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We want to hear from you

8x10 2CEO MESSAGE
JANUARY 2020 as printed in South Carolina Living Magazine

Daniel B. Shelley, III
Executive Vice President and CEO

WE LIVE in a device-driven world. Our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and an assortment of other devices help us communicate and connect. Companies spend billions pushing out a steady drumbeat of messages and information, and we are constantly bombarded with one-way communication. But is anyone listening on the other end?

At Horry Electric Cooperative, we are not only listening, but we are also eager to hear from you. Whether you text us, respond to a survey or social media post, send an email, or simply stop by and chat in person, we thrive on your feedback. Connecting with you helps us keep pace with our community’s priorities and needs.

Because we are a cooperative, we have a different way of operating. Horry Electric exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to you, the members of the co-op. Equally important is our mission to enrich the lives of the members we serve. We hope you
will consider us not only your energy provider and advisors but also as a local
business that supports this community and powers economic development and
prosperity for the people.

We believe communication is two-way. We provide a lot of information in a variety of ways including text messaging, South Carolina Living magazine, several social media channels and even periodic email blasts. We ask for and invite feedback through all of those channels, as well as in person and by phone.we are social

We also conduct The Cooperative Difference Survey each year to gather feedback so we can plan for new initiatives, technical upgrades and improvements on existing co-op programs and services. Our planning is led by local members just like you who understand the needs of the community and are looking out for the long-term
interests of the larger community.

We are in the midst of significant changes in the energy sector, as technology and the drive for more renewables and a more balanced energy mix is impacting long-term planning. These are complex issues that we will be navigating in the coming years. This is why it’s so important that we hear from you and other community members as we plot our course for the future. We can only improve, adapt and effectively plan for the future if we have two-way communication.

For our co-op and community to thrive now and in the future, we depend on hearing from you. I hope you will connect with us and let us know your perspective. We’re listening.

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September 2019 SCL – Horry edition is online!

september 2019 coverThe September 2019 edition of South Carolina Living magazine has been uploaded to horryelectric.com!  It will be delivered to the mailboxes of subscribing members this weekend.

The main part of South Carolina Living magazine, which can also be found online includes the usual recipes, a list of festivals and events, plus a few feature articles about interesting people and places in our own state!

The September 2019 edition has six pages dedicated to local news about your co-op.   Highlights include: 

  • CEO Column – Are you cybersecure? We’ll be raising awareness in October.
  • Trio digs into abnormally high energy use/Home Energy Advisor
  • The importance of a lineman’s gear – It’s so we can go home to our families
  • Prayer for grace and mercies – a continuation of our series on the Local People Serving You at Horry Electric; Kolton Wade
  • Cooperative Youth Summit: A look into co-ops from the perspective of our student representatives

 

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The cooperative difference

Note:  James P. “Pat” Howle, executive vice president and CEO of Horry Electric, shared his thoughts about the sense of pride we all feel on July 4th and the one he hopes we all feel for our cooperative in his column in the July 2018 edition of South Carolina Living magazine.

annual meeting colorIt’s all about relationships

No other day of the year inspires quite the sense of patriotism as Independence Day. From the annual F-16 and vintage military aircraft Salute from the Shore along the Grand Strand to the local parades, the family picnics and neighborhood gatherings, all the way through to the grand finale of the fireworks displays, you can’t help but feel a swell of pride.

Even when the fireworks fade, the spark of patriotism lingers in our hearts and minds. I hope you feel that same kind of pride about your cooperative. After all, you are a member and that makes all the difference.

Many businesses use the word “member” to describe their customers. Businesses like  Sam’s Club or Costco or even American Express use the word to give customers a sense of belonging. You pay a fee to buy their goods or services, but that is really all you get out of the “membership.” You have no right to vote for representatives on the Board of Trustees or the chance to participate in the business in a meaningful way.

