SCE&G utility bills might go up by $13Utility cites coal prices as it plans hike in 2 stages BY JOHN P. McDERMOTT
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Wade Spees SCE&G cites coal prices as the reason for its planned increase in the fuel portion of monthly power bills. Customers of South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. could see their monthly power bills rise by $13 or more by early next year. The utility, blaming rising prices for coal, is seeking to increase the fuel portion of its rates in two phases, according to a request filed with state regulators Tuesday. If approved, the first increase would take affect in November, when residential customers would see a 6.06 percent increase. The monthly electric bill of a household using 1,000 kilowatts would increase $6.53 to $114.20. The second proposed increase of 5.72 percent would take effect in January 2009, bringing the price for 1,000 kilowatts of power to $120.73. Rates also would rise for business and industrial customers. Kevin Marsh, SCE&G's president, said the company's hands are tied, as "global energy prices are rising sharply, which is beyond our control." "About 65 percent of our electricity is generated through the burning of coal," Marsh said in a statement. "Recently, transportation and supply pressures ... have spurred dramatic increases in the price of coal. When we were forecasting for future needs at the time the current fuel factors were established earlier this spring, a ton of coal was priced in the mid-$80 range. We're now seeing sustained prices in the spot markets in excess of $150 per ton, an increase of more than 75 percent." Typically, the state Public Service Commission reviews once a year the costs that SCE&G incurs to run its electric generators, with most of the increases or decreases approved in or around May. The company said this was the first time it has sought approval for a "mid-period" fuel adjustment to its power rates. SCE&G does not earn a profit on any fuel increases. The fuel adjustments are separate from what utilities call their base rates, which SCE&G also has filed an application to raise. Scana Corp., the power company's parent, said in June that it will need to raise its electric rates 37 percent over 11 years to pay for two new nuclear units it is proposing to build in the Midlands with Santee Cooper. Assuming regulators approve the request, the monthly electric bill for the average SCE&G residential ratepayer would rise gradually by nearly $40, to $147.11 in 2019. Separately, state regulators are set to consider today SCE&G's request to start work at its Fairfield County plant, where it wants to build the two new reactors. SCE&G has told the commission it needs to start work now, even though regulators won't decide before February whether the company can build the reactors and start charging customers for them. SCE&G has one reactor at the plant in Jenkinsville. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach John McDermott at 937-5572 or jmcdermott@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by iceman1978 on August 5, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are we doing this? I don't understand why they still use coal to make electricity. We should be expanding our nuclear capability in energy.
Posted by whome on August 6, 2008 at 1:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Woo-Hoo!
1. 6.06% increase in November
2. 5.72% increase THREE months later in January
Must be some kind of increase/year cap or something.
Another possible increase for the nuclear power plants. Get ready for across-the-board standard of living decreases. You can't put emerging markets back in the bottle...
Posted by 1963 on August 6, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And these increases, with many more to come, does not include the increases they want to build the nuclear generating plants that was in the news recently. Those increases alone are expected to add about $30 per month to your bill when finalized. Folks your looking at about $200 dollars for a 1000 kw hours of use in a few years. Mark my words! It is coming.
Posted by watchdog on August 6, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY,
Mouth of the South, remember it was your republicans that put us in this mess. I am not a party member, the founding fathers would not have liked it. Also, you misrepresent the south, your an idiot....
Posted by watchdog on August 6, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said at a campaign stop in Montgomery County on Monday that Congress should return to Washington for a special session to vote on an energy package.
Until a few months ago, McCain was an opponent of offshore drilling. Now in TV ads, he's blaming Democratic opponent Barack Obama for high gas prices, because Obama has resisted drilling.
McCain's claim is phony, especially for somebody who's been in Washington for 25 years and has at times voted against raising automobile fuel-economy standards. But it obviously has political traction, because Obama now says he is willing to entertain a Senate compromise that includes the option of offshore drilling.
This country's energy problems have been building for decades. Nobody knows this better than candidate McCain, who said as recently as July 9, "Our dangerous dependence on foreign oil has been 30 years in the making, and was caused by the failure of politicians in Washington to think long-term about the future of the country."
Obama actually introduced his energy solution first - a 10-year, $150 billion spending plan that includes focusing on clean coal technology, hybrid cars, and commercialization of wind and solar power.
McCain's so-called "Lexington Project" includes building 45 new nuclear plants, incentives for new hybrid or electric car technology, and renewed emphasis on wind and solar power.
This debate is critical and decades overdue. But pushing offshore drilling as an urgent, near-term solution is like trying to sell voters snake oil.
Posted by mnbvcxz on August 6, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
damn pigs, just like the oil companies...
Posted by icbmman on August 6, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Absolutely, iceman. The environmentalists and government bureaucrats continue to prohibit development of more nuclear energy sites, despite the fact that it is the cleanest, most abundant source of energy for mankind. SCE&G needs to step up in lobbying state and federal representatives to put nuclear energy back at the forefront to solve these continual price increases.
