COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. is
asking for a midyear rate increase to cover the rising costs of
coal and natural gas.

The Columbia utility usually requests fuel adjustment increases
in May, and got a 1 percent hike this year.

On Tuesday, SCE&G proposed a 6 percent increase in November and
another 6 percent hike in January for residential customers. The
$13.06 increase to monthly bills for the typical customers using
1,000 kilowatt hours would make the monthly bill $120.73 by
January.

SCE&G president Kevin Marsh says the price of coal has jumped
from about $85 per ton in the spring to more than $150 ton now.
Coal generates about 65 percent of SCE&G's power. Natural gas
prices are up 60 percent. Natural gas is used for about 12 percent
of the utility's power.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)