Vogtle nuclear construction to continue, Southern Co. says | Utility Dive

Vogtle nuclear construction to continue, Southern Co. says | Utility Dive: "Total costs of the Vogtle nuclear plant expansion is likely to top $25 billion dollars and could reach over $27 billion, Southern Co. previously told the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Georgia Public Service Commission will make the final decision."



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Amended Project Development Application of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC for Approval of Decision to Incur Nuclear Generation Pre-Construction Costs - Letter Advising of Request filed at the North Carolina Utilities Commission to Cancel the Lee Nuclear Project

Docket 2011-20-E:



Today Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC ("DE Carolinas") is filing a request in North
Carolina Utility Commission Docket Nos. E-7, Subs 819 and 1146 a request to cancel the Lee
Nuclear project pursuant to N.C. Gen Stat. § 62-110. 7, as described in the attached filing. This
request to the NCUC is a predicate to cost recovery for the project in North Carolina, and we
wanted to ensure that the Commission and parties to this docket were aware of the request. At
this time, we are not making requests in South Carolina on this matter.



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Suit: Utility unlawfully hiked rates to fund failed reactors - The Washington Post

Suit: Utility unlawfully hiked rates to fund failed reactors - The Washington Post: "The lawsuit, obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, was filed Aug. 23 in Berkeley County, where Santee Cooper is located. It accuses the utility of raising rates and approving agreements pertaining to the project at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station without a formal timeline from contractor Westinghouse Electric.

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Duke Energy scraps nuke plant, seeks higher power rates

Duke Energy scraps nuke plant, seeks higher power rates: "RALEIGH - Duke Energy asked regulators Friday to let its western North Carolina subsidiary raise household electricity bills by 16.7 percent and make consumers pay billions of dollars for a nuclear plant it won’t open and the cleanup of coal ash deposited in unlined pits.

The country’s largest electric company asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to let it raise rates by $647 million a year, adding $18.72 to the $104 monthly bill of the typical residential customer of its Duke Energy Carolinas subsidiary."



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Duke won’t help restart mothballed VC Summer nuclear project | The State

Duke won’t help restart mothballed VC Summer nuclear project | The State: "“The project is far too expensive, and the uncertainties around the ultimate completion and operation are far too great for us to accept on behalf of our customers and owners,” Duke spokesman Ryan Mosier wrote in an email.

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Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter announces retirement | News | postandcourier.com

Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter announces retirement | News | postandcourier.com: "Santee Cooper’s board met for hours behind closed doors Monday, discussing the nuclear project and unspecified personnel matters. The panel adjourned without taking any action.

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Santee Cooper CEO could be ousted as utility's sale moving forward | News | postandcourier.com

Santee Cooper CEO could be ousted as utility's sale moving forward | News | postandcourier.com: ""Some of the companies that have expressed an interest — some of which we have met with already and some of which we’ll meet with in the future — are big enough and strong enough to handle a project of this size," McMaster said.

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What does Duke Energy plan for its Lee nuclear plant now that V.C. Summer has failed? - Charlotte Business Journal

What does Duke Energy plan for its Lee nuclear plant now that V.C. Summer has failed? - Charlotte Business Journal: "At a minimum, the public is likely to get an indication of whether Duke Carolinas will seek to charge financing costs to its N.C.customers for the state’s share of $541 million the utility has spent on planning and pre-construction costs for the plant.

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Management shake-up? SC utility’s board calls special board meeting for Friday | The State

Management shake-up? SC utility’s board calls special board meeting for Friday | The State: "Amid swirling rumors of a management shake-up, the directors of the state-owned Santee Cooper utility will meet Friday in a specially called meeting.

