York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Save the date for your 2023 Annual Meeting of Members on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Our team is excited to offer another year of convenient drive-thru registration. We’re even bringing back the hot dogs! Look for more information about our annual meeting in upcoming issues of South Carolina Living, on our website and on our social media channels.

If you are interested in running for YEC’s board of trustees, please review the qualifications and timelines as they are written in our Bylaws:

Bylaw excerpt

Article IV Trustees, Section 4.06 Nominations:

Not less than ninety (90) days prior to the meeting, nominations may be made by twenty-five (25) or more Members of the Cooperative in writing over their signatures on an explicit petition document listing their nominee(s) in like manner. This document must be obtained from the Cooperative no more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the Annual Meeting and must be specific to each Trustee District. In addition to the required petition, candidates must attend a Board-developed educational program on Cooperative history, operations and governance not less than sixty (60) days prior to the next Annual Meeting, or have a minimum of three (3) years of service as an electric cooperative Trustee. The educational requirement will be offered at the Cooperative on two (2) specified dates prior to the Annual Meeting. In addition to the other qualifications and requirements set forth herein, no person shall be eligible to be nominated as a Trustee candidate if they were an unsuccessful Trustee nominee for any Trustee District in any of the last three (3) years. In other words, a person may only be nominated as a Trustee candidate once every three (3) years.

The Secretary shall mail to the Members with the notice of the meeting, or separately, but at least thirty (30) days, but not more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the meeting, a complete statement of the names and addresses of all nominees for each Trustee District from or with respect to which one (1) or more Trustees must be elected, showing clearly those who have completed the educational requirement and those who have completed a minimum of three (3) years of service as an electric cooperative Trustee. The Secretary shall post in like manner such nominations at the Cooperative offices at least forty-five (45) days prior to the next Annual Meeting.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at the USDA website and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: . This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Batteries of the AA and AAA variety are a staple on my Walmart orders this time of year. Just in case the box reads “batteries not included,” I have a stash. After all, batteries help power the holiday season, from the decorations that deck the halls, to the toys you give at Christmastime.

For most of us, battery storage refers to a drawer in the kitchen. But the kind of battery storage designed to power your home is an emerging energy trend. Cooperative members are looking for greener ways to produce energy and consume the electricity used to power their daily lives. York Electric and cooperatives across the country are evaluating and testing this new battery technology.

As renewable energy such as wind and solar has become a more significant part of our energy mix, so has the need for storage options. In 2017, wind and solar electricity generation set a record by exceeding 10% of U.S. energy generation, according to the Energy Information Agency (EIA) and this has grown each year. Battery storage offers a solution to contain unused energy from renewable energy generation to use at a more convenient time.

What does this mean for YEC members?

We are testing the potential of large-scale battery units for increased reliability, back-up power, renewable electric generation pairing and peak demand shaving to hold down costs. This new technology is promising, but it has an expensive price tag—both for your home and as part of our distribution system. Rest assured, we’re making sure these types of investments are best for our members.

Battery storage at home

Large or small, the concept of battery storage is the same. An average residential battery stores 13 kilowatts, which can power an electric water heater for two to three hours. You need a lot more power to make everyday life comfortable. While a typical residential battery won’t power your whole house, it can provide enough power to provide a more resilient lifestyle in the event of an outage. Additionally, batteries can be coupled together to provide a more robust supply of energy that will power more things for longer periods of time.

Using the battery from an electric vehicle (EV) as a power source for your home opens the door for even greater storage possibilities. While this process is still being developed and tested, adding the storage capacity from an EV’s battery to a residential battery system could more than quadruple the output of supply. Charging your car could mean peace of mind that your refrigerator could be powered for weeks during a large-scale outage.

While YEC members who are using rooftop solar have the most to gain from battery storage, it is new and exciting for everyone. Just like your battery storage drawer helps you prepare for the unexpected power needs, YEC is here to help you learn and navigate these new technologies.

We’re always looking out for you (and your battery-powered toys) and wish you a Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Holiday Closings

YEC offices will be closed to celebrate the following holidays:

• Thanksgiving Nov. 24 and 25
• Christmas Dec. 23 and 26
• New Year’s Jan. 2, 2023

Crews will be on standby in the event of an outage. YEC wishes you and your family a healthy, safe, and happy holiday season. Merry Christmas from your co-op!

