South Carolina Administrative Code

103-731.1. 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…

103-731.2. 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…

103-731.3. 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.

103-731.4. 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 his claim if his receipt is lost.

103-731.5. 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.

103-731.6. Unclaimed Deposits. A record of each unclaimed deposit must be maintained for at least one year during which time the water utility shall make a reasonable effort to return the deposit. Unclaimed deposits, together with accrued interest, shall be turned over to the Sou…

103-731.7. 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 non-payment of bill, a utilit…

103-732. Customer Billing. The utility shall bill each customer as promptly as possible following the reading of the customer’s meter and render a receipt of payment upon request.

103-732.1. New Service. Meters shall be read at the initiation and termination of any service and billing shall be based thereon.

103-732.2. Customer Bill Forms. The bill shall show: (a) The reading of the meter at the end and beginning of the period for which the bill is rendered; (b) The date on which the meter was read; (c) The number and kind of units metered; (d) The applicable rate, schedule, or ident…

103-732.3. Late Payment Charges. A maximum of one and one-half percent (1 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 lieu…

103-732.4. 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 water utility by evidencing a credit history pro…

103-732.5. Charges for Discontinuance and Reconnection. Whenever service is turned off for violation of rules and regulations, nonpayment of bills, or fraudulent use of service, or at the request of the customer, the utility may make reasonable charges to be approved by the commi…

103-732.6. Estimated Bills. No utility shall send a customer an estimated bill, except for good cause, when the meter could not be read or was improperly registering. In no instance will more than one estimated bill be rendered within a 60-day period, unless otherwise agreed to b…

103-732.7. 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 water service. The deferred payment plan shall requi…

103-733. Adjustments 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 pres…

103-733.1. Fast or Slow Meters. If the overcharge or undercharge is the result of a fast or slow meter, then the method of compensation shall be as follows: (a) In case of a disputed account, involving the accuracy of a meter, such meter shall be tested upon request of the custom…

103-733.2. Customer Inadvertently Overcharged. If the utility has inadvertently overcharged a customer as a result of a misapplied schedule, an error in reading the meter, a skipped meter reading, or any other human or machine error, except as provided in 1 of this rule, the util…

103-733.3. Customer Inadvertently Undercharged. If the utility has undercharged any customer as a result of a misapplied schedule, an error in reading the meter, a skipped meter reading, or any human or machine error, except as provided in 1 and 5 of this rule, then the utility m…

103-733.4. Customer Willfully Overcharged. If the utility has willfully overcharged any customer, the utility shall refund the difference, plus interest, as stated in the South Carolina Code of Laws Section 34-31-20(A) or such future Code of Laws of South Carolina governing the l…

103-733.5. Customer Undercharged Because of Fraud or Willful Misrepresentation. If the utility has undercharged any customer because of the customer’s fraudulent actions, such as tampering with, or bypassing the meter, or because the customer has willfully misrepresented a materi…

103-734. Applications for Service. A. All applications for water 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 water service in accordance with the utili…

103-735. 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…

103-735.1. Procedures for Termination of Service. (A) Service may be terminated for non-payment of a bill, provided that the water utility has made a reasonable attempt to effect collection and has given the customer written notice, sent by regular mail to the customer’s billing …

103-736. 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 service by a previous occupant of the premises to be served, unless such previous occupant shall benefit fro…

103-737. Right of Access. 1. The authorized agents of the utility shall have the right of access to the premises supplied with water, at reasonable hours, for the purpose of maintenance and reading of meters, examining fixtures, protective device and pipes, observing the manner o…

103-738. Customer Complaints. A. Complaints concerning the charges, practices, facilities, or service of the utility shall be investigated promptly and thoroughly. The utility shall keep records of customer complaints as will enable it and the ORS to review and analyze its proced…

103-739. Tariffs, Rules and Regulations. A copy of the utility’s tariffs as filed with the commission and provided to the ORS shall 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, …

103-74. Guidelines for Rail Regulation. The standards and procedures outlined in Order No. 83-146, modified by Order No. 84-207, are hereby adopted as guidelines for all future rail regulation by the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. HISTORY: Added by State Register Vo…

103-740. 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 all of its facilities and equipment used in connection with the services…

103-741. Replacement of Meters. Whenever a consumer requests the replacement of a service 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 103-760(B).

103-742. Waste of Water. The customer should maintain his service pipe and all piping and fixtures on or in the building so that any loss of water through leakage is kept to a reasonably small amount. If the leakage becomes excessive, then it may be treated as a willful waste of …

103-743. 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 abili…

103-750. Requirement for Good Engineering Practice. A. The water plant of the utility shall be constructed, installed, maintained and operated in accordance with accepted good engineering practice and regulations included to assure as far as reasonably possible, continuity of ser…

103-751. Acceptable Standards. Unless otherwise specified by the commission, each utility shall use the guideline of the Department of Health and Environmental Control as minimum standards of good engineering practices. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 5, e…

103-752. Acceptable References. Unless otherwise specified by the commission, the utility shall use the applicable provisions in the publications listed below as operational requirements, where applicable, and standards of accepted good practice: (a) The most current edition of t…

103-753. Adequacy of Service. The source of supply and transmission facilities, and/or production and/or storage capacity of the utility’s plant, must be sufficiently large to meet all reasonably expectable demands for service.

103-754. Inspection of Utility Plant. Each utility must adopt a program of inspection of its plant in order to determine the necessity for replacement and repair. The frequency of the various inspections shall be based on the utility’s experience and accepted good practice.

103-755. Temporary Service. When the 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.

103-756. Engineering Analysis. A. The ORS or its authorized representatives may survey anticipated extensions of water line and the utility will assist in such survey and provide all pertinent data necessary to determine cost and feasibility of extending such lines. B. The utilit…

103-760. Utility Inspections and Tests. A. Each 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 rules or other orders o…

103-761. ORS Inspection and Tests. The ORS shall make tests of meters as follows: (a) Upon written application to the ORS by a customer or a utility, a test will be made of the customer’s meter as soon as practicable. (b) On receipt of such request the ORS will notify the utility…

103-762. Test Procedures and Accuracies. Method of Testing. All tests to determine the accuracy of registration of any water service meter shall be made with a suitable meter prover, and records of all regular or complaint tests shall be kept in the files of the utility.

103-763. Facilities and Equipment for Testing. Each utility shall maintain or designate a meter shop for the purpose of inspecting, testing and repairing meters. The shop shall be open for inspection by authorized representatives of the ORS at all reasonable times, and the facili…

103-770. Quality of Service. A. Each utility shall provide water that is potable and, insofar as practicable, free from objectionable odor, taste, color and turbidity. Each utility must have a permit as required by the health laws of the State of South Carolina, and shall comply …

103-771. Interruptions of Service. A. Each utility shall make reasonable efforts to avoid interruptions of service, but when interrup- tions occur, service shall be re-established within the shortest time practicable, consistent with considerations of safety. B. Scheduled interru…

103-772. Restrictions of the Use of Service. A. The utility may impose reasonable restrictions on the outdoor use of water during period of shortage of supply, excessive demand or other difficulty which jeopardizes the supply of water to any group of customers. B. The utility may…