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House panel digs into wreckage of failed Summer nuclear project > Columbia Business Report

House panel digs into wreckage of failed Summer nuclear project > Columbia Business Report: "During testimony before the House Utility Ratepayer Protection Committee, Columbia attorney Scott Elliott said that the S.C. Public Service Commission approved SCE&G’s license to add two reactors to the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station as Westinghouse Electric Co. was waiting for a final OK on the design from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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Job loss from V.C. Summer project shutdown reaches 5,400 > Columbia Business Report

Job loss from V.C. Summer project shutdown reaches 5,400 > Columbia Business Report: "The number of workers who have lost their jobs following the shutdown of construction on two new reactor units at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station has climbed to nearly 5,400, according to documents filed with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

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SC senators want outside report on failed nuclear project | The State

SC senators want outside report on failed nuclear project | The State: "That analysis, by the Bechtel Corp., found problems at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station and made recommendations, said Leighton Lord, chairman of the state-owned Santee Cooper utility.

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Federal court upholds state's right to stop natural gas pipeline under the Clean Water Act | masslive.com

Federal court upholds state's right to stop natural gas pipeline under the Clean Water Act | masslive.com: "The New York Department of Environmental Conservation acted properly in 2016 when it denied Constitution Pipeline a Section 401 certificate under the U.S. Clean Water Act, effectively vetoing the project, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.

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Pay-as-you-save: Arkansas cooperative harnesses innovative financing to fund efficiency | Utility Dive

Pay-as-you-save: Arkansas cooperative harnesses innovative financing to fund efficiency | Utility Dive: "Ouachita has embraced an energy efficiency financing method known as Pay As You Save (PAYS), which uses an innovative method to fund retrofits. Rather than loan the money to pay for an improvement, and saddle the customer with debt, the PAYS method uses an on-bill tariff that is tied to the the home's meter. There are some specific metrics that must be present, including payoff length and whether a member co-pay is needed, but the end result is instant on-bill savings for the customer and decreased load for the cooperative.

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Santee Cooper scraps plans to charge more for nuclear project | The State

Santee Cooper scraps plans to charge more for nuclear project | The State: "The unanimous decision by the state-owned utility’s board on Friday means the 2 million S.C. residents who rely on Santee Cooper for power will be spared rate hikes for at least two years. The utility had planned to increase its retail rates by 3.9 percent in 2018 and 3.5 percent in 2019.

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DC Circuit extends delay on Clean Power Plan litigation | Utility Dive

DC Circuit extends delay on Clean Power Plan litigation | Utility Dive: "In another blow for environmental groups and the Obama administration, the D.C. Circuit court has continued the delay in Clean Power Plan litigation and enforcement. But the court's order, in addition to requiring monthly reports from the federal government, included a stark reminder that the Trump administration will need to replace the rule — not simply rescind it.

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McMaster talking to Duke, Southern and Dominion about nuclear project | The State

McMaster talking to Duke, Southern and Dominion about nuclear project | The State: "McMaster is talking to Duke Energy of North Carolina, Southern Co. of Georgia, Dominion Energy of Virginia and other companies about getting involved in the project, his office confirmed Wednesday.

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SCE&G nuclear law could cost SC ratepayers much more | The State

SCE&G nuclear law could cost SC ratepayers much more | The State:

To help me sort it all out, I turned to the person who probably knows more about S.C. utility law than anyone not on SCE&G’s payroll — and maybe more than the people who are: Dukes Scott. Mr. Scott is executive director of the state’s Office of Regulatory Staff, which has the dual duty of looking out for the interests of the ratepayers and the solvency of the regulated utilities; he’s too pro-utility to suit some environmentalists, but I’ve always found him to be fair-minded and straightforward about where he’s coming from. He previously served as a member of the Public Service Commission, which decides whether to approve SCE&G’s rate requests, and before that spent a career in several top-level staff positions at the agency.

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Leatherman names panel to review utility issues | Local News | scnow.com

Leatherman names panel to review utility issues | Local News | scnow.com: "Sens. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, and Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, will be co-chairmen of the committee. Massey and Setzler are the leaders of the Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses.

