York Electric Cooperative, Inc. (2024)

For a guy, who grew up in Mt. Pleasant with a love of the water, and who put himself through school by working on a charter boat, you’d assume I’d be most excited about more time to fish in retirement. Really, I’m most excited to devote more time to helping others. This may include the homeless and widows, but really it may be anything my Lord has in mind and lays on my heart.

It’s hard to put a bow on a 35-year career, especially when I can genuinely say I’ve enjoyed coming to work each day. First, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to those who have helped me throughout my time here at York Electric—my Lord and Savior, Jesus, my loving and supportive family, YEC employees and the great community we all share.

I’m grateful to the Board for believing in a 37-year-old employee. I recently reread an article covered by The Herald when I was appointed to be CEO in 2003, when we had only 18,500 members and $25 million in revenue. God and family were my top priorities, along with investing in our local economy and community. We’ve since grown to be the 5th largest cooperative in South Carolina with nearly 70,000 members and $140 million in revenue. Through this growth, my priorities listed then, which align with those at your co-op, remain true. Simply put, service above self. This mantra has allowed us to serve you—our members—well.

Speaking of changes, we might face obstacles in our future as a cooperative. Power costs continue to rise and the need for more electric generation is a challenge. Those who remember when we first cut the lights on are no longer here to advocate for the cooperative way. Only by working together and protecting the cooperative business model and each other will we be able to continue to serve members with excellence, take care of our employees the way we have for 83 years and maintain our excellent cooperative reputation.

Our employees exemplify this teamwork every day. I am profoundly grateful for their grace, for the countless lessons I’ve gleaned from so many and for the privilege of serving alongside them throughout my career. It’s through their unwavering dedication and passion, both for our members and for one another, that we’ve earned the reputation of being the best co-op, not just in our state, but I would say in the entire country.

As Craig Spencer assumes the responsibility of President and CEO of YEC, I know your co-op is in good hands, where reliable and safe service, reasonable rates and a members-first mentality will be carried on.

It has been an absolute honor. It’s not goodbye. You’ll see me around.

Every year, EnlightenSC invites 4th and 5th grade students across South Carolina to participate in the annual Children’s Book Challenge, a competition that encourages children to learn about their electric cooperative. The competition challenges students to merge energy education with state learning objectives in art, science, technology, ELA and social studies. Participants use StoryJumper, a web-based platform, to craft a story that answers one central question: How is electricity delivered to our communities?

EnlightenSC requires contestants to connect with their electric cooperatives, which select local winners to be considered for the statewide prize. For Easton Hall, a local 4th grader, contacting his local co-op was as simple as talking to his father, Ben Hall. As an employee at York Electric, Ben used his knowledge about power delivery to help his son write his book, titled The Old Farmhouse.

Hall’s story, dedicated to his father, follows a young boy’s discovery of electricity’s impact on his community. The character, named Isacc, learns how York Electric first brought power to the home his ancestor built. Hall’s love for his family’s historic farmhouse inspired this creative story, which won the individual statewide award in this year’s Children’s Book Challenge.

His home has housed generations of Halls. In the 1880s, Hall’s great-great-great grandfather constructed the home from timber he harvested on the property. Over the last 150 years, the Hall family has witnessed the area’s transformation. The farmhouse originally stood next to a horse and cart path, which is now a bustling state highway. However, the family’s cherishment for their home and community remains a constant.

While living in the farmhouse, Hall’s grandfather, Bob Hall, converted his family’s 1930s peach packing shed to an open-air market. Since 1980, their family farm, the Bush-n-Vine, has provided fresh, local produce to the community. Today, just a few miles from the Bush-n-Vine, a new generation of Hall children continue to enjoy the farmhouse’s 20-acre property, continuing a 150-year-old family tradition.

For winning the statewide challenge, Hall received a $500 grand prize, and copies of The Old Farmhouse will be distributed to elementary schools across the state. In April, the South Carolina General Assembly recognized Hall’s accomplishment, with parents, three brothers, cousins, and grandparents in attendance.

The Fourth Annual South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo, held March 15–16 at Berkeley Electric Cooperative in Monck’s Corner, brought together lineworkers across the state to showcase their skills and expertise.

Each year, this public event seeks to cultivate a sense of community and culture of safety among South Carolina’s electric cooperative lineworkers. It highlights the level of expertise, experience and skill every lineworker acquires in their profession, and it provides the public an opportunity to appreciate the people that continue to deliver reliable electricity across the state.

