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 brent.clinton@yorkelectric.net 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

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

Members can purchase locally generated, renewable energy

UPDATE: Construction is now complete and energy production began the first of September, 2016. All 50 kW of the community solar farm has been sold. YEC is in the process of looking for a site to build a second farm.

YEC Community SolarA new program from York Electric Cooperative will soon allow members to invest in solar energy without actually installing panels on their home.

Under the cooperative’s Community Solar program, available in June, YEC members can sign up to purchase power that will be generated at a 50-kilowatt (kW) solar farm in Rock Hill located near the Galleria Mall.

YEC members can sign up now to purchase some of the solar farm’s renewable energy output. Pricing is:

  • Up-front charge of $100 per kW unit
  • Monthly charge of $12 per kW unit
  • Monthly credit of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
  • One-time administrative fee of $30

Donna Dessaint, YEC member services representative and the co-op’s point person for its renewable-energy offerings, says the Community Solar program offers an affordable, low-risk way to benefit from solar energy without the hassles often involved in roof-top solar installations.

“Participating members avoid designing, permitting, installing, maintaining and insuring their own photovoltaic solar array,” Dessaint notes.

Members benefit, she adds, based on how much solar power they buy.

“Their Community Solar power purchases would offset part of their monthly bill. They would get a credit on their bill, based on the portion of ownership they have in the solar farm.”

York Electric is offering the program in response to member interest, Dessaint says. While the cooperative also assists members who want roof-top solar, consumer research conducted by South Carolina’s electric co-ops shows much stronger interest in Community Solar, she says.

“Many people who expressed interest in solar power recognize the benefits of the Community Solar approach,” she says. “Research in South Carolina has shown that the cost per kilowatt for Community Solar is roughly half that of roof-top solar. You get a better return on your investment by investing in Community Solar.”

Community Solar programs are being introduced by York Electric and other cooperatives around South Carolina. The state’s 20, consumer-owned, independent co-ops have collaborated through Central Electric Power Cooperative, their jointly owned power supply aggregator, to design solar programs for S.C. co-op members.

Donna Dessaint, a YEC member services representative, in front of the solar array at the co-op's Fort Mill office. Dessaint is the point person for the co-op's new solar programs. Photo: Joyce Baker
Donna Dessaint, a YEC member services representative, in front of the solar array at the co-op’s Fort Mill office. For details about the Community Solar program, contact Donna at (803) 818-5213. Photo: Joyce Baker

 

SIGN THEM UP!

These Fort Mill residents are eager for Community Solar

YEC member, Hitesh Patel
Hitesh Patel

Hitesh Patel and Cliff Toole live in different parts of YEC’s service area but face a similar challenge: They both wanted to add solar panels to their homes but just couldn’t make it work.

In Fort Mill’s Sutton Place neighborhood, Patel ran into neighborhood restrictions. “For my house, I was told I cannot install anything on the roof,” he says.

A YEC member for about eight years, Patel has been in touch with the co-op since YEC started gauging member interest in solar options in 2014. He’s pleased that YEC is offering Community Solar.

“What I liked about it is it’s a solar farm. It’s maintained. You don’t have to worry about the maintenance, or calling people–if something’s broken, they’ll take care of it. And you get reimbursed [for the solar power you purchase] on your bill.”

YEC member, Cliff Toole
Cliff Toole

Over in Springfield area of Fort Mill, Cliff Toole had looked into roof-top solar, too. “My house location is not well-situated to install panels,” he says.

Trees would block the sunlight, Toole says, and the pitch of his roof wasn’t right. Plus, he notes, “The house wasn’t built at the correct angle to the sun.”

A co-op member since 2009, Toole says the Community Solar panel helps him achieve a goal to cut back on his personal contribution to the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. “For me personally, it’s always about reducing my [carbon dioxide] footprint,” he says.

Patel is likewise pleased to have an easy way to invest in solar power. “It’s clean energy,” he says. “You can help with the cause for that.”

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[PDF] Community Solar Application Terms

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[PDF] YEC Community Solar FAQ

250 KB 1545 downloads

 

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Community Solar FAQ

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What is community solar?

Solar communities are groups of solar panels kept at one location. They offer members an opportunity to invest in solar energy without the cost, hassle, and installation of solar equipment on their home. The return on their investment is shown as a credit on their electric bill.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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How does community solar work?

Members subscribe to the output from YEC’s community solar site for a 20-year period, choosing the number of kilowatt (kW) units for their subscription. One kW unit will produce approximately 150 kWh per month. You can add more kW units at any time, as long as they are available.

