Category: Uncategorized

Summer is one of the most active weather seasons. You can count on the typical afternoon thunderstorms, but there is also the potential for hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30.

Lightning is one of the top causes of power outages when it comes to storms, but it can also be a problem inside a member’s home. Horry Electric wants to help you reduce problems associated with indirect lightning strikes and power surges by installing a device outside your home at the meter base.

The Surge Guard program helps protect against unexpected voltage surges that can harm or ruin electronic devices, such as major appliances, TVs or computers.

For the low price of $5.35 a month, enjoy comfort, convenience and peace of mind knowing you have utility grade protection from nearby lightning strikes. An Horry Electric team member will install a device on the member’s meter base to provide protection outside the home. This device helps stop power surges at the meter.

Any residential member who enrolls as a new participant in the Surge Guard program between May 1 and 11:59 p.m. on June 30 will be automatically entered into a prize drawing. Five lucky members will win a $100 electric bill credit.

Click here to sign up and fill out the participation agreement. A Trusted Energy Advisor will contact you to schedule installation.

The contest rules are outlined below.

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

1. No Purchase or Entry Fee Required.

2. Timing. The Surge Guard Sign-Up Competition & Prizes (“Promotion”) begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 1, 2025, and ends at 11:59 PM ET on June 30, 2025 (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 enrolled in Surge Guard but who register for Surge Guard 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 Surge Guard, and five randomly selected Entrants will be awarded a $100.00 (USD) bill credit on their next bill from the Cooperative.

4. To Enter. Entrants and/or Submitters may enter online 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 June 30, 2025, 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 Surge Guard. 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 July 17, 2025.

7. Prize Awarding. The five winners will be randomly selected and announced on or about July 17, 2025 from among all eligible entries received. The five winners will be notified that the credit has been applied to their respective accounts.

8. Prizes/Odds. There will be five (5) prizes awarded: five $100.00 (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.

High school juniors and sophomores can apply now for an unforgettable experience. Horry Electric has two amazing trips planned for Summer 2025.

Washington Youth Tour (June 15-20): Juniors will experience Washington, D.C. with hundreds of students from across South Carolina and the country. Students will tour the sights and meet with lawmakers. Horry Electric will cover your round-trip plane ticket, tours and meals. Click here to apply.

Cooperative Youth Summit (July 14-17): Sophomores will experience South Carolina’s capital like never before. Tour the Statehouse, meet lawmakers and see how co-ops are preparing for the state’s energy future. Click here to apply.

The deadline to submit your application is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 31.

Contact Horry Electric’s Youth Tour Coordinator Jennifer Cummings (jennifer.cummings@horryelectric.com) with any questions.

Pay your electric bill on time every month without writing a check or calling in to the payment line by enrolling in Horry Electric’s Bank Draft program.

This free, easy and convenient payment option makes paying your bill effortless.

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 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 $100 electric bill credits.

Members have until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 30 to sign up. You can sign up by logging in to the MyEnergy Online portal, clicking here, or by using the free HEC mobile app. You can also call (843) 369-2211 to speak to a member service representative during regular business hours.

The winners will be announced in December. 

The contest rules are outlined below.

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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 November 1, 2024, and ends at 11:59 PM ET on November 30, 2024 (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 $100.00 (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 clicking here, by using the HEC Mobile app or calling us at 843.369.2211 during regular business hours. 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 November 30, 2024, 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. 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 December 16, 2024.

7. Prize Awarding. The five winners will be randomly selected and announced on or about December 16, 2024 from among all eligible entries received. The five winners will be notified that the credit has been applied to their respective accounts.

8. Prizes/Odds. There will be five (5) prizes awarded: five $100.00 (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.

Christmastime is quickly approaching, which means Horry Electric is once again searching for a great Christmas card to send out this year!

We’re looking for the help of students in kindergarten through fifth grade to create our company Christmas card.

