Santee Cooper Mini-bonds, which are exempt from federal and South Carolina state taxes, are available for purchase by residents of South Carolina and customers of Santee Cooper, members of the state’s electric cooperatives, and electric customers of the City of Georgetown and the Bamberg Board of Public Works. Interest rates vary according to the bond maturity dates, which range from 2013 through 2030. A complete list of interest rates is available at www.santeecooper.com.

The sale will continue through April; the last date to request an information packet is April 23, and the last date to order Mini-bonds is April 30. Investors can purchase Mini-bonds directly from Santee Cooper by ordering bonds online or by calling 1-877-246-3338 to request information or order forms. The maximum combined purchase is $50,000 per individual.

Proceeds from the Spring 2010 Mini-bond sale will be used to help maintain Santee Cooper’s transmission system, which serves electric customers throughout South Carolina and which achieved an enviable reliability rate of 99.9989 percent in 2009.

“Our Mini-bonds help Santee Cooper continue to provide South Carolina with reliable, low-cost and environmentally protective electricity,” said Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper president and CEO. “The Mini-bonds help investors by giving them options to enhance their portfolios, and they allow new investors an easy way to access the securities market.”

Specifically, the Spring 2010 Mini-bond program includes:

-    2010 Spring Series Capital Appreciation Bonds: Minimum purchase is $200 and interest is paid on the Mini-Bonds’ maturity date: Jan. 1, 2019; Jan. 1, 2024; or Jan. 1, 2029.

-    2010 Spring Series Current Interest Bearing Bonds: Minimum purchase is $500; interest is paid semiannually. The Mini-Bonds’ maturity dates are Jan. 1 of 2013, 2015, 2020, 2025, or 2030.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility, and the state’s largest power producer. The ultimate source of electricity for 2 million South Carolinians, Santee Cooper is dedicated to being the state’s leading resource for improving the quality of life for the people of South Carolina. For more information, visit www.santeecooper.com.