SCANA and Santee Cooper power users may find they have a common enemy.

Who’s that?

State tax officials.

They want to charge the two power companies 6% sales tax on the $9 billion they wanted on their abandoned nuclear plant.

SCANA officials told the state’s auditors they would fight sales tax charges.

The Department of Revenue told the Charleston Post and Courier it doesn’t comment on its audits.

SCANA spokesman Eric Boomhower said the company doesn’t have an estimate of what it would cost.

But 6% taxes on $9 billion are $540 million.

That is $297 million for SCANA and $243 million for Santee Cooper.

Santee Cooper declined to comment beyond its disclosure earlier this year.

Tax auditors are looking at more than nine years of tax returns, going back to the first days of the project.

Who would pay the bill if the Department of Revenue wins its argument?

Taxes usually go into electricity bills. So whether you are an SCE&G ratepayer or a Mid-Carolina member, you will probably get the bill.

It will not be a surprise if power company customers join the fight against the added sales tax costs.

Many will say the state is fattening legislators’ general fund at their expense.

Remember that the legislature has done nothing yet to lower the $325 a year most of the 700,000 SCE&G ratepayers are still being charged even tough the nuclear project is closed.

This could raise your power bill even more.