When energy production begins, you will receive a portion of the production from the solar community each month, based on the number of kW unit subscriptions on your account.

Members pay a portion of the cost per kW unit upfront, then a monthly subscription fee is charged as a line item on the electric bill. The correlating output of the subscribed kW units is credited back to the member at 10¢ per kWh. Members pay a one-time $30 administrative fee for participating in the program.

  • Subscriptions Upfront Charge: $100 per kW
  • Monthly Unit Charge: $12 per kW subscription
  • Monthly Credit: 10¢ per kWh
  • One-time $30 administrative fee
Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Who can participate?

Any YEC member in good standing may participate in the Community Solar program on a first come, first served basis. This excludes residential net metering and Advance Pay accounts.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Am I buying a portion of the community solar farm, or just the energy from it?

Members are subscribing to the energy produced by the solar farm in relation to the number of kW units to which they subscribe.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Are there participation term limits?

The overall program term is 20 years. The minimum term participation is 2 years, and requires a 30-day notice of cancellation.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Is there a limit to the number of kW units to which I can subscribe?

A member must subscribe to at least 1 kW unit, but cannot subscribe to more than 5 kW units.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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What is the average production per year?

YEC’s community solar array produces approximately 50 kW per month, which is roughly equivalent to the energy used by 7 average homes in YEC’s service area. However, it is important to note that solar production will vary from month to month based on weather and time of year.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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How does the cost of community solar compare to the installation of solar panels on my house?

While the cost of installing solar panels on a home varies greatly from house to house, YEC has attempted to keep the Community Solar pricing in line with the average cost of putting solar panels on a home.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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If my solar subscription produces more energy than I use, does YEC buy it back?

Yes! If your subscription produces more energy than your home consumes in one month, you will see a credit on your account, regardless of the amount.

Categories: Community Solar FAQ, Solar Power FAQ
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How do solar tax credits work?

YEC will use tax credits associated with the Community Solar program which are figured into the program’s pricing.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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What if a storm damages the community solar equipment?

If the community solar arrays are damaged during a storm, members will receive a proportionate share of the energy produced by any non-damaged panels while repairs are made.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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What happens if I move?

If a Community Solar member moves from one home served by YEC to another home served by YEC, the solar energy subscription moves with the member.

If a member moves out of YEC’s service area, the subscription will terminate; the upfront charge paid upon beginning the program is not refundable.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
Related Topics:
Community Solar Farm 
Renewable Energy 
MySCSolar.com

 

Co-ops develop MySCSolar.com to help consumers

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

York Electric and South Carolina’s 19 other electric co-ops are shining a light on solar energy with a new informational website for consumers, MySCSolar.com. The site includes information about solar basics, finding an experienced, certified contractor to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, a Do the Math page that gives tips to size a PV system for a home, information about financing and tax incentives and a calculator to determine estimated costs and savings. Other sections include a Final Checklist & Questions and provide information about Energy Storage and interconnect requirements and applications.

MySCSolarLearn more online

You can also access MySCSolar.com through a link in YEC’s Renewable Energy section, which also features information about earlier solar initiatives and our Green Power program. As you’ll see, these are not insignificant efforts. Just as electric co-ops like YEC have built our reputation as a trusted source for reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity for almost 75 years, for the last 11 years, we’ve been offering our members a way to support energy fueled from renewable resources with Green Power.

Nationwide, electric co-ops are renewable energy leaders. Co-op capacity includes power generated from wind, solar, small hydro, biomass, landfill gas and geothermal installations. By supporting a wide range of fuels for electric power, YEC and cooperatives nationwide have always strived to reduce costs and keep rates low while ensuring reliable service.

A renewed commitment

Last year, YEC rolled out several programs—all completely voluntary, I might note—to offer interested members a way to support renewable energy. We’ve always stressed our commitment that members will not be subsidizing our renewable energy programs. Our position has always been that both solar and wind must represent viable alternatives in order for York Electric to embrace them.

We’ve always hoped that advances in technology would help this come to pass. Now that technological improvements, lower prices and a new state law have paved the way to making residential solar energy systems more accessible to South Carolina homeowners, we’re continuing our commitment to providing the most affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally sound electricity.

Visit MySCSolar.com soon! Let us know if you have any questions. And, if some of our earlier renewable energy initiatives interest you, contact Member Services Representative Donna Dessaint at (803) 818-5213. Donna is our point person for YEC’s renewable energy programs.

We’ll have even more good news to share with you in the coming months about projects now in the planning stages.

Shine on!

 

Paul Basha

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Related Links:

MySCsolar.com
Renewable Energy
Green Power