The state’s top high school football players will face off one last time this season in the 2022 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 10. The annual north-south game, organized by the S.C. Athletic Coaches Association, takes place at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach with a noon kickoff.

Get There

WHEN: Dec. 10, 2022. Kickoff at noon.

WHERE: Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, 705 33rd Avenue North, Myrtle Beach.

TICKETS: Online tickets $25 at TouchstoneEnergyBowl.com/tickets. At the stadium, tickets will cost $30 each.

DON’T MISS: The 2022 Mr. Football award—the state’s highest honor for prep athletes—will be presented during halftime.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: From 5:30 to 9 p.m. on the Friday before the game, 88 top players from the Class of 2024 will show their athletic talents in the Joanne Langfitt Junior Showcase. Players will be organized into teams and compete based on position and skill set. Events include 7-on-7s, a truck pull and bench press competition. The showcase is free and open to the public.

The game recognizes 88 student-athletes from across the state, not just for their athletic ability but for their character on and off the field. These young men develop a true spirit of camaraderie throughout the week leading up to the big game—honing their skills and developing friendships that last a lifetime.

Led by North head coach Robin Bacon of Spring Valley and South head coach Justin Gentry of Chapin, the coaching staff selected the top 88 available seniors for this year’s game.

“This whole process has been awesome,” Gentry said. “As coaches, we began evaluating film last spring and I can honestly say that the talent in South Carolina is as good as there is in the country. I am really looking forward to meeting all the players and getting to work.”

“My coaches’ tireless work of getting film and nominations has been a big plus. I feel excellent about the team we put together because of all the hard work and meetings over the last six months,” said Bacon. “We spent hundreds of hours looking at film and researching players.”

This year’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl is filled with players who have garnered college offers from around the country, including several from Power 5 programs. The coaching staff assigned to each squad will arrive in Myrtle Beach on Monday, Dec. 5, with players checking in the next day. Teams will then have four days of on-field preparation and film work prior to Saturday’s game.

[PDF] 2022 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl Roster

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Editor’s note: South Carolina’s electric cooperatives are the primary sponsors of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl, North vs. South All-Star game. The South Carolina Athletics Coaches Association organizes the event and is responsible for selecting players and South Carolina’s Mr. Football award.

by Chase Toler

Active and former members of our Armed Services, please join us at American Legion Post 34 at 524 Heckle Blvd. in Rock Hill on Friday, Nov. 11, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for our 7th Annual Veterans Day Celebration. Our registration area will be marked, so simply look for our signs. Google Map

Can’t attend?

Please provide your information via the form link below to receive your bill credit if you cannot attend in person.

Please bring a copy of your power bill and 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’re moving! YEC will no longer host its Annual Veterans Day Celebration at each of its office locations in an effort to make traffic safer and registration easier for you.

Because of the increased number of members, we have been able to thank and serve each year, we will now host our celebration at one location in Rock Hill, with room to park, register, and meet other veterans easily. We hope to see you there!

October is Co-op Month, and what better way to celebrate than by working together to help fellow members and strengthen our community? During the month of October, we will be accepting donations to help impact the most vulnerable in our local areas.

Help us stock the shelves for Fort Mill Care Center

A local non-profit organization that provides food and financial assistance to residents of Fort Mill and Tega Cay, Fort Mill Care Center is accepting the following three non-perishable food items: boxed mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and grits.

Help P.A.T.H. in York provide blankets to those in need

New or gently used blankets will be accepted to keep our neighbors warm this winter with the help of Positive Affirmation Through Helping (PATH). PATH is a local non-profit organization that helps and ministers those in need living in York, Sharon, Hickory Grove, Smyrna, and McConnells.

If you would like to participate, please bring your donations to either our main office at 1385 East Alexander Love Hwy. in York or to our Fort Mill office at 2089 Hwy. 21 in Fort Mill.

Please note that our lobbies remain closed, so donations will be accepted through the window and near the designated, labeled drop-off sites in the drive-thru areas of both offices. Please be mindful of your donations, looking out for expiration dates and wear.

