S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1660 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 17 / Section 58-15-1660
SECTION 58-15-1660. Division of costs.
Status: in_force

The division of the costs of the elimination of the grade crossings by means of grade separation structures shall be as follows: (1) The total cost of a grade crossing elimination by the use of an overhead bridge shall be paid one half by the department or subdivision and one half by the railroad involved, the proportion to be paid by the railroad in no case to exceed the actual cost of that part of the structure over its tracks between the piers or abutments and foundations adjacent to such tracks and including the costs of such piers or abutments and foundations, except that in the case of a permanent structure of concrete, steel or other like substance, the railroad shall pay one half of the cost of such structure, including the approaches, for a distance of not exceeding one hundred and fifty feet on either side of the railroad, measured from the center of the space occupied by the tracks; (2) In case the elimination of such grade crossing shall be by the building of an underpass, the department or subdivision shall pay one half and the railroad involved the other half of the cost of the cut through the railroad fill and of the cost of the bridge carrying the railroad, including the foundations and piers or abutments for such bridge, but the cost of the approaches to such underpass shall be paid by the department or subdivision and such department or subdivision shall construct it at its own expense and maintain the necessary drainage; but the railroad will be charged with the duty and cost of maintaining the entire structure carrying the railroad tracks, including the foundations and supports thereof; (3) Whenever such railroad shall provide a floor for an overhead bridge, capable of carrying a road surface of rock asphalt or other like substance, the department or subdivision shall assume the duty and cost of the maintenance of the superstructure of such bridge and, if such floor is not so constructed, the department or subdivision shall assume the duty and cost of the maintenance of the superstructure of such bridge and render to the railroad company involved a bill for the cost thereof, which shall be paid by the railroad involved within sixty days after the rendition of such bill and, if not paid, interest shall be added thereto at the rate of seven per cent per annum; but in all cases of an overhead bridge, the railroad involved shall maintain at its own expense the foundations and piers or abutments supporting such superstructure; (4) When more than one railroad is involved in the separation of crossings at grades, such portion of the cost of construction and maintenance as this article provides shall be paid by the railroad shall be borne by such railroads in such proportion as will be equitable, to be agreed upon by the railroad companies, and in case they cannot agree, to be fixed by the Public Service Commission on a hearing to be held in the usual manner, with the usual right of appeal; and (5) In all cases of grade separation hereunder the railroad shall permit the use, free of cost, of so much of its right of way as is necessary and the department or subdivision involved shall be charged with the duty of acquiring such additional rights-of-way as shall be necessary and shall be chargeable with liability for any property damages or other damages resulting from the change in topographical conditions.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 11 / Section 58-15-1110
SECTION 58-15-1110. Violation by railroads of Interstate Commerce Act shall be unlawful.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any railroad corporation doing business in this State or any officer, agent or employee thereof to do herein any act which constitutes a violation of the act of Congress entitled "An Act to Regulate Commerce," or the acts amendatory thereof, or any order of the Interstate Commerce Commission issued thereunder. Any such corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor and liable to indictment therefor in any county in which such offense is committed and, on conviction, shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars for each such offense. And the doing of any such act shall constitute a ground for the forfeiture of the charter and franchise of any such corporation in this State and for the withdrawal and forfeiture of any franchise or license or right to operate railroads herein enjoyed or exercised herein by grant, contract, statute or comity by any such corporation chartered elsewhere and any person or corporation, public or private, injured by any such act of such railroad company, may maintain quo warranto in the circuit court of the residence or, if a nonresident, of the principal office of such corporation, to enforce such forfeiture, which said court is hereby given jurisdiction so to decree. Conviction and punishment for a misdemeanor under this section shall not prevent proceedings also for forfeiture and judgment. Any officer, agent or employee doing or engaged in any such act shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars and imprisonment not to exceed twelve months, or either or both of these penalties.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1020 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1020
SECTION 58-9-1020. Employment and duties of special agent or examiner.
Status: in_force

In any hearing the commission may employ a special agent or examiner, who may administer oaths, examine witnesses consistent with the Judicial Code of Conduct, and receive evidence in any locality which the commission, having regard to the public convenience and the proper discharge of its functions and duties, may designate. The testimony and evidence so taken or received shall have the same force and effect as if taken or received by the commission or any one or more of the commissioners as provided in Section 58-9-1010. But any hearing involving rates of any telephone utility shall be held before a majority of the full commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-990 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-990
SECTION 58-27-990. Contracts with other utilities.
Status: in_force

Subject to the approval of the Commission, electrical utilities may contract with each other for the sale and purchase or exchange of electricity if such contract contain a provision that from its date it shall be subject to amendment, modification, change or annulment by the Commission, after due hearing, if the public interest so requires.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-510 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 5 / Section 58-23-510
SECTION 58-23-510. Applications for annual licenses.
Status: in_force

Every motor vehicle carrier which shall operate in this State shall, as soon as such certificate is issued and annually on or before each succeeding January first as long as such certificate remains in force, present it, with any changes which have been ordered by the commission, to the Office of Regulatory Staff and make an application in writing to the Office of Regulatory Staff for registration and license as prescribed in Chapter 3 of Title 56 for owners of motor vehicles generally.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-290 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-290
SECTION 58-5-290. Correction by Commission of improper rates and the like.
Status: in_force

Whenever the Commission shall find, after hearing, that the rates, fares, tolls, rentals, charges or classifications or any of them, however or whensoever they shall have theretofore been fixed or established, demanded, observed, charged or collected by any public utility for any service, product or commodity, or that the rules, regulations or practices, or any of them, affecting such rates, fares, tolls, rentals, charges or classifications, or any of them, are unjust, unreasonable, noncompensatory, inadequate, discriminatory or preferential or in any wise in violation of any provision of law, the Commission shall, subject to review by the courts, as herein provided, determine the just and reasonable fares, tolls, rentals, charges or classifications, rules, regulations or practices to be thereafter observed and enforced and shall fix them by order as herein provided.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-710 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-710
SECTION 58-17-710. Property of consolidated corporation subject to taxation.
Status: in_force

The portion of the road of such consolidated company in this State and all its real estate and other property theretofore subject to taxation shall be subject to like taxation and assessed in the same manner, and with like effect, as the property of other railroad companies in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-40 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 1 / Section 58-23-40
SECTION 58-23-40. Certificate and fee requirements.
Status: in_force

A motor vehicle carrier shall obtain a certificate from the Office of Regulatory Staff, pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter and pay the license fee required pursuant to Article 5 of this chapter before the motor vehicle carrier may: (1) transport persons, hazardous waste for disposal, or household goods for compensation on any improved public highway in this State; or (2) advertise as an operator for the transportation of persons, hazardous waste for disposal, or household goods for compensation on any improved public highway in this State. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 4, in (1) and (2), substituted ", hazardous waste for disposal, or household goods" for "or property".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1140 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 9 / Section 58-17-1140
SECTION 58-17-1140. Certain mortgages shall secure certain previous bonds and other debts.
Status: in_force

No railroad corporation which has previously issued bonds shall subsequently make or execute any mortgage upon its road, equipment and franchises, or any of its property, real or personal, without including in and securing by such mortgage all bonds previously issued and all pre-existing debts and liabilities of the corporation. But nothing in this section contained shall apply to a mortgage for the purchase money of any such road, equipment, franchise or property, real or personal, or to a mortgage made or executed for the purpose, in whole or in part, of building, extending, improving or equipping such railroad, or any part thereof, or any other railroad, the greater part of whose stock is held by it, or to any pledge or hypothecation of any choses in action or other securities held or owned by it. Nor shall this section require that a mortgage executed by a corporation shall secure the payment of previously issued bonds or pre-existing debts and liabilities of the corporation when the bonds to be issued under the mortgage are intended, in whole or in part, to take up, by funding or otherwise, such previously issued bonds or pre-existing debts and liabilities or when such previously issued bonds or pre-existing debts and liabilities are secured by a pre-existing mortgage or other lien.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2090 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-2090
SECTION 58-17-2090. Suit to recover charges in excess of legal rate.
Status: in_force

When any common carrier charges more than the legal rate of transportation applying to any goods, commodities, livestock, or any other kind of property, as shown by any rates fixed by law or by the tariffs filed with the Office of Regulatory Staff and approved by the Public Service Commission or, in the case of interstate transportation, by the Interstate Commerce Commission, as required by law, the consignee or owner and holder of a bill of lading, or the owner of any property transported, who may have paid the illegal charge has the right to recover in any court of competent jurisdiction the amount paid in excess of the legal rate applying to the property and the person shall not be defeated of a recovery on account of the fact that the payment may have been made voluntarily. But an action shall not be maintained hereunder until after thirty days from demand upon the common carrier for the repayment of the excess charges.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1850 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-1850
SECTION 58-17-1850. Prescribing schedule of rates; schedules as evidence.
Status: in_force

The commission must make for each of the railroad corporations doing business in this State, as soon as practicable, a schedule of just and reasonable rates of charges for transportation of passengers and freight cars on each of the railroads. When a lawsuit involves a railroad corporation's charges for the transportation of passengers, freight, or cars or unjust discrimination in relation to these charges, the schedule shall be considered in all of the courts of this State as sufficient evidence that the rates therein fixed are just and reasonable rates of charges for the transportation of passengers, freights, and cars upon the railroad when the schedules have been prepared and published for all the railroad companies organized under the laws of this State as provided in this section. The commission must not be a party to any lawsuit.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 1 / Section 58-23-110
SECTION 58-23-110. Motor carrier transportation contracts; definition; hold harmless provisions; exception.
Status: in_force

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a provision, clause, covenant, or agreement contained in, collateral to, or affecting a motor carrier transportation contract that purports to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless, or has the effect of indemnifying, defending, or holding harmless, the contract's promisee from or against any liability for loss or damage resulting from the negligence or intentional acts or omissions of the contract's promisee, or any agents, employees, servants, or independent contractors who are directly responsible to the contract's promisee, is against the public policy of this State and is unenforceable. (B) As used in this section "motor carrier transportation contract" means a contract, agreement, or understanding covering: (1) the transportation of property for compensation or hire by the motor carrier; (2) the entrance on property by the motor carrier for the purpose of loading, unloading, or transporting property for compensation or for hire; or (3) a service incidental to activity described in items (1) or (2) including, but not limited to, storage of property. (C) Nothing contained in this section affects a provision, clause, covenant, or agreement where the motor carrier indemnifies or holds harmless the contract's promisee against liability for damages to the extent that the damages were caused by and resulting from the negligence of the motor carrier, its agents, employees, servants, or independent contractors who are directly responsible to the motor carrier. (D) Notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this section, a " motor carrier transportation contract" shall not include the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement administered by the Intermodal Association of North America, as that agreement may be amended by the Intermodal Interchange Executive Committee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1620 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 13 / Section 58-9-1620
SECTION 58-9-1620. Each violation and each day of continuing violation deemed a separate offense.
Status: in_force

Every violation of the provisions of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter or of any lawful order of the Commission, or any part thereof, by any corporation or person is a separate and distinct offense and in case of a continuing violation each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-130
SECTION 58-27-130. Condemnation powers of electric companies, State authorities and electric cooperatives.
Status: in_force

Subject to the same duties and liabilities, all the rights, powers, and privileges conferred upon telegraph and telephone companies to acquire rights-of-way for the construction, maintenance, and operation of lines under Sections 58-9-2020 to 58-9-2030 are granted unto electric lighting and power companies incorporated under the laws of this State, or to those companies incorporated under the laws of any other state which have complied with the laws of this State regulating foreign corporations doing business in this State, and to state authorities and electric cooperatives, and the right is also granted to those companies and authorities and electric cooperatives to acquire fee simple title or an easement in land by a condemnation action, for the construction of electric generating plants, substations, switching stations, and impounding of waters to be used in conjunction with electric generating plants. No property or rights used for the generation or transmission of electricity, or devoted to public use for such purposes, shall be condemned hereunder.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-430 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 3 / Section 58-11-430
SECTION 58-11-430. Miscellaneous regulations.
Status: in_force

The commission may ascertain and fix just and reasonable classification, regulations, practices, or service to be furnished, imposed, observed, and followed by any or all radio common carriers; prescribe reasonable regulations for the examination and testing of such service and for the measurement thereof; establish or approve reasonable rules, regulations, specifications, and standards; and provide for the examination and testing of any and all appliances used for the service of any radio common carrier.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1610 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 13 / Section 58-17-1610
SECTION 58-17-1610. Filing of annual schedule and report.
Status: in_force

Each railroad company chartered by this State is required to file in the Office of Regulatory Staff, on or before the thirty-first day of March in each year, a full and detailed schedule and report of the condition and operations of the road for the current year ending on the thirty-first day of December then immediately preceding. The schedule and report must be made in accordance with the following rules and form: (1) All liabilities, including interest accrued on funded debt, must be entered upon the books in the month when they were incurred, without reference to the date of payment. (2) Expenses must be charged each month with such supplies, materials, and similar articles as have been used during that month, without reference to the time when they were purchased or paid for. (3) No expenditure must be charged to property accounts except for actual interest during construction, equipment, or other property, unless it is made on old work in such a way as clearly to increase the value of the property over and above the cost of renewing the old work and in such cases only the amount of increased cost must be charged, and the amount allowed on account of the old work must be stated. (4) Mileage of passenger and freight trains must include only the miles shown to be run by distances between stations and allowances made to passenger or freight trains for switching and all mileage of switch engines, computed on a basis of eight miles per hour for the time of actual service, must be stated separately. (5) Season ticket passengers must be computed on the basis of twelve passengers per week for the time of each ticket. (6) Local traffic must include all passengers carried on local tickets and all freight carried at local tariff or special local rates and all other traffic must be considered through. These rules are subject to any changes as may be made upon petition by the Office of Regulatory Staff by the Public Service Commission under the authority conferred on it by Section 58-17-1900.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-130
SECTION 58-3-130. State agencies, boards, and commissions must supply records and information to Commission.
Status: in_force

Upon demand by the Office of Regulatory Staff, each state department, board, and commission, and each officer or agent of the State must furnish to the Office of Regulatory Staff, for inspection and confidential use, any record or information on file with the department, board, commission, or officer, as appropriate, concerning the property values, operation, income, or other matter of any person doing business as a public utility in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2530 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 21 / Section 58-9-2530
SECTION 58-9-2530. Dual party relay charge.
Status: in_force

(A) The commission may require each local exchange provider, CMRS provider, and VoIP provider operating in this State to impose a monthly dual party relay charge not to exceed ten cents, and each prepaid wireless seller to impose a dual party relay charge of the same amount on each wireless retail transaction, as necessary to fund the establishment and operation of a dual party relay system and a distribution system of TTY's and other related telecommunications devices in this State. The amount of the dual party charge must be determined by the commission based upon the amount of funding necessary to accomplish the purposes of this article and provide dual party telephone relay services on a continuous basis, and the amount of the charge must be uniform among all local exchange providers, CMRS providers, VoIP providers, and prepaid wireless sellers. All dual party relay charge monies collected and remitted to the department in accordance with Section 58-9-2535 must be transferred to the operating fund, which must be administered by the Office of Regulatory Staff. The dual party relay charge collected and remitted in accordance with this article is not subject to any tax, fee, or assessment, nor may it be considered revenue of a local exchange provider, CMRS provider, VoIP provider, prepaid wireless provider, or prepaid wireless seller. The commission may provide for the funding of the dual party relay system through contributions from other sources. The fund must be established, invested, and managed for the exclusive purpose of implementing the provisions of this article according to regulations promulgated by the commission. (B) Monies in the operating fund must also include appropriations made by the General Assembly for the purpose of this chapter, grants from other governmental or private entities, and contributions or donations received by the commission for the dual party relay service. All monies in the operating fund must be used solely for the administration and operation of a statewide program to provide telecommunications access to persons who are speech and hearing impaired or similarly impaired. (C) The users of the relay service must be charged for telephone services, including any authorized commission charge, without additional charges for the use of the relay service. The calling or called party shall bear an expense for making intrastate nonlocal calls considered approved by the commission as being equitable in comparison with non-TDD or DPR service customers. Editor's Note 2016 Act No. 181, SECTION 10, provides as follows: "SECTION 10. Beginning on the effective date of this act, the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Department of Revenue may take necessary action to accommodate full implementation of SECTIONS 3, 5.A., and 8 of this act, as soon as practicable, provided, however, that full implementation shall not occur earlier than January 1, 2017. The Office of Regulatory Staff and the Department of Revenue shall provide at least thirty days' public notice of the full implementation date before the full implementation of these SECTIONS occurs, and no person or entity is required to bill, collect, remit, or pay any charges pursuant to SECTION 3, 5.A., or 8 of this act prior to the full implementation date." Effect of Amendment 2016 Act No. 181, SECTION 8, rewrote (A).
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3610 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 29 / Section 58-17-3610
SECTION 58-17-3610. Police powers of conductors and station agents.
Status: in_force