We are connected

Co-ops of all types are founded on seven cooperative principles that give us guidance and strategic direction. If we do it right, a strong relationship is established between the co-op and its members.

We want to get it right. Our relationship with you is as important to us as the quality of electric service we provide. It is fundamental to our core business.

We are connected to our members in a variety of ways. There is a business relationship that serves you (the member) and the co-op. Since we are solely owned by people in the
community, we have a mutual interest to ensure that members, the co-op and our community do well and prosper.

Our professional relationship makes research, education and training critical functions for the employees, trustees and management team at Horry Electric. We are accountable to our members. Falling short in any of these three areas is unacceptable.

Communication is key

In our personal relationship with our members, communication is key. As an owner of the co-op, you have a right to know how it operates and how decisions are made that directly impact you.
One of the best ways to keep up with what is going on is doing exactly what you’re doing now–reading South Carolina Living magazine. We also have a web site members can access, plus a few social media channels to share news and information.

Being open and transparent in our communications and conducting business with integrity and fairness builds trust. We know we have to earn that trust every single day.

Powerful human connection

Most of you know our history. We’ve been rooted in this community for more than 75 years. Our business model is solid, and our success can be attributed to the human factor.

It takes all of us: the employees, the management team, the board of trustees, the members and our community to make sure the principles and values we share do not
fade over time. You get electric service from us, but we get our power from you – our members!

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April edition of South Carolina Living online NOW

The April 2017 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to mailboxes of subscribing members mid-month. Horry Electric’s local content, as well as the main part of the magazine, are both available online NOW!

Highlights include:HORRYAPRILCOVER

  • CEO Column:  Find out what you’re missing at the Annual Meeting
  • Annual Meeting Map of Registration and Voting locations at Coastal Carolina
  • Beat the Peak!  Sign up today and Get the Message!
  • Rural Lady of the Year Feature: Janell Lewis becomes 39th Rural Lady of the Year
  • After-hours and weekends, we’re still ‘on call’ Horry Electric’s System Control is on duty, 24/7/365.
  • Co-op returning $3.3 million in capital credits to members

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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COMMUNITY SOLAR IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Community Solar Logo_Horry_SQAt the beginning of the year, James P. “Pat” Howle, executive vice president and CEO of Horry Electric Cooperative,  announced the co-op was ‘very close’ to being able to offer Community Solar. “We built a community solar array on our property across the street from our main office in Conway last month,” he said in his monthly column in the January edition of South Carolina Living magazine.”As soon as everything is in place, we’ll be letting members know that we’ve begun accepting subscriptions to purchase a share of the energy that will be produced and distributed through the power grid.

The time is NOW! 

Access to community solar through Horry Electric Cooperative is easy. “We’re doing all of the heavy lifting,” says Howle. “Our plan takes the worry out of construction, maintenance and even zoning restrictions.”

The community solar array has been built and has already started producing electricity. All members have to do is decide how many blocks of solar power they want to subscribe to on a monthly basis. One block is equal to 150 kWh per month and the maximum number of blocks available per member is 5. “We have to cap the number of blocks per member so more members will have a chance to participate,” says Howle.

A subscription agreement needs to be completed by each participating member and a one-time, up-front, non-refundable charge of $100 will be collected for each block subscribed to by the member. “Participating members will begin seeing a monthly charge of $25 per block on their electric bill and a monthly credit based on how much energy is produced by the solar far,” explains Howle. The average is expected to be 150 kWH.

Want to learn more?  You can read all about it in Horry Electric’s local news in the March 2017 edition of South Carolina Living Magazine. You can also visit Horry Electric’s Community Solar page on horryelectric.com

Have questions? Access our Community Solar Frequently Asked Questions or give us a call at 843.369.2211 during regular business hours. You may also send us an email to our email address for service and billing questions. Limited-offer-PNG-HD

SPECIAL OFFER TO THE FIRST 100 MEMBERS TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE! 

