YEC News

I’m a math person, an engineer by trade, so I often look at life like an equation: “A + B = C.” Your co-op’s equation for excellence is simple, really. We vow to look out for our members, which means providing affordable, safe, and reliable energy and positively impacting our community. That might seem like a tall ask, but our formula has held true.

Part A—We hire and train the best folks. Who better to serve our members than locals who live, work and play in the communities we serve? Our employees are dedicated to serving our members and making a difference for others. This is evident in their responsiveness, consistent growth and skill development, and general kindness to each other and our members.

Part B—We work to provide a good working environment so that our employees can focus on what matters most, our members. In March’s South Carolina Living, several YEC employees discussed our culture and the importance of family, relational wisdom, humility, and hunger as they approach developing their careers, working relationships, and service to you.

Our teamwork and integrated faith in each other, our unique business impact in the communities we serve, and the cooperative difference support our employees to do their very best. In fact, your co-op was recently named one of the SC Best Places to Work. This recognition celebrates our positive working atmosphere, commitment to teamwork, and employee engagement. Rick Jenkins, SC Biz News group publisher said, “This year’s honorees are best-in-class examples of how positive workplace cultures and motivated team members can produce remarkable results.”

This isn’t an accolade to YEC as a business. Instead, this honor is for our unified team of employees, and we couldn’t be prouder.

That equals Part C—Your service. Finding the best and creating a safe space to grow, learn and work allows YEC to uphold our promise of service excellence. Our pride in our employees, our communities, and our members continues to be how we honor our responsibility to look out for you. We aim to inspire, engage, support, and make a difference as your co-op and neighbor. Thank you for allowing us this one-of-a- kind opportunity.

Sincerely,

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Electric rates remain stable

During a time when costs for living have increased, we are proud to continue providing affordable, safe, and reliable energy for our members. Your electric rates have remained the same and we do not anticipate a rate increase for the remainder of the year. You can count on YEC to always look out for you.

York Electric Cooperative hosts annual Member Appreciation Shred Day

Once again this year, York Electric will host its Annual Member Appreciation Shred Event in October. We are partnering with locally owned, veteran-operated Carolina Shred to shred your sensitive documents safely and securely.

Who is invited? All York Electric Cooperative members

When? Saturday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. until noon

Where? YEC’s main office at 1385 E. Alexander Love Highway in York; Carolina Shred’s Office at 1682 Katy Lane in Fort Mill

What should you do? Gather any documents you need to safely dispose of and bring them to one of our two locations. Documents will be securely shredded on-site. Please remove any trash and debris, especially batteries and electronics, from your shredding material.

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 8 from 9 am to 12 pm!

Questions? Call (803) 684-4248

Each year, York Electric attempts to contact and return capital credits to members who have relocated and are no longer served by the cooperative. Even after you move, your membership carries value. If you know any friends or family members who might be included on the list, or you think YEC might owe you money, please search for their names or your name online.

If you see your name, please contact our member services team at (803) 684-4248.

It was quite a summer for four local high school students, thanks to York Electric Cooperative. Natalia Salas, Trevor Castro, Andy Goss, and Landon Davis took part in the Cooperative Youth Summit, a four-day journey of their state’s capital and the surrounding area that went beyond the traditional field trip.

Salas, Castro, Goss, and Davis joined 33 other high school students sponsored by South Carolina electric cooperatives on the unique experience. The students started their own cooperative, produced their own podcasts, and learned how government works.

The students visited Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, explored electric vehicles, and toured the State House, culminating with a visit inside the Governor’s office. The students also learned about legislative advocacy from S.C. state Rep. Kirkman Finlay and John Frick, vice president of government affairs for The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. Frick, referencing a quote from Benjamin Franklin, reminded the students that it will be up to them to “keep the republic.”

“That really helped put into perspective that we have to do something,” says Salas, a student at Westminster Catawba Christian School. “If we want things to change, we can’t just rely on the adults.”

The students also visited Newberry Electric Cooperative, where they heard stories of outages and saw the dangers of electricity. They were also lifted in the bucket of a boom truck.

“Providing electricity is difficult,” says Davis, a student at Fort Mill High School. “A lot of things can go wrong, but they have it under control.”

