Santee Cooper executives have come to expect golden parachutes when they leave. Some get them even after they are fired at the taxpayer-owned utility.

Santee Cooper agreed to pay its former top attorney $495,000 after he was fired earlier this year.

Mike Baxley served as general counsel from 2014 to April 2020.

He was awarded that in a separation and severance agreement, the Charleston Post and Courier reported.

$388,800 was paid to settle any dispute he may have made over lost wages.

$156,200 was to avoid litigation although the company is $8 billion in debt.

That debt has caused Santee Cooper to raise rates to its electricity ratepayers such as members of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative in Lexington County.

Santee Cooper spokeswoman Mollie Gore said restructuring the executive team will save $8 million annually.

She said Santee Cooper’s larger management team shrank to 35 positions.