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Winning touch is easy as 1-2-3-4
 Message from the President and CEO
December, 2005
[Editor's note: Paul Basha presented Mr. & Mrs. Carmon with a $300 power bill credit certificate for winning the drawing after updating their phone number for PowerTouch]
On this page, you'll find a chance to win a month of free electricity, up to $300 worth. Now that I have your attention, let me tell you what it's really all about: It's about York Electric Cooperative's newest convenience for its member-owners, PowerTouch.
PowerTouch is an automated outage reporting system that will help us handle outage calls more efficiently. And, speaking of efficiency, the number you'd call to use PowerTouch, 1-866-374-1234, is already active. I hope you won't have to use it soon, but, if so, it's ready.
This system will allow co-op members to report an outage without interacting with a member services representative, should you choose to do so. In the event of a widespread outage, PowerTouch will help members avoid busy signals. The system can process eight times the calls that a live operator could handle.
As much as we value efficiency, we still value the personal touch, so PowerTouch is set up to allow a member the option to speak with a person from our call center during regular business hours. Unfortunately, as you know, outages are like new babies: They don't always come along during daylight hours — two of my three decided to come during the middle of the night! — and they need attention fast.
PowerTouch gives you a more direct line to your co-op. In fact, PowerTouch is connected directly to the co-op's dispatching system, which means help will be on the way almost immediately. The technology behind PowerTouch is being tied into our system maps and account records. This is where you come in.
We need to have your current, up-to-date telephone number — the one associated with your co-op account's location — in our records. Having this helps PowerTouch work effectively. Help us out and, in return, we'll help you get the lights back on even faster.
The contest sweetens the deal. Simply update your phone number by February 1, 2006, to be enrolled in a drawing for a free month of co-op service, up to $300. Complete and return the form at the bottom of page 17 of in the December issue of South Carolina Living to enter (or download this 467k PDF). [Editor's note: see who won]
I think this system will be a winner for all co-op members.
As is our habit, we've thoroughly investigated the technology before investing in it. PowerTouch is a type of outage-management system known as IVR, short for interactive voice response. The makers of our particular IVR system, Porche, have been leaders in this technology for more than 15 years. Many co-ops in South Carolina tell us PowerTouch has worked very well for them.
Not only does it allow the member to get their call answered and conveniently report their outage, PowerTouch can also provide instantaneous information to the co-op about outages. It will give dispatchers a better handle on outage location patterns as well as restoration progress.
We will also have a Spanish option for our Spanish-speaking members. The PowerTouch system can automatically call the member's home to notify them when power has been restored. In short, it can grow with our co-op.
Service to member-owners has always been our focus at York Electric Cooperative. PowerTouch is another example of how our fast-growing co-op is keeping up with the latest innovations and implementing new technology in an effort to enhance our ability to serve members when you need us the most.
Paul Basha
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Related links:
PowerTouch »
Paul Basha presented Mr. & Mrs. Carmon with a $300 power bill credit »
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