May the FOURTH be with you!

Save the dates for our 83rd Annual Meeting

MAY 1,3 & 4TH

York Electric's 83rd Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 1, 3 and 4. We will send information by email and the April edition of this magazine to get you prepared to attend, register and vote. Here are a few things to know ahead of time:

SPECIAL ANNUAL MEETING ISSUE

Our April edition of South Carolina Living will be our special annual meeting issue. Be sure to look for this issue in the mail because it will contain important information specific to your membership.

Your registration card will be on the front of the mag￾azine. Go ahead and tear it off and place it in a safe spot so that you can bring it along with a photo ID to register for a $25 power bill credit, be entered into our prize drawing and be eligible to vote.

Also in the April magazine, you will see interviews for all candidates running for trustee seats. We want our members to have the tools to make an informed vote, so be sure to see what they have to say about your co-op.

Maps for the annual meeting locations will be included so you know exactly where to go.

REGISTRATION BILL CREDIT

Members who attend and register at one of the three dates and times provided will receive a $25 power bill credit on their June power bill and will be entered in our prize drawings.

Members who choose to register and vote on Wednesday, May 1 at our Tega Cay Catawba Park location will be entered into a separate prize drawing for one $500 power bill credit.

GRAND PRIZES

All members who register at any time during the three dates and times provided will be entered to win two grand prizes—a $500 power bill credit and a used Ford pick-up.

Hot dog illustration

HOT DOG, HOT DOGS ARE BACK

Free hot dogs will be available on a first come, first-served basis to members at our York annual meeting location on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 beginning at 9 a.m. until we run out. Our team is looking forward to hosting you again this year. As Yoda says, “Look out for you, we will, and May the Fourth be with you.

SC Living Annual Meeting cover

Look for your annual meeting issue of South Carolina Living the first week in April. Included will be all the details you will need about the meeting and, most importantly, your registration card will be on the front cover.

PLAN TO ATTEND!

We will have three locations for members to choose from to come and exercise your membership, register and vote on your Board of Trustees. Plus. earn a $25 bill credit by joining YEC at one of our three 2024 annual meeting registration and voting locations!

Wednesday, May 1

Tega Cay Catawba Park, 2351 New Gray Rock Rd. New location!
9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Friday, May 3

YEC’s Main Office, 1385 E. Alexander Love Hwy.
7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Saturday, May 4

YEC’s Main Office, 1385 E. Alexander Love Hwy.
9 a.m.–noon

All members with a valid photo ID will be registered as a member
in attendance at our annual meeting and will be eligible to vote
on the candidates running for trustee seats. One registration/vote
per membership.

MAPS: DRIVE-THRU REGISTRATION & VOTING

Tega Cay map

Tega Cay

When: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Time: 9 a.m until 2 p.m.

Where: Tega Cay Catawba Park, located at 2351 New Gray Rock Rd.

Details: The drive-thru entrance is located on New Gray Rock Rd. After registering your attendance and casting your vote for trustee candidates, you will be able to exit by making a right-hand turn back on to New Gray Rock Rd. The entrance and flow of traffic will be clearly marked and YEC personnel will help direct you through the line.

Please note, hot dogs will not be served in Tega Cay.

York Annual Meeting map

York

When: Friday, May 3, 2024 & Saturday, May 4, 2024

Time: Friday, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. & Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. until noon.

Where: YEC’s main office located at 1385 E. Alexander Love Highway.

Details: The drive-thru entrance is located on Alexander Love Highway, near the light at Cooperative Way. After voting and registering your attendance, cars will have the option to loop through a special line to receive a bag of free hot dogs, limit one bag per membership.

Hot dogs will be available beginning at 9 a.m. both days, while supplies last.

All traffic will be able to exit by making a right hand turn back on to Alexander Love Highway, near York School District’s office. The entrance will be clearly marked and YEC personnel will help direct you through the line.

VOTING

Important Details about the 2024 Annual Meeting:

Members of York Electric Cooperative, Inc. are invited to attend our 83rd annual meeting of members to register and vote on trustee seats.

