Chapter 103

103-421. Meter Reading. Unless extenuating circumstances prevent, meters shall be read and bills rendered on a monthly basis of not less than twenty-eight days nor more than thirty-four days. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008.

103-422. Meter Reading Data. The meter reading data maintained by the gas utility shall include: a. Customer’s name and service address. b. Identifying number and/or description of the meter(s). c. Meter Readings. d. If the reading has been estimated. e. Location of meter on prem…

103-423. Meter Accuracy and Condition. A. Every gas meter, whether new, repaired, or removed from service, shall be in good order before being installed for the use of any customer and shall be correct to within the limits prescribed in regulation 103-475(5). B. Care shall be tak…

103-424. Meter Seal. Immediately after the pre-installation tests or field tests of a billing meter or other billing device, a seal or locking device shall be affixed or other means provided, where practical, designed to discourage or reveal tampering or theft of gas. HISTORY: Am…

103-425. Configuration and Location of Meter. A. No customer’s meter shall be configured and/or installed in any location where it may reasonably be expected to be exposed to damage, impairment or in any unduly dirty or inaccessible location. B. Outdoor meters shall be used where…

103-426. Change in Character of Service. A. In order that the gas utility may provide a proper service facility and metering installation, the customer shall advise the gas utility of the expected service requirements and shall also advise the gas utility of any increase or decre…

103-430. Customer Information. Each gas utility shall: a. Maintain up-to-date maps, plans, or records of its entire transmission and distribution systems, with such other information as may be necessary to enable the gas utility to advise prospective customers, and others entitle…

103-431. i. For failure of the customer to furnish permits, certificates, and rights-of-way, as necessary in obtaining service, or in the event such permissions are withdrawn or terminated. j. For failure of the customer to comply with reasonable restrictions on the use of servic…

103-432. Amount of Deposit. 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 …

103-433. Interest on Deposits. A. Simple interest on deposits at the rate of the current effective interest rate per annum prescribed by Order of the South Carolina Public Service Commission shall be paid by the gas utility to each customer required to make such deposit for the t…

103-434. Deposit Records. Each gas utility shall keep records as 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.

103-435. Deposit Receipt. Each gas 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. 5, eff M…

103-436. Deposit Retention. A. Deposits 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. A gas utility shall not be re…

103-437. Unclaimed Deposit. A record of each unclaimed deposit must be maintained for at least one year, during which time the gas utility shall make a reasonable effort to return the deposit. Unclaimed deposits, together with accrued interest, shall be turned over to the South C…

103-438. 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 o…

103-439. Customer Billing. The gas utility shall bill each customer as promptly as practicable 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 shall …

103-440. Adjustment of Bills. If it is found that a gas utility has directly or indirectly, by any device whatsoever, demanded, charged, collected or received from any customer a greater or less compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by such gas utility than that…

103-441. Applications for Service. 1. Method. Applications for service may be verbal or in writing. 2. Obligation. The applicant shall, at the option of the gas utility, be required to sign a service agreement or contract. In the absence of such a service agreement or contract, a…

103-442. 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…

103-443. Insufficient Reasons for Denying Service. The following shall not constitute cause for refusal of service to a present or prospective customer: a. Non-payment for services by a previous occupant of the premises to be served, unless such previous occupant shall benefit fr…

103-444. Right of Access. Authorized agents of the gas system shall have the right of access to premises supplied with gas service at reasonable hours, for the purpose of reading meters, examining facilities and pipes, maintenance, repair, observing the manner of using service an…

103-445. Complaints. A. Complaints concerning the charges, practices, facilities, or service of the gas utility, shall be investigated promptly, thoroughly and professionally by the gas utility. Each gas utility shall keep a record of all such complaints received, which record sh…

103-446. Contracts, Rate Schedules, Rules and Regulations. Copies of all schedules of rates for service, contracts for service which involve rates, forms of contracts for service, charges for service connections and extensions of mains, and all rules and regulations concerning th…

103-447. System Which Gas Utility Must Maintain. Each gas utility, unless specifically relieved by the commission from such obligation, shall operate and maintain in safe, efficient and proper conditions all of the facilities and equipment used in connection with the regulation, …

103-448. System Extensions. When a prospective customer or customers of a gas utility makes application for service at a point not immediately adjacent to a service facility of a gas utility, and as long as the requirement for such service is reasonable, and the prospective servi…

103-449. Replacement of Meters. Whenever a customer requests the replacement of the gas meter on his premises, such request shall be treated as a request for the test of such meter, and, as such, shall fall under the provisions of regulation 103-475 and shall be subject to the pr…

103-450. Service Entrance Changes. Whenever a customer requests the gas utility to relocate the gas utility’s service entrance, the gas utility may require reasonable charges to cover costs incurred to be paid prior to the relocation. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32,…

103-451. Temporary Service. When the gas utility renders temporary service to a customer, it may require that the customer bear all cost of installing and removing the service in excess of any salvage realized. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23…

103-452. Procedures for Termination of Service. Prior to the termination of gas service pursuant to 103-442 e-m, the following procedures shall be employed by the gas utility: a. Not less than ten days prior to termination of service, the gas utility shall mail a notice of termin…

103-460. Criteria for Good Engineering Practice. The gas plant of a gas system shall be constructed, installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with good engineering practices and regulations included by reference as part of these rules to assure, as far as reasonably poss…

103-461. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 18, Issue No. 3, eff March 25, 1994; State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008.

