How much Dominion wants not yet known
Lexington County Chronicle
April 29, 2020
Dominion Energy was expected to ask for an electric rate hike in May.
Dominion CEO Tom Farrell told investors last November that the utility would seek approval to revise the rates for former SC Electric & Gas ratepayers, many of them living and working in Lexington County.
Dominion’s base rates are frozen in South Carolina until 2021 as a condition of buying SCE&G, said energy expert Jim Clarkson, CEO of Resource Supply Management.
Dominion was expected to file a rate increase request in May for new rates to go into effect in next January as the mandatory freeze expires.
Should the new rates be approved, they would be effective March 1, 2021.
Dominion told the Commission that its decision to delay the filing was due to the corona virus pandemic which has put so many in the state out of work.
At this time, there is no indication of the magnitude of the rate request.
Ron Aiken of the Office of Regulatory Staff said he has no idea what the request will be.
“We’re as much in the dark as anyone,” he said.
Frank Knapp, CEO of the SC Small Business Chamber, said the delay was good for ratepayers who have been laid off and business owners whose businesses were forced to close.
“This is a good decision both for the Dominion ratepayer and for the company, which doesn’t need the criticism the utility would have received for proposing a rate hike for the thousands who have lost their jobs,” Knapp said.
https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/news/ready-new-electric-rate-hike