Horry Electric will waive the $100 non-refundable upfront charge to the first 100 members to sign up for one block of power from Community Solar. If a member wants to buy more than one block, they will be required to pay the upfront $100 non-refundable fee per additional block.

Community Solar is available to any Horry Electric member with regular residential service on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Advance Pay services are ineligible at this time. 

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March edition of SCL features Community Solar

The March 2017 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to mailboxes of subscribing members mid-month. Horry Electric’s local content, as Cover of Horry Electric March edition of SCLwell as the main part of the magazine, are both available online NOW!

Horry Electric local highlights include:

  • CEO Column – The benefits of Community Solar
  • Horry News – Operation Round Up update; Looking for teachers for Bright Ideas and Unclaimed Capital Credits posted online
  • Horry Extra – Call before you dig and Right-of-way Map
  • Community Solar – It’s here!
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February edition of South Carolina Living is available NOW

The February 2017  edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to mailboxes of subscribing members mid-month. Horry Electric’s local content, as well as the main part of the magazine, are available online.

you-can-help-beat-the-peak
Horry Electric’s  new Beat the Peak program is featured in the February edition of the magazine.

Horry Electric local highlights include:

  • CEO Column – Managing energy costs; New program helps all members save money
  • YOU can help Beat the Peak
  • Horry Extra – Update on prescription savings through Co-op Connections
  • If meters could talk
  • Energy Star Buyers Guide – Purchasing Energy Star-certified appliances and electronics is a great way to save energy in your home!
  • You’ve never had so many convenient ways to pay your co-op bill! 
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June edition of South Carolina Living is available online; due in mailboxes soon

The June 2015 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to the mailboxes of members and subscribers mid-month, but it’s available online NOW!june2015horrycover

Horry Electric local highlights include:

  • CEO Column: In case you missed it: quorum met; successful event
  • Horry News: Horry Electric guys rocked at Lineworker Rodeo; HEC Youth Tour delegation 2015; Making additions to your home? Include us in your plans!
  •  WIRE, Horry knitters help displaced seniors get cozy again
  • A fresh crop of Young Farmers
  • Co-op Connections: Skip on over to Skip’s Grill and chill out!

 

Other highlights from the magazine include: 

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March edition of South Carolina Living available online

The March 2015 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will soon be delivered to the mailboxes of members and subscribers,  but you can view it online NOW!horrymarchcover

 HEC local highlights include:

  • CEO Column  Working hard, working smart: Linemen are geared up for safety and equipped with know-how
  • HEC hosting free workshop for K-12 STEM teachers March 21
  • HorryElectric.com has new look
  • Teachers, let’s see how creative you can be!  Bright Ideas deadline is June 1
  • Watching for wildfires – a 30,000 acre blaze in 1976 set the Horry County record
  • Rising deductible plans an opportunity for  Co-op Connections® cardholders – always present both your insurance card and discount card to find the lowest price because every dollar counts
  • Co-op Connections® can benefit golfers
  • Got spring fever?  Remember to ‘look up and around’ before planting– tips for landscaping around overhead and underground electric equipment
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South Carolina Living for February 2015 packed with news and information

febsclcoverThe February 2015 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will  be delivered to the mailboxes of members and subscribers mid-month,  but you can view it online NOW!

HEC local highlights include:

  • CEO Column  Always call before you dig: Projects big or small; make sure you call
  • Operation Round Up Report: HEC members generously helped 208 neighbors in need with $54,000 in aid during 2014
  • WIRE Jenny Ballard Opportunity Scholarship deadline is June 1
  • In Burgess, memories of another time – Mules and oxen helped bring co-op power to the Freewoods, member says
  • She ‘loved everything on the farm’ – except for one thing – Annie Plowden remembers growing up on her family’s farm in Burgess’ Freewoods
  • Right back where he started – He followed opportunity up North, then followed his instincts back to Burgess – and farming – featuring Cad Holmes.