York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, is officially here, and forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict a "near-normal" year with nine to 15 named storms packing winds of 39 mph or higher. Meteorologists say as many as four of the storms could become dangerous Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.

As the guardians of the state's largest utility network—more than 75,000 miles of electric distribution lines serving 1.5 million people across all 46 counties—South Carolina's not-for-profit electric cooperatives have emergency plans in place to deal with violent weather should a hurricane threaten the Palmetto State. Along with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), co-ops urge all state residents to have their own plans in place to protect friends, family, pets and property. Here are some useful resources:

SC Emergency Manager mobile app

Available for free in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, this handy app links users to every SCEMD resource they need before, during and after a storm, including evacuation and shelter maps and planning checklists. It even has a useful "tools" function that turns your smartphone into an emergency flashlight, signaling device and a GPS locator.

SCEMD.org

No smartphone? No problem. All of the app's planning resources, maps and links to the latest emergency information are available on SCEMD.org. In the case of a hurricane (or any natural disaster), SCEMD will update the site to provide the best real-time information users need.

2019 South Carolina Hurricane Guide

From both the website and the app, you can download SCEMD's 2019 South Carolina Hurricane Guide, a comprehensive 14-page booklet filled with tips and resources. To access the guide online, visit scemd.org/media/1416/2019-hurricane-guide_website.pdf.

South Carolina Living Storm Center

South Carolina Living's storm center pages are filled with information to help co-op members prepare for and survive natural disasters. Readers will find useful how-to guides on building a storm kit, evacuating with pets, staying safe when power lines are down, and how to report power outages. There's even a live, statewide outage map to track the storm damage and the status of repairs in co-op-served territories. See all the resources at SCLiving.coop/storm-center.

Source: South Carolina Living Magazine

Growing up is hard to do. You are suddenly responsible for choosing the right path for your future and paying your own bills. As a young member, you were able to enjoy safety demonstrations, career fairs and magic shows. As a young adult, you might have your first real account. That's okay—we've got your back. Membership at your local electric cooperative is made for any age because we have the resources and programs to support you and your journey. Whether you need help budgeting your bill for the first time, tips on saving energy, learning how to access your account from your cell phone, or a way to connect with your community, YEC is here to help, working with you so that you are successful.

Speaking of success, we all define the term differently. For some members, success means paying their bill each month in exchange for reliable service.

Success to you could mean recognizing a familiar voice when you call your co-op or seeing a familiar face when you enter the office each month. Others see success as a way to connect on various platforms, actively seeking ways to save energy to make a difference. That's what is great about YEC—our diversified membership. We are here for all of you and to support each of your needs, even those who are feeling the growing pains of leaving home to achieve a degree in higher education for the first time.

Nothing is better than seeing our youngest members become young adults and achieve their dreams. YEC is proud to find innovative ways to support our communities, our youth and you. What does success look like for you?

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Member Comfort Update

Who enjoys the ease of sending a text? The good news is your co-op does, too! Just by texting JOIN to 352667, you can communicate with YEC through text messaging. After entering the START command, you can check your balance by texting BAL, pay your bill by texting PAY, report an outage by texting OUTAGE, or call the office by texting CALL. This part of our Member Comfort Initiative is about keeping it simple and empowering our members. Save our number to make conducting your business a breeze!

YEC awards 11 $1,000 Touchstone Energy Scholarships to graduating seniors at each area high school. To apply, students must be served by the Cooperative. YEC also awards one $1,000 Technical Advantage Scholarship to a graduating senior attending York Technical College in the fall, and one $500 Work-Based Learning Scholarship to a senior participant at the Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities.

 

We've said many times before we are more than just an electric company. As a co-op, we have a deep concern for community, a desire to improve the quality of life in our area and secure promising futures for our youth. For years we have focused on offering scholarships and opportunities for students to further their education. Although we feel our programs benefit our local students, we want to do more.