103-462. Acceptable References. The following publications are considered by this commission to be acceptable references: a. ‘‘Accuracy of the Recording Gas Calorimeter When Used With Gases of High BTU Content’’, by John H. Eisemen, National Bureau of Standards, and Elwin A. Pott…

103-463. Adequacy of Service. The source of supply and transmission facilities for gas, and/or production and/or storage capacity of the gas utility’s plant, supplemented by the gas supply regularly available from other sources, must to the extent reasonably practicable, be suffi…

103-464. Inspection of Plant. Each gas system shall adopt a program of inspection of its gas plant in order to determine the necessity for replacement and repair. The frequency of the various inspections shall be based on the gas system’s experience and accepted good practice. HI…

103-465. Inactive Service Lines. 1. Service Lines. Each gas system shall conduct a study at intervals not exceeding twenty-four months to determine the number of inactive service lines in their system and shall take necessary steps to meet the following: a. Inactive service lines…

103-470. Utility Inspection and Tests. A. Each gas 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, as requested by the ORS or as may be approved or ordered by the commission. Unless…

103-471. Periodic Tests. These test periods may be extended upon application and approved by the commission, providing that the gas utility can prove by its own records that different test periods are adequate for the protection of the public. Meters may be tested and calibrated …

103-472. Meter Testing on Request of Customer. A. Each gas utility shall, at any time when requested in writing by a customer upon reasonable notice, test the accuracy of the meter in use by him. B. No deposit or payment shall be required from the customer for such meter test exc…

103-473. ORS Inspection and Tests. The ORS shall make tests of meters as follows: a. Upon order of the commission or request to the ORS by a customer or gas utility, a test will be made of customer’s meters as soon as practicable. b. On receipt of such request the ORS shall notif…

103-474. Facilities and Equipment for Testing. 1. General. Each gas utility shall, unless specifically excused by the commission, provide such laboratory, meter-testing equipment and other equipment and facilities as may be necessary to make the tests required of it by these rule…

103-475. Test Procedures and Accuracies. 1. Pre-Installation Inspection. a. Every meter and/or associated metering device shall be inspected and sealed before being placed in service. b. New or reconditioned meters which have been sealed at the factory need not be resealed in the…

103-480. Quality of Service. A. Each gas utility shall provide the best gas service that can be reasonably expected from the facilities of that gas utility. When the quality of gas service falls below what can be reasonably expected, the gas utility shall, as soon as practicable,…

103-481. Interruption of Service. A. Each gas utility shall make 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 and the gen…

103-482. Restrictions on Use of Service. A. The gas utility may impose reasonable restrictions on the use of service during periods of shortage of supply, excessive demand or other difficulty which jeopardizes the supply of service to any group of customers. B. Restrictions on th…

103-483. Special Tests. Before permitting the initial use of gas at any location, a certificate of inspections and tests of the customer-owned piping shall be furnished the gas system by the customer or by the local inspecting authority. All such inspections and tests shall be ma…

103-485. System Pressure Monitoring. A. Each gas system shall maintain on its distribution system in each city in which it supplies gas a sufficient number of recording devices, but not less than one, to ensure detections of abnormal system pressures. No gas system shall maintain…

103-49. Handling Freight Cars on First Class Passenger Trains. No railroad operating trains in South Carolina shall be allowed to handle any freight cars, loaded or empty, on a train that is operated as a first class passenger train, or shown as such in the published time tables …

103-490. General. A. The commission hereby adopts the Federal Minimum Safety Standards for the Transportation of Natural and Other Gas, 49 C.F.R. as applicable to gas systems and as amended from time to time, except where otherwise ordered by the commission. B. Under the authorit…

103-491. Protective Measures. A. Each gas system shall exercise reasonable care to reduce the hazards to which its employees, its customers, and the general public may be subjected. B. The gas system shall give reasonable assistance to the ORS in the investigation of the cause of…

103-492. Safety Program. Each gas system shall adopt and execute a safety program, fitted to the size and type of its operations. As a minimum, the safety program should comply with the Federal Regulations: Minimum Safety Standards for the Transportation of Natural and Other Gas,…