News

A Small Win For Santee Cooper Direct-Serve And Electrical Cooperative Customers

While Santee Cooper’s millions of direct-serve and electrical cooperative customers await a decision from lawmakers on the future of the state-owned utility, a trial date has been set for the ongoing lawsuit between Santee Cooper and its customers.

Last week, former South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice, special Judge Jean Toal, set the trial date for April 20.

The decision was a significant blow to debt-riddled Santee Cooper, which will now give lawyers representing the millions of Santee Cooper customers time to go through tens of thousands of documents that were turned over by Santee Cooper just one day before the trial date was set.

Santee Cooper customers filed the lawsuit in August 2017 seeking refunds for the millions they had already paid and to put an end to the continual payments they were being charged for the failed V.C. Summer project.

For years, customers have paid extra fees on their monthly bills. Santee Cooper spent approximately $4.7 billion on the failed nuclear project and rely only on their customers to pay the company’s debt.

It was just last month that U.S. Judge Terry Wooten sent the lawsuit back to state court to be heard by special Judge Jean Toal.

Judge Toal’s decision also allowed the case to become a class-action lawsuit allowing for many more people to be able to seek refunds. Also in her decision, Judge Toal did not limit the potential monetary penalties and suggested that Santee Cooper should find a way to settle the case so that a trial could be avoided.

Meanwhile, Santee Cooper continues to rack up legal fees to fight back, adding even more to the billions of debt already owed and being paid by its customers.

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Discussions About Santee Cooper Continue

Featured Image: Charleston City Paper

We’re two weeks into South Carolina’s 2020 legislative session and the talk around what to do with state-owned Santee Cooper continues.

The latest to speak out on the issue is founder and CEO of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce, Marilyn Hemingway, who was reported saying “Santee Cooper has forgotten its mission of providing low-cost services”, by The Chronicle.

During her interview, Hemingway referenced both the $250 million loss in 2009 after the state-owned utility pulled the plug on the Pee-Dee coal plant before construction finished as well as the billions of dollars wasted during the 2017 abandonment of the V.C. Summer project.

Furthering her point, she alluded to the millions of dollars spent in legal fees after these projects and the newly appointed executives who are paid more than any other state agency, $2.4 million annually.

On top of the overwhelming amount of evidence that points to the wasteful spending, Governor McMaster’s office released a statement stating “Paying off Santee Cooper’s debt will cost direct-serve customers in Horry, Georgetown, and Berkeley counties about $6,200 per household. It will cost customers of the 20 electric cooperatives who distribute Santee Cooper’s power about $4,200 per household.”

The statement left many confused after hearing from Santee Cooper this summer that it would be freezing rates. However, the latest move from Santee Cooper points to this claim as ringing false. The state-owned utility recently filed a motion to stop any reference to future rate hikes during their current class-action lawsuit, hoping to keep jury members in the dark. Critics say the move is similar to Santee Cooper’s lack of transparency during the V.C. Summer fiasco, which also kept ratepayers in the dark.

As lawmakers look at the proposals put in front of them, South Carolina residents, like Hemingway, are recognizing the inevitability of rate hikes if no change is made.

The statement released by Governor McMaster’s office continues by stating the “Governor instructed each of the interested purchasers that they will not consider any proposal which saddles the ratepayers or taxpayers with any of Santee Cooper’s $4.3 billion nuclear construction debt” and that they must provide the state with the best solution possible, one which protects ratepayers while recognizing the valuable contributions of current and former employees of Santee Cooper.”

It is unclear what lawmakers will decide to do with the state-owned utility; however, it is clear that millions of South Carolinians are at risk of increased utility rates and may not even know not it.

Hemingway concluded: “From our point of view, we should start over. Now is the time for South Carolina to show some leadership.”

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Coalition Wants South Carolinians To Decide On Sunday Liquor Laws

Did you receive a mailer from the South Carolina coalition, Let SC Decide this week? If so, you’re not alone.

Residents all around the state reportedly received the mailer asking them to voice their opinion on whether or not liquor stores should be allowed to open on Sunday and urging South Carolina citizens to contact their state legislator with a simple message – let the people of SC decide.

Currently, South Carolina is one of only seven states across the country that does not allow Sunday liquor sales. States across the Southeast have updated their laws with Georgia in particular, allowing local communities to decide whether they want to allow Sunday liquor store sales via ballot initiative.

