S.C. Code Ann. § 58-4-50 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 4 / Section 58-4-50
SECTION 58-4-50. Regulatory staff duties and responsibilities; providing assistance to commission; Ethics and Administrative Procedures Act workshop attendance.
Status: in_force

(A) It is the duty and responsibility of the regulatory staff to: (1) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and in the public interest, review, investigate, and make appropriate recommendations to the commission with respect to the rates charged or proposed to be charged by any public utility; (2) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and in the public interest, make inspections, audits, and examinations of public utilities regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the commission. The regulatory staff has sole responsibility for this duty but shall also make such inspections, audits, or examinations of public utilities as requested by the commission; (3) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and in the public interest, review, investigate, and make appropriate recommendations to the commission with respect to the service furnished or proposed to be furnished by any public utility; (4) represent the public interest in commission proceedings, hearings, rulemakings, adjudications, arbitrations, and other regulatory matters unless the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff chooses to opt out as a participant under the provisions of item 10; (5) investigate complaints affecting the public interest generally, including those which are directed to the commission, commissioners, or commission employees, and where appropriate, make recommendations to the commission with respect to these complaints; (6) upon request by the commission, make studies and recommendations to the commission with respect to standards, regulations, practices, or service of any public utility pursuant to the provisions of this title; (7) make recommendations to the commission with respect to standards, regulations, practices, or service of any public utility pursuant to the provisions of this title; (8) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and in the public interest, provide legal representation of the public interest before state courts, federal regulatory agencies, and federal courts in proceedings that could affect the rates or service of any public utility; (9) to serve as a facilitator or otherwise act directly or indirectly to resolve disputes and issues involving matters within the jurisdiction of the commission. In accordance with the mission of the Office of Regulatory Staff as provided for in Section 58-4-10 and in the context of settlement negotiations, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall consider any applicable requirements set out for the Public Service Commission pursuant to Section 58-3-140; (10) when considered appropriate by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and not adverse to the public interest, choose to not participate in any commission proceeding; (11) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and in the public interest, educate the public on matters affecting public utilities which are of special interest to consumers; and (12) when considered necessary by the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and in the public interest, make inspections, audits, and examination of the compliance by electric cooperatives with the provisions of law specified in Section 33-49-150. (B) Subject to the provisions of Section 58-3-260 and, upon request, the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff must employ the resources of the regulatory staff to furnish to the commission, or its members, such information and reports or conduct such investigations and provide other assistance as may reasonably be required in order to supervise and control the public utilities of the State and to carry out the laws providing for their regulation. (C) Each year, the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and the regulatory staff employees must attend a workshop of at least six contact hours concerning ethics and the Administrative Procedures Act. This workshop must be developed with input from the review committee. 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." 2019 Act No. 56, SECTION 16, provides as follows: "SECTION 16. Where the provisions of new or revised 1976 Code sections or subsections contained in this act conflict with provisions of the bylaws of an electric cooperative, the provisions of this act control and the cooperative, as permitted by Section 33-49-280, shall amend and conform its bylaw provisions accordingly." Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 56, SECTION 13, in (A), added (12). 2025 Act No. 41, SECTION 43, in (A)(9), added the last sentence.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-210
SECTION 58-27-210. Actions to prevent or discontinue violations of law or orders of Commission.
Status: in_force

Whenever it shall appear that any electrical utility, electric cooperative, the South Carolina Public Service Authority regarding its provision of electric services, or consolidated political subdivision is failing or omitting, or about to fail or omit, to do anything required of it by law or by order of the commission or is doing, or about to do anything or permitting or about to permit anything to be done contrary to or in violation of law or of any order of the commission, an action or proceeding shall be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the Office of Regulatory Staff for the purpose of having such violation or threatened violation discontinued or prevented, either by mandamus, injunction, or other appropriate relief, and in such action or proceeding, it shall be permissible to join such other persons, corporations, municipalities, or consolidated political subdivisions as parties thereto as may be reasonably necessary to make the order of the court in all respects effective. The commission must not be a party to any action. Effect of Amendment 2021 Act No. 90, SECTION 17, in the first sentence, inserted "the South Carolina Public Service Authority regarding its provision of electric services," following "electric cooperative,".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 25 / Section 58-17-3120
SECTION 58-17-3120. Installation of cinder deflectors or wire screens; enforcement of requirement.
Status: in_force

All railroad companies operating passenger trains or coaches by steam, within or through this State, must put cinder deflectors or wire screens that will effectually keep cinders from engines from entering cars upon all windows of passenger coaches, so as to protect passengers when the windows are raised. The deflectors must extend from the bottom of windows the entire length and three inches above the top of the sash and must be six inches wide and permanently fastened to each outside edge of each window. Any railroad company refusing or neglecting to comply with the provisions of this section is subject to a penalty of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars for each coach not screened as required by this section, to be recovered by the Office of Regulatory Staff at the request of any person aggrieved by such refusal or neglect, for the benefit of the State. The Office of Regulatory Staff must enforce this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-840 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-840
SECTION 58-27-840. Preferences and unreasonable differences in rates shall not be made; classifications may be established.
Status: in_force

(A) No electrical utility, or consolidated political subdivision shall, as to rates or services, make or grant any unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation, municipality or consolidated political subdivision to its unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. No electrical utility, or consolidated political subdivision shall establish or maintain any unreasonable difference as to rates or service as between localities or as between classes of service. Subject to the approval of the Commission, however, electrical utilities, and consolidated political subdivisions may establish classifications of rates and services and such classifications may take into account the conditions and circumstances surrounding the service, such as the time when used, the purpose for which used, the demand upon plant facilities, the value of the service rendered and any other reasonable consideration. The Commission may determine any question of fact arising under this section. The Commission shall not fix any rates charged by electric cooperatives or consolidated political subdivisions. (B) No distribution electric cooperative shall, as to rates or services, make or grant any unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation, municipality or consolidated political subdivision to its unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. No distribution electric cooperative shall establish or maintain any unreasonable difference as to rates or service as between localities or as between classes of service. The Office of Regulatory Staff is granted the authority to audit, on its own initiative or in response to complaints, issues arising under this subsection, including the authority to review and examine whether the distribution electric cooperatives are maintaining any unreasonable differences as to rates or service as between localities or as between classes of service. Rate classifications established by distribution electric cooperatives may take into account the conditions and circumstances surrounding the service, such as the time when used, the purpose for which used, the demand upon plant facilities, the value of the service rendered, and any other reasonable consideration. Upon completion of an audit, review, or examination as provided in this section, the Office of Regulatory Staff must report its findings to the board of the distribution electric cooperative and attempt to resolve any compliance issues identified in the audit. (C) The Commission is granted authority to resolve any disputed issues arising from the audit, review, or examination by the Office of Regulatory Staff of matters arising under subsection (B) of this section. The Commission shall not fix any rates charged by electric cooperatives. Editor's Note 2019 Act No. 56, SECTION 16, provides as follows: "SECTION 16. Where the provisions of new or revised 1976 Code sections or subsections contained in this act conflict with provisions of the bylaws of an electric cooperative, the provisions of this act control and the cooperative, as permitted by Section 33-49-280, shall amend and conform its bylaw provisions accordingly." Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 56, SECTION 15, inserted the (A) identifier; in (A), in the first and second sentences, deleted "distribution electric cooperative" following "No electrical utility,", and in the third sentence, deleted "distribution electric cooperatives" following "electrical utilities,"; added (B), providing for the manner in which the prohibition against preferences and unreasonable differences in rates applies to distribution electric cooperatives; and added (C), granting the Commission authority to resolve disputed issues from the audit, review, or examination by the Office of Regulatory Staff.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1640 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 13 / Section 58-9-1640
SECTION 58-9-1640. Penalties shall be cumulative.
Status: in_force

All penalties accruing under Articles 1 through 13 of 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 telephone utility or any officer, director, agent or employee thereof or any other corporation or person.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-25-60 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 25 / Section 58-25-60
SECTION 58-25-60. Sources of funds; vehicle registration fee.
Status: in_force