All linemen from the 18 member cooperatives with The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC) are eligible to participate in the competition. Contestants can compete in one of two categories: the apprentice division or the journeyman division. People with less than five years of overall line work experience are considered an apprentice line worker. Additionally, three to four linemen can work together on a journeyman team.

Each division featured four events, with one mystery event in each division. Apprentices competed in the following events: equipotential zone grounding, streetlight replacement and a surprise knot-tying event. Journeyman teams showcased their skills in OH transformer changeouts, pad-mount transformer changeouts and a surprise hurt-man rescue event. All contestants completed a 25-question exam that tested their knowledge of line work and safety standards.

For the 4th consecutive year, employees from York Electric Cooperative participated in the statewide event and made a strong showing at the competition, with 10 apprentices and a four-person journeyman team. To participate in each division, linemen trained for weeks in advance, using event details and specification provided by Berkely Electric Cooperative.

In the apprentice division, Jackson Good secured 3rd place in the streetlight replacement event, while Cameron Jackson and James Grabiec claimed 4th place in the equipotential zone grounding and overall division, respectively. In the journeyman category, York Electric’s debut team, Luke Lucas, Ethan Mitchell, Joey Winters and Jake Propst, finished 5th overall out of 14 teams, an impressive accomplishment. Other linemen in attendance included Chase Edington, Garrett Gilbert, Will Grier, Isaac Westmoreland, Tyler Lark, Evan Upchurch and Marcos Rosales.

However, York Electric’s role extended beyond event contestants. Four linemen—Shannon Littleton, Dustin Victor, Stephen Clinton and Jonathan Doster—served as volunteer judges. Three member service representatives— Hope Boyters, Kim Black and Amy Crocker—served as event volunteers.

York Electric’s participation in the South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo exemplifies the co-op’s commitment to excellence, safety and collaboration. The annual event is not just an opportunity to win bragging rights, but a chance to strengthen the bonds among our state’s lineworkers.

York Electric's 2024 Annual Meeting took place on Wednesday, May 1, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Friday, May 3, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. until noon. Our virtual business meeting followed Saturday’s portion of the annual meeting and our co-op leadership shared the official election results and announced this year’s grand prize and door prize winners.

As your co-op, we appreciate the opportunity that every annual meeting provides—our registration and voting process offers members a convenient way to express the value of their membership. We were thrilled that more members attended our 2024 Annual Meeting than ever before, outpacing last year’s previous record. Thank you for joining us in celebrating our 83rd year of serving you. Check out some of our favorite moments!

For the second year, we offered a Fort Mill drive-thru option, located at Catawba Park, to accommodate our growing membership. We were pleased with the results: 1,363 members attended on Wednesday, May 1 to cast their votes for our Board of Directors elections. Above all else, we want to ensure that our annual meeting remains convenient and accessible to you. We will continue to offer a second annual meeting location for our Fort Mill and Lancaster members.

During our three-day drive-thru event, we registered 5,354 members, who voted on two uncontested board seats and two contested board seats. The results, compiled by York County Voter Registration and Elections, are as follows:

Uncontested Director Districts 2024

• District #1 (3-Year Term) Carolyn Boyd (Incumbent)
• District #2 (3-Year Term) Tommie Bratton (Incumbent)
• Election for Director District #2 vacancy Kevin Tolson won with 2,576 votes; Terri Lovelace received 2,249 votes.
• Election for Director District #3 Richard Roach (incumbent) won with 2,556 votes; Ronald Wylie received 2,282 votes.

After the official election results, please help us welcome Carolyn Boyd, Tommie Bratton and Richard Roach, who will serve three-year terms as YEC trustees. Kevin Tolson will also be welcomed to the board to serve a one-year term to fill the vacant seat in District 2 and will seek reelection at the 2025 annual meeting.

Members depend on York Electric to deliver safe, reliable power to their homes and businesses. An important part of meeting that responsibility is regularly trimming trees in our rights-of-way.

Crews will begin trimming in the Lesslie and Ogden areas of Rock Hill to continue maintaining our five-year right-of-way rotation. You might not realize it, but there are several benefits to regular tree trimming.

