SCE&G seeks rate increase to fund nuclear plant construction

South Carolina Electric & Gas is asking state regulators to approve a 3.1 percent residential raise that would be the largest single rate increase by the utility since it began charging its 700,000 customers for the construction of two new reactors.

A representative from SCE&G said in an email the utility serves 48,934 electric customers in Beaufort County.

The Post and Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/299ZoEL ) reports that the proposed increase would raise $74.2 million for construction of the reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville. The rate hike, which would take effect at the end of November if approved, would be the ninth increase to pay for the reactors since 2009.

Commercial customers would see their rates increase by between 3 percent and 3.3 percent.

Office of Regulatory Staff Executive Director Dukes Scott says the utility has charged its customers more than $1 billion for the $14 billion project.

The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette reporter Madison Hogan contributed.

This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 11:01 AM with the headline "SCE&G seeks rate increase to fund nuclear plant construction."