1948

The Rural Electrification Administration loan program comes under threat from President Richard Nixon’s administration, leading to a period of high interest rates and uncertainty. Participants travel to the Rural Electric Rally in Washington, D.C., to persuade their representatives in Congress to restore the REA direct loan program.

The Grainger Generating Station in Conway is dedicated for Dolphus M. Grainger, a native of Horry County, pioneer in rural electrification and president of Central.

Central’s system spans over 1,000 miles. About 93% of South Carolina’s farms are electrified for the first time.

Central is approved for its first REA loan of $7.5 million to construct transmission lines. Nine additional member-cooperatives join Central.

Seven distribution electric cooperatives join forces to establish Central, originally headquartered in Sumter. At this point, just 3% of South Carolina farms have electricity.