Reliability

While many factors can impact power disruptions, many outages can be attributed to overgrown vegetation. This is why you sometimes see York Electric crews or contractors out in the community trimming trees near power lines. Trimming crews have been trained and certified based on the latest industry standards.

In fact, electric utilities are required to trim trees that grow too close to power lines. Scheduled trimming throughout the year keeps lines clear from overgrown or dead limbs that are likely to fall, and we are better able to prepare for severe weather events. It’s also more cost-effective to undertake preventative maintenance than it is to make repairs after the fact.

Safety

Working near power lines can be dangerous, and we care about your safety and that of our lineworkers. For example, if trees are touching power lines in our members’ yards, they could create a potential hazard to the members or the public.

Any tree or branch that falls across a power line creates a potentially dangerous situation. A proactive approach lessens the chances of fallen trees during severe weather events that make it more complicated and dangerous for lineworkers to restore power.

Affordability

York Electric always tries to keep costs down for our members. If trees and other vegetation are left unchecked, they can become overgrown and expensive to correct. A strategic vegetation management program helps keep costs down for everyone.

You can help

There are ways you can help too. When planting new trees, make sure they’re planted a safe distance from overhead power lines.

• Medium-height trees (40 feet or smaller) should be planted at least 25 ft. from power lines.
• Taller trees (over 40 feet) should be planted at least 50 feet from power lines.
• When planting near pad-mounted transformers, plant shrubs at least 10 feet from the transformer door and 4 feet from the sides.
• Remember to contact 811 before you begin any project that requires digging.
• If you spot an overgrown tree or branch that’s dangerously close to overhead lines, please let us know. Take a picture and tell us the location in an email to or call member services at (803) 684-4248.

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. (YEC) is pleased to receive grant money from Santee Cooper through the Grid Resilience Grant Program, funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE). This money will be used to complete five projects within our service territory. For more information on these projects and the grant application process, please visit the Santee Cooper website at www.santeecooper.com and look for updates later this year in the South Carolina Living magazine from your cooperative.

Read the press release below for more details.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Santee Cooper has secured final approval for 18 projects, totaling $10.8 million in funding, submitted to its Grid Resilience Grant Program last year by electric cooperatives and municipal and other utilities from across South Carolina.

Together, the projects represent grid improvements that will reduce the number of outages and improve restoration times during extreme weather events, primarily in disadvantaged areas of the state.

Santee Cooper is serving as the state administrator for the formula grant provided to South Carolina through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, section 40101(d). The projects submitted to and approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) represent funding available for federal fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Santee Cooper and independent consultant Guidehouse reviewed the project submissions, determined all 18 came within Santee Cooper’s program guidelines and federal requirements, and approved the projects for full funding. The DOE approval clears the way for project work to begin.

“The projects that were submitted range from burying overhead power lines to adding self-healing equipment that improves restoration ability,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper president and CEO. “Collectively they will make South Carolina’s electric grid stronger in the face of hurricanes and other extreme weather. It has been our privilege to work with the DOE and so many utilities across the state who are driven to provide the best service possible to their members and customers.”

The projects are:

Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC): $982,228

Implement an automated fault location, isolation, and service restoration system (FLISR) in a remote and difficult-to-access area to decrease outage restoration times.

Broad River Electric Cooperative: $183,964

Install additional remotely controlled devices and new controls to improve monitoring and control capabilities and increase reliability for two circuits that have experienced outages.

City of Rock Hill: $71,470

Add two automated overhead switches and a self-healing device to address circuit-level outages.

Coastal Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 1: $400,000

Improve monitoring and control capabilities to increase sectionalizing, reduce outages and expand FLISR abilities.

Coastal Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 2: $796,000

Replace aging overhead distribution lines on the back of lots with underground lines on the front of lots to improve reliability by and increase access to the lines.

Fairfield Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 1: $225,000

Update equipment and improve system monitoring and control, allowing for remote power restoration.

Fairfield Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 2: $900,000

Rebuild four miles of overhead distribution line serving a wastewater treatment plant in a remote area that has experienced extended outages.

Gaffney Board of Public Works (GBPW): $417,605

Deploy technology to locate, predict, and prevent issues on the electrical grid.

Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $779,823

Install self-healing devices on existing poles along major transportation corridors, allowing automated restoration within seconds for outages between these devices.

Laurens Commission of Public Works: $777,917

Replace cutout switches, inspect all poles on the system, and accelerate vegetation management.

