South River Electric Membership Corporation Email Format
UtilitiesNorth Carolina, United States51-200 Employees
South River Electric Membership Corporation is an electric distribution cooperative based in Dunn, North Carolina, with a district operations center in Fayetteville to serve its membership. Chartered in 1940 and operating as a nonprofit, the cooperative serves more than 48,000 consumer-members across Harnett, Cumberland, Sampson, Johnston and Bladen counties. Its electric infrastructure comprises a plant valued at over $329 million and about 4,800 miles of energized distribution and transmission lines, supported by 38 substations. It is governed by a member-elected board of nine directors, with leadership including CEO and Executive Vice President Chris Spears. The cooperative collaborates with nearby electric co-ops through Sandhills Utility Services to operate and maintain the Fort Liberty electric grid, and it co-owns Diversified Energy, an independent propane services company. South River EMC participates in industry associations such as the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Tarheel Electric Membership Association, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In March 2026, the cooperative awarded a grant to Cumberland County Emergency Services.