Cooperative Youth Summit students also had the unique opportunity to produce podcasts addressing the question, “Given the turbulence in our nation and around the globe, how can young people impact their local communities?” The students’ podcasts are available to listen to on our website.

Positively impacting our community is key in all we do at York Electric. We understand the power of learning. YEC champions education with employees, members, and the communities we serve. This focus at each level of the cooperative exemplifies our intent to empower, grow and support your future.

Every educational effort for our employees is designed to support our responsibility to you as a community partner and member. Some of our internal education focuses include embracing new technologies, providing national certification training for board members and employees, promoting cross-training throughout all aspects of our workforce, advocating for leadership development and safety preparedness exercises.

To carry our commitment of continued learning and teaching beyond our team’s service to you, we are proud to provide money to support scholarships to local high school seniors, cultivate future leaders through programs such as the Washington Youth Tour and plant the seed of creativity through our art competitions. These efforts wouldn’t be possible without the support of our local teachers. With the help of Operation Round Up, York Electric is proud to offer grant money for local teachers again this year through our Bright Ideas program.

Most importantly, our education efforts are constant for you, our valued members. Through media such as videos, articles, and pictures, as well as personal interactions, our team aims to help you understand your service, how we are working for you, and the cooperative difference. In this issue, you’ll see exciting system upgrades to improve the reliability of your service, information on outages and how we restore power through our updated online storm center, and even a few tips on playing safe this summer.

We’re locals looking out for you and are proud to play a part in providing a brighter energy future, inspiring young minds, and supporting our local educators. Thank you for allowing us the privilege of powering your life and helping our community continue to be a great place to live.

Sincerely,

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Hot Dogs for Heroes, September 15

YEC is teaming up with Hungry Heroes BBQ once again to serve hot dogs to our local heroes.

First responders are invited to join us for lunch Thursday, Sept. 15, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., at YEC’s main office at 1385 E. Alexander Love Highway in York.

We are grateful for the men and women who work to serve and protect our community. It’s our turn to serve you.

Save your gas!

YEC offers convenient ways to pay and conduct business

We know gas prices are high, so we want to ensure our members know their options to take care of all cooperative business online. We’re here to help and always look out for you. Ways to pay:

• Bank Draft
• YEC’s Free Mobile App
• Online at yorkelectric.net through Quick Pay or our secure member portal
• E-Check
• Power Touch at 1 (866) 374-1234
• Text ‘PAY’ to 352667

Connect with us:

• Email
• At yorkelectric.net, you can
  • Chat with us online
  • Create a payment arrangement or make changes to your account through our secure member portal
  • Start service or stop or move service

Applications now open for YEC’s Bright Ideas Grants for local teachers. For the fourth year, York Electric Cooperative and Operation Round Up will fund grants for local teachers. Applicants can win up to $1,000 to help pay for innovative learning methods and materials to support students in their classrooms.

Learn more and apply online at our Bright Ideas Grant page. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Sept 14.

YEC trucks display student art

For an entire year, 8th grader Rachel Eckert of Fort Mill will have her artwork shown on each of YEC’s trucks. Eckert’s depiction of “The Power of Community” is now prominently displayed as a bumper sticker on each of the co-op’s vehicles.

Eckert, a student at Gold Hill Middle School in Fort Mill, won YEC’s second annual Co-op Magnet Design Challenge for middle school students ages 11–14. Young artist Eckert enjoys thinking creatively and making art in her free time.

“I’d like to be an artist or a doctor someday,” she shares. As this year’s winner, Eckert received $50 and the chance to have her art shown on all YEC vehicles until June 2023. Be sure to keep an eye out in the community for her artwork!

Want to participate next year? Learn more at our magnet contest page.

Creative young minds

Local artist colors for safety

The winner of YEC’s 2022 Linemen Gear Up for Safety Coloring Contest is Jordyn Hart of Fort Mill. Daughter of Lindsey and Joe Hart, the first grader loves to color and draw.

“She was just so excited to participate and couldn’t wait to hear who won,” Hart’s mom shares. As part of her prize package, Hart received $50 and a YEC hardhat, signed by our local lineworker heroes here at the co-op. She also got a tour of our grounds and line trucks!