Thank you for helping YEC celebrate the value of cooperative membership through community support.

by Porter Gable

John Tupper never imagined he would describe himself as a beekeeper and flower farmer while in his corporate job in board rooms across North and South America. The deep roots he and his wife, Angelica, planted at their local farm during the pandemic changed their lives. Just 20 short months ago, the couple opened Five Blossoms Farm, a venture that has been a wise decision for them, both personally and professionally.

At that time, the York Electric Cooperative members and their four children wanted to start over. Tired from the stressful hand the pandemic dealt them at home and in their corporate jobs, and broken-hearted from the loss of their son, Drew, the Tuppers were searching for a way to restore life’s happiness. Angelica’s overflowing flowerbeds and John’s backyard beekeeping were hobbies that became a successful business when Five Blossoms Farm was born.

The seed

John and Angelica met in Bogota, Colombia, through their work as software engineers, in 2010. “I didn’t even have a houseplant in my apartment in Bogota,” Angelica says. “After marrying John, and moving to the United States, my mother-in-law, a master gardener, gave me tips on what to plant on our porch.”

Those planters multiplied through the years, spilling into flower beds that covered every sunlit part of their back- yard in Lake Wylie. After a long day at work, Angelica would go to her flowers to reset. She still finds this to be true, though now she has an acre of blooms to work with.

Angelica recalls admiring beautiful photos of a peony farm in North Carolina in a magazine. After a visit, she planted peonies from the farm at her Lake Wylie home. Years later she remembers thinking, “We could do this, too.”

“I had this crazy idea to turn our hobbies into a business, move to the country and give it a go. I asked John what he thought, and he said ‘yes.’”

The Tuppers capitalized on their passions, investing their time and energy into something more fulfilling than their day jobs by turning to the land where they’ve “had unexpected success,” according to John.

Deep roots

John and Angelica are proud to come from humble beginnings, not taking their family and cultural histories for granted. Instead, they look at this opportunity as a blessing afforded to them because of their families and experiences.

When they decided to make this change, the whole family pitched in to offer support. John’s sister designed the farm’s logo, a tribute to their five children. Their two boys are represented by blue hydrangeas, twin girls, represented by the pink peonies and their late son, Drew, the angel in the center shown as a white orchid. It’s no surprise to them that the elements of life Drew loved most are at the center of their farm’s success: nature, creativity, and photography. Redefining their purpose and cultivating collaboration between their family and the community has been life-changing.

“Even the folks who know us see us differently,” says John. “We even have a deeper connection to family in New Zealand because they are also in the flower business, selling flowers commercially.”

His grandmother loved barns similar to the one they own and painted them often, along with other still-life images of flowers, much like those grown in the field. John’s dad surprised him with a door mat with “Tupper’s Barn” written in the center that his grandmother had made years ago. Now, it is front and center as folks enter their barn for events featuring John’s bees or Angelica’s flowers.

Angelica’s mother and brother recently visited from Colombia, gladly helping on the farm, cutting flowers for bouquet orders, planting new flowers, greeting customers, and enjoying the gifts of nature.

“My grandfather, a farmer, was pushed out from his land because of war, and John’s grandfather was pushed into war [World War II]” Angelica says. She and John appreciate their respective histories and cultural differences but continue to grow together as business owners and as a couple. She surprises folks with this business.

“In my culture, it is customary to get away from the land to be successful by studying to be a professional. I followed this trend, now an engineer by trade. However, I have found that I’m a flower farmer at heart. I’ve proved you can do both,” she says.

The Tuppers moved to the farm on Crossland Road in Clover in February 2021 and by July of the same year, sold their first flower.

“We literally moved with planters full of peonies that were set to bloom in April and trays with seedlings ready to be planted,” John says. “Angelica learned all she could about soil, planting rotations, growing the best crops, marketing on social media, and collaborating with other local growers and creatives, while I oversaw larger projects, like the construction of our new greenhouse, and business transactions. Our kids even join in the fun and get their hands dirty.”

Isabella, the quiet one, says she “loves [her dad’s] honey the most.” You can often find her walking among the flowers and making her own bouquets. Her sister, Natalie, loves talking to their frequent guests and having the open land to run. “I love the trees and the space we have for our dog, Milo,” she says.