South Carolina’s rocky relationship with alcohol is nothing new. It wasn’t until 2005 that bars and restaurants were allowed to serve liquor from something other than mini-bottles. In fact, South Carolina was the last state to allow free pour from regular-sized bottles.

Just like with liquor, South Carolina had to progress with the changing times and adapt their laws towards craft beer in 2014 when the “Pint Law” and “Stone Bill” were passed. Since the laws passed, the craft beer industry has seen a boom in the Palmetto State with no signs of it slowing down.

Many would say the state’s alcohol laws have changed for the better in recent years, leading to the boom in craft breweries and micro-distilleries across the state. Both of which bring in new residents, tourists and revenue for the state.

Taking this next step and allowing voters to decide whether liquor stores should be open on Sunday or not seems to make sense from a freedom standpoint.

What are your thoughts? Do you think it should be up to those who live in the community themselves? Let us know.

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South Carolina Lawmakers Issues Santee Cooper and Education

South Carolina Lawmakers Return – Here Are Two Issues You Should Be Watching

Featured Image Source: Andrew Whitaker, Post & Courier

South Carolina lawmakers returned to the State House last week, kicking off the 2020 legislative session. All eyes are on two hot topics this year: education and Santee Cooper.

Last year, both were said to be a top priority of lawmakers but have found their way rolling into the new year with no clear future.

During the 2019 legislative session, the House passed a massive bill including a complete overhaul of our state’s education system, but the bill spent the remainder of the session being torn apart and dissected by state senators.

Meanwhile, Santee Cooper’s future has been up in the air for far too long while lawmakers go back and forth on what to do with the debt-riddled state-owned utility.

Lawmakers have once again named both issues a top priority this year, and it won’t take long to see if this holds true.

Sometime in the upcoming session, legislators will receive three bids for state-owned Santee Cooper – one a reform plan from Santee Cooper itself, one from a company that would manage the utility, and one from a privately-owned utility that would purchase Santee Cooper.

While supporters from all sides have come forward, lawmakers have a difficult decision to make. They must make sure they choose an option that will protect the millions of people who get their power and water from Santee Cooper and all South Carolina taxpayers.

Since the public was made aware of Santee Cooper’s billions of dollars of debt, many have expressed their concerns over rising electric rates, talk of a taxpayer bailout, and the responsibility of the debt falling on the shoulders of customers.

Palmetto Promise Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting a “free and flourishing South Carolina” and a strong supporter of selling Santee Cooper, stated the only way for South Carolina residents to avoid costs related to Santee Cooper’s debt is a sale.

Experts have found that a sale would allow a write-down of Santee Cooper’s $4 billion in nuclear debt. According to the report, “Over time, that $4 billion could double as interest is charged to customers.”

While lawmakers try to figure out the best way to deal with state-owned Santee Cooper’s debt, they’ll also have to keep in mind the tens of thousands of teachers who are looking for raises, resources and help, and the money it will take for education reform.

All eyes are on our lawmakers now as two major decisions need to be made, quickly.

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Bud Light Seltzer Commercial Summerville

The Town Of Summerville Featured In New Bud Light Seltzer Commercial

Featured Image Source: Bud Light/YouTube

If you’ve seen the new Bud Light Seltzer commercial, you just might recognize the Town of Seltzer, PA, also known as the “unofficial spokes-town of Bud Light Seltzer”.

If not, watch below and see if you notice any familiarities with a certain South Carolina town.

That’s right! The Town of Seltzer is actually the Town of Summerville.

While Summerville isn’t mentioned in the commercial, both Hutchinson Square and neighborhood pub, O’Lacy’s, make an appearance.

O’Lacy’s Pub makes another appearance in a separate commercial as the “Bud Light Seltzer Call Center and Bar”. Watch below.

Did you recognize the town when you saw it the first time?

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Local Residents Give Their Thoughts On Santee Cooper

South Carolina residents and lawmakers are gearing up for the state’s 2020 legislative session beginning in January and the many hot-button issues that are up for debate this year.

One of the issues at top of mind is that of Santee Cooper.

In January, lawmakers will review recommendations for the state-owned utility, and make a decision on the future of the debt-riddled utility company.

With billions of dollars of debt that customers could be on the hook for, many customers are expressing their concern.