Also on the committee are Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee; Sean Bennett, R-Dorchester; Paul Campbell, R-Berkeley; Mike Fanning, D-Fairfield; Stephen Goldfinch, R-Georgetown; Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster; Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg; Luke Rankin, R-Horry; Ronnie Sabb, D-Williamsburg; and John Scott, D-Richland.

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The House has now moved to create a committee to review VC Summe - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina

The House has now moved to create a committee to review VC Summe - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina: "Eighteen House members were selected to join the committee: Carl Anderson (District 103-Georgetown), Nathan Ballentine (District 71-Richland), Bart Blackwell (District 81-Aiken), Micah Caskey (District 89-Lexington), Heather Crawford (District 68-Horry), Bill Crosby (District 117-Charleston), Sylleste Davis (District 100-Berkeley), Kirkman Finlay (District 75-Richland), Mike Forrester (District 34-Spartanburg), Wendell Gillard (District 111-Charleston), Kevin Hardee (District 105-Horry), Pat Henegan (District 54-Marlboro), Bill Hixon (District 83-Aiken), David Mack (District 109-Charleston), Russell Ott (District 93-Calhoun), Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope (District 47-York), Todd Rutherford (District 74-Richland), James Smith (District 72-Richland). Chairman Bill Sandifer (District 2-Oconee).

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Report: McMaster considering Santee Cooper sale to help pay for nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

Report: McMaster considering Santee Cooper sale to help pay for nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com: "The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that McMaster is "pursuing several options" to raise the money needed to finish the project, which Santee Cooper and South Carolina Electric & Gas abandoned last week in the face of rising costs and the bankruptcy of lead contractor Westinghouse Electric.

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Senate leaders seek special session to block rate hikes following nuke project shutdown > Columbia Business Report

Senate leaders seek special session to block rate hikes following nuke project shutdown > Columbia Business Report: "Reacting to Monday’s announcement that the companies abandoned the unfinished reactor project at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, GOP Majority Leader Shane Massey and Democratic Minority Leader Nikki Setzler, asked that the General Assembly consider a joint resolution suspending the authority to Santee Cooper and the Public Service Commission “to act on the V.C. Summer project or authorize electricity rate increases.”

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FCC Commits to Expanded Rural Deployment | Broadcasting & Cable

FCC Commits to Expanded Rural Deployment | Broadcasting & Cable: "The commission gave the go-ahead for the next phase of the "Connect America Fund," which is intended to support $2 billion for rural broadband and voice services. It proposed a rulemaking that would improve broadband data collection and eliminate "unnecessary and burdensome requirements," and it initiated a notice of inquiry to evaluate use of "midband" spectrum, including shared use of the C-band, which has been widely used for rural satellite video services.

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Duke Energy prepares for solar eclipse that will knock out several hundred solar farms in NC | News & Observer

Duke Energy prepares for solar eclipse that will knock out several hundred solar farms in NC | News & Observer: "North Carolina has the nation’s second-highest power capacity in solar farms, exceeding 3,000 megawatts. With that amount of solar energy going dark, a total eclipse will be comparable to several nuclear reactors rapidly shutting down. This abrupt drop-off in electricity could cause a major disruption to the power grid, creating a surge in demand for backup power, with the potential for local power outages. But a Duke spokeswoman says the utility’s customers should see no interruption of power.

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Duke Energy could bill customers for S.C. nuclear plant | Charlotte Observer

Duke Energy could bill customers for S.C. nuclear plant | Charlotte Observer: "Charlotte-based Duke Energy has also planned to build a new nuclear plant in South Carolina, and won a federal license in December. The abrupt abandonment of the Summer plant by Santee Cooper and South Carolina Electric & Gas did little to entice Duke to go ahead with its own plan.

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Suit filed over river pollution | The State

Suit filed over river pollution | The State: "The state lawsuit, filed Thursday by some of the area’s most visible outdoors companies, says improperly treated wastewater from the private utility has kept them from running guided tours, renting equipment and spending time on the river between the Lake Murray dam and downtown Columbia.