The intended mechanism for raising the necessary local funds to support the operation of the authority must be set forth in the agreement provided for in Section 58-25-30. The declaration of intended sources of local funds does not preclude the use of other local, state, or federal sources which shall subsequently become available except for state highway construction funds which may not be used. The agreement may be amended specifically to recognize new sources. Local funds may be generated from the following source of revenue, notwithstanding other provisions of law. This source is not intended to be exclusive. A vehicle registration fee may be levied by the governing bodies of the member cities and counties on the motor vehicles registered within the service area of the authority. If this mechanism is used, the amount of the vehicle registration fee must be set forth in the agreement. The authority shall request the members of the General Assembly representing its service area to approve increases in the registration fee. Unless these members of the General Assembly by majority vote approve the increase, no increases may be imposed. This registration fee must be added to the personal property tax notice collected as a part of the personal property tax and the fee rebated to the authority. Property tax revenue must not be used to support operation of the authority unless the authority has been approved by referendum pursuant to Section 58-25-30. In areas with Regional Transportation Authorities in existence on the effective date of this act, a vehicle registration fee increase for the purpose of financing a Regional Transportation Authority must be approved in referendum by a majority of the electorate in the area to which the vehicle registration fee increase would apply. Editor's Note Section 4 of 1985 Act No. 169, as amended by 1986 Act No. 508, SECTION 3, eff June 13, 1986, provides as follows: "Any transportation authority formed under Chapter 25 of Title 58 of the 1976 Code prior to July 1, 1985, may continue to operate in accordance with the terms and conditions of that law. However, as the terms of appointees to the governing board expire, appointments and composition must be in accordance with the provisions of Section 58-25-40. If the authority desires to operate under the full terms and conditions of Chapter 25 of Title 58 with the exception of the exercise of taxing power, it shall comply with all procedures set forth in that chapter, except those in Sections 58-25-30, 58-25-60, 58-25-70, and 58-25-100. The authority shall keep books of account, which must be independently audited at least once in each calendar year. A copy of the audit report must be provided to the member municipalities and counties. The authority shall make an annual report of its activities to the member municipalities and counties. If the authority desires to operate under the full terms and conditions of that chapter, including the exercise of taxing power, it shall comply with all procedures set forth in that chapter."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1670 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 13 / Section 58-17-1670
SECTION 58-17-1670. Examination of agents and employees.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff may examine all agents and employees of railroad companies and other persons under oath and otherwise, in order to procure the necessary information to make just and reasonable rates of freight and passenger tariffs, and to ascertain if rules and regulations are observed or violated and to propose to the commission necessary and proper rules and regulations concerning the examinations. The rules and regulations herein provided for must be obeyed and enforced as all other rules and regulations provided for in this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1250 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 9 / Section 58-27-1250
SECTION 58-27-1250. Issuance or refusal of certificate or modified certificate.
Status: in_force

The Commission may after hearing issue a certificate as prayed for or refuse to issue the same or may issue it for the construction or operation of a portion only of the contemplated facility, line, plant or system, or extension thereof or for the partial exercise only of the rights or privileges sought and may attach to the exercise of the rights granted by the certificate such terms and conditions in harmony with this chapter as in its judgment the public convenience and necessity may require.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-580 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 5 / Section 58-3-580
SECTION 58-3-580. Organization of and allocation of staff to commission or Office of Regulatory Staff.
Status: in_force

The review committee must allocate personal service positions and other appropriations within the commission to either the commission or the Office of Regulatory Staff. The review committee must organize appropriate divisions within the commission and, as submitted by the executive director, within the Office of Regulatory Staff. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the review committee is authorized to approve position descriptions and compensation schedules for each position within the Office of Regulatory Staff. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the salary of the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff shall not be construed as limiting the maximum salary that may be paid to other employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff. The review committee's authority to reorganize the agencies and assign personal service positions and other appropriations supersedes any provision of law to the contrary. In effectuating the review committee's assignment of positions between agencies, the Budget and Control Board is directed to assign through transfer both the position and the appropriation for the position. Notwithstanding this section or any other provision of law, the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff has sole authority to select and employ personnel of the Office of Regulatory Staff. On and after June 30, 2004, a commission employee whose position is transferred to the Office of Regulatory Staff is, upon application to the executive director, entitled only to due consideration for the position.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-460 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 3 / Section 58-27-460
SECTION 58-27-460. Promulgation of standards for interconnection of renewable energy facilities; certain generation activities prohibited.
Status: in_force