Learn how to participate in next year’s Lineman Gear Up for Safety Coloring Contest.

Kids, play it safe this summer

Look for electrical hazards while you’re having fun in the sun

YEC is always looking out for its members, including our youngest. Kids, while you’re having fun in the sun, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.

• See a big green box? That green box might look fun to climb up and sit on, but it’s actually a transformer, just like the ones you see on overhead poles, supplying underground power to homes and businesses. The box and wiring are designed to protect you from the dangerous electricity inside; it’s not a toy. Our lineworkers wear special protective gear to work on these boxes, called padmount transformers. Beware and stay clear.
• If you see a green box that is open or appears to be damaged, please tell an adult, and be sure to stay away.
• If you are a tree climber, you might be at eye level with some of our power lines, or you might even see a branch touching the line. Lines like these carry large amounts of electricity that could fatally harm you. Pick another tree and never touch an electrical line!
• Flying a kite is fun in the summertime but beware of overhead power lines. Check your surroundings before you unwind and send your kite up in the wind.
• While the grass is green and the sun is shining, many families work in the yard or install a fence. A family member should always call before digging in the yard. Simply dial 811 to connect to PUPS, a free service to locate all underground utility services. Be cautious of underground lines that could harm you if struck by your shovel.

And don’t forget your sunscreen!

YEC continually invests in improved service and reliability for members. York Electric Cooperative has been fortunate to experience tremendous growth in its service territory with new residential subdivisions, as well as business and industry development. In response, your cooperative is continually investing in new technology and system upgrades to ensure a reliable, affordable and safe energy future for our members. We’re always looking ahead and looking out for you.

Here are some of the ongoing updates to our distribution system we’re undertaking to improve service and reliability.

Clover Substation Upgrades: Smart devices and new equipment are being installed to help increase reliability and outage restoration efforts.

Ogden Substation Upgrades: Smart devices and new equipment are being installed to help increase reliability and outage restoration efforts.

New Transmission Line: A new 100 kilovolt transmission line to serve our Flint Hill Substation is underway. YEC’s Flint Hill Substation will be completely dismantled in the fall of 2022 and rebuilt with more capacity, smarter equipment, and greater reliability. The work is scheduled to be completed during the spring of 2023. Construction started last month in July with grading.

N. Lancaster Substation Improvements: YEC is building a double circuit extension along Doby Bridge Road. This work increases YEC’s capacity to serve more members and improve service reliability.

Banks Street Improvement: Pole improvements and larger wire will be installed along Banks Street in Fort Mill to increase YEC’s capacity to serve more members and improve service reliability.

Rural Internet Project: Our Rural Internet Project is projected to be completed by summer of 2023. Through our partnership with Comporium, we will bring high-speed internet service availability to more than 5,000 unserved members in the area shown.

New Substations: YEC is building the Allison Creek Substation (blue star on map) and Springmaid Substation (green star on map) to meet growing demand and improve reliability in those areas.

Right of Way updates

Trimming continues across our service territory to keep trees and brush away from distribution lines. Not only does this increase reliability, but it also helps keep us safe in an outage situation. Crews will be working in the York area in the coming months, followed by parts of Kings Mountain State Park.

To see the details and view the planning maps, visit our Right of Way maintenance page.

Summer storm safety

Since 1941, we’ve been committed to keeping your lights on, rain or shine. We also want you to know your house will be cool, your phones will be charged and, most importantly, the electricity you use is safe. Despite our best efforts to prevent power outages, including our year-round process of trimming our rights-of-way and constant system improvements and testing, the weather sometimes has different plans.

During the summer months, severe thunderstorms are a common occurrence that can lead to extensive damage and extended outages. When storm-related outages sweep our territory, we want you to be prepared and know how to stay safe. That’s why we’ve updated our online Storm Center—a valuable library of information on emergency preparedness, YEC’s power restoration efforts, outage reporting methods and more. Help ensure you and your family stay safe this summer storm season by visiting our Storm Center.

Every year, YEC awards 10 $1,000 Touchstone Energy Scholarships to graduating seniors at each area high school. To apply, students must be served by the Cooperative. YEC also awards one $1,000 Technical Advantage Scholarship to a graduating senior attending York Technical College in the fall, and one $500 Work-Based Learning Scholarship to a senior participant at the Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center.