Conductors of railroad trains and station or depot agents are hereby declared to be conservators of the peace and they shall have the common-law power of constables to make arrests, except that the conductors shall only have such power on board of their respective trains and the agents at their respective places of business. Such conductors and agents may cause any person so arrested by them to be detained and delivered to the proper authorities for trial as soon as practicable.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-70 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-70
SECTION 58-31-70. Use of facilities and operation of business of Authority.
Status: in_force

The use of the facilities of the Public Service Authority and the operation of its business shall be subject to the rules and regulations from time to time adopted by the Public Service Authority; provided, however, that the Public Service Authority shall not be authorized to do anything which will impair the security of the holders of the notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Public Service Authority or violate any agreement with them or for their benefit.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-90
SECTION 58-11-90. Commission may permit interconnection of facilities of radio common carriers and telephone utilities; determination of compensation and terms when parties fail to agree.
Status: in_force

Whenever the Commission shall find that public convenience and necessity require the interconnection of radio common carrier facilities to facilities of telephone utilities, and that the radio common carrier and telephone utility have failed to agree upon such interconnection or the terms and conditions or compensation for the same, the Commission may order that such interconnection be permitted and prescribe a reasonable compensation, terms and condition for the interconnection.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1380 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1380
SECTION 58-23-1380. Surrender of taxi license when insurance or bond cancelled.
Status: in_force

In the event of cancellation of the policy of insurance or bond required under the provisions of this article, then the license card or plate to be displayed in the taxi and also the metal plates to be affixed to the taxi shall become null and void and shall immediately be surrendered by the owner of the taxi to the chief of police of such county and the operation of the taxi after the cancellation of such insurance or bond or the failure to surrender such plates shall be a violation of this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 1 / Section 58-5-30
SECTION 58-5-30. Exemption of public utilities owned or operated by municipalities and regional transportation authorities.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in Article 23, Chapter 9 of Title 58, nothing contained in Articles 1, 3, and 5 of this chapter shall give the commission or the regulatory staff any power to regulate or interfere with public utilities owned or operated by or on behalf of any municipality or regional transportation authority as defined in Chapter 25 of this title or their agencies.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-36-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 36 / Section 58-36-90
SECTION 58-36-90. Notice of damages.
Status: in_force

Text of (A) effective until May 22, 2026. (A) The excavator performing an excavation or demolition that results in any damage to a facility must, immediately upon discovery of such damage, notify the notification center and the facility operator, if known, of the location and nature of the damage. The excavator must allow the operator reasonable time to accomplish necessary repairs before completing the excavation or demolition in the immediate area of such facility. The excavator shall delay any backfilling in the immediate area of the damaged facility until authorized by the operator. The repair of any damage shall be performed by the operator or by qualified personnel authorized by the operator. Text of (A) effective on May 22, 2026. (A) The excavator performing an excavation or demolition that results in any damage to a facility must, immediately report the location and nature of the damage to the notification center and to the facility operator, if known. This report must be made on a form prepared by, and made available by, the notification center. The excavator must allow the operator reasonable time to accomplish necessary repairs before completing the excavation or demolition in the immediate area of such facility. The excavator shall delay any backfilling in the immediate area of the damaged facility until authorized by the operator. The repair of any damage shall be performed by the operator or by qualified personnel authorized by the operator. (B) An excavator responsible for any excavation or demolition that results in damage to a facility where damage results in the escape of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, or electricity, or endangers life, health, or property, immediately shall notify emergency services, including 911, the notification center and the operator, if known. The excavator must take reasonable measures to protect themselves, those in immediate danger, the general public, property, and the environment until the operator or emergency responders have arrived and completed their assessment. Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 65, SECTION 1, in (A), in the first sentence, substituted "report the location and nature of the damage to the notification center and to the facility operator, if known" for "upon discovery of such damage, notify the notification center and the facility operator, if known, of the location and nature of the damage", and inserted the second sentence.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-290 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-290
SECTION 58-9-290. Interchange of service.
Status: in_force

Telephone utilities may contract with each other for the connection of their respective lines or systems and for the interchange through such connections of public telephone and communications service and for other proper purposes. A copy of every such contract shall be filed with the commission and provided to the Office of Regulatory Staff. Such contract shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms unless the commission, after notice and hearing, shall find that such contract is contrary to the public interest and shall disapprove it.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 20 / Section 58-9-2240
SECTION 58-9-2240. Regulatory control by local government.
Status: in_force

A municipality may not use its authority over the public streets and public property as a basis for asserting or exercising regulatory control over telecommunications companies regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission or the Federal Communications Commission or the authority of the Office of Regulatory Staff, including, but not limited to, the operations, systems, service quality, service territory, and prices of a telecommunications company. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a local governmental entity over a cable television company providing cable service as permitted by 47 U.S.C. Section 542.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2530 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 21 / Section 58-27-2530
SECTION 58-27-2530. Third-party notification program.
Status: in_force

An electrical utility must consider establishing and maintaining a third-party notification program to allow a residential customer to designate a third party to be notified if the electric service is scheduled for termination.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-610 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 5 / Section 58-23-610
SECTION 58-23-610. Fees shall not be refunded for period when license not used; exception.
Status: in_force

No portion of a license fee paid as aforesaid will be refunded for any part of the year during which the license is not used except that when any carrier is prohibited from operating over his route by virtue of the closing of any road by the State, county, city or town authorities, there shall be a proper readjustment and credit given such operator proportionately for such unused portion of his license, unless a passable detour is provided.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1700 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 17 / Section 58-15-1700
SECTION 58-15-1700. Appeal to Commission and to court.
Status: in_force

Whenever any railroad company shall be required by an order of a department or subdivision to provide a grade separation structure, as specified herein, and shall be of the opinion that such grade separation is not a public necessity, it may within ten days after receipt of such order, appeal to the Public Service Commission and the commission within twenty days thereafter shall hold a public hearing and determine the public necessity for such grade separation. From any order of the commission in the premises either party shall have the right to appeal to the courts, as provided by statute in matters within the jurisdiction of the commission. The commission shall not be a party to an appeal. The provisions of this section shall not apply to orders of the Commission of the Department of Transportation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2140 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2140
SECTION 58-27-2140. Records of proceedings shall be kept.
Status: in_force

A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings had before the Commission or any commissioner on any formal hearing, and all testimony shall be taken down by a reporter appointed by the Commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 58-17-310
SECTION 58-17-310. Purchaser of railroad shall reorganize and commence operation within sixty days; exceptions.
Status: in_force

Any person acquiring any railroad within this State by purchase, foreclosure, or otherwise shall organize under the provisions of this article and put into operation such road within sixty days from the purchase or acquisition thereof. The provisions of this section do not apply to acquisitions of railroads by merger or consolidation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-630 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-630
SECTION 58-17-630. Consolidation fees.
Status: in_force

Upon the consolidation of any railroad company there shall be paid to the Secretary of State a fee upon the capital stock of the combined company as in the organization of a new company; provided, that credit shall be given thereon for any charter fees paid by companies forming the consolidated company.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-670 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 5 / Section 58-27-670
SECTION 58-27-670. Service in area becoming part of municipality; premises located within boundaries of electric cooperative or corridor.
Status: repealed

(1) The furnishing of electric service in any area which becomes a part of any municipality after the effective date of this subsection, either by annexation or incorporation, whether or not the area, or any portion of the area has been assigned pursuant to Section 58-27-640, is subject to the provisions of Sections 58-27-1360 and 33-49-250, and any provisions of this article. No poles, wires, or other facilities of electric suppliers using the streets, alleys, or other public ways within the corporate limits of a municipality may be constructed by an electric supplier, unless the consent of the municipal governing body is first obtained. Annexation may not be construed to increase, decrease, or affect any other right or responsibility a municipality, electric cooperative, or electrical utility may have with regard to supplying electric service in areas assigned by the Public Service Commission in accordance with Chapter 27 of Title 58. (2) No electrical utility, except the annexing or incorporating municipality or its board or commission of public works, shall furnish electrical service to any premises first requiring service in an area annexed by a municipality or incorporated after the effective date of this subsection where such premises is located (a) in an area assigned by the commission prior to annexation or incorporation to an electric cooperative or (b) in an electric supplier's corridor, as described in this chapter, lying within the boundaries of such area assigned by the commission prior to annexation or incorporation to an electric cooperative; however, nothing in this subsection limits the power of an electric cooperative to serve in such areas, as provided in Section 33-49-250. Editor's Note Section 57 of 1987 Act No. 173 (codified as SECTION 58-27-690), provides that this section shall not be modified, abridged, or repealed by 1987 Act No. 173. 2004 Act No. 179, SECTION 11 provides: SECTION 11. . . . Section 58-27-670, as amended by this act, shall apply prospectively."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-310
SECTION 58-9-310. Sale or other disposition of property, powers, franchises or privileges.
Status: in_force

No telephone utility, without the approval of the Commission after due hearing and compliance with all other existing requirements of the laws of the State in relation thereto, may sell, transfer, lease, consolidate, or merge its property, powers, franchises, or privileges or any of them; provided, however, that a telephone cooperative association may acquire or incorporate a subsidiary corporation or a subsidiary cooperative association without the approval of the Commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-650 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-650
SECTION 58-17-650. Procedure for assessment of damages of dissenting stockholder.
Status: in_force

Any stockholder of any company hereby authorized to consolidate with any other who shall refuse to convert his stock into the stock of the consolidated company may, at any time within thirty days after the adoption of the agreement of consolidation by the stockholders, as in this article provided, apply, by petition, to the court of common pleas of the county in which the chief office of the company may be kept or to a judge of such court in vacation, if no such court sits within such period, on reasonable notice to the company, to appoint three disinterested persons to estimate the damage, if any, done to such stockholder by the proposed consolidation and whose award, or that of a majority of them, when confirmed by the court, shall be final and conclusive. The persons so appointed shall also appraise the stock of any such stockholder at the full market value thereof, without regard to any depreciation or appreciation in consequence of such consolidation and the company may, at its election, either pay to the stockholder the amount of damages so found and awarded, if any, or the value of the stock so ascertained and determined. And upon the payment of the value of the stock, as aforesaid, the stockholder shall transfer the stock so held by him to the company, to be disposed of by the directors of the company or to be retained for the benefit of the remaining stockholders. In case the value of the stock, as aforesaid, is not paid within thirty days from the filing of the award and confirmation thereof by the court and notice to the company, the damages so found and confirmed shall be a judgment against the company and collected as other judgments in such court are by law recoverable.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1860 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-1860
SECTION 58-17-1860. Copies of schedules shall be posted.
Status: in_force

When any such schedule for any such railroad company shall have been made or revised such railroad company shall post at each of its stations a copy of such schedule for the protection of the people. Any railroad corporation which shall fail to post at any of its stations a copy of the schedule of rates as provided in this section shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each and every day in which it shall fail to post such schedule, to be recovered by any citizen who will sue therefor, one half of such penalty to go to the State, the other half to the citizen suing for the same.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4160 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4160
SECTION 58-17-4160. Procedure for attachment of cars and engines which are in use.
Status: in_force

Whenever railroad cars and engines are in use on railroads and making regular passage thereon, they shall not be attached upon mesne process in any suit within forty-eight hours previous to their fixed time of departure unless the officer making such attachment shall have first demanded of the owners or managers of such engines or cars, or any of the agents of such railroad, other property equal in value to the ad damnum in the writ upon which to make such attachment and such owners or managers shall have refused or neglected to comply with such demand. And any officer making such attachment shall, on his return upon the process upon which it is made, certify that he has made such demand for such other property and that such demand has been refused or neglected; otherwise such attachment shall be wholly void.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 58-17-130
SECTION 58-17-130. Disposition of fines.
Status: in_force

All fines recovered under the provisions of the General Railroad Law shall be paid one half into the State Treasury, to be used for such purposes as the General Assembly may provide, and the other half into the county treasury of the county in which the case is tried.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-980 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-980
SECTION 58-27-980. Contracts subject to control and approval of Commission.
Status: in_force

No contract charge to be made to any person, corporation or municipality by any electrical utility for electricity to be furnished for light, heat or power established subsequent to March 24, 1922, shall be exempt from alteration, control, regulation and establishment by the Commission, when in its judgment the public interest so requires, to the full extent of the powers in relation to charges conferred upon the Commission by this chapter. Nor shall any contract establishing a rate or rates or any other contract affecting the use or disposition of its product or the charges to be paid therefor be entered into by any electrical utility without prior approval by the Commission, nor unless it be subject to amendment, modification, change or annulment by the Commission, if the public interest so requires. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to require the Commission's approval of a contract fixing a rate already approved by the Commission and then effective, if such contract rate is fixed subject to subsequent amendment, modification, change or annulment by the Commission. Full power and authority is hereby conferred on the Commission to accomplish the purposes expressed in this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 4 / Section 58-4-120
SECTION 58-4-120. Promulgation of rules governing internal administration and operations.
Status: in_force

Rules governing the internal administration and operations of the Office of the Regulatory Staff must be promulgated by the office and subject to review by the General Assembly as are rules of procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court under Article V of the Constitution. After submission to the House of Representatives, the Speaker shall refer the rules to the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. After submission to the Senate, the President shall refer the rules to the Judiciary Committee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2080 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-2080
SECTION 58-17-2080. Consignee may require settlement according to contract.
Status: in_force

In all cases the railroad company delivering freight to a consignee shall be required to settle its freight charges according to the contract as set forth in the bill of lading from the shipping point and no such company shall retain the article of freight after the consignee offers and is ready and willing to comply with the terms of such bill of lading.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-400 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 58-5-400
SECTION 58-5-400. Citation of article.
Status: in_force

This article may be cited as the "Natural Gas Rate Stabilization Act".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-65 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-65
SECTION 58-3-65. Chief clerk; salary recommendations.
Status: in_force

Beginning with Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the salary for the commission's chief clerk must be based on recommendations by the Agency Head Salary Commission to the General Assembly as provided in Sections 8-11-160 and 8-11-165. Editor's Note 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'South Carolina Energy Security Act.' " 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 33, provides as follows: "SECTION 33. (A) To foster economic development and future jobs in this State resulting from the supply chains associated with the same while supporting the significant and growing energy and capacity needs of the State, enhance grid resiliency, and maintain reliability, the General Assembly finds that the State of South Carolina should take steps necessary to encourage the development of a diverse mix of long-lead, clean generation resources that may include nuclear and advanced nuclear, biomass as defined in Section 12-63-20(B)(2) of the S.C. Code, hydrogen-capable resources, fusion energy, and other technologies, and should preserve the option of efficiency development of such long-lead resources with timely actions to establish or maintain eligibility for or capture available tax or other financial incentives or address operational needs. "(B) For an electrical utility to capture available tax or other financial or operational incentives for South Carolina ratepayers in a timely manner, the commission may find that actions by an electrical utility in pursuit of the directives in Section 58-37-35(A) are in the public interest, provided that the commission determines that such proposed actions are in the public interest and reasonably balance economic development and industry retention benefits, capacity expansion benefits, resource adequacy and diversification and potential risks, costs, and benefits to ratepayers and otherwise comply with all other legal requirements applicable to the electrical utility's proposed action. For the South Carolina Public Service Authority, the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Public Service Authority's board of directors shall apply the same principles described in this subsection in evaluating and approving actions proposed by the management of the Public Service Authority to achieve the objectives of this section." 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 41, provides as follows: "SECTION 41. (A) Five years after the effective date of this act, the Office of the Regulatory Staff shall prepare a report, to be filed with the Public Utilities Review Committee and the General Assembly, to address the implementation of Article 24, Chapter 27, Title 58 as it relates to the following areas: "(1) assessing the functioning of the procedures established by section with recommendation for any changes required to ensure their efficient functioning, to promote regulatory efficiency, and to make further the establishment of just, reasonable, and fair rates; "(2) assessing the effect of rates on ratepayers of all classes; "(3) assessing the reliability of the electric system and whether investments made by electric utilities increased reliability compared to any change in electric utility rates experienced by ratepayers within the same timeframe; and "(4) any other information requested by the General Assembly to be included within the report. "(B) The Office of Regulatory Staff may engage a qualified, independent third party to assist in preparation of the report. "(C) All expenses and charges incurred by the Office of Regulatory Staff in the performance of its duties within this section may be defrayed by assessments made by the Comptroller General against the regulated electrical utilities regulated and based upon twenty-five percent of the gross revenues collected by such electrical utilities from their business done wholly within this State in the manner set out in Section 58-4-60 for other corporations." 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 42, provides as follows: "SECTION 42. Upon passage of this act, Dominion Energy shall evaluate the process for converting the Wateree Generating Station from coal-fired generation to biomass-fired generation. Biomass-fired generation includes, but is not limited to, generation from the firing of wood pellets and wood chips. Dominion Energy must make a report concerning the conversion process to the Public Service Commission and General Assembly by no later than January 13, 2026."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-50 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 58-17-50
SECTION 58-17-50. Chapter applicable to trustees, receivers and the like.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all railroads and railways and to the corporations, trustees, receivers or others owning or operating them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1610 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 17 / Section 58-15-1610
SECTION 58-15-1610. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1) The term "grade crossing" as used in this article means a crossing at grade of a public street or highway over a track or tracks of a railroad. (2) The term "department" as used in this article means any subdivision or agency of the State having authority to locate or construct roads or streets. (3) The term "railroad" as used in this article shall include all steam railroads and interurban electric railroads of more than twenty miles in length, which are operated as common carriers, but shall not include street railroads operated in whole or in part within the limits of any incorporated city or town or private logging roads.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-570 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 3 / Section 58-11-570
SECTION 58-11-570. Employment of technical, administrative and clerical staff.
Status: in_force

The Commission shall have power to employ such technical, administrative and clerical staff as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to perform the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it by law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-60 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 2 / Section 58-12-60
SECTION 58-12-60. Damage to private property.
Status: in_force

No cable television company may damage private property on which a utility pole is located without just compensation to the landowner for the damage suffered by the landowner's property.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-820 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 7 / Section 58-9-820
SECTION 58-9-820. Enforcement powers generally.
Status: in_force

In addition to the foregoing expressly enumerated powers, the commission shall carry out by its order, ruling, or regulation and the Office of Regulatory Staff shall enforce, execute, and administer the provisions of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter relating to the powers, duties, limitations, and restrictions imposed upon telephone utilities by Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter or any other provisions of the law of this State regulating telephone utilities.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 17 / Section 58-27-2340
SECTION 58-27-2340. Burden of proof shall be on complainant.
Status: in_force

In all actions and proceedings arising under this chapter or growing out of the exercise of the powers herein granted to the Commission the burden of proof shall be on the party attacking any order of the Commission to show that the same is unlawful or unreasonable.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 1 / Section 58-21-20
SECTION 58-21-20. Powers of street railway corporations to produce and supply light, power and heat.
Status: in_force

Any street railway corporation organized under the provisions of Chapter 15 of this Title or the charter of which may be amended hereunder, shall be authorized and empowered, upon proper application therefor, to make, produce, generate and supply light, power and heat by the means of electricity and gas, or either of them, both for its corporate purposes and for sale to the public, subject to the restrictions and limitations that may be imposed by the municipalities in which it may seek to do business.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 1 / Section 58-5-20
SECTION 58-5-20. Applicability to a business not exclusively a public utility.
Status: in_force

Any corporation or person not engaged in business exclusively as a public utility shall be governed by the provisions of Articles 1, 3 and 5 of this chapter in respect only of the public utility owned, leased, operated or managed by it or him and not in respect to any other business or pursuit.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-1060 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-1060
SECTION 58-5-1060. Article inapplicable to liquefied petroleum gas.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article shall be applicable to the regulation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the extent that this subject is regulated by Sections 39-43-10 through 39-43-180 and the regulations issued pertinent thereto.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-225 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-225
SECTION 58-31-225. Office of Regulatory Staff; inspections, audits, and examinations.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff, under the provisions of this section, is hereby vested with the authority and jurisdiction to make inspections, audits, and examinations of the Public Service Authority pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 58, relating to the electric rates established by the Public Service Authority. Upon completion of an authorized inspection, audit, or examination, the Office of Regulatory Staff must report its findings to the management and board of the Public Service Authority and attempt to resolve with the management and board any issues that are identified. The Public Service Authority must post information regarding its electric rates on its website.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-180 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-180
SECTION 58-3-180. Promulgation of regulations to effectuate Section 58-3-170.
Status: in_force

The commission must promulgate regulations as necessary to effectuate the provisions of Section 58-3-170.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-910 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 5 / Section 58-11-910
SECTION 58-11-910. Indemnification; insurance; bonding requirements.
Status: in_force

(A) Subject to the requirements of this section, an authority may adopt reasonable indemnification, insurance, and bonding requirements related to facilities, poles, or support structures that are subject to this article. (B) With regard to facilities, poles, and support structures that are subject to this article, an authority may not require a wireless provider to indemnify and hold the authority and its officers and employees harmless against any claims, lawsuits, judgments, costs, liens, losses, expenses, or fees, except when a court of competent jurisdiction has found that the negligence of the wireless provider while siting, installing, maintaining, repairing replacing, relocating, permitting, operating, or locating facilities, poles, or support structures pursuant to this article caused the harm that created such claims, lawsuits, judgments, costs, liens, losses, expenses, or fees. In no event shall any authority or any officer, employee, or agent affiliated therewith, while in the performance of its or his or her official duties, be liable for any claim related to the siting, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, relocation, permitting, operation or location of facilities, poles, or support structures that are subject to this article. An authority is immune under the laws of South Carolina against any claim of violating a private deed when enforcing the terms of this article for the deployment of small wireless facilities and associated poles and support structures in the ROW. (C) An authority may require a wireless provider to have in effect insurance coverage consistent with this section, so long as the authority imposes similar requirements on other ROW users and such requirements are reasonable and nondiscriminatory. (1) An authority may not require a wireless provider to obtain insurance naming the authority or its officers and employees as additional insureds. (2) An authority may require a wireless provider to furnish proof of insurance, if required, prior to the effective date of a permit issued for a small wireless facility. (D) An authority may adopt bonding requirements for small wireless facilities if the authority imposes similar requirements in connection with permits issued for other ROW users. (1) The purpose of such bonds must be to provide for the: (a) removal of abandoned or improperly maintained small wireless facilities, including those that an authority determines must be removed to protect public health, safety, or welfare; (b) restoration of the ROW as provided in Section 58-11-820(J); and (c) recoupment of rates or fees that have not been paid by a wireless provider in over twelve months, so long as the wireless provider has received reasonable notice from the authority of any of the noncompliance listed in this subitem and given an opportunity to cure. (2) Bonding requirements may not exceed two hundred dollars per small wireless facility. For wireless providers with multiple small wireless facilities within the jurisdiction of a single authority, the total bond amount across all facilities may not exceed ten thousand dollars and that amount may be combined into one bond instrument.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-10
SECTION 58-3-10. Continuation of Public Service Commission.
Status: in_force

(A) The commission, as constituted under law in effect before February 18, 2004, by the Governor, is reconstituted to continue in existence with the appointment and qualification of the members as prescribed in this article and with the changes in duties and powers as prescribed in this title. (B) Nothing in this act affects the commission's jurisdiction over matters pending before the commission, on or before February 18, 2004.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3430 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3430
SECTION 58-17-3430. Railroads shall keep grade at stations level with track.
Status: in_force

Every railroad company operating a railroad within this State shall keep the grade of its right of way at all stations level with the ties and four feet wide on the station side for a distance of one hundred and fifty feet on each side of such station or stopping place. But in the case of a terminal station the provisions aforesaid shall be operative only as to so much of the territory as is opposite to those portions of such terminal station used for passenger service and the approaches thereto on one side. Any railroad company violating the provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty of not more than one hundred dollars, on complaint of any person aggrieved thereby, one half of the penalty shall go to complainant and the other half thereof to the use of the public school in the county in which the complaint is made.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-34-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 34 / Section 58-34-20
SECTION 58-34-20. Experimental rate during pendency of litigation.
Status: in_force

Within five calendar days after the effective date of this chapter, the Public Service Commission, by order, is directed to exercise its authority pursuant to Section 58-27-870(F) to provide an experimental rate that customers of the utility identified in Section 58-34-10 shall pay during the pendency of litigation currently before the commission which shall include full and final compliance by the utility with the order issued by the Public Service Commission under this section or until replaced by an order of the commission under Section 58-34-30. This experimental rate shall cause rates to be reduced on a going forward basis in an amount equal to the electric utility rates these ratepayers are paying reduced by the following rate increases imposed under the provisions of the Base Load Review Act in the Public Service Commission's orders Docket No. 2011-207-E, Order No. 2011-738, Docket No. 2012-186-E, Order No. 2012-761, Docket No. 2013-150-E, Order No. 2013-680(A), Docket No. 2014-187-E, Order No. 2014-785, Docket No. 2015-160-E, Order No. 2015-712, Docket No. 2016-224-E, Order No. 2016-758, for the period of no earlier than April 1, 2018, until the issuance of the Public Service Commission's final order on the merits on the matters before the commission. Editor's Note 2018 Act No. 258, SECTION 12, provides as follows: "SECTION 12. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to all cases, proceedings, petitions, or matters pending before the Public Service Commission or in any other court or venue on or after the effective date of this act."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3740 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 31 / Section 58-17-3740
SECTION 58-17-3740. Assumption of risk.
Status: in_force

In any action brought against any common carrier under or by virtue of any of the provisions of this article to recover damages for injuries to, or the death of, any of its employees, such employee shall not be held to have assumed the risks of his employment when the violation by such common carrier of any statute enacted for the safety of employees contributed to the injury or death of such employee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1210
SECTION 58-27-1210. Extension of facilities; commission approval.
Status: in_force

(A) When ordered by the commission after a hearing, any electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, or consolidated political subdivision, may be required to establish, construct, maintain, and operate any reasonable extension of its existing facilities. If any such extension, however, will interfere with the service or system of any other electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, or consolidated political subdivision, the commission, on petition and after hearing, either may order the discontinuance of the extension or prescribe terms and conditions with respect thereto as may be just and reasonable. Each electrical utility, distribution electric cooperative, and consolidated political subdivision, within areas assigned to it by the commission and within three hundred feet of its lines, as defined in Section 58-27-610, is 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. (B) Electric utilities, distribution cooperatives, or consolidated political subdivisions shall obtain commission approval of proposed construction of electric facilities only in the following situations where: (1) one electric supplier proposes to construct a line that would cross the line of another electric supplier; (2) one electric supplier proposes to construct a line that is within seventy feet of another electric supplier's line at any point unless the lines are separated by a publicly maintained roadway; or (3) an electric supplier proposes to construct or extend a line through the territory of another electric supplier to or into a municipality. No commission approval is required under this subsection where all affected electric suppliers reach an agreement on approval of the proposed construction or where either line is six hundred volts or less. Editor's Note 2007 Act No. 16, SECTION 1.(B), provides in part as follows: ". . . Section 10 [amending this section] of this act is intended to specify those situations in which electric suppliers must obtain commission approval for construction of facilities and is intended to supersede Regulation 103-304, South Carolina Code of Regulations, to the extent it would require approval in any other situation."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1560 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 11 / Section 58-27-1560
SECTION 58-27-1560. Office of utility; removal of books and papers from State.
Status: in_force

Each electrical utility shall have an office in one of the counties of this State in which its property or some part thereof is located and shall keep in such office all books, accounts, papers, and records as shall be required by the Office of Regulatory Staff to be kept within the State. No books, accounts, papers, or records required by the Office of Regulatory Staff to be kept within the State shall be removed at any time from the State, except upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the Office of Regulatory Staff.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1340
SECTION 58-23-1340. Vehicles shall be kept clean.
Status: in_force

All vehicles for hire shall be kept clean, neat and orderly.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-70 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 1 / Section 58-23-70
SECTION 58-23-70. Chapter not applicable to occasional trip.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in Articles 1 to 11 of this chapter shall be construed to prevent the use or hiring of any motor vehicle for the purpose of making some particular trip when the owner of such vehicle does not make such transportation a business.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-640 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 9 / Section 58-13-640
SECTION 58-13-640. Records of sales; disposition of surplus.
Status: in_force

Such railroad, steamboat, express or transportation company shall keep books of record of all such sales as aforesaid containing copies of such notices, proofs of advertisements and postings when required to be made, affidavits of sale, with the amount thereof, the total amount of charges against such freight and the amount held for the owner. Such books shall be open for inspection by the claimants at the principal office of the company and at the office where the sale was made. At any time within five years thereafter such company shall refund any surplus so retained to the owner of such freight, his heirs or assigns, on satisfactory proof of such ownership. If no person shall claim such surplus within five years it shall be paid into the State Treasury.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-270 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 3 / Section 58-21-270
SECTION 58-21-270. Electric street railway cars shall have fenders.
Status: in_force

Every electric street railway company shall have attached to its cars or coaches good and sufficient fenders and, failing to do so, shall be subject to the same penalty as provided in Section 58-21-250.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3370 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3370
SECTION 58-17-3370. Formation of passenger trains.
Status: in_force

In forming a passenger train, baggage, freight, merchandise or lumber cars shall not be placed in rear of passenger cars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2720 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 23 / Section 58-17-2720
SECTION 58-17-2720. Railroads shall receive and deliver cars to and from connecting lines at uniform rates and with uniform service.
Status: in_force

All railroad corporations doing business in this State shall receive from, deliver to and handle with connecting lines at each of its junctions or terminal points in this State all cars or trains bound to or from any point upon its own line or beyond upon the same terms and upon the same charges, either by way of trackage or by way of its proportion of the entire rate charged upon such cars, trains or freight, that it charges or demands either under the law or by contract or agreement with any other railroad connecting with it at such junction or terminal point where it performs the same or similar service for each of such railroads and shall furnish the same facilities to each of such railroads.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 25 / Section 58-17-3030
SECTION 58-17-3030. Connections with intersecting railroads; passenger train requirement.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff must, from time to time, examine into the schedules of all the railroads in this State for the carriage of passengers, with a view to ascertaining if the roads can reasonably make close connection with intersecting roads and wherever, in its opinion, close connection can be made without injustice or material injury to any road it shall make the appropriate orders to require such connection. And, to better secure connections, upon petition of the Office of Regulatory Staff, the commission may require all persons operating railroads, except those in the hands of receivers, to run at least one unmixed daily passenger train each way over the railroad and may likewise require those persons to furnish to the traveling public facilities for passage over the railroads twice each way daily. A road may appeal an order of the commission as in cases of appeals from inferior courts.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-760 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 7 / Section 58-9-760
SECTION 58-9-760. Joint investigations, hearings and orders with other state or Federal boards or commissions.
Status: in_force

The commission may hold joint hearings and issue joint or concurrent orders in conjunction or concurrence with any official board or commission of any state or of the United States. The Office of Regulatory Staff may make joint investigations with any official board or commission of any state or of the United States.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-880 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-880
SECTION 58-15-880. Riotous or disorderly conduct on trains; ejection.
Status: in_force

Anyone who shall in any way be guilty of riotous or disorderly conduct or who shall conduct himself in any way to the annoyance of the traveling public on a train, coach or car of any common carrier shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than thirty days. Anyone conducting himself in the manner herein described shall be subject to be ejected from such train, coach or car. Anyone so ejected shall have no cause of action for such ejectment.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-100 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-100
SECTION 58-3-100. Assessment for expenses of Commission; Commission an other-funded agency.
Status: in_force

Except as specifically provided in Sections 58-5-940 and 58-27-50, all other expenses of the Public Service Commission must be borne by the public utilities subject to the commission's jurisdiction. On or before the first day of July in each year, the Department of Revenue must assess each public utility, railway company, household goods carrier, and hazardous waste for disposal carrier its proportion of the expenses in proportion to its gross income from operation in this State in the year ending on the thirtieth day of June preceding that on which the assessment is made which is due and payable on or before July fifteenth. The assessments must be charged against the companies by the Department of Revenue and collected by the department in the manner provided by law for the collection of taxes from the companies including the enforcement and collection provisions of Article 1, Chapter 54 of Title 12 and paid, less the department's actual incremental increase in the cost of administration into the state treasury as other taxes collected by the department. The commission must certify to the South Carolina Department of Revenue annually, but no later than May first, the amounts to be assessed. The commission shall operate as an other-funded agency. Editor's Note 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, SECTION 12B, C, provide as follows: "B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 58-3-100 of the 1976 Code as amended by subsection A of this section and in fiscal year 1994-95 only, the Public Service Commission must generate at least $2,849,177 from motor transport fees, registration fees, and commission assessments for deposit to the credit of the general fund of the State. "C. The Public Service Commission shall work with the staff of the Governor's Office, the House and Senate budget writing committees, and the motor carrier industry to determine whether an adjustment should be made in the license fees charged to motor carriers beginning Fiscal Year 1995-96. This review must be made with the goal of reducing or eliminating the subsidy by motor carriers to the general fund."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 1 / Section 58-5-10
SECTION 58-5-10. Definitions.
Status: in_force

