The hearings before the Public Service Commission concern SCE&G's request for permission to construct its proposed nuclear plants at Jenkinsville, SC and are scheduled to continue through Friday, December 12* (see notice of hearings). Hearings begin at 9:30 am each day in the Hearing Room. (location information) Citizens who so desired were allowed to speak on Monday morning and from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm on Wednesday.

The proposed nuclear plants are to be funded by SCE&G customers and are expected to cost several billion dollars each. The actual cost is still unknown, but SCE&G estimates a cost of $9.8 billion for both reactors: less than 60% of the generally accepted cost of building nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plant construction often exceeds original cost estimates and planned construction time. Some nuclear plants have been abandoned after construction and great expense, because they were unsuited for operation. Add to these typical problems the fact that no prototype of the proposed reactors has ever been built, the likelihood that construction will go as planned seems slim at best.

How much of the cost and risk is being placed on electricity consumers? Is that risk and cost justified? Apparently little thought has been given to these questions, or to alternatives: improved efficiency, offshore wind generation, or development of solar power generation. The nuclear reactor model intended for the proposed plants has never been built and is untested.

*The two-week schedule for the hearings was made clear at the end of pre-filed testimony on Wednesday, December 3. Previous announcements had indicated that the hearings would last through December 5, if necessary.