Hemingway-Kingstree Transmission Line Project

This project will stretch from the Hemingway Substation to Kingstree Switching Station along existing right of way in Williamsburg County.

Approximately 22 miles in length from the Hemingway 230/115kV Substation to the Kingstree 230kV Switching Station.

The project is currently in design. Construction is scheduled to start in July 2025 for an in-service date of June 1, 2027.

These activities are scheduled to begin in July 2025.

We will be replacing old, wood poles with single pole, galvanized steel structures.

Santee Cooper transmission planning assessments have identified thermal loading and voltage violations under contingency conditions in the eastern region of the transmission system that are mitigated by the addition of the Hemingway - Kingstree #2 230kV Line. These thermal loading exceedances do not meet the transmission system planning performance requirements under NERC Reliability Standard TPL-001-5 or Santee Cooper’s internal planning criteria.

In addition, Santee Cooper’s plans to retire Winyah Generating Station requires additional 230kV transmission paths to connect other sources of generation to the highly concentrated load in the eastern area of the system. This Hemingway - Kingstree #2 230kV Line project will provide this additional path, maintain transmission reliability, and support future load growth. This project also provides additional resiliency to delivery points in the area by rebuilding an older 115kV line to modern design and material standards.

The project is in design and will be starting the Public Service Commission (PSC) process soon.

Utilizing the existing Kingstree – Hemingway 115kV corridor was the most efficient and least impactful route as it uses land that is already used for right of way and is has the least impact to landowners, neighbors, and other stakeholders.

We will send landowner notifications to everyone who has property adjacent to the existing right of way in question. We intend to file for all public permits that apply as we reach those stages of the project.

Currently, there is no need for new right of way. Once the project reach is looked in design, there may be a need for a small section near the Hemingway Substation, but that will be determined as the design is finalized.

With a rebuild on existing right of way such as this, impacts, if any, are much more limited than new construction. Several cultural, social, and environmental studies are in progress for the project currently. We will implement best management practices to protect freshwater and tidal wetlands. Besides the very small footprint of the replacing transmission poles, reestablishing our existing right of way, and identifying danger trees, no further impacts are expected along the route.

Santee Cooper and our consultants are in the process of complying with all regulatory requirements. Our goal is to have all required permits no later than July 1, 2025.

Questions can be sent to transmissionprojects@santeecooper.com.