Department of Energy grant helps Conway install automated switches to speed power restoration

A Department of Energy grant is helping Horry Electric install automated distribution switches in Conway to restore power to affected neighborhoods in minutes, officials and residents said.

Kevin Woodnum, identified in the presentation as a Horry Electric employee, described how rapid population growth and increased demand have strained the local grid and increased the frequency and impact of outages. "We deal with a lot of things, anywhere from squirrel outages to thunderstorms to cars hitting poles," Woodnum said, explaining the utility’s responsibilities for safety and reliability.

The video featured local business owner Russell, described as the proprietor of Big D's Barbecue Trough, who described the economic consequences of outages. "When the electricity is out, our stores have no opportunity to do anything but close," the presenter said while introducing Russell’s remarks; Russell added that outages caused by vehicles striking poles or storms force his restaurant to stop operations.

Project mechanics and funding The presentation said the new automated switches will detect a fault on a line (for example from a vehicle collision or downed tree), change the direction of power flow, and restore service to most of the affected section without dispatching crews to manually reconfigure lines. The presenter said automation can restore power "in minutes instead of hours." No project cost or specific grant award amount was cited in the presentation.

The presenter identified the funding source as the Department of Energy and noted that "OE" refers to the Department of Energy's Office of Electricity, saying the office is investing billions of dollars nationwide to improve grid resilience and support projects such as Conway's.

Community resilience and shelters Randy, introduced in the presentation as the community's "Hurricane Guy," said the area has been hit by major category-four storms before and will be struck again. "We're one hurricane away from total destruction," he said, stressing the need for infrastructure that either resists storm damage or returns quickly to service.

Lisa (identified in the segment as speaking for the school community) noted that local schools serve as hurricane shelters and therefore require reliable power so displaced residents have warm, safe places and meals during storms. The presenter emphasized that restoring power to schools is a critical priority for community safety during widespread outages.

Why the grant matters Speakers said the project would improve reliability for households, small businesses and critical facilities. The presenter stated that the DOE Office of Electricity grant made an otherwise unaffordable automation project possible, but the presentation did not provide specific financial terms, timelines for installation, or a completion date.

What remains unspecified The presentation did not specify the dollar amount of the grant, the exact neighborhoods or number of switches to be installed, contractor names, or an installation timeline. It also did not include an independent technical or cost assessment in the video.

Next steps and resources The presenter closed by thanking viewers and directing people seeking more information to the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity webpage at energy.gov/oe. The video did not record a public meeting, vote, or formal municipal action; it described a grant-funded utility project and its expected benefits.