S Carolina House considers whether to remove nuclear fee

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The leader of Republicans in the South Carolina House is asking representatives to reject a bill that cuts most of the charges utility customers are paying for two abandoned nuclear plants.

A lot is riding on Wednesday’s debate beyond cutting South Carolina Electric & Gas bills. Virginia-based Dominion Energy has said passing either of two proposals now being floated in the Legislature would likely cause the company to revoke its offer to buy SCE&G’s parent company, SCANA Corp.

The House measure cuts the entire 18 per cent charge. The Senate’s cuts 13 per cent off bills.

If the House doesn’t agree, the proposal goes to a conference committee and may not pass before the Legislature adjourns May 10.

Gov. Henry McMaster has said he’ll veto any proposal that doesn’t cut the entire fee.