Wiktor Wise
Santee Cooper, officially known as the South Carolina Public Service Authority, is a state-owned electric and water utility company and is the largest power provider in South Carolina. It was formed in the 1930s as a rural electrification and public works project and now serves over 2 million people. Santee Cooper generates power that is distributed by several electric cooperatives in South Carolina, including Santee Electric Cooperative Inc., which was formed in the late 1930s and serves Williamsburg, Georgetown, Clarendon, and Florence Counties. While the exact number of cooperatives under Santee Cooper is not clear, it is known that they provide power to customers in 46 counties and serve retail customers in three counties directly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cooperative electric companies | Not specified, but serves customers in 46 counties |
| Retail customers | Over 165,000 |
| Population served | 2 million |
| Headquarters | Moncks Corner, South Carolina |
| Employees | 1,500 |
| Energy sources | Coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources |
| Service area | Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties; cities of Bamberg and Georgetown; Charleston Air Force Base |
| Number of power plants | 2 |
| Renewable energy generation | 800 MW |
| Landfill gas generation | 28 MW |
| Wood biomass generation | 74 MW |
| Ownership of V.C. Summer Nuclear Station | One-third |
| Santee Electric Cooperative service area | Williamsburg, Georgetown, Clarendon, and Florence Counties |
| Santee Electric Cooperative members | 45,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. was formed in the late 1930s and serves Williamsburg, Georgetown, and other counties
- Santee Cooper is South Carolina's state-owned utility, providing power to over 2 million people
- Santee Cooper's diverse energy sources include coal, nuclear, oil, gas, and hydroelectric
- Santee Cooper's online shop offers customers discounted, energy-efficient products
- Santee Cooper's partnership with Dominion Energy resulted in the Johns Island-Queensboro project
Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. was formed in the late 1930s and serves Williamsburg, Georgetown, and other counties
Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. was formed in the late 1930s and was officially chartered on December 14, 1939. The cooperative was established through the dedicated efforts of volunteers who tirelessly signed up members across the countryside. Today, Santee Electric Cooperative's service area encompasses a broad region, including Williamsburg, Georgetown, Clarendon, and Florence Counties. With headquarters in Kingstree and branch offices in Lake City and Georgetown, the cooperative covers approximately 5,800 miles of line, serving 45,000 members scattered across these four counties.
The cooperative's mission is deeply rooted in providing reliable electric service and enhancing the quality of life in its service area. This commitment is evident in its participation in community projects and initiatives. Santee Electric Cooperative is a member-owned utility, reflecting the fundamental nature of electric cooperatives as private, independent utilities owned by the members they serve. This democratic governance structure ensures that the cooperative remains firmly anchored in the communities it serves and is closely regulated by its consumers.
The service area of Santee Electric Cooperative extends from Highway 301 to the Intracoastal Waterway and from the Pee Dee River to the Santee River. This vast coverage enables the cooperative to meet the energy needs of its diverse membership, which includes residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The cooperative strives to provide quality service and products at competitive prices while adhering to sound business practices.
Santee Electric Cooperative is just one of the many electric cooperatives under Santee Cooper, South Carolina's largest power and water utility. Santee Cooper, officially known as the South Carolina Public Service Authority since the 1930s, came into existence during the New Deal era. It serves as both a rural electrification and public works project, creating two lakes and clearing vast tracts of land while constructing hydroelectric dams and power plants.
Santee Cooper plays a crucial role in generating the power distributed by South Carolina's electric cooperatives, including Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. Serving more than 165,000 residential and commercial customers in Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties, Santee Cooper is one of the largest power providers in the state. Its diverse fuel and energy supply include coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources, demonstrating its commitment to providing reliable and sustainable energy to its customers.
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Santee Cooper is South Carolina's state-owned utility, providing power to over 2 million people
Santee Cooper, officially known as the South Carolina Public Service Authority, is South Carolina's state-owned utility. It is the largest power and water utility in the state, providing electricity to around 2 million people.
Santee Cooper was established in the 1930s as a rural electrification and public works project. The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project, constructed in 1939, improved navigation and provided hydroelectric power from the Santee and Cooper rivers. The project was the largest land-clearing project in US history, with over 12,500 workers clearing 177,000 acres of swamp and forestland. It also created two lakes, Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, and included the construction of 42 miles of dams and dikes, the longest being a 26-mile, 78-foot-tall earthen dike.
As one of the largest power providers in South Carolina, Santee Cooper serves more than 165,000 residential and commercial customers in Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties. It also supplies power to the cities of Bamberg and Georgetown, 30 large industrial customers, and the Charleston Air Force Base. Santee Cooper's fuel and energy sources include coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources. The company also has investments in renewable energy generation, with 800 MW of renewable energy generation online or under contract, and it owns one-third of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.
