MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — While Mount Pleasant leaders have millions of dollars available to move power lines underground, the process of turning this goal into a reality has proven to be slow and complicated.
In neighborhoods like Hobcaw, residents continue to deal with the daily inconvenience of overhead power lines — and the frequent outages that come with them.
The Ongoing Problem of Outages
Caroline Staley, a Hobcaw resident, shared the challenges faced by the community: “Every time a storm happens, heavy winds or rain, trees get knocked down and they knock down the power lines and then the whole neighborhood’s out of power for quite a while.”
The town’s goal is to eventually move these lines underground to reduce power outages and improve overall reliability. Mount Pleasant has a dedicated fund for these projects, created through a partnership with Dominion Energy, with both sides covering the cost. Currently, about $5 million is available for the effort, according to company officials.
Challenges in Implementation
However, the funding doesn’t go far enough to cover all the necessary work. Even when a project is selected, it can take years to complete. For instance, a project along Mathis Ferry Road is still under construction, and another near Ben Sawyer Boulevard and Rifle Range Road is still in the design phase. In some cases, projects don’t move forward at all, due to factors such as high costs, lack of agreement among neighbors, or difficulties in securing the necessary space for the infrastructure.
Looking Ahead: A Long-Term Plan
Town leaders are working to develop a long-term plan to prioritize areas for future undergrounding projects. “Hopefully we’re going to have a good inventory, kind of what’s most important, what needs to be done first, second, third,” said Lacofano, a town official.
For residents like Staley, the goal is simple: fewer outages, especially as storm season approaches. “It’d be nice to have it buried so we don’t have to worry about that,” Staley said.
A Desire for Reliability
Residents are growing frustrated with the ongoing issues. “The power will glitch on and off,” Staley added, pointing out that it doesn’t always take a major storm to cause problems. The push for underground power lines is more urgent than ever as Mount Pleasant continues to work toward improving its power grid’s reliability.
