EXHIBIT 5(A)
                     Form of Opinion of
                     H. T. Arthur, Esq.
                   Counsel to the Company


                          October 10, 1997



South Carolina Electric & Gas Company 
1426 Main Street
Columbia, South Carolina  29201

SCE&G Trust I
c/o South Carolina Electric & Gas Company
1426 Main Street
Columbia, South Carolina  29201

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with the registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (i) $50,000,000 aggregate
liquidation amount of trust preferred securities representing
preferred undivided beneficial interests (the "Trust Preferred
Securities") in the assets of SCE&G Trust I (the "Trust"), (ii)
$50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated
deferrable interest debentures (the "Debentures") to be issued by
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (the "Corporation") and (iii)
the Guarantee Agreement with respect to the Trust Preferred
Securities (the "Guarantee"), to be issued by the Corporation, I,
as General Counsel to the Corporation, have examined such corporate
records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of
law, as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes
of this opinion.

     Upon the basis of such examination, I advise you that, in my
opinion that when (i) the Registration Statement has become
effective under the Act, the indenture (the "Indenture") relating
to the Debentures has been duly authorized, executed and delivered,
the terms of the Debentures and of their issuance and sale have
been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to
violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach
of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Corporation and so
as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any
court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the
Corporation, the Debentures have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the Indenture, the Debentures have
been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration  



302





Statement, the terms of the Guarantee and of its issuance have been
duly  established so as not to violate any applicable law or result

in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding
upon the Corporation and so as to comply with any requirement or
restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Corporation, and the Guarantee has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Corporation, (ii) each of
the Debentures and the Guarantee will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Corporation, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

     The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the
United States and the laws of the State of South Carolina, and I am
expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other
jurisdiction.  

     Also, I have relied as to certain matters on information
obtained from public officials, officers of the Corporation and the
Trust and other sources believed by me to be responsible.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the
heading "Validity" in the Prospectus.  In giving such consent, I do
not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

                               Very truly yours,

                               s/H. T. Arthur
                               H. T. Arthur
                               General Counsel, South Carolina    
                               Electric & Gas Company



303