Seneca makes a midnight switch

Seneca welcomed a new source for the juice that electrifies its system.  City leaders were at City Hall last night to prepare for the official midnight switch  from the Southern Company to the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly known as Santee Cooper.  Bob Faires, city utilities director, said everything was in place for Seneca to throw the switch.  City leaders decided last winter to end their wholesale contract with Southern and make the switch.  The deal with Santee Cooper runs 10 years—the first year of which Seneca projects it will spend $10 million dollars to meet all of its electric power needs.  At least during year one, Seneca’s retail rates remain the same, according to Faires.