Yes, your electric bill is going up again. You can thank the Public Service Commission, the Office of Regulatory Staff and state lawmakers who are supposed to look out for your interests.SC Electric & Gas is only doing what the law allows. It is increasing rates again to cover its extra fuel and other operating costs. But its timing is an issue. SCE&G is still billing you and its other 700,000 ratepayers an average $325 a year for its abandoned Westinghouse project. Westinghouse is in bankruptcy court for its handling of nuclear reactor projects here and elsewhere. SCE&G and its owners, Lexington County-based SCANA officials, say they may be in bankruptcy, too, without more than $34 million a month ratepayers are paying for the failed project. SCE&G’s Eric Boomhower says this latest increase is 17 cents a month for residential ratepayers. Office of Regulatory Staff Director Nanette Edwards says the new rate comes to 72 cents a month or another $8.64 a year. “The Public Service Commission approved SCE&G’s petition for a rate increase for fuel costs in a contentious case in which the Office of Regulatory Staff raised concerns over a troubling lack of transparency by SCE&G regarding avoided capacity costs,” she said. Edwards said the ORS, which advises the PSC on rates, did not oppose it. The ORS has filed a motion with the Public Service Commission to intervene in a lawsuit against SCE&G. SCE&G said the PSC approved monthly kilowatt hour (kwh) rates for: Basic Facilities: $26.40 Energy Charge:

• On-Peak kwh June-Sept $0.24625 October-May $0.18774

• Off-Peak kwh First 1,000 kwh $.09922 Over 1,000 kwh $.10464 “No rate increase should be placed on ratepayers until the unconstitutional charges for the extortion connected to the nuclear reactors is removed,” PSC observer Sandra Wright of Irmo said. “SCANA is still receiving $34 million a month of free money.”