York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Lineworkers

One-stop-shop co-op

It shouldn’t be a surprise to know service excellence for you is our top priority here at YEC. We’ve talked before about providing a level of comfort when you conduct business and making it easy to get your questions answered. But what if we were able to take it a step further and prevent your question altogether? We’re here to be your source for power and information. Look no further. If you have questions, rest assured we’re here to help.

YEC's Member Services Team
YEC’s member services chat team does an excellent job taking care of our members online. From left to right are Quasha Dunham, Celeste Burns, Anna Young, Jennifer Jenkins, Celeste Hamilton, Hannah Curtis and Cheyenne Davis.

In the May 2022 issue of South Carolina Living, you will find information to help empower you to take care of your account, use online tools to conduct your business, answer common questions about your service and show you easy ways to connect with our member services team without picking up the phone. We’ll also discuss steps we take to train employees to help troubleshoot problems that arise to mitigate any issues as quickly as possible and highlight information that you can use to better understand your membership, service and available options.

May is National Electrical Safety Month and we would be remiss if we didn’t point out that each aspect of our service focuses on your safety. Whether you are interested in learning more about generator safety or conducting online business, your co-op is behind the scenes making sure your health and account integrity remain secure.

Remember, we’re still here—just a phone call away—to support you if you can’t find what you need. We’re committed to being your one-stop shop for information, answering your questions and taking care of business from the first call or website search, and always looking out for you.

Paul Basha

Sincerely,

Signature

 

 

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

YEC teams compete in Lineman’s Rodeo

The 2nd annual South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo was held on March 25 and 26, 2022 at Horry Electric Cooperative in Conway. YEC’s teams of apprentice and journeyman linemen competed against other co-op lineworkers from across the state in a series of events that showcase the expertise, training, safety and experience needed within their trade. See your local linemen in action as they display the skills they use to serve you.

Group Shot of Linemen
Group Shot of Linemen
Fourteen of YEC's hardworking linemen competed in the S.C. Lineman's Rodeo, including (left to right) Lander Tritt, Joey Winters, Jay Robinson, Tyler Adams, Ethan Mitchell, Jackson Good, Hunter Reed, Ryan Putnam, Zhenya Deller, Stephen Trotter, Luke Lucas, Graham Hennessy, Dustin Victor and Alex Pittman.
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Photo Credit: Erin Powell

It’s a hot job: Lineworkers’ PPE does not protect them from the heat

Most of us have the luxury of dressing for summer weather when we’re outside. Breathable fabrics and short-sleeved shirts are not always an option for lineworkers.

Justin Parham
A York Electric lineworker, Justin Parham, works at the top of a pole on a sweltering day. Our crews take extra precautions on hot days to protect themselves from dehydration and heat-related illnesses. Erin Powell

Regardless of the temperatures and humidity they endure, York Electric crews are required to wear special personal protective equipment (PPE) while working around energized lines. They wear fire-retardant long-sleeved shirts and pants, steel-toed boots, rubber gloves, rubber sleeves covering their arms to their shoulders, hard hats and safety glasses.

Although the PPE our lineworkers wear helps keep them safe from the hazards of electricity, it can also contribute to dehydration or heat exhaustion. Aside from stocking the trucks with plenty of water and electrolyte drinks each day, YEC makes every effort to allow crews to begin earlier and avoid the extreme heat of our summer afternoons. However, outages don’t always occur in favorable temperatures.

YEC linemen can’t choose what time of day they’ll be at the top of that pole. But don’t worry—their priority is always to look out for you and to keep your lights on. They’ll be sweating so you don’t have to.

Lineworkers
YEC lineworkers Derrick Barrentine (left) and John Elliott take a break from their extra layers, putting equipment together on the ground. Since they are away from high voltage, they are able to remove their heavy rubber gear.

Why do we trim?

Your co-op spends time and money where it matters to provide you with the service you expect. Here are the top three reasons why trimming trees is an important part of our maintenance program:

  • To maintain reliability. Cutting trees away from the line helps to prevent service interruptions.
  • To create easy access. In an outage situation, time is of the essence. Keeping trees and shrubs away from poles and lines makes it easier to locate and repair damages.
  • Safety. Keeping vegetation away from powerlines provides a safer working environment for linemen, minimizing contact risks and hazardous conditions.

To find out where we are trimming and to see a map »

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[PDF] How Lineworkers Stay Safe

2 MB

First grader colors for safety, family

YEC announces that the 2021 Linemen Gear Up for Safety Coloring Contest winner is Landon Falls of Blacksburg. The son of YEC members Melissa and Chad Falls, Landon is a first grader at York Preparatory Academy. “I enjoy using lots of colors,” says Landon.

Landon Falls with his grandfather, Lewis Edwards
First grader Landon Falls sporting his new, official YEC hardhat, accomplishment with his Papa, retired lineman Lewis Edwards.

He is excited to win, but more importantly, he enjoyed making something for his late great-grandmother, Dora Covington, a lover of art. “I colored this for my MawMaw to make her smile while she was sick,” he says.

Landon also gave a nod to his retired lineman grandfather, Lewis Edwards, by writing “Papa” on the lineman’s uniform in his drawing. After Edwards worked for more than 40 years for the City of Rock Hill, including through Hurricane Hugo, the entire family shares a special place in their hearts for lineworkers. “I would either like to be a lineman or a storm chaser when I grow up,” says Landon.

Landon won $50 and a YEC hardhat, signed by several of our local lineworker heroes.

In memory of Landon’s MawMaw, Dora Covington.

You can be a lineworker, too!

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

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

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[PDF] Lineworker Safety Coloring Sheet

1.54 MB 26 downloads

 

Congratulations to our 2019 Linemen Gear Up For Safety winners, pictured (from left) with our YEC Lineman’s Rodeo Team: In first place, Jacqueline Mezzina, daughter of Marianna Mezzina; in second, Brooks Treble, son of Kelly Treble; and in third, Remi Bunn, son of Jen Bunn.