After Texas Power Failures, South Carolina Gov Wants Winter Storm Review of Grid

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wants the state’s electric providers to review their power grids to see if they could face problems like what happened in Texas during the recent winter storm.

McMaster sent a letter Friday to the Office of Regulatory Staff, asking the watchdog group to “undertake a comprehensive review of our state’s public and private power grid to evaluate its ability to withstand potential ice storms and other dangerous winter conditions.”

His letter noted the state is familiar with how hurricanes can disrupt power.

McMaster asked the agency to send their report to his office and lawmakers and request a hearing on the matter before the Public Service Commission if it sees fit.

The governor’s letter also asked state-owned Santee Cooper, which isn’t under the control of regulators, to also participate in the review.

One of the state’s largest power providers told WIS-TV that a power grid collapse like happened in Texas is unlikely here.

While Texas’ grid is isolated, South Carolina is connected to power providers along the East Coast and can buy additional electricity from areas far away that aren’t affected, said Dominion Energy President of Electric Operations Keller Kissam.

“We could have electricity flowing on our system from another utility, or we could be flowing to another utility, and it’s seamless,” Kissam told the TV station. “Customers never see it.”