Public Service Commission

103-331. Customer Deposits. A. Each electrical utility may require from any customer or from any prospective customer, a deposit intended to guarantee payment of bills for service, if any of the following conditions exist: 1. The customer’s past payment record to an electrical ut…

103-332. Amount of Deposits. A. A maximum deposit may be required up to an amount equal to an estimated two months (sixty days) bill for a new customer or a maximum deposit may be required up to an amount equal to the total actual bills of the highest two consecutive months based…

103-333. Interest on Deposits. A. Simple interest on deposits at the current effective interest rate per annum prescribed by order of the Public Service Commission shall be paid by the electrical utility to each customer required to make such deposit for the time it is held by th…

103-334. Deposit Records. Each electrical utility shall keep records to show: a. The name and address of each depositor. b. The amount and date of the deposit. c. Each transaction concerning the deposits. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008…

103-335. Deposit Receipt. Each electrical utility shall issue a receipt of deposit to each customer from whom a deposit is received, and shall provide means whereby a customer may establish his claim if his receipt is lost. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. …

103-336. Deposit Retention. A. Deposit shall be refunded completely with interest after two years unless the customer has had two consecutive thirty-day arrears, or more than two non-consecutive thirty-day arrears, in the past twenty-four months. B. An electrical utility shall no…

103-337. Unclaimed Deposits. A record of each unclaimed deposit must be maintained for at least one year, during which time the electrical utility shall make a reasonable effort to return the deposit. Unclaimed deposits, together with accrued interest, shall be turned over to the…

103-338. Deposit Credit. Where a customer has been required to make a guarantee deposit, this shall not relieve the customer of the obligation to pay the service bills when due. Where such deposit has been made and service has been discontinued for reason of non-payment of bill, …

103-339. Customer Billing. The electrical utility shall bill each customer as promptly as possible following the reading of the meter and render a receipt of payment upon request. 1. New Service. Meters shall be read at the initiation and termination of any service and billing sh…

103-340. Adjustment of Bills. If it is found that an electrical utility has directly or indirectly, by any device whatsoever, demanded, charged, collected or received from any customer a greater or lesser compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by such electrical …

103-341. Applications for Service. 1. Method. Applications for service may be oral or in writing. 2. Obligation. The applicant shall, at the option of the electrical utility, be required to sign a service agreement or a contract. In the absence of such service agreement or contra…

103-342. Reasons For Denial or Discontinuance of Service. Unless otherwise stated, a customer shall be allowed a reasonable time in which to correct any discrepancy which may cause discontinued service. Service may be denied or discontinued for any of the following reasons: a. Wi…

103-343. Insufficient Reasons for Denying Service. The following shall not constitute cause for refusal of service to a present or prospective customer: a. Nonpayment for services by a previous occupant of the premises to be served, unless such previous occupant shall benefit fro…

103-344. Right of Access. Authorized agents of the electrical utility shall have the right of access to premises supplied with electric service, at reasonable hours, for the purpose of reading meters, maintenance, repair, and for any other purpose which is proper and necessary in…

103-345. Complaints. A. Complaints concerning the charges, practices, facilities, or service of the electrical utility shall be investigated promptly, thoroughly, and professionally. The electrical utility shall keep such records of customer complaints to include the name and add…

103-346. Rates for Service, Rate Schedules, Rules and Regulations. Copies of all schedules of rates for service, forms of contracts for service, charges for service connections and of all rules and regulations covering the relations of customer and electrical utility, shall be pr…

103-347. System Which Electrical Utility Must Maintain. Each electrical utility, unless specifically relieved by the commission from such obligation, shall operate and maintain in a safe, efficient and proper condition all of the facilities and equipment used in connection with t…

103-348. System Extensions. Each electrical utility shall be obligated to comply with all requests for service in accordance with its schedules of rates and service rules and regulations on file with the commission and the ORS within areas assigned to it by the commission and wit…

103-349. Replacement of Meters. Whenever a customer requests the replacement of an electric meter on his premises, such request shall be treated as a request for the test on such meter, and, as such, shall fall under the provisions of regulation 103-373. HISTORY: Amended by State…

103-35. Articles Not Classified. Rates for the transportation of any article not included in the Freight Classification may be assessed as if upon the article most analogous to it in said classification.

103-350. Service Entrance Changes. Whenever a customer requests the electrical utility to relocate the electrical utility’s service entrance, the electrical utility may require reasonable charges to cover the cost incurred to be paid prior to relocation. HISTORY: Amended by State…

103-351. Temporary Service. When the electrical utility renders temporary service to a customer, it may require that the customer bear all the cost of installing and removing the service in excess of any salvage realized. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5,…

103-352. Procedures for Termination of Service. Prior to the termination of electric service pursuant to R.103-342 e.-m., the following procedures shall be employed by the electrical utility. a. Not less than ten (10) days prior to termination of service, the electrical utility s…

103-36. Repairs and Improvements. Whenever in the judgment of the Public Service Commissioners it shall appear that repairs are necessary upon any railroad in this State, or that any addition to the rolling stock, or that any enlargement of, or improvement in, the stations or sta…