When used in Articles 1, 3, and 5 of this chapter: (1) The term "commission" means the Public Service Commission. (2) The term "corporation" includes joint stock companies, corporations, associations and commissions and boards, whether public or private, having any powers or privileges not possessed by individuals or partnerships. (3) The term "person" includes an individual, a firm, and a copartnership. (4) The term "public utility" includes every corporation and person delivering natural gas distributed or transported by pipe, and every corporation and person furnishing or supplying in any manner heat (other than by means of electricity), water, sewerage collection, sewerage disposal, and street railway service, or any of them, to the public, or any portion thereof, for compensation; provided, however, that a corporation or person furnishing, supplying, marketing, and/or selling natural gas at the retail level for use as a fuel in self-propelled vehicles is not a public utility by virtue of the furnishing, supplying, marketing, and/or selling of natural gas and a corporation or person whose only purpose is the furnishing, supplying, marketing, and/or selling of treated effluent for irrigation purposes is not a public utility by virtue of the furnishing, supplying, marketing, and/or selling of treated effluent if the effluent is not permitted for consumption by a regulatory agency. (5) The term "public or any portion thereof" means the public generally, or any limited portion of the public, including a person, private corporation, municipality, or any political subdivision of the State for which the service is performed or to which the commodity is delivered and whenever such corporation or person performs a service or delivers a commodity to the public, or any portion thereof, for which compensation is required such corporation or person is hereby declared to be a public utility subject to the jurisdiction and regulation of the Public Service Commission, the Office of Regulatory Staff, and Articles 1, 3, and 5 of this chapter to the extent of its activities within the State. (6) The term "regulatory staff" means the executive director or the executive director and employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1610 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 13 / Section 58-9-1610
SECTION 58-9-1610. Penalties for violation of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter.
Status: in_force

Any person or corporation violating any provision of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter or failing, omitting or neglecting to obey, observe or comply with any lawful order of the Commission or any part or provision thereof may be subject to a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each offense and reasonable expenses including attorneys' fees.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2060 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2060
SECTION 58-27-2060. Self-incrimination; immunity from prosecution.
Status: in_force

No person is excused from testifying or from producing any book, document, paper, or account in any hearing before the commission, when ordered to do so, upon the ground that the testimony or evidence, book, document, paper, or account required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to penalty or forfeiture; but no person shall be prosecuted, punished, or subjected to any forfeiture or penalty for or on account of any act, transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he shall have been compelled under oath to testify or produce documentary evidence. But no person so testifying is exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him in his testimony.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-845 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-845
SECTION 58-27-845. Findings and enumeration of electrical utility customer rights.
Status: in_force

(A) The General Assembly finds that there is a critical need to: (1) protect customers from rising utility costs; (2) provide opportunities for customer measures to reduce or manage electrical consumption from electrical utilities in a manner that contributes to reductions in utility peak electrical demand and other drivers of electrical utility costs; and (3) equip customers with the information and ability to manage their electric bills. (B) Every customer of an electrical utility has the right to a rate schedule that offers the customer a reasonable opportunity to employ such energy and cost-saving measures as energy efficiency, demand response, or onsite distributed energy resources in order to reduce consumption of electricity from the electrical utility's grid and to reduce electrical utility costs. (C) In fixing just and reasonable utility rates pursuant to Section 58-3-140 and Section 58-27-810, the commission shall consider whether rates are designed to discourage the wasteful use of public utility services while promoting all use that is economically justified in view of the relationships between costs incurred and benefits received, and that no one class of customers are unduly burdening another, and that each customer class pays, as close as practicable, the cost of providing service to them. (D) For each class of service, the commission must ensure that each electrical utility offers to each class of service a minimum of one reasonable rate option that aligns the customer's ability to achieve bill savings with long-term reductions in the overall cost the electrical utility will incur in providing electric service, including, but not limited to, time-variant pricing structures. (E) Every customer of an electrical utility has a right to obtain their own electric usage data in a machine-readable, accessible format to the extent such is readily available. Electrical utilities shall allow customers an electronic means to assent to share the customer's energy usage data with a third-party vendor designated by the customer.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-350 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 3 / Section 58-12-350
SECTION 58-12-350. Imposition of cable system or video service network construction or cable or video service deployment build-out requirements.
Status: in_force

No franchising authority, state agency, or political subdivision of the State may impose any cable system or video service network construction or cable or video service deployment build-out requirements on a holder of a state-issued certificate of franchise authority.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-30
SECTION 58-15-30. Opponents of application may appear; action on application.
Status: in_force

Any person desiring to oppose the application may appear and oppose it, setting forth such facts as may sustain his reasons for such opposition, by affidavit or otherwise. The Secretary of State may, on such showing, refuse to grant such charter or may grant it according to his judgment in the matter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-670 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-670
SECTION 58-17-670. Transfer of rights, liabilities and the like to consolidated corporation.
Status: in_force

Upon the consummation of the act of consolidation all and singular the rights, privileges and franchises of each of such corporations, parties to such consolidation and all the property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due on whatever account, as well as all stocks, subscriptions and other things in action belonging to each of such corporations, shall be taken and deemed to be transferred to, and vested in, such new corporation, without further act or deed and all property and rights-of-way and every other interest shall be as effectually the property of the new corporation as they were of the former corporations, parties to such agreement. The title to real estate, either by deed or otherwise, under the laws of this State vested in either of such corporations shall not be deemed to revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this chapter. But all rights of creditors and all liens upon the property of such corporations shall be preserved unimpaired and the respective corporations may be deemed to continue in existence to preserve them and all debts, liabilities and duties of either of such companies shall thenceforth attach to the new corporation and be enforced against it to the same extent as if such debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2770 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 23 / Section 58-17-2770
SECTION 58-17-2770. Discrimination in deliveries prohibited.
Status: in_force

It shall not be lawful for any railroad company, chartered by this State, to discriminate against any railroad company which may connect with it, either at one of its terminal stations or at any intermediate point on its line where such companies have stations and agents established, by neglecting or refusing to deliver with due diligence to such connecting road, in the yard or on the track of such road, all cars wholly or partly loaded with freight consigned to points on such connecting road or to points beyond its line. When freight is to be delivered to a connecting road to complete its transportation, such delivery shall be made by the railroad which brought the freight to the connecting point and no additional charge shall be made therefor. But the delivering road may demand of its connection payment of all charges which have accrued thereon, on or before delivery of such freight on the tracks or in the yards of such connecting road.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-21 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-21
SECTION 58-3-21. Subsistence allowance.
Status: in_force

While hearing cases or any other matter within the commission's jurisdiction or on other official business outside the county in which he resides, within fifty miles of his residence, a public service commissioner is entitled to a subsistence allowance in the amount of thirty-five dollars per day plus such mileage allowance for travel as is provided for other employees of the State. While hearing cases or any other matter within the commission's jurisdiction or on other official business at a location fifty miles or more from his residence, a public service commissioner is entitled to a subsistence allowance in the amount as provided for members of the General Assembly plus such mileage allowance for travel as is provided for other employees of the State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-810 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-810
SECTION 58-15-810. Protection of private crossings over railroads.
Status: in_force

Private roads crossing railroads shall be protected by the railroads as the law requires them to protect public highways.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1630 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 13 / Section 58-17-1630
SECTION 58-17-1630. List of names and residences of president and directors shall be filed.
Status: in_force

Every railroad company owning or operating a line of railroad situated in whole or in part within the limits of this State must deposit with the Office of Regulatory Staff a list containing the names and residences of the president and board of directors of the railroad company owning or operating the line of railroad.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-550 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 5 / Section 58-31-550
SECTION 58-31-550. Private right of action; duty of care.
Status: in_force

This article does not create a new private right of action or a new duty of care. This article does not diminish, increase, affect, or evidence any duty of care existing under the laws of this State prior to the effective date of this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-400 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 3 / Section 58-12-400
SECTION 58-12-400. Applicability of Article 2; educational television.
Status: in_force

(A) The following sections of Article 2, Chapter 12, Title 58 shall apply to a cable or video service provider who has been granted a state-issued certificate of franchise authority under this article: Sections 58-12-20, 58-12-30(d) and (f), 58-12-60, 58-12-70, 58-12-110, and 58-12-130(A) and (C). (B) In addition to the above, each holder of a state-issued certificate of franchise authority must make available one six megahertz channel if it is using analog transmission technology to deliver local broadcast television programming to subscribers over its network, or one standard digital channel if it is using digital technology for such purpose, for the transmissions of the Educational Television Commission. (C) The following sections of Article 2, Chapter 12 of Title 58 shall not apply to a cable or video service provider who has been granted a state-issued certificate of franchise authority: Sections 58-12-10, 58-12-30(a), (b), (c), and (e), 58-12-40, 58-12-50, 58-12-80, 58-12-90, 58-12-100, 58-12-120, and 58-12-130(B).
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3920 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-3920
SECTION 58-17-3920. Liability for damage caused by fire.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation shall be responsible in damages to any person whose buildings or other property may be injured by fire communicated by its locomotive engines or originating within the limits of the right of way of such road in consequence of the act of any of its authorized agents or employees, except when property shall have been placed on the right of way of such corporation unlawfully or without its consent, and each such corporation shall have an insurable interest in the property upon its route for which it may be so held responsible and may procure insurance thereon in its own behalf.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1990 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-1990
SECTION 58-17-1990. Discriminating rates shall be prima facie evidence of unjust discrimination.
Status: in_force

All such discriminating rates, charges, collections or receipts as are described in Section 58-17-1980, whether made directly or by means of any rebate, drawback or other shift or evasion, shall be deemed and taken against such railroad as prima facie evidence of the unjust discrimination prohibited by the provisions of this article. This section shall not be construed so as to exclude other evidence tending to show any unjust discrimination in freight and passenger rates.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1760 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 13 / Section 58-27-1760
SECTION 58-27-1760. Permissible sales of securities to employees.
Status: in_force

Operating electrical utility companies may offer to their employees opportunities to purchase their securities, and may permit deductions from their wages or salaries to be applied on the payment of such purchases; provided that such offers shall permit only bona fide voluntary action on the part of the employees, and shall in no way require or coerce any employee into entering into or subscribing to any such plan.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-440 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 3 / Section 58-15-440
SECTION 58-15-440. State may acquire property of canal companies.
Status: in_force

The State may acquire title to any property of any canal company chartered hereunder upon paying just compensation therefor. If the parties cannot agree upon just compensation it shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-940 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-940
SECTION 58-27-940. Order confirming, modifying or vacating former order; service; effective date of rate changes.
Status: in_force

After a hearing provided by Section 58-27-930, the commission by its order must either confirm, modify, or vacate its former order, in conformity with what is found to be just and reasonable, and an attested copy of the order of the commission must be immediately served on the utility affected and the Office of Regulatory Staff by registered mail or otherwise, as provided by law. In case the original order of the commission is confirmed or modified by making the order more favorable to the utility affected, the rates prescribed by the original order of the commission or the modification of the order, as the case may be, are operative as of the time fixed by the original order. The utility affected shall put the rates into effect as of the date fixed by the original order.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1240
SECTION 58-27-1240. Prerequisites to issuance of certificate.
Status: in_force

Before any certificate may issue hereunder, a certified copy of its articles of incorporation or charter, if the applicant be a corporation, must be on file in the office of the commission and in the Office of Regulatory Staff. Every applicant for a certificate shall give such notice of its application as the commission may require and must file in the office of the commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff evidence required by the commission to show that the applicant has received any consent of local authorities that might be required under Article VIII, Section 15 of the Constitution of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-170
SECTION 58-11-170. Depreciation and retirement charges.
Status: in_force

Every radio common carrier shall have the right, and may be so required, to charge annually as an operating expense a reasonable sum for depreciation and credit the same to a reserve account for such purpose, which reserve account shall be charged with plant retirements, but if the reserve thus created shall at any time in the judgment of the Commission be excessive, the Commission after due hearing shall make such order as will result in credits to such reserve thereafter conforming to actual facts and conditions as ascertained by the Commission; provided, that the Commission shall have the right and power to control or limit such depreciation reserve; provided, further, that nothing in this section shall be construed to be in conflict with or in violation of the provisions of the Communications Act of Congress of 1934, as amended (U.S.C.A. Title 47, Sections 151 through 609), nor shall they be construed to be in conflict with any lawful order of the Federal Communications Commission issued pursuant to the authority invested in it by such act of Congress.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-260 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-260
SECTION 58-9-260. Facilities and equipment shall be maintained in adequate manner.
Status: in_force

Every telephone utility shall provide and maintain facilities and equipment to furnish reasonably adequate and efficient telephone service to its customers in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1100 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 8 / Section 58-27-1100
SECTION 58-27-1100. Issuance of bonds to offset and reduce costs due to storm recovery activity.
Status: in_force

Upon application by an electrical utility, the commission may by order authorize the issuance of bonds for the purposes of offsetting and reducing prudently incurred costs due to storm recovery activity. It is in the interest of the State and its citizens to encourage and facilitate the use of securitized bonds as a method for enabling electrical utilities to lower the cost of financing the costs of these activities under certain conditions, and to empower the commission to review a securitization mechanism to determine whether it is consistent with the public interest and worthy of approval. In order for the commission to authorize the issuance of these bonds, it must find that an electrical utility's use of this financing mechanism will provide quantifiable net benefits to customers on a present value basis as compared to the costs that would have been incurred absent the issuance of storm recovery bonds, and will result in the lowest storm recovery charges consistent with market conditions at the time the storm recovery bonds are priced and the terms set forth in a financing order issued by the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-130
SECTION 58-11-130. Abandonment of service.
Status: in_force

No radio common carrier shall abandon all or any portion of its service to the public, except for ordinary discontinuance of service for nonpayment of lawful charge, or except for violation of rules and regulations approved by the Commission, unless written application is first made to the Commission for the issuance of a certificate and until the Commission in its discretion issues such certificate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-51 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 4 / Section 58-4-51
SECTION 58-4-51. Office of Regulatory Staff; duties and responsibilities.
Status: in_force

(A) Regulatory staff shall have the following duties and responsibilities concerning the Public Service Authority to: (1) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, review, investigate, and make appropriate recommendations to the appropriate entity with respect to the rates charged or proposed to be charged for electric service provided by the Public Service Authority; (2) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, make inspections, audits, and examinations of, and to make recommendations to, the appropriate entity, regarding electric service provided by the Public Service Authority; (3) upon request by the commission, make studies and recommendations to the commission with respect to standards, regulations, practices, or electric service provided by the Public Service Authority for matters within the commission's jurisdiction; and (4) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, investigate and examine the condition of generation, transmission, or distribution electric facilities owned or operated by the Public Service Authority. (B) Regulatory staff may participate as a party of interest, as deemed necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, before regulatory agencies, state courts and federal courts, in matters that could affect the Public Service Authority's rates or charges for the Authority's electric service. (C) The regulatory staff may have additional duties and responsibilities related to the Public Service Authority as otherwise provided by law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-230 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-230
SECTION 58-5-230. Examination of books and accounts.
Status: in_force

The books and accounts of all public utilities shall be subject to the examination of the regulatory staff at any time.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4050 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4050
SECTION 58-17-4050. Penalty for injury due to wilful violation.
Status: in_force

Any engineer, conductor or other agent or employee of any railroad company in this State who shall wilfully neglect to observe or shall wilfully violate any rule or regulation of the company to which such engineer or conductor may belong, whereby any person shall sustain or be in danger of sustaining any bodily injury shall be liable to be indicted for every such offense and, upon conviction thereof, be fined two hundred dollars and imprisoned for not exceeding one year, at the discretion of the judge before whom such case may be tried. Nothing therein contained shall be so construed as to relieve such engineer or conductor from responsibility under the law when the life of any person is destroyed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-160 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 58-17-160
SECTION 58-17-160. Railroads shall not remove from towns of more than 500.
Status: in_force

In the exercise of the powers and rights conferred in this chapter no railroad shall remove its line of railway from any incorporated town of more than five hundred inhabitants through which it now runs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-57 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-57
SECTION 58-31-57. Suits for breach of duty.
Status: in_force

Wholesale and retail customers of the Public Service Authority and electric cooperatives that are indirect customers of the Public Service Authority may bring suit against Public Service Authority directors asserting a breach of any duty arising under Sections 58-31-55 and 58-31-56. If it is proved that a director violated the provisions of Section 58-31-55 or Section 58-31-56, he is subject to liability under the same theories of liability as for a breach of duty by a corporate director pursuant to Title 33 and South Carolina common law. Liability under this section shall be limited to disgorgement of any ill-gotten gain and damages of not more than fifty thousand dollars per occurrence and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. If the customer prevails, the court may also grant appropriate equitable relief and may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Any remedy granted or damages awarded pursuant to this section do not relieve a director from criminal liability or preclude criminal prosecution. Editor's Note 2005 Act No. 137, SECTION 10, provides as follows: "Responsibilities and duties of the directors of the Public Service Authority created by the provisions of this act are in addition to responsibilities and duties created by other provisions of law."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-920 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 58-13-920
SECTION 58-13-920. Term and powers, duties and responsibilities of special officers or constables.
Status: in_force

