Last Thursday, South Carolina lawmakers adjourned their General Assembly session without reaching a compromise on legislation designed to tackle the issue of the VC Summer failed nuclear reactor project and who would pay for it.

The Senate voted 43-0 to repeal the Base Load Review Act but removed the mandatory 18 percent rate cut for utility customers in the original House version.

Although legislators agreed that utility customers should not be footing the bill to cover the failed project, they couldn’t find common ground on how much consumers should pay. The House wanted to cut the entire 18 percent charge until the Public Service Commission can reset rates at the end of the year, but the Senate wanted a 13 percent cut.

“This amendment continues the opportunity to fight and protect ratepayers to do all we can do to keep rates at zero,” Republican Sen. Peter McCoy of Charleston said.

The House and Senate will take up bills related to the failed nuclear reactor project and $8 billion budget during special sessions scheduled for May 23-24 and June 27-28.