Lockhart Power Company, Inc
420 River Street, Lockhart, South Carolina, United States

Safety – We are committed to preserving the safety of our employees and the public, and it is our core belief that all accidents are preventable.

Develop and Engage Employees – We treat our employees as family and our work environment is built on trust, communication, continuous improvement, and accountability. We offer opportunities for growth and development through a performance culture that empowers our employees and drives results through collaboration.

Customer Commitment – Lockhart Power continually strives to keep the interests of our customers in mind in every decision that we make.  Our goal is to provide exceptional customer service, addressing customers’ needs quickly and courteously.

Reliability, High Quality, and Cost-Effectiveness – Our company’s rates are among the lowest in South Carolina, and we provide power services that our customers can depend on.

Integrity – Demonstrating integrity in all of our interactions with stakeholders is at the heart of our business.

Environmental Consciousness – We have one of the strongest commitments to renewable energy of any utility in the world, with virtually all of our own generated energy derived from renewable resources.  We are also dedicated to operating our facilities in a manner that protects the quality of our environment.

Desire to Pursue Win-Win Growth Opportunities – We continue to search for opportunities to grow our business in a manner that benefits our customers and our community.

History

Lockhart Power Company was incorporated in 1912 by an act of the South Carolina legislature. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Milliken & Company (or a predecessor company) until 2007, when Roger Milliken decided to integrate it into the newly created Pacolet Milliken Enterprises.

The site of the existing Lockhart Hydro Project was originally developed by the state of South Carolina as a canal lock system in the 1820’s. In 1893-94, the original canal was enlarged and a dam was built to supply the newly constructed Lockhart Textile Mill with water for its hydromechanical water wheels. The current Lockhart hydroelectric facility was developed for the purpose of supplying electricity to the textile mill and later to the surrounding communities.  In 1918 modifications on the 1.5-mile power canal and construction of the current power house began, both which were completed in 1920. The power house contains five vertical-shaft Francis turbines that were rehabilitated in the late 1980’s.

Lockhart Power also manages and operates the Columbia Canal Hydroelectric Project, with its own rich history that parallels that of the Lockhart Canal.  This facility was constructed in 1896 to provide power for the adjacent Columbia Mill, which was the first textile mill in the United States to use AC motors and generate power away from the mill. 

 In 2012 Lockhart Power celebrated its 100th anniversary by giving back to its community. The company planted 100 trees throughout its service area to celebrate each of the company’s 100 years of service. In addition, Lockhart Power sponsored numerous community events throughout the year in order to honor the power company’s 100th anniversary while supporting the local people and economy. 

In 2013, Lockhart Power constructed new corporate offices next to the Lockhart hydroelectric facility to accommodate growing administrative space needs and to provide an updated service center for its customers.

Renewable Energy Resources

Lockhart Power owns and operates two run-of-river hydroelectric projects licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): the Lockhart Hydro Project on the Broad River and the Lower Pacolet Hydro Project on the Pacolet River. Lockhart Power built the Lockhart Hydro Plant in 1920 and has owned and operated it ever since. In 2007, Lockhart Power bought and upgraded the Lower Pacolet Hydro Project, which is located on the site of a previously demolished textile mill. 

Lockhart Power also manages and operates a third FERC-licensed run-of-river hydroelectric project, the Columbia Canal Hydro Project on the Broad River, on behalf of the City of Columbia, S.C.  The city acquired the project from South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) in 2002, and in 2011 selected Lockhart Power Company to rehabilitate, operate, maintain and manage the project under a 25-year agreement. 

In addition to these hydroelectric projects, Lockhart Power owns and operates the Wellford Renewable Energy (WREN) Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project located in Wellford, S.C. Lockhart Power constructed the WREN facility in 2011, utilizing the methane output of the Wellford Landfill to produce power. Lockhart Power also operates and maintains the gas collection and treatment systems for the landfill owner, Spartanburg County, as well as a six-mile pipeline feeding additional gas to an industrial plant.

Several of Lockhart Power’s renewable energy generation projects are registered with the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission to be able to sell Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) through the North Carolina Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).

Lockhart Power Company continues to expand its portfolio of renewable energy projects, expecting two additional hydroelectric projects, the Lockhart Minimum Flow Unit and the Upper Pacolet Project, to be completed by early 2013.  Additional cost-effective renewable energy opportunities are being actively pursued.

Environmental Stewardship

Lockhart Power Company is committed to operating our plants and facilities in complete compliance with environmental regulations and in a manner that protects the quality of our environment. We pledge to work with local, state and federal authorities to develop practical, effective environmental solutions.

We strive for zero waste generation to all elements – land, air and water – to be achieved by continual improvement in all of our operations.  Recycling of materials is an integral part of this ongoing effort. We further encourage our families, our associates and our communities through education and leadership to conserve our natural resources and protect the environment throughout our daily lives.

The design and construction in 2013 of our 6,600 square foot corporate office building in Lockhart, S.C. exemplifies our environmental commitment in the following ways:

• It accomplishes three separate functions in one building (company offices, customer service center and company meeting room) to reduce the building's footprint and associated use of materials and energy
• Materials from the demolished Excelsior Union Mill are reused, including the wooden beam decorative element in the main entrance
• Packaging used within the building is recycled
• The building is powered completely by electricity generated using 100% renewable resources by the adjacent Lockhart Hydroelectric Plant
• The building’s interior was painted with ECOS paints, a locally manufactured paint that contains no toxic chemicals, VOC's or solvents, resulting in a healthier working environment and better air quality for our customers and employees.  In May 2014, ECOS paints became the first paint company in the world to earn the prestigious ‘Declare’ label for transparency of ingredients, safety and eco-friendliness.
• Very high efficiency equipment is used to minimize energy consumption, including HVAC equipment and LED parking lot lighting

This reduce-reuse-recycle approach is the embodiment of our company's environmental values, which are a source of pride for our employees.