(A)(1) The commission shall promulgate and periodically review standards for interconnection and parallel operation of generating facilities to an electrical utility's distribution and transmission system, where such interconnection is under the jurisdiction of the commission pursuant to Title 16, Chapter 12, Subchapter II of the United States Code, as amended, regulations and orders of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the laws of South Carolina. Each electrical utility shall implement such standards in a fair, nondiscriminatory manner. (2) The commission shall, within six months of the effective date of the amendments to this section, establish proceedings for the purpose of considering revisions to the standards promulgated pursuant to this section. In developing such revisions, the commission may consider any issue, which, in the exercise of its discretion, the commission deems relevant to improving the fairness and effectiveness of the procedures. (3) In implementing item (1), the commission shall ensure such standards provide for efficient and timely processing of interconnection requests and take into account the impact of generator interconnection on electrical utility system assets, service reliability, and power quality. Such standards shall address the impact of the addition of energy storage and the interconnection processes for amending existing interconnection requests to include energy storage. The commission shall enact standards that are fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory with respect to interconnection applicants, other utility customers, and electrical utilities, and the standards shall serve the public interest in terms of overall cost and system reliability. (B) No generating facility shall connect or operate in parallel phase and synchronization with any electrical utility without written approval by the electrical utility that all of the commission's requirements have been met. For a generating facility that violates this provision, an electrical utility immediately may and without notice disconnect the generating facility's electric service. (C) In the event of a dispute between an interconnection customer and the electrical utility on an issue relating to interconnection service, the parties first shall attempt to resolve the claim or dispute using any dispute resolution procedures provided for pursuant to the applicable interconnection standards promulgated by the commission. If the parties are unable to resolve such claim or dispute using those procedures, then either party may petition the commission for resolution of the dispute including, but not limited to, a determination of the appropriate terms and conditions for interconnection. The commission shall resolve such disputes within six months from the filing of the petition in accordance with the terms of applicable state and federal law. (D) Each electrical utility shall comply with the South Carolina generator interconnection procedures and all commission-approved agreements regarding interconnection practices and reporting requirements. The commission shall establish reasonable guidelines to ensure reasonable interconnection timelines, including time requirements to deliver a final system impact study to all interconnection customers that execute a system impact study agreement prior to three months after the effective date of this act. The commission shall consider implementation of additional performance incentives and enforcement mechanisms for electrical utilities to ensure compliance with this requirement. (E) The commission shall, as part of implementing subsection (A)(1), consider whether a comprehensive independent review of interconnection should be performed and consider whether to require each electrical utility to: (1) conduct a study to determine the scope and cost of necessary transmission upgrades to support development of renewable energy resources in a manner that does not impact reliability; (2) evaluate the cost of developing and maintaining hosting capacity maps to allow power producers to identify areas of the distribution grid that are more amenable to building and interconnecting their generation facilities and to avoid areas that are already saturated with distributed generation; and (3) file a list of interconnected facilities with the commission each quarter, to include interconnections that are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Editor's Note 2014 Act No. 236, SECTION 9, provides as follows: "SECTION 9. If the application of the provisions of this act to any wholesale electrical contract existing on the date of its adoption is determined to impair unlawfully any term of such contract or to add material costs to either party, then that contract will be exempt from the terms of this act to the extent necessary to cure such impairment or to avoid the imposition of additional material costs." Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 62, SECTION 10, rewrote the section, requiring the Public Service Commission to periodically review the standards for interconnection and parallel operation of generating facilities to an electrical utility's distribution and transmission system.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-285 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-285
SECTION 58-9-285. Regulation of bundled offerings.
Status: in_force