Such special officers or constables shall have all the powers, duties and responsibilities of deputy sheriffs and other police officers, and their commissions shall continue so long as they are employed in such capacity by the railway or other common carrier. But the Governor shall revoke their commissions upon request of the superintendent or manager of the railway or other common carrier upon whose application they were appointed and the Governor may also at any time revoke such commissions for cause.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-80 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-80
SECTION 58-15-80. Effect of failure to file return within twelve months.
Status: in_force

Should no return as herein provided be made to the Secretary of State within twelve months from the granting of the incorporators' commission, all proceedings hereunder shall be void and the incorporators shall be deemed to have waived all rights acquired under their declaration and such commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1410 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 11 / Section 58-17-1410
SECTION 58-17-1410. Commission may require flagman to be stationed at important crossings.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Commission may, upon the application of a county supervisor, if it deem it necessary, require any railroad corporation to have a stationary flagman at any crossing the importance of which may demand it.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 25 / Section 58-17-3130
SECTION 58-17-3130. Exemptions from requirements of cinder deflectors.
Status: in_force

The provisions of Section 58-17-3120 shall not be construed to apply to Pullman or sleeping cars operated in this State which are equipped with deflectors that effectually prevent cinders from entering cars, nor shall it be necessary to equip any air-conditioned railroad passenger coaches, Pullman cars or dining cars with cinder deflectors or wire screens.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-370 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-370
SECTION 58-5-370. Charging higher water or gas rates than those fixed by Commission unlawful.
Status: in_force

Any person or corporation owning or operating a plant furnishing water or gas to the public or any portion thereof for compensation who shall fail or refuse to accept the rate fixed by the Commission to be charged for water or gas and instead thereof shall charge, demand or receive a greater amount than that fixed by the Commission shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction, one half of such fine as may be imposed going to the informer and the other half to the city in which the complaint arises. Each overcharge to any consumer of water or gas shall constitute a separate offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-200 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-200
SECTION 58-9-200. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 58-9-295 and 58-9-297: (1) "Communications service provider" means: (a) a telephone utility as defined in Section 58-9-10(6); (b) a government-owned telecommunications service provider as defined in Section 58-9-2610(1); (c) a telephone cooperative as defined in Section 33-46-20(4); (d) a person or entity providing telephone, voice over internet protocol, similar voice service, or any other voice replacement service, data service, video service, or any information service; or (e) an entity using or allowing another entity to use its cable, wires, fiber, or any material, facilities, or equipment that have the ability to carry voice, data, video, or any other information transmissions. "Communications service provider" does not mean a radio common carrier as defined in Section 58-11-10(f). (2) "Communications service" means: (a) telephone service, including without limitation basic local exchange telephone service as defined in Section 58-9-10(9); (b) voice over internet protocol, or similar voice or voice replacement service; (c) data service; (d) video service; or (e) any information service. Editor's Note 2005 Act No. 134, SECTION 4, provides as follows: "If, as result of federal law, a finding of a federal administrative agency or a decision of a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction, this act is deemed to be inapplicable to any person, entity, or class of provider that otherwise meets the definition of a communications service provider in Section 58-9-200, this act shall become void and unenforceable as to all communications service providers."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-265 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-265
SECTION 58-27-265. Identification of regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with electrification of transportation sector.
Status: in_force

(A) No earlier than April 1, 2023, the Public Service Commission shall open a docket for the purpose of identifying the regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with the electrification of the transportation sector. At a minimum, the commission shall study the following issues: (1) grid integration and resource planning to facilitate electrified transportation; (2) the interaction between transportation electrification and the electric power grid; (3) regulatory policies to support efficient and cost-effective transition to electric transportation; (4) the need for data management and coordination among a number of energy system participants; (5) grid investments that support electric vehicle deployments as a part of planned modernization efforts to enable an efficient and cost-effective transition to electric transportation; (6) increased electric vehicle adoption and the development of their charging infrastructure and how those advancements align with grid modernization efforts; (7) whether rate designs and other load management strategies are appropriate to mitigate potential negative grid impacts and maximize potential grid benefits of transportation electrification; (8) other critical issues related to transportation electrification, such as service reliability, privacy, affordability, and security; and (9) and any other issues the commission determines relevant. (B) The commission shall issue a report to the Joint Committee on the Electrification of Transportation. Upon submitting the report, the commission shall open a docket at least every three years thereafter to study the regulatory issues related to the electrification of the transportation sector and report back to the Joint Committee on the Electrification of Transportation and the General Assembly. (C) To the extent necessary to carry out commission responsibilities, the commission is authorized to employ third-party consultants and experts, by contract or otherwise, as the commission may consider necessary to assist the commission in the proper discharge of its duties and responsibilities as provided by this section. The expenses for the employment of any third-party consultant or expert as authorized by this subsection must be paid from the assessments collected pursuant to Section 58-3-100. The commission shall provide an accounting of compensation and expenses incurred for third-party consultants and experts in a report provided annually to the review committee. The commission is exempt from the State Procurement Code in the selection and hiring of third-party consultants and experts as authorized by this subsection.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-520 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 5 / Section 58-31-520
SECTION 58-31-520. Termination procedures; contents.
Status: in_force

(A) The Public Service Authority must establish written procedures for termination of service due to nonpayment for a special needs account customer at any time and for all residential customers during weather conditions marked by extremely cold or hot temperatures. The Public Service Authority must submit its procedures to the Office of Regulatory Staff by November 1, 2006. Any subsequent revisions must be submitted semiannually by March first or September first. (B) The procedures for termination must include the following: (1) notification procedures so that the customer is made aware of an impending termination and the time within which he must make arrangements for payment prior to termination; (2) arrangements for a payment arrangement plan to enable a residential customer, who has a satisfactory payment history as determined by the Public Service Authority, to pay by installments where the customer is unable to pay the full amount due for electric service; (3) a procedure to advise customers who are unable to pay the full amount due or who are not approved for a payment arrangement plan that they may contact local social service agencies to determine the availability of public or private assistance with the payment of electric bills; (4) a schedule of termination that takes into account the availability of the acceptance of payment and the reconnection of service; and (5) the standards for determining weather conditions marked by extremely cold or hot temperatures.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2160 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 17 / Section 58-9-2160
SECTION 58-9-2160. Action for damages for failure to deliver message between points in this State.
Status: in_force

Nothing herein contained shall bar any action for actual or punitive damages growing out of any violations of the provisions of Section 58-9-2150 and any such cause of action may be united in the same complaint as an action for the recovery of the penalty provided in said section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-39-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 39 / Section 58-39-120
SECTION 58-39-120. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (A) "AC" means alternating current, as measured at the point of interconnection of the renewable energy facility to the interconnecting electrical utility's transmission or distribution system. (B) "Avoided costs" means payments for purchases of electricity made according to an electrical utility's most recently approved or established avoided cost rates in this State or rates negotiated pursuant to PURPA, in the year the costs are incurred, for purchases of electricity from qualifying facilities pursuant to Section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, said costs to be calculated as set forth in Section 58-39-140(A)(1). (C) "Distributed energy resource" (DER) means demand- and supply-side resources that can be deployed throughout the system of an electrical utility to meet the energy and reliability needs of the customers served by that system, including, but not limited to, renewable energy facilities, managed loads (including electric vehicle charging), energy storage, and other measures necessary to incorporate renewable generation resources, including load management and ancillary services, such as reserves, voltage control, and reactive power, and black start capabilities. (D) "Electrical utility" shall be defined as in Section 58-27-10 of the 1976 Code, provided, however, that electrical utilities serving less than 100,000 customer accounts shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. (E) "Renewable energy facility" means a facility that generates electric power by the use of a renewable generation resource that was placed in service for use by or to provide power to an electrical utility after January 1, 2014. A "renewable energy facility" also shall mean any incremental capacity installed after January 1, 2014, that delivers energy from a renewable generation resource. (F) "Renewable generation resource" means solar photovoltaic and solar thermal resources, wind resources, low-impact hydroelectric resources, geothermal resources, tidal and wave energy resources, recycling resources, hydrogen fuel derived from renewable resources, combined heat and power derived from renewable resources, and biomass resources. Editor's Note 2014 Act No. 236, SECTION 9, provides as follows: "SECTION 9. If the application of the provisions of this act to any wholesale electrical contract existing on the date of its adoption is determined to impair unlawfully any term of such contract or to add material costs to either party, then that contract will be exempt from the terms of this act to the extent necessary to cure such impairment or to avoid the imposition of additional material costs."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2110
SECTION 58-27-2110. Service of orders on parties.
Status: in_force

A copy of such order, certified under the seal of the Commission, shall be served either personally or by registered mail upon the person, corporation or electrical utility against whom it runs, or his or its attorney, and notice thereof shall be given either personally or by registered mail to the other parties to the proceedings or their attorneys.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2540 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 21 / Section 58-27-2540
SECTION 58-27-2540. Disconnection when public safety emergency exists.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding another provision of this article, an electrical utility may disconnect a customer when it is determined that a public safety emergency exists.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-760 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-760
SECTION 58-17-760. Ownership of stock or bonds of connecting railroad or steamboat company.
Status: in_force

A railroad corporation may aid in the construction of any branch or connecting railroad within the limits of this State, whether connecting by railroad or steamboat lines, by subscribing for shares of stock in such corporation or of any steamship line connecting the terminus of such railroad company with any port of the United States or by taking its notes or bonds, to be secured by mortgage or otherwise, as the parties may agree, and shall be entitled to vote on all shares of stock so subscribed for and held.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1670 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 17 / Section 58-15-1670
SECTION 58-15-1670. Specifications as to overhead bridges and approaches.
Status: in_force

The grade of approaches to an overhead bridge shall be such as to keep the cost as low as practicable consistent with the standard design practice of the State Highway Commission and in no event shall the approaches to creosote timber overhead bridges be considered to extend more than five hundred feet from the outside track. The overhead bridge shall be so constructed as to give a vertical clearance of not less than twenty-two feet, six inches above the base of rail of railroad track and a horizontal clearance of not less than eight feet, measured from the center line of such track, and at right angles thereto, due allowance being made for curvature of track.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-37-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 37 / Article 3 / Section 58-37-120
SECTION 58-37-120. Applications for permit.
Status: in_force

Pursuant to SECTION 58-37-140, this section expires on May 12, 2035. (A)(1) Any agency presented with an application for a permit for an energy infrastructure project shall promptly provide a public comment period if required by regulation and shall review and issue a decision on the application no later than six months after the date the application is received by the agency. If the agency fails to undertake review of and take final action upon the application within the six-month review period, as defined in subsection (A)(3), the application shall be deemed approved, and the agency shall promptly issue documentation of such approval. (2) Within thirty days of receipt of an application, the agency shall determine if the application is complete. If the agency determines the application is incomplete, the agency will notify the applicant, and the applicant will have fifteen days to complete the application. The applicant and the agency may mutually agree in writing to extend the time period for completion of the application. After the fifteen days, or the mutually agreed upon date for completion, if the agency determines the application is incomplete, then the agency may deny the application. (3) The six-month review period shall commence upon the date of filing unless the application is deemed incomplete pursuant to subsection (A)(2). In the event the application as submitted is determined by the agency to be incomplete, the six-month review period shall commence upon the date such application is determined by the agency to be complete, provided that such completion occurs within the period provided for in subsection (A)(2). (B) A permit applicant for an energy infrastructure project shall not submit an application for the project prior to conducting a preapplication meeting with the agency to establish milestones within the six-month review period. (C) The applicant and agency may mutually agree in writing to extend the six-month review period. Such agreement shall be in writing and state a specific date on when the extension will end. The agency shall not stop, stay, or otherwise alter the review period without such written agreement with the applicant. (D) Upon receipt of an application, the agency shall promptly review it for sufficiency and shall provide the applicant with a list of all technical and administrative deficiencies within thirty days of receipt, or if a public comment period is required, fifteen days from the end of the comment period. The identification by the agency of deficiencies in the application shall not toll the six-month period for agency determination. Editor's Note 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'South Carolina Energy Security Act.' " 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 33, provides as follows: "SECTION 33. (A) To foster economic development and future jobs in this State resulting from the supply chains associated with the same while supporting the significant and growing energy and capacity needs of the State, enhance grid resiliency, and maintain reliability, the General Assembly finds that the State of South Carolina should take steps necessary to encourage the development of a diverse mix of long-lead, clean generation resources that may include nuclear and advanced nuclear, biomass as defined in Section 12-63-20(B)(2) of the S.C. Code, hydrogen-capable resources, fusion energy, and other technologies, and should preserve the option of efficiency development of such long-lead resources with timely actions to establish or maintain eligibility for or capture available tax or other financial incentives or address operational needs. "(B) For an electrical utility to capture available tax or other financial or operational incentives for South Carolina ratepayers in a timely manner, the commission may find that actions by an electrical utility in pursuit of the directives in Section 58-37-35(A) are in the public interest, provided that the commission determines that such proposed actions are in the public interest and reasonably balance economic development and industry retention benefits, capacity expansion benefits, resource adequacy and diversification and potential risks, costs, and benefits to ratepayers and otherwise comply with all other legal requirements applicable to the electrical utility's proposed action. For the South Carolina Public Service Authority, the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Public Service Authority's board of directors shall apply the same principles described in this subsection in evaluating and approving actions proposed by the management of the Public Service Authority to achieve the objectives of this section." 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 41, provides as follows: "SECTION 41. (A) Five years after the effective date of this act, the Office of the Regulatory Staff shall prepare a report, to be filed with the Public Utilities Review Committee and the General Assembly, to address the implementation of Article 24, Chapter 27, Title 58 as it relates to the following areas: "(1) assessing the functioning of the procedures established by section with recommendation for any changes required to ensure their efficient functioning, to promote regulatory efficiency, and to make further the establishment of just, reasonable, and fair rates; "(2) assessing the effect of rates on ratepayers of all classes; "(3) assessing the reliability of the electric system and whether investments made by electric utilities increased reliability compared to any change in electric utility rates experienced by ratepayers within the same timeframe; and "(4) any other information requested by the General Assembly to be included within the report. "(B) The Office of Regulatory Staff may engage a qualified, independent third party to assist in preparation of the report. "(C) All expenses and charges incurred by the Office of Regulatory Staff in the performance of its duties within this section may be defrayed by assessments made by the Comptroller General against the regulated electrical utilities regulated and based upon twenty-five percent of the gross revenues collected by such electrical utilities from their business done wholly within this State in the manner set out in Section 58-4-60 for other corporations." 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 42, provides as follows: "SECTION 42. Upon passage of this act, Dominion Energy shall evaluate the process for converting the Wateree Generating Station from coal-fired generation to biomass-fired generation. Biomass-fired generation includes, but is not limited to, generation from the firing of wood pellets and wood chips. Dominion Energy must make a report concerning the conversion process to the Public Service Commission and General Assembly by no later than January 13, 2026." The provisions of Article 3, Chapter 37, Title 58, expires ten years after its effective date, or on May 12, 2035, pursuant to SECTION 58-37-140.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1310
SECTION 58-23-1310. Drivers shall not take possession of baggage without consent of owner.
Status: in_force

No driver of any such taxi or other person shall lay hold upon or take possession of any trunk, baggage or other article belonging to any traveler or person without the consent of the owner of such trunk, baggage or other article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1510 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 15 / Section 58-15-1510
SECTION 58-15-1510. Commission may provide rules and regulations with reference to crossing.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Commission may provide such rules and regulations with reference to the crossing of railroad tracks by public highways as in its judgment will be conducive to the public safety.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-710 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 7 / Section 58-9-710
SECTION 58-9-710. Orders for more reasonable, adequate and efficient service.
Status: in_force

Whenever the commission, after hearing, finds that the service of any telephone utility is not reasonably adequate and efficient, the commission shall make its findings and issue an order thereon requiring such telephone utility to provide reasonable, adequate, and efficient service.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1660 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 13 / Section 58-17-1660
SECTION 58-17-1660. Investigations and examinations of books and places of business; rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff must, when necessary, investigate the books and papers of the railroad companies doing business in this State, ascertain if the rules and regulations of the commission have been complied with, and make personal visitations of railroad offices, stations, and other places of business for the purpose of examination. The Public Service Commission must make rules and regulations concerning the examinations, which rules and regulations must be observed and obeyed as other rules and regulations of the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-1160 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 11 / Section 58-5-1160
SECTION 58-5-1160. Private right of action; new duty of care.
Status: in_force

