SC Customers Who Funded Failed Nuclear Reactor Project May Get Refunds

A 2016 photo shows the cap for a containment building for the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station near Jenkinsville, South Carolina. The construction of two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site has been abandoned. South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. customers have paid about $2 billion toward the company’s debt on the project.

Chuck Burton / Associated Press file

A deal with Virginia-based Dominion Energy could mean $1.3 billion in refunds for customers of a troubled South Carolina utility who have been funding a failed nuclear reactor project.

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Dominion announced Wednesday it would make immediate $1,000 cash payments to SCANA Corp. customers within 90 days of closing its purchase of the company.



SCANA has been reeling since announcing last summer its subsidiary, South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., was abandoning construction of two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. Via a series of rate hikes, SCE&G customers have paid about $2 billion toward the company’s debt on the project.

SCE&G and project co-owner Santee Cooper blamed the $9 billion project failure on the bankruptcy by contractor Westinghouse. The $14.6 billion deal announced Wednesday needs regulatory approval.