(WPDE) — Santee Cooper is making preparations for the potential winter weather and the effect it could have on electrical systems.
As of noon on Thursday, Santee Cooper moved to Operating Condition (OPCON) 4 alert status, meaning there is a possible threat to Santee Cooper’s electric system, but effects may be limited or uncertain.
Santee Cooper officials said at OPCON 4, the utility is primarily:
- “Completing freeze protection checklists for generating station equipment.”
- “Preparing to have additional personnel on site at generating stations in the event of road closures.”
- “Ensuring adequate inventory of all consumables at generating stations in the event deliveries are delayed because of lengthy road closures.”
- “Coordinating with neighboring utilities to ensure grid reliability.”
“Santee Cooper is securing resources to prepare for the frigid temperatures forecast for the weekend,” said Marty Watson, Senior Director, Commercial and Customer Service. “The extreme cold weather means customers will be using more electricity. As a result, bills may increase. We encourage customers to be aware of their energy use and implement energy-saving measures to help combat higher bills.”…