MONCKS CORNER, SC – A special legislative committee is looking into what to do with state-owned utility, Santee Cooper.

The company is in billions of dollars in debt because of the failed nuclear reactor project in Fairfield County.

The State newspaper reports that this week the committee authorized co-chairmen State Senator Paul Campbell of Charleston and State Representative Murrell Smith of Sumter to hire an outside consultant.

That hire will eventually evaluate bids to buy Santee Cooper and negotiate with those potential buyers.