Not only is education one of the seven cooperative principles, but it is one of the primary ways your co-op supports and invests in our community. Growing young minds, supporting teachers and creating a space that sparks innovation are all renewable, sustainable ways we engage with our members.
These ideals are exemplified through the programs and opportunities you will find highlighted throughout our local pages of this month’s issue of South Carolina Living. To name a few, we are excited to share the winners of our Touchstone Energy Scholarships and Learning through Art contests and to announce the opening of our Bright Ideas Grant program for this year.
Education is also the cornerstone of what we do each day at your co-op. As the electric industry continues to evolve with changing demands, challenges and technologies, it is important that our employees are learning, too. For example, we just added two electric vehicles to our fleet. Owning and operating an electric vehicle will help us provide firsthand knowledge to members who are interested in this technology. Look for more information in the coming months about our experience. As a reminder, our ChooseEV tool will provide you with the facts if you are in the market.
Lastly, our commitment to education comes full circle as we own the responsibility of teaching our members about their co-op, safety and the energy they use to power their lives. Being a trusted source of power and information isn’t something we take lightly. Instead, we aim to provide resources and facts to our members so that you are informed, can make the best decisions for you and your family and know where your co-op stands on important issues.
In fact, one important issue that York Electric Cooperative is facing is the need for new power generation. We share this concern with the other 19 South Carolina electric cooperatives and other utilities across the Southeast. On page 12D, you will find the first of three consecutive articles explaining this concern. Next month, we will discuss what we are doing about this issue. The following month will discuss how we are planning to move forward.
We’re always looking out for you and embracing the fact that knowledge and transparency are the keys to power for our members.
Sincerely,
Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer