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Storm Center & Outages
View current outages in Santee Cooper's service area.
Report an Outage
Report online or call 888-769-7688.
Please take the following steps if you experience a power outage.
- Check your circuit panel or fuse box. If you have circuit breakers, flip the main breaker switch to the "off" position, then back to the "on" position. If you have fuses, check your fuse box and replace any fuses that have blown.
- Check the outside disconnect below your meter (not all buildings have an outside disconnect).
- Check with your neighbors to see if they have power.
- You can report an outage online below or call 1-888-769-7688 to report the outage by phone.
Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Account name and location
- Telephone number
- Nature of problem (power outage, partial power, dim or flickering lights, etc.)
- Any additional information (line down, loud noises, etc.)
When an outage is reported, our employees will respond as soon as possible to restore power to your home or business.
Power Restoration
Be prepared to provide the following information:
- The account number and the name associated with the account
- The telephone number where you receive electric service
- The nature of the problem (i.e. power outage, partial power, dim or flickering lights, etc.)
- Any additional information (i.e. line is down, loud noise, etc.)
Who makes repairs?
In the wake of a hurricane or other storm, you may experience damage to the cable, meter base or other equipment that supplies your electrical service.
Santee Cooper's Responsibility:
- Service Drop
- Electric Meter
Customer's Responsibility:
- Weather Head
- Electric Service Entrance & Conduit
- Meter base
Santee Cooper's Responsibility:
- Underground Service Cable**
- Electric Meter
Customer's Responsibility:
- Electric Service Entrance & Conduit
** In a few cases, the customer owns the underground service cable.
Hurricane Information
The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1-Nov. 30
Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. They can produce winds exceeding 155 mph as well as tornadoes and microbursts. Hurricanes can also create storm surges in coastal areas and cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall. Floods and flying debris from excessive winds are just some of the deadly and destructive effects of these formidable weather events.
- Before a hurricane or tropical cyclone impacts your area, you should prepare an emergency kit.
- Have a hurricane plan, and make sure everyone in your household knows the plan.
- Know your evacuation route, and fuel up and service your vehicles.
- Take the necessary precautions to protect your home by covering windows with permanent shutters, plywood panels or other shielding materials.
- Bring in any furniture, lawn fixtures or other loose items that might become a hazard in high winds.
- Make sure the trees and shrubs around your home are well-trimmed, and clear any loose or clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
If a tropical cyclone is likely in your area, tune to your local media for the latest developments. You can also follow Santee Cooper on Facebook and Twitter for storm- and outage-related information. Secure your home, and turn utilities off if instructed to do so. Fill any bathtubs and other large containers with water for sanitary purposes like cleaning and flushing toilets.
- Water (one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Important family documents (i.e. copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records)
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
Frequently Asked Questions
You can turn the power off using the main breaker before you leave. You may want to leave the power on to some electric appliances and equipment, such as the refrigerator.
Not always. If you don't have power, call 888-769-7688 or report it online here.
There are several reasons this might happen:
- Often, we send personnel to survey storm-damaged areas before we begin any repairs. This assessment of damage actually speeds restoration and helps us immediately address any dangerous situations.
- Crews may need to work elsewhere to fix the problem that's affecting you and your neighbors.
- We may need to work on a problem that will restore power to a greater number of customers.
Storm damage can affect main power lines, individual services, transformers or all of the above. Your individual service may be damaged or your home could be on a different main power line than your neighbors. Finally, it may be that your home needs electrical repairs before you can receive service from Santee Cooper. If you have any doubts, call our outage number at 888-769-7688.
Each outage is different, so it's difficult to be specific. Please be assured that we work aggressively to restore power as quickly as possible after a storm or outage. We know no one likes to be without power, and Santee Cooper employees are committed to providing you with fast, efficient service. You can monitor outages online at our Storm Center.
Generating stations and transmission lines must be repaired first. Next, power is restored to customers who provide essential services to the community, such as hospitals, police stations, fire departments, and water and sewer facilities. Repairs are then made that will return power to the greatest number of customers, such as damaged main feeders. Finally, we restore small groups and individual services.
Sometimes damage occurs to a part of the electrical system that is your responsibility, and you must contract with a private, licensed electrician to make repairs. After the electrician has completed the necessary repairs, ask that they immediately contact the local building authority to request an inspection. Please make sure the building authority calls Santee Cooper to let us know the inspection is complete and gives us permission to reconnect your power.
Although most power outages are short-lived and don't require auxiliary power, some customers use portable electric generators for this purpose. To ensure your safety, the safety of those around you and the safety of Santee Cooper line technicians, portable electric generators should be operated according to strict guidelines.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions completely.
- Never connect a portable generator to existing house wiring. It could back feed on power lines and send electricity toward line workers, risking serious or fatal injuries.
- Connect appliances directly to the generator. Refer to the owner's manual for specific instructions on load capacity, approved power cords, etc.
- Operate generators outside, as they emit harmful fumes and contain combustible fuel.
- Add fuel to the generator only when it is not running and has had time to sufficiently cool.
- Always properly ground generators before operating. Refer to owner's manual for specific instructions.
- Treat all downed power lines as though they are energized and report them to us immediately by calling 888-769-7688. Stay away, and do not touch them or drive over them.
- Stay away from flooded areas and debris. These areas can conceal downed power lines.
- Resist the temptation to drive around looking at storm damage. You could hinder rescue efforts or restoration efforts and jeopardize your safety. If you see Santee Cooper line trucks, we appreciate allowing us to move ahead in traffic so restoration efforts will not be slowed.
- Never operate a charcoal grill or gas grill inside the house.
If you have any doubt about the condition of the electrical system, call us at 888-769-7688.
We cannot guarantee your power will not go out, so we encourage you to make arrangements to relocate when storms threaten. With a doctor's written confirmation of your medical need, you can be placed on our Life Line program, which will provide you with a priority status when possible in the event of unexpected outages. Contact your local retail office for more information about Life Line.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A tight seal on the doors will reduce chances of melting, thawing and food spoilage. Santee Cooper is not responsible for food loss.
First, check the circuit breakers. One of the breakers may have tripped. Next, check to see if the oven or dryer, which are 240-volt appliances, are working properly. If either the oven or the dryer are not working properly, it is advisable to turn off the power to your home at the main breaker. This will eliminate the possibility of any further damage to your electrical appliances and equipment. If both the oven and dryer are working properly and one of the circuit breakers has tripped off, contact a licensed electrician. The problem is internal and must be checked by an electrician.
We use fuses on our system to protect our equipment and lines. The loud noise is a fuse that has blown, which prevents damage to the system.
Santee Cooper's substations are equipped with circuit breakers similar to those in your home. When there is a problem, the breakers trip to prevent damage to the electrical system. The problem could be a tree limb on the line or a lightning strike. Since these problems are normally temporary, our circuit breakers are designed to reset automatically. These outages typically last less than a second, but it can be long enough to cause a digital clock to lose its memory.