This article does not create a new private right of action or a new duty of care. This article does not diminish, increase, affect, or evidence any duty of care existing under the laws of this State prior to the effective date of this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1080 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 11 / Section 58-23-1080
SECTION 58-23-1080. Special plates or markers for carriers.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon the presentation of a certificate authorizing the motor vehicle carrier to operate and upon payment of the proper license, may furnish the motor vehicle carrier with a distinguishing plate or marker. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 21, deleted "from the Office of Regulatory Staff" following "certificate", substituted "may furnish" for "must furnish", and deleted "marker, which, in addition to the other matters otherwise provided by law to be placed thereon, shall bear the letter stating the class under which the motor vehicle shall operate, such as A, B, C, D, E, or F" from the end.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-260 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 5 / Section 58-13-260
SECTION 58-13-260. Measure of damages for conversion of property by common carrier.
Status: in_force

If any common carrier shall convert and appropriate to its own use any property of another held by it on consignment or in course of transportation, it shall be liable to the consignee or other owner of such property, not only for the value of such property, but for an additional amount, as a penalty for such conversion, equivalent to five times the value of the property so appropriated to its own use and it shall be further liable to the consignee or other owner of such property for such special damages as may have been suffered in consequence of such conversion and such punitive or exemplary damages as may be recovered in an action against such common carrier. There may be recovered in the same action, and included in the same verdict, all the amounts above provided for. But so much of this section as provides for a penalty of five times the value of the property converted shall have no application when the common carrier has converted such property in consequence of a wreck of the car in which the property being transported was contained, when the conversion was in consequence of the property being so damaged in transportation as to render it unfit for the purpose intended or when the common carrier through error delivers the property being transported to the wrong consignee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-740 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 58-5-740
SECTION 58-5-740. Rights and remedies are cumulative.
Status: in_force

The rights and remedies granted or imposed by this article shall be deemed cumulative and not in derogation of any other rights and remedies prescribed by law relative to the organization and control of public utilities.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-920 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 7 / Section 58-17-920
SECTION 58-17-920. Time within which proxy must be executed.
Status: in_force

No proxy executed by a stockholder of any railroad company shall be valid unless executed and dated within six months previous to the meeting at which it is issued.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1920 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-1920
SECTION 58-27-1920. Rules governing hearings and proceedings.
Status: in_force

All hearings and proceedings must be governed by law and by rules of practice and procedure adopted by the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-20
SECTION 58-15-20. Publication of notice of application.
Status: in_force

If the corporation will have the power to condemn lands for rights-of-way, if the charter is granted, the parties proposing to ask for it shall give notice for four weeks before the application is made that such application will be made, stating the time and the place of the application. Such notice shall be published in each county in which the right to condemn lands will be acquired under such charter, in some newspaper published in each such county once each week, for four weeks, before such application is made.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 58-13-130
SECTION 58-13-130. Carriers not liable for certain delays.
Status: in_force

If any such common carrier shall prove that no delay in violation of this chapter occurred in the transportation of such freight after receipt thereof by it, that it extended the notice that prompt shipment was required to its connecting line and that, by the exercise of due diligence, it was unable to discover the cause of delay or the name of the common carrier responsible therefor, it shall be excused from liability under this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-320
SECTION 58-5-320. Recision, alteration or amendment of order or decision.
Status: in_force

The commission may, at any time, upon notice and opportunity to the public utility affected and the regulatory staff to be heard, rescind, alter, or amend any order or decision made by it. Any order rescinding, altering, or amending a prior order or decision shall, when served upon the public utility affected, have the same effect as is herein provided for original orders or decisions.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3020 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 25 / Section 58-17-3020
SECTION 58-17-3020. Passenger trains shall stop at county seats.
Status: in_force

All passenger trains operated by and upon any railroad in this State shall stop to let off a passenger or upon signal to take on a passenger at all stations located at any county seat within this State. In case the county seat is not located on the main line of such railroad, but is served by a branch line therefrom, then such passenger trains shall stop at the junctional point of such branch line with such main line when such junctional point is not more than twenty-three miles distant from the county seat and the provisions of this section shall apply as to each junctional point in such county where such junctional points are more than thirty miles apart. Any railroad company violating any provision of this section shall pay a penalty of one hundred dollars for each and every offense, one half of such penalty to go to any person who shall sue for it and one half to the county in which the offense occurs. Nothing herein contained shall bar any action for actual or punitive damages growing out of any violation of this section and any such causes of action may be united in the same complaint.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 1 / Section 58-9-20
SECTION 58-9-20. Companies subject to Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter even before commencing operations.
Status: in_force

Corporations formed to acquire property or to transact business which would be subject to the provisions of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter and corporations possessing franchises, powers or privileges for any of the purposes contemplated by Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter, although no property may have been acquired, business transacted or franchises, powers or privileges exercised.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-320
SECTION 58-9-320. Transactions with affiliates.
Status: in_force

When in the judgment of the commission there is a reasonably substantial affiliation of any telephone utility engaged in business in this State with any other corporation or person or when in the judgment of the commission any other corporation or person either exercises, or is in position to exercise, by reason of ownership or control of securities or for any other cause, any reasonably substantial control over the business or policies of any telephone utility engaged in business in this State, the burden of proof shall be upon the telephone utility to establish as determined by the commission the reasonableness, fairness, and absence of injurious effect upon the public interest of any fees or charges growing out of any transactions between any telephone utility and such other corporation or person. Every telephone utility shall be required to produce, if so ordered by the commission, for the information of the commission, the Office of Regulatory Staff, and the public, all such contracts, papers, and documents relating thereto and explanatory thereof as may be required by the commission, and unless the reasonableness, fairness, and absence of injurious effect upon the public interest of such fees and charges are established as determined by the commission, they shall not be allowed by the commission for rate-making purposes. The commission shall not allow for rate-making purposes any fees or expenses included in any contract or agreement with an affiliate representing charges that the commission has directly disallowed in its rate-making orders.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-340
SECTION 58-9-340. System of accounts.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff may, in its discretion, and subject to approval of the commission, prescribe systems of accounts to be kept by telephone utilities subject to the commission's jurisdiction and the Office of Regulatory Staff may prescribe the manner in which the accounts shall be kept and may require every telephone utility to keep its books, papers, and records accurately and faithfully according to the system of accounts as prescribed by the Office of Regulatory Staff. But nothing in this section shall be construed to be in conflict with or in violation of the provisions of the Communications Act of Congress of 1934, as amended (U. S. C. A. Title 47, Sections 151 through 609), nor shall anything herein be construed to be in conflict with any lawful order of the Federal Communications Commission issued pursuant to the authority vested in it by said act of Congress.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2780 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 23 / Section 58-17-2780
SECTION 58-17-2780. Discrimination by refusing to receive freight or to issue bills of lading prohibited.
Status: in_force

It shall not be lawful for any railroad company chartered by this State to discriminate in favor of or against any railroad company which may connect with it, either at one of its terminal stations or at an intermediate point on its line where such companies have stations and agents established, as against any other railroad company which may connect with it at the same station or point, by refusing either to receive freight for shipment or to issue through bills of lading, at equal rates of freight therefor, to any one given destination reached by any or all of such connecting roads, or their connections, for which freight is received or through bills of lading are issued, to be forwarded by any other of such connecting roads at the same point, except that if any of such connections shall refuse to transport freight from its own terminus to the ultimate destination of such freight at the same rate as is charged by any other connection at the same point, the initial road shall be released from the provisions of this section and the connecting road shall not be entitled to the benefit of its provisions.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1320
SECTION 58-23-1320. Use of taxi for prostitution or lewd act or transporting person to place for such purpose.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for the driver of any such taxi to permit any person to occupy or use such taxi for the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent act, knowing or having reasonable cause to know that it is being used or is to be used for any such purpose, or to direct, take or transport or offer or agree to take or transport any person to any building or place knowing or having reasonable cause to know that the purpose of such directing, taking or transporting is prostitution or any other lewd or indecent act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2720 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 24 / Section 58-27-2720
SECTION 58-27-2720. Orders and proceedings pursuant to Section 58-27-2710.
Status: in_force

In issuing its order pursuant to Section 58-27-2710, and in addition to the other requirements of Section 58-27-2710, if a proceeding pursuant to that section is required, then: (1) the commission shall specify a range for the utility's cost of equity that includes a band of fifty basis points (0.50 percentage points) below and fifty basis points (0.50 percentage points) above the cost of equity on which rates have been set; and (2) the commission separately shall state the amount of the utility's net plant in service, construction work in progress, accumulated deferred income taxes, inventory, working capital, and other rate base components. It also shall state the utility's depreciation expense, operating and maintenance expense, income taxes, taxes other than income taxes, other components of income for return, revenues, capital structure, cost of debt, overall cost of capital, and earned return on common equity. The figures stated shall be those which the commission has determined to be the appropriate basis on which rates were set in the applicable orders. Editor's Note 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'South Carolina Energy Security Act.' " 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 33, provides as follows: "SECTION 33. (A) To foster economic development and future jobs in this State resulting from the supply chains associated with the same while supporting the significant and growing energy and capacity needs of the State, enhance grid resiliency, and maintain reliability, the General Assembly finds that the State of South Carolina should take steps necessary to encourage the development of a diverse mix of long-lead, clean generation resources that may include nuclear and advanced nuclear, biomass as defined in Section 12-63-20(B)(2) of the S.C. Code, hydrogen-capable resources, fusion energy, and other technologies, and should preserve the option of efficiency development of such long-lead resources with timely actions to establish or maintain eligibility for or capture available tax or other financial incentives or address operational needs. "(B) For an electrical utility to capture available tax or other financial or operational incentives for South Carolina ratepayers in a timely manner, the commission may find that actions by an electrical utility in pursuit of the directives in Section 58-37-35(A) are in the public interest, provided that the commission determines that such proposed actions are in the public interest and reasonably balance economic development and industry retention benefits, capacity expansion benefits, resource adequacy and diversification and potential risks, costs, and benefits to ratepayers and otherwise comply with all other legal requirements applicable to the electrical utility's proposed action. For the South Carolina Public Service Authority, the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Public Service Authority's board of directors shall apply the same principles described in this subsection in evaluating and approving actions proposed by the management of the Public Service Authority to achieve the objectives of this section." 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 41, provides as follows: "SECTION 41. (A) Five years after the effective date of this act, the Office of the Regulatory Staff shall prepare a report, to be filed with the Public Utilities Review Committee and the General Assembly, to address the implementation of Article 24, Chapter 27, Title 58 as it relates to the following areas: "(1) assessing the functioning of the procedures established by section with recommendation for any changes required to ensure their efficient functioning, to promote regulatory efficiency, and to make further the establishment of just, reasonable, and fair rates; "(2) assessing the effect of rates on ratepayers of all classes; "(3) assessing the reliability of the electric system and whether investments made by electric utilities increased reliability compared to any change in electric utility rates experienced by ratepayers within the same timeframe; and "(4) any other information requested by the General Assembly to be included within the report. "(B) The Office of Regulatory Staff may engage a qualified, independent third party to assist in preparation of the report. "(C) All expenses and charges incurred by the Office of Regulatory Staff in the performance of its duties within this section may be defrayed by assessments made by the Comptroller General against the regulated electrical utilities regulated and based upon twenty-five percent of the gross revenues collected by such electrical utilities from their business done wholly within this State in the manner set out in Section 58-4-60 for other corporations." 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 42, provides as follows: "SECTION 42. Upon passage of this act, Dominion Energy shall evaluate the process for converting the Wateree Generating Station from coal-fired generation to biomass-fired generation. Biomass-fired generation includes, but is not limited to, generation from the firing of wood pellets and wood chips. Dominion Energy must make a report concerning the conversion process to the Public Service Commission and General Assembly by no later than January 13, 2026."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1175 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 8 / Section 58-27-1175
SECTION 58-27-1175. Validity of actions taken by an electrical utility.
Status: repealed

If any provision of this article is held invalid or is invalidated, superseded, replaced, repealed, or expires for any reason, that occurrence does not affect the validity of any action allowed under this article which is taken by an electrical utility, an assignee, a financing party, a collection agent, or a party to an ancillary agreement; and any such action remains in full force and effect with respect to all storm recovery bonds issued or authorized in a financing order issued under this article before the date that such provision is held invalid or is invalidated, superseded, replaced, or repealed, or expires for any reason.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2220 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 17 / Section 58-17-2220
SECTION 58-17-2220. Merchandise must be promptly forwarded according to directions.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation shall promptly forward merchandise consigned or directed to be sent over another road connecting with its road according to the directions contained thereon or accompanying such merchandise and shall not receive and forward over its road any merchandise consigned, ordered or expressly directed to be received and forwarded by a different route.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-35 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 1 / Section 58-5-35
SECTION 58-5-35. Exemption of certain public utilities and pipeline companies from regulation by Commission.
Status: in_force

Public utilities and pipeline companies engaged in the extraction, processing, distribution, or sale of landfill gas (LFG) derived from sanitary landfills, which provide this gas to no more than twenty customers from any single landfill, are exempt from regulation by the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2010 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-2010
SECTION 58-17-2010. Exceptions as to uniformity in freight charges.
Status: in_force

Nothing in the General Railroad Law shall apply to the carriage, receiving, storing, handling or forwarding of property carried for the United States, or any state thereof, at lower rates of freight and charges than for the general public or to the transportation of articles free or at reduced rates of freight for charitable purposes or to or from public fairs or expositions for exhibition.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-910 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 9 / Section 58-23-910
SECTION 58-23-910. Insurance, bond, or certificate of self-insurance required of certificate holders generally.
Status: in_force

Prior to the issuance of the certificate, the motor carrier shall procure and file with the Office of Regulatory Staff either liability and property damage insurance, a surety bond with some casualty or surety company authorized to do business in this State, or a certificate of self-insurance as provided by Section 56-9-60 on all motor vehicles to be used in the service in that amount as the commission may determine, insuring or indemnifying passengers or cargo and the public receiving personal injury by reason of any act of negligence and for damage to property of any person other than the assured. The policy, bond, or certificate of self-insurance must contain those conditions, provisions, and limitations as the commission may prescribe and must be kept in full force and effect and failure to do so is cause for the revocation of the certificate. Editor's Note 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 25, provides as follows: "SECTION 25. The Public Service Commission must make information readily available so that the general public can easily access information regarding the requirements in Articles 3 and 9 in Chapter 23, Title 58. This includes, but is not limited to, the commission posting on its website information regarding the following: list of certified companies, maximum rates, insurance, and complaint resolution." Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 17, in the first sentence, substituted "Prior to the issuance of the certificate, the motor carrier shall" for "The commission shall, in ordering the issuance of a certificate, require the applicant to".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 1 / Section 58-21-30
SECTION 58-21-30. Lease of property of one electric railway company to another.
Status: in_force

Any electric railway company organized under the laws of this State may lease its property and franchises to any other electric railway company, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by a majority of the stockholders at a special meeting held after thirty days' advertisement thereof.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-600 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 5 / Section 58-23-600
SECTION 58-23-600. Time of payment of fees.
Status: in_force

A holder of a certificate D, E, or F must annually pay to the Office of Regulatory Staff fees pursuant to Section 58-4-60. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 16, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2560 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 21 / Section 58-27-2560
SECTION 58-27-2560. Private right of action; duty of care.
Status: in_force

This article does not create a new private right of action or a new duty of care. This article does not diminish, increase, affect, or evidence any duty of care existing under the laws of this State prior to the effective date of this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-950 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-950
SECTION 58-27-950. Petition for hearing as prerequisite to bringing cause of action challenging order.
Status: in_force

A utility must not bring a cause of action challenging the commission's order issued pursuant to Section 58-27-920 unless the utility shall first make application to the commission for a hearing as provided for in Section 58-27-930. The commission must not be a party to any cause of action.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-310
SECTION 58-5-310. Record of proceedings; transcript of evidence.
Status: in_force

The commission shall cause a record to be kept of all proceedings and all testimony shall be taken down by a competent stenographer, designated by the commission, and a copy or transcript thereof, verified by the oath of such stenographer, shall be furnished on terms fixed by the commission to parties desiring it and shall be received in evidence with the same effect as if such stenographer were present and testified thereto.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-860 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 5 / Section 58-11-860
SECTION 58-11-860. Activities in the ROW.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this section apply only to activities in the ROW. Nothing in this article must be interpreted to: (1) allow an entity to provide services regulated pursuant to 47 U.S.C. Sections 521 to 573, without compliance with all laws applicable to such providers; or (2) impose any new requirements on cable providers for the provision of such service in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-30
SECTION 58-27-30. Corporations subject to chapter even before commencing operations.
Status: in_force

