Berkeley Electric plans building

MONCKS CORNER — Berkeley Electric Cooperative has plans to build its new headquarters in the heart of the county's high-growth area.

The utility is asking Berkeley County Council to rezone 63 acres at U.S. 176 and Cooper Store Road from agricultural to planned development.

The property is in an area that is expected to see about 30,000 new homes over the next three decades.

Cooperative President Skip Strickland said Wednesday the plans are still in the early stages, and the utility does not anticipate building a new facility for another four to six years.

The co-op eventually wants to build its future headquarters in the most convenient location possible for customers and employees.

Its two operations-center buildings on U.S. Highway 52 in Moncks Corner are aging and there's not much room to expand.

"If we are going to build, we want to look at a location that is more centrally located," Strickland said.

One of the two green-topped buildings is more than 50 years old and has been renovated five or six times. The other is more than 30 years old.

Moving will allow the co-op to combine many of its operations at one site, Strickland said.

The company would merge its Goose

Creek and Moncks Corner warehouses and vacate the U.S. 52 buildings.

"We'd be bringing a lot of things together that are strung out now," Strickland said.

Utility officials said the customer service centers in Moncks Corner, Goose Creek, Johns Island and Awendaw would remain as they are.

"Customers coming in won't see a difference," said H. Eddie McKnight, vice president for marketing and public relations.

Berkeley County Planning and Zoning Director Jeff Tyndall said the property is not yet served by water and sewer, but, because of its proximity to the massive Parks of Berkeley and Cane Bay subdivisions, it will have access within a few years.

Berkeley County Council adopted first reading of an ordinance to allow the zoning Monday.

The Planning Commission has recommended approval.

Reach Andy Paras at (843) 745-5891 or at aparas@postandcourier.com.