S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 4 / Section 58-33-240
SECTION 58-33-240. Applicability of procedural requirements for general rate proceedings; notice; burden of proof as to prudence of decision to build plant; deadlines.
Status: in_force

(A) Except as otherwise specified in this article, all procedural requirements that apply to general rate proceedings by law or regulation shall apply to proceedings and combined proceedings, to revised rates proceedings, and to the judicial review of orders issued under this article. The requirements related to the form and content of applications in general rate proceedings, however, only shall apply to proceedings or combined proceedings which include an application for new electric rates under Section 58-27-860 and only shall apply to that part of the application or combined application which is filed under Section 58-27-860. (B) As to combined proceedings, the procedural requirements related to general rate proceedings shall control over any inconsistent provisions in other statutes; provided, however, that provisions of Section 58-33-140 of the Utility Facility Siting and Environmental Protection Act related to parties and appearances shall apply to proceedings involving facilities located in this State to the extent parties seek to appear to raise issues arising under that act. (C) In proceedings to review revised rates orders, no further notice to the public, customers, and others is required additional to that provided upon filing of the proceeding or combined proceeding. In proceedings to review revised rates orders, the utility's revised rates filing shall serve as the application and the utility must be considered to be the applicant. (D) In proceedings and combined proceedings, the utility shall have the burden of proving that the decision to build the plant was prudent, and shall have the burden of proof as to all matters on which the commission is required to enter findings under Section 58-33-270(A), (B), (C), (D), and (E). Without in any way limiting the conclusive effect of determinations under Section 58-33-225 and Section 58-33-275, in cases where this statute allows a party to challenge the prudency of any transaction, cost, or decision of the utility, that party shall be required to make a prima facie case establishing imprudence, and thereafter the burden of proof shall shift to the utility to demonstrate the prudence of the transaction cost, or decision by a preponderance of the evidence. (E) In proceedings and combined proceedings, the deadlines contained in Section 58-27-870(B) and (C) shall be nine months.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-830 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-830
SECTION 58-15-830. Placing explosives on railroad rails.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to place any explosive substance whatever upon the rail of any railroad, whether operated by steam, electricity or otherwise, in this State and any person who violates the provisions of this section or aids or assists therein shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or to imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, in the discretion of the court or magistrate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1930 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 19 / Section 58-15-1930
SECTION 58-15-1930. Apportionment of costs.
Status: in_force

The cost of effecting any reconstruction, changes or alterations as contemplated in Sections 58-15-1910 and 58-15-1920, including the grade separation structure and its approaches for a distance of five hundred feet, if so much be necessary, measured from the center line in each direction along the highway, but not including the pavement or wearing surface for either the structure or its approaches, shall be borne sixty per cent by the Department of Transportation and forty per cent by the railroad company concerned and, in case of failure on the part of any such company to furnish its pro rata share of the necessary funds for paying the cost of any such reconstruction, changes or alterations, the Department of Transportation may, after thirty days' notice, proceed with the work and collect from the railroad company concerned a proper pro rata share of the cost on the basis established by Sections 58-15-1910 to 58-15-1950.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-740 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 7 / Section 58-9-740
SECTION 58-9-740. Reparation orders.
Status: in_force

When petition has been made to the commission concerning any rate or charge for service performed by any telephone utility, and the commission has found after hearing that the telephone utility has charged an unreasonable, excessive, or discriminatory amount for such service, the commission may order that the telephone utility make due reparation to the petitioner therefor, with interest from the date of collection, if such reparation will not result in establishing unreasonable discrimination. 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. All petitions 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. 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. The commission must not be a party to any reparation action. The remedy in this section provided shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy in Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter provided in case of failure of a telephone utility to obey an order or decision of the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2750 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 24 / Section 58-27-2750
SECTION 58-27-2750. Monitoring reports; review and audit.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff shall review the monitoring report filed pursuant to Section 58-27-2730 and Section 58-27-2740 to determine compliance with its terms, taking into account the findings of any audit conducted by the Office of Regulatory Staff concerning compliance with Section 58-27-2730 and Section 58-27-2740. The Office of Regulatory Staff shall propose those adjustments it determines to be required to bring the report into compliance with Section 58-27-2740. Based upon that report and the findings of any audit conducted by the Office of Regulatory Staff, the commission shall order the utility to make the adjustments to tariff rates necessary to achieve the revenue levels indicated in Section 58-27-2740. 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. § 58-33-160 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 3 / Section 58-33-160
SECTION 58-33-160. Decision of Commission.
Status: in_force

(1) The commission shall render a decision upon the record either granting or denying the application as filed, or granting it upon such terms, conditions or modifications of the construction, operation or maintenance of the major utility facility as the commission may deem appropriate; such conditions shall be as determined by the applicable State agency having jurisdiction or authority under statutes, rules, regulations or standards promulgated thereunder, and the conditions shall become a part of the certificate. The commission must grant a certificate for the construction, operation and maintenance of a major utility facility, either as proposed or as modified by the commission, if it finds and determines that the applicant has shown: (a) The basis of the need for the facility. (b) The nature of the probable environmental impact. (c) That the impact of the facility upon the environment is justified, considering the state of available technology and the nature and economics of the various alternatives and other pertinent considerations. (d) That the facilities will serve the interests of system economy and reliability, and in the case of generating facilities, will do so considering reasonable available alternatives and their associated costs, risks, and operating attributes. (e) That there is reasonable assurance that the proposed facility will conform to applicable state and local laws and regulations issued thereunder, including any allowable variance provisions therein, except that the commission may refuse to apply any local law or local regulation if it finds that, as applied to the proposed facility, such law or regulation is unreasonably restrictive in view of the existing technology, or of factors of cost or economics or of the needs of consumers whether located inside or outside of the directly affected government subdivisions. (f) That public convenience and necessity require the construction of the facility. (2) If the commission determines that the location of all or a part of the proposed facility should be modified, it may condition its certificate upon such modification, provided that the municipalities and persons residing therein affected by the modification shall have been given reasonable notice. (3) A copy of the decision and any order shall be served by the commission upon each party. 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." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 20, in (1), in the last sentence, substituted "must" for "may not" and "if it finds and determines that the applicant has shown" for "unless it shall find and determine"; in (1)(d) inserted "and in the case of generating facilities, will do so considering reasonable available alternatives and their associated costs, risks, and operating attribute" at the end of the subsection; in (f)(3), substituted "order" for "opinion"; and made other nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-940 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 58-13-940
SECTION 58-13-940. Liability of carrier.
Status: in_force

Nothing herein shall limit the liability of any common carrier for any trespass or tort of such special officer or constable.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-530 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 5 / Section 58-3-530
SECTION 58-3-530. Powers and duties.
Status: in_force

The review committee has the following powers and duties: (1) to nominate: (a) no more than three candidates for each seat on the Public Service Commission to be elected by the General Assembly. In order to be nominated, a candidate must be found qualified by meeting the requirements as provided in Sections 58-3-20 and 58-3-560; (b) no more than one qualified candidate for the Governor to consider in appointing the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff. In order to be nominated, a candidate must be found qualified by meeting the minimum requirements as provided in Section 58-4-30. The review committee must give due consideration to a candidate's experience and expertise in matters related to public utilities. A person must not be appointed to serve as Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff unless nominated by the review committee. If the Governor rejects a person nominated for the position of executive director by the review committee, the review committee must nominate another candidate for the Governor to consider, until the Governor makes an appointment; (2) notwithstanding any other provision of law, to set the salary of the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff; (3) to conduct an annual performance review of each member of the commission, which must be submitted to the General Assembly. A draft of the member's performance review must be submitted to the member, and the member must be allowed an opportunity to be heard before the review committee before the final draft of the performance review is submitted to the General Assembly. The final performance review must be made a part of the member's record for consideration if the member seeks reelection to the commission; (4) to evaluate the actions of the commission, to the end that the members of the General Assembly may better judge whether these actions serve the best interests of the citizens of South Carolina, both individual and corporate; (5) to develop and distribute to each party and its representatives appearing before the commission an anonymous and confidential survey evaluating the commissioners. At a minimum, the survey must include the following: (a) knowledge and application of substantive utility issues; ability to perceive relevant issues; (b) absence of influence by political considerations; (c) absence of influence by identities of lawyers; (d) absence of influence by identities of litigants; (e) courtesy to all persons appearing before the commission; and (f) temperament and demeanor in general, preparation for hearings, and attentiveness during hearings; (6) to submit to the General Assembly, on an annual basis, the review committee's evaluation of the performance of the commission. A proposed draft of the evaluation must be submitted to the commission prior to submission to the General Assembly, and the commission must be given an opportunity to be heard before the review committee prior to the completion of the evaluation and its submission to the General Assembly; (7) to conduct an annual performance review of the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, which must be submitted to the General Assembly. A draft of the executive director's performance review must be submitted to the executive director, and the executive director must be allowed an opportunity to be heard before the review committee before the final draft of the performance review is submitted to the General Assembly; (8) to submit to the General Assembly, on an annual basis, the review committee's evaluation of the performance of the Office of Regulatory Staff. A proposed draft of the evaluation must be submitted to the Office of Regulatory Staff prior to submission to the General Assembly, and the Office of Regulatory Staff must be given an opportunity to be heard before the review committee prior to the completion of the evaluation and its submission to the General Assembly; (9) to assist in developing an annual workshop of at least six contact hours concerning ethics and the Administrative Procedures Act for the commissioners and employees of the Public Service Commission and the Executive Director and employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff; (10) to make reports and recommendations to the General Assembly on matters relating to the powers and duties set forth in this section; (11) to submit a letter with the annual budget proposals of the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Public Service Commission, indicating the review committee has reviewed and approved the proposals; (12) to appoint a committee from the general public at large to advise the review committee on any of its powers and duties. Members must not be members of the General Assembly, members or employees of the Public Service Commission, or the Executive Director or employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff; (13) to undertake such additional studies or evaluations as the review committee considers necessary; (14) to review candidates for appointment to the South Carolina Public Service Authority Board of Directors as submitted by the Governor to determine whether the candidates meet the qualifications set forth in Section 58-31-20; and (15) to submit to the General Assembly, on an annual basis, a review of the state energy action plan of the State Energy Office as required by Section 48-52-430. (16) to conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the Division of Consumer Advocacy within the Department of Consumer Affairs related to the division's representation of consumers in utility matters, which must be submitted to the General Assembly. A proposed draft of the evaluation must be submitted to the Division of Consumer Advocacy prior to submission to the General Assembly, and the Division of Consumer Advocacy must be given an opportunity to be heard before the review committee prior to the completion of the evaluation and its submission to the General Assembly. Editor's Note 2005 Act No. 137, SECTION 11, provides in part as follows: "The provisions in SECTIONS 4 and 5 are effective for directors confirmed on or after this act's effective date. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the Senate Judiciary Committee shall act instead of the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee, mutatis mutandis, for any appointment made on or before July 1, 2005." 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." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 38, added (16).
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-25-35 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 25 / Section 58-25-35
SECTION 58-25-35. Members of authority.
Status: in_force

The members of a regional transportation authority created under authority of this chapter must be the municipalities within the service area as defined by this chapter and the counties within the unincorporated areas of the service area of the authority.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-36-80 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 36 / Section 58-36-80
SECTION 58-36-80. Emergency excavations or demolitions exempt from notice requirement; liability for damages.
Status: in_force

Section effective May 22, 2026. See, also, section 58-36-80 effective until May 22, 2026. (A) An excavator performing an emergency excavation or demolition is exempt from the notice requirements in Section 58-36-60. However, the excavator must, as soon as practicable, provide notice of the emergency to the notification center and oral notice to any affected facility operators. The excavator must provide a description of the circumstances to the notification center and request emergency assistance from each affected operator in locating and providing immediate protection to the facilities. (B) All operators within the delineated emergency excavation or demolition area are required to respond in the notification center's positive response system within three hours from the notification center's notice of the emergency. (C) The person responsible for the emergency excavation or demolition shall either be on-site or in communication with the operator, their contract locator, or their representative through the notification center's positive response system. This communication must be made within three hours after the transmission of the notice of the emergency excavation or demolition by the notification center. (D) The declaration of an emergency excavation or demolition does not relieve any party of liability for causing damage to an operator's facilities, even if those facilities are unmarked. (E) Any person who falsely claims that an emergency exists requiring excavation or demolition shall have violated the provisions of this chapter. Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 65, SECTION 1, rewrote the section.Section effective until May 22, 2026. See, also, section 58-36-80 effective May 22, 2026. (A) An excavator performing an emergency excavation or demolition is exempt from the notice requirements in Section 58-36-60. However, the excavator must give, as soon as practicable, oral notice of the emergency to the notification center and the facility operator. The excavator must provide a description of the circumstances to the notification center and request emergency assistance from each affected operator in locating and providing immediate protection to the facilities. (B) The declaration of an emergency excavation or demolition does not relieve any party of liability for causing damage to an operator's facilities, even if those facilities are unmarked.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-5 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 4 / Section 58-4-5
SECTION 58-4-5. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Business with which he is associated" means a business of which the person or a member of his immediate family is a director, an officer, owner, employee, a compensated agent, or holder of stock. (2) "Immediate family" means an individual who is: (a) a child residing in the person's household; (b) a spouse of the person; or (c) an individual claimed by the person or the person's spouse as a dependent for income tax purposes. (3) "Commission" means the Public Service Commission. (4) "Hearing officer" means a person employed by the commission to serve as a presiding officer in an adjudicative proceeding before the commission. (5) "Regulatory staff" means the executive director or the executive director and employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff. (6) "Public utility" means public utility as defined in Section 58-5-10, telephone utility as defined in Section 58-9-10, government-owned telecommunications service provider as defined in Section 58-9-2610, radio common carrier as defined in Section 58-11-10, carriers governed in Chapter 13 of Title 58, railroads and railways as defined in Section 58-17-10, motor vehicle carrier as defined in Section 58-23-10, or electrical utility as defined in Section 58-27-10. (7) "Review committee" means the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 4 / Section 58-4-90
SECTION 58-4-90. Discretion of executive director as to initiation of actions.
Status: in_force

