Columbia Energy Center (SC)
Calhoun County, South Carolina · EIA plant ID 55386 · Operator: South Carolina Electric&Gas Company
Nameplate669MWSummer 612 MW
Generators3in service
Net generation2,779GWh12 mo to Aug 2026
Capacity factor52%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate5,739Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online2004Runs as baseload
The 12-month figures include preliminary EIA-923 months, which EIA revises. Final data runs through Dec 2025.
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 579.3 | 20.1% | 6,405 |
| 2005 | 387.5 | 9.5% | 6,404 |
| 2006 | 391.1 | 9.6% | 6,406 |
| 2007 | 393.9 | 9.7% | 6,405 |
| 2008 | 357.1 | 8.8% | 6,407 |
| 2009 | 44.2 | 1.2% | 6,405 |
| 2010 | 192.7 | 5.3% | 6,406 |
| 2011 | 151.2 | 4.2% | 6,407 |
| 2012 | 51.4 | 1.4% | 6,404 |
| 2013 | 702 | 14.8% | 6,404 |
| 2014 | 578.8 | 12.2% | 6,405 |
| 2015 | 750.2 | 15.8% | 6,405 |
| 2016 | 1,296.6 | 27.2% | 5,766 |
| 2017 | 1,676.3 | 35.2% | 5,766 |
| 2018 | 1,915.3 | 40.3% | 5,967 |
| 2019 | 3,251.1 | 68.3% | 5,758 |
| 2020 | 2,884.7 | 60.5% | 5,735 |
| 2021 | 2,519.8 | 53.0% | 5,744 |
| 2022 | 2,711.3 | 55.5% | 5,752 |
| 2023 | 2,465.9 | 49.1% | 5,731 |
| 2024 | 3,259 | 64.8% | 5,718 |
| 2025 | 3,041.7 | 56.7% | 5,719 |
Fuel capability
Gas-fired turbines (CT/GT/CA/CS) that can also burn liquid fuel. EIA-860 Schedule 3 for capability, EIA-923 for actual burn.
StatusLikely still dual fuel
Liquid fuel burned · 36 mo26,505 MMBtu
Last month with liquid burnJul 2026
Switch while operatingYes
Net summer MW on gas321
Net summer MW on oil333
Time gas → oilup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Time oil → gasup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT1 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CT | 197 | 186 | May 2004 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CT2 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CT | 197 | 186 | May 2004 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| ST1 | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | CA | 274.5 | 240 | May 2004 | Operating | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: South Carolina Electric&Gas Company. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| South Carolina Electric&Gas Company | 100.0% | 669 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| Otarre Solar Park | 2 MW | 7.6 km |
| Coit GT | retired | 12.5 km |
| Gunsight Solar, LLC | 75 MW | 12.9 km |
| Gaston II | 8 MW | 13.3 km |
| Gaston Solar I - SC | 10 MW | 13.6 km |
| Columbia Canal Hydro | 11 MW | 14.5 km |