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Bundled offering" means: (a) for a qualifying LEC, an offering of two or more products or services to customers at a single price provided that: (i) the bundled offering must be advertised and sold as a bundled offering at rates, terms, or conditions that are different than if the services are purchased separately from the LEC's tariffed offerings; (ii) each regulated product or service in the offering is available on a stand-alone basis under a tariff on file with the commission; and (iii) the qualifying LEC has a tariffed flat-rated local exchange service offering for residential customers and for single-line business customers on file with the commission that provides access to the services and functionalities set forth in Section 58-9-10(9). (b) for a qualifying IXC, an offering of two or more products or services to customers at a single price provided that: (i) the bundled offering must be advertised and sold as a bundled offering at rates, terms, or conditions that are different than if the services are purchased separately from the IXC's tariffed offerings; and (ii) each regulated product or service in the offering is available on a stand-alone basis under a tariff on file with the commission. (2) "Contract offering" means any contractual agreement, memorialized in writing, by which a qualifying LEC or a qualifying IXC offers any tariffed product or service to any customer at rates, terms, or conditions that differ from those set forth in the qualifying LECs or qualifying IXCs tariffs. (3) "Qualifying IXC" means any interexchange carrier operating under alternative means of regulation authorized by the commission. (4) "Qualifying LEC" means any LEC operating under an alternative means of regulation pursuant to Section 58-9-575; any LEC that has elected to have rates, terms, and conditions for its services determined pursuant to the plan described in Section 58-9-576(B); and any LEC that has elected to have rates, terms, and conditions determined pursuant to alternative means of regulation under Section 58-9-577. (B) The commission must not: (1) impose any requirements related to the terms, conditions, rates, or availability of any bundled offering or contract offering of any qualifying LEC or qualifying IXC that a customer accepts after the effective date of this act; or (2) otherwise regulate any bundled offering or contract offering of any qualifying LEC or qualifying IXC that a customer accepts after the effective date of this act. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the filing of a complaint by an end use purchaser of a bundled offering or a contract offering, the commission may enforce the terms and conditions of a bundled offering or a contract offering under the same principles that apply when a court of general jurisdiction enforces the terms and conditions of an unregulated contract between two parties. No person or entity other than the end user purchaser that filed the complaint and the qualifying LEC or qualifying IXC that provides the bundled offering or contract offering that is the subject of such complaint shall be a party to any such complaint proceeding before the commission. (C) A qualifying LEC or qualifying IXC providing bundled offerings or contract offerings is obligated to provide contributions to the Universal Service Fund (USF), and the commission shall ensure that contributions to the state USF, pursuant to Section 58-9-280(E), are maintained at appropriate levels. Nothing in this section affects the commission's jurisdiction over distributions from the USF pursuant to Section 58-9-280(E). (D) Access minutes of use must continue to be classified and reported for purposes of administering the Interim LEC Fund, pursuant to Section 58-9-280(M), in the same manner as they were classified and reported before the effective date of this subsection. (E) Nothing in this section affects any jurisdiction conferred upon the commission by 47 U.S.C. Section 254(k). (F) Nothing in this section affects the commission's jurisdiction over complaints alleging that a change in a subscriber's selection of a provider of telecommunications service was made without appropriate authorization or that services that the customer did not order appear on the customer's bill. (G) The State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee may request the Office of Regulatory Staff to compile information to enable the review committee to monitor the effect of bundled offerings and contract offerings on the provision of telecommunications services in South Carolina.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 11 / Section 58-17-1340
SECTION 58-17-1340. Altering course of highway.
Status: in_force

A railroad corporation may alter the course of a highway or other way, other than a street in any incorporated city or town, for the purpose of facilitating the crossing of it by its road, or permitting its road to pass at the side thereof without crossing, upon obtaining a decree of the governing body of the county prescribing the manner and time of such alteration. The corporation shall pay all damages occasioned to private property by the alteration, as in the case of land taken for its road.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 3 / Section 58-33-170
SECTION 58-33-170. Opinion of Commission.
Status: in_force

In rendering a decision on an application for a certificate, the commission shall issue an order stating its reasons for the action taken. If the commission has found that any regional or local law or regulation, which would be otherwise applicable, is unreasonably restrictive pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of Section 58-33-160, it shall state in its order the reasons therefor. 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, twice substituted "order" for "opinion" and made other nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-205 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-205
SECTION 58-31-205. Dominion Energy; public service authority; natural gas facilities.
Status: in_force

