Scana subsidiary scores The North Carolina Utilities Commission has approved the second rate increase in two months for natural gas provider PSNC Energy, a subsidiary of Scana Corp. In North Carolina, PSNC serves a 28- county area, distributing natural gas to 460,000 customers in 96 cities and communities.

Water works The Internet giant Google negotiated water- supply agreements with Berkeley County officials before it announced its move to Berkeley County into its server farm, good for 200 well- paying jobs. The availability and reliability and price of an ample water supply were key to Google's decision to locate in Berkeley County. Joe Taylor, the state's secretary of commerce, has been quoted as saying water and electricity are likely to become the two most important issues in attracting new industrial facilities.

Lots of lottery largess In South Carolina, cumulative legislative appropriations of lottery funds have exceeded $2 billion.

Offshore According to the National Ocean Industries Association, if offshore drilling is allowed near the South Carolina coast, not closer than 50 miles, the activity would likely follow the methods used in the Gulf of Mexico. One floating platform could pump crude oil from 20 wells onto shore through an underwater pipeline. Refineries, however, are not expected on the South Carolina coast due to environmental objections. The oil would likely be transported to Philadelphia where the refineries are already in place.

Tuition hike USC has increased tuition nearly six percent for undergraduates. The increase brings the annual tuition for in- state undergraduates to $8,838, which is expected to generate an additional $11.5 million in the coming year. But USC's six percent hike compares favorably with The Citadel's nine percent increase and the College of Charleston's eight percent.

Think small Selah Technologies LLC and USC's Nanocenter have announced a joint effort to investigate uses of one of Selah's advanced materials in detecting cancer. Selah, a two- year- old company, will manufacture materials called carbon- based quantum dots and carbon single- walled nanotubes in black powder form and market them as a specialty chemical. Selah has already confirmed a deal with Osram Sylvania, manufacturer of Sylvania light bulbs, to explore the uses of Selah's materials in lighting.

Think big California- based Ozen Engineering will join Germany- based CADFEM and Italy- based EnginSoft at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR), combining the three for its U.S. operations headquarters. The three together will provide mechanical engineering consulting and software to customers. Targeted prospective buyers include BMW, Ferrari, Ford, and Honda.

First Citizens First Citizens has agreed to merge with Orangeburg- based Community Resource Bank. Community shareholders will get paid $21 per share in cash, a 91 percent premium. Community Resource has $585 million in assets and 10 branches, and First Citizens has $6.4 billion and 170 branches.

Flows to the Florentines H. J. Heinz Co. has announced plans to build a $105 million frozen food plant in Florence County. Heinz says it could employ about 350 people. Also announcing plans to employ 350 people is Monster, the online employment site, after it opens its new customer service center, again in Florence County.

Film production along the coast A Nicholas Sparks adaptation by New Line Studios is expected to begin filming this year. The film, Dear John, will be in production on the South Carolina coast.

Wal-Mart's business In the past year, Wal- Mart spent more than $662 million for services and merchandise among 810 suppliers in South Carolina.

Right tackle Columbia is getting the world headquarters of Pure Fishing, a global fishing tackle business. Shakespeare is one of Pure Fishing brands, as in the 1950s Shakespeare fishing pole plant on Shakespeare Road near Columbia Mall.