Looking out for you...

Looking out for you...

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York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Solar Energy

A greener energy future with GreenSC

YEC is looking out for you and a greener energy future. Learn how to help hold down power costs, employ smart devices to help monitor your energy use at home and invest in renewable energy with your local co-op.

We’re proud to be your trusted energy advisor and source for power and information.

Beat the PeakWhat is peak demand?

We all like to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, watch our favorite shows and keep our devices charged. Typically, we all do these same things at the same time, creating a demand for electricity. When the demand is the highest, it is known as a peak.

Beat The Peak is a free and voluntary program to help control energy costs for all cooperative members. On cold winter mornings and hot summer afternoons, we can Beat The Peak demand for electricity—together. Sign up today at energysmartsc.org/beat-the-peak.

ecobee SmartThermostat with voice controlSave energy, get rewarded

Help your co-op hold down power costs and get paid! YEC offers members the opportunity to purchase an ecobee3 lite or ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control at a discounted rate. If you are interested in purchasing a smart thermostat, or if you already use an ecobee or Sensi thermostat in your home, sign up online or visit yorkelectric.net/thermostats to get rewarded.

As a participant in YEC’s Smart Thermostat Program, you will allow the cooperative to control the thermostat during peak periods of energy use. Although members may override their thermostat control, allowing your co-op to control your device at least 60% of the scheduled times saves money and energy for everyone. Plus, at this rate, you get rewarded!

Members who opt-out of less than 40% of peak events will receive a $100 bill credit during the first year and $50 the second year and each year going forward.

Outdoor solar panel presentation with Scouts.
Energy Services Representative Brent Clinton explains solar energy to a local Boy Scout troop. “Even our youngest members are interested in our energy future,” says Brent, “YEC is always here to help our members learn more.”

Catch some rays

YEC knows solar is a hot topic and that’s why we’re prepared to help you make the choice that’s right for you.

Whether you want to install solar panels on your home or invest in renewable energy through our Community Solar farms, our Solar Advisory Program will help you make an informed decision on your investment.

Learn more about how your co-op can help you with solar » 

Beat the Peak Video QR CodeSneak Peak

Want to know more about Beat The Peak? Scan the code with your smartphone to watch our video.

YEC’s high-speed fiber internet project is well underway

York Electric Cooperative has partnered with Comporium to bring high-speed fiber internet to approximately 5,000 members in western York and parts of Cherokee counties.

For more information on when this service will be brought to your area, please visit us at yorkelectric.net/fiber.

Audrey Fisk Photo by Erin Powell

Audrey Fisk was the first member to get connected to high-speed internet. Fisk says, “My experience has been great so far. I couldn’t believe the difference in internet speed this service provides.”

Gregory Moyer Photo by Erin Powell

Gregory Moyer was the third member to sign up for service. “We’ve had a good experience with Comporium so far,” Moyer says. “They have been helpful and quick to respond to any questions or problems we have had. My wife and I work from home about half the time, so having high-speed internet has been a big help.”

Rita Beamguard (right) was the second member to sign up for broadband. “Everyone with Comporium has been so helpful, Beamguard says. “It is almost like having friends come into our home to set everything up. Having access to high-speed internet has been a huge help with virtual schooling.” Beamguard’s children, Jon McClain and Kylee, are grateful to attend online classes at home and to stream their favorite TV shows. Photo by Erin Powell

Interested in electric vehicles? YEC wants to hear from you!

Electric Vehicle Survey QR CodeMany consider the future to be electric, and that includes cars! Market share for electric vehicles (EVs) per total vehicle count is still low, but on the rise.

  • EVs account for 2% of vehicles in the United States.
  • EVs account for 0.2% of vehicles in South Carolina.
  • YEC has 371 EVs registered in our service territory.

As EV interest and purchases increase, we need your help to prepare for the future. Help your co-op serve you best by providing valuable feedback. Your voice matters and will help us create the best plan and rate structure to accommodate this new technology.

Scan the code at right with your smartphone or visit yorkelectric.net/EVsurvey to complete the survey!

YEC's solar energy expert, Brent Clinton, inspecting power meter.
Photo by Erin Powell

As solar energy becomes more prevalent in our area, your cooperative is here to help as your trusted energy advisor.

Are you interested in installing panels on your home? Let York Electric Cooperative be your source of information. We will help evaluate the solar company’s offer, provide a cost analysis for you and guide you through the entire process.

Solar energy expert Brent Clinton (below) can give you the facts and help you make the right choice for your home. Contact him at (803) 628-5554 or to schedule a meeting.

Solar power supply deals move toward construction

Central Electric Power Cooperative, the power supplier for South Carolina’s electric cooperatives, has completed agreements with four solar developers to build five renewable energy projects in South Carolina. The solar-generated power to serve Central’s wholesale power needs — eventually as much as 308 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity — will be built near Georgetown, Summerville, Hemingway and outside of Aiken. A remaining 117 MW share of the projects has been contracted by Santee Cooper, bringing the total developments to 425 MW.

