2nd undisclosed report shows delays, poor oversight doomed SC nuke project

SCANA’s SCE&G subsidiary should have told regulators about the report, said Edwards of Regulatory Staff. The Cayce-based utility could have summarized the report in quarterly construction reports that it was required to file with the state Public Service Commission, which regulates the utility, Edwards said.

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article187423673.html

SCE&G customers should beware of natural gas as replacement for failed nuclear power plants, critics say | The State

SCE&G customers should beware of natural gas as replacement for failed nuclear power plants, critics say | The State: "Natural gas “is not an obvious answer and it’s not necessarily the cheapest’’ way to replace the V.C. Summer nuclear project’s capacity, said Blan Holman, an attorney for the Law Center.

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South Carolina taking steps toward selling Santee Cooper | The State

South Carolina taking steps toward selling Santee Cooper | The State: "S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and leaders of the S.C. House and Senate can’t agree on who should appraise the value of the state-owned utility, which McMaster wants to sell to pay back power customers for Santee Cooper’s role in a botched nuclear project.

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Net neutrality repeal would hurt rural South Carolina, FCC's Clyburn says | Business | postandcourier.com

Net neutrality repeal would hurt rural South Carolina, FCC's Clyburn says | Business | postandcourier.com: "Mignon Clyburn, a Democratic appointee, says she fears telecommunications companies will trample consumers if open-Internet regulations are canceled. Those rules would be cut under a plan proposed last week by President Donald Trump’s administration.

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Carolina Water Service customers concerned about rate increases - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina

Carolina Water Service customers concerned about rate increases - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina: "Carolina Water Service says it needs to raise rates in order to invest in and improve infrastructure. However, it's not sitting well with some of their customers who believe they already pay too much for their water service.

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Atlantic Coast Pipeline set to seize private property under eminent domain | News & Observer

Atlantic Coast Pipeline set to seize private property under eminent domain | News & Observer: "While the Atlantic Coast Pipeline has undisputed legal authority to use private land for the project, the looming court actions against rural residents touch on sensitive issues of property rights and farming traditions. The Wilson Times newspaper published an editorial denouncing the pipeline’s corporate “land grab” and lamenting the sacrifice of “purloined property.”

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Toxic coal tar a costly mess for SCE&G, Duke Energy | Island Packet

Toxic coal tar a costly mess for SCE&G, Duke Energy | Island Packet: "Now, SCE&G wants to dump rocks and cloth on the greatest concentration of tar, about 2.3 acres near the Senate Street boat landing. The rest of the 11-acre tar slick will remain uncovered, except for any river sediments that wash over it. Leaving the tar in the river could save SCE&G at least $11 million, records show. It could be two years before the project even starts, officials say.

Environmental watchdog groups say that’s not good enough. The Congaree Riverkeeper organization and the Southern Environmental Law Center filed official notices with SCE&G earlier this month that a lawsuit would be forthcoming unless the tar is removed from the Congaree Rive"



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Westy discussing group bid for Saudi nuke tender: sources - Kallanish Energy News

Westy discussing group bid for Saudi nuke tender: sources - Kallanish Energy News: "Toshiba-owned and bankrupt Westinghouse Electric is in talks with other U.S-based companies to form a consortium to bid in a tender for two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia, three industry sources told Reuters.

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Former U.S. representative forms energy coalition > Columbia Business Report

Former U.S. representative forms energy coalition > Columbia Business Report: "Barrett said the coalition is on board with the sale of Santee Cooper to a utility with a record of service.

“This company could potentially absorb Santee Cooper’s V.C. Summer debt while bringing low rates, reliable service, oversight and a diversified energy portfolio to help meet S.C.’s energy needs now and in the future with no burden to the tax payer,” Barrett said."



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South Carolina county votes to sue utility over reactors | The State

South Carolina county votes to sue utility over reactors | The State: "Council members said they had borrowed $24 million, in part, for infrastructure improvements, expecting to get $80 million a year from SCANA. The utility already is the biggest taxpayer in Fairfield County because of the existing reactor at the nuclear station that opened in the mid-1980s.

The county had signed a contract with SCANA when the project began that would allow the company to pay a fee instead of property taxes."



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FCC chairman sets out to repeal 'net neutrality' rules

FCC chairman sets out to repeal 'net neutrality' rules: "WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday followed through on his pledge to repeal 2015 regulations designed to ensure that internet service providers treat all online content and apps equally, setting up a showdown with consumer groups and internet companies who fear the move will stifle competition and innovation.

