Press Releases

Jun 21, 2011

SOUTH CAROLINA’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES SELECT CARTON DONOFRIO PARTNERS TO MARKET NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM

Carton Donofrio Partners, a full-service marketing communications firm in Baltimore, was selected by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC) and Central Electric Power Cooperative (Central) to develop an advertising and public relations campaign as they test a groundbreaking low-interest consumer loan program that would target energy efficiency in thousands of homes.

Conceived by ECSC, the trade association for South Carolina’s consumer-owned not-for-profit electric cooperatives, and Central, the co-ops’ wholesale power provider, the program aims to save consumers energy, lower costs, benefit the environment and create thousands of green jobs. A new law, passed in 2010 with support from the co-ops, helps facilitate the program by allowing S.C. consumers to pay back their loans on their monthly power bills using a portion of their energy savings. To start, the agency will help conduct a pilot roll-out in 2011.
   
“We were searching for a forward-thinking marketing communications agency to support this important new program for our consumers,” said Lindsey Smith, ECSC director of public & member relations.  “After a rigorous and competitive review we’re confident we found the right team in Carton Donofrio Partners.”

Carton Donofrio Partners will provide strategic marketing and communications counsel.

“We’re excited to be part of such an innovative approach to saving energy and to providing affordable access to people of all socio-economic backgrounds,” said Ellen Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Carton Donofrio Partners. “We look forward to making a positive impact and spreading the message in South Carolina.”

The ECSC program win is the latest in a string of a dozen Carton Donofrio Partners new business wins over the past two years – including: EverBank, the leading online bank specializing in high-net worth customers; Shentel, a telecommunications firm and a Sprint PCS affiliate of Sprint Nextel; the Graduate Management Admissions Council, makers of the GMAT; and The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, the leading force in the U.S. for promoting physical fitness – a notable feat in a difficult environment.

About The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc.
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. (ECSC), is the state-wide service and trade association for electric cooperatives in the state. ECSC serves 18 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, three wholesale power supply cooperatives and one materials supply cooperative. Together, they operate the largest electric distribution system in the state. More than 1.5 million South Carolinians in all 46 counties use electricity from electric cooperatives. Unlike investor-owned utilities, co-ops are not-for-profit businesses required by law to provide affordable, reliable power to the people they serve – their consumer-owners. Together the co-ops operate the state’s largest electric power system with more than 70,000 miles of power lines across 70 percent of the state.

 

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