South Carolina utility regulators will hold a series of public hearings on a proposal to build the state’s first two nuclear reactors in decades. South Carolina Electric & Gas is asking regulators for permission to begin charging customers higher rates now for its part of the $10 billion for the reactors it will build and operate with the state-owned utility Santee Cooper.

The cost of electricity is going up in South Carolina. State utility regulators agreed yesterday to allow South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. to implement a midyear rate increase.