Many of you have heard about the proposed Dominion rate increase of 7.7%. As Tom Clements said in an Op Ed for the Lexington County Chronicle, Bonus section “During night hearings the week of Nov. 9, 2020, dozens of ratepayers voiced strong objection to the proposed
rate hike. Comments came not only from average customers but also from former SCE&G employees and elected officials such as Sens. Tom Young, Shane Massey and Mia Mc-Cloud, all Dominion ratepayers. During the 3 live-streamed public hearings, ratepayers presented well-
reasoned arguments against granting the rate hike. The bulk of those testifying in 3-minute oral comments cited financial hardships, which was heart-wrenching to hear as many of our fellow citizens, especially the elderly and those on fixed incomes, are suffering. Many voiced
opposition to a rate hike during the covid-19 economic chaos…”
Governor McMaster has also voiced strong opposition to the rate increase and has recommended that Dominion withdraw their request. See the following from his letter to Dominion:
If Dominion is not willing to withdraw its application, it should, at a minimum, seek the parties’ consent and the PSC’s approval to suspend, stay, or otherwise pause further proceedings in the midst of the present pandemic. In the event that Dominion plans to proceed with seeking the PSC’s approval of its requested rate increase, please know that I
will ask the PSC to reject Dominion’s application in its current form.
See the full letter here: https://governor.sc.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/2020-11-
24%20Gov.%20McMaster%20to%20R.%20Blevins%20re%20DESC%20Application%20for%20Rate%20Increase.pdf
Dominion and formal intervenors will have their say to the PSC during a hearing in January, 2021 but for now us members of the public can keep submitting comments for the official record.
Comments into the formal proceeding – Application of Dominion Energy South Carolina, Incorporated for Adjustment of Rates and Charges, Docket 2020-125-E – can be submitted via mail and email. Even if brief, comments by the public are important.
You can send in comments, with the docket number noted in your message, to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, 101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29210, to
the email address contact@psc.sc.gov or you can download a protest letter from the PSC website: