Author: Horry Electric

Horry Electric Cooperative is joining the Community Storage Initiative, a national effort to solve the challenge of energy storage with technologies and resources that are already available.

For decades the electricity industry has been researching energy storage technologies, such as utility-scale batteries, that can stockpile electricity for later use. As the industry develops more renewable energy resources, which are intermittent, the need for energy storage is becoming more pressing.

Community storage refers to utility-sponsored programs that coordinate electric storage resources available throughout the community, such as water heaters and electric vehicles. Many utilities already offer consumers incentives to lower their usage during times of high demand; community storage enhances and builds on those programs.

Community storage enables consumers and utilities to share the system-wide benefits of energy storage – environmental benefits, lower costs and grid optimization – in communities large and small across the country. Such programs maximize the value of distributed energy resources, many of which are already available to participate in energy storage programs through simple retrofits and program design.

“The electricity industry is undergoing a rapid transformation,” said James P. “Pat” Howle, executive vice president and CEO of Horry Electric. “By looking at resources available now and using them in a new way, we can find affordable solutions to some of our biggest challenges.”

The Initiative’s supporters include a wide array of energy, environmental and business interests. The Initiative members are already implementing community storage programs, and will be working together to develop and enhance those programs to fit changing energy needs.

To learn more: The Community Storage Initiative

THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING of the members of Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc., will be held at the HTC Center at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) on Tuesday, May 10,
at 7 p.m. The HTC Center is located at 104 Founders Drive, Conway, South Carolina. Action will be taken on the following matters:

1. The report of Officers, Trustees and Committees;
2. The election of Trustees;
3. All other business which may come before the meeting of members, including any necessary bylaw changes.

“We do have a proposed bylaw amendment to be considered by the members at the Annual Meeting this year,” says James P. “Pat” Howle, executive vice president and CEO of the Cooperative.  The amendment being proposed was included in the April edition of South Carolina Living magazine, it will also be published in the May edition and will be included on the printed program distributed to members as they register to participate in the Annual Meeting.

The proposed amendment is to Article IX of the bylaws; Non-Profit Operation. 

SECTION 9.02. Patronage Capital in Connection with Furnishing Electric Energy. Not inconsistently with Chapter 49, Section 33-49-460 of the Rural Electric Cooperative Act in the furnishing of electric energy the Cooperative’s operations shall be so conducted that all patrons will through their patronage furnish capital for the Cooperative. In order to induce patronage and to assure that the Cooperative will operate on a non-profit basis, the Cooperative is obligated to account on a patronage basis to all its patrons for all amounts received and receivable from the furnishing of electric energy in excess of operating costs and expenses properly chargeable against the furnishing of electric energy. All such amounts in excess of operating costs and expenses at the moment of receipt by the Cooperative are received with the understanding that they are furnished by the patrons as capital. The Cooperative is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each patron all such amounts in excess of operating costs and expenses.

PROPOSED ADDITION:  The Cooperative is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each patron all such amounts in excess of operating costs and expenses, subject to adjustment by reduction for any amounts incurred but not paid by the patron for services provided or credit given to the patron by the Cooperative.

PURPOSE: The addition of this language to the existing bylaw related to patronage capital establishes that the capital credit will depend on whether or not the member has paid what they owe to the Cooperative. This applies directly to bankruptcies and gives the Cooperative the ‘Right of Recoupment’. It protects the Cooperative and its members against the risk of losing capital in bankruptcy situations where orders are granted that eliminate debts, liens, etc.

“Voting on the proposed amendment is part of the business meeting agenda,” says Howle. Trustee candidates, because there is no opposition in any of the three positions up for election this year, will be voted on by acclamation during the business meeting.

 Registration at the Annual Meeting begins at 12 noon and each Cooperative member is urged to be present and take part in the meeting.

Each member who registers will receive a $15 credit on his or her electric bill. ONLY THOSE WHO REGISTER, IN PERSON, AT THE ANNUAL MEETING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF NOON AND 7 P.M. ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE REGISTRATION GIFT.

Members who register at the Annual Meeting will be automatically entered into the prize drawing and DO NOT have to be present at the time of the drawing to win!

 

 

Members participating in the Good Cents program are receiving letters from Horry Electric Cooperative as official notification that the Good Cents Program’s discount is being phased out in one-third increments over the next two years.

“The Good Cents Program and the discount were provided to Horry Electric members through Santee Cooper, our generation provider,” explains Eddy Blackburn, one of three employees in the energy management department of the Cooperative who worked closely with the program for several years. ” Santee Cooper has decided to phase out the funding of the program to both its own retail customers and to participating Electric Cooperative members throughout South Carolina,” he continues.

The initial reduction of the discount will take effect on July 1, 2016. The discount will be reduced by an additional one-third on April 1, 2017. The final one-third reduction will go into effect on April 1, 2018 and the Good Cents Program will be deemed officially closed and the discounts ended.

