Progress Energy customers turn down the heat - Consumer - NewsObserver.com

John Murawski

"The company blames the ailing economy for sluggish electricity sales as customers dial back thermostats, buy energy-efficient appliances and budget conservatively. The unexpected duration of the trend suggests that many in the nation are shedding a freewheeling mindset that had been ingrained in the bygone era of cheap and abundant energy."

Nation’s Electric Co-ops Honor U.S. Rep. James Clyburn for Distinguished Service | The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)

"WASHINGTON, DC; May 2, 2011— The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today awarded U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Assistant Democratic Leader, with its Distinguished Service Award. Rep. Clyburn, the first African American to receive the award, was recognized for his many contributions to electric cooperatives throughout his more than 18 years of service in Congress. Clyburn counts more than 270,000 electric cooperative consumer-members as constituents."

Briefs: S.C. represented in Duke-Progress merger talks - Business - TheState.com

"The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff has filed to intervene and become a party of record in the proposed merger of North Carolina’s Duke Energy Corp. and Progress Energy Inc. The office took the step to ensure the South Carolina’s interests are represented and protected during merger proceedings."

TEGA CAY | Tega Cay Water Service to continue service | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC

John Marks

"Catawba Riverkeeper David Merryman had appealed two state Department of Health and Environmental Control permits last November.
'The petitioner withdrew the appeal,' said Adam Myrick, DHEC spokesman. 'We have plans to issue the permits on May 1.'
For Tega Cay residents, the permit and appeal process shouldn't result in service interruptions, Myrick said.
'We wouldn't anticipate any type of service being impacted,' he said.
Despite a rash of wastewater spills since his initial appeal, Merryman said the utility has made progress."

V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in South Carolina answers meltdown questions | WCBD-TV 2

“Fukushima is a boiling water reactor and in South Carolina we have pressure water reactors,” says Byrne.

In the invent of a reactor leak, he says the pressure system reduces the risk of a meltdown or releasing radioactive steam into the environment.

By CLEVE BRYAN some video courtesy SCE&G

“This pressurizer which is something that boiling water reactors don't have, just maintains the pressure in the reacting cooling system,” Byrne explained during an animation of a breach scenario.

Even though the summer site has strategically- placed backup generators, the next reactors set to open in 2016 and 2019 don't rely on electricity to pump the large amounts of water necessary to prevent a meltdown.

“So it will flow by gravity from here, down into the vessel,” says Byrne.

Despite Bipartisan Support, Nuclear Reactor Projects Falter - NYTimes.com

Matthew Wald

"WASHINGTON — In an effort to encourage nuclear power, Congress voted in 2005 to authorize $17.5 billion in loan guarantees for new reactors. Now, six years later, with the industry stalled by poor market conditions and the Fukushima disaster, nearly half of the fund remains unclaimed. And yet Congress, at the request of the Obama administration, is preparing to add $36 billion in nuclear loan guarantees to next year’s budget."

First phase of VPSA rehab almost done | Local | Aiken Standard | Aiken, SC

LOCAL By HALEY HUGHES Staff writer
Those same customers continue to pay for water and sewer under those rates to service the debt taken on for the system repairs, but VPSA may be able to lower them eventually. A former Avondale customer pays, on average, $33 month, according to Smith. An average VPSA customers pays $29.75.

"We told everyone up front the only way we could take it is by using the rates Avondale had approved by the Public Service Commission," Smith said. "We told them we can't pass on the expense to our existing customers."