Author: Jennifer Cummings

PRESS RELEASE: Temporary interruptions to some electric cooperative power service were implemented this morning as South Carolina experiences unusually low temperatures.

The freezing weather had already raised demand for electricity to high levels, causing utilities to interrupt electricity service to businesses that have previously agreed to such curtailment—known as non-firm load. 

“Curtailing electricity—even for short periods like this morning—is the last thing we want to do during the holidays,” said Robert C. Hochstetler, CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative. “We’re working closely with Santee Cooper and Duke Energy to minimize inconvenience to co-op members while keeping the system sound.” 

Central aggregates the power supply for its 20 member cooperatives from several generating companies and diverse sources to reduce its dependency on any one supplier or source. But extremes in weather conditions can stretch all plans.

The cooperatives are operating load control programs in which thousands of members agree to having their water heaters or heating systems turned off for short periods of time without the loss of comfort or convenience. Thousands more members voluntarily participate in the Beat the Peak program in which they get notifications to reduce non-essential electricity use.

“When you have tens of thousands of members agreeing to that action, it makes a difference,” Hochstetler said. 

Power generating companies plan for peak system demand, but contingency plans are implemented to maintain required capacity and non-firm load is shed. These “rolling blackouts” are part of a plan utilities use to manage power supply during high demand times. Such emergency outages are necessary to protect the energy grid against longer, more widespread outages. 

As the sun rises, solar power is expected to contribute to power supply resources.

“This is just the type of challenge that reminds us that reliability is of utmost importance,” Hochstetler said. “That’s why we’ve been working diligently with other utilities to improve reliability of the system through improved resource planning.” 

High school juniors and sophomores can apply now for an experience they won’t forget. Horry Electric has two amazing trips planned this summer.

Washington Youth Tour (June 17-22): Juniors can experience Washington, D.C. with hundreds of students from across South Carolina and the country, meeting lawmakers and touring the sights. Horry Electric will cover your round-trip plane ticket, tours and meals. Click here to apply.

Cooperative Youth Summit (July 10-13): Sophomores will experience South Carolina’s capital like never before. Tour the Statehouse, meet lawmakers and see how co-ops are preparing for our state’s energy future. Plus, there will be fun visits to popular Columbia attractions like Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Click here to apply.

Both trips are all-expenses paid. All you have to do is apply. The deadline to submit your application is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31.

Contact Horry Electric’s Youth Tour Coordinator Toni Gore (toni.gore@horryelectric.com) with any questions.

The holidays are an exciting time and we know December is a busy month for everyone. This holiday season, simplify the way your pay your electric bill by enrolling in Horry Electric’s Bank Draft program.

This free, easy and convenient payment option allows you to pay your bill on time every month without writing a check or calling in to the payment line.

When a member signs up, Horry Electric will begin automatically drafting their checking or savings account for the amount of their monthly electric bill on the due date. Members will still continue to receive statements showing their kWh use and the amount due, but will not have to write a check or visit the office. There are also no convenience fees.

This month, any member who signs up as a new participant in the Bank Draft program will be automatically entered into a prize drawing for one of five $50 electric bill credits.

Members have until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, December 31 to sign up. You can sign up by logging in to the MyEnergy Online portal, clicking here, or calling (843) 369-2211 to speak to a member service representative during regular business hours. Members can also sign up via our free HEC mobile app.

The winners will be announced in early January. 

The contest rules are outlined below.

Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Bank Draft Sign-Up Competition & Prizes
Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions

1. No Purchase or Entry Fee Required.

2. Timing. The Bank Draft Sign-Up Competition & Prizes (“Promotion”) begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) on December 1, 2022, and ends at 11:59 PM ET on December 31, 2022 (the “Promotion Period”).

3. Overview. This promotion is a submission contest solely intended for members of Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“Cooperative”) who currently are not registered for Bank Draft but who register for Bank Draft during the Promotion Period. Interested parties (the “Entrant” or “Submitter”) may be:

a)     an individual member of the Cooperative (“Entrant”), or

b)     an individual member entering on behalf of a legally-registered organization or association that is a member of the Cooperative (“Submitter”).

Entrants and/or Submitters may sign up for Bank Draft, and five randomly selected Entrants will be awarded a $50.00 (USD) bill credit on their next bill from the Cooperative.

4. To Enter. Entrants and/or Submitters may enter online by visiting MyEnergy Online to sign up in the member portal, by calling us at 843.369.2211 during regular business hours, or by clicking here. Entrants and/or Submitters must enter only one submission. Entries submitted in violation of the contest entry rules will not be considered [be void]. All entries become the property of the Cooperative and will not be returned. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM ET on December 31, 2022, the official end date of the Promotion Period.

