Utility customers to get $146M in historic class action suit

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Current and former ratepayers of South Carolina Electric and Gas will split $146 million in what is considered the largest private class action settlement in state history.

News outlets report a judge finalized the decision Tuesday. More than 1 million customers were involved in the lawsuit, represented by 13 law firms.

The attorneys sued SCE&G and parent company SCANA Corp. for its role in the abandoned construction of two nuclear plants in the state that never generated power. Virginia-based Dominion Energy took over the utility in January.

SCE&G agreed to pay $115 million and sell properties valued at $85 million.

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The attorneys who argued the case will get $51 million plus nearly $900,000 for expenses.

It’s unclear when SCE&G customers will get paid and how much each customer will receive.