Chapter 103

103-493. Leakage. 1. General. Any notice to the gas system of a leak or odor or notification of damage to gas facilities reported by any source shall constitute the need for immediate action by the gas system. In the event that the response time exceeded one (1) hour, the reason …

103-494. Interruptions in Service. A. Each gas system shall adopt and file with the commission, for approval, and provide a copy to the ORS procedures to protect customers during periods when operating conditions require interrup- tions in service due to scheduled or unscheduled …

103-500. 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…

103-501. Application of Rules. 1. Jurisdiction. These rules shall apply to any person, firm, partnership, or association, establish- ment, corporation (except public utilities owned or operated by any municipality or agency thereof and/or any sewer authority specifically exempted…

103-502. Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in these rules and regulations, shall have the meaning indicated below:

103-502.1. Commission. The Public Service Commission of South Carolina.

103-502.10. Tap Fee. A non-recurring, non-refundable charge related to connecting the customer to the utility’s system which includes the cost of installing the utility’s service line from the main to the customer’s premises and a portion of plant capacity which will be used to p…

103-502.11. Utility. Every person, firm, partnership, association, establishment or corporation furnishing or supplying in any manner sewerage collection and/or sewerage disposal service to the public or any portion thereof, for compensation. A ‘‘homeowners association’’, as defi…

103-502.12. Utility Service Line. The portion of pipe which runs from the customer’s premises to the main, and which receives sewerage from the ‘‘customer service line’’.

103-502.13. Sewerage or Wastewater Plant. Plant and property owned by a utility, used in its business operations of providing sewerage collection and/or sewerage disposal service to its customers.

103-502.14. Local Office or Business Office. These terms mean that in the event a sewer utility operates a local office or business office set forth in this article, then the sewer utility shall comply with the requirements of the section or subsection of the regulation addressin…

103-502.15. Mail. The term ‘‘mail’’ means a communication sent by U.S. Mail or the notice method selected by the sewer utility customer and maintained in the customer’s records at the sewer utility.

103-502.16. Municipality. ‘‘Municipality’’ includes a city, town, county, township, and any other corporation existing, created or organized as a governmental unit under the constitution and laws of this State. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 14, Issue No. 3, eff March …

103-502.2. Customer. Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation, or any agency of the Federal, State, or Local Government, being supplied with service by a utility under the jurisdiction of this commission. Customers shall be classified for purposes of applying rates as ‘‘resi…

103-502.3. Customer Main Extension Fee. A fee paid by a customer under a contract entered into by and between the utility and its customer providing terms for the extension of the utility’s mains to service the customer.

103-502.4. Customer Service Line. The portion of pipe on the customer’s premises which transports sewerage from the customer’s premises to the ‘‘utility service line’’.

103-502.5. Homeowners Association. An association of lot owners located in a particular subdivision or development incorporated under the laws of this State as a non-profit corporation, including as one of its purposes, the operation of a sewerage system to serve the particular s…

103-502.6. Main. A sewerage pipe owned, operated, or maintained by a utility, which is used to transport sewerage, but does not include the ‘‘utility service line’’, or ‘‘customer service line’’.

103-502.7. Premises. A piece or tract of land or real estate, including buildings and other appurtenances thereon.

103-502.8. Rate. The term ‘‘rate’’, when used in these rules and regulations, means and includes every compensa- tion, charge, toll, rental, classification, or availability fee, or any of them, including tap fee, or other non-recurring charges demanded, observed, charged, or coll…

103-502.9. The Office of Regulatory Staff. The executive director and employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff.

103-503. Authorization for Rates and Charges. A. No schedule of rates, contracts, or rules and regulations, shall be changed until after the proposed change has been approved by the commission. B. All rates, contract forms, and rules and regulations, proposed to be put into effec…

103-504. Territory and Certificates. No existing public utility supplying wastewater disposal to the public, or any individual, corporation, partnership, association, establishment, or firm undertaking the construction or acquisition of a utility, shall hereafter sell, acquire, t…

103-505. Utility Rules and Regulations. Each utility shall adopt rules, regulations, operation procedure policies, terms and conditions, etc., as may be necessary in the operation of the Utility. Such service conditions and/or regulations shall be approved by and filed with the c…

103-506. Security Issues. A. No utility shall issue any securities without the approval of the commission. This rule shall not apply to any issue of securities payable within one year from the date of issue, except in case of subsequent issues made to refund such short-term oblig…

103-510. Location of Records and Reports. All records required by these rules are necessary for the administration thereof, shall be available for inspection in this State, unless otherwise specifically authorized by the commission. These records shall be available for examinatio…