5. Eligibility. Entrant and/or Submitter must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at time of entry, and the Entrant and/or Submitter must be a member of the Cooperative.  The following are not eligible to participate: a) officers, directors, and employees of the Cooperative; and b) the immediate family members (spouse, parents, children, siblings, and their respective spouses) of Cooperative employees and household members with whom they may reside (whether related or not); existing members of the Cooperative who are currently registered for Bank Draft; members with poor credit. This Promotion is void outside of South Carolina and is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

6. Judging Criteria. Five winners will be randomly drawn from all properly submitted entries by January 10, 2022.

7. Prize Awarding. The five winners will be randomly selected and announced on or about January 10, 2022 from among all eligible entries received. The five winners will be notified in writing that the credit has been applied to their respective accounts.

8. Prizes/Odds. There will be five (5) prizes awarded: five $50.00 (USD) statement credits on the member’s next bill from the Cooperative. Odds of winning will be based on a random drawing from the total group of eligible submissions.

9. Terms/Conditions.

a) By submitting an entry, Entrant warrants and represents that he/she is a member of a South Carolina Electric Cooperative;

b) By submitting an entry, Submitter warrants and represents that he/she registered a legally-registered organization or association that is a member of the Cooperative;

c) The Cooperative reserves the right to disqualify any submission at any time in the event the Cooperative determines, in its sole discretion, that the submission is inappropriate, not in keeping with Cooperative’s image, or that an Entrant or Submitter has not otherwise complied with these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions;

d) By claiming a prize, the winner agrees that the Cooperative, and its officers, employees, members, affiliates, agents, and advertising and promotional agencies, [do not have any] have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind related to participation in this Promotion, or from acceptance or use/misuse of any prize offered;

e) Acceptance of a prize shall constitute the winner’s agreement that the Cooperative or its agent(s) may use and/or display the winner’s name, address (city, state only), likeness, entry (and content) and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes, without further consideration, except where prohibited by law;

f) You agree to release Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media platform and acknowledge that this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media platform;

g) All taxes on prizes (if applicable) are the sole responsibility of the winner;

h) Prizes are not transferable or assignable, except to a surviving spouse, or at the sole discretion of the Cooperative.

10. Direct Marketing. By entering the Promotion, Entrant acknowledges that he/she may receive various marketing or other information from the Cooperative or its affiliated member electric cooperatives regarding their products or services. If an Entrant does not desire to receive this information, an Entrant may opt out by calling 843.369.2211 or emailing Service@horryelectric.com

11. Sponsor. Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc., 2774 Cultra Road, Conway, SC 29526.

Void outside of South Carolina and wherever prohibited or restricted by law.

Horry Electric Cooperative’s W.I.R.E. (Women Involved in Rural Electrification) chapter is accepting applications for the 2023 W.I.R.E. scholarship to award to a freshman entering Coastal Carolina University or Horry-Georgetown Technical College..

Applicants must be an active member of Horry Electric or dependent of an active member. If a dependent, they must live in the home with the member.

The $1,500 scholarship is for one academic year. $750 will be awarded for the fall semester and the additional $750 will be awarded for the spring semester contingent upon meeting the G.P.R. requirement.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1, 2023. All applications must be received by 12 p.m. (noon). All applications received after Wednesday, March 1, 2023 are NOT eligible.

Click here to apply.

Contact susan.brown@horryelectric.com with any questions.

Take a step back in time. It’s September 1989, just a few months before Christmas. Summer is ending and fall is on the horizon. Then, on Sept. 21, Hurricane Huge rips through Horry County. The damage across the county, and South Carolina, is devastating. Homes are destroyed and many people are without power for more than a week.

Fast forward three months. December has arrived and people across Horry County are preparing for Christmas, after enduring the Category Four hurricane weeks prior. Almost beyond belief, an unprecedented snowstorm covers Horry County in over a foot of snow the week of Christmas.

The two intense weather events three months apart triggered a thought for Janice Ash Sialiano. At the time, she was volunteering with the American Red Cross, providing meals to families for several weeks throughout both natural disasters. Standing in a kitchen over a little stove, she and another volunteer wondered about the many people who don’t have a home or anywhere to go for Christmas.

A new Christmas tradition

Christmas dinner is a sacred time for families. A time to laugh, share memories and reflect on the things we’re thankful for. After the devastation and loss in 1989, Sialiano knew she had to create that same opportunity for those who don’t have a home or family with which to spend the holiday. What better way to do that than by bringing people together for Christmas dinner?

The idea for the Community Christmas Dinner was born. “We started calling the fire departments, emergency services, police and whoever could help us get meals out to whoever needed them,” says Sialiano. A local church allowed Sialiano and her team of volunteers to use their kitchen. Five hundred meals were provided to people in Myrtle Beach in the first year.

The event was so successful it’s become an annual Christmas tradition. The Community Christmas Dinner today is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. The organization has a board of directors and Sialiano serves as the president. The board is responsible for planning the event and working to coordinate volunteers across multiple counties.