Corporations formed to acquire property or to transact business which would be subject to the provisions of this chapter and corporations possessing franchises, powers or privileges for any of the purposes contemplated by this chapter shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of this chapter, although no property may have been acquired, business transacted or franchises, powers or privileges exercised.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1140 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 8 / Section 58-27-1140
SECTION 58-27-1140. Governing law.
Status: in_force

The law governing the validity, enforceability, attachment, perfection, priority, and exercise of remedies with respect to the transfer of an interest or right or the pledge or creation of a security interest in any storm recovery property shall be the laws of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-170
SECTION 58-15-170. Stockholders' meeting shall authorize amendment.
Status: in_force

Any railroad, steamboat, street railway or canal company in this State desiring to increase or decrease its capital stock, have its name changed or have its charter otherwise amended shall call a stockholders' meeting, giving at least thirty days' notice of the time, place and purpose of the meeting, and, if a majority of the stock of the corporation be present in person or by proxy, a resolution embodying the proposed changes, alterations or amendments be adopted, such resolution shall be attached to the petition filed with the Secretary of State under the provisions of Section 58-15-160.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1350 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1350
SECTION 58-27-1350. Payment of compensation and transfer of property after approval in municipal election.
Status: in_force

After the amount of compensation and damages has been finally fixed the same shall be paid by the city or town and the property shall be transferred by the electrical utility within not more than ninety days, and upon such transfer the indeterminate permit of such electrical utility, to the extent that it applies to such city or town, shall be deemed cancelled. But such purchase by the city or town shall not be consummated unless approved by a majority vote of the electors in such city or town who are qualified to vote on its bonded indebtedness at an election held after the amount of the compensation and damages has been finally fixed. If such purchase is not approved by the electors or if so approved and the city or town shall not comply or legally tender compliance with its proposed purchase within ninety days after the amount of compensation and damages has been finally fixed, the electrical utility shall be released from its obligation to convey under the proceedings had.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2700 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 23 / Section 58-17-2700
SECTION 58-17-2700. Cars shall be transferred to connected track on demand; fees.
Status: in_force

All railroad corporations whose tracks shall be so connected shall transfer to any railroad track any car upon demand of the consignee or owner of the freight in such car, at such transfer charges as may be fixed by the Commission, not to exceed one dollar per car in any case, empty cars to be returned free. Failure to comply with the written demand of the consignee or owner within twenty-four hours shall subject the railroad corporation so failing to a penalty of one dollar per hour so long as such failure may continue, to be deducted from the freight bill of such owner or consignee or to be recovered by an action of law, unless it be determined by the jury to be reasonably impracticable for such railroad corporation to make such transfer within such time.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4060 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4060
SECTION 58-17-4060. Common carriers shall not interfere with contracts of shipment.
Status: in_force

If any person shall have contracted to deliver to any other person within this State certain commodities, no common carrier doing business in this State over whose road such commodities would be transported before delivery to the consignee shall interfere with the fulfillment of such contract between such shipper of freight and the proposed consignee, nor undertake to control or direct, or in any wise interfere with, the shipment of such commodities by the person who has contracted so to ship the same. To this end no common carrier doing business in this State over whose road such commodities would pass in transportation before delivery to the consignee in this State, when furnishing cars to the shippers thereof, may designate to what consignees freight loaded in such cars shall be consigned or in any way interfere with or seek to control the use of such cars by the shipper in making shipment to such consignee as he may desire to ship to or be under contract to ship to.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-980 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-980
SECTION 58-5-980. Additional minimum safety standards.
Status: in_force

(a) After reasonable notice and an opportunity for the submission for written data, view, or arguments with or without opportunity for oral presentation by interested gas utilities, the regulatory staff, and the public, the commission may establish additional minimum safety standards for pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas (not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Power Commission under the Natural Gas Act) in this State. (b) Gas safety standards may apply to the design, installation, inspection, testing, construction, extension, replacement and maintenance of the facilities. The safety standards shall be practicable and designed to meet the need for pipeline safety. In prescribing the standards, the Commission shall consider: (1) relevant pipeline safety data; (2) whether the standards are appropriate for the particular type of pipeline transportation and distribution; (3) the reasonableness of any proposed standards; and (4) the extent to which the standards will contribute to the public safety.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-100 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-100
SECTION 58-27-100. Effect of chapter on municipal police regulations and ordinances.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this chapter or in Title 33, Chapter 49 shall be so construed as to limit or restrict the right of cities and towns to adopt and enforce reasonable police regulations and ordinances affecting electrical utilities and electric cooperatives, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or the provisions of Title 33, Chapter 49, including the exercise of powers in relation to roads, streets, markets, law enforcement, health, and order in the municipality or respecting any subject which appears necessary and proper to the municipality for the security, general welfare, convenience, health, peace, order, and good government. Editor's Note 2004 Act No. 179, SECTION 11 provides: "SECTION 11. . . . Section 58-27-100, as amended by this act, shall apply prospectively."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-50 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 1 / Section 58-9-50
SECTION 58-9-50. Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter not applicable to interstate commerce.
Status: in_force

No provision of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter shall apply or be construed to apply to commerce among the several states of the United States, except in so far as such application may be permitted under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the acts of Congress.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-22 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-22
SECTION 58-3-22. Legal advice; meetings.
Status: in_force

Members of the Public Service Commission may meet together to receive technical and legal advice from the commission's staff on matters pending on the commission's docket, provided that the: (1) advice is to aid the members in carrying out their responsibilities on the commission; (2) advice is provided in a manner consistent with the South Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct; and (3) members who attend such a meeting are not authorized to make recommendations to or transact any business for the Public Service Commission. A meeting between the members of the Public Service Commission and commission staff pursuant to this section does not constitute a "public meeting" for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-200 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 58-17-200
SECTION 58-17-200. Notice of railroad to remove cause of petition; report to General Assembly; institution of legal proceedings.
Status: in_force

If, upon such examination, it shall appear to the Office of Regulatory Staff that the matter alleged by the petitioner is well founded, it must inform the corporation operating the railroad in the manner provided in Section 58-17-180. If the company fails for sixty days after such notice to remove the cause of the petition, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall make a report to the General Assembly for any action as it may consider expedient or, if there be necessity for prompt action, it may take any legal proceedings as may be proper and the Office of Regulatory Staff shall institute the proceedings.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4150 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4150
SECTION 58-17-4150. Persons against whom judgments shall be rendered.
Status: in_force

Any judgment under the provisions of this chapter shall be rendered against the person violating its provisions and against the corporation in whose service or under whose authority he performed such unlawful acts.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-180 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-180
SECTION 58-31-180. Diversion of water from Sampit River, Penney Royal Creek and their tributaries for use in operation of generating plant.
Status: in_force

(1) The South Carolina Public Service Authority is hereby authorized to divert water from the Sampit River, Penney Royal Creek and their tributaries for use in connection with the operation of an electric generating plant to be constructed in Georgetown County between the Sampit River, Penney Royal Creek and Winyah Bay and to discharge such water, or so much thereof as is not consumed, into Winyah Bay. Such diversion shall not exceed two thousand cubic feet of water per second each day, and may be accomplished by canals, conduits, ditches, pipes or other proper structures. (2) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to waive the public law or regulations of the State of South Carolina as to pollution control. (3) This section shall not affect the right of any person to recover, in a court of competent jurisdiction, damages sustained as a result of the diversion of water permitted by this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3440 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3440
SECTION 58-17-3440. Notice of accidents.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation must cause immediate notice of each accident, in cases of an accident occurring on its road attended with injury to any person as the Public Service Commission may, by rules and regulations adopted by it, require, to be given to a physician most accessible to the place of accident, the Office of Regulatory Staff, and the commission by telegraph, telephone, or such other means as may be the quickest under the circumstances at the same time that notice is given officials of the road on which the accident occurred. A railroad corporation shall also give notice in like manner of any accident falling within any description of accidents of which the commission may by general regulation require notice to be given. For each omission to give notice, a corporation shall forfeit a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-297 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-297
SECTION 58-9-297. Relief from obligation to provide communications services.
Status: in_force

(A) No other communications service provider, including without limitation a carrier of last resort as defined in Section 58-9-10(10), shall be obligated to provide any communications service to the occupants of the property described herein if an owner or developer of any multi-tenant business or residential property, including without limitation apartments, condominiums, subdivisions, office buildings, or office parks: (1) permits only one communications service provider to install its facilities or equipment during the construction phase of the property; (2) accepts or agrees to accept incentives or rewards from a communications service provider to the owner, developer, or occupants of the property that are contingent upon the provision of communications service by that communications service provider to the exclusion of other providers of communications service; (3) collects from the occupants of the property charges for the provision of communications service to the occupants in any manner, including without limitation through rent, fees, or dues; or (4) enters into an agreement with a communications service provider that is in violation of Section 58-9-295. (B) If any communications service provider is relieved of an obligation to provide communications service to occupants of property pursuant to subsection (A), the communications service provider may voluntarily provide communications services to the occupants of that property, and the public service commission must not impose any requirements related to the terms, conditions, rates, or availability of this service. Editor's Note 2005 Act No. 134, SECTION 4, provides as follows: "If, as result of federal law, a finding of a federal administrative agency or a decision of a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction, this act is deemed to be inapplicable to any person, entity, or class of provider that otherwise meets the definition of a communications service provider in Section 58-9-200, this act shall become void and unenforceable as to all communications service providers."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1290 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1290
SECTION 58-27-1290. Abandonment of service.
Status: in_force

No electrical utility shall abandon all or any portion of its service to the public, except for ordinary discontinuance of service for nonpayment of undisputed charges in the usual course of business, unless written application is first made to the commission for the issuance of a certificate authorizing the abandonment, and until the commission in its discretion issues a certificate after a public hearing of all parties appearing to the commission to be interested. The electrical utility also must serve a copy of its application upon the Office of Regulatory Staff. In any such case, any interested party shall have the right within fifteen days after the final order of the commission to apply to the Supreme Court for a review thereof, and in such case, no such abandonment shall be permitted until the appeal is heard and the Supreme Court by order permits the abandonment.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2440 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 19 / Section 58-27-2440
SECTION 58-27-2440. Actions to recover penalties.
Status: in_force

Actions to recover penalties under this chapter shall be brought in the name of the State by the Office of Regulatory Staff in any court of competent jurisdiction.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-930 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 7 / Section 58-17-930
SECTION 58-17-930. Access to lists of stockholders.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff shall have, at all times, access to the list of stockholders of every corporation operating a railroad and may, in its discretion, at any time, cause the list to be copied, in whole or in part, for its own information or for the information of persons owning stock in such corporation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1730 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 13 / Section 58-27-1730
SECTION 58-27-1730. Investigation and hearing as to value of issue of securities; certificate of authority.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff must thereupon make an investigation as may be necessary, at which investigation the electrical utility is entitled to be heard before the commission. The commission must determine whether the purpose of the issue is proper, value the property or services, if any, to be acquired by the issue, and find and determine the amount of such securities reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they are to be issued. To the extent that the commission approves the proposed issue, it must grant to the electrical utility a certificate of authority stating: (1) the amount of the securities reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they are to be issued and the character of the securities; and (2) the value of any property or services, if any, to be acquired thereby. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impose or imply any guaranty or obligation as to the securities on the part of the State or any agency thereof, nor shall the commission, by virtue of the approval of the issuance of such securities, be deemed to be required to prescribe or approve any rate for the reason that such rate may be necessary to provide funds reasonably sufficient to retire such securities or the interest thereon.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-25-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 25 / Section 58-25-30
SECTION 58-25-30. Activation of a regional transportation authority; dissolution; modification of agreement or plan of service.
Status: in_force

In order to activate a regional transportation authority the following steps must be taken: (1) A plan of service must be prepared. The plan of service must be consistent with any locally adopted transportation plan for the area to be served and must include but not be limited to: (a) The area to be served. (b) The procedures to be used to serve the area. (c) The estimated capital and operating costs by year for the first five years of operation, and the mechanism to be used to raise the local funds necessary to support the operation. (d) The source and amount of funds expected to be available to finance the first year's capital and operating costs. (2) Upon adoption of the plan of service, set forth in (1) above, by a majority of the governing bodies of general purpose local governments within the service area, an agreement to create an authority in conformity with the terms of this chapter may be executed within the proposed service area of the authority. The area to be served by the proposed authority must contain at least fifty thousand population. (3) Upon the execution of the agreement by the governing bodies of the municipalities and the counties which include at least ninety percent of the population of the proposed service area within their jurisdictions, and only if the agreement provides for imposition of a new source of revenue such as a new tax, the question of creating such an authority under the terms of the executed agreement must be submitted for ratification to the qualified electors within the proposed service area at a general election or at a special election called for that purpose as set forth in the agreement. If an existing source or sources of revenue are utilized to fund the authority, an election is not required. If an election is required, the agreement shall become operational upon the approval of the majority of the voters within the service area voting on the question and the authority must be created not less than sixty days after the results of the election are certified. If an election is not required, the agreement becomes operational upon the execution of the agreement by the governing bodies of the municipalities and counties which include at least ninety percent of the population of the proposed service area, and the authority must be created not less than sixty days after the agreement is executed. (4) If an election is required, the question to be placed before the electorate must state the service area of the proposed authority (municipalities and counties involved) and the proposed method of financing, including the level of tax to be initially imposed, and membership on the board. (5) Dissolution of the authority created pursuant to this chapter must be in the same manner as that for creation of the authority as set forth in this chapter. All resources of the authority including, but not limited to, real and personal property, structures, improvements, buildings, equipment, plants, rolling stock, vehicle improvements, vehicle parking, or other facilities and rights-of-way must be disposed of and the proceeds distributed among the authority's government members proportionate to their financial contribution. (6) The adopted agreement and referendum may be revised in whole or in part through repeating the process as stated in this section. (7) The Plan of Service may be updated as required to remain consistent with locally adopted transportation plans. (8) For fiscal years after creation of a regional transportation authority, the governing bodies of the municipalities and counties within the service area of the authority publicly must make available information regarding the portion of their budgets which is devoted to the financial support of the authority and the estimated portion of any revenue source which would be utilized to support the authority.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 58-17-320
SECTION 58-17-320. Penalties for failure to reorganize.
Status: in_force

Should any such person mentioned in Section 58-17-310 fail to reorganize such company as provided by said section, within the time therein limited, such person shall pay a penalty of fifty dollars per day for each and every day they shall fail to operate such railroad, this penalty to be collected by the Office of Regulatory Staff. But the penalty herein provided shall not attach when reasonable cause for failure to operate can be shown. Any person shall, in addition to the penalty above provided, forfeit all of his franchises, powers, and privileges.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 2 / Section 58-12-20
SECTION 58-12-20. Interference with maintenance of public lands, highways, roads or waters; damage to roads or highways.
Status: in_force

Whenever the agency charged with the maintenance of such public lands, highways or public roads, or waters of the State deems it necessary to move or remove the poles or underground conduits of such telephone company or electric power company, all cable television cables and appurtenances shall be moved or removed at the cost of the cable television company. Whenever damage results to public highways or roads as a result of operations by a cable television company, such cable television company shall repair the highway or road according to department standards and all cost shall be borne by the cable television company.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1080 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1080
SECTION 58-9-1080. Filing of petitions.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff or any person or corporation having an interest in the subject matter, including any telephone utility concerned, may petition in writing to the commission, setting forth any act or thing done or omitted to be done by any telephone utility in violation, or claimed violation, of any law which the commission has jurisdiction to administer or of any order or rule of the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-580 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 3 / Section 58-11-580
SECTION 58-11-580. Enumeration of powers not exclusive.
Status: in_force

The enumeration of the powers of the commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff as herein set forth shall not be construed to exclude the exercise of any power which the commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff would otherwise have under the provisions of law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1100 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1100
SECTION 58-9-1100. Service of pleadings or notices.
Status: in_force

Service of all pleadings or notices in all hearings and proceedings pending before the commission, except service of the processes provided for by Section 58-9-1040, may be made personally or by mail as the commission may direct.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1950 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-1950
SECTION 58-27-1950. Service of copy of complaint.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of a petition, the commission must cause a copy thereof to be served upon the person, corporation, or electrical utility which is the subject of the petition, and the Office of Regulatory Staff.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-120
SECTION 58-15-120. Incorporators shall turn over subscription lists and other papers to corporation.
Status: in_force

