The Latest: Challenger: SC gov playing politics with report

The Latest on the release of a report making recommendations to companies on a now-failed nuclear power project (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

A Republican challenging South Carolina's governor for re-election says the incumbent has been playing politics with the release of a report about a failed nuclear project.

Catherine Templeton tells The Associated Press that Gov. Henry McMaster was offered the report within hours of asking for it over the weekend, yet told reporters he was unable to obtain it until Monday morning.

Templeton accuses McMaster of protecting South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., "one of his largest donors, instead of protecting us."

Santee Cooper and SCE&G hired Bechtel Corp. in 2014 to do an analysis of their joint nuclear reactor venture at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, where two new reactors were being built. The companies abandoned the project in July after spending nearly $10 billion.

Utility customers have paid more than $2 billion on the failed project through rate hikes since 2009.

___

6:15 p.m.

South Carolina's governor has released a report that more than a year ago made recommendations on how to fix problems dooming a nuclear reactor project.

Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday provided reporters with the analysis completed in 2016 on the joint venture by Santee Cooper and South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.

The Republican has been asking for the report for several weeks. His office says he obtained it Monday morning and, against the wishes of state-owned utility Santee Cooper, released it to the public.

Santee Cooper and SCE&G hired Bechtel Corp. in 2014 to do an analysis of their joint nuclear reactor venture at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, where two new reactors were being built. The companies abandoned the project in July after spending nearly $10 billion.

Utility customers have paid more than $2 billion on the failed project through rate hikes since 2009.

___

1:40 p.m.

Utility companies apparently were warned well in advance about serious problems plaguing a doomed South Carolina nuclear reactor project.

An independent analysis of the nuclear plant project advised Santee Cooper and South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. to hire someone to enforce contractor accountability at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, where two new reactors were being built.

The companies hired Bechtel Corp. in 2014 to do the analysis. A summary of the analysis written by Santee Cooper's attorneys was obtained Sunday by The Associated Press.

The project was several years behind schedule and then abandoned in July after the companies spent nearly $10 billion.

Utility customers have paid more than $2 billion on the failed project through rate hikes since 2009.

___

This story has been corrected to show the summary was written by Santee Cooper attorneys.