Lockhart Power Company (LPC): $833,333

Install enhanced resiliency insulators and storm-hardened metal poles on Jonesville 34kV line, part of a larger project to replace an aged 18-mile segment of line between two substations.

MPD Electric Cooperative: $1,191,604

Install distribution management and automation systems to automatically clear instantaneous and short-duration faults.

Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $1,946,000

Replace 44 old hydraulic reclosers with new electronically controlled reclosers with remote monitoring and operating capabilities in areas considered to be disadvantaged communities.

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 1: $125,193

Build a 2.1-mile overhead line to provide an alternate feed to two long radial lines in hard-to-reach areas of Bonnor Horton Road and West McConnells Highway and improve reliability.

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 2: $152,664

Install a distribution automation scheme across its service territory in the Catawba Indian Nation.

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 3: $59,886

Install an underground tie line between Legion Road and Valley Haven Trail in Hickory Grove, creating a usable backfeed and reducing the number of radial line miles by 13.54 miles.

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 4: $717,357

Bury approximately three miles of overhead line going into the Kings Mountain National Military Park and a single-phase line feeding Camp Cherokee, a local YMCA summer camp.

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. Project 5: $206,855

Bury approximately two miles line feeding the Kings Mountain State Park, almost entirely inside of the State Park.

Santee Cooper has filed for Fiscal Year 2024 available funding and will begin solicitation of proposals for the third-year funding after the DOE provides clearance to do begin.

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives are supporting a pair of lawsuits that challenge the legality of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulations on fossil fuel power plants.

The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina and Central Electric Power Cooperative on May 9 filed a declaration in support of separate lawsuits by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and a coalition of 23 state attorneys general, including S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson.

“While we share the EPA’s goal of protecting the environment, we can’t support a plan that jeopardizes the reliability of South Carolina’s electric grid while driving up power bills,” said Mike Couick, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “We need a realistic path forward.”

The EPA regulations aim to greatly reduce carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and new natural gas-fired units. The rules would require those power plants to either throttle down their output or capture and store their carbon emissions with a technology that is unproven, unaffordable and commercially unavailable.

These regulations come as demand for electricity soars in South Carolina and across the Southeast due to population growth and economic development, including a parade of clean energy manufacturing projects dedicated to producing electric vehicles and the parts that power them.

“South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. We urgently need more electricity, not less,” said Central CEO Rob Hochstetler. “These regulations make it harder for electric cooperatives to keep up, threatening our ability to keep the lights on for residents and businesses across our state.”

This declaration follows the S.C. electric cooperatives’ August 2023 and December 2023 comments opposing the proposed EPA regulations as unlawful, unworkable and unrealistic.

S.C. electric cooperative leaders also have testified at the State House and in Congress about these regulations and other threats to the reliability of the Palmetto State’s power grid.

We all like knowing when folks have our back. It’s nice to solidify support with like- minded people who value the same things you do, but it proves to be even greater when you are open to suggestions and seek to first understand what provides the greatest good for all. This compromise and greater solution provide a sense of accomplishment and validation that you are doing the right thing to help and serve others. This month, we are going to highlight the lawmakers who do just that. They are always on our side and the side of our members seeking to do the right thing for the right reasons.

Creating the laws that govern our state is no small feat. These brave men and woman are elected to stand up for what is right and the voices of those they serve. As a co-op, those same voices are those of our members, and it matters to us that the laws and elected officials in our state look out for the people and their quality of life, which is what we value most. Fortunately, we have an outstanding delegation that aligns with our own personal mission to look out for our members. They understand co-ops are here to do good and serve others. Together, our interests continue to support what is best for our communities and our neighbors.

H.5118 is an example of how our support impacts our members. This legislation, which is called the “South Carolina Energy Security Act,” is co-op supported because it secures our energy future in South Carolina. Not only does it promote things like energy efficiency and renewables, but it also allows for a joint construction project to build a natural gas plant in the lower part of the state. Co-ops aren’t making anything on this bill. It is simply the right thing to do for our economy.

I’d like to say a special thank you to the following members of the South Carolina House of Representatives in our delegation who voted in favor of this bill: Raye Felder, Brandon Guffey, Randy Ligon, Dennis Moss, Mike Neese, Brandon Newton, David O’Neal and Tommy Pope. Similarly, Senators Wes Climer, Mike Fanning, Michael Johnson and Harvey Peeler were instrumental last year in supporting our cooperative and letting the voices of our members be heard at the state level. We continue to be grateful for the consistent support we receive at the State House.

