COLUMBIA (AP) -- A group of industrial power customers says regulators overstepped their authority when they allowed a utility to include a $438 million contingency fund in its estimate of how much it will cost to build a nuclear plant.
S.C. Energy Users' case against South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. was heard Tuesday by the state Supreme Court. The justices gave no indication of when they would issue a ruling. The court also is considering another challenge to the company's plan to build two new reactors at its V.C. Summer nuclear facility.
The contingency costs were included in a rate increase regulators approved last year. The company is charging electricity customers an average of 2.5 percent more each year over 10 years to help pay for the $10 billion project.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH