COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster signed legislation last week that revises rules that govern electric cooperatives, increasing transparency to co-op members and adding limited government oversight.

Legislators chose not to impose prescriptions on such things as who can be elected to governing boards, how often boards can meet or board compensation, leaving those decisions to cooperative members. Instead, the new law requires co-ops to make more information available to the members, who are both owners and customers of the utilities.

“The new law is an important recognition that good governance starts with an informed membership, not with government directives,” said Doug Reeves, who was chairman of the state association of electric cooperatives when the issues arose. “The best cure for what ails democracy is sunshine. Then, let the owners of these private businesses take it from there.”

Reeves, who called together co-op leaders last year to address the issues, is also an elected member of the board of trustees and its

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