Learning starts in the classroom. Our dedicated teachers work tirelessly to prepare students for the world to come. From marrying a teacher to watching my daughter study to be an educator, with a goal to possibly one day become a school administrator, I know firsthand teachers' hearts are wired to help their students grow. Although it is necessary to pass on the basics of science, math and language arts, our teachers go beyond what is required so that the lessons mean something and stick with the student. Funding to accomplish these beneficial projects is often a problem, which is why York Electric Cooperative and our Operation Round Up Trust Board are working together to provide the Bright Ideas Grant Program. All kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in York, Clover, Rock Hill and Fort Mill school districts are eligible to apply for a grant to fund an innovative program to implement in their classroom. Each district will be awarded one grant of up to $1,000, and winners will be announced this fall for the 2019-2020 school year.

Teachers, we salute you. The differences you make in the lives of our young members are unparalleled. York Electric is proud to have local people looking out for you, and we encourage your bright ideas to shine so that you continue to influence the lives of your students. Our hope is that we will electrify your spirit, sparking new, creative ideas, so that you can create a unique classroom experience for your students. Shine bright and good luck!

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Teachers, send in your Bright Ideas!

• Visit us online at yorkelectric.net/my-community to complete the electronic application.
• All applications will be reviewed by a panel, omitting school, district and teacher names.
• One teacher in York, Clover, Rock Hill and Fort Mill School Districts will receive a grant of up to $1,000 to fund a classroom project.
• All winners will be announced this fall for the 2019-2020 school year.
• Questions? Email Porter Gable at ten.c1568578413irtce1568578413lekro1568578413y@elb1568578413aG.re1568578413troP1568578413.

Participating Beat the Peak program volunteers, totaling over 30,000 in South Carolina, have already helped save more than $100,000 in power costs, according to a recent impact study. Based on total memberships, York Electric Cooperative is proud to have the highest percentage of participants among the other SC electric cooperatives and their dedication shows.

Vice President of Community Development, Marc Howie, serves on the state's committee for the program. He appreciates the participation, but mostly the small changes that have made a big impact. "Some members have set their thermostat well above 70 degrees in summer, which has the biggest impact. Others have simply turned off some lights and electronics during those peak times. We appreciate efforts both large and small," says Howie.

It's simple to participate. Best of all, small actions make a big impact. Volunteers receive alerts letting them know when a peak is on the way. In the summer, these peaks usually occur between 4 and 7 p.m. on the hottest days. That's when people come home, crank up the AC, bathe and do laundry and dishes. Simply postponing these habits helps to reduce power costs. Since power costs impact rates, these actions to reduce energy use during peak demand times help keep rates stable and reduce the need for new power plants.

Sign up for an easy way to help keep electricity affordable at beatthepeak.com. You will receive your notifications on when to act to make a difference.

Never far from our reach, our cell phones are the most used form of communication these days. That's why YEC has focused on texting features as part of our Member Comfort Initiative. Power out? Now you can TEXT to report your location. Simply text OUTAGE to 352667 from the mobile phone listed on your account and your address will be flagged with an outage. Important: Please sign on to our member portal to check that your cell phone number is up to date and appearing in the mobile phone field on your account profile. This is necessary for the new texting feature to work accurately. YEC is excited to share this feature, proving our dedication to always looking out for you and working to make your life easier.

Scan the code and download our mobile app today!

Using YEC's Mobile App

Our 78th Annual Meeting held on May 11 was a great time of fun, food, and fellowship. For those of you who couldn't make it, and for those who just want to reminisce on all the fun, here's a video highlighting a few favorite moments from our 2019 Annual Meeting.

2019 YEC Annual Meeting Video

The YEC family came together May 11, with lots of smiles and high spirits. Here are a few favorite moments from our 2019 Annual Meeting.

Grand Prize Winner

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Dee Totherow beams after winning our top grand prize, a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado extended cab pickup.