The Latest: S Carolina House takes risk, passes own rate cut

The Latest on South Carolina's House considering cutting electric rates used to pay for failed nuclear plants (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

The South Carolina House has renewed its demand that utility customers stop paying the 18 percent fee on their bills for two nuclear plants that were abandoned without generating a watt of power.

The House voted 104-7 on Wednesday to reject the Senate's proposed 13 percent rate cut for South Carolina Electric & Gas customers. House members took a calculated risk by sending the proposal to a conference committee of House members and senators with only seven working days left in the legislative session. If they can't agree, rates might not be cut at all.

Gov. Henry McMaster again Wednesday said he would veto any bill that doesn't cut bills by 18 percent, eliminating the fee entirely.

If any significant rate cut passes, Dominion Energy has said it would likely end its offer to buy SCE&G's parent company, SCANA Corp.

___

3:10 p.m.

The leader of Republicans in the South Carolina House is asking representatives to reject a bill that cuts most of the charges utility customers are paying for two abandoned nuclear plants.

A lot is riding on Wednesday's debate beyond cutting South Carolina Electric & Gas bills. Virginia-based Dominion Energy has said passing either of two proposals now being floated in the Legislature would likely cause the company to revoke its offer to buy SCE&G's parent company, SCANA Corp.

The House measure cuts the entire 18 percent charge. The Senate's cuts 13 percent off bills.

If the House doesn't agree, the proposal goes to a conference committee and may not pass before the Legislature adjourns May 10.

Gov. Henry McMaster has said he'll veto any proposal that doesn't cut the entire fee.