Ā 

SCE&G ordered to lower customers' electric rates

Relief for electric ratepayers is closer than ever to becoming reality after the state's Public Service Commission told SCE&G to drop rates by 15 percent.

The PSC plans to determine exactly when the drop will take effect in a meeting Tuesday. SCE&G told the agency they would like for the rate rollback to start in August.

However, they’ve filed a lawsuit against it happening at all.

At the Statehouse, legislators made their request for electric rate rollbacks official, under state law, on Thursday.

Some SCE&G customers are pleased.

ā€œIt’ll be nice to know that at the end of the month, when I get my SCE&G bill, there will be a little relief when I open that envelope,ā€ customer Lorraine Simmons said.

But some also argue it’s still not enough of a discount on the nuclear charge for failed reactors they’ve been paying for years.

ā€œYou know I feel like I’m being held hostage because I either don’t pay the bill then I have no lights. I have no heat," she said. "You pay the bill, and then you suffer in your personal life because you’re having to pay these exorbitant rates.ā€

The Public Service Commission ordered SCE&G to lower rates for the nuclear reactors by 15 percent as they are instructed to do under new law.

For a customer with a $200 bill, that's $30 of savings each month.

But SCE&G is fighting back, with a lawsuit. The electric company claims this law for a temporary rate cut is unconstitutional, that it unfairly singles them out.

Ratepayers argue otherwise.

ā€œAnd for them to continue to try to get us to pay for their mistake, I think is very very wrong,ā€ Simmons said.

Once the rollback takes effect, if it is not blocked by a court, SCE&G would have to back-pay customers from April 1, on. 

Copyright 2018 WCSC. All rights reserved.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content

Ā