More than 100 jobs lost Port City Electric abruptly ceases operations

A large electrical contracting business has abruptly closed its operations in the Carolinas, leaving more than 100 local employees out of work.

Port City Electric Co., which was based in Mooresville, N.C., shuttered its headquarters and branch locations in Spartanburg, Raleigh and Charleston on Nov. 1.

At the company's main local office in North Charleston, a handwritten sign on the door stated that "Port City Electric is no longer in business."

But inside, the office appeared to have all the trappings of a fully functioning workplace Tuesday. The front desk space was cluttered with stacks of paper, and a soda can and water bottles were left on the main counter.

Company officials did not return calls to confirm the number of people it employed. According to the state's Commerce Department, the Charleston branch had about 107 employees at last count. Also, the company's Spartanburg operation employed about 60 workers.

Port City Electric kept several offices in the Charleston region, including one downtown and two in North Charleston. One of the contractor's landlords in North Charleston recently filed an eviction notice against the company.

Shortly before the company shut down, it crews were installing electrical wiring in the new 370,000-square-foot Cane Bay High School in Summerville.

"They just announced one afternoon that they'd be pulling off the site the next day, and they did just that," said Harold Lee, project manager for Southern Management Group, which is overseeing construction of the school.

Lee said he has since found another company to finish the job, and that the scheduling disruption won't delay the school's opening in August.

Displaced Port City employees could be eligible for work force training benefits offered through the state. They can contact the Trident One Stop Career Center at 574-1800 for more information.