(A) The Public Service Authority shall have the power to jointly own, as tenants-in-common or through a limited liability company, with Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc., one or more natural gas-fired generation facilities, and related transmission facilities, to be constructed on a site at or near Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc.'s former Canadys coal-fired generation station in Colleton County, the power to plan, finance, acquire, own, operate, and maintain an interest in such plants and facilities necessary or incidental to the generation and transmission of electric power and the power to make plans and enter into such contracts as are necessary or convenient for the planning, financing, acquisition, construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of such plants and facilities. However, the Public Service Authority shall own a percentage of such plants and facilities equal to the percentage of the money furnished or the value of property supplied by the Public Service Authority for the acquisition and construction of the plants and facilities. The Public Service Authority shall also own and control a like percentage of the electrical output thereof. (B) The Public Service Authority shall be severally liable in proportion to its ownership share of such plants and facilities acquired pursuant to this section for the acts, omissions, or obligations performed, omitted, or incurred by the operator or other owners of the plants and facilities while acting as the designated agent of the Public Service Authority for the purposes of constructing, operating, or maintaining the plants and facilities, or any of them. However, the Public Service Authority shall not be otherwise liable, jointly or severally, for the acts, omissions, or obligations of other owners of the plants and facilities, nor shall any money or property of the Public Service Authority be credited or otherwise applied to the account of the operator or other owners of the plants and facilities, or be charged with any debt, lien, or mortgage as a result of any debt or obligation of the operator or other owners of the plants and facilities. 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. § 58-23-1280 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1280
SECTION 58-23-1280. Solicitation of passengers.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for operators of vehicles for hire to solicit fares or passengers except within five feet of the vehicle which they operate and in no case shall one driver interfere between another driver and his passengers.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-370 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 3 / Section 58-3-370
SECTION 58-3-370. Arrest procedure.
Status: in_force

When any person is apprehended by an inspector upon a charge of violating the Motor Vehicle Carrier Law or related laws, the following procedure shall be followed: (1) The person being charged shall be served by the arresting inspector with an official summons and arrest report. The report shall give the appropriate judicial officer jurisdiction to dispose of the case. (2) The person being charged may deposit with the arresting inspector a sum of money not to exceed one hundred dollars as bail in lieu of being immediately brought before the magistrate or other judicial officer; provided, that an official summons and arrest report may be issued without requiring any sum of money as bail. (3) The official summons and arrest report shall indicate the amount of bail deposited with the inspector and shall serve as a receipt for the sum. (4) The arresting inspector shall transmit any sum of money received from the person charged to the appropriate magistrate or other judicial officer. (5) Upon receipt of the sum of money, if any is required, as bail, the arresting inspector may release the person charged so that he may appear before the proper judicial officer at a time and place stated in, and required by, the official summons and arrest report.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3320
SECTION 58-17-3320. Safety devices shall be installed and used on direction of Commission.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Commission may require the installation and use by the railroads operating trains in or through this State of any safety device which, in its judgment, after due consideration and trial, shall have been proven materially to contribute to the safety of operation of trains and the protection of the lives and limbs of the crews operating such trains or the traveling public or to their reasonable comfort or the sanitation of passenger and freight trains on which passengers travel or employees work, as well as depots, both passenger and freight.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2620 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 23 / Section 58-17-2620
SECTION 58-17-2620. Railroads authorized to join tracks; expenses.
Status: in_force

When any railroad company owning, leasing or operating a railroad in or through any part of this State shall have its terminus or any part of its track at or near the terminus of any other railroad in this State having the same gauge or shall cross such other railroad's track, such railroad company may join its track by safe and proper switches, with such other railroad and for this purpose may enter upon the right of way of such other railroad. But if the railroad with which such connection is proposed shall refuse to join in paying the expenses of making such connection the railroad proposing the connection shall pay them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-42-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 42 / Section 58-42-30
SECTION 58-42-30. Competitive procurement.
Status: in_force

