Tree-cutting mishap causes power outage for 7K in Beaufort County, surrounding counties

A transmission outage left about 7,000 homes and businesses powered by Palmetto Electric Cooperative in Beaufort County without electricity Wednesday morning.

The outage began around 9 a.m. and affected multiple counties. Power was restored in phases, with most service back online by 9:30 a.m.

Palmetto Electric spokesperson Tray Hunter said the outage was caused by a contractor — unaffiliated with Palmetto or Santee Cooper — who was cutting a tree in the Hardeeville area when it fell onto a transmission line. Crews worked quickly to contain and isolate the span and then reroute the power, effectively restoring service, he added.

For a short period of time, traffic lights on the 170 corridor were out of service but have since been restored.

This story will be updated as more information about the outage is available.

This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM.

Isabella Douglas

The Island Packet

Isabella Douglas is the accountability reporter for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. A graduate of the University of Florida, she has spent time reporting for The Independent Florida Alligator, Fresh Take Florida and New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a concentration in criminology.