SCE&G To Halt Construction of New VC Summer Units

--Press Release--

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G), principal subsidiary of SCANA Corporation (SCANA) (NYSE:SCG), announced today that it will cease construction of the two new nuclear units (Units) at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville, SC and will promptly file a petition with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina seeking approval of its abandonment plan. This decision was reached by SCE&G after considering the additional costs to complete the Units, the uncertainty regarding the availability of production tax credits for the project, the amount of anticipated guaranty settlement payments from Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba), and other matters associated with continuing construction, including the decision of the co-owner of the project, the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper), the state owned electric utility, to suspend construction of the project. Based on these factors, SCE&G concluded that it would not be in the best interest of its customers and other stakeholders to continue construction of the project.

VC Summer New Nuclear Plants

Following the bankruptcy filing of Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (WEC), SCE&G and Santee Cooper each began a comprehensive process of evaluating the most prudent path forward for the Units. The project owners worked with WEC and Fluor Corporation, as well as other technical and industry experts, to evaluate the project costs and schedules.

Based on this evaluation and analysis, SCE&G concluded that completion of both Units would be prohibitively expensive. According to SCE&G’s analysis, the additional cost to complete both Units beyond the amounts payable in connection with the engineering, procurement, and construction contract would materially exceed prior WEC estimates, as well as the anticipated guaranty settlement payments from Toshiba. Moreover, the Units would need to be online before January 1, 2021, to qualify for production tax credits, under current tax rules. SCE&G’s analysis concluded the Units could not be brought online until after this date.

SCE&G also considered the feasibility of completing the construction of Unit 2 and abandoning Unit 3 under the existing ownership structure and using natural gas generation to fulfill any remaining generation needs. This option provided a potentially achievable path forward that may have delivered SCE&G a similar megawatt capacity as its 55% interest in the two Units and provided a long-term hedge against carbon legislation/regulation and against gas price volatility. SCE&G had not reached a final decision regarding this alternative when Santee Cooper determined that it would be unwilling to proceed with continued construction of two Units or one Unit. Consequently, SCE&G determined that it is not in the best interest of customers and other stakeholders for it to continue construction of one Unit.

Based on this evaluation and analysis, and Santee Cooper’s decision, SCE&G has concluded that the only remaining prudent course of action will be to abandon the construction of both Unit 2 and Unit 3 under the terms of the Base Load Review Act (BLRA).

SCANA Corporation Contacts: Media Contact: Investor Contacts: Rhonda O’Banion Bryant Potter Iris Griffin (800) 562-9308 (803) 217-6916 (803) 217-6642 2 SCANA Chairman and CEO, Kevin Marsh, said “We arrived at this very difficult but necessary decision following months of evaluating the project from all perspectives to determine the most prudent path forward. Many factors outside our control have changed since inception of this project. Chief among them, the bankruptcy of our primary construction contractor, Westinghouse, eliminated the benefits of the fixedprice contract to our customers, investors, and other stakeholders. Ultimately, our project co-owner Santee Cooper’s decision to suspend construction made clear that proceeding on our own would not be economically feasible. Ceasing work on the project was our least desired option, but this is the right thing to do at this time.”

“Many of our employees have worked extremely hard over the years to build these new units. That’s one of the factors that makes this decision particularly difficult. We are deeply grateful for all their contributions and will do our best to support those affected by these changes. We also recognize the impact that our path forward will have on customers, communities, shareholders, and the nuclear industry as a whole.”

“Our belief in the benefits of nuclear generation -- not just for the state, but for the nation -- hasn’t changed. As we have been doing for more than 30 years, we will continue providing customers with a valuable lowcost, non-emitting source of generation through our operating nuclear unit at V.C. Summer.”

Normal construction activities at the site will cease immediately and efforts will be shifted toward an orderly transition of winding down and securing the project property. SCE&G plans to use the anticipated payments resulting from the settlement of Toshiba’s guaranty to mitigate cost impacts to SCE&G electric customers.

ABANDONMENT PROCEEDING

We intend to fully brief the Public Service Commission of South Carolina Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time and thereafter initiate the abandonment proceeding. In accordance with the BLRA, we will seek an amortization of the project costs and a return at the weighted average cost of capital on the unamortized balance until fully recovered. We plan to use the anticipated proceeds from the Toshiba settlement and benefits derived from tax deductions to mitigate rate increases and lessen the impact on our customers for several years.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    Sickening......breaks my heart!  

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    Quitters.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    And China continues to out build the US on every level.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    Shame

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    Whatever happened to planning!!!!!  you make a plan and you stick to it.  When planning you take into consideration the cost of the entire  project and you factor in problems that may arise.  You  make a plan and stick to it!!!   Wasted time, energy, homes, families, blood and sweat of these workers' and what THEY  have put into this.  I pray for the families involved.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    When can Fluor employees pick up personal belongings at the site ?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    Has the question been asked regarding why Toshiba agreed to pay Southern 3.7 Bil while agreeing to pay SCE&G 2.2?  Both site are the same completion percentage finished.  Evidence points to the SC utilities decision being made before the board meetings.  Well before.  Toshiba is pushing to sell Westinghouse before the end of Sept.  This has been advertised.  Any technology and intellectual property is way more valuable if a proof of concept is established.  Value tanks if attempt to utilize the Westinghouse design is deemed unbuildable.

    Kevin Marsh fleeced the people of SC.  The questions needing asked haven't been.  For instance, why wouldn't you refund the 2.2B back to the ratepayers?  How did you arrive at the estimate to complete.  (The numbers utilized are entirely off base).  

    How about asking why would you cut off all procurement of additional material a week before the board meeting?  The decision was made well ahead of Santee's decision.  Santee gave Marsh and SCE&G an out.  Both with the rate payers and board members.  Ask if you were really sincere in desire to move the project forward who exactly did you approach looking for a partner.  Duke, the company that would appear to have both the means and need has already stated they were never approached.  SCE&G is thinking they got out unscathed shifting the blame to the CO-OP.  Think about the fact that 90% of the major equipment has been bought and delivered to site.  Close to 2 billion in equipment and inventory.  2.2 Billion has been guaranteed by Toshiba.  Tax credits at completion provide another two billion.  It makes the completion and numbers make sense financially