A business group has fought SC Electric and Gas efforts to charge customers $5 billion for its abandoned nuclear project.

SC Small Business Chamber CEO Frank Knapp intervened in the Public Service Commission hearings.

“The PSC order to permanently reduce SCE&G electric rates by 15% was a victory but could have been better.” he said.

“An appeal has been filed to this order.”

Knapp said the chamber also:

• Led a national coalition of small businesses demanding that the federal tax reform passed a year ago be re-visited to give a better deal to the real job creators.

The benefits of the tax law to small business were confusing, weak and temporary compared to the 40% permanent tax cut given to corporations that will add $1.9 trillion to our national debt.

• Sought health insurance rate relief for small business owners. With premiums for health insurance for small business owners and others over the age of 50 going up over 40% in the last 2 years, the chamber helped members find affordable, quality health insurance by teaming up with a local, experienced insurance broker. Some members cut their monthly premiums by $600.

• Led opposition to exploring and drilling for oil in the Atlantic.

“We met with federal officials in the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Marine Fisheries Association to lobby against developing a petroleum industry along our coast,” Knapp said.

“We introduced concerns of toxic chemicals from conventional and chemical weapons and drums of radioactive waste dumped off the Atlantic Coast.

“The chamber led a lawsuit joined by 16 coastal cities against federal government efforts to permit seismic airgun blasting to look for oil.”