News

RiverNet Connect (RNC) will be undergoing a software conversion on June 29, 2023, at 5 p.m. The current online portal and smart app used to make payments will be permanently disabled. That will affect any customers who use our online system for payments, auto-pay and paperless billing. For those using these features, download the new app and set up your account on the new SmartHub platform. Cash and check payments won’t be able to be made in our office, but you can still mail your payment or drop it in the night drop box at the LREC/RNC office. Payments will not be posted to your account until the new system is in place. The LREC/RNC office will be closed to the public starting on July 3 and will reopen on July 10 at 8 a.m. On July 10, we will launch our new SmartHub web …

Payment Systems Upgrade & Office Closure Notice Full Article »

It’s hard to believe that it has been less than three years since Lynches River Electric began the task of providing fiber optic broadband internet to every one of our members. When Steve Chewning, who served as board chairman at that time, announced the co-op’s broadband plan at the 2019 annual meeting, he said, “…this job will not be finished until the member that lives in the last house at the end of that dirt road in the most rural areas of Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties has access to the outside world through a world-class broadband system.” The promise made that October morning has been fulfilled as the last stretch of fiber was installed along Hartsville-Ruby Road in late March. Underground construction, delayed due to weather, is in the final stages. Today, RiverNet Connect provides access to every co-op member in the three counties …

Mission accomplished Full Article »

Lynches River Electric Cooperative and RiverNet Connect have unveiled a fresh new look, providing a modern representation of both entities.   The project began last fall when a team was formed to create a rebranding vision to modernize the existing LREC logo, which is a national symbol of electrical cooperatives. LREC President and CEO Brian Broughton stated, “Lynches River was one of few cooperatives in South Carolina that had not rebranded, and it was time to modernize the logo with a dynamic design that reflects our values and mission.” The team also wanted the new logo to convey the same high-quality service and member support that Lynches River Electric Cooperative had provided since 1939. Another project goal was to create a logo that could be used with the existing RiverNet Connect logo. During brainstorming sessions, it was important to the branding team that everyone knew …

Announcing our new logo and look Full Article »

There could be no processing of medical claims while epic battles took place in Fortnite. Nor could one even begin to survive the zombie apocalypse during business hours. That’s a unique, but hard truth the Sutton family faced when using a DSL internet provider at their home. Because of their slow connection, no one else in the home could use internet while Vickie Sutton was working from home as a medical claims processor -much less play the popular online video game. “It was terrible,” says Greg Sutton, a resident of Buford and a member of Lynches River Electric Cooperative. “We literally had to turn everything else off. It was really hard during the time when my daughter was having to do virtual learning. She had to do a lot of her schoolwork in the evening.” The limited internet connection required the Suttons to upgrade the …

Suttons put RiverNet through ‘the ringer’ Full Article »

Community is at the heart of our organization and at the center of our new community wi-fi hotspot initiative. These uncertain times highlighted the importance of working together, lending a helping hand, and adapting to the new normal. The creation of a top-notch fiber internet network has always been for our members’ benefit. We recognized the importance of providing high-quality internet to our communities last year, before we’d ever heard of COVID-19 or social distancing. Access to the internet isn’t a luxury anymore, but a necessity for equity in education, health, and economic success. This is why it is our mission to bring fiber internet to every member and every home regardless of where you live. Unfortunately, it will take time to achieve that goal so, in response to the urgent need we’re seeing now, in the middle of a global pandemic, we’ve created several …

We’re All in This Together Full Article »

Perhaps our biggest and most exciting project of 2020 was the launch of our fiber internet subsidiary, RiverNet Connect. In the past year, we’ve hung over 290 miles of fiber throughout our service area to offer high-quality, high-speed internet to thousands of members. As a matter of fact, after months of planning and preparation, we’re excited to have connected our first member to receive service from RiverNet Connect. Though it will take time, we will continue to work until we accomplish our goal to provide world-class internet to every house in every community we serve. We are proud of all we have accomplished for our members and our community in the past year, but our work is not done. As always, we will continue to strive to better serve you every day. From your LREC family, we wish you all a safe and happy holiday …

Fiber is Faster Full Article »