By Associated Press - Monday, November 9, 2020

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina Public Service Commission is set to hold three public night hearings this week after a request by Dominion Energy to raise customers’ utility bills by 7.7%.

The three virtual hearings will allow customers to tell the commission’s regulators how the proposed rate increases will affect them. Though public hearings over rate hikes often draw large crowds packed in meeting rooms, customers will have to call into the meetings by phone or videoconference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The company could collect an additional $178 million annually if the proposed rate increases go into effect next year. Customers’ bills could increase by $9.68 per month. The current ratepayer’s average monthly bill is $122.31.

Dominion requested the rate hike, which could affect 753,000 customers in the state, earlier this year. It is the first time the Virginia-based utility has asked for increased rates since buying the parent company of South Carolina Electric & Gas in 2019, after SCE&G abandoned a multibillion dollar nuclear project.

The first hearing starts Monday evening. Another two are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. The Public Service Commission will make a final decision on the case in January.

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