Judge Rules SCE&G Lawsuit Can Go Forward
Columbia, S.C. (WOLO)– A state judge has ruled the class-action lawsuits against SCE&G in the wake of the abandonment of construction on two nuclear reactors at the VC Summer nuclear facility can go forward.
SCE&G argued that the court did not have jurisdiction to rule on the lawsuits.
Circuit court judge John Hayes dismissed that notion.
The attorney representing the plaintiffs Ed Bell said, “Today’s order is the first real step toward keeping the power companies from continuing to benefit from their past misdeeds and negligence stemming from the billions of dollars charged to ratepayers to pay for the now-failed V.C. Summer nuclear plants,”
Attorney General Alan Wilson also released a statement following the ruling saying, “Even though the State is a defendant in this case, we are pleased that Judge Hayes’ ruling allows the case to move forward. We have always maintained that the BLRA (Base Load Review Act) is unconstitutional as applied, and we firmly believe the ratepayers should have their day in court. The judge’s ruling is a victory for ratepayers.”
The Base Load Review Act is the law which allowed SCE&G and its parent company SCANA along with Santee Cooper, charge customers for the construction of the now defunct VC Summer project.
