Lowcountry plant seeks competitive power rate

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (AP) — The manager of the Alcoa aluminum smelting plant near Charleston says the company must get a break on its $4 million-per-week power bill.

Mike Rousseau told reporters Wednesday that the company is negotiating with state-owned utility Santee Cooper.

Alcoa officials have said the Goose Creek plant that employs 640 people may close if it can’t negotiate a competitive power rate.

Rousseau says an agreement must be reached sometime next year to replace a contract that expires in 2015. He says the company needs a 10- to 20-year contract to ensure its future.

Rousseau says the plant pays more for electricity than any smelting plant in the nation.