York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Ecobee smart thermostats offer new technology to increase member comfort, improve the efficiency of your home and lower electric bills. Depending on the model that is right for you, you can stay in control of your energy use even when you are away from home through your phone, a website or even through Alexa.

Managing the temperature in your home is the largest portion of your monthly electric bill, and York Electric is here to help keep your costs low. That's why we have implemented the new Smart Thermostat Program, bringing a quality product to you at a discounted rate while allowing you to control energy savings when you are away.

Speaking of savings, signing up and purchasing an ecobee will also help your co-op keep power costs low for all members. When we predict peak events or when most people are consuming a lot of energy at the same time, YEC can work to precool or prewarm your house to offset the demand for electricity. You will receive a notification on the device of your choice and have the option to opt-out if it isn't the best time for you. To say thank you for doing your part, participating members can receive a $100 bill credit after their first year.

We are excited about offering this new technology at a discounted rate to our members and look forward to seeing what we can do together to help hold down the cost of electricity. We're locals looking out for you, and with the help of technology, we're always tracking the latest buzz on energy trends.

Brent Clinton
Energy Services Representative

Smart Thermostat FAQ

What is the Smart Thermostat program?

York Electric’s smart thermostat program gives members the opportunity to purchase an ecobee smart thermostat at a discounted rate. By participating in the program, members will agree to allow the cooperative to control the thermostat during peak periods.

Who can participate?

Any YEC residential members who have a reliable WiFi internet connection in their home.

What is required to participate?

1. You must be a member of York Electric;
2. You must sign the participation agreement;
3. You must have an internet-connected, Wi-Fi enabled home.

How do I sign up?

It’s easy to get started.

1. Complete and sign the participation agreement (PDF download below) and bring it into our York headquarters or Fort Mill office to purchase the thermostat of your choice; see options below.
2. Or apply online here

[PDF] 2019 YEC ecobee Smart Thermostat Agreement

Download PDF 110 kb 196 downloads

[PDF] 2020 YEC ecobee Smart Thermostat Agreement

Download will be available from January 1, 2020 12:00 AM

110 kb 0 downloads

How do I qualify for cash back?

Members who purchase a smart thermostat will need to participate in at least 70 percent of peak events throughout the year to receive $100 after one year. If you continue to participate in 70 percent of peak events, you will also receive $50 yearly.

How will the cooperative control my thermostat?

About 5-6 times per month, the thermostat will be adjusted remotely based on system-wide peak periods.

The events will be 4 hours total, which includes a one-hour pre-cool/pre-heat period and three hours of peak-saving adjustment. The control will follow this pattern:

Pre-cooling/pre-heating: +/- 2 degrees
First hour: +/- 2 degrees
Second hour: +/- 3 degrees
Third hour: +/- 4 degrees

SUMMER EXAMPLE

If you normally have your thermostat set to 75, a typical control event beginning at 3 p.m. would look like this:

3:00-4:00 p.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 73
4:00-5:00 p.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 77
5:00-6:00 p.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 78
6:00-7:00 p.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 79
After 7 p.m.: Thermostat returns to 75, control relinquished

WINTER EXAMPLE

If you normally have your thermostat set to 67, a typical control event beginning at 6 a.m. would look like this:

6:00-7:00 a.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 69
7:00-8:00 a.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 65
8:00-9:00 a.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 64
9:00-10:00 a.m.: Thermostat adjusted to 63
After 10 a.m.: Thermostat returns to 67, control relinquished

Why does York Electric want to control my thermostat?

When the cooperative purchases power, energy at those peak hours is more expensive. The more we can cut down on how much energy is used during those periods, the lower our power bill will be. We will use that savings to hold down costs for our members.

What if I don’t want the cooperative to control my thermostat?

You’ll be notified of control during peak times on the device’s display with an option to override. You can override control up to 30-percent of the time. If you were to exceed 30-percent, a member is not eligible for participation credit per year.

What is a smart thermostat?

A smart thermostat is a programmable thermostat that connects to your home’s WIFI and gives you the ability to adjust your thermostat setting to fit your schedule and save energy.

