Energy reform bill headed to McMaster after lawmakers agree to compromise
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A plan to ensure South Carolina can keep the lights on for generations to come will soon be on the desk of Gov. Henry McMaster.
However, some worry the legislation could result in rising costs for ratepayers across the Palmetto State.
The deal comes as the state faces massive industrial and population growth, and the clock was ticking for lawmakers to get an agreement finalized.
The House of Representatives and the Senate both ed an energy reform bill earlier this year, but their versions of the legislation were different.
After weeks of talks, leaders in the General Assembly hashed out an 11th-hour compromise, which they said they couldn’t afford to not get done before they head home for the year Thursday.
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“The question is, ultimately, does South Carolina want to own its energy future, or do we want to be whipsawed?” Sen. Luke Rankin, R – Horry, told colleagues in introducing the agreement Wednesday on the Senate floor.
Among its many provisions, this expansive bill streamlines the permitting and appeals processes for new power plants.
It will give lawmakers’ blessing to a partnership between state-owned Santee Cooper and privately owned Dominion Energy to build a natural gas plant at a former coal plant site in Colleton County.
The legislation would also make it easier for utilities to raise rates more frequently, which power companies say will help them implement gradual increases over time instead of one large jump in cost every four or five years.
“You have less rate shock to consumers when that adjustment is made,” Sen. Tom Davis, R – Beaufort, said.
Others argued that this “rate stabilization” plan was a bad deal for ratepayers.
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“You’re going to hear from your constituents because their power bills are going to go up every year, regardless of what the co-ops tell them,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R – Edgefield, said.
The compromise does not include any regulations concerning data centers, which senators had put in their version of the bill.
“There are several compromises where pieces and provisions were taken out that are easily addressed down the road,” Rep. Gil Gatch, R – Dorchester, said.
Nearly a dozen senators voted against the compromise Wednesday, with several saying it was because of the exclusion of any provisions in this bill on data centers, which are a major driver of the need for more power.
“You’re going to regret this because what’s going to happen is, we’re going to get more data centers, we’re going to require more generation, it’s going to put more on the backs of residential customers, and their bills are going to go up,” Massey said.
The bill next heads to McMaster, who has urged the General Assembly to get an energy reform deal done this year.
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