The June 2017 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to the 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!
Horry Electric local highlights include:
CEO column – In case you missed it: Quorum met, another successful event – Annual Meeting report
Horry News – WIRE’s gifts will comfort displaced seniors; Horry native newest members of Trust Board; Lineman Rodeo results
Operation Round Up report and sign-up form
Restoring service after the storm – goal is to get service back on ASAP and what to do if your electric service is damaged
Annual Meeting photographic highlights
Community Solar – update on the program, featuring members who jumped at the chance to participate!
Starting today, members of Horry Electric Cooperative can sign up to receive alerts asking them to reduce their energy use during times of peak demand for electricity.
“The co-op has been managing peak demand on the system for many years,” says James P. “Pat” Howle, executive vice president and CEO for Horry Electric. “We regularly track energy use on the system and go into what we call ‘load control’ when the peak demand for electricity hits.”
“Think of it as rush hour for electricity,” says Penelope Hinson, spokesperson for Horry Electric. “There are times in the day when you know traffic is going to be bad as people rush to work or school in the mornings and then rush home at the end of the day,” she continues. “To save time, gasoline and sometimes aggravation, it’s best to avoid being on the road during those times if you can arrange your schedule to travel during other times of the day.”
“It’s pretty much the same for energy use,” says Hinson. “There are times of the day in summer and winter when people are going to be doing tasks that increase energy use on the system.” The usual peak times for energy use are 6-9 a.m. in the winter and 3-8 p.m. in the summer.
Horry Electric has been managing peak demand for many years through voltage reduction. “On top of that, we have 5,501 members participating in our water heater load management programs,” says Howle. “Through those programs alone, we’re able to shave over 2,200 kilowatts of peak load per peak incident during summer months and over 3,800 kilowatts of load per peak incident during winter months.”
“With member participation in the Beat the Peak program, we can have an even bigger impact on controlling load and avoiding peak demand,” says Reed Cooper, manager of engineering. “When members receive the alerts, all we’re asking them to do is shift energy consumption from times when demand for electricity is highest.”
When demand for electricity rises, so do the costs. “When the cooperative purchases large amounts of energy during peak periods over the course of a year, it puts upward pressure on the electricity rates the co-op and our members pay,” says Howle. “By ‘beating the peak’, we can all save a significant amount of money by keeping wholesale power costs low and stable.”
How you can help
It’s easy. Sign up to participate in the Beat the Peak program to receive alerts by text message, email or phone. “When you get an alert, make a conscious effort to shift energy use to other times of the day,” says Cooper, adding that the purpose of the effort isn’t to stop using individual appliances altogether, just use them during times when the demand for electricity is not high.
“Shifting energy use to different hours of the day will help hold down everyone’s costs,” says Howle. “If we can work together, it’s a win-win for all members and the co-op.”
Ready to help?Sign up here and don’t miss out on the video, which explains the program, at the top of the sign-up page.
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Beat the Peak is an initiative intended to introduce members to the concept of ‘peak demand’ periods and why those particular times are important to their electric cooperative.
The April 2015 edition of South Carolina Living magazine will be delivered to the mailboxes of members and subscribers mid-month, but you can view our local content online now!
HEC local highlights include:
CEO Column It’s that time of year – Annual Meeting 2015 is next month
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!
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
South Carolina’s electric cooperatives and other utilities are warning that all-time low temperatures forecast for Thursday and Friday mornings may result in a record demand for electricity.
Predicted temperatures in the pre-dawn hours Thursday range from single digits in the Upstate to the low teens in the Midlands and Pee Dee. Below freezing temperatures are also forecast for the Lowcountry. All South Carolina counties are under a wind chill advisory from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 1 p.m. Thursday. Wind chill values in the Upstate could dip below zero both mornings.
Historically, cold weather creates the highest residential electricity use in South Carolina. The most critical hours for utilities supplying power are the hours from 6-9 a.m. when demand is at its peak.
“We have enough (power) capacity to meet our demand,” said David Logeman, director of power supply at Central Electric Power Cooperative in Columbia, which provides wholesale electricity to all 20 of the South Carolina’s member-owned cooperatives. “However, weather events like this mean our system will probably operate at maximum capacity over an extended period.”
Consumers are urged to be mindful of their energy use during the hours of peak demand.
“If each household follows a few simple steps to conserve electricity, those reductions will have a meaningful impact,” said Mike Couick, president and CEO of The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “Using less power means less stress on our systems and increased reliability of service.”
Members can use less power by following these steps in their homes:
Turn off all but essential internal and external lights
Unplug non-essential appliances and devices
Set thermostats on 68 degrees or lower
Minimize or postpone hot water use
Ensure heating and air conditioning vents are open and unobstructed
Limit use of major power-consuming equipment such as dishwashers, washers, and dryers from 6-9 a.m.
Members can learn more ways to save energy in their homes by visiting togetherwesave.com.
The 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.
The January 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!
Two opportunities for high school students! Juniors may apply for Youth Tour 2015 (deadline 2/27) and Seniors may apply for the $1500 WIRE scholarship (deadline 3/1)!
Co-op Connections® Feature: Heating and air and savings to spare, just for co-op members!
Hooray for Hollywood! A touch of Tinseltown in Tabor City helped their teen romance take root in Green Sea
Authors share an easy-flowing tale of two rivers –
Other January 2015 highlights available online:
The future of energy. John Frick; Vice President for Government Relations at The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
When members open their billing statement from Horry Electric this month, they’re going to find the Winter 2015 edition of Current Word, which is published periodically by the Cooperative as a supplement to other communications outlets.
Our mobile apps are featured in the Winter 2015 edition of Current Word. Members will also find information about:
Convenient payment options
Local Pay Stations
An opportunity to get a $50 electric bill credit
Touchstone Energy ® Home Efficiency Analysis Tool
PLUS, tips on ways to lower energy costs as the temperature drops
