South Carolina Administrative Code

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…

103-51. Milling-in-Transit Rules. Section 1. Wheat or corn may be shipped from railway stations in South Carolina. Section 2. To milling points located on the railroads in South Carolina and milled and the product reshipped to stations in South Carolina under the following rules,…

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 commis- sion or the ORS will provide an annual report form upon reques…

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…

103-52. General Rule. All rules and regulations herein prescribed as applying to railroads are to be regarded as applying, with equal force and effect, to express companies doing business in this State: provided, such application is practicable and does not conflict with the laws…

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…

103-53. Posting Schedules. All express companies in South Carolina are required to file with the Commission, to print and keep posted at each of their offices in this State, schedules of rates, classification and charges for the carrying of freight, which shall be opened during o…

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…

103-532.5. Deferred Payment Plan. The utility shall provide for the arrangement of a deferred payment plan to enable a residential customer to make payment by installments where such customer is unable to pay the amount due for service. The deferred payment plan shall require the…

103-533. Adjustment of Bills. If it is found that a 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 utility than that presc…

103-534. Application for Service. A. All applications for sewerage service may be made orally or in writing. B. The accepted application shall constitute a contract between the company and the applicant, obligating the applicant to pay for sewerage service in accordance with the …

103-535. Denial or Discontinuance of Service. Service may be refused or discontinued for any of the reasons listed below. Unless otherwise stated, the customer shall be allowed a reasonable time in which to comply with the rule before service is discontinued. A. Without notice in…

103-535.1. Notice Prior to Discontinuance of Service. A. Before any sewerage service may be discontinued, the utility must give thirty (30) days written notice to the customer, by certified mail, verified email, or hand delivered by staff/process server unless R.103-535.A is appl…

103-536. Insufficient Reasons for Denying Service. The following shall not constitute sufficient cause for refusal of service to a present or prospective customer. A. Non-payment for service by a previous occupant of the premises to be served, unless such previous occupant shall …

103-537. Right of Access. A. The authorized agents of the utility shall have the right of access to the customer’s premises, at reasonable hours, for the purpose of inspecting the customer’s sewerage connections and for any other purpose which is proper and necessary in the condu…

103-538. Customer Complaints. A. Complaints concerning the charges, practices, facilities, or service of the utility shall be investigated promptly and thoroughly. The utility shall keep such records of customer complaints as will enable it and ORS to review and analyze the utili…

103-539. Tariff’s Rules and Regulations. A copy of the utility’s tariffs as filed with this commission and provided to the ORS will be on file in the local business offices of the utility and shall be available for public inspection. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 31, …

103-54. Changes in Rates and Classification. No change in express rates or classification shall be made until thirty (30) days’ notice of such change has been filed or posted at all express offices or agencies in this State, and not until thirty (30) days’ notice has been given t…

103-540. System Which Utility Must Maintain. Each utility, unless specifically relieved in any case by the commission from such obligation, shall operate and maintain in safe, efficient and proper conditions of all of its facilities and equipment used in connection with the servi…

103-541. Contracts. No utility shall execute or enter into any agreement or contract with any person, firm, partnership, or corporation or any agency of the Federal, State or local government which would impact, pertain to, or effect said utility’s fitness, willingness, or abilit…