<strong>From staff reports</strong>

Governor Henry McMaster on Tuesday, Nov. 24, requested Dominion Energy withdraw its request to the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a 7.7 percent rate hike for its South Carolina customers.

In a letter to the company’s top state executive Rodney Blevins, the governor pointed out that the rate increase request was ill-timed while customers are struggling “to keep their lights on” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A sizable rate increase at this difficult time would impose an unexpected and untenable burden on many South Carolinians,” McMaster wrote. “I simply cannot support Dominion’s application to increase its rates as South Carolinians continue to confront myriad challenges related to COVID-19.”

In August, Dominion filed an application with the PSC to increase power rates by 7.7 percent on approximately 753,000 South Carolina customers. Dominion is also seeking a 10.25 percent allowed rate of profit.

McMaster further stated that, “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.”