Powering the Future: The State of Electrical Infrastructure in the Carolinas
In the week leading up to Christmas 2022, something unexpected was revealed about the electrical grid in the Carolinas: it’s in urgent need of upgrades. During one of the coldest spells in recent memory, Duke Energy was forced to cut power to parts of North and South Carolina. This wasn’t during a heatwave in the middle of summer, but on Christmas Eve between 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm, with occasional outages throughout the rest of the week.
Duke Energy explained that the extreme cold, combined with a surge in demand and power shortages across the Southeast, led them to interrupt service to around 500,000 customers in order to maintain grid stability and prevent more widespread disruptions. On Christmas Eve, temperatures dropped as low as 15°F in Charlotte and Columbia, while the Greenville-Spartanburg area reached a record low of 7°F.
This event has highlighted a pressing issue: the grid simply isn’t equipped to handle the growing demand for power. So, what can be done to fix this?
South Carolina: A Growing Challenge
In 2023, South Carolina generated over 100 million megawatt hours of electricity. But with the state’s population and economy growing rapidly—up more than 10% in the past decade—the grid is beginning to show signs of strain. The state’s electrical grid has a capacity of about 25,000 megawatts, but summer demand in 2022 was already close to 23,000 megawatts.
State leaders and utility executives are increasingly concerned that the grid won’t be able to keep up with future demand. While the South Carolina State House has acknowledged the issue, it chose to delay major action during an election year, passing a resolution instead of a comprehensive energy reform bill. When lawmakers reconvene in January 2025, we expect to see more concrete proposals. In the meantime, rate hikes are likely on the horizon. Santee Cooper is requesting an 8.7% increase, while Duke Energy has asked for a 14.6% increase for residential customers—who make up nearly half of the state’s total electricity usage. Much of the funds raised will likely go toward upgrading the grid and strengthening infrastructure.
North Carolina: Investment and Growth
North Carolina is also facing a significant challenge. In 2022, the state generated 126.6 million megawatt hours of electricity. Following a decade of population growth and rising energy demands, Duke Energy has committed to a massive $7.7 billion investment to upgrade the state’s grid. The North Carolina Utilities Commission has already approved a rate increase this year, and the utility plans to add new power plants across a range of energy sources, including natural gas, solar, onshore wind, and advanced nuclear.
However, with the state expecting nearly 1 million more residents in the next five years, maintaining a reliable grid will be a major hurdle. North Carolina has also faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, including a targeted attack on two substations in Moore County in 2022, which left tens of thousands without power for days.
The Carolinas: A Regional Challenge
Together, North and South Carolina have experienced unprecedented growth, adding over 2 million people to their populations in the last decade alone. Residential energy use accounts for nearly half of the total demand in both states, with the average home consuming 1,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. This figure doesn’t even account for the additional electricity needed for commercial buildings, schools, and new industries that are popping up to accommodate the influx of residents.
Both states are working to expand their energy production and distribution capabilities, with North Carolina ranking 4th in the nation for new solar installations and South Carolina 13th. While these renewable sources are important, they still aren’t enough to offset the increased demand. As the grid continues to face pressure, there may come a time when it’s not just your lights that go out, but your Christmas tree as well—LEDs included.
The Carolinas’ electrical infrastructure is at a crossroads. Without significant investment and forward-thinking solutions, we risk a future where power outages during extreme weather are more than just an inconvenience—they could be a serious threat to the stability of our homes, businesses, and communities. The need for action is clear, and the time to act is now.
Tony Holcomb is an Energy Consultant with Harris Integrated Solutions. He is retired Director of Maintenance and Operation for Georgetown County Schools in South Carolina. He served three years as Vice-Chairman for the Association of South Carolina Energy Managers, won South Carolina Energy Manager of the Year in 2016, and won South Carolina Energy Project of the Year in 2013. To Holcomb, his biggest career accomplishment was not having to increase Georgetown County School District’s energy budget over 14 years, helping keep teachers employed and students learning.