Except as required by Section 58-4-50, decisions relating to whether, when, or how to initiate, continue, participate, or intervene in proceedings pursuant to Section 58-4-50 are in the sole discretion of the executive director, except as modified by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3400 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3400
SECTION 58-17-3400. Removal of hand or lever cars from track and leaving it near crossing shall be unlawful.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any railroad section master or any person in charge of or connected with any hand car or lever car to remove it from any railroad track and continue it stationary within fifty yards of any public crossing other than at any regular railroad section house except when necessary to avoid an approaching train or when in charge of employees engaged in actual work upon such crossing, and then only for such a period as is necessary to avoid such train or to perform such work. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not exceeding fifty dollars or be imprisoned not exceeding thirty days. Any railroad company shall be liable for damages for any horse frightened as a result of the violation of the provisions of this section by any of its employees.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-610 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-610
SECTION 58-17-610. Merger or consolidation with continuous or connected railroad authorized.
Status: in_force

Any railroad company organized under the laws of this State and operating a railroad, whether wholly within or partly within and partly without this State, under the authority of this State, or of this State and any adjoining state, may consolidate its capital stock, franchises, and property with those of any other railroad company organized and operated under the laws of this or any other state so as to form a new consolidated corporation, or either of such companies may merge or be merged into the other when two or more railroads of the companies proposed to be consolidated or merged are continuous or are connected either directly with each other or by means of any intervening railroad. Railroads terminating on the banks of any river which are or may be connected by ferry or otherwise shall be considered continuous within the meaning of this article. Any consolidation of railroad companies shall be carried out by each railroad company according to the provisions of this article. Any merger of railroad companies shall be carried out by each railroad company according to and with the effects stated in Title 33, Chapter 11, and in such a merger, dissenting stockholders' rights shall be determined in accordance with Title 33, Chapter 13.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 9 / Section 58-17-1210
SECTION 58-17-1210. Operation of sections of road completed or acquired.
Status: in_force

Every such company may also forthwith, upon the completion or acquirement by purchase, lease or consolidation of any portion or section of its railroad between any points through which it may run under its charter, operate and maintain such portion or section, with all the rights, powers and privileges hereby granted to the company.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-420 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 58-5-420
SECTION 58-5-420. Contents of order.
Status: in_force

In issuing its order pursuant to Section 58-5-410, and in addition to the other requirements of Section 58-5-240, if a proceeding pursuant to that section is required: (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.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1520 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 11 / Section 58-27-1520
SECTION 58-27-1520. Ordering improvement of service.
Status: in_force

Whenever the commission, after a hearing, finds that the service of any electrical utility is unreasonable, unsafe, inadequate, insufficient, or unreasonably discriminatory, the commission must determine the reasonable, safe, adequate, and sufficient service to be observed, furnished, enforced, or employed and must fix the service by its order, rule, or regulation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1520 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 15 / Section 58-15-1520
SECTION 58-15-1520. Investigation of crossings requiring overpass or underpass.
Status: in_force

The commission upon petition may request the Office of Regulatory Staff to investigate crossings and may require that any necessary crossing be made either above or below grade, so as to avoid, as far as possible, any grade crossings.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1550 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 11 / Section 58-27-1550
SECTION 58-27-1550. Annual depreciation; depreciation reserve.
Status: in_force

Every electrical utility may, and may be required to, charge annually as an operating expense a reasonable sum for depreciation and credit the sum to a reserve account for such purpose. The reserve account must be charged only with plant retirements and expenditures made to restore depreciated property. But if the reserve thus created shall at any time in the judgment of the Office of Regulatory Staff be excessive, the commission, after due hearing, shall issue an order as will result in the credits to the reserve thereafter conforming to actual facts and conditions as ascertained by the commission. The commission may control or limit the depreciation reserve.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-960 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-960
SECTION 58-15-960. Time for filing annual reports.
Status: in_force

All annual reports required to be filed with the Office of Regulatory Staff by railroads doing business in this State shall be filed with the Office of Regulatory Staff within three months after the close of the year for which the report is made. But the Office of Regulatory Staff may, upon sufficient cause being shown, extend the time for the filing of such reports for a period not exceeding ninety days.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1970 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-1970
SECTION 58-27-1970. Service of pleadings and 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 58-27-1960, may be made personally or by mail as the commission may direct.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3770 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 31 / Section 58-17-3770
SECTION 58-17-3770. Limitation of actions.
Status: in_force

No action shall be maintained under this article unless commenced within two years from the day the cause of action accrued.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1040 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 11 / Section 58-23-1040
SECTION 58-23-1040. Carriers liable for baggage only when checked.
Status: in_force

Motor carriers shall be responsible for loss or damage to baggage only when such baggage has been checked with the operator of the vehicle.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-520 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 5 / Section 58-23-520
SECTION 58-23-520. Information which shall be furnished in applications for class A and B certificates.
Status: repealed

In such application, beside the other matters by law prescribed, the applicant for a certificate A or B for passenger vehicles shall state the following: (1) The seating capacity of the vehicle; (2) The route on which the motor vehicle is to be used; (3) Whether reserve or substitute vehicles are maintained by the applicant to be used only in emergencies and if so the number of such reserve and substitute vehicles and a complete description of each; (4) The length of route in miles on improved public highways in this State; (5) The weight of the vehicle when empty; and (6) The schedule under which the vehicle shall operate during the ensuing year. But an applicant for a certificate B will not be required to furnish a schedule with this application. SECTIONS 58-23-530 to 58-23-550. Repealed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3340
SECTION 58-17-3340. Brakes and brakemen.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation shall cause a good and sufficient brake to be attached to every car used upon its railroad for the transportation of passengers or freight, except four wheeled freight cars used only for transporting freight and shall cause to be stationed on every passenger train trusty and skillful brakemen, equal in number at least to one for every two cars in the train, except on passenger trains on which power brakes are used, and one such brakeman upon the last car of every freight train, which must always be equipped with a good and sufficient brake.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1410 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 11 / Section 58-9-1410
SECTION 58-9-1410. Appeals; vacating or setting aside order of commission.
Status: in_force

A party in interest dissatisfied with an order of the commission may appeal to the Supreme Court or court of appeals as provided by statute and the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules. No right of appeal accrues to vacate or set aside, either in whole or in part, an order of the commission except an order on a rehearing, unless a petition to the commission for a rehearing is filed and refused or considered refused because of the commission's failure to act within twenty days. The commission must not be named as a party to an action. Editor's Note 2006 Act No. 387, SECTION 53, provides as follows: "This act is intended to provide a uniform procedure for contested cases and appeals from administrative agencies and to the extent that a provision of this act conflicts with an existing statute or regulation, the provisions of this act are controlling." 2006 Act No. 387, SECTION 57, provides as follows: "This act takes effect on July 1, 2006, and applies to any actions pending on or after the effective date of the act. No pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, or appeal of a final administrative decision exists under the former law as of the effective date of this act, except for appeals of Department of Health and Environmental Control Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and Environmental Quality Control permits that are before the Administrative Law Court on the effective date of this act and petitions for judicial review that are pending before the circuit court. For those actions only, the department shall hear appeals from the administrative law judges and the circuit court shall hear pending petitions for judicial review in accordance with the former law. Thereafter, any appeal of those actions shall proceed as provided in this act for review. For all other actions pending on the effective date of this act, the action proceeds as provided in this act for review."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-360 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 3 / Section 58-31-360
SECTION 58-31-360. State covenant with holders of obligations of Authority.
Status: in_force

In order to protect those subscribing to, purchasing or acquiring the notes, bonds, evidences of indebtedness or other obligations of the Public Service Authority, the State of South Carolina does hereby covenant and agree with any person, firm or corporation, the government of the United States of America, and any corporation or agency created, designated or established by the United States, subscribing to, purchasing or acquiring the notes, bonds, evidences of indebtedness or other obligations heretofore or hereafter issued or incurred by the Public Service Authority for any authorized purpose, that the State will not alter, limit or restrict the power of the Public Service Authority to, and the Authority shall, fix, establish, maintain and collect rents, tolls, rates and charges for the use of the facilities of or for the services rendered or for any commodities furnished by the Public Service Authority, at least sufficient to provide for payment of all expenses of the Public Service Authority, the conservation, maintenance and operation of its facilities and properties and the payment of the principal of and interest on its notes, bonds, evidences of indebtedness or other obligations, and to fulfill the terms and provisions of any agreements made with the purchasers or holders of any such notes, bonds, evidences of indebtedness or obligations heretofore or hereafter issued or incurred. Provided, however, that prior to putting into effect any increase in rates the Public Service Authority shall give at least sixty days' notice of such increase to all customers who will be affected by the increase.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-295 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 4 / Section 58-33-295
SECTION 58-33-295. Office of Regulatory staffing; expert witnesses.
Status: in_force

(A) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to create additional positions for purposes of performing its duties under this article as follows: (1) two additional positions when there is one nuclear unit that is subject to an application for a project development order, an application or a combined application under this article, or that is under construction or abandonment and eligible for entry of future revised rates orders; and (2) one additional position for each additional nuclear unit thereafter. The utility or utilities electing to file an application, project development order, or combined application under this article shall bear the costs associated with these positions, including all salaries, benefits, expenses, and charges, in proportion to the number of these units that they own in whole or in part as a percentage of the total number of these units in the regulatory process under this article at the time. The Office of Regulatory Staff annually must certify to the Department of Revenue by May first the amounts to be assessed. By July first of each year, the Department of Revenue shall assess each utility for its assessment, which assessment must be due and payable by July fifteenth. The assessments must be charged against a utility by the Department of Revenue and collected in the manner provided by law for the collection of taxes from utilities, including the enforcement and collection provisions of Article 1, Chapter 54 of Title 12, and paid into the State Treasury as are other taxes collected by the Department of Revenue for the State less the Department of Revenue's actual incremental increase in the cost of administration. These assessments are in addition to any amounts assessed pursuant to Sections 58-4-60 and 58-5-480 and must be deposited in a special fund in the State Treasury from which the salaries, benefits, expenses, and charges must be paid. (B) The Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to employ expert witnesses and other professional engineering, construction, or other experts or consultants as the executive director considers necessary to assist the regulatory staff in its review and audit of project development order applications, applications, combined applications, and applications for revised rates orders; participation in proceedings under this article; and in auditing and monitoring on-going construction of plants eligible for revised rates orders. The compensation paid to these persons may not exceed the compensation ordinarily paid by the regulated industry for these specialists. Upon agreement between the utility and the Office of Regulatory Staff or upon approval of the review committee established under Section 58-3-20, the compensation and expenses must be paid by the utility or utilities filing an application under this article. (C) Compensation and expenses paid by the utility under this article must be treated as capital costs of the plant for ratemaking purposes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-170
SECTION 58-27-170. Joint hearings and joint or concurrent orders; joint investigations.
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. § 58-5-1000 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-1000
SECTION 58-5-1000. Certain gas utilities shall file plans for inspection and maintenance of pipeline facilities; revision of plans.
Status: in_force

(a) Each gas utility that engages in the transportation of gas or which owns or operates pipeline facilities not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Power Commission under the Natural Gas Act shall file with the Office of Regulatory Staff a plan for inspection and maintenance of each pipeline facility owned or operated by the gas utility, and any changes in the plan, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the commission. (b) The commission may by regulation also require any gas utility which engages in the transportation of gas or which owns or operates pipeline facilities subject to the provisions of this article to file its plan for approval with the Office of Regulatory Staff. (c) If at any time the Commission finds that the plan is inadequate to achieve safe operation it shall, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, require the plan to be revised. The plan required by the Commission shall be practicable and designed to meet the need for pipeline safety. In determining the adequacy of any plan, the Commission shall consider: (1) relevant, available pipeline safety data; (2) whether the plan is appropriate for the particular type of pipeline transportation; (3) the reasonableness of the plan; and (4) the extent to which the plan will contribute to public safety.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3960 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-3960
SECTION 58-17-3960. Suits under foregoing section shall be brought within twelve months.
Status: in_force

All suits under Section 58-17-3950 shall be brought within twelve months of the commission of the alleged wrong or injury.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-840 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-840
SECTION 58-15-840. Taking or removing brasses, bearings, waste or packing from railroad cars.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall wilfully and maliciously or with intent to steal or to injure, take or remove the brasses, bearings, waste or packing from out any journal box or boxes of any locomotive, engine, tender, carriage, coach, car, caboose or truck used or operated upon any railroad, whether the same be operated by steam or electricity, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in the Penitentiary or labor on the chain gang for a period of not less than six months nor more than two years or fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-40 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 1 / Section 58-21-40
SECTION 58-21-40. Rights and remedies of injured employees of street railways.
Status: in_force

Every employee of any street railway doing business in this State shall have the same rights and remedies for an injury suffered by him from the acts of omission of such corporation or any of its employees as are provided by the Constitution for employees of railroad corporations.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1380 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 11 / Section 58-17-1380
SECTION 58-17-1380. Trains shall stop at crossings of railroad lines; exceptions.
Status: in_force

Whenever lines of two steam railroads cross each other on the same grade in this State, every train on either shall be brought to a full stop before reaching the crossing. But this section shall not apply when the crossing is equipped with interlocking devices, signal lights, semaphores or other safety appliances which shall indicate that the train may cross in safety or when a flagman or watchman is stationed at the crossing and he signals that the train may cross in safety.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1110
SECTION 58-9-1110. Dismissal of petition without hearing.
Status: in_force

