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COLUMBIA (AP) -- South Carolina's largest privately owned utility has reduced its proposal to raise power rates to about 5 percent.

The new increase request is in line with that recommended by the state Office of Regulatory Staff. The state agency that represents consumers in utility cases also has suggested SCE&G spend more than $48 million in state tax credits on programs that could reduce power bills over the next two years.

If the company's increase is approved, a customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month would pay $5.79 more.

The increase would be phased in over three years.

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