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Gov. McMaster says abandoned nuclear project needs to be maintained - South Carolina Radio Network

Gov. McMaster says abandoned nuclear project needs to be maintained - South Carolina Radio Network: "“They are going to have to be maintained,” McMaster told reporters. “As you know we are entertaining conversations with companies all over the east, the Southeast. There is enormous interest in South Carolina.”

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More renewable energy, not a new Atlantic Coast Pipeline , is the best path for energy development | News & Observer

More renewable energy, not a new Atlantic Coast Pipeline , is the best path for energy development | News & Observer: "The 600-mile natural gas pipeline is planned to run from West Virginia’s natural gas fields through Virginia and North Carolina. The $6 billion project backed by Charlotte-based Duke Energy and Richmond-based Dominion Resources is moving steadily through a thicket of federal and state requirements and its developers expect to complete the permitting process by mid-December. But disputes over access to local property and legal objections from environmental groups could still stall the massive tree cutting, tunneling and trenching needed for the pipeline.

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Duke Energy earns perfect score in 2018 Corporate Equality Index - GuruFocus.com

Duke Energy earns perfect score in 2018 Corporate Equality Index - GuruFocus.com: "The 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) rates employers based on criteria falling under five categories, including non-discrimination policies, benefits, organizational competency and accountability around LGBT inclusion, public commitment, and citizenship. Duke Energy is one of only four companies headquartered in the Charlotte region to achieve a perfect score.

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South Carolina has six weeks to answer a $2B question about the future of its nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

South Carolina has six weeks to answer a $2B question about the future of its nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com:

The utilities have a short window to reconcile a sharp divide. SCANA has said the potential value of its write-off will dwindle by $200 million if it waits past Dec. 31 to claim it. And Congressional Republicans are pushing toward a tax reform plan that could make the deduction even less valuable by cutting corporate tax rates.

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Proposed FCC Lifeline Reforms Include Cap, No Free Service, No Resellers - Telecompetitor

Proposed FCC Lifeline Reforms Include Cap, No Free Service, No Resellers - Telecompetitor: "FCC Lifeline reforms adopted today include:

Limiting the $25 enhanced tribal support to facilities-based providers and to rural areas
Eliminating restrictions that barred Lifeline consumers from changing Lifeline providers for a year
Clarifying that Lifeline support is only available for mobile broadband at 3G or better levels
Barring support for “premium Wi-Fi services” that require use at a Wi-Fi hotspot"



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WATCH: SCE&G to hold 9am press conference to address customer co - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina

WATCH: SCE&G to hold 9am press conference to address customer co - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina: "In a release, the company says they will propose solutions and outline specifics that are said to address concerns of customers, legislators, and regulators.

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Scana Corporation: SCANA Files BLRA Status Report for 3rd Quarter 2017 - The Wall Street Transcript

Scana Corporation: SCANA Files BLRA Status Report for 3rd Quarter 2017 - The Wall Street Transcript: "RE: Quarterly Report of SCE&G Concerning Construction of V.C. Summer Nuclear Station Units 2 and 3 for the period ending September 30, 2017
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House panel advances bills to clean up S. Carolina nuke mess | The Wichita Eagle

House panel advances bills to clean up S. Carolina nuke mess | The Wichita Eagle: "The six proposals include one that would block project co-owner South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. from continuing to charge its customers $37 million a month for the scuttled project at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. Another bill could force SCE&G to refund the $1.7 billion that it already has charged customers.

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Internal Westinghouse document warned South Carolina nuclear reactor construction was 'at risk' in 2011 | Business | postandcourier.com

Internal Westinghouse document warned South Carolina nuclear reactor construction was 'at risk' in 2011 | Business | postandcourier.com: "“The AP1000 design is not complete, although it is currently under construction,” the Westinghouse engineer wrote. “This virtually assures large numbers of changes will occur to both systems and structures.”

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Will SCANA execs get golden parachutes after VC Summer? | The State

Will SCANA execs get golden parachutes after VC Summer? | The State: "A proposal by state Rep. Kirkman Finlay, introduced last week as lawmakers prepare for their January return to Columbia, would prevent SCANA from offering an executive a severance package worth more than the most generous payout to a single fired construction employee."



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Governor says V.C. Summer site should be maintained in case nuke project can be revived | The State

Governor says V.C. Summer site should be maintained in case nuke project can be revived | The State:

McMaster made his remarks less than a week after executives with SCANA, SCE&G’s parent corporation, told state regulators they would stop maintaining the site by year’s end. The company is trying to gain a $2 billion federal tax break that could hinge on whether SCANA formally abandons the project.

