The company’s board had approved the closings in October which represents 10% of the South Carolina-based utility’s electric-generating capacity.
As a result of this decision, two coal-fired units at 302MW Jefferies power plant in Moncks Corner will stop generating power at the end of this year and both the coal-fired units producing 166MW of electricity at Grainger Generating Station in Conway, South Carolina will be shut down.
The company has not yet finalised the date to close down the two oil-fired units at the Jefferies power plant in Moncks Corner.
Santee Cooper spokeswoman Mollie Gore was quoted by the Post and Courier as saying that the decision to mothball the plants is in response to expensive new environmental regulations and changing generation needs.
"This is the first step. We will continue to work with regulators to determine what is required to close down the rest of the facilities," Gore said.
The company has the capacity to produce about 5,700MW. Gore noted that each megawatt can power nearly 500 homes.
