Powerful SC lawmakers close in on Santee Cooper compromise

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A powerful group of House and Senate leaders are pledging to take differences in each chamber’s proposal to overhaul state-owned utility Santee Cooper to their members. Conference committee members also said Wednesday they hope to approve a compromise at next week’s meeting. But the biggest difference – whether to create a committee of lawmakers to continue to accept bids to sell Santee Cooper to a private firm – appears to be off the table for the senators on the conference committee. The Senate and House agreed on a number of points like giving state regulators more power over Santee Cooper.