Randy Olson, interim general manager, told commissioners at Monday’s monthly meeting the substation, “is pointing closer to an agreement. We have been in contact with Duke (Energy) to see where they would like the high-tension power lines to come into the site,” Olson said.
Greer CPW purchases its electricity from the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA) and uses Duke’s lines to transfer the power.
The funding for the $2.5 - $3 million substation was secured from Santee Cooper Electric Cooperative with a $3.5 million, 5-year interest free loan last year. CPW Commissioners approved the loan and guaranteed its payoff with City Council’s approval.
The substation will help with the additional power needs of the Inland Port and eastside industrial and manufacturing expansion. The Highway 101/I-85 corridor, in the Caliber Ridge and Gateway industrial parks has seen new growth in the past six months. Commissioner Eugene Gibson said the substation may provide some relief with transfer of power from other CPW sites.
Jeff Howell, commission chairman, put the new substation into perspective. “I am starting my (17th) year as commissioner and when I started we had one substation,” Howell said. “With Victor Hill Road that will be our fifth. That shows the phenomenal growth we’ve had.”
Once an agreement has been finalized the project is expected to take 10 months.
Olson said the infrastructure at Riverside Commons (East Suber and Hammett Bridge roads) and Highland Parc (East Suber Road) is near complete. CPW is preparing for the third phase of Gray Cottages and Belshire, a single-family project at Brushy Creek and Alexander roads. The Manor at Snow Road near Abner Creek, 194 single-family units, is finalizing its engineering studies for its final plat submission.
• Four Greer CPW crews (eight employees) were sent to Orangeburg during the Feb. 12 ice storm that knocked out power to 346,000 customers in South Carolina. Greer has a reciprocal partnership with other municipalities in South Carolina to aid each community with power restoration during emergencies. The municipalities needing the assistance pay the costs.
Eugene Gibson said CPW crews all reported to work during the emergency that spared Greer of substantial damage from downed lines caused by heavy tree limbs.
• General Manager Jeff Tuttle did not attend the meeting. He and his family are moving from Houston to a home in downtown Greer. Tuttle’s official start date is March 3.
• Tuttle was appointed director to the PMPA Board and Chuck Reynolds is alternate. Tuttle replaces Nick Stegall, who retired as Greer CPW general manager last year.
• Cash on hand is at 126 days, three days less than January.