 2023 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s Spring Outage Ensures Reliability and Safety at its South Texas Power Plant

Coal-fired power plants play a critical role in providing electricity to millions of Texans, but they require routine maintenance to ensure their continued reliability and safety. As part of this maintenance, coal-fired power plants in Texas conduct twice-yearly planned outages, during which time critical repairs and upgrades are performed. San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (SMEC) South Texas coal-fired power plant is no different.

Mar 03 2023 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Supports the Work of Jamie’s Ranch

On any given weekday, you might see a group of animated people – from ages seven to more than 80 years old – sitting on a hayride gleefully calling out 106 items hidden in live oaks, mesquite, cacti and brush along well-tended trails.

Feb 14 2023 9:05 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Announces New General Manager/CEO at its South Texas Plant and Lignite Mine

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) has appointed Craig Courter as its new General Manager/CEO. San Miguel operates a lignite mine that provides fuel for its power plant, which produces 391 megawatts of affordable, reliable electricity for nine member cooperatives across 45 South Texas counties to power more than 200,000 homes and businesses.

Jan 25 2023 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Announces 2022 Charitable Recipients

San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has announced its annual donations to local charitable organizations to assist them in fulfilling their missions to the local community.

Jun 30 2022 12:00 PM

A Dozen Science Teachers Attend Award-winning TMRA Teacher Workshop Program to Learn the True Story of Texas Mining

The San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMECI) hosted a unique and award-winning educational program that has the potential to change the lives of Texas teachers and students alike.

Apr 06 2022 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Supports Area Volunteer Fire Departments with Generous Contributions

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) has announced its annual charitable donations to six South Texas volunteer fire departments, celebrating the men and women who give their time to keep communities safe.

Jan 13 2022 6:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Announces its 2021 Charitable Recipients

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) has announced its annual donations to the charitable organizations that help support the needs of the local community surrounding the Cooperative’s South Texas geographic areas.

Oct 27 2021 5:00 PM

San Miguel Lignite Mine Receives Prestigious National Safety Award from the National Mining Association

The San Miguel Lignite Mine (SMLM), which is owned by San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC), has received a prestigious national mining award for achieving 470,304 employee hours worked without a lost workday injury at its lignite mine in Christine, Texas.

Sep 29 2021 12:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Helps Those in Need

Children in need and the disabled are just a few of the San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (SMEC) most recent 2021 charitable recipients.

Sep 01 2021 4:12 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Awards Local Charity through CoBank’s Sharing Success Program

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) employees volunteered at the Bountiful Blessings Community Food Pantry in Pleasanton on Aug. 11, and also presented the organization with a $5,000 donation as part of SMEC’s CoBank’s Sharing Success charitable program.

From left to right: Dave Burris, SMEC Fuels Manager; Brian Young, North American Construction Group (NACG) Safety Manager; Tom Shaw, NACG Mine Manger; Wendell Koontz, RMCMI Board of Directors and head of Safety Committee; and Frank Pagura, RMCMI President Elect.

Jul 21 2021 5:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Receives Prestigious Safety Award

The San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) has received a prestigious mining industry award for work at its lignite mine in Christine, Texas.

Jul 01 2021 12:33 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. Hosts Award-winning TMRA Teacher Workshop Program

Apr 26 2021 8:24 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Announces New General Manager/CEO at its South Texas Plant and Lignite Mine

Following a six-month executive search, San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has announced it has hired a new General Manager/CEO. Nathan Brown, who has more than 29 years of industry experience and a demonstrated history of success working with electric utilities, will become San Miguel’s eighth General Manager. San Miguel operates a lignite mine, which provides fuel for its power plant that produces 391 megawatts of affordable, reliable electricity for nine member cooperatives across 42 South Texas counties.

Mar 05 2021 1:45 PM

San Miguel Will Continue to Deliver the Power Texans Rely On

Despite the recent winter storm experienced by Texans in mid-February, San Miguel Electric Cooperative will continue to safely and reliably provide power to more than 78,000 South Texas homes.

Feb 23 2021 2:31 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Announces 2020 Charitable Recipients

San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has announced its annual donations to local charitable organizations to assist them in fulfilling their missions to the local community.