Students are encouraged to be as creative and colorful as possible, while incorporating our electric cooperative into their Christmas card theme. This could include: Willie Wiredhand (co-op mascot), bucket/line trucks, linemen, employees, power lines, light bulbs, rural area scenery, etc.

Horry Electric will be presenting a $100 cash award to the student whose card is chosen for our Cooperative to send out this Christmas.

Drop-off submissions will be accepted at Horry Electric’s Conway and Socastee offices:

Conway Office:
2774 Cultra Road
Conway, S.C. 29526

Socastee Office:
5889 Highway 707
Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29588

Mail-in submissions must be placed in a sealed envelope and sent to:

Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
P.O. Box 119
Conway, S.C. 29528
Attn: Jennifer Cummings

Please submit all cards no later than Monday, September 30, 2024.

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Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Christmas card contest Enrollment, Competition & Prizes
Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions

1. No Entry Fee Required.

2. Timing. The Christmas Card Competition & Prizes (“Promotion”) begins on August 19, 2024, and ends at 5:00 PM ET on September 30, 2024 (the “Promotion Period”).

3. Overview. This is a submission contest solely intended for Horry County students in kindergarten through fifth grade who design and submit a Christmas card for the 2024 season during the Promotion Period.

4. To Enter. Entrants may enter by designing and submitting a Christmas card that meets the Cooperative’s requirements. Entrants 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 5:00 PM ET on September 30, 2024, the official end date of the Contest Period.

5. Eligibility. Entrant must be in kindergarten through fifth grade at the time of entry, and the Entrant must be a student in Horry County. This Promotion is void outside of South Carolina and is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

6. Judging Criteria. One winner will be selected by a panel of judges from all properly submitted registration entries by October 31, 2024.

7. Prize Awarding. The winner will be announced on or about October 31, 2024 from among all eligible entries received. The winner’s teacher will be notified by phone or email.

8. Prizes/Odds. There will be one (1) prize awarded: $100.00 (USD) cash from the Cooperative.

9. Terms/Conditions.

a)     By signing up, Entrant and parent/legal guardian/teacher warrants and represents that he/she is a student in kindergarten through fifth grade in Horry County;

b)     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;

c)     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;

d)     Acceptance of a prize shall constitute the winner’s agreement that the Cooperative or its agent(s) may publish/print the winning Christmas card design, 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;

e)     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;

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

g)     Prize is not transferable or assignable.

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

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

The July 2024 edition of South Carolina Living magazine has been uploaded to horryelectric.com!

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

The July 2024 edition has six pages dedicated to local news about your co-op. Highlights include: 

• CEO Column: Restructured rate – ways to save
• Pilot Testimonials: HEC employees, board members join pilot test group
• Annual Member Meeting Recap: Horry Electric breaks attendance record for 5th straight year, favorite snapshots
• Various Co-op News: Be prepared for summer storms; Signs of an energy scam; Nominate someone to be named the Who Powers You hero

The June 2024 edition of South Carolina Living magazine has been uploaded to horryelectric.com! This edition is your restructured rate guide and includes a special cover wrap with more important information!

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

The June 2024 edition has two pages dedicated to the restructured rate, including: 

• CEO Column– Take control of your power bill – use energy 21 hours a day at a highly reduced rate.
• Important Information: Details on the restructured rate, peak hours, residential rate components/breakdown.

Horry Electric Cooperative is among a group of South Carolina electric cooperatives that will receive more than $7 million in federal funding for projects dedicated to making the state’s power grid more resilient to extreme weather.

The Conway-based cooperative will receive nearly $780,000 to install self-healing devices on utility poles that serve disadvantaged communities. These devices can automatically restore power within seconds of outages caused by severe storms.

The self-healing devices will ensure a stable power supply for a range of important facilities, including a high school, a newly constructed middle school, a Walmart, a future hospital, several banks, water and sewer facilities, gas stations, and small businesses.

“We felt this project could best serve members by strengthening reliability in a vital area of our community that serves as a hub for various essential services, including schools, grocery stores, gas stations and public utilities,” Horry Electric’s Executive Vice President and CEO Danny Shelley said. “Horry Electric’s board of trustees is excited to be approved for this grant.”

