Duke Energy submits proposal to buy Santee Cooper.

Duke Energy has made its interest in purchasing state-owned utility Santee Cooper official, filing a proposal for the General Assembly to review.

The Charlotte-headquartered power company's name had been floated as a possible suitor for the embattled state utility, along with Florida-based NextEra Energy and Greenville-based Pacolet Milliken. Companies faced a Jan. 14 deadline to submit purchase proposals.

The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, a trade association for Santee Cooper's largest customer, Central Electric Power Cooperative, had previously expressed interest in acquiring Santee Cooper. Messages left with those organizations were not immediately returned Friday.

In an emailed statement, Duke Energy spokesperson Ryan Mosier said: "Duke Energy has a keen interest in the economic vitality of South Carolina, given our more than 100 years of history in the state. The governor requested Duke Energy, along with other companies, evaluate options for a potential acquisition of Santee Cooper. After a thorough evaluation, Duke Energy has submitted a proposal through the state's process for consideration. We look forward to understanding the next steps in the process and the state's response to our proposal."

An email to Gov. Henry McMaster's office requesting comment on Santee Cooper purchase proposals was not immediately answered. A Milliken spokesperson did not immediately return a message.

Santee Cooper said it had no comment on the proposals.

"The proposals were made to the Legislature," Santee Cooper spokesperson Tracy Vreeland said via email. "We have no independent knowledge of who made proposals at this point."

McMaster has been shopping Santee Cooper, saddled with $8 billion in debt and dealing with fallout from the failed nuclear reactor project at the V.C...