Criminal Defense Lawyer in Santee, SC

The goal is to ensure existing customers don’t end up footing the bill for new, power-hungry companies

South Carolina’s state-owned power company will start charging a special electricity rate executives say is meant to ensure energy-intensive data centers, built to serve the country’s ever-growing technology needs, are covering the cost of generating the massive amount of power they require.

The goal is to ensure existing customers don’t end up footing the bill for new, power-hungry companies.

The governing board of Santee Cooper voted unanimously Friday to implement the new rate for large, incoming customers on an “experimental” four-year basis, testing it out before considering whether they want to make the policy permanent. The change is effective immediately.

In a presentation to the board, Mike Smith, director of billing and pricing for the Moncks Corner-based utility, said he anticipates large customers coming into Santee Cooper territory could need as much as 1,000 megawatts of power as soon as 2030.

“That’s significant growth for a system the size of ours,” he said.

That growth rate mirrors the demand utilities are seeing across the Southeast, he said.

“We expect that to continue,” Smith said. “We don’t think it’s going to abate anytime soon.”

The new rate goes beyond data centers.

It applies to any customer requiring 50 megawatts of power or more, which would sweep in some of the electric vehicle and battery manufacturers under construction in the state. Those companies have reported energy needs between 100 and 150 megawatts, according to economic development officials.

Still, it’s data centers that have dominated the conversation around energy in South Carolina. These windowless buildings house rows of servers necessary for everything from artificial intelligence to high-speed financial trades. The largest of these centers can use as much as 200 megawatts each.

“We do welcome large loads because they’re good loads for the system. However, because of their size and operating characteristics, they’re difficult for Santee Cooper to absorb,” Smith said.

Santee Cooper’s new experimental rate comes as South Carolina grapples with how to meet the energy needs of a growing population, manufacturing base and, of course, an influx of data centers being built by tech giants such as Google, Meta and Blox.

A provision on the issue was inserted in legislation under consideration by the General Assembly.

Senate passes sweeping energy bill aimed at meeting SC’s growing power needs

In a late-night debate about two weeks ago, the Senate voted to limit tax and power-related incentives the state allows for data centers. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey pushed for the change saying that as data centers come to South Carolina, he wants them to pay an equivalent share of the costs for power plants built to serve them.

In the weeks since the Senate vote, which amended a bill previously passed by the House with almost no opposition, data center developers have pushed back, said Geoff Penland, Santee Cooper’s director of government relations.

He said technology companies are worried about the loss of sales tax breaks they’ve historically received on both computer equipment and electricity.

Penland said it appears the House and Senate may reach a compromise on the matter with just two weeks left in the legislative session.

While Santee Cooper is largely unconcerned with incentives for data centers, the energy legislation is of the utmost importance to the utility as it seeks permission to partner with private utility company Dominion Energy on a possible 2,000-megawatt natural gas plant on the site of a former coal-fired power plant along the Edisto River in Colleton County.

And the board’s vote Friday means these new power rates will go into effect no matter what legislators ultimately decide on data centers.

Meeting a growing energy demand requires construction of expensive power plants, power transmission lines, as well as the purchase of extra power that Santee Cooper has to buy from other utility companies on occasion when it doesn’t have enough energy of its own.

Building and buying those things mean increased rates for all customers, even if those other customers aren’t the ones driving the need for those investments, Smith said. That’s what Santee Cooper is trying to curtail.

Smith pointed to a similar effort by Georgia Power Company, which asked utility regulators to develop special contractual terms for large users.

Under Santee Cooper’s new rate, large users must sign a 15-year contract, one they can’t get out of without paying a set minimum. The utility also will charge more for power used at times of day when demand for energy is at its highest.

Santee Cooper worries about the possibility that these large users, particularly data centers, could come on the grid and then leave before the utility is able to get back the money it spent to serve them, Smith said. The long-term contract aims to prevent that.

Finally, the new deals require large users to ramp up to their full contracted power usage within three years.

Santee Cooper suggest that would protect it from a company that comes in and oversells, saying they’re going to need 300 megawatts but ends up only needing 127 megawatts, as an example.

“Regardless of how many kilowatt hours this customer uses, if they come on the system, they’ll be accountable,” Smith said.

While the board ultimately all voted in favor of the change, two members who represent South Carolina’s power cooperatives, which get their power from Santee Cooper, raised concerns that no large customer would agree to these new terms.

