Member empowerment is one of our favorite concepts here at York Electric Cooperative.
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Member empowerment is one of our favorite concepts here at York Electric Cooperative.
We’re committed to our community, and that's expressed in ways that touch our members’ lives.
Storm preparation tips, safety information, the power restoration process, and much more.
Be sure to read on for an extensive Q&A with York Electric’s new CEO, Craig Spencer, in which he discusses his vision for York Electric, his leadership style, and his thoughts on best practices, all followed by a brief bio.
Although it is my first time connecting with you in the CEO space, I feel privileged to have served you throughout my career, helping to design a robust and reliable electric distribution system. My focus on our members, just as it has been for the previous 32 years, will remain top priority as I grow and learn in my new role. During this transition, it is important that you know our commitment will not waver. Your co-op will remain your trusted source for safe and reliable power and information, a place where employees are our greatest asset and where we’re always looking out for you.
We’ve been hard at work with some exciting updates to increase the resilience of our system. Our new Allison Creek substation will be online by the end of summer, providing more capacity in the Lake Wylie area. This substation is served with a new transmission line, providing more reliable service and opportunities to isolate outages and restore services faster when outages occur. Grading bids for two additional substations in the Fort Mill area are also underway. The substations will add over 40 megawatts of capacity to better serve the growth we are experiencing in this area. Lastly, our road construction for the Spring Lake Business Park is in progress. YEC has partnered with the City of York to spur economic development for increased commercial use in this area as residential development continues to prosper.
We stay busy behind the scenes here at your co-op making continuous improvements to the electrical system, planning for the future and combatting rising prices to hold down the cost of power. However, we are never too busy to listen to you—our members. I want you to know that I’m willing and ready to learn from you as your co-op’s new leader. Gaining wisdom from you is the only way we will succeed in continuing to serve you with excellence. Similarly, to me, it always makes things easier when you get to know someone. I invite you to get to know more about me in the news extra section of this magazine edition.
I’m excited for this new chapter, honored to have been chosen to fill this role and pledge to always work for the good of our members.
President and Chief Executive Officer
YEC’S new President and CEO, Craig Spencer, shares his perspective on leadership, best practices and your co-op’s future. Spencer’s vision for success is not solely his own, but one of all employees, something the Board of Trustees saw as one of his many assets when they selected him to follow in Paul Basha’s footsteps upon his retirement in June.
Q: You’ve worked here 32 years. What makes York Electric special to you, and why have you stayed?
A: We embrace a culture of family at YEC where our employees not only depend on each other, but we learn from one another. Without a doubt, the people are what make this co-op special to me. I’ve dedicated my entire career to this group of people and this community because of the work we have and will continue to accomplish together to take care of our members.
Q: How are we set apart from other cooperatives?
A: While all electric cooperatives seek to minimize accidents, both in the field and in the office, YEC’s culture of safety has remained a significant distinction throughout my career. I feel blessed to work for a co-op with a staff and Board of Directors that will always put employee safety above all else. Prioritizing this, alongside the intense growth our service territory has experienced over the last few decades, allows us to safely provide reliable power at competitive rates.
Q: What do you see as York Electric’s biggest threats?
A: Before I address the challenges, I’d like to assure you that your co-op is in great shape. Working together as a team has allowed us to overcome many obstacles in the past, and this mindset will continue to help us navigate our future. The most significant threats I see that we will face together are the lack of dependable power generation, government regulations and rising power costs. South Carolina has been, and will continue to be, one of the fastest growing states in the country. To guarantee that companies and manufacturers continue to expand into South Carolina, which will keep the economy moving forward, we need to safeguard always available power generation. New government regulations, which involve technologies that are not yet proven to be sustainable, prevent us from expanding our energy generation assets. They also add tremendous additional costs to new generation projects. Lastly, inflation continues to challenge our ability to hold down power costs. Just as the cost of living for our members is on the rise, the cost of equipment continues to increase.