Sample ballot in graphic form

RESULTS FROM LAST YEAR'S VOTING

During our 82nd annual meeting in 2023, members had the chance to vote on their preference of annual meeting logistics and registration gift. Here were the results:

Question 1- Drive-thru or in-person:

3,727 members voted for your co-op to continue drive-thru registration and voting.

703 members voted for the in-person meeting.

Question 2- Power bill credit or tangible gift:

4,370 members voted for a power bill credit.

71 members voted for a tangible gift.

Remember:

Members can attend ONE of the three annual meeting dates: Wednesday, May 1 at Tega Cay’s Catawba Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, May 3 at York Electric’s Main Office from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., OR Saturday, May 4 at York Electric’s Main Office from 9 a.m. to noon.

ALL members MUST bring a valid photo ID to register and vote. Remember to punch out your registration card on the front of this magazine and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting. Your ID and registration card will allow our employees to quickly identify your membership.

Members who attend one of the three drive- thru annual meetings will receive a $25 electric bill credit and will be entered into our prize drawings. Additionally, members who attend our Tega Cay location on Wednesday, May 1 will be entered into a special prize drawing for a $500 power bill credit.

Our Fort Mill branch office location will be closed for business on Wednesday, May 1 to accommodate for the additional drive-thru meeting location.

We will have a special lane in York after members register and vote for members to claim their free hot dogs beginning at 9 a.m. on both Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, while supplies last.

Entertainment and festivities hosted in previous years will not be included.

Parking will not be available in the drive-thru area.

The business meeting will be virtual and will be live at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 4th on our website, yorkelectric.net and on our Facebook page.

Members may register and vote at one of two locations on three days:

Tega Cay: Wednesday, May 1, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Catawba Park located at 2351 New Gray Rock Road.

York: Friday, May 3, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. OR Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. until noon at YEC’s main office located at 1385 E. Alexander Love Hwy.

Members must bring their registration card and a valid photo ID to register for attendance and vote. By bringing these two items, you will be eligible for a $25 power bill credit and entered into a drawing for valuable prizes, including a 2017 F-150, two $500 power bill credits and a select drawing for an additional $500 power bill credit for members who participate at our Tega Cay location.

Vintage photo of hot dogs being served

Hot dogs have been an annual meeting staple for members at York Electric for many years. Prepared by our community members and groups in years past as shown in this vintage photo, we’re proud to bring them back for our 83rd annual meeting!

Each member with a registration card will be eligible to receive a bag of free hot dogs prepared by YSD1, the YSD1 Foundation, and the York Rotary Club. After voting and registration, signs and co-op employees will direct members who wish to receive their bag of free hot dogs to a designated lane. Hot dogs will be available beginning at 9 a.m. in York on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, while supplies last.

capital credits logo

We’re sharing margins – let’s celebrate!

2024 Capital Credit retirement totals $2.7 million – the largest ever!

The York Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees elects to return a portion of our margins to our members each year. Margins are defined as the money left after covering all operating costs. Returning this money to members is a process called Capital Credit retirement. Not only does this show the value of your membership, but it also reflects the financial health of your cooperative.

Each year has a total patronage capital we must return to members over time. This is the money you invest in your cooperative when you pay your energy charges each month. Your board of trustees elects how much of these margins we reinvest into our system to continue providing affordable, reliable energy, and how much we return to members through capital credits. As a not-for profit business, we are required to operate on an at-cost basis. Returning these funds to our members allows us to remain a tax-exempt organization and in compliance with our bylaws as a cooperative organization.

How does it work?

Instead of only paying new members, or only paying those who have had service for years, York Electric elects to pay a combination of new and long-time members so that everyone gets a piece of the pie. This is considered a hybrid retirement model.

This year, the board voted to return $2.7 million to members. The funds will be distributed for members who were served by the Cooperative during the following years: 2002, 2003, and 2022.

Members’ portions of the funds come from their total patronage for those years mentioned above.

What should you expect?

If you were a member during the years mentioned above and your capital credit amount is less than $20, you will see a credit on your bill. Any members with capital credit retirements that are $20 or more will be mailed a check during the first week of May.

We’re looking out for you and appreciate your investment in a brighter energy future.