Posted on Mar 3, 2010

At the March 1, 2010 Dorchester County Council in Summerville, I brought to Council a fact-filled Resolution requesting that the Public Service Commission, a public watch-dog and utility rate approval Commission appointed by the General Assembly, deny SCE&G's requested 2010 9.5% rate increase. County Council, in its 'wisdom', rejected the Resolution and opted to send a letter to the Commission, instead, to be signed by whomever on Council wishes to sign it. Don't expect anyone to send a letter to the Public Service Commission except for Larry Hargett representing Council District 4 of Dorchester County. Many of my constituents have serious concerns with their already too high electric bills from SCE&G and are now faced with an additional 9.5% increase. The increase, if approved, will provide SCE&G an additional $100 million of income, state-wide, and add to their usual $270 million profit the company has been enjoying during the past several years. This requested rate increase is especially hard on retirees, low income citizens and small businesses struggling to pay their electric bills each month. Meanwhile, if one were to search the South Carolina Ethics Commission website for SCE&G corporate campaign contributions to members of the South Carolina General Assembly, some 200+ contributions have been made by SCE&G during the past two years amounting to over $140,000. Is the Fox guarding the Hen House? The 'Larry Hargett for State House District 98' Campaign has not and will not accept ANY Political Action Committee (PAC) and/or special interests campaign contributions.