Q: What do you see as our biggest opportunities?
A: Despite our obstacles, YEC can still fulfill its goal of providing affordable, reliable and safe energy to our members. We can still offer competitive rates through excellent member service and new technologies that improve our electric grid. YEC is always researching new ways to improve reliability for our members, while maintaining the personal level of service that our members love.
Q: What is your vision for York Electric?
A: Whatever YEC’s short-term and long-term goals are, we must always prioritize our culture of safety. It helps us go home to our families each day and helps minimize the cost to provide electric service. No vision for this company can be achieved without healthy employees, a mission I’m proud to continue cultivating. Additionally, I hope to expand member education and transparency on individual energy usage. In the midst of the obstacles that I previously described, it is more important than ever to empower our members to not just understand how they use energy, but to manage their use. This empowerment begins with our employees, who will be finding new ways to make this information more user-friendly and readily available. The more information we have, the better we can manage YEC’s electric system and improve reliability.
Q: What is your leadership style?
A: In both my personal and professional life, I always seek to lead by example, with a servant mindset. When encountering a new project, I first ask myself “How can we get this done?” I aim to be a proactive leader that seeks to empower my team. I can’t replace a pole after a storm, splice a cable, or fix a computer issue, but I can work alongside our excellent employees and ensure that they are equipped to not just do the job, but do it well.
Q: Who has had the most influence on your life and why?
A: My parents. From an early age, they instilled in me a strong work ethic that I am proud of. While this meant I had to learn difficult lessons as a child and young adult, I am truly grateful for their sacrifices and teachings.
Q: From what/whom do you draw your inspiration?
A: My faith and family have been, and will always be, my inspiration in life. I realize that I have been blessed beyond measure. I am so fortunate to have a beautiful and loving wife, three wonderful children and a great son-in-law.
Q: In your opinion, what do we do best?
A: We have a members-first mindset here at YEC. We look out for our members by going the extra mile, improving the quality of life in the communities we serve and leaving things better than we found it.
Q: What will be your immediate focus that will impact members?
A: I will direct my immediate attention towards minimizing the potential adverse effects of rising power costs. Alongside this, we must continue to invest in and maintain our electrical grid. I will focus on these two areas so that YEC can continue to provide the reliability and competitive service that our members are used to.
Experience: Spencer has worked at York Electric Cooperative for the past 32 years, starting as the purchasing agent for the co-op. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer after he was selected to become the next CEO. Prior to that he was the Vice President of Engineering for many years.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina.
Family: Spencer has been married to his wife, Susan, for 30 years and they have three children. Ben, their eldest, recently graduated from Duke Law School. Their twins, Sarah and Shelby, just graduated from Anderson University. Sarah, who was married last year to Mason Watts, majored in Christian Studies and will be attending graduate school for Christian counseling. Shelby graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and will be working at AnMed in Anderson.
One of the best things about summer is the abundance of fresh, homegrown food. It’s remarkable how just a few seeds and some water can turn into a bounty. Similarly, with just a few simple actions, you can save energy and reap the financial rewards. One particularly effective tool for energy-saving is a smart thermostat. With a smart thermostat, you can help your co-op fight rising expenses and do your part in keeping power costs low for everyone.
Summer months bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. Cooling your home accounts for a large portion of your monthly energy use. The hotter it gets, the harder your air conditioner works to maintain a comfortable temperature. A smart thermostat can make a significant difference by learning a household’s schedule and adjusting temperatures accordingly, ensuring that the cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to combat outside temperatures. It can be programmed to raise the temperature when no one is home and cool down before anyone returns, maximizing savings without sacrificing comfort.
Plus, your co-op will reward you! As participants in York Electric’s Smart Thermostat Program, members are credited with $100 the 1st year and $50 the 2nd year, and each year going forward, when they allow YEC to adjust their thermostat during at least 60% of local control events at peak times in the year.