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It's unlikely SCE&G nuclear project can be revived | The State

It's unlikely SCE&G nuclear project can be revived | The State: "The decision this week by SCE&G and Santee Cooper to abandon construction of two partially built, multi-billion-dollar reactors in Fairfield County continues to raise questions throughout South Carolina and across the country.

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McMaster forms ‘rapid response’ coalition to aid displaced V.C. Summer workers > Columbia Business Report

McMaster forms ‘rapid response’ coalition to aid displaced V.C. Summer workers > Columbia Business Report: "The coalition, called Employ SC, will host its first job fair event Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies, 916 Mount Vernon Road, in Chapin.

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SCANA reports $121 million profit on heels of nuclear plant failure | Business | postandcourier.com

SCANA reports $121 million profit on heels of nuclear plant failure | Business | postandcourier.com: "SCANA's profit amounted to 85 cents per share and represents an increase over the same period a year ago, when the company earned $105 million, or 74 cents per share.

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Tab swells to $25 billion for nuclear-power plant in Georgia | Fox Business

Tab swells to $25 billion for nuclear-power plant in Georgia | Fox Business: "It will cost more than $25 billion to complete a Georgia nuclear power plant, according to a new estimate released Wednesday, raising new questions about whether the sole remaining nuclear facility under construction in the U.S. will get built.

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Fired VC Summer workers crash SC State House | The State

Fired VC Summer workers crash SC State House | The State: "“I’m hoping we can make some sense out of this mess,” said Ephraim Lopez, a 40-year-old former warehouse foreman at the V.C. Summer nuclear site, near Jenkinsville. “We got no warning – no nothing. Just pack your bags and go.”"



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SCANA sought other partners for troubled V.C. Summer plant before halting construction - Charlotte Business Journal

SCANA sought other partners for troubled V.C. Summer plant before halting construction - Charlotte Business Journal: "CEO Kevin Marsh said SCANA subsidiary S.C. Electric & Gas sounded out other utilities, looking for a partner to replace Santee Cooper, but it found no takers.

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S.C. legislators look for answers in wreckage of failed nuclear project > Columbia Business Report

S.C. legislators look for answers in wreckage of failed nuclear project > Columbia Business Report: "Some 50 South Carolina legislators have formed a bipartisan energy caucus that aims to learn what led to the scuttling of the new reactor project at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station and the layoffs of some 5,000 workers.

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SCE&G Allowable Ex Parte Communication Briefing NDI-2017-12-E

Transcript of Allowable AEP given 8/1/2017 by SCANA re Abandonment of VSC 2 and 3



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SCE&G defends decision to abandon nuclear project | The State

SCE&G defends decision to abandon nuclear project | The State: "PSC chairman Swain Whitfield said the commission was “blindsided” by the company’s decision Monday. Whitfield said ratepayers had taken a hit, as have the people of Fairfield County who had depended on jobs created by the plant. The nuclear plant was expected to bring millions of dollars in tax revenues.

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Workers in tears after SCE&G nuclear project shutdown | The State

Workers in tears after SCE&G nuclear project shutdown | The State: "The workers are some of the estimated 5,000 people who until Monday were building two reactors at the Summer nuclear site near this Fairfield County town. On Monday, SCE&G and Santee Cooper announced plans to abandon the project because of escalating costs and because the main contractor, Westinghouse, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year."



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SCANA Corp. and Santee Cooper to stop building $16B+ V.C. Summer nuclear expansion - Charlotte Business Journal

SCANA Corp. and Santee Cooper to stop building $16B+ V.C. Summer nuclear expansion - Charlotte Business Journal: "Santee Cooper’s board acted first, announcing it would proceed with neither of the two nuclear reactors under construction at the site at this time. SCE&G, a subsidiary of SCANA Corp. (NYSE:SCG) reacted shortly thereafter, acceding to that decision."



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