Utility transmission tower collapses into Congaree River, according to riverkeeper
A large transmission tower is resting in the Congree River after collapsing, according to the Congaree Riverkeeper.
The riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization that says it works to protect the Broad, Saluda and Congaree rivers, posted Tuesday on the social media platform X that a sizable transmission tower maintained by Santee Cooper has collapsed into the Congaree River.
Santee Cooper spokesperson Mollie Gore confirmed the tower is on its system, but has been “de-energized and not affecting our power delivery.”
Gore attributed increased water currents behind Hurricane Helene as the cause of the tower’s collapse.
“HEADS UP: A Santee Cooper transmission tower collapsed into the Congaree River,” the organization wrote on X. “This is downstream of I-77, just above the ‘big sandbar’ and across from the mouth of Congaree Creek.”
Gore said the utility identified erosion on the river bank beneath the tower in February, and began a replacement process, which requires “design and engineering work for the removal and replacement of the tower,” before any actual work on the structure is performed.
“It’s not an overnight process because, you know, it’s a big tower,” Gore said. “It’s (was) on track to be replaced in early 2025, and then hurricane Helene accelerated the process.
Santee Cooper crews began assessing damage to the fallen tower on Monday, which continued into Tuesday, Gore said. Due to elevated levels on the Congraree River, the utility hopes to complete its damage assessment of the tower by Thursday, Oct. 3., in order to remove the fallen structure and position a temporary solution until a permanent replacement can be installed early next year, Gore said.
“We inspect every one of our transmission structures once a year,” Gore said. “It was during that annual inspection in February ... where they saw the erosion and immediately started the process to replace it. Helene has now accelerated that process.”
This story was originally published October 1, 2024 at 11:33 AM.
