Santee Electric Cooperative’s new solar farm in Andrews, South Carolina has added 125 kilowatts (kW) of generating capacity to its Community Solar program. This Community Solar farm started producing energy in June of 2021.

“We are excited to give our members an affordable, safe, and reliable option for solar energy. Community Solar is terrific,” says Rob Ardis, Santee Electric CEO.

Community Solar means multiple people get electricity from solar panels installed at one location, offering a convenient option for members who want to buy power from a carbon-free resource. This allows for members to use solar energy without having to install panels on their roofs or worry about the construction and maintenance. SEC, through its wholesale power provider, is responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar farm.

This Community Solar farm in Georgetown County is composed of 472 panels and three inverters. One block, or kW of capacity, is equal to 3.75 panels. Members can choose the number of blocks (up to five per account) to subscribe to at the Community Solar site for a minimum of a two-year period.  The price structure is flexible, allowing members to choose their level of interest. Pricing includes an upfront charge of $50 per block and a monthly fee of $14 per block.

One block is equal to approximately 150 kWh (kilowatt-hours) which is 12 percent of an average home’s monthly use. Five blocks are equal to approximately 750 kWh which is 60 percent of an average home’s monthly use. Members who subscribe to the program will receive a monthly credit of 10 cents per kWh produced. The production will fluctuate from month to month based on time of year and weather conditions.

This is Santee Electric’s second installment of a Community Solar farm. The Community Solar farm located in Kingstree, South Carolina began producing solar energy in May of 2018 and has a capacity of 130 kW. 

“SEC is proud to leave a positive environmental footprint and benefit our members at the same time,” says Jay Kirby, VP of Public Affairs.

Since June when the Andrews Community solar farm became energized, the lifetime energy has already generated enough to charge 9,991,110 iPhones and avoid 32 tons of CO2 emission and counting.

For more information on SEC’s Community Solar program please visit www.santee.org/energy-programs.

Santee Electric Cooperative serves 44,000 member-owners in the counties of Williamsburg, Clarendon, Georgetown, and Florence. SEC was founded in 1939. The mission of SEC is to provide quality service and products to meet the energy needs of our members at a competitive price consistent with sound business practices, while enhancing the quality of life in our service area through the support of economic, civic, and educational opportunities.