Broad River Electric Cooperative

Most people don't think about how electricity works until there is a power outage. Multiple things are going on behind the scenes to get our members' lights back on from the second it goes out. We couldn't do this without our amazing team at Broad River Electric. All employees are part of the effort to get members' power restored as soon as possible from our member services team to our engineers to our dispatchers down to our linemen. It truly takes a village to complete power restoration, and we're incredibly thankful for each and every team member who plays a crucial role in the process! Curious about what else happens behind the scenes of a power outage? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXj5YMRu

"Broad River Electric trustee DeCole Gallman uses SmartHub as an educational tool to show her children how to be more savvy with energy savings. I've got two teenagers and a middle-schooler,” says Gallman, who lives in Union. “It’s good stewardship to teach them and make them aware. We can show them when power is being used on SmartHub and on our bills.” Having this knowledge right at your fingertips is powerful — monitor usage in real time, make appropriate adjustments and save money on your bill! How do you use SmartHub? Read more from DeCole on our website: https://lnkd.in/e-az896e

Empowering members to have a say in energy policies 💡 One of the best parts of being a member of an electric cooperative is that democracy is woven into our business model. This means we are always looking for participation from our members and are eager to elevate their concerns to lawmakers. Broad River Electric invites members to join Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP), a nationwide community designed to help co-op members speak up on issues that impact their electric co-op and help them reach elected officials. VCP members can pick which issues are most important to them, receive updates on those issues and when needed, receive information on how to contact their legislators. Learn more about joining VCP here: https://lnkd.in/ebAQHWsk

Grocery prices aren't the only expense that's shocking these days - the cost of everything is rising, including electricity. At Broad River Electric, we're doing everything in our power to keep electricity affordable for our members. Unfortunately, the price of electric transformers has nearly doubled in the past 5 years. We also face several challenges beyond inflation, including failed generation projects in South Carolina and new federal regulations increasing the price of power production. Despite these challenges, we haven't raised our base rates since 2009. We cut costs wherever possible and implemented a new incentive to save money by reducing demand at specific times. Read more about the obstacles facing the energy industry and how we're combating them from CEO Terry Mallard in this month's South Carolina Living: https://lnkd.in/egFjTTYd

Electric Cooperatives exist solely to serve our members and were created to bring electricity to rural areas. Before the Electric Cooperatives, for-profit energy providers prioritized condensed, urban areas because they were seen as more profitable. However, these rural areas still had electricity needs. So, rural residents came together to establish their own power distribution systems, sharing costs and decision-making duties. Essentially, electric cooperatives are just neighbors serving neighbors. Keeping costs low helps us all, so that’s why we often share a variety of ways to save energy and money. Together, we can keep our prices low! Learn more about what it means to be apart of an Electric Cooperative on our website: https://lnkd.in/eSzjRXTf

🔦 Commercial Incentive Spotlight: Daifuku Automotive America Corporation Jeff Humphries, our VP of Economic Development & External Affairs, recently presented a check to Daifuku for their outstanding dedication to energy efficiency. Daifuku upgraded its entire facility to LED bulbs utilizing our incentive program for commercial members. Kudos to Daifuku for their efforts in energy conservation!

Reminder: The application period for Bright Ideas Educator Grants for the 2024 - 2025 school year closes one week from today on July 31. We know how common it is for teachers to spend their own money to bring their students supplies and experiences, which is why we offer these grants for up to $1,000 to relieve any financial burden on our local educators. We are accepting applications from K-12 teachers in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties. Please visit our website for more information and to complete the application: https://lnkd.in/eTWDwQGn

"The co-op is for the people," says Broad River Electric member, Jay McCraw. "You don't feel ownership at larger power companies. With a co-op, you're always informed and always feel like you're an owner." As part of the statewide "I Love My Co-op" campaign, we've had the pleasure of hearing what Broad River Electric means to our members. Like McCraw says, being a part of a co-op means you're just as much an owner of the co-op as our board members and your neighbors. Co-ops are special because it's more than just transactional power distribution - we're also here to listen to you and provide support beyond just making sure the lights come on when you flip the switch. We're fortunate to serve our members and have loved hearing your appreciation in return! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/evgdMTk6

Broad River Electric is looking for a dedicated, full-time Meter Specialist/Line Locator to join our wonderful team! In this essential safety position, the team member will help prevent accidents and service interruptions by accurately locating and marking underground electrical lines. Other responsibilities include lifting heavy materials, working on poles or in bucket trucks, and operating near live electrical lines. You can find the full job description and application online at https://lnkd.in/g55dmfx8

Broad River Electric's Charities Board has proudly supported numerous non-profit and public service organizations within our service territory. One of our largest areas of focus is education and we've funded several innovative classroom projects through our Bright Ideas Educator Grants. Mrs. Bowen, a Bright Ideas grant recipient, purchased new solar system sets, class pets, cubbies, safety glasses, hot plates and more for her 6th-grade science class at Blacksburg Middle School. We're thrilled to see the positive impact these grants have on both teachers and students. Bright Idea Grant Applications for the 2024 - 2025 school year are open until July 31. Please apply or spread the word to educators in our service area! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eVg-52ZA