What types of thermostats?

York Electric members can purchase the ecobee3 Lite and/or the ecobee4 smart thermostats. Both have digital touchscreen displays and both can be controlled and scheduled using a computer or device (phone or tablet).

What is the cost of an ecobee thermostat?

An ecobee3 lite will be discounted to $85 for YEC members, and an ecobee4 Smart Thermostat with Voice Control will be discounted to $145 for YEC members.

What is the difference between the ecobee3 lite and the ecobee4?

The ecobee4 has Amazon Alexa built-in. It is voice-activated and has many of the features that come with Amazon Echo devices. The ecobee4 also comes with an added room sensor to provide more effective cooling and heating.

Who will install my thermostat?

Whomever you choose. After the thermostat is installed and we verify the signal, YEC will reimburse you $75 towards your installation cost. You will also be required to provide your receipt.

What if I already have an ecobee thermostat?

Please let Brent Clinton (803-628-5554 or ) know by December 30, 2019, so that we can provide you with a $50 incentive. Please note this incentive is only valid through the end of 2019.

Active and former members of our Armed Services, please join us at our York and Fort Mill office locations on Friday, November 8 for our 4th Annual Veterans Day Celebration. Visit with your DD-214, military ID, or proof of enlistment to receive a special gift and a $20 power bill credit. These are just small tokens of our appreciation for the service, sacrifice, dedication, and fearlessness each of our veterans has given so that we can enjoy our freedom. We hope to see you there!

Robert K. Hough

Image 1 of 3

YEC thanked veteran Robert K. Hough of Lake Wylie for his service at the co-op's 2018 Veterans Day celebration.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), and as such, we encourage York Electric Cooperative, Inc. employees, vendors, friends, and family to take proactive steps to enhance personal and collective cybersecurity. NCSAM is a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.

As businesses are increasingly moving to the cloud, cybersecurity measures have never been so important.

Every York Electric Cooperative, Inc. employee can help prevent malicious cyber-attacks by establishing effective cybersecurity practices, which include digital and non-digital methods. Cybersecurity is an essential factor to the success of any business or organization and we strongly encourage collaborative efforts across all sectors.

Throughout October, YEC is committed to providing the necessary training and educational programs for all employees to further cybersecurity awareness within our organization. We will provide employees with the resources necessary to improve our cybersecurity and #BeCyberSmart while at work and home. York Electric Cooperative, Inc.'s cybersecurity and information technology teams are at the leading edge of protecting our company and our customers' data. We are only able to be cyber secure because of our collective vigilance and the work of our technology teams.

YEC is proud to participate in these National level conversations around cybersecurity and will continue to champion the NCSAM message through its mainstream and social media.

Now, therefore, I, Paul Basha, President and Chief Executive Officer of York Electric Cooperative, Inc., do hereby proclaim my commitment, and YEC's to enhancing cybersecurity and being a champion of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019.

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

We're locals looking out for your cybersecurity

Are you safe online? Follow YEC on social media this month to learn tips and tricks on how to keep your information secure. Creating challenging passwords, being aware of sites you visit and double-checking suspicious emails are just a few ways of protecting yourself against a scam. We're not just your electric company—we're always looking out for your safety!

Our 2019 Coloring Contest Winners channeled their inner electrical safety skills and creative talents for our annual Linemen Gear Up for Safety Coloring Contest for first-grade students. If you are in first grade and you want to be one of our local lineworker heroes, be sure to download the coloring worksheet PDF.

All entries should be turned in by Friday, March 6, 2020.

[PDF] Linemen Safety Coloring Sheet

Download PDF 1.54 MB 108 downloads

As a proud partner in economic development, YEC has a strong tie to industries in our area. Did you know skilled workers are in demand? A ready workforce is not only coveted by industries currently in our area, but also those looking to relocate. Whether you plan to go to a four-year school or are looking at other alternatives, I urge you to consider technical college. I can promise that after attending a technical college, job placement will be easier, and your salary will be higher when you enter the workforce. Having these skills pays off. College isn't for everyone. Like your teachers, we encourage our students and their parents to think outside the box when it comes to their futures.