Solar PanelsThe power purchase agreements (PPAs) with independent solar developers were signed at fixed prices for up to 20 years.

Last year, the Central and Santee Cooper issued a joint request for proposals to developers for up to 500 MW. They evaluated 58 bids representing 3,625 MW total. Santee Cooper proposed developing the renewable power supply as a joint resource, but Central determined it would be more cost-effective to pursue its own contracts, even if the same developers contracted with Santee Cooper. The final capacity size totaled 425 MW.

“This is one common approach used by utilities to add renewable energy to their portfolio,” said Robert C. Hochstetler, Central’s CEO. “Central gets long-term flexibility as well as lower pricing of renewable resources for the benefit of our member-cooperatives.”

The solar developers building the projects are Birdseye Renewables Energy, Ecoplexus, Johnson Development Associates and Silicon Ranch. The developers build and own their respective projects and the utilities buy the energy output.

Solar power generation should be online sometime in 2023.

Below are Central’s power purchase agreements for its load share ratio:

Silicon Ranch (SR)
Project Name(s): Lambert 1 & 2
Two 72.5 MW AC solar projects located near Georgetown

Johnson Development Associates (JDA)
Project Name: JDA
54.4 MW AC solar project located near Summerville

Birdseye Renewables Energy (BRE)
Project Name(s): Chester White
54.4 MW AC solar project located in Aiken County

Ecoplexus, Inc.
Project Name(s): Hemmingway
54.4 MW AC solar project located in Hemingway

MW = megawatt, AC = alternating current

[PDF] Community Solar Application Terms

Community Solar Subscription Application
East York Industrial Community Solar Farm

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“Cooperative”) is implementing a community solar subscription program (the “Solar Program”) as more fully described herein to provide qualifying subscribers (each, a “Subscriber”) the opportunity to subscribe to a portion of the output from a community solar farm commissioned by Cooperative in cooperation with Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. and a third-party developer. The terms and conditions below (the “Terms and Conditions”) set forth in this subscription application (the “Subscription Application”) set forth the participation requirements and details related to the credit Subscribers may receive by participating. By signing below, Subscriber agrees to comply with and be bound by the Terms and Conditions.

[PDF] YEC Community Solar FAQ

You Can Go Solar Without Installing Panels on Your Property

You can go solar without installing panels on your property Community Solar gives members the opportunity to share in the benefits of solar power without the cost and maintenance of installing panels.

Shining New Year: Solar through the power of community

As we ring in the New Year, YEC’s community solar program is shining brighter. It has become more compelling since our Lesslie Community Solar Farm began energy production in September of 2016. The model has rapidly captured members’ interest to the level that we now have a waiting list which continues to increase monthly.

YEC Community Solar

We have worked diligently to find a viable site to build a second farm to meet your needs. I’m excited to announce our efforts will come to fruition this spring. The 180 kilowatt (kW) East York community solar farm will be constructed in the East York Industrial Park located off Park Place Road in York just south of American Eagle Wheel. We project the farm will be built by April depending upon the permitting process and weather conditions.

Investing in clean, renewable energy is important as we grow into the future, and community solar farms offer members an opportunity to invest in solar energy without the cost, hassle, and installation of solar equipment on their home. We see this not only as an investment in the future of energy, but as a way to accommodate the needs and expectations of our membership.

Members can participate for as low as $130 to start the program. Monthly billing will follow the initial fees at the rate of $12 per KW subscription. Subsequently, participating members will receive a solar credit on their bill at the rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), which will be based upon the amount of energy the farm produces proportional to their kW subscription.

Our number one goal at YEC is to look out for you and to continue to serve you well. Our industry is changing and so are your needs. We’re not content to only deliver power. We also want to be a reliable resource in other ways, helping you make informed decisions regarding energy-related decisions. In order to do so, we listen to your needs; which improves our understanding, builds trust, strengthens our relationship and fosters cooperation.

Paul Basha, YEC President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Learn more about community solar or other programs we offer, or call (803) 684-4248. Also, if you are considering installing solar panels, please contact us so we can give you the facts about solar and recommend a reputable dealer.

We are here for you!

Paul Basha

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Asplundh’s crews clearing rights of way helps YEC provide safe and reliable electric service. Photo: Oliver Dowdle

Staying Trim

YEC’s right-of-way (ROW) maintenance program helps to reduce outages that can occur in rain, snow or any other weather. Tree trimming helps us clear space around power lines, protecting them from tree limbs and underbrush that can lead to downed lines. Keeping the wilderness back takes constant attention, but it helps keep the power on for you and our linemen safe. See a detailed map of the ROW schedule planned for the first quarter in the Biggers Branch substation area. Questions? Call (803) 684-4248.
Related Topics:
Community Solar
Right-of-Way Schedule