I’d also like to take a moment to wish one of these representatives well as she retires from serving after 12 years. Raye Felder has not only helped the cooperative support the voices of our members, but she’s also been a great friend and neighbor to my family. When we lived in her neighborhood, I fondly remember her Christmas soup parties and was always grateful for the easy access she and her husband graciously granted our kids when they would cut through her yard to see their grandparents. Well done, Raye, and thank you.

It's no surprise that things cost more since the pandemic. Our grocery bills are higher, fuel prices are higher and even going out to eat is more expensive. In 2012, it cost an average of $1.84 to buy a dozen eggs. Now it costs an average of $2.51. A 36 percent increase adds up each week.

Although your co-op has experienced significant increases in materials for more than a decade, your electric rates have remained stable since 2012. By being mindful of all controllable expenses and because of the continued growth we have seen in our area, we’ve been able to absorb rising costs. However, it is important that you see the costs of our most used construction materials and the significant increase the co-op is incurring to build and maintain the power lines that serve you. In 2023, 80 cents of each dollar we spent went towards the cost of power.

You might wonder what you can expect as prices continue to rise for both materials and power costs. Rest assured, we will continue to operate conservatively with each dollar that comes into your co-op. We’ll continue to look out for you and make sure we keep your power affordable, safe and reliable.

Your board in action

Last month, the board of trustees met with York Electric’s external auditor, who provided your co-op with a clean bill of financial health. Download a PDF of YEC’s audited financials.

QUICK TIPS FROM YOUR CO-OP:

• Don’t overload outlets. Overloaded outlets can create fire hazards.
• Electricity and liquids never mix. Keep drinks a safe distance away from electrical devices.
• Keep your cooking station clear. Don’t place flammable items like potholders, napkins or dish towels near a hot stove.
• Make sure all light bulbs are properly rated for the unit or fixture.
• Test smoke alarms each month to ensure they’re working properly.

A note from our President and CEO: May the FOURTH be with you! YEC Annual Meeting May 1, 3, 4

It's been 83 great years of being your electric cooperative, where locals are looking out for you. The value of your membership has never been greater. I’d like to personally invite you and your family to one of our three days of convenient drive-thru annual meetings this year to register and vote. We’ll even have hot dogs again in York! You can count on the same smiling faces to be there to help you through the line.

Our team is excited to see you and your family to celebrate 83 years of service, community and improving quality of life in our area. As for me, this will be a bittersweet annual meeting as it will mark my 34th serving you and my last before my retirement in June. I invite you to tune into our virtual business meeting as we officially introduce Craig Spencer, who will continue to lead our team of locals looking out for you.

Official Notice of York Electric’s Annual Meeting

YEC will celebrate 83 years of service to the members of York Electric Cooperative by hosting their annual meeting of members on Wednesday, May 1 in Tega Cay at Catawba Park located at 2351 New Gray Rock Rd., and on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 at YEC’s main office, located at 1385 East Alexander Love Highway in York. Because of a record number of participants, increased efficiency and the results of the meeting preferences question we asked attendees last year, the meeting will be drive-thru only again this year.

Registration and voting for the annual meeting will be open on Wednesday, May 1 in Tega Cay from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., on Friday, May 3 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. until noon. Each membership must choose one of the three available locations to attend for registration and voting and each membership is eligible for only one registration, vote and entry for prize drawings. We will host a virtual business meeting that will stream online at yorkelectric.net and on our Facebook account. A transcript of the virtual meeting will be available on our website for the hearing impaired.

Action will be taken on the following matters during the meeting:

1. The report of officers, trustees and committees.
2. The election of trustees.
3. All other business which may come before the meeting.

Members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting and MUST bring a valid photo ID and their registration postcard, which is attached to the front of this magazine. All members who wish to be entered into the prize drawing and to vote must be in line by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Friday and by noon on Saturday.

Each member registering will receive a $25 credit on his or her June 2024 electric bill and is limited to one vote and registration. You must be present to vote and receive the registration credit. Registered members will also be entered into drawings for valuable prizes including a 2017 Ford F-150 and two $500 power bill credits. Members who register in Tega Cay will be entered into a separate drawing for a $500 power bill credit in addition to the other door prizes.

