No decision made on interim CEO for Santee Cooper, co-owner of failed nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

No decision made on interim CEO for Santee Cooper, co-owner of failed nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com: "MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (AP) — Board members of South Carolina's state-owned utility met Friday to discuss appointing an interim CEO after the failure of a multibillion-dollar nuclear power project, but made no decision.

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SCANA Corp. says V.C. Summer rate proposal could threaten utility's financial integrity - Charlotte Business Journal

SCANA Corp. says V.C. Summer rate proposal could threaten utility's financial integrity - Charlotte Business Journal: "“Judgments of this magnitude require the highest measure of care, but also require expedient action,” Commissioner Elliot Elam said in proposing the commission appoint Butler as a hearing officer.


“We instruct the hearing officer to schedule briefing and oral arguments as expeditiously as possible,” Elam said. “I would instruct the hearing officer to ask the parties to be prepared to address the preliminary investigation and the evidence to support the request” to rescind the rates."



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Interim CEO expected to be named for Santee Cooper, co-owner of failed nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

Interim CEO expected to be named for Santee Cooper, co-owner of failed nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com:

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster backed attorney Steve Hamm, the current interim director of the state ethics agency. The governor appoints all of Santee Cooper's board members.

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SCE&G calls request to roll back customer payments for failed nuclear project 'illegal and unconstitutional' | Business | postandcourier.com

SCE&G calls request to roll back customer payments for failed nuclear project 'illegal and unconstitutional' | Business | postandcourier.com: "If the payments to the utility are canceled, the company's attorneys argued it would no longer be able to supply power to its 718,000 electric customers it serves in South Carolina. 

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Gov. McMaster sets Oct. 1 deadline for Santee Cooper buyers, pushes interim CEO | News | postandcourier.com

Gov. McMaster sets Oct. 1 deadline for Santee Cooper buyers, pushes interim CEO | News | postandcourier.com: "The governor also is pushing Steve Hamm, director of the S.C. Ethics Commission, to become interim chief executive of the state-owned electric utility. Hamm argued electric rate cases during his 13-year stint as director of the state's consumer watchdog agency. Hamm, who said he would be willing take the new post, worked with McMaster when the governor was U.S. Attorney.

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SCANA investor sues executives, board members over failed South Carolina nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

SCANA investor sues executives, board members over failed South Carolina nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com: "John Crangle, a government watchdog in Columbia, filed the complaint in Richland County on behalf of himself and other shareholders on Tuesday.

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SCANA, Santee Cooper taking 8 percent discount to cash in Toshiba settlement over nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

SCANA, Santee Cooper taking 8 percent discount to cash in Toshiba settlement over nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com:



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SC AG declares 'suspect' law allowing SCE&G, Santee Cooper to raise rates | The State

SC AG declares 'suspect' law allowing SCE&G, Santee Cooper to raise rates | The State: "The opinion said that the 2007 state law, the Base Load Review Act, which allowed the failed nuclear reactors to begin being built by by SCE&G and Santee Cooper and to bill customers for ongoing construction costs is “constitutionally suspect.” Moreover, the Act also contained a prohibition effectively banning ratepayers from challenging the ongoing nuclear project and rate increases by filing lawsuits.

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Companies building failed S.C. nuclear project 'were looking to cut corners' as state’s top cops asked to investigate | Palmetto Politics | postandcourier.com

Companies building failed S.C. nuclear project 'were looking to cut corners' as state’s top cops asked to investigate | Palmetto Politics | postandcourier.com: "COLUMBIA — South Carolina's attorney general and House of Representatives have asked the State Law Enforcement Division to open a criminal investigations into the utilities that wasted $9 billion in a failed attempt to build two nuclear reactors in Fairfield County. 

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SCE&G Recognized for Outstanding Solar Power Programs - Aiken CEO

SCE&G Recognized for Outstanding Solar Power Programs - Aiken CEO: "SCE&G was recognized by the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance for leadership and success in developing solar energy programs. The SCCEBA presented its 2017 Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award to SCE&G representatives at the S.C. Clean Energy Summit in Columbia.

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Lexington offers to buy Carolina Water Service sewer plant | The State

Lexington offers to buy Carolina Water Service sewer plant | The State: "Lexington town officials are offering to buy an embattled Carolina Water Service sewer plant for nearly $1.6 million, much less than the private utility has said it wants.

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Would Bechtel report’s release have affected rate hikes for SCANA customers? | The State

Would Bechtel report’s release have affected rate hikes for SCANA customers? | The State: "The report, completed by Bechtel Corp. about 18 months before the nuclear expansion was abandoned, offered evidence the project was off the rails and made recommendations."



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SCANA subpoenaed by feds over failed nuclear project | The State

SCANA subpoenaed by feds over failed nuclear project | The State: "The investor-owned utility announced the government’s action early Thursday in a news release to investors and the media. The subpoena requires the South Carolina corporation to produce “a broad range of documents related to the project,’’ the news release said.

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Lindsay Graham Calls for Action on Climate Change | Time.com

Lindsay Graham Calls for Action on Climate Change | Time.com: ""I'm a Republican. I believe that the greenhouse effect is real, that CO2 emissions generated by man is creating our greenhouse gas effect that traps heat, and the planet is warming," said Graham. "A price on carbon—that's the way to go in my view."
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Attorney: Utilities meant to hide report on nuclear project | News | bdtonline.com

Attorney: Utilities meant to hide report on nuclear project | News | bdtonline.com: " For at least two years before a South Carolina nuclear power construction project was abandoned, its owners had a report that they intended to keep secret showing the reactors couldn't be completed as planned, an attorney for a legislative panel investigating the debacle said Friday.

"The report is very, very troubling," said Scott Elliott, hired by the House for the hearings. "It was designed to never see the light of day.""



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U.S. nuclear firm Westinghouse sees end to bankruptcy proceedings in 2018, Energy News, ET EnergyWorld

U.S. nuclear firm Westinghouse sees end to bankruptcy proceedings in 2018, Energy News, ET EnergyWorld: "LONDON: U.S. nuclear reactor maker Westinghouse does not expect to come out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings before the end of 2017 but hopes to complete restructuring in early 2018, its CEO said"



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Outside groups call for changes to South Carolina's utility law after cancellation of nuclear reactors | News | postandcourier.com

Outside groups call for changes to South Carolina's utility law after cancellation of nuclear reactors | News | postandcourier.com: "The group is made up of the American Association of Retired Persons, the South Carolina League of Women Voters, the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce and other statewide associations.

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SCE&G to add natural gas pipeline in Chapin > Columbia Business Report

SCE&G to add natural gas pipeline in Chapin > Columbia Business Report: "The plan calls for approximately 17,500 feet of steel natural gas pipeline from Jake Eargle Road to Crooked Creek Road.

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SC lawmakers’ hearing postponed as hurricane trumps nukes | The State

SC lawmakers’ hearing postponed as hurricane trumps nukes | The State: "Those meetings have yet to be rescheduled, but the Senate’s own utility review committee has moved its planned “discussion” with representatives of the state’s Public Service Authority and S.C. Electric and Gas to next Monday, Sept. 18.

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Santee Cooper pleaded for better controls on nuke project years before shutdown | The State

Santee Cooper pleaded for better controls on nuke project years before shutdown | The State: "As far back as May 2014, Santee Cooper told SCE&G the companies needed help from an independent manager to oversee the V.C. Summer reactor project northwest of Columbia, according to documents released Thursday by the state-owned power company.

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Dominion hits pause on North Anna nuclear plant development | Utility Dive

Dominion hits pause on North Anna nuclear plant development | Utility Dive: "Dominion would still need a certificate of need from Virginia’s State Corporation Commission to move forward with the project, but the climate for such an approval could be more difficult in the wake of the bankruptcy of nuclear contractor Westinghouse Electric and the decision by SCANA and South Carolina Electric & Gas to abandon their V.C. Summer nuclear project.
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Renewables developers 'gaming' PURPA should force reforms, utilities tell Congress | Utility Dive

Renewables developers 'gaming' PURPA should force reforms, utilities tell Congress | Utility Dive: "While PURPA was always meant to compel utilities to purchase power from independent suppliers, critics argue that developers are increasingly “gaming” the law by splitting large-scale renewable developments into smaller portions to meet PURPA’s size requirements — under 80 MW in vertically-integrated states and 20 MW in organized markets.

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Duke Energy may ask for SC rate hike to recoup costs of nixed nuclear plant - Upstate Business Journal

Duke Energy may ask for SC rate hike to recoup costs of nixed nuclear plant - Upstate Business Journal: "Scott Elliott, a Columbia lawyer who specializes in utility regulation, has already picked out arguments he intends to make on behalf of manufacturing clients in opposition to the expected rate hike request.

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Emails: Toshiba, Westinghouse accused of deceit, malfeasance in run-up to South Carolina nuclear plant failure | Business | postandcourier.com

Emails: Toshiba, Westinghouse accused of deceit, malfeasance in run-up to South Carolina nuclear plant failure | Business | postandcourier.com: "In the harshly worded emails, Marsh told a top Toshiba executive, “We are left to wonder whether Toshiba ever had any real intent" to complete the project.

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Palmetto Utilities customers are not happy about a potential rat - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina

Palmetto Utilities customers are not happy about a potential rat - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina:

To many Columbia-area homeowners, it's a hard pill to swallow. 

"2018 the increase...2019, 2020 and then even after that there could be another increase," customer Audrey Happ said. 

That's the slow climb upward for sewer service rates that Palmetto Utilities wants to see in place over the coming years. A process the company is trying to directly explain to its many customers this week as it tries to get approval from the state public services commission.

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Duke Energy accused of violating federal, state policies on S.C. solar developments - Charlotte Business Journal

Duke Energy accused of violating federal, state policies on S.C. solar developments - Charlotte Business Journal: "The complaint filed with the S.C. Public Service Commission says Duke (NYSE:DUK) has decreed it will offer only five-year power-purchase agreements to utility-scale solar projects. NARENCO, based in Charlotte, and its fellow developers contend that it is impossible to finance utility-scale solar projects with so short a contract.

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Federal judge sides with Santee Cooper in aluminum smelter's antitrust lawsuit | Business | postandcourier.com

Federal judge sides with Santee Cooper in aluminum smelter's antitrust lawsuit | Business | postandcourier.com: "Judge Richard Gergel said during a hearing Friday that Santee Cooper is a legal monopoly formed by the state legislature and is, therefore, exempt from antitrust laws. Gergel did not issue an order, but indicated he will dismiss an antitrust lawsuit Century filed against the Moncks Corner-based power provider.

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