The commission may dismiss any petition filed pursuant to Section 58-9-1080 without a hearing if in its opinion a hearing is not necessary in the public interest or for the protection of substantial rights.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-42-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 42 / Section 58-42-20
SECTION 58-42-20. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(A) For purposes of this chapter: (1) "Electrical utility" shall be defined as in Section 58-27-10; provided, however, that electrical utilities serving less than 100,000 customers shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter unless otherwise provided. (2) "Energy storage facility" means commercially available technology that can absorb energy and store it for later use including, but not limited to, electrochemical, thermal, and electromechanical technologies but not including pumped hydroelectric facilities. (3) "Renewable energy facility" has the same meaning as defined in Section 58-39-120(E). (4) "Renewable energy resource" has the same meaning as "renewable generation resource" as defined in Section 58-39-120(F). (B) Unless an electrical utility makes an application pursuant to subsection (G), electrical utilities shall file for commission approval a program for the competitive procurement of renewable energy resources and such amount of associated co-located energy storage facilities as determined by the commission to meet needs for new generation and energy storage resources identified by the electrical utility's integrated resource plan or other planning process. A competitive procurement program may be used to procure any subset of energy, capacity, ancillary services, and environmental and renewable attributes. The commission may not grant approval of the program unless it finds that the electrical utility has satisfied all the requirements of this section and that the proposed program is in the best interests of the customers of the electrical utility. Co-located energy storage facilities, if included in the solicitation, must be associated equipment located at the same site as the renewable energy facility. (C) Electrical utilities shall procure renewable energy resources and co-located energy storage facilities, or the output of such facilities, subject to the following requirements: (1) Renewable energy and co-located energy storage resources, or their output, procured by electrical utilities shall be procured via a competitive solicitation process open to all market participants that meet minimum eligibility requirements. (2) The electrical utility shall issue public notice of its intention to issue a competitive renewable energy and co-located energy storage solicitation, or both, at least ninety days prior to the commencement of each solicitation. This notice must include the proposed procurement volume, process, and timeline. (3) The electrical utility shall provide a reasonable period of time for interested parties to review and comment on proposed requests for proposals, bid instructions, and bid evaluation criteria, and for commission approval, prior to finalization and issuance. (4) Renewable energy facilities eligible to participate in a competitive procurement are those that use renewable energy resources. (5) Energy storage facilities eligible to participate in a competitive procurement are those identified in Section 58-42-20(A)(2) installed and operated in conjunction with a renewable energy facility. (6) The electrical utility shall be required to use an independent evaluator or independent administrator to oversee or manage the competitive procurement, as determined appropriate by the commission. (7) The procurement of renewable energy facilities and co-located energy storage facilities and the output of such facilities shall result in a reasonable balance of electrical utility and independent third-party ownership of eligible facilities, as determined by the commission. The electrical utility and its affiliates may offer proposals into the competitive procurement provided that appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure that such proposals do not receive any advantage in the bid evaluation process. (D) An electrical utility shall make publicly available at least forty-five days prior to each competitive solicitation: (1) A commission-approved pro forma contract to inform prospective market participants of the procurement terms and conditions. The pro forma contract must: (i) include standardized and commercially reasonable requirements for contract performance security consistent with market standards; and (ii) define limits and compensation for resource dispatch and curtailment. (2) A bid and portfolio evaluation methodology that: (i) ensures all bids are treated equitably, including price and nonprice evaluation criteria; and (ii) ensures electrical utility and independent third-party owned facilities are treated equitably with regards to resource dispatch and curtailments. (3) Interconnection requirements including specification of how bids without existing interconnection studies must be treated for purposes of evaluation. (E) After bids are submitted and evaluated, final winning bids will be selected based upon the published evaluation methodology. (F) An electrical utility shall issue a public report summarizing the results of each competitive solicitation within sixty days of the award notifications. The report shall include, at minimum, a summary of the submitted bids and an anonymized list of the project awards, including their size, location, average award price and tenor, and award price range. Electrical utilities are permitted to recover costs incurred through such competitive procurement through rates established pursuant to Section 58-27-865 or Section 58-27-870. (G) Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 58-42-10 and this section, the commission shall approve an electrical utility's competitive procurement of energy storage facilities or renewable energy resources and the output of energy storage facilities or renewable energy resources within an electrical utility's balancing area outside of South Carolina that serve customers within South Carolina if eligible energy storage facilities or renewable energy resources located within South Carolina were allowed to participate in the competitive procurement and if the commission determines that the results of such procurement are in the public interest and enable the economic, reliable, and safe operation of the electric grid. Electrical utilities shall be permitted to recover costs incurred through such competitive procurements through rates established pursuant to Section 58-27-865 or Section 58-27-870. However, if the commission determines that the results of the procurement are not in the public interest for South Carolina, then the costs and benefits associated with such procurement shall be allocated away from South Carolina customers. (H) The commission is authorized to adopt rules or procedures for conducting a procurement authorized by this section. 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. § 58-17-1330 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 11 / Section 58-17-1330
SECTION 58-17-1330. Railroad shall not obstruct highways at crossings.
Status: in_force

When a railroad is laid out across a highway or other way it shall be constructed so as not to obstruct such way.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 8 / Section 58-27-1110
SECTION 58-27-1110. Petition for financing order; requirements.
Status: in_force

(A) An electrical utility may petition the commission for a financing order. The petition shall include all of the following: (1) a description of the storm recovery activities that the electrical utility has undertaken or proposes to undertake and the reasons for undertaking the activities, or if the electrical utility is subject to a settlement agreement that governs the type and amount of principal costs that could be included in storm recovery costs, a description of the settlement agreement; (2) the storm recovery costs and an estimate of the costs of any storm recovery activities that are being undertaken but are not completed; (3) the level of the storm recovery reserve, if any, that the electrical utility proposes to establish or replenish and has determined would be appropriate to recover through storm recovery bonds and is seeking to so recover, and such level that the electrical utility is funding or will seek to fund through other means, together with a description of the factors and calculations used in determining the amounts and methods of recovery; (4) an indicator of whether the electrical utility proposes to finance all or a portion of the storm recovery costs using storm recovery bonds. If the utility proposes to finance a portion of such costs, the electrical utility must identify the specific portion in the petition. By requesting not to finance a portion of such storm recovery costs using storm recovery bonds, an electrical utility shall not be deemed to waive its right to seek to recover such costs pursuant to a separate proceeding with the commission; (5) an estimate of the financing costs related to the storm recovery bonds; (6) an estimate of the storm recovery charges necessary to recover the storm recovery costs, including the storm recovery reserve amount, if any, determined appropriate by the commission, and financing costs and the period for recovery of such costs; (7) a comparison between the net present value of the costs to customers that are estimated to result from the issuance of storm recovery bonds based on current market conditions and the costs that would result from the application of the traditional method of financing and recovering storm recovery costs from customers. The comparison should demonstrate that the issuance of storm recovery bonds and the imposition of storm recovery charges are expected to 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 (8) direct testimony, exhibits, and supporting workpapers supporting the petition, testimony, and exhibits. Such workpapers may be filed under seal to the extent necessary to protect confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information. The electrical utility shall provide functional exhibits and workpapers to the Office of Regulatory Staff and to the commission, subject to any appropriate confidentiality designations. (B) If the principal costs the electrical utility proposes to finance using storm recovery bonds were not already subject to review by the commission in a general rate proceeding, then the electrical utility must file a petition with the commission for review and approval of those costs no later than one-hundred-eighty days before filing a petition for a financing order pursuant to this section, or, alternatively, defer the review and approval of such costs to either a future general rate proceeding or a separate proceeding established by the commission at the request of the electrical utility in consultation with the Office of Regulatory Staff. If the electrical utility chooses to defer the review and approval of such costs, it shall file a report with the commission updating the reconciliation of estimated costs to actual costs incurred at least twice per calendar year until the costs are reconciled. If the electrical utility does not file a petition with the commission for review and approval of such costs within one calendar year following the issuance of the storm recovery bonds, the Office of Regulatory Staff may, at its discretion, file a petition with the commission to initiate a proceeding for review and approval of such costs. In either case, reconciliation of estimated costs to actual costs shall be subject to review pursuant to Section 58-27-1105(17)(c). (1) Any petition for review and approval of the principal costs shall be accompanied by direct testimony, exhibits, and supporting workpapers supporting the petition, testimony, and exhibits. Such workpapers may be filed under seal to the extent necessary to protect confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information. The electrical utility shall provide functional exhibits and workpapers to the Office of Regulatory Staff and to the commission, subject to any appropriate confidentiality designations. (2) If the electrical utility must file a petition for review and approval of the principal costs, the electrical utility shall not be required to provide additional notice prior to filing a petition for a financing order pursuant to this section; otherwise, the utility shall file a notice of its intent to file a petition for a financing order not less than thirty days prior to filing any such petition. (C)(1) Proceedings on a petition for a financing order submitted pursuant to this section begin with the petition by an electrical utility, filed subject to the time frame specified in subsection (B), as applicable, and shall be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the rules of the commission, except as follows: (a) within fourteen days after the date the petition is filed, the commission shall establish a procedural schedule that permits a commission decision no later than one-hundred-thirty-five days after the date the petition is filed; and (b) no later than one-hundred-thirty-five days after the date the petition is filed, the commission shall issue a financing order or an order rejecting the petition. A party to the commission proceeding may petition the commission for reconsideration of the financing order within the time prescribed in Section 58-27-2150. (2) A financing order issued by the commission to an electrical utility shall include all of the following elements and shall not issue unless each of the following elements is met: (a) except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based mechanism authorized under this section, the amount of storm recovery costs, including the level of storm recovery reserves, if any, to be financed using storm recovery bonds. The commission shall describe and estimate the amount of financing costs that may be recovered through storm recovery charges and specify the period over which storm recovery costs and financing costs may be recovered; (b) a finding that the proposed issuance of recovery bonds and the imposition and collection of a storm recovery charge 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; (c) a finding that the structuring, marketing, and pricing of the storm recovery bonds 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 such financing order. The financing order must provide detailed findings of fact addressing cost effectiveness and associated rate impacts upon retail customers and retail customer classes; (d) a requirement that, for so long as the storm recovery bonds are outstanding and until all financing costs have been paid in full, the imposition and collection of storm recovery charges authorized under a financing order shall be nonbypassable and paid by all existing and future retail customers receiving transmission or distribution service, or both, from the electrical utility or its successors or assignees under commission-approved rate schedules or under special contracts, even if a customer elects to purchase electricity from an alternative electric supplier following a fundamental change in regulation of electrical utilities in this State; (e) a determination of what portion, if any, of the storm recovery reserves, if any, must be held in a funded reserve and any limitations on how the reserve may be held, accessed, or used; (f) a formula-based true-up mechanism for making, at least annually, expeditious periodic adjustments in the storm recovery charges that customers are required to pay pursuant to the financing order and for making any adjustments that are necessary to correct for any overcollection or undercollection of the charges or to otherwise ensure the timely payment of storm recovery bonds, financing costs, and other required amounts and charges payable in connection with the storm recovery bonds; (g) the storm recovery property that is or shall be created in favor of an electrical utility or its successors or assignees, and that shall be used to pay or secure storm recovery bonds and all financing costs; (h) the degree of flexibility to be afforded to the electrical utility in establishing the terms and conditions of the storm recovery bonds including, but not limited to, repayment schedules, expected interest rates, and other financing costs, and subject to any conditions in the financing order, including the pre-bond issuance review process which the commission shall establish; (i) how storm recovery charges will be allocated among customer classes; (j) a requirement that, after the final terms of an issuance of storm recovery bonds have been established and before the issuance of storm recovery bonds, the electrical utility determines the resulting initial storm recovery charge in accordance with the financing order and that such initial storm recovery charge be final and effective upon the issuance of such storm recovery bonds without further commission action so long as the recovery charge is consistent with the financing order and the pre-bond issuance review process established by the commission in the financing order is complete; (k) a method of tracing funds collected as storm recovery charges, or other proceeds of storm recovery property, and the determination that such method shall be deemed the method of tracing such funds and determining the identifiable cash proceeds of any storm recovery property subject to a financing order under applicable law; and (l) any other conditions not otherwise inconsistent with this section that the commission determines are appropriate. (3) A financing order issued to an electrical utility may provide that creation of the electrical utility's storm recovery property is conditioned upon, and simultaneous with, the sale or other transfer of the storm recovery property to an assignee and the pledge of the storm recovery property to secure storm recovery bonds. (4) If the commission issues a financing order and the storm recovery bonds are issued, the electrical utility shall file with the commission at least annually a petition or a letter applying the formula-based mechanism and, based on estimates of consumption for each rate class and other mathematical factors, requesting administrative approval to make the applicable adjustments. The review of the filing shall be limited to determining whether there are any mathematical or clerical errors in the application of the formula-based mechanism relating to the appropriate amount of any overcollection or undercollection of storm recovery charges and the amount of an adjustment. The adjustments shall ensure the recovery of revenues sufficient to provide for the payment of principal, interest, acquisition, defeasance, financing costs, or redemption premium and other fees, costs, and charges with respect to storm recovery bonds approved under the financing order. Within sixty days after receiving an electrical utility's request pursuant to this paragraph, the commission shall either approve the request or inform the electrical utility of any mathematical or clerical errors in its calculation. If the commission informs the electrical utility of mathematical or clerical errors in its calculation, the electrical utility may correct its error and refile its request. The time frames previously described in this paragraph shall apply to a refiled request. (5) Subsequent to the transfer of storm recovery property to an assignee or the issuance of storm recovery bonds authorized thereby, whichever is earlier, a financing order is irrevocable and, except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based mechanism authorized in this article, the commission may not amend, modify, or terminate the financing order by any subsequent action or reduce, impair, postpone, terminate, or otherwise adjust recovery charges approved in the financing order. After the issuance of a financing order, the electrical utility retains sole discretion regarding whether to assign, sell, or otherwise transfer storm recovery property or to cause storm recovery bonds to be issued, including the right to defer or postpone such assignment, sale, transfer, or issuance, unless otherwise provided in the financing order. (6) If required by the commission in a financing order, within one business day after the final terms of the storm recovery bonds are determined, the electrical utility shall provide an issuance advice letter to the commission. (a) Such issuance advice letter shall be in the form approved in a financing order and include the final terms of the storm recovery bond issuance, up-front financing costs and on-going financing costs. Such issuance advice letter shall include a certification from the electrical utility, the primary underwriter(s), and a qualified independent third party designated by the commission, as a condition to closing, certifying whether the sale of storm recovery bonds complies with the requirements of this article and the financing order. The certifications of the electrical utility and qualified independent third party shall certify whether the issuance of recovery bonds and the imposition and collection of a storm recovery charge will in fact 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. The certifications of the electrical utility, primary underwriter(s), and qualified independent third party shall certify whether the structuring, marketing, and pricing of the storm recovery bonds will in fact result in the lowest storm recovery charges consistent with market conditions at the time the storm recovery bonds were priced and the terms set forth in the financing order. The qualified independent third party designated by the commission shall review the issuance advice letter and deliver its independent certification to the commission along with any other information it believes the commission should consider as to the commission's decision in subitem (c) no later than one business day after the filing of the issuance advice letter by the electrical utility which will contain the aforementioned certifications. (b) Once the qualified independent third party is designated and retained by the commission, the qualified independent third party shall independently participate in the pre-bond issuance review process established by the commission pursuant to subsection (C)(2)(j). The qualified independent third party shall have the authority to request and receive all necessary documents, data, and information from the electrical utility to fulfill its responsibilities and ensure compliance with subitem (a). The qualified independent third party shall also have the ability to communicate directly with the parties to the proceeding as needed to carry out its duties. The qualified independent third party's communications with the commission shall be limited solely to docket filings or, if requested by the commission, participation in a postpricing meeting involving the electrical utility, the qualified independent third party, and other parties. The structure and details of the docket filings and such a meeting, including the handling of any confidential information, shall be determined by the commission in accordance with applicable procedural rules and orders. (c) Unless otherwise provided in the financing order, by no later than noon on the fourth business day after the final terms of the storm recovery bonds are determined, the commission shall either accept the issuance advice letter or deliver an order to the electrical utility to prevent the issuance of the storm recovery bonds. (D) At the request of an electrical utility, the commission may commence a proceeding and issue a subsequent financing order that provides for refinancing, retiring, or refunding storm recovery bonds issued pursuant to the original financing order if the commission finds that the subsequent financing order satisfies all of the criteria specified in this article for a financing order. Effective upon retirement of the refunded storm recovery bonds and the issuance of new storm recovery bonds, the commission shall adjust the related storm recovery charges accordingly. (E) Within thirty days after the commission issues a financing order or a decision denying a request for reconsideration or, if the request for reconsideration is granted, within thirty days after the commission issues its decision on reconsideration, an adversely affected party may petition for judicial review in the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Review on appeal shall be based solely on the record before the commission and briefs to the court and is limited to determining whether the financing order, or the order on reconsideration, conforms to the State Constitution and to state and federal law, and is within the authority of the commission under this article. The Supreme Court of South Carolina shall proceed to hear and determine the action as expeditiously as practicable and give the action precedence over other matters not accorded similar precedence by law. (F)(1) A financing order remains in effect and storm recovery property under the financing order continues to exist until storm recovery bonds issued pursuant to the financing order have been paid in full or defeased and, in each case, all commission-approved financing costs of such storm recovery bonds have been recovered in full. (2) A financing order issued to an electrical utility remains in effect and unabated notwithstanding the reorganization, bankruptcy, or other insolvency proceedings, merger, or sale of the electrical utility or its successors or assignees. Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 2, SECTION 2, rewrote (B); in (C)(6), in (a), thrice substituted "qualified independent third party" for "independent third-party", in the last sentence, substituted "subitem (c)" for "subitem (b)" and "electrical" for "electric", and inserted (b) and redesignated accordingly; and made nonsubstantive changes throughout.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1710 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 13 / Section 58-27-1710
SECTION 58-27-1710. Securities shall not be issued without approval of Commission; exceptions.
Status: in_force