Your cooperative’s audited financial report will be available during the week of the annual meeting on our website, at each of YEC’s offices, and by request at the annual meeting.

You will find a map for the voting and registration drive-thru routes for both our Tega Cay and York locations on the back of the April edition of South Carolina Living magazine and on our website. Members will be voting for two uncontested director seats, the vacant seat in District Two and a contested seat for District Three.

We would like to extend a special thank you to York School District One, the York School District One Foundation, and the York Rotary Club for preparing hot dogs for those members who want them on Friday and Saturday in York beginning at 9 a.m. each day, while supplies last. For more details about the annual meeting, please contact our member services team at (803) 684-4248.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we celebrate another year of serving you!

In March, your York Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Craig Spencer as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Upon this announcement, he began serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO), a role he will fulfill until the current CEO, Paul Basha, retires after 34 years of service to YEC on June 11.

Spencer joined York Electric in 1992. Since 2003, he has served as the Vice President of Engineering, and he has played an integral role in the cooperative’s expansion and success. With more than 30 years of experience in the utility industry at York Electric, Spencer offers a well-rounded understanding of the cooperative’s operations, culture and member needs.

If you get nervous when your vehicle’s gas light comes on, you know how the leaders of South Carolina’s electric cooperatives feel about our state’s looming energy crisis.

If only it were as easy to refuel our supply of electricity as it is to pull into a gas station.

Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people in South Carolina and North Carolina felt like they were stranded on the side of the road on Christmas Eve 2022.

Several days of freezing temperatures drove the demand for electricity to record highs, and our state didn’t have enough power to meet that demand.

Major utilities were forced to undergo rolling blackouts — the widespread outages you usually only hear about in faraway places like California.

We were lucky: Our co-op members didn’t have their power cut off. But our needle was as close to E as it could go. And the risk of running empty again remains.

The North America Electric Reliability Corporation, an independent organization that monitors the reliability of our power grid, recently warned of the growing risk that we could run out of power when demand spikes due to extreme weather.

Co-op leaders across our state know these threats to reliability are unacceptable. It’s our duty to keep the lights on for 2 million South Carolinians.

We can’t ask them to suffer through scorching days or freezing nights without power. And we can’t afford to miss out on game-changing economic development projects because our state didn’t plan ahead for its energy future.

How have we reached this point? Demand for electricity is soaring because of South Carolina’s rapid population growth and our success in recruiting new industry.

Unfortunately, South Carolina hasn’t succeeded in building new, large-scale power plants to keep up. The cancellation of the V.C. Summer nuclear expansion project has left us even further behind.

To make matters worse, proposed federal regulations could require the shutdown of existing power plants before we can adequately replace them.

What can we do to solve this problem? We must upgrade our power grid by building new power plants, pipelines and transmission lines.

We must invest in a diverse mix of natural gas, nuclear, solar, hydro, batteries and other emerging energy sources to ensure a stable power supply while protecting our environment.

We must streamline burdensome permitting processes and untangle supply chain bottlenecks that hold these projects hostage for years and years.

What actions are we taking? We have sounded the alarm about these challenges in Columbia and in Washington. Policymakers have heard us and are taking steps to help.

For the past 18 months, S.C. lawmakers have listened to energy experts and utility critics alike in order to craft a bill, H.5118, that will ensure South Carolinians have access to reliable, affordable energy.

Importantly, the bill paves the way for Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper to jointly build a natural gas plant in Colleton County that we believe is sorely needed.

This plant will supply always-available energy to homes and businesses across our state. It will also back up the thousands of megawatts of sometimes-available solar energy that is coming onto the power grid.

Critics of H.5118 have had plenty to say in the past few weeks. That’s OK. It’s how the process should work. State lawmakers are revising the bill to address most of those concerns.

But as we search for a way to address South Carolina’s looming power shortage, we worry this is increasingly becoming a debate between those who are proposing a real solution and those who only want to criticize, obstruct and delay.

South Carolina cannot afford to experiment with an unrealistic Green New Deal approach to energy in our state. We do not have the luxury of waiting.

We must modernize our grid to meet the demands of tomorrow.

We are running on fumes. If we fail to act, we could soon be left stranded. Contact your legislators and let them know you support H.5118 because our state needs real energy solutions now.

