

                                                            Exhibit 5.01



                                          May  19, 2000



SCANA Corporation
1426 Main Street
Columbia, South Carolina  29201



Dear Sirs:

          SCANA Corporation (the "Company") proposes to file with the Securities
and  Exchange   Commission  a  Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-8  for  the
registration  under the Securities Act of 1933 of 5,000,000 shares of its common
stock  without par value (the  "Stock")  that may be issued under the  Company's
Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

         I have  participated in the  preparation of the aforesaid  Registration
Statement  and  am  familiar  with  all  other  proceedings  of the  Company  in
connection with the Plan and the proposed  issuance of the Stock  thereunder.  I
have  also  made such  further  investigation  as I have  deemed  pertinent  and
necessary as a basis for this opinion.

         Based upon the  foregoing,  I advise you that,  upon (a) the  aforesaid
Registration  Statement  becoming  effective;  (b)  issuance  of  the  Stock  in
accordance with the terms of the Plan; (c) the due execution,  registration  and
countersignature  of the certificates for the Stock; and (d) the delivery of the
Stock to the purchasers  thereof against receipt of the purchase price therefor;
in my opinion the Stock will have been duly  authorized  and legally and validly
issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

         I hereby  consent  to the use of this  opinion in  connection  with the
aforesaid Registration Statement.



                                Very truly yours,


                                s/H. Thomas Arthur
                                H. Thomas Arthur
                                Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                and Assistant Secretary