Go figure, though. SCE&G will charge us $13.00 more per month, and they STILL won't bury utility lines and provide adequate lighting for streets. Makes you wonder where all this money goes.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 6, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My bill is fn high enough!The cost of everything is skyrocketing.This is scary as hell.Is it going to come to a point where A/C is a luxury?You'll see people dropping like flies.
Posted by zoomru on August 6, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Citizens of this STATE !!
This is a BLATANT example of the LACK of Leadership by OUR State's Legislature !!
We have 34 tons of Nuclear fuel in Aiken that would support South Carolina JOBS and Tax Base. These fools have taken US to the cleaners and sent OUR taxes to WEST VIRGINIA and South America !!!
ALWAYS make use of your RESOURCES ..FIRST !! Then as a last resource import !!
We have WIND ..BUT.. NO ...Windfarms !! No Mtn Peaks generating energy or OUR entire COASTLINE !! OUR LEGISLATORS are feeding US to the LOBBYIST ...WOLVES !! We have HOOP after HOOP of jumps to go through to drill for natural gas or OIL if we have ANY?? Our Legislators and CONGRESS REPS declare OUR peaks as STATE PARKS to stop ENERGY Production from WIND !!!
WHAT IS PLAINLY EVIDENT is that ..WE ARE SLAVES !!!
THANK YOU:
BOBBY HARRELL
GLENN McCONNELL
LINDSEY GRAHAM
MARK SANFORD
JAKE KNOTTs
JIM DEMINT
JAMES CLYBURN
ROBERT FORD
....and the SORRY LOT that is OUR elected OFFICIALS !!
EVERYONE of you REPORT to the MAGNOLIA CEMETARY on SATURDAY MORNING at SUNRISE ....and that is an ORDER !! YOU ALL need to reflect upon the MEN and women that died during the CIVIL WAR and before !!! WOULD THEY APPROVE OF YOUR DECISIONS and POLICIES ??? Someone needs to put their hands around the throats of OUR COOP CEOs !!! This INACTION WILL NOT STAND !!!
STOP TALKING.....and DO !!
STORM THE CAPITOL...GRAHAM AND DEMINT AND CLYBURN AND KICK THE PELOSI-CRATS... Carolina STYLE !!!!
Posted by widowhot on August 6, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THis is just to much! All this money they are charging , do they not think, people really can not afford all this increase. No wonder the elderly can't live!! They are padding pockets while we are the ones suffering. My bill is to much now, hate to see how much more it will rise. There has to be a stop to all this high rising.Find a different route so we the people do not suffer more with our money!
Posted by gmom on August 6, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets see, gas is up, water has raised their rates, now SCEG wants more too.How much more will we have to endure to maintain our lives. Is Santee Cooper rates as high as SCEG?Either way we are paying more and getting less. They don't care if you can afford your bill every month as long as they get what they want. Overcharging is one of the things they do best!
Posted by Acecool on August 6, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My bill same time last year was around $94, this month was $161, last month was $173.... Same time last year it has never been above $95 or so.... they have already hiked my neighborhood by about 100%
Posted by iceman1978 on August 6, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
icbmman, It's one of the reasons why I'm supporting McCain, even though he wasn't my first pick among the GOP candidates at the primary. He wants to expand on nuclear, drill more at home and invest in renewables over the next ten years. The other side doesn't offer us any solutions. We suggest offshore drilling and they scream and yell about the environment, despite the fact that Norway, one of the cleanest nations in the world, one of the largest oil producers, drills offshore in the North Sea. They don't want to go nuclear, even though France generates 80% or more of its power this way with little problems. What do they want us to do?
Solar is nice, and I've long said that we should make full use of solar since we live in the sun belt, but I doubt it would generate enough of our current needs.
The fact is that I like to have the ac set at 72-74 in the summer, be able to irrigate my lawn/vegetable garden to keep it looking pristine and manicured, and enjoy a scotch on the rocks like a civilized person. I believe in conservation but not at the expense of sacrificing my standard of living.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 6, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My current bill $277.
Posted by LadyTarHeel on August 6, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does that mean I wont be able to enjoy less than $50 bills anymore? MAN!!
Posted by 1963 on August 6, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everything is going thru the roof. Gas, electricity, rent, food, water, cable, internet, doctor fees, coal, coal?, heck it costs to get air at a gas station, etc. Gas prices are going back up in a few months because the industry has to increase their prices to adjust for winter season,(lame excuse in my opinion). The next big thing is going to be people needing more in their pay checks to keep up with the cost of inflation, and this will cause more inflation. Hey buddy can you spare a dime?
Posted by chucktonian on August 7, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eh..no big deal. electricity is cheap in the South. this is just more nonsense the media will use to promote the mental recession
Posted by icbmman on August 7, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Iceman, I'm sorry I missed your last post on this thread, but good night...I can't disagree with any of it! Well said.
Posted by Acecool on August 9, 2008 at 2:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Air is free at the gas station near me on JI