Oct 30 2020 2:16 AM

San Antonio Zoo® Releases Horned Lizards as Part of a Conservation Program Supported by San Miguel Electric Cooperative

San Antonio Zoo this month took one more step to realizing its dream of bringing back one of the state’s most iconic characters – the Texas horned lizard. Commonly referred to as the “horny toad,” the Phrynosoma cornutum population has declined or disappeared in many places in Texas since the late 1960s.

Aug 19 2020 7:50 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Announces New Operations Contractor at its South Texas Lignite Mine

San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has announced that North American Construction Group Ltd. (NACG) will be operating its lignite mine, which provides fuel for its power plant that produces 391 megawatts of affordable, reliable electricity for nine member cooperatives across 42 South Texas counties.

Jun 19 2020 11:00 AM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Awards Local Charities through CoBank’s Sharing Success Program

San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has announced its 2020 CoBank Sharing charitable contributions. This year’s beneficiaries are the Atascosa Health Clinic, the Safer Path Family Violence Shelter and Children Matter to Me. SMEC’s 2020 contribution has increased from last year’s $7,500 to $10,000 this year. The contributions will be matched by CoBank’s Sharing Success program.

Apr 08 2020 6:05 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Deemed Part of Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, San Miguel Electric Cooperative has been deemed part of the nation’s critical infrastructure workforce, as it continues to provide the safe, reliable power that South Texans have relied upon since 1982. Please read more about how we are protecting the public and our workers during the pandemic.

Mar 10 2020 12:01 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Announces 2019 Charitable Recipients

CHRISTINE, Texas [March 9, 2020] – Throughout the year, San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) donates funds and partners with local charitable organizations, helping them to fulfill their mission to the local community.

Aug 14 2019 5:00 PM

Horned Lizards are Headed Back Out on the Range

CHRISTINE, Texas [August 12, 2019] – Thanks to San Antonio Zoo – and supporting organizations like the San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) – the Texas horned lizard may be making a comeback in central Texas. A benchmark of this project is now underway: the training of “sniffer dogs” to monitor and detect this beloved lizard in its natural habitat.

Jul 31 2019 11:00 AM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Hosts Award-Winning TMRA Teacher Workshop Program

CHRISTINE, Texas [July 31, 2019] – On July 16, the San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) gave a tour of the San Miguel Power Plant and lignite mine to a group of science teachers as a part of the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association’s (TMRA) award-winning Teacher Workshop program. SMEC hosted 11 teachers from schools across the state of Texas, including one from Virginia, along with five TMRA staff members.

May 06 2019 1:25 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Employees Help Fund Wilson County 4H Youth Programs

CHRISTINE, Texas [May 3, 2019] – There’s some mighty tasty BBQ out there today, thanks to employees of San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC). To support the Wilson County 4-H Adult Boosters, members of SMEC’s workforce fabricated and donated a steel BBQ pit, which was auctioned off on the night of the Boosters’ annual gala on April 6 at the Wilson County Showbarn.

Apr 12 2019 5:00 PM

San Miguel Career Fair

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) announced today its participation in the Coastal Bend College (CBC) Career Fair on Wednesday, April 24 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. The event will take place in the lobby of CBC, 1411 Bensdale Road, Pleasanton, Texas.

Mar 27 2019 9:10 AM

San Miguel Announces a Revamped Website

San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMEC) announced today the official launch of its new website, which will serve as a resource for those interested in learning more about the cooperative, including its safety standards, emissions technology, stewardship efforts, economic impact and community giving programs.

Jan 10 2019 3:05 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Hosts A&M Students Learning about Coal Mining, Electricity Production

San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) gave Texas A&M University business students a firsthand look at the contributions made by coal power plants and lignite mines to the state’s energy supply as they visited SMEC’s facilities on Jan. 9.

Dec 19 2018 5:00 PM

San Miguel Electric Cooperative Gives Back…

San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has awarded almost $13,000 in donations and volunteer time to South Texas community organizations as part of its 2018 charitable giving program.San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has awarded almost $13,000 in donations and volunteer time to South Texas community organizations as part of its 2018 charitable giving program.

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