“In removing this program from our service offerings, we are committed to continuing to offer the energy advice and support our members have come to expect,” says Blackburn, citing  online Home Efficiency Analysis Tools; the MyEnergy Online member portal, which includes daily energy use monitoring, alerts and reminders; mobile apps and Advance Pay, a pay-as-you-go plan.

“Horry Electric is proud to advocate innovative ways to help educate members on energy efficiency in and around the home to save energy and money,” says Blackburn.

Members with questions are encouraged to call the Cooperative at 843.369.2211 and ask to speak to someone in Energy Management.

 

Horry Electric members will find the Spring 2016 edition of Current Word inserted with their monthly electric bill statement this month.

The content for this edition features the 2016 Annual Meeting of Members, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10.

The publication also features the convenient payment options available to members of Horry Electric.

Current Word is published periodically for members of Horry Electric Cooperative. News and information about the Cooperative, its programs and services is typically communicated in local content produced for readers and subscribers of  South Carolina Living magazine, which is published 11 months of the year; Facebook; Twitter and the Horry Electric Blog. The Cooperative also maintains various Pinterest boards of interest to members.

 

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS of Horry Electric Cooperative is set for Tuesday, May 10, on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. “We say it is your meeting, because it is one of the most important and best examples of the power of co-op membership,” explains James P. “Pat” Howle, executive vice president and CEO of the Cooperative, in his CEO column in the April 2016 edition of South Carolina Living magazine.

“We encourage members to come to the meeting and try to make it as convenient and as rewarding as possible for those who do,” he continues. “We have a quorum requirement, established by the South Carolina General Assembly, that must be met in order for business to be officially conducted.”  In the S.C. Code of Laws, Section 33-49-430, quorum is defined as five percent of all members. Registering and voting on cooperative business in person is part of the S.C. Code.

Proven success

Registration gifts that are sure to appeal to a large number of people, entertainment and prize drawings for registered members have proven to be successful methods for electric co-ops to meet the quorum requirement. “On top of that, we include a retired fleet vehicle as the grand prize,” says Howle.  This year, it is a 2010 Ford F-15.

As it has been for the past few years, the Registration Gift is an electric bill credit. The amount this year is $15. Remember that only members who register, in person, to participate in the meeting between the hours of noon and 7 p.m. on May 10 at CCU are eligible to receive the Registration Gift. Each registered member will not only qualify to get the Registration Gift, but will also be automatically entered into the prize drawing. Registered members do not have to be present at the time of the drawing in order to win.

Stay tuned, more to come

Official Notice/Registration Postcards will be mailed to members prior to the meeting. “Be sure to put it in a safe place,” advises Howle. “You’ll need to bring it, plus some form of photo ID, when you come to the meeting”.

Members who bring their Official Notice and their ID will be able to take advantage of the Speedy Pass lines at registration. Shuttles will once again run in a continuous loop from the registration locations to The HTC Center, which is where the entertainment, business meeting and prize drawing will take place.

The May edition of South Carolina Living will be mailed at about the same time as the Official Notice.”It is your guide to your Annual Meeting and includes all the details you’ll need for the big day,” says Howle.

The April 2016  edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to mailboxes mid-month, but the local content from Horry Electric is available now! You can access the online version of the main part of the magazine, too!

Horry Electric highlights include

• CEO Column: Your Annual Meeting is May 10
• Horry News: Places, everybody! It’s almost showtime; Annual Meeting Map
• Horry Extra – Rural Lady of the Year honored and Miss South Carolina speaks to Rural Lady Luncheon attendees
• Horry Extra  feature – How one of our 75 Acts of Kindness made a difference
• 75 Acts of Kindness – First 9 Acts spotlighted
• Horry Extra – Co-op returning $3 million in capital credits to members; Official Notice of Proposed Bylaw Change to be voted on by the membership at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Members

Horry Electric’s chapter of W.I.R.E. (Women Involved in Rural Electrification) is offering a $1500 scholarship to an eligible high school senior who plans on attending either Coastal Carolina University or Horry Georgetown Technical College in the Fall of 2016.  The applicant must be the child or dependent of a member of Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc. in order to qualify.

The scholarship award is for one academic year for an entering freshman. $750 will be given for the fall semester. An additional $750 will be given for the spring semester, contingent upon meeting the 2.5 GPR requirement.

Scholarship Criteria includes:

1. Applicant must be the child or dependent of a member of Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
2. Awards are for one academic year for an entering freshman.  $750 will be given in the fall semester and an additional $750 will be given for the spring semester, contingent upon meeting the G.P.R. requirement.
3. Scholarship recipient must have at least a cumulative 2.5 G.P.R. at the end of the first semester of college to receive the second semester scholarship. Copies of grades should be submitted to Susan Brown at the end of the first semester, when registering for the second semester.
4. Loans and/or college work-study awards received in addition to this scholarship do not reduce its full value in any way.
5. In accepting the scholarship, the student gives consent to the release of grades and other relevant information to the scholarship sponsor at the end of each semester.
6. All applications must be received by Horry Electric’s WIRE Group by Tuesday, March 1, 2016.
7. Applicants must be attending either Coastal Carolina University or Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Disbursement of these funds will be handled by CCU or HGTC as per their procedures.
8. In the event there is no qualified recipient, the scholarship is suspended for that year.
9. In the event the scholarship recipient receives the first $750 for the fall semester and does not maintain G.P.R. and/or drops out of school, the balance of the scholarship is suspended for that applicant and for the remainder of the school year/spring semester.
10. Financial need will be an important consideration in determining the winner.
11. Students may be asked to participate in an interview as a final step in this process. Completion and submission of an application is not a guarantee that every applicant will be granted an interview. Those selected for an interview will be contacted individually.