Spreading love and cheer

This year marks the 34th Annual Community Christmas Dinner. “As the dinner has grown over the years, we’ve started expanding into neighboring cities and counties,” says Sialiano. “We went into Murrells Inlet, then into Georgetown and Williamsburg counties and now we’re in Dillon County.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Christmas Dinner hosted a sit-down meal, as well as delivery and pickup. “It was a huge event. We had Santa Claus, Pippy Longstocking, face painting and an amazing meal,” says Sialiano.

For the past few years, meals have been provided by delivery and pick-up only. This year, Sialiano and her team expect to feed over 14,500 people.

Serving up smiles

The Community Christmas Dinner takes pride in serving up a smile, along with a nearly two-pound meal. This year, the volunteers and chefs will be responsible for cooking 2,100 pounds of halved chickens and 4,000 pounds each of green beans, mashed potatoes and corn. With the help from the chefs at Crabby Mike’s restaurant in Surfside, volunteers package a full meal, and even to-go meals to help people and families in need.

“The owner of Crabby Mike’s, Mike Arakas, jumped in about 11 or 12 years ago. Since they run a daily buffet, it’s not a big deal for them to make thousands of half chickens for this event, like it would be for you or me,” Sialiano says.

Volunteers, church groups and businesses across Horry and neighboring counties also help with baking 14,000 servings of dessert.

“Each year, five or six ladies and their daughters come in and they’ll make a thousand cookies for us. They’ll put them in little packages. It’s something they look forward to every year because it’s their gift to the community,” says Sialiano.

Sialiano adds the event wouldn’t be possible without the hundreds of volunteers who elect to spend Christmas with their community.

“We have an amazing team of volunteers across the counties we serve,” Sialiano says. “The people who cook, deliver food and donate to this dinner are the reason it happens every year. They are the lifeline of this entire operation.”

Making a difference

Community events like this are the reason Horry Electric, and other South Carolina electric cooperatives, launched the Who Powers You contest this year. This contest is a way to recognize the unsung heroes making a difference.

Sialiano was selected as Horry Electric’s Who Powers You winner. She was awarded a $500 prize. “This $500 will pay for 150 to 200 meals for the Community Christmas Dinner,” she says. After being presented with her prize, she added she would be matching that $500 out of her own pocket to pay for an additional 150 to 200 meals for this year’s event.

“One of the seven cooperative principles that guide us is concern for community,” says Executive Vice President and CEO Danny Shelley. “The work Mrs. Sialiano and her team are doing is admirable and making an amazing impact in our community.”

As the local winner, Sialiano has been entered into the statewide Who Powers You contest for a chance to win $2,500.

Monetary donations are needed to make this event a continued success. If you’re interested in donating to this organization, visit the Community Christmas Dinner Inc. Facebook page. If you or someone you know needs a meal this Christmas, the Community Christmas Dinner Facebook page will post contact information after Thanksgiving. Horry Electric will share these posts to raise awareness for this event.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the entire Grand Strand area ahead of Hurricane Ian’s arrival. When the storm arrives, it is expected to be Tropical Storm Ian. Our service area will likely be impacted by tropical storm weather beginning late Thursday, September 29 and throughout Friday, September 30, according to local weather reports. Meteorologists are predicting strong wind gusts, heavy rain and isolated tornadoes. Members should prepare for potential power outages. Wind is our biggest enemy when it comes to power lines. Based on the severity of the storm, members could be without power for multiple days.

Horry Electric is preparing for severe weather and we encourage members to have an emergency plan in place. Have your emergency kit stocked with water, nonperishable foods, batteries and flashlights.

It is very important to stay up-to-date with local media outlets on inclement weather. If you have a medical condition requiring the use of special, electric-powered medical equipment, please make plans to temporarily relocate to a place that will not be impacted by the storm. Please consider backup oxygen tanks, a generator, or a place to evacuate until your service is restored.

The MyOutage text message alert program provides a convenient way to stay connected during a power outage.

You need to have a cell phone number listed on your account to be automatically enrolled in the program. You can do this by signing into the MyEnergy Online portal or by calling (843) 369-2211 and speaking to a member service representative. You will receive an enrollment text message the following day from 1 (844) 369-2767. Save this number in your contacts as MyOutage.

Text “OUT” to report an outage. In the event of a major storm, like Tropical Storm Ian, estimated restoration times may not be available. Outages from major storms may take multiple days to restore. We will work to keep you updated on outage restoration progress. We will also communicate this information on our Horry Electric Facebook page.

STAY CONNECTED:

Outage Map: View the Horry Electric Cooperative outage map.

Storm Preparedness Tips: Find storm preparedness and safety tips on Horry Electric’s website. You can find information on severe storms, generator safety, and more.

Report an Outage: If you experience a power outage, there are five ways to report it:

1. Text “OUT” to MyOutage at 1-844-369-2767
2. Call PowerTouch at 843-369-2212
3. Use the HEC mobile app
4. Access MyEnergy Online
5. Text OUTAGE to 352667