103-511. Retention of Records. Unless otherwise specified by the commission, or by regulations or commission Orders governing specific activities, all records required by these rules shall be preserved according to the most current edition of Regulations to Govern the Preservatio…

103-512. Data to be Filed with the Commission and Provided to the ORS. 103-512.1. Annual Report. Each utility operating in the State shall file an annual report with the commission and provide a copy to the ORS giving accounting and other information as the commission orders. The…

103-512.2. Current Information and Documents. The utility shall file with the commission and provide a copy to the ORS the following documents and information, and shall maintain such documents and information in a current status. 103-512.2.1. Tariff. A copy of each schedule of r…

103-512.3. Performance Bond. Prior to operating, maintaining, acquiring, expanding or improving any utility system, for which commission approval is required, the utility shall have on file with the commission and provide a copy to the ORS a performance bond with sufficient suret…

103-513. Inspection of Plant and Equipment. A. Each utility shall, upon request of the ORS, provide to the ORS a statement regarding the condition of the waste treatment facility and the adequacy of the treatment provided by the facility as determined by the Department of Health …

103-514. Interruption of Service/Violation of Rules. A. Each utility shall keep a record of any condition resulting in any interruption of service affecting its entire system or major division thereof, or any single community or an important division of a community, including a s…

103-515. Accidents. Each utility shall, as soon as possible, report by telephone to the ORS each accident happening in connection with the operation of its property, facilities, or service, wherein any person shall have been killed or seriously injured or whereby any serious prop…

103-516. Complaints. Complaints by customers concerning the charges, practices, facilities or services of the utility shall be investigated promptly and thoroughly. Each utility shall keep a record of all such complaints received, which record shall show the name and address of t…

103-517. Accounting Procedures. All books and records of the utility shall be maintained in accordance with the NARUC Uniform System of Accounts for Class A, B and C Sewerage Utilities to the extent applicable. Such records must be made available for examination by the ORS or its…

103-520. Change in Character of Service. In order that the utility may provide a proper service facility, the customer shall advise the utility of expected service requirements sufficiently in advance of the time service is required and shall also advise the utility of any signif…

103-530. Customer Information. Each utility shall: A. Maintain up-to-date maps, plans, or records of its entire force main collection systems, with such other information as may be necessary to enable the utility to advise prospective customers, and others entitled to the informa…

103-531. Customer Deposits. Each 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: (a) The customer’s past payment record to a sewerage utility shows deli…

103-531.1. Amount of Deposit. A. A maximum deposit may be required up to an amount equal to an estimated two (2) months (60 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 (2) consecutive months…

103-531.2. Interest on Deposits. A. Simple interest on deposits at the rate as determined by commission Order shall be paid by the utility to each customer required to make such deposit for the time it is held by the utility, provided that no interest need be paid unless the depo…

103-531.3. Deposit Records. Each utility shall keep a record to show: (a) The name and address of each depositor; (b) The amount and date of the deposit; and (c) Each transaction concerning the deposits.

103-531.4. Deposit Receipt. Each utility shall issue a receipt of deposit to each customer from whom a deposit is received, and shall provide means whereby a depositor may establish the customer’s claim if the customer’s receipt is lost.

103-531.5. Deposit Retention. Deposits shall be refunded completely with interest after two years unless the customer has had two consecutive 30-day arrearages or more than two non-consecutive 30-day arrearages in the past 24 months.

103-531.6. Unclaimed Deposits. A record of each unclaimed deposit must be maintained for at least one year during which time the sewerage utility shall make a reasonable effort to return the deposit. Unclaimed deposits, together with accrued interest, shall be turned over to the …

103-531.7. Deposit Credit Where a customer has been required to make a 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 nonpayment of bill, a utility …

103-532. Customer Billing. The utility shall bill each customer as promptly as possible and render a receipt of payment upon request.

103-532.1. Customer Bill Forms The bill shall show: (a) The gross and/or net amount of the bill; (b) Person to whom bill is sent; (c) Dates for which bill is rendered; (d) The applicable rate schedule, or identification of the rate schedule. If the actual rates are not shown, the…

103-532.2. Late Payment Charges. A maximum of one and one-half percent (1 and 1/2%) may be added to any unpaid balance not paid within 25 days of the billing date to cover the cost of collection and carrying accounts in arrears. This method of late-payment charge will be made in …

103-532.3. Payment by Check. The utility at its option for good cause may refuse to accept a check tendered as payment on a customer’s account and require payment in cash or other certified funds. Good cause must be justified by a sewerage utility by evidencing a credit history p…

103-532.4. Charges for Disconnection and Reconnection. Whenever service is disconnected for violation of rules and regulations, nonpayment of bills or fraudulent use of service, or at the request of the customer the utility shall not be required to reconnect such service until an…