Florida power company wants to buy South Carolina-owned utility

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Florida power company is suggesting it might buy a South Carolina state-owned utility for nearly $16 billion.

Media outlets reported that NextEra Energy is one of several groups interested in buying Santee Cooper after the state-owned utility and South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. abandoned construction of two nuclear reactors last summer.

The two South Carolina utilities spent more than $9 billion, blaming the abandonment largely on the bankruptcy of lead contractor Westinghouse.

Lawmakers would have to approve a Santee Cooper sale.

Myrtle Beach Sen. Luke Rankin and Bonneau Sen. Larry Grooms said they have been briefed on the NextEra proposal.

They also have been reviewing a proposal by Virginia-based Dominion to buy the private SCE&G. Dominion wants no major changes in a key law to complete the purchase.

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