Mignon Clyburn reflects on legacy as public interest 'champion' at Federal Communications Commission | Palmetto Politics | postandcourier.com

 "The most high-profile issue Clyburn dealt with during her time in office was net neutrality, which is the idea that internet service providers should treat all websites and content in their system equally and not offer "fast lanes" for larger companies.

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SC Attorney General: SCE&G rate hikes 'unconstitutional' | The State

SC Attorney General: SCE&G rate hikes 'unconstitutional' | The State: "The Base Load Review Act is unconstitutional as applied to SCE&G ratepayers," said the attorney general's motion to state Circuit Court Judge John Hayes, who is presiding over a ratepayers' lawsuit against the Cayce-based utility."



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Santee Cooper opens new solar farm | WPDE

Santee Cooper opens new solar farm | WPDE: "It has nearly 6,000 solar panels that will generate enough renewable energy to power almost 200 homes."



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South Carolina Senate passes rate cut, threatening merger :: WRAL.com

South Carolina Senate passes rate cut, threatening merger :: WRAL.com: "Both supporters and opponents of the rate cut predicted a lawsuit from SCANA or others saying lawmakers have no legal right to set utility rates without the approval of the state Public Service Commission. Supporters think they can win, but opponents like Hutto said if the state loses the lawsuit, it will be a double blow for customers who lose the benefits of the Dominion merger and then the rate cut. He compared the action of the General Assembly to a mad scientist.

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Santee Cooper may object to SCANA-Dominion merger | The State

Santee Cooper may object to SCANA-Dominion merger | The State: "Mollie Gore, a Santee Cooper spokeswoman, declined to say what the state-owned utility would tell the PSC about the proposed marriage of SCANA and Dominion, a Virginia-based energy giant."



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S.C. power companies holding tax savings that could reduce rates until regulators weigh in | Business | postandcourier.com

S.C. power companies holding tax savings that could reduce rates until regulators weigh in | Business | postandcourier.com: "Nanette Edwards, the director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, says her office wants utilities' plans in writing now so that they aren't fighting about big sums of money later. The agency aims to clear up the issue early, even if the savings aren't passed through right away."



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Solar industry expansion in South Carolina gets good news | The State

Solar industry expansion in South Carolina gets good news | The State: "In a state reeling from high electricity costs, the House voted 64-33 to eliminate a cap that threatened to stop the solar industry's expansion in the Palmetto State. The fledgling industry is expected to reach the cap sometime this year."



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South Carolina House takes big step toward selling Santee Cooper

South Carolina House takes big step toward selling Santee Cooper: "The proposal, which now heads to the Senate, offers a significant step toward selling Santee Cooper. A number of companies have privately shown interest in buying or taking over the state-owned power company, but S.C. lawmakers — whose approval is needed to privatize Santee Cooper — have yet to create a process to field and evaluate those offers.

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Santee Cooper leaders defy S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster in fighting efforts to sell utility | Business | postandcourier.com

Santee Cooper leaders defy S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster in fighting efforts to sell utility | Business | postandcourier.com: "McMaster's office released thousands of pages of emails and communications Tuesday that shows the utility's highly paid lobbyists asked lawmakers to openly oppose a sale and pushed Santee Cooper leaders to sweeten deals for customers to make outside offers, like one from Florida's NextEra Energy, less attractive. 

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South Carolina lawmakers won't throw Charleston-area aluminum plant a lifeline | Business | postandcourier.com

South Carolina lawmakers won't throw Charleston-area aluminum plant a lifeline | Business | postandcourier.com: "The public utilities subcommittee of the House Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry last week voted 4-2 to kill a bill that would have let Century buy all of the electricity for its Berkeley County operation on the open market. Century currently gets 75 percent of its power from an undisclosed provider. It's required to buy the other 25 percent from state-owned Santee Cooper.

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SCE&G has better options to meet energy needs | Editorials | postandcourier.com

SCE&G has better options to meet energy needs | Editorials | postandcourier.com: "Environmental Law Center attorney Blan Holman explained, using a golf analogy. “When you are close to the green … and you just spent $500 on a uranium-coated TaylorMade 1-driver (that broke — see V.C. Summer), then it’s not time to buy a new fracked gas-coated 3-wood. It’s time to use your sand wedge and your putter. Solar is the wedge; efficiency is the putter.”

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Governor taps ex-prosecutor to lead South Carolina utility | WACH

Governor taps ex-prosecutor to lead South Carolina utility | WACH: "Gov. Henry McMaster announced Wednesday he has picked former state Attorney General Charlie Condon to fulfill the rest of former chairman Leighton Lord's term, which expires in May.

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Gov. McMaster thinks Santee Cooper is trying to block sale | The State

Gov. McMaster thinks Santee Cooper is trying to block sale | The State: "The Richland Republican on Tuesday demanded that the Moncks Corner-based power company cough up all of its contracts and emails with its lobbyists, as well as any official emails or texts sent by the lobbyists themselves, over the past 14 months.

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