No electrical utility, except a municipality, shall issue any securities without the approval of the Commission. Nothing herein contained shall apply to any issue of securities payable within one year from the date thereof, except in case of issues made to refund such short-time obligations; but such short-time obligations may be renewed by similar obligations without the approval of the Commission for an aggregate period of not exceeding two years.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1635 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 16 / Section 58-23-1635
SECTION 58-23-1635. Insurance disclosure.
Status: in_force

(A) Before TNC drivers are allowed to accept a request for a prearranged ride on the TNC's digital network, the TNC shall disclose to the drivers, in writing, the following information: (1) the insurance coverage, including the types of coverage and the limits for each coverage, that the TNC provides while the TNC driver uses a personal vehicle in connection with a TNC's digital network; (2) depending on its terms, that the TNC driver's personal automobile insurance policy may not provide any coverage while the driver is logged onto the TNC's digital network and is available to receive a transportation request or is engaged in a prearranged ride; and (3) if the vehicle to be used to provide TNC services has a lien against it, the driver has a duty to notify the lienholder that the driver will be using the vehicle for transportation services that may violate the terms of the contract with the lienholder. The driver must disclose to the lender all insurance coverage information provided to the driver by the TNC pursuant to this section. The TNC must provide a standardized form for TNC drivers to use for such notice to the lienholder. The form may be provided to the driver by the TNC in a digital format. The TNC driver must maintain evidence that notice has been sent to the lien holder as well as wait seven days prior to commencing driving in connection with a TNC. (B) Nothing in this chapter limits the right of a lender or secured party on a driver's vehicle to require a driver to maintain comprehensive and collision damage coverage for a driver's vehicle or to show evidence of that coverage to the lender or secured party that would cover the period when the driver is logged on to the transportation network carrier's digital network regardless of whether the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride. If the driver fails to maintain the required comprehensive and collision coverage or to show evidence to the lender or secured party of the coverage upon reasonable request by the lender or secured party, the lender or secured party may fully enforce all provisions contained in the loan agreement with the borrower.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-120
SECTION 58-27-120. Effect of chapter on duties declared in Broad River case.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this chapter, including any duty imposed, any right, power, or privilege granted, the exercise, receipt, or acceptance of any such right, privilege, or permit under the authority of this chapter nor any act done under the authority of this chapter shall be construed or given effect to abrogate, modify, or affect the duties and obligations of electrical or other public utilities as declared by the Supreme Court of South Carolina in the case of State ex rel. Daniel, Attorney General v Broad River Power Company, et al, 157 SC 1, 153 SE 537. However, if both a municipality and electrical or other public utility mutually agree, the electrical or other public utility may grant, transfer, abrogate, modify, sell, or impose upon the municipality the duty or obligation to provide a public transit system to the municipality. The terms of such a grant, transfer, abrogation, modification, sale, or imposition of the duty or obligation to provide a public transit system from an electrical or other public utility to a municipality shall take effect only upon the transfer of the public transit system from the public utility to the municipality or another governmental entity.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2430 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 19 / Section 58-27-2430
SECTION 58-27-2430. Penalties shall be cumulative; suit for one penalty shall not bar another suit.
Status: in_force

All penalties accruing under this chapter shall be cumulative, and a suit for the recovery of one penalty shall not be a bar to or affect the recovery of any other penalty or forfeiture or be a bar to any criminal prosecution against any electrical utility or any officer, director, agent or employee thereof or any other corporation or person.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-800 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 7 / Section 58-9-800
SECTION 58-9-800. Inspection and copying of tax returns, reports and other information.
Status: in_force

In the performance of its duties under Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter, any employee or agent of the Office of Regulatory Staff may inspect or make copies of all income, property, or other tax returns, reports or other information filed by telephone utilities with or otherwise obtained by any other department, commission, board, or agency of the state government and all such other departments, commissions, boards, or agencies of the state government shall permit such inspection or the making of such copies.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-270 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-270
SECTION 58-9-270. Extensions of existing facilities.
Status: in_force

When ordered by the commission after notice to other interested telephone utilities and the public and due hearing any telephone utility may be required to establish, construct, maintain, and operate any reasonable extension of its existing facilities. If any such extension, however, by any telephone utility of its existing facilities will interfere with the service or system of any other telephone utility, the commission may on petition and after hearing either order the discontinuance of such extension or prescribe such terms and conditions with respect thereto as may be just and reasonable.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-380 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-380
SECTION 58-9-380. Office in State.
Status: in_force

Each telephone 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 such books, accounts, papers, and records as shall reasonably 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. § 58-27-1360 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1360
SECTION 58-27-1360. Acquisition of property of supplier of electricity when area annexed to or incorporated as municipality.
Status: repealed

When an area in which electric service is being furnished at wholesale or retail by a supplier of electricity, including municipal corporations, public or governmental agencies, and electric cooperatives, is incorporated as a city or town or is annexed to an existing incorporated city or town, the city or town or, with the consent of the governing body of such city or town, an electrical utility furnishing electricity in that city or town by franchise, contract, permit, or other consent, has the right to acquire the property of a supplier of electricity brought within corporate limits upon a finding by the commission pursuant to subsection (B) of Section 58-27-650 that inadequate, undependable, or unreasonably discriminatory service is being provided and upon payment of just compensation. The supplier of electricity having property or facilities in areas incorporated as a city or town or annexed into an existing city or town has the right to compel the city or town or an electrical utility operating in that city or town pursuant to a franchise, contract, permit, or other consent to purchase the facilities and properties and to compel the payment of just compensation. The city or town may not elect to purchase or give its consent to a purchase by another supplier of electricity until the commission has ruled upon adequacy of service, and it has first given ten days' written notice to the Office of Regulatory Staff and the suppliers concerned of its intention to purchase or consent to the purchase of property situate within the limits of the municipality used for providing electric service in the municipality. Within ten days after notice is given that the right to acquire or sell the facilities and properties is exercised, the parties shall each select a representative in order to reach an agreement on just compensation. The selling supplier shall make its pertinent books and records available to the representative of the purchasing supplier. If the representatives are unable to agree on just compensation within a period of sixty days, they shall jointly request the resident judge of the judicial circuit in which the facilities and properties to be purchased are situate to submit a list of five disinterested persons from which the selection of an arbiter must be made. The resident judge shall submit the list within five days after receipt of a request. Within five days after receipt of the list from the resident judge, the representatives of the parties shall meet, and each party has alternate strikes, the first strike to be chosen by lot, until one person remains on the list, and this person is the arbiter, whose expenses and fee for service rendered, as assessed by him against either or both parties, are subject to review by the resident judge. The arbiter shall give each representative an opportunity to be heard, and his decision on just compensation, including reasonable expenses, engineers' and attorneys' fees justifiably incurred by the selling supplier as allowed by the arbiter, is final and binding on the parties. If either party fails to act during the time limitation set forth above for the accomplishment of a particular step within this procedure without the consent of the other party, then the party failing to act forfeits his rights in the selection of an arbiter and his rights to be heard by the arbiter. For the purposes of this section, "just compensation" consists of the total of the following: (a) Reproduction cost, new, of the facilities being acquired, less depreciation on a straight-line basis; (b) Cost of reintegrating the system of the selling supplier after detaching the portion to be sold (including allowance for idle substation, transmission, and generation capacity caused in the remaining portion of the system or of any supplying systems, the cost of which is borne in whole or in part by the selling system); (c) An additional amount, in recognition of the loss of revenue of greater than average value, equivalent to two and one-half times the gross revenue derived by the selling supplier from the consumers on the lines being acquired during the twelve months next preceding the first of the month in which notice of purchase was given the selling supplier. The total sum paid by an electrical utility or municipality under the provisions of this section for acquisition of facilities is the original cost of the facilities to be entered on its books and records for all accounting purposes, including rate making. 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.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2620 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 23 / Section 58-27-2620
SECTION 58-27-2620. Application; approval; updates; investigations; revocation; civil penalties; contested cases.
Status: in_force

(A) Before any entity other than an entity lawfully providing retail electric service to the public in this State commences to do business as a lessor of renewable electric generation facilities under the terms of this article, that entity shall submit an application to the Office of Regulatory Staff and provide such information as the Office of Regulatory Staff shall require. In performing its responsibilities under this article, the Office of Regulatory Staff must balance the state's interest in promoting a market for the provision of renewable electric generation facilities as permitted by this article with an appropriate level of protection for customer-generator lessees to ensure fair and accurate marketing practices and ensure acceptable performance of renewable electric generation facilities and lessors. (B) The application shall be accompanied by such information as the Office of Regulatory Staff shall require and the Office of Regulatory Staff may condition its approval on such terms as the Office of Regulatory Staff shall determine to be just and reasonable to advance the goals of this article of balancing the state's interest in promoting a market for the provision of renewable electric generation facilities as permitted by this article, with an appropriate level of protection for customer-generator lessees and to ensure fair and accurate marketing practices. (C) Upon review of the application and a finding that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to conduct business in accordance with the provisions of this article, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall approve the application and issue the lessor a certificate permitting the lessor to market and lease renewable electric generation facilities to customer-generator lessees under the terms of this article. (D) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to require the regular updating of information by certificate holders. (E) The Office of Regulatory Staff shall receive, compile and investigate customer complaints arising under this article and shall attempt to negotiate consent agreements or other settlements resolving alleged violations of this article. (F) As concerns potential violations of this article, lessors of distributed generation resources and their officers, agents, employees, or customers shall be subject to the investigatory powers provided in Sections 58-4-50 and 58-4-55 to the Office of Regulatory Staff regarding public utilities. (G) For the protection of the consuming public, the Office of Regulatory Staff may file a petition with the Administrative Law Court requesting revocation of a certificate for violations of this article. In appropriate circumstances, the Office of Regulatory Staff may request the immediate revocation of a certificate. (H) It shall be a violation of law punishable by civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars per occurrence for any person subject to subsection (A), either directly or indirectly: (1) to solicit business as a lessor of renewable electric generation facilities without a valid certificate issued under this section or otherwise in violation of the terms of this article; or (2) to engage in any unfair or deceptive practice in the leasing of renewable electric generation facilities. (I) An aggrieved person with standing may file a request for a contested case of a decision of the Office of Regulatory Staff with the Administrative Law Court within thirty days of such decision. Editor's Note 2014 Act No. 236, SECTIONS 9, 10, provide 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. "SECTION 10. Article 23, Chapter 27, Title 58 shall be construed as a whole, and all parts of it are to be read and construed together. If any part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the remainder of this article shall be invalidated. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the parties' right to appeal the matter."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1720 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 16 / Section 58-23-1720
SECTION 58-23-1720. Construction with federal law.
Status: in_force