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Rivekeeper group threatens lawsiot to force SCE&G to cleanup from Congaree | The State

Rivekeeper group threatens lawsiot to force SCE&G to cleanup from Congaree | The State: "If SCE&G doesn’t dig up the coal tar coating the riverbottom, or make progress toward doing so, the riverkeeper group will sue the utility, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under federal clean water and hazardous waste laws, according to letters written by an environmental legal group representing the riverkeeper.

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The moment that helps explain how South Carolina lost its $9 billion nuclear power bet - P&C

It was July 2016, and SCE&G was asking regulators to sign off on one last electric rate hike, one that would let them lock in the cost of the building a pair of nuclear reactors i

http://www.postandcourier.com/business/the-moment-that-helps-explain-how-south-carolina-lost-its/article_f1f39af4-b834-11e7-b6d3-c77a6c98059c.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share

VC Summer audit raised in Georgia hearings over fate of Vogtle nuclear project | Utility Dive

VC Summer audit raised in Georgia hearings over fate of Vogtle nuclear project | Utility Dive: "A suite of documents related to an audit for the South Carolina VC Summer nuclear facility appeared in regulatory hearings on the fate of the Vogtle nuclear project. Southern Co. officials were repeatedly asked in testimony Tuesday whether the same problems plaguing VC Summer appeared throughout the construction of Vogtle.

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SC regulators: SCANA spent extravagantly on VC Summer nuclear project | The State

SC regulators: SCANA spent extravagantly on VC Summer nuclear project | The State: "Instead, SCANA leaders celebrated the March 2012 issuance of the license by piling into two company planes and flying to retrieve it in person from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Maryland, state regulators told The State this week.

The company listed the $14,000 cost of that trip among its operating expenses for the now-abandoned nuclear project, claiming the expense as justification to raise the electricity rates of its customers."



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South Carolina is considering offers to buy Santee Cooper but no one's sure what it's worth | Business | postandcourier.com

South Carolina is considering offers to buy Santee Cooper but no one's sure what it's worth | Business | postandcourier.com: "The General Assembly and our state's citizens must know the true value of Santee Cooper," Lucas and Leatherman jointly wrote in a letter to the governor, adding that its customers have put money into the utility for most of the last century.

"We cannot allow this investment to be sold at a fire sale price if we firmly believe that is not in South Carolina's best interest," they said.

The governor responded later in the day: "I completely agree with the points of your letter.""



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McMaster picks Columbia lawyer to fill vacant PSC seat | The State

McMaster picks Columbia lawyer to fill vacant PSC seat | The State: "S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has picked Columbia lawyer Robert Bockman to fill a seat on the Public Service Commission as major issues related to SCE&G’s failed nuclear expansion loom before the regulatory board.

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SC cooperatives open to Santee Cooper sale after V.C. Summer fiasco | The State

SC cooperatives open to Santee Cooper sale after V.C. Summer fiasco | The State: "However, the cooperatives want to know how those utilities’ offers might affect the rates they — and their customers, in turn — are charged for Santee Cooper’s electricity. Some of the utilities might offer to freeze or lower Santee Cooper’s rates as part of a deal, Couick said.

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New SCE&G president wants to restore 'trust and credibility' of embattled utility | Business | postandcourier.com

New SCE&G president wants to restore 'trust and credibility' of embattled utility | Business | postandcourier.com: "Keller Kissam, the incoming president of SCE&G, wants to remind people of another side of the company: the one that continues to power homes and businesses across the state. The 29-year veteran of the Cayce-based utility who earned $1.2 million last year is one of the new faces of the troubled power provider, which abruptly announced leadership changes Tuesday. 

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PSC commissioner quits as nuclear debate boils | The State

PSC commissioner quits as nuclear debate boils | The State: "Friends of the Earth adviser Tom Clements, whose organization has asked the PSC to give ratepayers back their money for the failed nuclear project, said McMaster should fill the vacancy with someone interested in looking out for the public interest. Clements says the PSC has been too willing to side with utilities, particularly on decisions that allowed SCE&G to charge its customers for the reactor project.

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Duke Energy's plan to strengthen South Carolina's energy grid will create jobs, grow the state's economy November 3, 2017

The program – Power/Forward Carolinas – will consist of upgrades that will harden the system against storms and outages, further protect it against cyberattacks and physical threats, help expand renewable energy, generate jobs and stimulate economic growth. It will also give 740,000 customers in the Palmetto State more information to manage their energy use.

DUKE ENERGY NEWS SERVICE

South Carolina AG Alan Wilson says receiver should control money from failed nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com

South Carolina AG Alan Wilson says receiver should control money from failed nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com: "Attorney General Alan Wilson's office said he filed his two-page request for a receiver Wednesday in Richland County court, asking a judge to set aside the money the power company takes in each month to pay for the two abandoned reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.

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