Power Problems
According to the US Census Bureau, South Carolina ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing states in 2022. Between 2020 and then, the Palmetto State welcomed almost 90,000 new residents—nearly a 2% population increase. As such, keeping up with South Carolina’s increasing energy concerns is worrying electric providers.
There’s some great news, however: industry heavies like BMW, Scout Motors, and Redwood Materials all plan to invest billions of dollars in South Carolina. Add to that the state’s recent population growth, and you have a promising economic and cultural future.
But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one: the state’s energy consumption is on the path to exceeding the available power supply. Going forward, this can prevent infrastructure from keeping up with South Carolina’s increasing energy concerns.
What’s in It For You?
You’ll recall that South Carolina barely avoided widespread power outages on Christmas Eve. And while we can’t be sure, we’re guessing this isn’t the surprise anyone wants on Christmas morning.
Now, this power loss was due to an impending rolling blackout, which is an intentional power shut-off energy companies introduce. Rolling blackouts are a last-ditch effort to avoid power grid damage while ensuring energy remains for essential locations like hospitals.
As you might imagine, a major culprit was increased energy consumption due to cold temperatures. Combine this with an increase in energy customers, and you seriously strain the power supply.
Duty Now for the Future
Keeping up with South Carolina’s increasing energy concerns might seem simple, and in a way, it is: increase the energy supply, and problem solved. However, the steps to get there are much more complicated and time-consuming.
The reality is that these kinds of energy solutions can take up to a decade to implement, even in a best-case scenario. Governor Henry McMaster formed PowerSC from various state representatives from utilities, environmental, and other groups to address this urgency. The group hopes to get the ball rolling soon since the state’s residents and businesses can’t wait any longer.
Experts like Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative CEO Bob Paulling believe nuclear energy is the state’s best long-term solution. This transition wouldn’t happen overnight but would rely on natural gas. But there’s another issue: SC doesn’t have enough in-state natural gas pipelines to accommodate that bridge phase.
Cooper Helps You Cope
NASA reported in a recent article that July of 2023 was hotter than any month in the global temperature record. We don’t say this to scare anyone—instead, we want to help you prepare for extreme temperatures and our state’s increasing population.
One of the most effective steps you can take is investing in a standby home generator. Our technicians have years of service and installation expertise, and we’re confident we have the energy solution for you.
And if you already have a generator, our crew can keep it running as good as new with regularly scheduled maintenance.
Get in Touch
Keeping up with South Carolina’s increasing energy concerns won’t be handled for several years at best. You also shouldn’t bank on ideal weather since our area is prone to power outages as it is.
Call Cooper at 843-945-1627 to prepare and explore our generator options today!