The provisions contained in this article do not preempt any federal regulation relating to the provision of transportation services at any facility regulated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2060 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-2060
SECTION 58-17-2060. Promulgation of reciprocal demurrage rules.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Commission may make and promulgate reciprocal demurrage rules governing the regulation of railroads and shippers in this State as fully and effectually as if they were made and promulgated by the General Assembly.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-1150 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 11 / Section 58-5-1150
SECTION 58-5-1150. Promulgation of regulations.
Status: in_force

Nothing in the article prohibits the commission from promulgating detailed regulations governing termination of service by a public utility furnishing natural gas so long as the regulations include the termination and third-party notification protections provided by this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1400 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1400
SECTION 58-23-1400. Fee for reinstatement of insurance or bond.
Status: in_force

When any such policy of insurance or bond lapses by cancellation or for any other reason or when notice of intention to cause a lapse has been given by the surety or bondsman and such notice has been recorded on the records of the county police department, such notice shall be withdrawn and such policy of insurance or bond shall be reinstated only after payment to the governing body of the county the sum of three dollars for entries and change of records.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-41-40 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 41 / Section 58-41-40
SECTION 58-41-40. Neighborhood community solar programs; review of programs; recovery of costs.
Status: in_force

(A) It is the intent of the General Assembly to expand the opportunity to support solar energy and support access to solar energy options for all South Carolinians, including those who lack the income to afford the upfront investment in solar panels or those who do not own their homes or have suitable rooftops. The General Assembly encourages all electric service providers in this State to consider offering neighborhood community solar programs. (B)(1) Within sixty days after the effective date of this chapter, the commission shall open a docket for each electrical utility to review the community solar programs established pursuant to Act 236 of 2014 and to solicit status information on existing programs from the electrical utilities. (2) Within one hundred and eighty days after the commission opens the docket pursuant to item (1), the electrical utilities shall update their report on their existing programs and may propose new programs. (C) Subject to review by the commission, a public utility must be entitled to full and timely cost recovery for all reasonable and prudent costs incurred in implementing and complying with this section. Participating customers shall bear the burden of any reasonable and prudent costs associated with participating in a neighborhood community solar program; however, the commission shall nonetheless promote access to solar energy projects for low and moderate income customers. An electrical utility may not charge any nonparticipating customers for any costs incurred pursuant to the provisions of this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-700 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-700
SECTION 58-17-700. Liability of consolidated corporation to suits.
Status: in_force

Suits may be brought and maintained against such new company in any of the courts of this State for all causes of action in the same manner as against other railroad companies therein.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2740 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 24 / Section 58-27-2740
SECTION 58-27-2740. Monitoring reports filed in December; additional schedules.
Status: in_force

(A) In the monitoring report filed for the twelve-month period ending December thirty-first of each year, the utility shall provide additional schedules indicating the following revenue calculations: (1) if the utility's earnings exceed the upper end of the range established in the order, then the utility shall calculate the reduction in revenue required to lower its return on equity to the midpoint of the range established in the order; or (2) if the utility's earnings are below the lower range established in the order, then the utility shall calculate the additional revenue required to increase its return on equity to the midpoint of the range established in the order. (B) The utility also shall provide a schedule that specifies changes in its tariff rates required to achieve any indicated change in revenue. (C) The proposed rate changes, filed by the utility, shall conform as nearly as is practicable with the revenue allocation principles contained in the most recent rate order. 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. § 58-25-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 25 / Section 58-25-90
SECTION 58-25-90. Authority to have sole responsibility for operations of transportation services.
Status: in_force

The Regional Transportation Authority, through its board, officers, and staff, shall have sole responsibility for the operations of the transportation services.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-240
SECTION 58-11-240. Procedure for issuance of securities by nonmunicipal radio common carriers.
Status: in_force

No radio common carrier, except municipalities, shall issue any securities, as in this chapter defined, without the approval of the commission. Any radio common carrier, except a municipality, desiring to issue any securities may apply to the commission for approval of any proposed issue by filing with the commission and providing to the Office of Regulatory Staff an application, together with a statement verified by its president and secretary, or other proper officers, or two of its incorporators, or by its owner, or owners, if it has no such officers, setting forth: (1) the amount and character of securities proposed to be issued; (2) the purpose for which they are to be issued; (3) the consideration for which they are to be issued; (4) the description and estimated value of any property, if any, to be acquired through the proposed issue; (5) the terms and conditions of their issuance; (6) the financial condition of the radio common carrier and its previous operations so far as relevant. The commission, after giving notice and opportunity to be heard to the radio common carrier and the Office of Regulatory Staff, shall determine whether the purpose of the issue is proper, it shall value the property or services, if any, to be acquired by the issue, if any, it shall find and determine the amount of such securities reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they are to be issued, and to the extent that the commission may approve the proposed issue it shall grant to the radio common carrier a certificate of authority stating: [1] the amount of such securities reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they are to be issued, and the character of such securities; and [2] the value of any property or services, if any, to be acquired thereby. Such radio common carrier shall not issue any securities in greater amounts than specified in such certificate and shall apply the proceeds of such issue to the purposes specified in its petition. Nothing herein contained shall apply to any issue of securities payable within one year from the date thereof, except in case of issues made to refund such short time obligations, but such short time obligations may be renewed by similar obligations without the approval of the commission for an aggregate of not exceeding two years. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impose or imply any guaranty or obligation as to such securities on the part of the State of South Carolina, 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. § 58-5-1050 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-1050
SECTION 58-5-1050. Interaction with federal agencies.
Status: in_force

(a) As soon as practicable after April 23, 1970, and every year thereafter, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall submit an annual certification to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation as provided for in Section 5(a) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-481) [49 U.S.C. Section 1674(a)], as may be amended from time to time. (b) In the event that a new or amended federal safety standard is adopted, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall submit an appropriate certification to comply with Section 5(d) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 [P.L. 90-481, 49 U.S.C. Section 1674(d)]. (c) The Office of Regulatory Staff is further empowered to make and to provide certifications, reports, and information to the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation or any other regulatory agency of the United States having jurisdiction over federal safety standards; to enter into agreements with the Secretary to carry out the purposes of this article; to enforce federal safety standards in the State in lieu of enforcement by the Department of Transportation as permitted by the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as may be amended from time to time; and to exercise regulatory jurisdiction over the safety of pipeline systems and the transportation of gas as permitted by the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as may be amended from time to time.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-620 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 5 / Section 58-27-620
SECTION 58-27-620. Service rights of and restrictions on electric suppliers.
Status: in_force

With respect to service in all areas outside the corporate limits of municipalities, electric suppliers shall have rights and be subject to restrictions as follows: (1) Every electric supplier shall have the right to serve: (a) all premises being served by it, or to which any of its facilities for service are attached on July 1, 1969; (b) subject to paragraph (d)(i) of this subsection, all premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969, which are located wholly within three hundred feet of the electric supplier's lines as the lines exist on July 1, 1969; (c) subject to paragraph (d)(i) of this subsection, all premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969, which are located wholly within three hundred feet of lines that the electric supplier constructs to serve consumers that it has the right to serve or acquires after July 1, 1969; provided, however, that an electric supplier shall not have the right to serve premises wholly within a service area assigned to another electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 from a line constructed after the date of the assignment; (d) if chosen by the consumer, any premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969, which are: (i) located wholly or partially within three hundred feet of the lines of the electric supplier and also wholly or partially within three hundred feet of the lines of another electric supplier, as each of the supplier's lines exist on July 1, 1969, or as extended to serve consumers that the supplier has the right to serve or as acquired after July 1, 1969; (ii) not located wholly within three hundred feet of the lines of any electric supplier and are not located partially within three hundred feet of the lines of two or more electric suppliers, unless the premises are located wholly or partially within an area assigned to an electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640; (iii) located partially within a service area assigned to the electric supplier and partially within a service area assigned to another electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 or are located partially within a service area assigned to the electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 and partially within three hundred feet of the lines of another electric supplier, or are located partially within three hundred feet of the lines of the electric supplier, as the lines exist on July 1, 1969, or as extended to serve consumers it has the right to serve or as acquired after that date, and partially within a service area assigned to another electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640; and (iv) located only partially within a service area assigned to one electric supplier pursuant to Section 58-27-640 and are located wholly outside the service area assigned to other electric suppliers and are located wholly more than three hundred feet from other electric suppliers' lines, and any electric supplier not so chosen by the consumer in any of the situations described in this paragraph (d) shall not thereafter furnish service to the premises. The choice of the consumer in the situations described in this paragraph (d) must be controlling, and the Public Service Commission shall have no authority to order any other supplier to serve the consumer, except as provided in Section 58-27-660; (e) with respect to the above provisions of Section 58-27-620(1)(d), a premises consisting of multiple buildings, structures, or facilities, is deemed to be located partially within three hundred feet of a supplier's line having service rights if: (i) at least twenty percent of the total connected electric load of the premises, as determined by the final site plan submitted for construction permits, is due to a single building, structure, or facility located wholly or partially within three hundred feet of the line having service rights; (ii) a minimum of eighty percent of the total connected electric load of the premises, as determined by the final site plan submitted for construction permits, is to be served to buildings, structures, or facilities located wholly within two thousand feet of the line having service rights; (iii) service is rendered through only one meter to all buildings, structures, or facilities constituting the premises; (f) with respect to the above provisions of Section 58-27-620(1)(d)(iii), a premises consisting of multiple buildings, structures, or facilities is deemed to be located partially within a supplier's territory if: (i) at least twenty percent of the total connected electric load of the premises, as determined by the final site plan submitted for construction permits, is due to a single building, structure, or facility located wholly or partially within the supplier's territory; (ii) a minimum of eighty percent of the total connected electric load of the premises, as determined by the final site plan submitted for construction permits, is to be served to buildings, structures, or facilities located wholly within two thousand feet of the supplier's territory; and (iii) service is rendered through only one meter to all buildings, structures, or facilities constituting the premises; (g) all premises located wholly within the service area assigned to it pursuant to Section 58-27-640; and (h) all premises being served by it pursuant to the provisions of Section 58-27-620(2) as it existed before the effective date of Article 4, Chapter 33 of Title 58. (2) Any electric supplier or electric utility shall have the right to furnish electric service to any industrial premises initially requiring electric service after the effective date of Article 4, Chapter 33 of Title 58 provided that the total connected load of the premises, as determined by the final site plan submitted for construction permits, is 7.5 megawatts or larger, and the premises is located entirely within one of the following parcels: (a) the parcel shown on Map 101 filed in the Office of Regulatory Staff; (b) the parcel shown on Map 102 filed in the Office of Regulatory Staff; (c) the parcel shown on Map 103 filed in the Office of Regulatory Staff; (d) the parcel shown on Map 104 filed in the Office of Regulatory Staff; (e) the parcel shown on Map 105 filed in the Office of Regulatory Staff; The provisions of this item (2) may apply to additional parcels upon agreement of the affected electric suppliers and approval of the Public Service Commission after notice and an opportunity for hearing is given to all interested parties. The Office of Regulatory Staff shall maintain these maps as public records. If any additional parcels are added pursuant to this item (2), maps must be prepared by, or at the direction of, the Office of Regulatory Staff and maintained by the Office of Regulatory Staff as public records. (3) No electric supplier shall furnish temporary electric service for the construction of premises which it would not have the right to serve under this section if such premises were already constructed. The construction of lines for, and the furnishing of, temporary service for the construction of premises which any other electric supplier, if chosen by the consumer, would have the right to serve if such premises were already constructed, shall not impair the right of such other electric supplier to furnish service to such premises after the construction thereof, if then chosen by the consumer; nor, unless the consumer chooses to have such premises served by the supplier which furnished the temporary service, shall the furnishing of such temporary service or the construction of a line therefor impair the right of any other electric supplier to furnish service to any other premises which, without regard to the construction of such temporary service line, it has the right to serve. (4) No electric supplier shall furnish electric service to any premises in this State outside the limits of any incorporated city or town except as permitted by this section; provided, that nothing in this section shall restrict the right of an electric supplier to furnish electric service to its own premises or to exchange or interchange electric energy with, purchase electric energy from or sell electric energy to any other electric supplier. (5) In extending electric service to a consumer an electric supplier will, insofar as possible, construct its facilities in accordance with good utility practices. (6) Any electric cooperative which is engaged primarily in the furnishing of electricity for resale to other electric cooperatives shall have the right to furnish such electricity for resale to all electric cooperatives but shall not furnish electric service to any other customers or premises. (7) Upon consolidation of the units of government within any county, pursuant to the Constitution of this State, existing municipal electric plants or systems within such county may continue in operation under the consolidated political subdivision and shall be subject to this chapter except within those areas as provided for in Section 58-27-20. For the purposes of this chapter a consolidated political subdivision shall not be deemed a municipality and the corporate limits of municipalities merged into the consolidated political subdivision shall be deemed to cease to exist upon consolidation except for the purposes of Sections 58-27-20 and 58-27-630. (8) In addition to the authority granted to the commission in the preceding provisions of this section, the commission shall have the authority to approve agreements between electric suppliers concerning corridor rights. This additional authority only shall apply in situations where all affected electric suppliers have reached an agreement concerning corridor rights. With respect to the agreements, the commission shall approve the agreements if, after giving notice and an opportunity for hearing to interested parties, it finds the agreements to be fair and reasonable, but the commission shall not have the authority to alter or amend any such agreement unless all affected electric suppliers agree to the alteration or amendment.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1155 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 8 / Section 58-27-1155
SECTION 58-27-1155. Prohibited actions by the State.
Status: in_force