Rich soil for generations

Whether they first learned about the farm through their CSA subscription program or one of the Tupper’s workshops, the farm sees repeat customers who bring friends and help spread the word.

“Support and encouragement come from everywhere,” John says, adding that they appreciate the outreach of their neighbors and community members.

Additionally, the creative community they have joined has provided friendships, partnerships, and exciting collaborations.

“From photo shoots and flower arranging classes, to natural dyeing with flowers and the byproducts of beekeeping, we continue to find new ways to serve and connect the community,” Angelica says. Their work has offered them peace and healing, but they have also offered the same sanctuary for their customers.

Since 2021, Five Blossoms Farm, which is served by York Electric Cooperative, has tripled its sales. Now, they are focused on what is next, and excited for what the future holds.

“We are investing in the business and even ordered a new electric truck that will be here in a few weeks,” says John.

“Our hope is that we create something here that lasts for our kids,” says Angelica. “A legacy rooted in good soil.”

Connect with Five Blossom Farms – Follow Angelica and John Tupper on their journey

• Website
• Email
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Visit York County website
• Sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription and pick up a weekly order of fresh flowers right from the farm.
• Join in one of the many creative collaboration workshops in the barn.

October is our month to celebrate the cooperative difference and the value of your membership. What does that mean? Simple. We’re celebrating you. We wouldn’t exist without you, our members. You are much more than just an electric customer. We aim to make your connection with your co-op count for more than being a monthly utility you pay. Your co-op invests in you and the communities we serve to make life better. We have locals serving you—from our employees to our elected board of directors—we’re all your neighbors and friends. We have an intimate understanding and priority to meet the unique needs in our area because this is our home, too.

We’re focused on providing reliable, safe, and affordable electricity, but our mission is much greater. We want to improve your quality of life. Whether that is through our latest economic development efforts, bringing quality jobs to our area, or through our Rural Internet Project, a partnership with Comporium to bring high-speed internet service to more than 5,000 unserved areas in our service territory, we’re always looking out for you.

We care about you, or as one of the seven cooperative principals puts it, we exemplify “Concern for Community.” We strive to celebrate our diverse membership, keep you informed and connect with you to make a difference. This issue is packed with information on your community. Learn about ways your co-op is honoring you by celebrating veterans, students, and the success of a local flower farm. See how your co-op is investing in reliable energy with system updates and facts about solar. Let us help you prepare to stay safe from hackers and scams online through updates and tips. Lastly, partner with us to help the most vulnerable in our community.

I think the cooperative difference is something that makes life easier, better and supports the neighborly bond we share within our community. We were built by you, and we work daily to serve you with excellence. That’s the co-op way and something worth celebrating.

Sincerely,

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Substation upgrade increases reliability

York Electric is always looking out for you. One of the ways we strive to provide excellent service and safe, affordable, and reliable energy is by continually upgrading our distribution system.

Recently, we made improvements to our Clover Substation, including adding new smart devices, wildlife and asset protection, and updated equipment. These investments of new technology will help prevent future outages and will improve our restoration efforts if outages do occur.

In this increasingly wireless world, the steps households should take in terms of cybersecurity have changed. Most homes now run networks of devices linked to the internet, including computers, gaming systems, TVs, tablets, and smartphones that access wireless networks. Having the right tools in place will instill confidence that your family members can use the internet safely and securely for personal and work-related endeavors.

Here are three steps households can take to better protect themselves against cyberattacks:

Secure your wireless router: Using a wireless router is a convenient way to allow multiple devices to connect to the internet in your home. However, unless your router is secure, you risk the possibility of individuals accessing information on your computer, and worse, using your network to commit cybercrimes. A simple way to secure this piece of hardware is by changing the name and default password of your router to words or phrases that aren’t easily guessed.

Install firewalls and security software on all devices: Firewalls help keep hackers from using your device and accessing personal information. They guard and watch for attempts to access your system while blocking communications with sources you don’t permit. Make sure all devices that are connected to the wireless network also have security software systems installed and are updated.

Back up all household data: While steps can be taken to avoid your network, devices, and accounts being hacked or compromised, they can never be 100% effective. Users can protect their valuable work, photos and other digital information by making electronic copies of important files and storing them safely. This can be done using cloud software in addition to manual storing devices like USBs.