$1,000 Touchstone Energy Scholarships

Catawba Ridge High School

Sarah Taylor
Parents: Kimberly and Marvin Taylor
College: North Greenville University
Field of Study: Education

Clover High School

Dylan Taylor
Parents: Melissa and Rodger Taylor
College: Clemson University
Field of Study: Marketing and Sports Education

Fort Mill High School

Dorothy Augenbraun
Parents: Kimberly and Craig Augenbraun
College: Clemson University
Field of Study: Engineering

Indian Land High School

Bella Sikorski
Parents: Wendy and Jay Sikorski
College: Clemson University
Field of Study: Animal and Veterinary Science

Nation Ford High School

Megan Andrews
Parents: Allison and Harold Andrews
College: Mississippi State University
Field of Study: Architecture

Rock Hill High School

Andrew Beuch, Jr.
Parents: Elizabeth and Andrew Beuch, Sr.
College: Clemson University
Field of Study: Business Management

South Pointe High School

Jacob Bell
Parents: Erika and David Bell
College: Clemson University
Field of StudyWildlife and Fisheries Biology

York Comprehensive High School

Laney Reel
Parents: Leslie and Aaron Reel
College: University of South Carolina
Field of Study: Dance Education in the Honors College

York Preparatory Academy

Leah Watson 
Parents: Amy and Christopher Watson
College: College of Charleston
Field of Study: Biology

Legion Collegiate Academy

Alexis Goode
Parents: Christy and Eric Goode
College: University of South Carolina
Field of Study: Marketing and Visual Communications

Homeschool

Luka Milojkovic
Parents: Mirjana and Borislav Milojkovic
College: Anderson University
Field of Study: Biochemistry

$1,000 Technical Advantage Scholarship

Jacob Clark, Rock Hill High School
Parents: Jennifer Lusk and Chuck Clark
College: York Technical College
Field of Study: Business

$500 Work-Based Learning Scholarship

Kenneth Griffin, York Comprehensive High School
Parents: Alice and Kenneth Griffin, Jr.
College: University of South Carolina
Field of Study: Criminal Justice

Local teens experience leadership on Youth Tour

Brown named manager of Soda Pop Co-op

For students drawn toward leadership, Washington Youth Tour is the ideal experience.

Thanks to York Electric Cooperative, Jordan Brown, Landon Wolf, and Alaina Rinkes were among 49 South Carolina high school students sent by their electric cooperatives to Washington, D.C. in June. The experience went beyond a traditional school field trip. In addition to visiting the city’s monuments and memorials, the students started their own co-op and met with legislators and their staffs.

Brown, a rising senior at Fort Mill High School, was named the manager of the Soda Pop Co-op. Throughout the trip the co-op sold snacks and beverages to the students from the luggage bin of their charter bus between destinations and at the hotel in the evenings. Brown, who was hired by the co-op’s five student board members after an interview process, kept the “store” stocked and determined the hours of operation.

“I learned a little bit more about how to run a business,” says Brown. “I always thought I could, but it’s a little harder than you think it is to run a successful business. And I got to learn about the co-op model, which is very important.”

During their visit to the United States Capitol building, Brown, Wolf, and Rinkes were welcomed into Rep. Ralph Norman’s congressional office and met the Congressman on the Capitol steps later that day. For Wolf, it was an additional opportunity to thank Rep. Norman, who wrote a recommendation letter on his behalf to the U.S. Military Academy. Sen. Tim Scott and Sen. Lindsey Graham also came to the Capitol steps to speak with the students.

“It was really nice just to meet them and hear what they have to say,” says Wolf, who will be attending West Point this fall. “And to see what they’re doing right now to help our country.”

The students also visited the National Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They toured Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“During the changing of the guard it was a little rough because my grandpa had just died and he was in the Vietnam War,” says Rinkes, a student at Clover High School. “It gave me time to process, but also to appreciate our veterans more.”

Due to COVID-19 precautions, Washington Youth Tour 2022 is the first time in three years South Carolina electric cooperatives have been able to send students to the capital.

“This was a wonderful experience,” says Rinkes. “It’s literally life-changing.”