A SCANA lawyer did last week what few are likely to do – accept blame.

He admitted he blacked out critical parts of the $1 million Bechtel audit of SCANA’s nuclear project.

Attorney George Wenick told the Public Service Commission that company executives did not intentionally withhold vital information from regulators, their investors and their ratepayers.

Wenick denied SCANA executives ordered him to delete information that could have raised doubts about the $9 billion project.

Wenick was responsible for hiring Bechtel, one of the world’s largest construction and engineering firms, to review the failing project in 2015, the Charleston Post and Courier reported.

Bechtel auditors said 2 Westinghouse nuclear reactors wouldn’t be completed until after 2020 – the deadline to qualify for $2 billion in federal tax credits.

Testimony by Wenick and SCANA CEO Jimmy Addison is expected to influence a PSC decision on whether the company – not 727,000 ratepayers – must pay billions owed on the project.

Their testimony is of interest to federal officials at the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Both have requested copies of Bechtel’s analysis.

Federal officials also have been attending the hearings as part of an investigation.

Wenick took offense at claims he helped SCANA whitewash Bechtel’s audit.

Opposing attorneys have alleged Wenick helped intentionally conceal the report until Gov. Henry Mc-Master forced SCANA’s partner, Santee Cooper, to release Bechtel’s audit

“I would never do that,” Wenick said.

SCANA attorneys say the Bechtel audit was withheld because they intended to use it in a lawsuit against Westinghouse Electric.

But opposing attorneys say they believe SCANA hired Wenick to ensure the audit was kept secret under attorney-client privilege.

Wenick later appeared to try to cover himself from legal action and shift blame.

He denied he hid the audit from the PSC and the Office of Regulatory Staff.

“I have no idea as to what you folks are entitled to in terms of reports,” he said.