


                                  Exhibit 5.01

                                             November 14, 2000

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20549

Gentlemen:

I refer to the proposed issue and sale of up to $1,000,000,000  principal amount
of  Medium-Term  Notes (the  "Notes"),  to be issued from time to time, by SCANA
Corporation, a South Carolina corporation (the "Company"), with respect to which
the Company has filed a  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and Rule
415 thereof.

     In connection  therewith,  I have examined (a) the Registration  Statement,
filed November 14, 2000, (the "Registration  Statement"),  to which this opinion
is an exhibit; (b) the Indenture dated as of November 1, 1989 (the "Indenture"),
made by the  Company  and the Bank of New  York,  as  Trustee,  incorporated  by
reference in the Registration Statement; and (c) such other corporate documents,
proceedings and questions of law as I have considered necessary.

Based on the  foregoing,  I am of the opinion  that,  with respect to the Notes,
when (a) the Registration Statement, and any subsequent amendments thereto, have
become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (b) the Indenture
has been qualified  under the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,  (c) the
Board of  Directors of the Company has  authorized  the issuance and sale of the
Notes,  (d) a pricing  supplement  relating to the Notes has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  (e) any required approvals relating to the
Notes by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935,  as amended,  shall have been  granted,  (f) the Notes have
been duly executed,  authenticated,  issued and delivered in accordance with the
corporate  authorizations  aforesaid, the Notes will be duly authorized and will
constitute legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the Company,  subject as to
enforceability  to applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization or other
laws  of  general  applicability  relating  to or  affecting  creditors'  rights
generally and general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits
and security of the Indenture.

I hereby consent to filing of this opinion with the  Registration  Statement and
to the use of my  name  under  the  caption  "Validity  of the  Notes"  included
therein.

                          Sincerely,


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