The grant will cover two-thirds of the cost for the self-healing system. Horry Electric’s project is one of 18 approved in South Carolina to reduce power outages and improve restoration times.

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives and other electric utilities applied to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the grants, which are funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Santee Cooper is administering the grants, which will primarily benefit disadvantaged communities, through its Grid Resilience Grant Program.

“The projects that were submitted range from burying overhead power lines to adding self-healing equipment that improves restoration ability,” Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton said. “Collectively they will make South Carolina’s electric grid stronger in the face of hurricanes and other extreme weather. It has been our privilege to work with the DOE and so many utilities across the state who are driven to provide the best service possible to their members and customers.”

Electric cooperatives that will receive grants include:

• Berkeley Electric: $982,228 to decrease restoration times by installing a fault location, isolation and service restoration system.
• Broad River Electric: $183,964 to increase reliability by installing remote-controlled devices and new controls to improve monitoring and control capabilities.
• Coastal Electric: $796,000 to improve reliability by replacing aging overhead power lines with underground lines.
• Fairfield Electric: $1,125,000 for two projects. One will allow for remote power restoration by updating equipment and improving system monitoring and control. The other will rebuild four miles of overhead power lines serving a wastewater treatment plant in a remote area that has experienced extended outages.
• Horry Electric: $779,823 for a self-healing system that will improve reliability and reduce outage times.
• Palmetto Electric: $1,946,000 to replace 44 aging hydraulic reclosers with new electronically controlled reclosers with remote monitoring.
• York Electric: $1,261,955 for five projects, including building backup power lines, installing underground line sand burying existing lines to improve system reliability.

Are you inspired by someone making a difference in the community? If so, nominate a local hero in the #WhoPowersYou contest and share their story.

Horry Electric is proud to serve the members who make up the communities throughout our service area. Within these communities, there are an abundance of unsung heroes who are helping those in need and empowering their neighbors. These are the members who inspire our commitment to community and we want to celebrate them.

Anyone can nominate a neighbor. Nominees must either be a cooperative member, live in a residence served by an electric cooperative or be making a positive impact in a community served by the cooperative.

Horry Electric will choose a local winner, who will win a prize of $500. The local winner will then have a chance at being named the 2024 South Carolina #WhoPowersYou Hero and receive a $2,500 grand prize. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on the impact they have on our community.

Last year, Horry Electric’s local winner was named the 2024 South Carolina #WhoPowersYou Hero! You can nominate a local hero by visiting ecsc.org/WhoPowersYou, where you’ll be asked to share a photo of your nominee and answer three questions about how they are making difference in their community.

All entries must be submitted by July 31, 2024.

The April 2024 edition of South Carolina Living magazine has been uploaded to horryelectric.com! This edition is the OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING and it includes a special cover wrap with more important details!

The magazine has been mailed to ALL Horry Electric members.

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

The April 2024 edition has six pages dedicated to important information, including: 

• CEO Column– Countdown to the Annual Member Meeting: New dates for 2024.
• Official Notice of the Annual Member Meeting: Details on the Annual Member Meeting Early Drive-Thru Registration, prize drawings, and registration gift.
• Capital Credits: Co-op returning $5.3 million in capital credits to members (expected by the end of April).
• Board of Trustees: Meet the Board of Trustees.
• Meet the candidates: Read more about the trustee candidates.
• 2023 Financial View: A breakdown of the numbers; Comparative operating statistics.

The March 2024 edition of South Carolina Living magazine has been uploaded to horryelectric.com!

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

The March 2024 edition has six pages dedicated to local news about your co-op. Highlights include: 

• CEO Column: A measured ‘thank you”
• State House Visit: Horry Electric takes part in Co-op Day.
• WIRE Award: Nichols resident named Lady of the Year.
• Various Co-op News: Co-op equipment needs space; Crews conduct system-wide inspections; Power pole clutter