Those savings can add up fast! Members can sign up for this program by purchasing an ecobee smart thermostat at a discounted rate from York Electric, or by bringing their own qualifying smart thermostat and registering it with the co-op.
Join YEC in fighting the summer heat and keeping monthly bills down this season. Learn more about how you can control your power bill and sign up for our Smart Thermostat Program online.
Five Ways to Save this Summer
When summer temperatures rise, so do our energy bills. Here are a few ways you can reduce energy use and grow your summer savings.
Employees make donation for the Western York County Agriculture Arena
York Electric presented a $15,000 donation from co-op employees for the planned Western York County Agriculture Arena at a Modern-Day Barn Raising Fundraiser on May 17.
The new arena, which will be located on 97 acres across from Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary School, will provide students and teachers with opportunities for hands-on learning, leadership development and community-building, with the potential to impact 4,500 students throughout York County.
The project is the vision of the Agriculture Steering Committee, formed in September 2023, with members from York School District One, Clover School District and York County 4H. The arena will provide a central hub for agricultural education where 4H programs and the local Future Farmers of America (FAA) can have a permanent home. Currently, students interested in these programs face significant travel barriers because there is no local space to host livestock shows and related events.
The co-op’s employee donation fund is just one way York Electric impacts the community’s growth and success. As your co-op, providing affordable, safe and reliable energy is not our only goal. The same issues that affect York Electric members are the same ones that affect our employees and their families, which is why our employees are dedicated to helping York County and surrounding communities grow and prosper.
Comporium disperses over $1,000,000 to York Electric from joint grant application
In May, York Electric received $1,099,012 through its internet service partner, Comporium, as a part of the S.C. Lookback Grant, a federal program distributed through the State to help stimulate broadband installation by covering a portion of the equipment, installation and labor costs the co-op took on during the rural internet project, which expanded broadband in underserved areas of YEC’s territory. This grant disbursement, for which YEC supplied Comporium with data to apply, marks the completion of the more than two-year project.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, co-op members needed access to reliable, high-speed internet more than ever. To meet this challenge, York Electric partnered with Comporium to increase internet availability for unserved members in western York County and parts of Cherokee County. Spanning over almost 600 miles of fiber-optic cable, the Rural Internet Project has transformed connectivity for previously unserved members.
This joint fiber expansion project began in December 2020. Since then, the project has progressed in three phases, concluding in June 2023. Over 26 months of construction, this $16 million community investment has brought broadband access to 5,000 co-op members. Families have greatly benefited from this effort, which has enhanced their ability to work remotely, learn online, and stream entertainment content.
Comporium’s excellent customer service, combined with York Electric’s skilled labor and state-of-the-art equipment, has ensured the project’s success. But, most importantly, the completion of the Rural Internet Project is yet another instance of York Electric making good on its promise to improve the quality of life for members.
As a not-for-profit utility, York Electric views this grant not as a payout, but as an opportunity to further enhance the services and support it provides to the community.
York Electric Cooperative and our Operation Round Up Trust Board work together to offer grants of up to $1,000 for local teachers to fund innovative programs to implement in their classrooms. We also work to fulfill wish lists for local teachers nominated by the community.
Eligible Teachers
K-12 Teachers at Public Schools in York, Clover, Lancaster, Rock Hill and Fort Mill School Districts
K-12 teachers at private or charter schools in YEC's Service Territory
Teams or individuals
Each public school district and one private school will be awarded one grant of up to $1,000
Wish list fulfillment based on nominations
Registration Information
Applications and nominations are currently being accepted, and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 13, 2024. Visit our Bright Ideas page for the application and more details.
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.
President and Chief Executive Office
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
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.
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.
President and Chief Executive Officer
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:
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.
President and Chief Executive Office
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:
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!
Take advantage of our Smart Thermostat Program to easily save on heating and cooling costs.
Interested in installing panels on your home? Let YEC be your trusted source of information.
The Beat the Peak program is a free and voluntary effort to help control energy costs for all cooperative members.