(A) The State and its agencies, including the commission, pledge and agree with bondholders, the owners of the storm recovery property, and other financing parties that the State and its agencies will not take any action listed in this section as to any outstanding storm recovery bonds, storm recovery charges, or storm recovery property. This paragraph does not preclude limitation or alteration if full compensation is made by law for the full protection of the storm recovery charges collected pursuant to a financing order and of the bondholders and any assignee or financing party entering into a contract with the electrical utility. The prohibited actions are as follows: (1) altering the provisions of this article, which authorize the commission to create an irrevocable contract right or chose in action by the issuance of a financing order, to create storm recovery property, and make the storm recovery charges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or nonbypassable charges; (2) taking or permitting any action that impairs or would impair the value of storm recovery property or the security for the storm recovery bonds, or revises the storm recovery costs for which storm recovery is authorized; (3) in any way impairing the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and (4) except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based adjustment mechanism authorized under this article, reducing, altering, or impairing storm recovery charges that are to be imposed, billed, charged, collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed in connection with the related storm recovery bonds, have been paid and performed in full. (B) Any person or entity that issues storm recovery bonds may include the language specified in this section in the storm recovery bonds and related documentation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2710 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 23 / Section 58-17-2710
SECTION 58-17-2710. Each connected railroad shall furnish facilities for receiving and forwarding traffic of another without delay, preference or prejudice.
Status: in_force

Every railroad company doing business in this State working railways which form a part of a continuous line of railway communication shall afford all due and reasonable facilities for receiving and forwarding by one of such railways all the traffic, freight or passengers arriving by the other, without any unreasonable delay and without any preference or advantage or prejudice or disadvantage, so that no obstruction may be offered to the public desirous of using such railways as a continuous line of communication and so that all reasonable accommodation may, by means of the railways of the several companies, be at all times afforded to the public in that behalf. The above-mentioned facilities and benefits shall be afforded as well to other railroads as to the public.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-2110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 21 / Section 58-15-2110
SECTION 58-15-2110. Railroads shall construct and maintain grade crossings of highways.
Status: in_force

(A) Whenever the public safety, convenience, or necessity so requires, all operators of railroads which are now or hereafter shall be crossed at grade by a public highway shall construct and maintain grade crossings meeting the requirements of the authorities responsible for such highways. This shall apply to crossings necessary for new highways, as well as to crossings needed to replace existing crossings rendered obsolete or unnecessary by the relocation or improvement of existing highways or roads. (B) The involved railroad shall be responsible for all costs associated with construction, modification, or relocation of rail-highway grade crossings when such construction, modification, or relocation results from projects initiated by the railroad. Such railroad-initiated projects shall include, but are not limited to, constructing a new line, adding an additional track to an existing line, and relocating an existing rail line. (C) The public authority responsible for a highway crossing a railroad track or tracks shall reimburse the involved railroad for all costs that railroad incurs by virtue of construction, modification, or relocation of rail-highway grade crossings when such construction, modification, or relocation results from projects initiated by the public authority. A public authority is limited to the State Department of Transportation, which is required to reimburse the railroad for Department of Transportation authorized projects from within the funds appropriated to the Department of Transportation by the General Assembly. Such public authority-initiated projects are limited to constructing a new highway, widening an existing highway, and relocating an existing highway.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1700 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 16 / Section 58-23-1700
SECTION 58-23-1700. Local assessment fee; records; confidentiality of information; GIS file available for public use.
Status: in_force

(A) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Gross trip fare" means the sum of the base fare charge, distance charge, and time charge for the complete trip at rates published on the TNC's website. (2) "Local assessment fee" means one percent of the gross trip fare. (3) "Municipality" means a city or town issued a certificate of incorporation, or township created by act of the General Assembly. (B) A TNC shall collect a local assessment fee on behalf of a TNC driver who accepts a request for a prearranged ride made through the TNC's digital network for all prearranged rides that originate in the State. (C) Using the Geographic Information System (GIS) data made available by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office pursuant to subsection (I), a TNC shall determine whether each prearranged trip occurred within the incorporated boundaries of a municipality, or outside of the incorporated boundaries of a municipality and within the boundaries of a county of this State. (D) No later than thirty days after the end of a calendar quarter, a TNC shall submit to the Office of Regulatory Staff: (1) the total local assessment fees collected by a TNC on behalf of the TNC drivers; (2) for trips that originated in a municipality, a report listing the percentage of the gross trip fare that originated in each municipality during the reporting period; and (3) for trips that originated outside a municipality, a report listing the percentage of the gross trip fare that originated outside a municipality during the reporting period. (E) The funds collected pursuant to this section are not general fund revenue of the State and must be kept by the State Treasurer in a distinct and separate unbudgeted Trust & Agency fund and apart from the general fund. These funds are to be administered by the Office of Regulatory Staff pursuant to this section and expended only for the purposes provided in this chapter. (F)(1) The Office of Regulatory Staff shall retain an amount of one percent of the local assessment fee collected under subsection (D)(1) to cover the expenses borne by the Office of Regulatory Staff derived from: (a) regulation of TNC's; and (b) collection, remittance, and distribution of local assessment fees pursuant to this section. (2) Within sixty days of the end of the calendar quarter, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall distribute the remaining portion of the total local assessment fees collected under subsection (D)(1), minus the amount retained pursuant to subsection (F)(1), to each municipality where a trip originated during the reporting period and, for trips that originated outside a municipality, to each county where a trip originated during the reporting period. The distribution to each municipality or county must be proportionate to the percentage of the gross trip fare that originated in each municipality or county. (G)(1) To ensure that the TNC has remitted the correct local assessment fee and has accurately reported the percentages attributable to municipalities and counties pursuant to subsection (D), upon request of the municipality, the Office of Regulatory Staff may inspect the necessary records at a TNC's place of business or a mutually agreed upon location. This inspection may not be conducted more than once a year. (2) At least forty-five days before the Office of Regulatory Staff conducts an inspection of records pursuant to item (1), the Office of Regulatory Staff shall notify the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) or its successor organization of its intent to conduct an inspection and the date of the planned inspection. (3) MASC may request that a TNC that is subject to inspection under item (1) engage an independent third party auditor to verify that the local assessment to municipalities has been properly accounted for and distributed. At least thirty days before the scheduled audit, MASC must submit this request in writing to the Office of Regulatory Staff and the TNC subject to the audit. (a) The TNC that is subject to the audit shall engage the independent third party auditor, which must be selected at the sole discretion of the TNC, and bear all costs associated with the third party audit. The independent third party auditor must be: (i) a certified public accounting firm licensed in the State; and (ii) qualified to perform engagements in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). (b) The TNC shall provide MASC with a copy of the third party audit report within fifteen days of completion, which shall in no event, occur later than ninety days after receipt of MASC's written request. The audit report must disclose the amount of any underpayments or overpayments to municipalities and counties. (c) A person employed by or formerly employed by MASC who discloses to a third party any information that the TNC marked in the audit report as confidential must be assessed civil penalties as contained in Section 58-23-1680 unless the individual obtained the TNC's written consent prior to disclosure. Nothing in this section must be construed to restrict MASC from disclosing any overpayment or underpayment with the impacted municipalities or counties. (4) In the event that a TNC submits a report to the ORS that is subsequently determined to be inaccurate, thereby leading to an underpayment or overpayment of a municipality's or county's local assessment fee, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall correct the underpayment and overpayment by offsetting the amount of the underpayment or overpayment in subsequent local assessment fee distributions. In the event a TNC remits an assessment fee to the Office of Regulatory Staff that is determined to constitute an underpayment of the total assessment fee required by this article, the Transportation Network Company shall, within thirty days of receiving notification of the determination, remit the balance owed to the Office of Regulatory Staff. A TNC that submits a report containing an inaccuracy or remits an assessment fee that constitutes an underpayment that is determined by the Office of Regulatory Staff to be the result of an intentional misrepresentation must be assessed damages that are no less than three times the amount of the underpayment or resultant underpayment to the municipality or county impacted. (H) Any records maintained by a TNC pursuant to this section that are obtained by the Office of Regulatory Staff, a public body as defined by Section 30-4-20(a), or any records that incorporate information from records maintained pursuant to this section, must not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided for in Chapter 4, Title 30, or any other provision of law. (I) The Office of Regulatory Staff may not disclose records or information provided by a TNC unless disclosure is required by a subpoena or court order. If a disclosure is required, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall promptly notify the TNC prior to the disclosure. Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict the Office of Regulatory Staff from disclosing any overpayment or underpayment with the impacted municipalities or counties. (J) To ensure proper distribution of the local assessment fee pursuant to subsection (D)(2), the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office shall prepare and make available for public use a GIS file showing the state's county and municipal boundaries. This file must be updated on a quarterly basis, and published on the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office's website. In addition to the requirements of Section 5-3-90, municipalities shall provide annexation information to the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office within thirty days after the annexation is complete. Such information shall include a written description of the boundary, along with a map or plat which clearly defines the new territory added. (K) This section takes effect ninety days after the effective date of this article. Editor's Note 2015 Act No. 88, SECTION 4, provides as follows: "SECTION 4. Except as provided in Section 58-23-1700(K), as contained in Section 1, the provisions of this act take effect upon approval by the Governor."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4010 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4010
SECTION 58-17-4010. Testimony may be compelled; immunity from prosecution; production of books and papers.
Status: in_force

In any action under Section 58-17-3980 and upon any application for any injunction under Section 58-17-3990 any director, officer, receiver or trustee of any railroad corporation or company or any receiver, trustee or person operating any railroad company or any agent of any such corporation or company, receiver, trustee or person aforesaid, or of any of them alone or with any other person may be compelled to attend, appear and testify and give evidence. No claim that any such testimony or evidence might tend to incriminate the person testifying or giving evidence shall be of any avail; but such evidence shall not be used against such person on the trial of any indictment against him. The attendance and appearance of any such person who may be compelled to appear or testify, and the giving of testimony or evidence by such person and the production of books and papers by him may be compelled as in the case of any other witness and if such deposition or evidence or the production of any books or papers may be desired or required for the purpose of applying for or sustaining any injunction it and the production of books and papers may be had, taken and compelled by or before the clerk of the court in which such action is pending or in any manner provided by the laws of this State as to the taking of other depositions or evidence or the attendance of witnesses or the production of other books or papers.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2630 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 23 / Section 58-9-2630
SECTION 58-9-2630. Tax collections and payments.
Status: in_force

(A) A government-owned communications service provider shall pay or collect taxes annually in a manner equivalent to taxes paid by a nongovernment-owned communications service provider through payment of the following: (1) all state taxes, including corporate income taxes under Section 12-6-530, and utility license taxes under Section 12-20-100; (2) all local taxes, including local business license taxes, under Section 58-9-2230, together with any franchise fees and other local taxes and fees, including impact, user, service, or permit fees, pole rental fees, and rights-of-way franchise, consent, or administrative fees; and (3) all property taxes on otherwise exempt real and personal property that are directly used in the provision of a communications service. (B) A government-owned communications service provider shall compute, collect, and remit taxes in the same manner as a nongovernment-owned communications service provider and must be entitled to the same deductions. (C) A government-owned communications service provider shall annually remit to the general fund of the government entity owning the communications service provider an amount equal to all taxes or fees a private sector communications service provider must pay. (D) The taxpayer confidentiality provisions contained in Title 12 do not apply to the filing of a government-owned communications service provider. However, the Department of Revenue shall require an annual report of all communications service providers. The report must require a communications company licensed in this State to report the total gross of retail communications to which the business license tax is applicable pursuant to Section 58-9-2220. This information must be available to any entity authorized to collect a tax on retail communications or its agent. Information provided to an entity or agent authorized to collect a tax must not be disclosed or provided to another person. This information may only be used by an entity or agent of an entity authorized to collect a tax for purposes of determining the accuracy of tax returns, filings, and payment of taxes. 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. § 58-9-1050 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1050
SECTION 58-9-1050. Self-incrimination; immunity.
Status: in_force

No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any book, document, paper, or account in any hearing before the commission or any commissioner, 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, except that no person so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him in his testimony.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-1120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 11 / Section 58-5-1120
SECTION 58-5-1120. Termination procedures; contents.
Status: in_force

(A) Each public utility furnishing natural gas to residential customers 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. Each public utility furnishing natural gas to residential customers 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 utility, 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. § 58-11-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-120
SECTION 58-11-120. Extension of existing facilities.
Status: in_force

Any radio common carrier may establish, construct, maintain, and operate any reasonable extension of its facilities within its service area, after due notice of intent to the commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff by letter, without public hearing before the commission, unless otherwise ordered by the commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-840 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 5 / Section 58-11-840
SECTION 58-11-840. Processing of applications to collocate small wireless facilities on a nondiscriminatory basis; conditions for denial; nondiscriminatory terms and conditions.
Status: in_force