By Paul Basha

We make it our business to know when new technologies that use electricity enter our market. While electric vehicles (EVs) aren’t new, we have seen an increase in the number of members purchasing these cars. As your trusted energy advisor, we’ve done our part to be prepared to answer your questions about EVs and provide you with the facts.

From adding two EVs to our fleet, surveying and listening to our members who plan to use this type of new technology, studying charging patterns and gaining an understanding of what impacts EVs might have on our distribution system, we have learned alongside all of you.

To continue our learning process, we’re using the Optiwatt application to gain more insight on the charging habits of members while incentivizing you to share your information. Here are the incentive details:

• To gain the most savings, members can complete the enrollment form and download the Optiwatt app, agreeing to allow managed charging during predicted times of peak energy use at least 60 percent of the time. This will provide a one-time $250 power bill credit for every charger you register at your location, a one-time $15 power bill credit for every electric vehicle you register and up to $120 in annual credits per registered charger.
• Even if you don’t want to participate in managed charging, you can still receive an incentive. Simply register your vehicle and charger through our enrollment form and we’ll provide you with a one-time $100 power bill credit.
• Members who already participate in our time of use rate with a separate submeter at their location are also eligible for a one-time $50 power bill credit if you confirm you have registered your charger through the Optiwatt application.

Our board also recently passed a special rate that provides an incentive to businesses who choose to add a charging station at their location to either power the use of their fleet, vehicles from patrons or their employees. You can learn more about this rate on our website.

Not interested in electric vehicles? We understand and are still here to provide you with the guidance you need to help make the best energy choices for you and your family. We’re still dedicated to providing you with reliable, safe and affordable energy and looking out for you, no matter what you drive.

Coffee with the CEO

Coffee with the CEO
Wednesday, April 15 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Knowledge Perk
130 W. White Street, Rock Hill

At York Electric, member empowerment is one of our favorite activities. As a local company committed to our community, we strive to create opportunities for our members, like you, to engage with our leadership and employees.

Our leadership team, including CEO Paul Basha and other York Electric staff, invite our membership to join us for Coffee with the CEO. We value members’ perspectives and opinions and welcome any questions you may have about your cooperative.

This private event is not only a chance to meet with our employees but learn about the latest co-op news, including our upcoming annual meeting, our newest energy service programs and ongoing community outreach programs.

REGISTER ONLINE

Sign up today at yorkelectric.net/coffee to attend Coffee with the CEO. Using our online registration form, you and your family can submit questions ahead of the event. YEC staff will review these inquiries beforehand to best answer your questions.

As consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs) increases, York Electric Cooperative has been installing public charging stations at several locations throughout its service territory in an effort to understand member expectations, learn about the service and prepare for its impact on the electrical grid.

This initiative is the latest evidence of YEC’s commitment to providing affordable and reliable energy to its members while offering programs and services that enhance your quality of life.

YEC recently installed an EV charging station at Piedmont Medical Center’s Fort Mill campus, a decision that increases accessibility for EV owners in the Fort Mill community.

Chris Mitchell, CEO of Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, is enthusiastic about the collaboration and the impact it has had on PMC patients, visitors and employees, which is a continuation of the decision to construct a Fort Mill campus.

In 2020, Fort Mill residents could access local services from PMC for the first time with the addition of a free-standing emergency department. Mitchell and other staff members noted positive feedback from community members, who embraced a nearby medical care service. The larger campus, located off Highway 160, is an extension of PMC’s goal to provide an option for quality care within Fort Mill, the fastest growing section of York County.

PMC designed its Fort Mill campus with convenience and accessibility in mind for patients and their families. Mitchell says YEC’s proposal to install a public charging station was a natural extension of this goal. Each EV charger is the latest effort from PMC to create a comfortable environment where electric vehicle owners will be less stressed when they or their loved ones are receiving care.

Mitchell says the service also is an attractive benefit to potential employees, who may see an onsite public charging station as a differentiator from other employers. For current employees who own an EV, the station allows them to charge their vehicles at their job, removing one more obstacle that may prevent them from providing excellent care to their patients.

“What resonates most with me is that YEC works really similar to PMC,” says Mitchell, who is a YEC member at home, as well. “They’re very invested in the community, and that’s why this relationship has always worked so well. It’s not surprising to walk into a key community meeting and see someone from the co-op there.”

YEC is always looking out for you and continues to provide services that enhance your daily lives.