They said Santee Cooper and rural electric cooperatives will lose potential new business.

They also worried about the speed with which the change was made. Santee Cooper staff will typically take 18 months to vet and implement a new, permanent rate. This change was studied over just a few months.

In an effort to allay concerns, staff told the board because of the rate’s “experimental” status, it could make changes at any point in the four-year trial period.

Last updated 8:18 a.m., Apr. 26, 2025

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The Witch Hunt of Curtis Loftis ends as Santee Cooper customers still feel the 20% cost increases of Santee Cooper Rankin Rates caused by Luke Rankin’s oversight loss in a $9.8 billion nuclear fiasco. The significant impact of Santee Cooper Rankin Rates continues to be felt across communities.

By a vote of 33 Yay to 8 No, the SC Senate voted this past week to remove S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office.

Fortunately, the SC House of Representatives is refusing to continue the trial, which brings this nonsense to an end.

The witch hunt was highlighted by Horry County S.C. Senator Luke Rankin chastising the treasurer over a $1.8 billion accounting error that cost S.C. taxpayers nothing. Rankin’s role in Santee Cooper and the ongoing debate about Santee Cooper’s management continues to be a point of contention.

Rankin actually had sole oversight that led to a $9.8 billion loss by Scanna and Santee Cooper. That loss created what Horry County residents now call Santee Cooper Peak Rankin Rates, which have caused significant concern among local communities about their inflated costs of Santee Cooper’s energy solutions and services.

What are Santee Cooper Peak Rankin Rates? Santee Cooper’s peak hours rate for residential customers is $8.00 per kilowatt (kW) for the single highest hour of power used during a designated three-hour time frame each month. This new rate is part of a new rate structure introduced by Santee Cooper to address rising energy costs and improve financial transparency in the wake of the $9.8 billion loss.

Understanding the implications of Santee Cooper Rankin Rates is crucial for residents affected by these rising costs.

The recent adjustments to Santee Cooper Rankin Rates reflect broader trends in energy pricing.

These changes in Santee Cooper Rankin Rates have sparked discussions about energy affordability in our region.

Understanding Santee Cooper’s Role in the 20% Increase of Santee Cooper Rankin Rates

These Rankin Rates are necessary to pay off the $9.8 billion oversight loss the utility continues to be burdened with.

Specific Rankin Rates Peak Hours:

How it works:

Understanding Santee Cooper Rankin Rates is essential for planning your monthly energy expenses.

Within the designated three-hour peak window, the single hour in which a customer uses the most electricity each month will be charged the $8.00/kW demand rate. The rest of the month, including hours within the peak window that aren’t the highest-usage, customers will be charged the lower energy rate of $0.0792 per kWh.

Example:

Experts agree that the influence of Santee Cooper Rankin Rates on local economies cannot be overstated.

If a customer’s highest electricity usage within the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. window in May is during the hour of 4 p.m., they will be charged the $8.00/kW demand rate for that hour. The remaining hours within that peak window and the rest of the month will be charged at $0.0792 per kWh.

Given the recent increases, residents feel the pain as they monitor Santee Cooper Rankin Rates.

Rankin Rates have increased the average electricity fees to Horry County residents by 20% according to Samantha Kumaran, industry expert President and CEO of Timetrics Risk. Kumaran is nationally known for her expertise. She lives in Carolina Forest in Horry County. Her insights into Santee Cooper Rankin Rates have been invaluable for local residents.

With few days remaining, S.C. House members have informed MyrtleBeachSC News, the House is likely not going to continue the witch hunt in the S.C. House of Representatives.

Ranking members believe the trial is likely unconstitutional. S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis is elected by the people of South Carolina. Loftis was first elected in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term as State Treasurer.

Loftis is much more highly regarded than Senators Larry Grooms, Stephen Goldfinch and Luke Rankin which spearheaded the witch hunt in the SC Senate.

The South Carolina angler called an audible this morning to jump into the lead at the Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper Lakes.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

Through two days at the Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina is delivering in a big way. The weather may be shifting, but the big fish are still biting. After two days of competition, South Carolina pro Corey Casey leads with a two-day total of 57 pounds, 7 ounces. Buck Mallory sits in second with 53 pounds, 15 ounces. And Skeeter Crosby holds third with 53 pounds, 10 ounces.