(A) The provisions of this section apply to the collocation of small wireless facilities on an authority pole in the ROW by a wireless provider. (B) A person owning, managing, or controlling authority poles in the ROW may not enter into an exclusive arrangement with any person for the right to attach to such poles. A person who purchases or otherwise acquires an authority pole is subject to the requirements of this section. (C) Subject to an authority's ability to deny a permit application as set forth in this article, an authority shall allow the collocation of small wireless facilities on authority poles on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions in compliance with this article. (D) The rates to collocate on authority poles must be nondiscriminatory regardless of the services provided by the collocating wireless provider and must be as set forth in Section 58-11-850. (E)(1) The rates, fees, terms, and conditions for make-ready work to collocate on an authority pole must be nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral, commercially reasonable, and in compliance with this article. (2)(a) The authority shall provide a good faith estimate for any make-ready work necessary to enable the pole to support the requested collocation by a wireless provider, including pole replacement if necessary, within sixty days after receipt of a complete application. Alternatively, the authority may require the wireless provider to perform the make-ready work and notify the wireless provider of such within the sixty-day period. If the wireless provider or its contractor performs the make-ready work, the wireless provider shall indemnify the authority for any negligence by the wireless provider or its contractor in the performance of such make-ready work and the work shall otherwise comply with applicable law. (b) Make-ready work performed by or on behalf of an authority, including any pole replacement, must be completed within sixty days of written acceptance of the good faith estimate by the applicant. An authority may require replacement of the authority pole only if it demonstrates that the collocation would make the authority pole structurally unsound. (3) The person owning, managing, or controlling the authority pole must not require more make-ready work than required to meet applicable codes or industry standards. Fees assessed by or on behalf of an authority for make-ready work, including any pole replacement, must not: (a) include costs related to preexisting or prior damage or noncompliance; (b) exceed either actual costs or the amount charged to other communications service providers for similar work on similar types of authority poles; or (c) include any revenue or contingency-based consultant's fees or expenses of any kind. (4) A wireless provider collocating on an authority pole pursuant to this article is responsible for reimbursing third parties for their actual and reasonable costs of any make-ready work reasonably required by the third party to accommodate the collocation. If the authority includes such costs of a third party in the good faith estimate provided pursuant to item (2), payment of that estimate to the authority constitutes reimbursement of the third party by the wireless provider. Otherwise, the third party may bill the wireless provider for such reimbursement within six months of the completion of the third party's make-ready work.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2780 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 24 / Section 58-27-2780
SECTION 58-27-2780. Petition for review.
Status: in_force

Within thirty days of the issuance of an Initial Order pursuant to Section 58-27-2760, or within thirty days of the failure by the commission to issue an order as required pursuant to Section 58-27-2760, any aggrieved party may petition the commission for review of the Initial Order or failure to issue an order and all interested parties of record shall have a right to be heard at an evidentiary hearing on the matter. The party shall serve a copy of such petition on the Office of Regulatory Staff and other parties of record on the same day and by the same means as it is provided to the commission. 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. § 58-27-2030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2030
SECTION 58-27-2030. Employment and duties of special agent or examiner.
Status: in_force

In any hearing, the commission may employ a special agent or examiner who shall have power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, consistent with the Code of Judicial 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 above provided.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 3 / Section 58-23-210
SECTION 58-23-210. Application for a certificate.
Status: in_force

(A) An applicant applying for a certificate or applying to amend a certificate to operate as a motor vehicle common carrier must submit a written application to the commission on a form provided by the commission. The commission must post information regarding an application to apply for a certificate or amend a certificate for fifteen days immediately following receipt of the application. Any person who may be affected by the issuance or amendment of the requested certificate or amendment may file a written objection with the commission within fourteen days after the commission posts the notice regarding the application. (B)(1) If no objection to an application is filed pursuant to subsection (A), the commission may meet to determine if the applicant is fit, willing, and able to perform the proposed service, upon a showing based upon criteria established by the commission. If the commission issues a directive approving the application, the Office of Regulatory Staff may then issue the certificate. The directive of the commission shall serve as the commission's order thirty days after issuance. (2) If an objection is filed with the commission, the commission must hold a hearing to determine if the applicant is fit, willing, and able to perform the proposed service. The commission must publish a notice of hearing for an application for a certificate on the commission's website for not less than thirty days before the date of the hearing. (C) If an application is denied, another application may not be made until at least six months have elapsed since the date of the denial. 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 6, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1260 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1260
SECTION 58-27-1260. Order preliminary to issuance of certificate.
Status: in_force

If an electrical utility, except a municipality within its corporate limits, desires to exercise a right or privilege under a permit, consent, or other authority which it contemplates securing but which has not as yet been granted to it, the electrical utility may apply to the commission for an order preliminary to the issuance of the certificate. The electrical utility also must serve a copy of its application upon the Office of Regulatory Staff. The commission may thereupon make an order declaring that it will thereafter, upon application, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, issue the desired certificate upon terms and conditions as it may designate after the electrical utility has obtained the contemplated permit, consent, or other authority. Upon the presentation to the commission of evidence satisfactory to it that such permit, consent, or other authority has been secured by such electrical utility, the commission must thereupon issue the certificate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3350 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3350
SECTION 58-17-3350. Tools and appliances.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation must equip each of its trains, for use in case of accident, with such tools and appliances as the Office of Regulatory Staff may direct.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-440 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 3 / Section 58-11-440
SECTION 58-11-440. Fixing value of carrier.
Status: in_force

The Commission may after hearing ascertain and fix the value of the whole or any part of the property of any radio common carrier insofar as such property is material to the exercise of the jurisdiction of the Commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 58-17-30
SECTION 58-17-30. Persons to whom chapter shall apply.
Status: in_force

The provisions of the General Railroad Law shall apply to all persons, firms and companies and to all associations, whether incorporated or not, operating as common carriers upon any of the lines of railroads in this State (street railways and express companies excepted) the same as to railroad corporations herein mentioned.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-770 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 11 / Section 58-13-770
SECTION 58-13-770. Action for damages for injury caused by explosive compound.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall suffer injury by the explosion of any explosive compound while it is being kept or transported contrary to the provisions of this article or the ordinances, rules or bylaws made in conformity thereto may recover damages for the injury thus sustained in an action against the person so violating the provisions of this article or the ordinances, rules or bylaws made in conformity therewith.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2670 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 23 / Section 58-9-2670
SECTION 58-9-2670. Exemptions for government-owned communications service providers receiving funding for Comprehensive Community Infrastructure project.
Status: in_force

(A) For any government-owned communications service provider that, on or before the effective date of this act, was awarded funding for a Comprehensive Community Infrastructure middle-mile project pursuant to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program administered by the United States Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration: (1) the provisions of Section 58-9-2630 do not apply; (2) the provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2650, and 58-9-2660 do not apply to the provision of communications services by a government-owned communications service provider to the government entity that owns the communications facility, operation, or system; and (3) the provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2650, and 58-9-2660 do not apply to the extent that the middle-mile services it offers are used to actually provide communications services to end users in unserved areas. The provider may use any reasonable methodology to comply with this provision. On an annual basis, the provider must file with the commission and provide to the Office of Regulatory Staff a detailed explanation of the methodology it uses to comply with this section, along with supporting documentation, and the explanation and documentation must be made available for public inspection and copying. (B) The provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2630, 58-9-2650, and 58-9-2660 do not apply to any government-owned communications service provider, that, on or before the effective date of this act, was awarded a grant for a last-mile project pursuant to the Broadband Initiatives Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, to the extent that the government-owned communications service provider provides communications services to addresses that are within the area set forth in its application for the grant, referenced above or to addresses that satisfy each of the following five criteria: (i) are within the border of the grant recipient's county; (ii) are six miles or further from the center point of any incorporated area that, as of December 31, 2011, had a population in excess of ten thousand as determined by the 2010 Census; (iii) are outside any area that, as of December 31, 2011, was served by a rural telephone company, as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 153(37), that provided service to less than fifteen thousand access lines within its local exchange study area in the State; (iv) are outside the boundaries of any industrial or business park owned in whole or in part by the grant recipient's county and occupied by one or more persons or entities as of the effective date of this act; and (v) are one mile or further from the center of any incorporated area or unincorporated community with a population of no more than one thousand five hundred as long as the address is, as of December 31, 2011, within an exchange of a rural telephone company as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 153(37). The provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2630, 58-9-2650, and 58-9-2660 apply to the extent that the government-owned communications service provider provides communications service to any other addresses. In order not to impede efficient network design, nothing in this subsection prohibits the incidental placement of the government-owned communications service provider's facilities outside the borders of the grant recipient's county as long as such facilities are not used to provide any communications services to any addresses outside the grant recipient's county. (C) The provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2630, 58-9-2650, and 58-9-2660 do not apply to any municipality that is a government-owned communications service provider and that: (i) applied, on or before December 31, 2011, for a grant for a last-mile project pursuant to the Broadband Initiatives Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service; (ii) expended funds in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars to complete business plans or feasibility studies in support of such application; and (iii) is awarded federal funds to support the project identified in the application referenced in item (i) of this subsection. The exemption provided in this subsection applies only to the extent that the municipality that is a government-owned communications service provider provides communications services to addresses that are within both the county in which the municipality is located and the area described in its grant application referenced in item (i) of this subsection or to addresses that are within the limits of the municipality that meets the requirements of this subsection, it being the specific intent that this subsection (C) shall apply to the entire geographic area described in any grant application that meets the requirements of this subsection as well as the entire area within the limits of any municipality that meets the requirement of this subsection. (D) For any government-owned communications service provider that, on or before the effective date of this act, also was a charter member institution of the South Carolina LightRail Consortium, the provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2630, and 58-9-2650 do not apply to the institution or any of its affiliated organizations in the provision of connection to national research and educational networks described in 59-151-110(A), provided that: (i) the institution and its affiliated organizations use such connection solely for research and education-related activities; (ii) under no circumstances will the institution or any of its affiliated organizations provide service that connects commercial sites or that carries commercial traffic, commercial Internet traffic or K-12 traffic originated in South Carolina; and (iii) neither such charter member institution of the South Carolina LightRail Consortium nor any affiliated organization is authorized to otherwise compete with the commercial communications or information offerings of private sector participants. As used in this subsection, "affiliated organization" means an entity formed for the purpose of owning, leasing, providing or operating the facilities used to provide service to the charter member institution and to related entities that support the mission of the charter member institution. For purposes of this subsection, occasional and incidental use of the connection by persons appropriately granted such access to the connection for purposes that are not directly related to the missions of the charter member institutions is not considered as competing with the commercial communications or information offerings of private sector participants. (E) Nothing in this act is intended nor may be construed to prohibit MUSC or MUSC Authority from using the South Carolina LightRail, in furtherance of a documented research project, to transmit medical imaging between MUSC and the MUSC Authority and other hospital or health care facilities taking part in the project. (F) The provisions of Sections 58-9-2620, 58-9-2630, 58-9-2650, and 58-9-2660 do not apply to the provision of wireless fidelity (wi-fi) service by a county or a municipality as long as the county or municipality does not impose a charge or fee of any kind for the service. 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. § 58-5-1130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 11 / Section 58-5-1130
SECTION 58-5-1130. Third-party notification program.
Status: in_force

Each public utility furnishing natural gas 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 natural gas service is scheduled for termination.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 58-17-90
SECTION 58-17-90. General powers and duties of railroad companies.
Status: in_force

Every railroad company incorporated in this State shall have all the rights, powers and privileges set forth and granted in and by this chapter and be subject to all the duties, liabilities, restrictions, provisions and limitations herein contained and such rights, powers, privileges, liabilities, provisions and limitations shall constitute part and parcel of the charter of every such corporation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 58-13-10
SECTION 58-13-10. Opening or injuring package, parcel or baggage by employee of carrier unlawful.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful for any agent, servant, baggage master, or other person in the service or employment of a carrier of persons or property for hire, carelessly, negligently, or wilfully to open, break into, or injure a package, parcel, or baggage while in the custody or under the control of the common carrier. A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-220 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 3 / Section 58-21-220
SECTION 58-21-220. Commission may prescribe number of cars and other matters during temporary increase in demand for transportation.
Status: in_force

When demand for transportation shall temporarily increase it shall be the duty of the Public Service Commission to prescribe the number and condition of cars, power, equipment, ways, means and facilities that may be reasonably necessary under the circumstances.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1880 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-1880
SECTION 58-17-1880. Revision of schedules.
Status: in_force

The Commission shall from time to time and as often as circumstances may require, change and revise each such schedule. Thirty days' notice of any such change or revision shall first be given to the railroad company to be affected thereby before such change or revision shall go into effect.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-480 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 58-5-480
SECTION 58-5-480. Office of Regulatory staffing; assessments for staffing costs.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized additional positions as the General Assembly may provide in the annual General Appropriations Act for the purpose of performing its duties under this article; however, no more than one position for each natural gas utility regulated pursuant to this article may be authorized. All salaries, benefits, expenses, and charges incurred by the Office of Regulatory Staff for these positions must be borne by the natural gas utilities regulated pursuant to this article. On or before the first day of July in each year, the Department of Revenue must assess each natural gas utility regulated pursuant to this article an equal portion of these salaries, benefits, expenses, and charges 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 natural gas utilities by the Department of Revenue and collected by the department in the manner provided by law for the collection of taxes from the natural gas utilities, including the enforcement and collection provisions of Article 1, Chapter 54 of 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. These assessments are in addition to any amounts assessed pursuant to Section 58-4-60. These assessments must be deposited in a special fund with the State Treasurer's Office from which the salaries, benefits, expenses, and charges shall be paid. The Office of Regulatory Staff must annually certify to the Department of Revenue on or before May first the amounts to be assessed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-230 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-230
SECTION 58-27-230. Exercise of other powers of Commission not excluded.
Status: in_force

