Regulators who gave SC Electric & Gas $2 billion in rate hikes got a 22% raise.

Lawmakers raised Public Service Commissioners’ salaries this year, from $107,822 to $132,071 and the chairman’s salary from $109,726 to $133,982.

A pair of former lawmakers could join a 3rd already on the commission. They are ex-lawmakers Chip Limehouse, a Charleston Republican and Ted Vick, a Pawleys Island Democrat.

State Public Utilities Review Committee nominates commissioners and exerts control over the regulation of utilities in the state.

The PSC approved 9 rate hikes for 725,000 SC Electric & Gas ratepayers under a quietly passed state law.

It provided $2 billion for the utility’s failed $9 billion nuclear fiasco, the largest such failure in state history.

State law allows ex-lawmakers to be elected to the PSC if they have been out of office for at least 4 years.

The only ex-legislator on the PSC is Thomas Ervin, a former circuit court judge from Greenville.

Brundrett is news editor of The Nerve. Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@the-nerve.org .