Central adheres to the "Seven Cooperative Principles" adopted by the NRECA in order to accomplish our core missions.
We are committed to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism and the concept that teamwork is vital to our success.
The team approach must exist within Central, as well as between Central and its members.
Central develops load forecasts and analyzes cost of service, generation planning, risk management, and fuel procurement. This allows Strategic Services to coordinate long-term contracts with Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas, and Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA). These contracts secure power supply for up to forty years and is the main contributing factor for the low cost power we provide to local distribution cooperatives.
Central monitors weather and analyzes loads to reduce costs during peak demand periods through a combination of voltage reduction, switches on water heaters and air conditioners, as well as notifying interruptible loads.
Central’s rate to members, are created to equitably bill members and to provide a link to cost causation.
The Engineering team meets with member cooperatives to discuss their projected growth and substation construction plans.
The team identifies future transmission projects needed to provide service. The process to route, design, and construct the project begins with multiple routes outlined in great detail and evaluated based on reliability, design, total cost, and environmental impact.
After the appropriate route is established, Central’s Right of way team meets with landowners and other community members to acquire land for the project. The transmission team oversees the overall construction of transmission lines to the substation.
Central conducts research in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed generation.
Central’s Finance team develops Central’s budget and manages financial aspects including implementing Central-to-Member rates for monthly billing and rendering wholesale, industrial, and net metering invoices to members.
On request Central also creates financial forecasts for members that can be included in RUS loan applications.
Milestones
2019-01-01
1935
South Carolina Rural Electric Authority established in Columbia.
2020-01-01
1936
Passage of the National Rural Electrification Act.
2021-01-01
1938
First S.C. electric cooperative chartered, Aiken County Electric Cooperative Association.
2021-01-01
1941
The S.C. Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (forerunner to Central), formed to construct transmission lines.
2021-01-01
1942
South Carolina Public Service Authority began generating power.
2021-01-01
1948
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., organized with 7 Members.
2021-01-01
1949
First REA loan of $7,595,500 approved for Central to construct transmission lines. 9 additional Members join Central.
2021-01-01
1952
First energy sales from Central to Member cooperatives totaling 7,094,754 Kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
1954
First 1000 miles of transmission lines completed.
2021-01-01
1964
Energy sales exceed 500,000,000 Kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
1965
Dolphus M. Grainger steam generation plant, financed and constructed by Central, put on line at Conway.
2021-01-01
1969
Energy sales exceed 1,000,000,000 kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
1973
First gas turbine unit for peaking purposes put on line at Hilton Head.
2021-01-01
1974
Berkeley Electric Cooperative becomes Member of Central.
2021-01-01
1974
Energy sales exceed 2,000,000,000 Kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
1975
Central’s headquarters moved to Greystone Boulevard.
2021-01-01
1979
Energy sales exceed 3,000,000,000 Kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
1980
Coordination Agreement between Central and Santee Cooper approved.
2021-01-01
1980
First 2,000 miles of transmission lines completed.
2021-01-01
1981
Installation of Load Management System begins.
2021-01-01
1983
Central begins purchases from Santee Cooper under the Coordination Agreement.
2021-01-01
1983
Load Management system begins operation.
2021-01-01
1988
Coordination Agreement changed to 12 CP billing and to allow for annual Adjust to Actual.
2021-01-01
1988
Energy sales exceed 5,000,000,000 kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
1999
Saluda River Electric Cooperative becomes a Member of Central.
2021-01-01
2000
Energy sales exceed 10,000,000,000 kilowatt hours.
2021-01-01
2001
First direct sales made to Saluda River.
2021-01-01
2008
Central purchases the transmission assets of New Horizon. Five upstate cooperatives become full Members of Central:
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
Broad River Electric Cooperative
Laurens Electric Cooperative
Little River Electric Cooperative
York Electric Cooperative
Saluda River Electric Cooperative ceases to be a member of Central.
2021-01-01
2010
Purchase Power Agreement with Duke Energy approved by all parties.
2021-01-01
2013
Central begins purchases from Duke Energy under the Purchase Power Agreement.
2021-01-01
2013
Central to Member Wholesale Power Contracts extended through 2058. The Coordination Agreement is extended to 2058.
2021-01-01
2016
Central's Headquarters moved to 20 Cooperative Way.
2021-01-01
2016
First community solar projects came on-line at Laurens & York.
2021-01-01
2018
For the second year in a row, Central named one of South Carolina's Best Places to Work by the SC Chamber of Commerce.
2021-01-01
2018
Central’s peak demand grows to 4,549 MW.