An electric submersible pumping system includes a motor, a pump driven by the motor, and a cable that provides electrical power to the motor. The cable includes a conductor and an insulator surrounding the conductor. The insulator includes a first layer surrounding the conductor and a second layer surrounding the first layer. The insulator may include an H2S scavenger and an H2S reactant in the first or second layers surrounding the conductor. The cable optionally includes a sub-insulator layer that includes a metal or nitride coating applied directly to the conductor.