The enumeration of the powers of the Commission as herein set forth shall not be construed to exclude the exercise of any power which the Commission would otherwise have under the provisions of law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2510 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 21 / Section 58-9-2510
SECTION 58-9-2510. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article: (1) "CMRS connection" means each mobile number assigned to a CMRS customer. (2) "Commercial Mobile Radio Service" (CMRS) means commercial mobile radio service under Sections 3(27) and 332(d), Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. Section 151, et seq., Federal Communications Commission Rules, and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. The term includes any wireless two-way communication device, including radio-telephone communications used in cellular telephone service, personal communication service, or the functional and/or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service, a personal communication service, or a network radio access line. The term does not include services that do not provide access to 911 service, a communication channel suitable only for data transmission, a wireless roaming service or other nonlocal radio access line service, or a private telecommunications system. (3) "Commission" means the Public Service Commission. (4) "Deaf person" means an individual who is unable to hear and understand oral communication, with or without the assistance of amplification devices. (5) "Department" means the Department of Revenue. (6) "Dual party relay system" or "DPR" means a procedure in which a deaf, hearing, or speech impaired TDD user can communicate with an intermediary party, who then orally relays the first party's message or request to a third party, or a procedure in which a party who is not deaf or hearing or speech impaired can communicate with an intermediary party who then relays the message or request to a TDD user. (7) "Dual sensory impaired person" means an individual who is deaf/blind or has both a permanent hearing impairment and a permanent visual impairment. (8) "Exchange access facility" means the access from a particular telephone subscriber's premises to the telephone system of a service supplier. Exchange access facilities include service supplier provided access lines, PBX trunks, and Centrex network access registers, all as defined by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Exchange access facilities do not include service supplier owned and operated telephone pay station lines, or wide area telecommunications service (wats), foreign exchange (fx), or incoming lines. (9) "Hard of hearing person" means an individual who has suffered a permanent hearing loss which is severe enough to necessitate the use of amplification devices to hear oral communication. (10) "Hearing impaired person" means a person who is deaf or hard of hearing. (11) "Local exchange provider" means a local exchange telephone company operating in this State. (12) "Operating fund" means the Dual Party Relay Service Operating Fund which is a specific fund to be created by the commission and established, invested, managed, and maintained for the exclusive purpose of implementing the provisions of this chapter according to commission regulations. (13) "Prepaid wireless consumer" means a person or entity that purchases prepaid wireless telecommunications service in a prepaid wireless retail transaction. (14) "Prepaid wireless provider" means a person or entity that provides prepaid wireless telecommunications service pursuant to a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. (15) "Prepaid wireless retail transaction" means the purchase of prepaid wireless telecommunications service from a prepaid wireless seller for any purpose other than resale. (16) "Prepaid wireless seller" means a person or entity that sells prepaid wireless telecommunications service to another person or entity for any purpose other than resale. (17) "Prepaid wireless telecommunications service" means any commercial mobile radio service that allows a caller to dial 911 to access the 911 system, which service must be paid for in advance and is sold in units or dollars which decline with use in a known amount. (18) "Speech impaired person" means an individual who has suffered a loss of oral communication ability which prohibits normal use of a standard telephone handset. (19) "Subscriber" means any person, company, corporation, business, association, or party who is provided telephone (local exchange access facility) service or CMRS service or VoIP service. (20) "Telecommunications device" or "telecommunications device for the deaf, hearing, or speech impaired" or "TDD" or "TTY" means a keyboard mechanism attached to or in place of a standard telephone by some coupling device used to transmit or receive signals through telephone lines. (21) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service" means interconnected VoIP service as that term is defined in 47 C.F.R. Section 9.3 as may be amended. (22) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider" means a person or entity that provides VoIP service. (23) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber" means a person or entity that purchases VoIP service from a VoIP provider. (24) "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service line" means a VoIP service that offers an active telephone number or successor dialing protocol assigned by a VoIP service provider to a customer that has outbound calling capability. Editor's Note 1990 Act No. 488, SECTION 1, eff May 30, 1990, provides as follows: "The General Assembly finds: "(1) that telephone service provides a rapid and essential communications link among the general public and with essential offices and organizations such as police, fire, and medical facilities;. "(2) that all persons should have basic telephone service available to them at a just and reasonable rate;. "(3) that a significant portion of South Carolina's hearing and speech impaired population has profound disabilities which render normal telephone equipment useless without additional specialized devices; and. "(4) that there exists a need for a program in which access to basic telephone service for hearing and speech impaired persons is equal in cost to the amount paid by other telephone customers." Effect of Amendment 2016 Act No. 181, SECTION 7, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-230 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-230
SECTION 58-3-230. Unauthorized change of utility provider service; authorization; penalties; "customer" defined.
Status: in_force

(A) A utility, as defined in Sections 58-5-10, 58-9-10, and 58-27-10, may not submit a change request for a customer's utility service until the customer's authorization for the change is obtained by using marketing or anti-slamming guidelines approved by the appropriate federal and state regulatory agencies. In the case of utilities defined by Section 58-9-10, the appropriate regulatory agencies are the Federal Communications Commission and the South Carolina Public Service Commission. If a utility other than that directly receiving the customer authorization subsequently effects the change into billing or operational systems, it is not: (1) required to secure additional customer authorization; and (2) liable pursuant to this section for errors, omissions, or unauthorized changes submitted by the utility originating the request. (B) A utility defined in Sections 58-5-10 and 58-27-10 that violates subsection (A) is liable to the customer for all charges incurred by the customer, in excess of those normally incurred through his designated provider, during the period of the unauthorized change. (C) A utility defined in Section 58-9-10 that violates subsection (A) is liable as specified in Federal Communications Commission guidelines promulgated pursuant to the United States Code of Laws, Chapter 1, Title 47. (D) A utility, as defined in Sections 58-5-10, 58-9-10, and 58-27-10, that wilfully, knowingly, or repeatedly violates the provisions of subsection (A) is subject to a fine of not less than two thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars for each violation. The fines collected by the Public Service Commission pursuant to this section must remain with the commission and be used to offset costs associated with this section. (E) As used in this section "customer" means: (1) the party identified in the account records of a utility as the one responsible for payment of the utility bill; (2) an adult person authorized by the responsible party to change utility services or to charge services to the account; or (3) a person contractually or otherwise lawfully authorized to represent the responsible party.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1050 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 11 / Section 58-23-1050
SECTION 58-23-1050. Certain statutory provisions not applicable to baggage.
Status: in_force

The provisions of Articles 1 to 11 of this chapter as to motor vehicles carrying property shall not apply to the baggage of passengers transported by holders of certificates A, B or C.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4000 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4000
SECTION 58-17-4000. Limitation of action.
Status: in_force

No action provided for in Sections 58-17-3980 and 58-17-3990 shall be sustained unless brought within two years after the cause of action shall accrue.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-185 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 3 / Section 58-33-185
SECTION 58-33-185. Additional requirements regarding acquisition of a major utility facility.
Status: in_force

(A) The Public Service Authority may not acquire a major utility facility without approval of the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, provided that the approval is required only to the extent the transaction is not subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any other federal agency. (B)(1) In acting upon any petition by the Public Service Authority pursuant to this section, the Public Service Authority must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the proposed transaction constitutes a more cost-effective means for serving direct serve and wholesale customers than other feasibly available long-term power supply alternatives and provides less ratepayer risk while maintaining safe and reliable electric service than other feasibly available long-term power supply alternatives. The commission shall consider any previous analysis performed pursuant to Section 58-37-40 in acting upon any petition by the Public Service Authority pursuant to this section. The commission shall also take into account the Public Service Authority's arrangements with other electric utilities for interchange of power, pooling of plants, purchase of power and other alternative methods for providing reliable, efficient, and economical electric service. (2) Available long-term power supply alternatives may include, but not be limited to, power purchase agreements of a different duration than proposed, competitive procurement of renewable energy, joint dispatch agreements, market purchases from an existing regional transmission organization, joining or creating a new regional transmission organization, using best available technology for energy generation, transmission, storage and distribution, or any combination thereof. (C) Application for the approval of the commission shall be made by the Public Service Authority and shall contain a concise statement of the proposed action, the reasons therefor, and such other information as may be required by the commission. (D) Upon the receipt of an application, the commission shall promptly fix a date for the commencement of a public hearing, not less than sixty nor more than ninety days after the receipt, and shall conclude the proceedings as expeditiously as practicable. The commission shall establish notice requirements and proceedings shall include an opportunity for intervention, discovery, filed comments or testimony, and an evidentiary hearing. (E) The commission shall render a decision upon the record either granting or denying the application as filed, or granting it upon such terms, conditions or modifications as the commission may deem appropriate. (F)(1) The commission may not grant approval unless it shall find and determine that the Public Service Authority satisfied all requirements of this section and the proposed transaction is in the best interests of the retail and wholesale customers of the Public Service Authority. (2) The commission also may require compliance with any provision of Article 3, Chapter 33, Title 58 that the commission determines necessary to grant approval. 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." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 20, in (1), substituted "acquire" for "enter into a contract for the acquisition of".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-295 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-295
SECTION 58-9-295. Agreements limiting other communications providers from access to rights-of-way prohibited; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) No communications service provider or a parent company, subsidiary, or affiliate of a communications service provider shall enter into any contract, agreement, or arrangement, oral or written, with a person or entity that: (1) requires a person or entity to restrict or limit the ability of any other communications service provider from obtaining easements or rights-of-way for the installation of facilities or equipment to provide communications services in this State or otherwise deny or restrict access to the real property by any other communications service provider; or (2) offers or grants incentives or rewards to an owner of real property or the owner's agent that are contingent upon restricting or limiting the ability of any other communications service provider from obtaining easements or rights-of-way for the installation of facilities or equipment to provide communications services in this State or otherwise denying or restricting access to the real property by any other communications service provider. (B)(1) Nothing in this section prohibits a communications service provider and a user or prospective user of communications service from entering into an agreement with respect to the user or prospective user's own communications service. (2) Nothing in this section prohibits an owner of real property or the owner's agent from entering into agreements with one or more communications service providers for the purpose of marketing a communications service to the owner of real property or to the tenants of real property, so long as such agreements are not in violation of subsection (A). (3) This section does not affect a franchise agreement or other agreement with a municipality concerning the use of public streets, public rights-of-way, or other public property. (C) All contracts, agreements, or arrangements in violation of subsection (A) made on or after the effective date of this section are void and unenforceable. (D) A communications service provider who violates the provisions of this section is subject to a monetary penalty as provided in Section 58-9-1610. Each day that a contract, agreement, or arrangement prohibited by this section remains in force or effect shall constitute a separate violation as provided in Section 58-9-1620. 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. § 58-27-1130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 8 / Section 58-27-1130
SECTION 58-27-1130. Description of storm recovery property; application of section.
Status: in_force

The description of storm recovery property being transferred to an assignee in any sale agreement, purchase agreement, or other transfer agreement, granted or pledged to a pledgee in any security agreement, pledge agreement, or other security document, or indicated in any financing statement is only sufficient if such description or indication refers to the financing order that created the storm recovery property and states that the agreement or financing statement covers all or part of the property described in the financing order. This section applies to all purported transfers of, and all purported grants or liens or security interests in, storm recovery property, regardless of whether the related sale agreement, purchase agreement, other transfer agreement, security agreement, pledge agreement, or other security document was entered into, or any financing statement was filed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 9 / Section 58-17-1170
SECTION 58-17-1170. Crossing or connecting with other railroads; purchase, sale, lease or consolidation of property and franchises.
Status: in_force

Every such company may connect with or cross any other railroad on its line and may purchase, lease or consolidate with, or sell or lease its property and franchises to, any other railroad in or out of this State, in such manner and upon such terms as may be agreed between such railroad companies not inconsistent with laws of this State or of the United States.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2010 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 17 / Section 58-9-2010
SECTION 58-9-2010. Telephone and telegraph wires shall be erected and maintained so as to protect persons and property.
Status: in_force

No telegraph or telephone wire shall be erected or maintained within fifty yards of any public road or highway in this State unless it shall be so constructed, erected and maintained and provided with sufficient lightning guards and arresters as may be necessary for the protection of persons and property. Any person erecting or maintaining any such wire in violation of the provisions hereof shall forfeit and pay as a penalty therefor five dollars a day for each day such default continues after he shall have been given thirty days' written notice specifying the fault or defect in the manner of erection, construction or maintenance thereof, to be recovered at the suit of any citizen of any county in which such violation occurs. The sum so recovered, after paying therefrom all the expenses incurred in the prosecution of such suit, shall be paid into the county treasury for ordinary county purposes. Editor's Note 2006 Act No. 318, SECTION 234 , provides as follows: "Nothing in this act shall be deemed to repeal or modify any prior act of the General Assembly that removes or modifies the regulation of any service provided by any telephone utility."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-930 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-930
SECTION 58-15-930. Liability of railroads having relief departments.
Status: in_force

When any railroad company has what is usually called a relief department for its employees, the members of which are required or permitted to pay some dues, fees, moneys or compensation to be entitled to the benefits thereof upon the death or injury of the employee, a member of such relief department, such railroad company shall pay to the person entitled to it the amount it was agreed the employee or his heirs-at-law should receive from such relief department. The acceptance of such amount shall not operate to estop or in any way bar the right of such employee or his personal representative to recover damages of such railroad company for injury or death caused by the negligence of such company, its agents or servants, as provided by law and any contract or agreement to the contrary shall be ineffective for that purpose.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1030
SECTION 58-9-1030. Administration of oaths, examination of witnesses and certification of official acts.
Status: in_force

Each of the commissioners, for the purposes mentioned in Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter, may administer oaths, examine witnesses, and certify official acts.