Applications have been sent to all high schools in Horry County and are available for students through the guidance counselor. Students can also download and print the application from this news story. All applications should be mailed to Mrs. Susan Brown – WIRE SCHOLARSHIP; Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Post Office Box 119; Conway, South Carolina; 29528-0119

Application deadline is Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Fax copies are not accepted. All instructions are specified on the application. 

Download and print the application

Questions?  Call 843.369.2211 or email Mrs. Susan Brown.

The February 2016 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to mailboxes mid-month, but the local content from Horry Electric is available now! You can access the online version of the main part of the magazine, too!

Horry Electric highlights include:

• CEO Column: 75 Acts of Kindness: Looking for applications for specific, one-time acts
• Horry News: Call 811 before you dig; Unclaimed Capital Credits posted online; Right-of-Way schedule
• Horry Extra – Update on Co-op Connections Healthy Savings
• Horry Electric History feature – “Miss Leo” ushered in a new era of member services
• 75 Acts of Kindness Application

When bitter cold hits, energy bills jump due to increased consumption.  Horry Electric’s rates have remained the same this winter. Members probably haven’t changed their thermostat setting. How on earth could the electric bill have doubled!?!?

This increase is due to the extra amount of electricity it takes to keep the inside of your home at the temperature you have set on your thermostat when the outdoor temperature is colder. Here’s how it works. The amount of energy used, called consumption, by furnaces, heat pumps or baseboard heaters is directly related to how long they run. Because they are connected to a thermostat, they run when the temperature drops a few degrees below the thermostat set point in your home. When the outside temperature is colder than normal, more heat is lost through the ceiling, walls, floors, and openings such as windows and doors. The thermostat senses this extra heat loss and operates the furnace more often to keep up with the heat loss. The longer the unit operates, the higher the energy consumption, which results in a higher electric bill.

A spike of higher energy consumption for a week or more due to colder weather can significantly increase your total bill.  We’ve been through an extended cold snap for the past several days. Electric bills are going to be higher.

Visit horryelectric.com and explore all the many tools available to members to get a better handle on energy use. We highly recommend tracking your daily energy use and signing up for daily alerts and reminders.  There isn’t much we can do about the weather, but we can each take control of how we use energy in our homes and businesses.

 

Helpful online tools for members:

• MyEnergy Online member portal
• TogetherWeSave
• Analyze my bill

Today is our 75th Anniversary! Commitment to community remains a focus. 

SINCE JANUARY 7, 1941, the success of our Cooperative has been directly related to the well-being of the communities we serve in Horry County. This year, we’re celebrating 75 years of
service, and we’re doing it by highlighting one of our core
values and guiding principles.

Commitment to community is a core value of Horry Electric and our
sister cooperatives that are a part of Touchstone Energy. It’s also an
important piece of the Seven Guiding Principles followed by all businesses
that operate using the cooperative business model.

Horry Electric has a long history of working to serve in the best interest of our membership and our community. What better way to celebrate our
75 years of service by highlighting that commitment by doing 75 Acts
of Kindness in 2016?

75 Acts of Kindness
Horry Electric Cooperative traditionally helps people in need by supporting local charitable organizations through employees who volunteer in our communities; through Operation Round Up and,
when possible, through general monetary donations.

To celebrate our history and our tradition of giving to the community
we’re going to be doing 75 Acts of Kindness with a value of up to $500
per act.

Recipients do not have to be members of Horry Electric, but they
must be located in Horry County. General local charities that benefit
HEC members are eligible, but they must submit an application for a
specific one-time project. Schools and school groups; churches and
individuals are also eligible to apply as long as the purpose of their proposed community service project benefits an individual or group of people in Horry County.

Funding process
The funding for this initiative is included in the 2016 budget for Horry
Electric’s 75th Anniversary. Funds requested must be for specific, one-time
acts. Applications are available online; at our main office on Cultra Road in Conway and at our Socastee office.

Applications will be accepted throughout the year and will end when 75 Acts of Kindness are complete.

We have an application review committee made up of employees who each represent the primary communities in which we serve. Throughout the year, as they review these applications and approve an individual Act of Kindness, we’ll keep you updated. The information will be published in the monthly magazine and/or through our social media outlets.

Tune in and join us in celebrating our anniversary and the 75 Acts of Kindness. It’s going to be quite a year!

HEC 75 Acts Of Kindness Application