CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – A South Carolina power grid specialist gave the state a ‘C’ in preparation for winter just a week after historic cold temperatures and snow have brought down millions of people in Texas.
Dr. Johan Enslin is a professor of electrical and computer engineering on the North Charleston campus at Clemson University.
“It’s definitely not an A. I think we could get a C,” said Enslin. “Our generation is based mainly on nuclear, so it is a source of generation, which is good. But, it is a source. Most of our other sources are imported from our neighboring dealerships. “
However, Texas operates differently. They are on what Enslin calls an “electrical island”, which means they cannot count on other states when their systems fail.
Earlier this month, Texas was hit by an arctic explosion that brought temperatures to a rare drop and power grids doubled due to high demand.
“It doesn’t matter what generation it was – natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind – all of these resources were not available when they should have been,” he said. “We generate energy at very low temperatures in Alaska and Europe. It is no longer an excuse to say that we do not know how to do it. “
Most other states, including South Carolina, are part of an interconnected network, which means they can get power quickly from other states when needed.
“We are definitely in a better place than not being on an island,” said Enslin. “We may want to strengthen some of these connections with our neighboring states.”
He also recommended investing more in transmission infrastructure, burying more power lines and improving energy storage.
“The roads are getting worse, but the electrical infrastructure is in the same boat,” said Enslin. “We have a lot more people. We have practically the same generation. “
He said these improvements must be made now, before winter hits South Carolina, something meteorologist Bill Walsh said is not common, but it can happen.
“In 2018, we had more than 15 centimeters of snow. In addition, we had several days below zero, ”said Walsh. “We had major problems with freezing temperatures during the night. So, yes, it can happen, and it happened. And it can certainly happen again. “
It is one of the reasons why Governor Henry McMaster ordered a review of the state’s power grid.
In a letter to the Office of Regulatory Staff, he wrote that South Carolina is prepared and ready to respond to hurricanes and other forms of severe weather.
“However, these recent events serve as a reminder that dangerous ice storms and severe winter weather can significantly affect areas not normally used to such conditions and, when they do, often have disastrous consequences,” he wrote.
Dominion Energy, which will participate in this discussion with regulators and legislators, serves more than one million customers across the state.
“We are prepared for any climate that arises,” said Dominion spokesman Paul Fischer. “If a resource is not available, we can find a safe and reliable alternative resource for our customers. This is an enormous value and the power of an interconnected network here in South Carolina. ”
He added that trees and branches remain the number one reason for disruptions to his system, which is why he said the teams are out all year round working to protect their power lines.
“We continue to see the frequency and duration of our interruptions decrease, and our vegetation management program is the key to this,” he said.
As soon as the system review was completed, the governor asked for a summary of his findings and any recommendations provided to him and the legislative leadership. The schedule for the review is not set in stone, but can be completed in early June.
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