There are many opportunities available right at your backdoor at York Technical College and their partnerships with local high schools. It's amazing to be able to graduate with a leg up on your future career through simultaneously completing college-level course work while you are still in high school. That's why YEC is proud to sponsor the $1,000 Technical Advantage Scholarship for the third year. Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will open next month, so keep an eye out!

This month, we would like to highlight and commend Clover and York School Districts for their work incorporating a new program into their curriculum that engages and prepares students, helping to build a ready workforce. Together with York Technical College, Clover and York Schools have partnered to provide South Carolina's first lineworkers training program at the high school level. Clover Superintendent Sheila Quinn looks forward to the opportunities this program will provide students. She said, "Authentic partnerships between public schools, the technical college system, and business and industry give our students the best opportunity to make a seamless transition into the workforce. This program has the potential to become a model of that strategic alliance."

Students can learn technical and safety skills for line work like they are on-the-job, preparing them for future careers supporting the infrastructure in our area right out of school. More importantly, they will know early on if this field is the right fit for them, allowing them to make more educated decisions about their career path. Community partners, including Duke Energy, Comporium, American Safety, Williams Electric, S.C. Forestry Commission and your co-op, have come together to create a training area that will be shared by both school districts.

YEC is proud to have played a small part in this innovative learning experience, and we look forward to many other similar programs developing in the coming years. We're more than just a power company, we're locals looking out for you, your students and your future.

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Member Comfort Update

We are excited to announce that YEC now offers mobile device payments for walk-in members at our office locations! As part of the Member Comfort Initiative, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for our members to make their electric bill payments and thought we should incorporate some of the latest technology. Forgot your wallet? No problem! Now you can just tap and go! Device support information

YEC's 7th annual Member Appreciation Shred Day set Saturday, October 5, 2019

To kick off our Member Appreciation Month in October, your cooperative is hosting its seventh annual Shred Day from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, October 5. We'll shred at our main office, 1385 East Alexander Love Hwy., York, and at the Carolina Shred office, 1682 Katy Lane, Fort Mill. YEC members can use this safe, secure way to dispose of confidential or sensitive documents. Plus, all shredded material is recycled, making Shred Day both safe and environmentally sustainable. Remember, we're locals looking out for you and your safety!

Do:

• Bring your sensitive documents for safe disposal
• Bring your documents in a box and be prepared to take the box back with you
• Limit the amount of documents you bring – we want to have enough room for everyone's documents

Don't:

• Add anything other than paper to your stack – trash, especially batteries, could start a fire
• Bring your documents in plastic bags – they will clog up the machine
• Forget to visit us on Saturday, October 5 from 9 am to 12 pm!

Questions? Call (803) 684-4248

What is Advance Pay? Advance Pay is a pre-pay plan that lets you pay when you want, in the amounts you want. Instead of receiving a paper bill each month, energy use is calculated daily. Advance Pay members never pay a late charge, disconnect fees or reconnect fees.

Would you like to:

• Eliminate deposits and monthly bills?
• Customize a payment schedule?
• Buy power at your convenience?
• Monitor your energy use?

If so, York Electric's Advance Pay plan may be for you!

Is Advance Pay right for me? Would it be easier for you to make weekly or biweekly payments rather than one large payment each month? If so, Advance Pay might be for you! Members interested in monitoring and lowering electricity use could benefit, too.

What if my Advance Pay account runs low? You can set up notifications by e-mail or text to notify you of a low balance, allowing time to buy power. If you do not purchase more, the meter will stop until funds are applied to your account.

Making a payment is easy, even on weekends and holidays! Once payment is received, your power will reconnect almost immediately.

How do I make payments? Set up a payment profile through our free YEC Mobile App and then pay by:

• Texting: Text JOIN to 352667, then follow the instructions to pay.
• YEC App: Pay through our free YEC Mobile App.
• Online: At yorkelectric.net.
• By phone: Call (866) 374-1234.