103-360. Requirements for Good Engineering Practice. The electric plant of an electrical utility shall be constructed, installed, maintained and operated in accordance with good engineering practice to assure, as far as reasonably possible, continuity of service, uniformity in th…

103-361. Acceptable Standards. Unless otherwise specified by the commission, after hearing if requested, the electrical utility shall use the applicable provisions of the latest edition, Part 2, of the ‘‘National Electrical Safety Code’’, as minimum standards of accepted good eng…

103-362. Acceptable References. Part 2 of the ‘‘National Electrical Safety Code’’ (latest edition), is considered by the commission to be an acceptable reference. New additions to Part 2 of the National Electrical Safety Code shall become effective six months after the date of fi…

103-363. Adequacy of Service. 1. Operation of Electrical Utility. A. Standard Frequency—Each electrical utility supplying alternating current shall adopt a standard frequency of 60 Hertz, suitability of which has been determined by the commission, and shall maintain this frequenc…

103-37. Adjusting Overcharges. Railroad companies shall adjust all freight charges promptly when shipments are delivered, and apply only the legal, published rates and classifications in effect at time shipment moved from point of origin. Actual weights must be observed in settli…

103-370. Electrical Utility Inspection and Tests. Each electrical utility shall make such tests as are prescribed under these rules with such frequency and in such manner and at such places as is herein provided or requested by the ORS or as may be approved or ordered by the comm…

103-371. ORS Inspections and Tests. The ORS shall make tests of meters as follows: a. Upon written request to the commission or ORS by a customer or an electrical utility, a test will be made of the customer’s meter as soon as practicable. b. On receipt of such request, the ORS s…

103-372. Facilities and Equipment for Testing. A. Each electrical utility furnishing metered electric service shall, unless specifically excused by the commission, provide and have available such meter laboratory, standard meters, instruments and facilities as may be necessary to…

103-373. Test Procedures and Accuracies. 1. Method of Determining Average Error of Meters. A. Field testing the average error of a service watt-hour meter shall be determined as follows: The error at Light Load, here defined as approximately 10% of the rated capacity (Test Ampere…

103-38. Rates for Less than Carloads Not to Exceed Carload Rates. The charge for a less than carload shipment must not exceed the minimum charge for a minimum carload of the same freight at the same rating; provided the loading is done by the consignor and the unloading by the co…

103-380. Quality of Service. Each electrical utility shall provide the best possible service that can be reasonably expected from the facilities of that electrical utility. When the quality or quantity of service falls below what can be reasonably expected, the electrical utility…

103-381. Interruption of Service. A. Each electrical utility shall make all reasonable efforts to avoid interruptions of service, but when interruptions occur, service shall be re-established within the shortest time practicable, consistent with safety of its employees, customers…

103-382. Restrictions on the Use of Service. A. The electrical utility may impose reasonable restrictions on the use of electric service during periods of shortage of supply, excessive demand or other difficulty which jeopardizes the supply of service to any group of customers. B…

103-383. Special Tests. The electrical utility shall conduct such special and regular tests of its generating transmission and distribution plant as will enable the electrical utility to provide the best service possible at the most reasonable cost to the customers of the electri…

103-390. Acceptable Standards. As criteria of accepted good safety practice of the electrical utility, the commission shall use the applicable provisions of the standards listed in regulation 103-361. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008.

103-391. Protective Measures. A. Each electrical utility shall exercise reasonable care to reduce the hazards to which its employees, its customers and the general public may be subjected. B. The electrical utility shall give reasonable assistance to the ORS in the investigation …

103-392. Safety Program. Each electrical utility shall adopt and execute a safety program, fitted to the size and type of its operations. As a minimum, the safety program should: a. Require employees to use suitable tools and equipment in order that they may perform their work in…

103-40. Railroads Required to Furnish Information. Every railroad corporation operating in this State shall at all times, on request, furnish the Public Service Commissioners any information required by them concerning the condition, management and operation of its railroads. Pur…

103-400. Authorization of Rules. A. Section 58-5-210 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, provides: ‘‘That the Public Service Commission is hereby, to the extent granted, vested with power and jurisdiction to supervise and regulate the rates and service of every ‘Public U…

103-401. Application of Rules. 1. Jurisdiction. These rules shall apply to any person, firm, partnership, association, establishment, or corporation which is now or may hereafter become engaged as a public utility in the business of furnishing gas to any gas customer within the S…

103-402. Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in these rules, shall have the meaning indicated: 1. Commission. ‘‘Commission’’ means the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. 2. Consolidated Political Subdivision. A ‘‘consolidated political subdivision’’ me…

103-403. Authorization for Rates and Charges. A. All rates, tolls and charges proposed to be put into effect by any gas utility shall be first approved by the commission before they shall become effective, unless they are exempt from such approval by statute, Order of this commis…

103-404. Territory and Certificates. A. No public utility supplying gas to the public shall hereafter begin the construction or operation of any gas facility, or of any extension thereof, without first obtaining from the commission a certificate that public convenience and necess…