Santee Cooper is committed to providing reliable, low-cost, and environmentally responsible electricity and water services. The company offers energy-saving solutions and products to help customers save energy and money, and it works to quickly restore power in the event of outages. Santee Cooper also partners with other energy companies to construct new transmission projects, such as the Johns Island-Queensboro 115kV Transmission project on Johns Island, which will be the island's second transmission line.
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Santee Cooper's diverse energy sources include coal, nuclear, oil, gas, and hydroelectric
Santee Cooper, officially known as the South Carolina Public Service Authority, is a state-owned electric and water utility company. It is the largest power provider in South Carolina, serving over 165,000 residential and commercial customers and providing electricity to 2 million people across the state.
Nuclear energy is another important component of Santee Cooper's energy portfolio. The company owns one-third of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, which is operated by Dominion Energy South Carolina. In 2017, Santee Cooper made headlines when it decided to abandon the construction of two new AP1000 nuclear reactors at the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station, resulting in significant debts for the company.
Santee Cooper also has a significant presence in hydroelectric power. The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project, constructed in 1939, improved navigation and provided hydroelectric power from the Santee and Cooper rivers in South Carolina. The project involved the creation of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie and the construction of 42 miles of dams and dikes, including the Pinopolis Dam, which houses a hydroelectric station.
In addition to its traditional energy sources, Santee Cooper has committed to expanding its renewable energy production. The company has 800 MW of renewable energy generation online or under contract, including wind, solar, and other renewable sources. Santee Cooper has also partnered with its customers to reduce their energy consumption through initiatives like the "Reduce The Use South Carolina" energy-efficiency program, which has resulted in significant cost savings for participants.
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Santee Cooper's online shop offers customers discounted, energy-efficient products
Santee Cooper, officially known as the South Carolina Public Service Authority, is South Carolina's state-owned electric and water utility company. It is one of the largest power providers in the state, serving over 165,000 residential and commercial customers across Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties.
Santee Cooper's online shop offers customers a range of discounted, energy-efficient products to help them save energy and money. Most products are available at discounted prices or with automatic rebates. The shop includes items such as water heater timers and smart thermostats, with instant rebates and discounts applied at checkout for eligible customers.
The company also provides helpful tips and programmes to assist customers in reducing their energy consumption during peak hours, such as shifting the use of energy-intensive appliances like clothes dryers and dishwashers to non-peak hours. Additionally, Santee Cooper offers voluntary time-of-use EV rates with deep discounts for overnight charging, as well as low-interest loans and energy-saving solutions for businesses.
Santee Cooper is committed to helping its customers lower their energy use and save money, while also providing reliable power and water services to South Carolina residents and businesses. The company's online shop is a convenient way for customers to access affordable, energy-efficient products and take advantage of the various rebates and discounts on offer.
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Santee Cooper's partnership with Dominion Energy resulted in the Johns Island-Queensboro project
Santee Cooper, officially known as the South Carolina Public Service Authority, is a state-owned electric and water utility provider. It is one of the largest power providers in South Carolina, serving over 165,000 residential and commercial customers in Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties. Santee Cooper also supplies power to the cities of Bamberg and Georgetown, 30 large industrial customers, and the Charleston Air Force Base.
The Johns Island-Queensboro project included the construction of a 5.1-mile-long transmission line, of which 2.2 miles abut or use existing rights of way, and 2.9 miles required new rights of way. The project also involved relocating the interconnection with Dominion Energy from the Maybank Highway area to the Rushland Landing Road area. This relocation preserved the existing tree buffer between Dominion's right of way and Johns Island and avoided the need for additional clearing near Fenwick Hall Plantation, a site on the National Register of Historic Places.
The partnership between Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy on the Johns Island-Queensboro project strengthened the electric infrastructure serving Johns Island, Seabrook, Wadmalaw, and Kiawah Island. This collaborative effort ensured that the project was completed in accordance with relevant approvals and standards, benefiting the residents and businesses in these areas by providing increased stability, reliability, and resiliency in their electric power supply.
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Frequently asked questions
Santee Cooper is South Carolina's state-owned electric and water utility. It serves as the ultimate source of electricity for approximately 2 million people, including 165,000 residential and commercial customers in Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties. Santee Cooper also supplies power to electric cooperatives serving customers in 46 counties. Therefore, there are electric cooperatives serving customers in 46 counties under Santee Cooper.
Santee Cooper aims to be the state's leading resource for improving the quality of life for South Carolinians by providing low-cost, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity and water services.
Santee Cooper's fuel and energy supply includes coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources.
Santee Cooper has a diverse team of more than 1,500 professionals throughout South Carolina dedicated to improving the quality of life for its residents.
Santee Cooper is governed by a board of directors appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate. The board includes representatives from each congressional district and county served directly, ensuring effective governance and oversight.