Upon the issuance of a charter by the Secretary of State, the board of incorporators shall turn over to the proper officers of the corporation all subscription lists or other papers they have taken as incorporators and all such papers shall be as valid as if taken and made by the corporation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-90
SECTION 58-27-90. Effect of chapter on constitutional rights and powers of municipalities.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this chapter or in Title 33, Chapter 49 shall be construed as to modify, abridge, or impair any of the rights or powers granted to cities and towns under the provisions of Article VIII, Sections 15 and 16, or any other provisions of the Constitution of this State, and every right, power, or privilege conferred upon any city or town by the Constitution of this State otherwise appearing to be modified, abridged, or impaired by any provision of this chapter is to be deemed excepted from the operation thereof, it being the intention of this chapter to control and regulate the acts of cities and towns only to an extent consistent with the Constitution of this State. Editor's Note 2004 Act No. 179, SECTION 11 provides: "SECTION 11. . . . Section 58-27-90, . . . as amended by this act, shall apply prospectively."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2515 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 21 / Section 58-9-2515
SECTION 58-9-2515. Public Service Commission jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article expands, diminishes, or otherwise affects any existing jurisdiction of the commission over any local exchange provider, prepaid wireless provider, CMRS provider, or VoIP provider; or any services provided by any such provider.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-60 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 4 / Section 58-4-60
SECTION 58-4-60. Expenses to be borne by regulated utilities; assessment and collection.
Status: in_force

(A) The Office of Regulatory Staff must be staffed and equipped to perform the functions described in Section 58-4-50. The expenses of the office must be paid as set forth in Section 58-3-100 and this section. The executive director, within established budgetary limits and as allowed by law, must authorize and approve travel, subsistence, and related necessary expenses of the executive director or regulatory staff incurred while traveling on official business. (B)(1) The expenses of the Transportation Department of the Office of Regulatory Staff, with the exception of the expenses incurred in its railway jurisdiction, must be borne by the revenues from license fees derived pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 58, assessments to the Transportation Network Companies pursuant to Sections 58-23-1690 and 58-23-1700, and assessments to the carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal carriers. The expenses of the railway section of the Office of Regulatory Staff must be borne by the railroad companies subject to the commission's jurisdiction according to their gross income from operations in this State. (2) All other expenses of the Office of Regulatory Staff must be borne by the public utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the commission. On or before the first day of July in each year, the Department of Revenue must assess each public utility, railway company, household goods carrier, and hazardous waste for disposal carrier its proportion of the expenses in proportion to its gross income from operation in this State in the year ending on the thirtieth day of June preceding that on which the assessment is made which is due and payable on or before July fifteenth. The assessments must be charged against the companies by the Department of Revenue and collected by the department in the manner provided by law for the collection of taxes from the companies including the enforcement and collection provisions of Article 1, Chapter 54, Title 12 and paid, less the Department of Revenue actual incremental increase in the cost of administration into the state treasury as other taxes collected by the Department of Revenue for the State. (C) The Office of Regulatory Staff must certify to the Department of Revenue annually on or before May first the amounts to be assessed; however, the deadline shall not apply to the certification made to the Department of Revenue in 2004. (D) The Office of Regulatory Staff shall operate as an other-funded agency. (E) The appropriation for the Office of Regulatory Staff shall be advanced by the State until such time as funds have been collected from the corporations liable therefor and, when collected, must be placed in the state treasury. Effect of Amendment 2015 Act No. 88, SECTION 2, in (B), added designators (1) and (2), and in (B)(1), inserted "assessments to the Transportation Network Companies pursuant to Sections 58-23-1690 and 58-23-1700, and". 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 23, in (B)(1), in the first sentence, substituted "Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 58" for "Sections 58-23-530 through 58-23-630".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-5 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 1 / Section 58-12-5
SECTION 58-12-5. Purpose; findings and preemption as to cable and video service.
Status: in_force

(A) Competition between cable television, satellite, and other providers has promoted and continues to promote additional consumer choices for cable service, video service, and similar services, and the technology used to provide these services is not constrained or limited by municipal or county boundaries. Accordingly, it is appropriate for the General Assembly to review and update the policy of this State with regard to these services. The General Assembly finds that revising the current system of regulation of these services will relieve consumers of unnecessary costs and burdens, encourage investment, and promote deployment of innovative offerings that provide competitive choices for consumers. Additionally, the General Assembly finds that it is in the best interests of consumers for cable and video franchises to be nonexclusive and for requests for competitive cable or video franchises not to be unreasonably refused. The General Assembly further finds that a streamlined policy framework providing statewide uniformity is necessary to allow these functionally equivalent services to compete fairly and to deploy new consumer services more quickly. (B) After the effective date of this act, no municipality or county may issue a cable franchise pursuant to Section 58-12-30. A municipality or county may continue to enforce existing cable franchises until they expire or are terminated pursuant to Section 58-12-325. (C) This chapter occupies the entire field of franchising or otherwise regulating cable and video service and preempts any ordinance, resolution, or similar matter adopted by a municipality or county that purports to address franchising or otherwise regulating cable or video service. Editor's Note 2006 Act No. 288, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "This act is known and may be cited as the 'South Carolina Competitive Cable Services Act' ".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1660 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 16 / Section 58-23-1660
SECTION 58-23-1660. Standards.
Status: in_force

(A) A TNC operating in this State shall comply with the following standards: (1) A TNC driver shall not provide TNC services or otherwise operate as a passenger vehicle for hire unless a TNC has matched the TNC driver to the TNC passenger through the digital network. A TNC driver shall not solicit or accept passenger rides on-demand or through a "street hail". All payment for TNC services must be made through the digital network and the TNC driver shall not accept cash payments. (2) A TNC shall make available to prospective TNC passengers and TNC drivers the method by which the TNC calculates fares or the applicable rates being charged and an option to receive an estimated fare. If the rates vary from those identified in the application to the Office of Regulatory Staff, the TNC must provide the revised rates to the passenger on the digital network. (3) A TNC shall provide the TNC passenger with an electronic receipt upon completion of the TNC service. The receipt must document the: (a) point of origin; (b) point of destination; (c) total duration and distance; (d) total fare/rate paid, including base fare and additional charges incurred for distance or duration; and (e) TNC driver's first name. (4) A TNC driver shall display an identification badge including his photograph, first name, personal vehicle make and model, and personal vehicle license plate number. This information may be displayed to the TNC passenger through the TNC digital network. (5) A TNC driver shall at all times carry in the TNC vehicle proof of the automobile liability insurance required of this article. (6) A TNC shall provide customer support on its digital network, website, or both, for TNC passenger inquiries or complaints and shall respond promptly to all TNC passenger inquiries or complaints. (7) A TNC shall not discriminate against TNC passengers on the basis of destination, race, color, national origin, religious belief or affiliation, sex, disability, or age. (8) A TNC shall provide TNC services in compliance with all applicable laws for providing services to persons with physical and mental disabilities. Service animals and mobility equipment must be permitted to accompany a TNC passenger. (9) A TNC shall provide TNC passengers an opportunity to indicate whether they require a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. If a TNC cannot arrange wheelchair-accessible TNC service in any instance, it shall direct the TNC passenger to an alternate provider of wheelchair-accessible service, if available. (10) A TNC driver shall take the most direct route to the destination unless the TNC passenger has consented to an alternate route. (11) A TNC driver may refuse to transport a TNC passenger if the TNC passenger is acting in an unlawful, disorderly or endangering manner.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2600 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 23 / Section 58-9-2600
SECTION 58-9-2600. Purpose of article.
Status: in_force

This article regulates the provision of communications service by an agency, entity, instrumentality, or a political subdivision of this State, excluding the State Department of Administration, for services provided as of the effective date of this article. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, references in this section to the offices of the former State Budget and Control Board, Office of the Governor, or other agencies, were changed to reflect the transfer of them to the Department of Administration or other entities, pursuant to the directive of the South Carolina Restructuring Act, 2014 Act No. 121, SECTION 5(D)(1), effective July 1, 2015. Editor's Note 2012 Act No. 284, SECTION 11, provides as follows: "The provisions of this act do not expand, diminish, or otherwise affect the provisions of Chapter 151, Title 59 regarding the South Carolina LightRail Consortium"
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1820 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 17 / Section 58-23-1820
SECTION 58-23-1820. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For purposes of this article: (a) "passenger" means any individual served by a public transportation provider including charter bus activities; (b) "bus" means any passenger bus or other motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not less than ten passengers operated by a public transportation provider for the purpose of carrying passengers, including charter passengers; (c) "public transportation" is as defined in item (10) of Section 58-25-20; (d) "public transportation provider" means any operator who offers or delivers public transportation; (e) "public transportation vehicle" means any configuration of equipment for the purpose of providing public transportation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-680 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 5 / Section 58-27-680
SECTION 58-27-680. Effect of continuation of service.
Status: repealed

The continuation of electric service under Section 58-27-670 must not be construed as affecting the authority of an electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-620 to serve premises which are already receiving electric service from a municipal electric system, whether inside or outside municipal boundaries. Editor's Note Section 1 of 1984 Act No. 431, provides as follows: "The General Assembly finds that assignment of electric service territories by the Public Service Commission has aided the State in overseeing the public interest of its citizens by uniformly regulating the responsibilities and rights of sellers of electricity. "The General Assembly further finds that unnecessary duplication of electrical facilities increases rates and charges to South Carolina citizens and that the assignment of electric service territories has decreased duplication. "The General Assembly further finds that incorporation of new municipalities and annexation by existing municipalities alter assignments of service areas originally made for public convenience and necessity without consideration for the impact of the change on persons living outside the municipality. "Therefore, in accordance with the powers granted the General Assembly under Article IX, Section 1, and Article VIII, Section 14, of the Constitution of this State, it is declared the policy of South Carolina to maintain the assignment of electric service territories by the Public Service Commission over areas having been assigned electric suppliers under Section 58-27-640, even when the area becomes incorporated or annexed to an existing city or town." Section 57 of 1987 Act No. 173 (codified as SECTION 58-27-690), provides that this section shall not be modified, abridged, or repealed by 1987 Act No. 173.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-460 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 3 / Section 58-31-460
SECTION 58-31-460. Restrictions on interruption of electric service to residential customer for nonpayment of bill; exceptions.
Status: in_force

(A) Except as provided in subsection (B) of this section, the Public Service Authority must not interrupt electric service to any residential customer for nonpayment of a bill until twenty-five days have elapsed from the date of billing. (B) The Public Service Authority may interrupt electric service to any residential customer who has voluntarily enrolled in a prepay program if the prepay program allows the customer to monitor his consumption of electricity and his account balance on a daily basis and the balance of that customer's prepay account is zero, provided that the following conditions are met: (1) at the time the residential customer enrolls in the prepay program, the residential customer is informed and agrees that his electric service may be interrupted when the balance of his prepay account reaches zero; (2) electric service must not be interrupted before 10:00 a.m. on the next business day following an attempt by the Public Service Authority to give the customer notice of the impending interruption by telephone or electronically; and (3) service must not be interrupted except during hours when the Public Service Authority is accepting cash payments. For purposes of this subsection, a business day is any day in which the Public Service Authority, or an agent, is accepting cash payments. (C) Nothing contained herein shall be construed so as to relieve the Public Service Authority of the requirements of Act 313 of 2006. (D) Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may petition the courts of this State for redress in accordance with applicable law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-460 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 3 / Section 58-11-460
SECTION 58-11-460. Reparation orders; suit to enforce order.
Status: in_force

When petition has been made to the commission concerning any rate or charge for service performed by any radio common carrier, and the commission has found after hearing that the radio common carrier has charged an unreasonable, excessive, or discriminatory amount for such service, the commission may order that the radio common carrier make due reparation to the complainant therefor, with interest from the date of collection; provided, such reparation will not result in establishing unreasonable discrimination and provided, further, that no order for the payment of reparation upon the ground of unreasonableness shall be made by the commission in any instance wherein the rate or charge in question has been authorized by law, and, provided, further, that no assignment of a reparation claim shall be recognized by the commission except assignments by operation of law as in case of death, insanity, bankruptcy, receivership, or order of court. If the radio common carrier does not comply with the order for the payment of reparation within the time specified in such order, suit may be instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover such reparation and upon trial of such suit a duly certified copy of the order of the commission shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein set forth. All complaints concerning unreasonable, excessive, or discriminatory charges on which reparation orders may be made shall be filed with the commission and provided to the Office of Regulatory Staff within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and the suit for enforcement of the order shall be commenced in the court within one year from the date of the order of the commission. The remedy provided in this section shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy or remedies in this chapter for failure of a radio common carrier to obey an order or decision of the commission. The commission must not be a party to any proceeding.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-370 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 58-17-370
SECTION 58-17-370. Powers, rights and the like of corporation organized under article.
Status: in_force

Any corporation organized under the provisions of this article shall possess all the powers, rights, immunities, privileges and franchises in respect to such railroad, or the part thereof included in such certificate, and in respect to the real and personal property appertaining to it, which were possessed or enjoyed by the corporation which owned or held such railroad previous to such sale, under or by virtue of its charter and any amendments thereto and of other laws of this State or the laws of any other state in which any part of such railroad may have been situated, not inconsistent with the laws of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1680 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 13 / Section 58-17-1680
SECTION 58-17-1680. Issuance of subpoenas; fees; issuance of attachment to compel attendance; contempt for refusal to obey court order.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff, in making an examination for the purpose of obtaining information pursuant to this chapter, may obtain from the commission subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses pursuant to such rules as the commission may prescribe and the witnesses must receive from the State Treasury one dollar per day and five cents per mile traveled by the nearest practical route in going to and returning from the place of meeting of the Office of Regulatory Staff, to be ordered paid by the Comptroller General upon presentation of subpoenas by the witnesses as to the number of days served and miles traveled sworn to before the clerk of the Office of Regulatory Staff. In case any person wilfully fails or refuses to obey a subpoena, any circuit judge of the court of common pleas and general sessions of any county, upon application of the Office of Regulatory Staff, must issue an attachment for the witness and compel him to attend and give his testimony upon matters lawfully required by the Office of Regulatory Staff. A circuit judge may punish for contempt as in other cases of refusal to obey the process or order of the court.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 3 / Section 58-31-320
SECTION 58-31-320. Customers to whom Authority shall provide electric service.
Status: in_force

After July 9, 1973, the Public Service Authority shall have the right to provide electric service only to, and it shall have the right to serve: (1) Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., including: (a) all electric cooperatives that are members of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., on July 9, 1973; (b) any electric cooperative which after July 9, 1973, becomes a member of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; (c) any electric cooperative which after July 9, 1973, ceases to be a member of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; and (d) in the event Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., ceases to exist as a corporate entity, any electric cooperative which was a member of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., at the time of its dissolution; (2) all premises, customers, and electric cooperatives served by it on July 9, 1973; (3) its present service area as defined in Section 58-31-330; (4) those areas owned, leased, or controlled by the Public Service Authority adjacent to the lakes and waterways of Federal Power Commission Project No. 199. If, after July 9, 1973, any customers, premises, or electric cooperatives located outside the present service area of the Public Service Authority as defined in Section 58-31-330 and being served by the Public Service Authority, including any subsequent expansions or additions by such customers, premises, or cooperatives, ceases or discontinues accepting electrical service from the Public Service Authority, the Public Service Authority may subsequently sell and furnish electrical service to new customers, premises, or electric cooperatives from its major transmission lines in an amount not exceeding the amount of power the sale of which was lost by reason of such discontinuation of service. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to restrict the right of the Public Service Authority to furnish electric service to its own premises; to exchange or interchange electric service with, purchase electric energy from, or sell electric energy to any other electrical utility or any joint agency organized and operating pursuant to Chapter 23 of Title 6; to construct additional facilities, within or without its present service area, as defined in Section 58-31-330; to construct additional delivery points to or for any of the premises or customers it is authorized to serve as provided for in this section; or to fulfill the growth needs of any customer legally served by it. Editor's Note 2005 Act No. 137, SECTION 10, provides as follows: "Responsibilities and duties of the directors of the Public Service Authority created by the provisions of this act are in addition to responsibilities and duties created by other provisions of law."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-520 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 5 / Section 58-9-520
SECTION 58-9-520. Change in telephone rates initiated by utility; notice.
Status: in_force

Whenever a telephone utility desires to put into operation a new rate or tariff which affects the telephone utility's general body of subscribers, the telephone utility shall give the commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff not less than thirty days' notice of its intention to file and shall, after the expiration of the notice period, then file with the commission and provide to the Office of Regulatory Staff a schedule setting forth the proposed changes; provided, however, a hearing shall not be required when the proposed rate or tariff is a proposal to institute or modify an offering or regulation that is not part of a general rate case and does not affect the telephone utility's general body of subscribers. Subject to the provisions of subsections (B) and (C) of Section 58-9-540, the proposed changes must not be put into effect in full or in part until approved by the commission.