Changing conditions shook up the leaderboard, with anglers making moves on day two. Once again, over 19 competitors weighed in more than 20 pounds, with the final check cut (40th place) currently held by Ricky Robinson, who has 32 pounds, 11 ounces. The big fish of the tournament still belongs to Harmon Davis, who landed a massive 10-pound, 9-ounce Santee Cooper lunker on day one.

Casey Rockets Into Lead

South Carolina angler Corey Casey remained unfazed by the shifting weather between days one and two, opting to start in a completely new spot on Saturday. Looking to avoid the wind, his decision paid off as his “staging” area fired up, producing a 30-pound, 4-ounce bag. Coupled with his 27-pound, 3-ounce effort on Day One, Casey now holds a two-day total of 57 pounds, 7 ounces, giving him a 3-pound, 8-ounce lead heading into Championship Sunday.

He arrived at his backup water first thing in the morning, protected from the wind, dropped his Power-Poles, and got to work—quickly filling his limit and culling to his final weight before 10 a.m. His area, which features scattered vegetation and hard cover, is attracting bass moving in to spawn. Positioned slightly deeper than other anglers, his fish have remained unaffected by the cooler temperatures.

“There was nobody in there this morning, and I got after them, hardly having to move,” Casey said. “I caught most of them on reaction baits and a few on a worm. It’s very specific where they’re sitting—I had one cast that caught everything the same way.”

With another weather shift expected for Sunday, Casey remains confident, believing his area will be protected from the wind and still produce.

“I’m having an absolute blast out there. There isn’t anything better—unless they start biting a topwater,” he laughed. “I don’t know how tomorrow will go, but I’m excited. A lead is better than no lead, but this place changes fast, and these guys can catch them.”

Mallory Moves to Second

Unlike most of the field, Buck Mallory saw his water get cleaner and warmer on Day Two—a change that didn’t work in his favor. Struggling with missed fish and short strikes early, he quickly adjusted, switching colors on his Z-Man EVO ChatterBait, and saw an immediate difference. He “salvaged” his day, adding 22 pounds, 14 ounces and sits in second-place with a total weight of 53 pounds, 15 ounces.

“Today, the wind blew out my cooler, stained water, and it got really clean—it jumped from 51 to 57 degrees on me,” Mallory said. “On top of that, the water level dropped as the wind pushed it out. Yesterday, I got hung up a few times, but today I got hung up 18 times—it didn’t help. The cooler water temperature was key.”

With the wind expected to shift 180 degrees and cooler, cloudy conditions moving back in for Championship Sunday, the Michigan angler is optimistic that his fish will reset.

“I had, what, 23 pounds today? But in reality, I saw 27-plus pounds worth of fish bite and not get the bait,” he added. “They’re in there, and they want to eat—I know where the key spots are. Using Humminbird MEGA 360, I can see hard spots in the grass and stumps around me, so I know exactly where to cast. The weather should help me out tomorrow, and I’ve got a long day to make it happen.”

Crosby Jumps to Third

Managing fish over a three-day tournament is no easy task, but Skeeter Crosby has executed his game plan flawlessly. After two days, he sits in third place with a total weight of 53 pounds, 10 ounces, just 5 ounces behind Mallory. Originally planning to push hard on Day Two and fish his spot out, Crosby didn’t need to—he secured a hefty 29-pound limit early and was able to back off, saving fish for Championship Sunday.

He kicked off the event with 24-10 on Friday, then followed it up with a dominant 29-pound bag today. Fishing one main area with five or six key spots, Crosby has yet to touch all of his water after two days.

“Yesterday, I caught everything on one spot, and today I pulled up and fished that spot again,” he said. “I had my weight early, so I made a couple of extra casts just to see what would happen and caught two decent fish that didn’t help. After that, I decided to bail and go practice.”

Crosby hasn’t had much company aside from a few locals but remains tight-lipped about the details. He noted that he’s targeting offshore hard cover, locking down his Power-Poles, and making the same cast repeatedly without moving.

“I’m fishing one single bait, and every fish has come on that,” he added. “When it’s cold and windy, this area gets even better. The wind helped me today, and tomorrow looks like more of the same. The fish are still coming, and typically, there are fish on this spot all year long. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Top Ten:Corey Casey 57-7Buck Mallory 53-15Skeeter Crosby 53-10Patrick Walters 51-15Buddy Gross 51-4Jason Christie 50-7Bill Lowen 50-4Jordan Osborne 49-1Chad Marler 48-0Hank Cherry 47-9