Posted on Apr 27, 2010

The new Summerville Town Hall was filled to standing room only last evening with a crowd estimated to be 125 people. I presented 45 petitions on behalf of 40 businesses in the Greater Summerville area with 1,225 signatures requesting a denial from the State Regulatory Agency/Public Service Commission. Much distrust and negative feelings were directed at SCE&G during the hearing. I believe the PSC will probably deny most if not all of the requested rate increase by SCE&G due to the current bad economic conditions as well as the unwarranted and unjustified rate increase request on the part of SCE&G and the tremendous wave of public opposition to the requested rate increase. The full text of my presentation to the PSC Commissioners is as follows: Madam Commissioner, I very much appreciate your holding this public hearing in Summerville to hear from the public about SCE&G's request for a rate increase. The timing of the request is very important to our citizens and deserves all the time and consideration we as elected and appointed officials can give to this request as the rate change would average $150 yearly to South Carolina families. I can just imagine the disgust and anguish of my Dorchester County citizens if County Council were to impose a $150 per year increase in their property taxes. I am a Dorchester County Councilman and a current Candidate for the SC House of Representatives. During my door-to-door campaign for the House seat, I hear over and over again from citizens about their concern with high electric and gas bill and whether or not they can pay their bills. Many are extremely upset upon learning about SCE&G's requested 9.5% rate increase and have asked if I could help them express their feelings about the rate increase. I have personally passed out petitions to 40 businesses and offices in the Greater Summerville area asking for citizens to express their desire for a denial of the rate increase by SCE&G. Some 1,225 citizens have signed these petitions which I herewith submit to the PSC for review. Our people are upset and concerned over having no place to turn and are voicing 'enough is enough'. They feel trapped and unable to change their electric and gas company. I have never see this level of dissatisfaction and mistrust directed at an organization during my seven years on County Council. The timing for this rate increase vs. the citizen' inability to pay high electric and gas bills is bad in light of the current economic situation in South Carolina. Our Teachers and public workers are being furloughed without pay with many taking decreases in pay. Many of our citizens have lost their jobs and are struggling each month to pay their electric and gas bills. I don't understand SCE&G's timing on this request and would like the company to first do some belt tightening; SCE&G has a captive market and probably views this request for a rate increase as an opportunity to increase profits even though the company continues to see very healthy profits, year to year. Many of our local businesses and industries have had to curtail expenditures to stay in business. As a Representative of 125,000 citizens of Dorchester County, I respectfully request that the PSC deny SCE&G's requested rate increase. I also ask the PSC to define what an accepted public expenditure is for SCE&G. "Is this proposed rate increase not a partial pass through from electric and gas customers to over 100 elected State Officials who last year received SCE&G campaign gifts totaling over $150,000, a matter of campaign public records on the SC Ethics web site. Will campaign gifting to State elected officials by SCE&G increase if the rate increase is granted by the PSC? SCE&G does contribute monies to local and state governments, from time to time, for the creation of new jobs which is greatly appreciated, and for which SCE&G also receives new customer revenues. Thank you very much for allowing me to express the wishes of these 1,225 citizens as well as many of the 125,000 citizens of Dorchester County who oppose this requested rate increase. Thank you very much, Larry Hargett Dorchester County Council Candidate, State House District 98