Letters To The Editor

Santee Cooper Bailout? – South Strand News

“Santee Cooper is again proving it’s an unaccountable state agency operating in the shadows. For years, the state-owned utility has promised that South Carolina taxpayers won’t have to bear the burden of the nuclear debt. So much so that one of its “Facts are Facts” blog posts is titled “Taxpayers Are Not Responsible For Our Debt.” To quote the post, “FACT: Our debt will be paid off through our revenues, and not by tax dollars.” Lies. Last month Santee Cooper filed a lawsuit against the SC State Fiscal Accountability Authority and the SC Insurance Reserve Fund in an effort to recover the money it lost in the V.C. Summer nuclear fiasco. Both are state agencies. So that means Santee Cooper is seeking a bailout from the state, plain and simple. Many have suspected that this would happen. Santee Cooper kept denying it. The truth always comes out. Santee Cooper can’t fix itself and will have to depend on taxpayers to dig itself out.”

– Lee Padgett, Georgetown

Letter To The Editor: Santee Cooper – Charleston Chronicle

“Since 2012, Santee Cooper, the state-owned and largest utility, has increased rates by 15% to build the VC Summer nuclear plant that ultimately failed. The immediate impact felt by laid-off workers and the local rural community was horrendous enough but the fall-out will continue for years to come because of the lingering debt of $10 billion. Rates are expected to increase unless major changes take place.

This is a real negative impact on low-income, marginalized communities where regular, everyday folks working 2-3 jobs, lack transportation make real-life decisions about keeping the lights on. Santee Cooper is conducting a getting to “know the CEO” tour of our state with “movers and shakers” but where is the concern for those folks who can’t afford the admission fee for private receptions or closed forums.”

– Marilyn Hemingway, Charleston

Easy Choice On Santee Cooper – South Strand News

“Now is the perfect opportunity for legislators on both sides of the aisle to sell failed utility Santee Cooper and protect ratepayers from skyrocketing rates.”

– Thomas Herron, Myrtle Beach

Santee Cooper Needs To Be Honest With Ratepayers – Summerville Journal Scene

“Santee Cooper is at it again, trying to pull the wool over all of our eyes. The new executives are trying very hard to make you believe they can pay down the $7 billion-plus of debt without raising rates. A few weeks ago they said they’ve got enough money on hand to start paying down the debt. In that same announcement, they said they are also going to freeze rates for the next five years.”

– Claire Robinson, Columbia

News

Santee Cooper’s Legal Costs For Current And Former Employees Reaches Over $1 Million

Featured Image: The State

Santee Cooper is, once again, catching heat for its reckless spending.

Recent reports obtained by the Post and Courier show that Santee Cooper has racked up $1.7 million in legal fees by covering the cost of attorney fees for eight current and former employees, executives, and board members.

This comes after recent concerns of the state-owned utility’s decision to hire a new CEO and Deputy CEO with a million dollar a year and $560,000 a year salary, respectively, while in billions of dollars of debt.

According to the Post and Courier, the legal costs can be traced back to late 2017 when the unfinished V.C. Summer plant was abandoned by the state-owned utility and continues to grow as of last month when the records were obtained.

Not included in the $1.7 million, are the funds being spent on attorneys to represent the utility itself.

While the records don’t show the exact work being performed, a spokeswoman for Santee Cooper told the Post and Courier, the costs were tied to civil lawsuits against the utility.

One of those lawsuits pits the state-owned utility against its largest customer, the electric cooperatives who purchase their power from Santee Cooper. In the lawsuit, the cooperatives claim Santee Cooper kept the problems of the V.C. Summer project hidden from them and are suing so their customers won’t be held responsible for paying off the debt. However, as of this week, South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal put the lawsuit on hold further delaying the outcome.

More recently, Dominion Energy attorneys sent a letter to the state-owned utility demanding Santee Cooper pay for a portion of Dominion’s costs for the failed V.C. Summer project. The letter referred to the agreement between SCE&G and Santee Cooper to build the abandoned reactors, a project Santee Cooper owned 45 percent of.

As Santee Cooper’s $4 billion debt continues to increase by around one million dollars a day, the utility finds itself owing even more money while continuing to spend causing the millions of direct-serve and cooperative customers throughout the state to worry about the future of utility rates.