(A) Within six months from the date of the enactment of this chapter, the commission shall open a docket to establish a competitive procurement program for each electrical utility for energy storage facilities to be located in South Carolina. Solicitations shall be subject to the following limitations: (1) For transmission-connected energy storage (excluding pumped hydro) the electrical utilities shall conduct a competitive procurement for such resources, including utility-self developed projects. Each electrical utility shall file the proposed details of its competitive procurement process no later than twelve months after the date of the enactment of this chapter. (2) The target procurement volume for stand-alone storage acquisition may not exceed the portion of stand-alone storage in the most recent commission approved integrated resource plan or integrated resource plan annual update that is equal to the portion of the respective electrical utility's peak load attributable to South Carolina customers. (3) Stand-alone energy storage facilities with a design capacity less than or equal to twenty megawatts and intended primarily to address local reliability improvements or local capacity constraints are not subject to the competitive procurement requirements of this section. (4)(a) The procurement of stand-alone energy storage facilities shall result in a reasonable balance of the electrical utility and independent third-party ownership of eligible facilities, as determined by the commission. (b) An 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. Electrical utility costs associated with facilities owned by an independent third-party power producer shall be capitalized and included within the electrical utility's rate base for ratemaking purposes. (B) Competitively procured stand-alone storage shall be subject to operational protocols, equipment specifications, and inspections established by the electric utility and which are necessary to ensure the reliability of the electrical utility system. Information regarding competitively procured stand-alone storage must be provided to the Office of Regulatory Staff. (C) Electrical utilities may recover costs incurred through such competitive procurement through rates established pursuant to Section 58-27-870. 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. § 58-31-80 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-80
SECTION 58-31-80. Purpose of Authority; exemption from taxation; Authority shall make certain payments in lieu of taxes.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Authority is created primarily for the purpose of developing the Cooper River, the Santee River, the Congaree River, and their tributaries upstream to the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers and upstream on the Wateree River to a point at or near Camden and other similar projects as instrumentalities of intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce and navigation; of reclaiming wastelands by the elimination or control of flood waters, reforesting the watersheds of the rivers and improving public health conditions in those areas. It is found that the project authorized by this chapter is for the aid of intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce and navigation, and that the aid and improvement of intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce and navigation, the development, sale, and distribution of hydroelectric power, and the treatment, sale, and distribution of water at wholesale are in all respects for the benefit of all the people of the State, for the improvement of their health and welfare and material prosperity, and are public purposes, and being a corporation owned completely by the people of the State, the Public Service Authority is required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired by it for this project or upon its activities in the operation and maintenance of the project, except as provided in this section. The securities and other obligations issued by the Public Service Authority, their transfer and the income from them at all times are free from taxation. However, unless otherwise provided in any contract with an agency of the United States Government as assists in financing the projects contemplated in this section or any other agency from which the funds may be secured, all electrical energy developed by the authority must be sold at rates in the determination of which the taxes which the project would pay if privately owned, to the extent provided in this section, as well as other rate-making factors properly entering into the manufacture and distribution of the energy must be considered. After payment of necessary operating expenses and all annual debt requirements on bonds, notes, or other obligations at any time outstanding and the discharge of all annual obligations arising under finance agreements with the United States or any agency or corporation of the United States and indentures or other instruments under which bonds have been, or may be issued, the authority shall pay annually to the various counties of the State a sum of money equivalent to the amount paid for taxes on properties at the time of their acquisition by the authority, acquired, or to be acquired, in the counties, and the authority shall pay to all municipalities and school districts in the counties in which the authority has acquired, or may acquire properties, a sum of money equivalent to the amount paid for taxes to the school districts and municipalities on the properties at the time of their acquisition by the authority; and no other taxes may be considered in the fixing of the rates of the authority. From the funds to be paid under this section the counties, school districts, and municipalities annually shall apply a sum sufficient for the debt requirements for bonds and other obligations of the counties, school districts, and municipalities for which the properties were taxed at the time of their acquisition by the authority, with the remainder of the funds to be expended in accordance with law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1220 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1220
SECTION 58-9-1220. Fees and mileage allowances of witnesses and officers.
Status: in_force

Witnesses who are summoned before the Commission, a special agent or an examiner shall be paid by the party at whose instance they are summoned the same fees and mileages as are paid to witnesses in the courts of common pleas of this State and witnesses whose depositions are taken pursuant to the provisions of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter and the officer taking them shall be entitled to be paid by the party at whose instance the deposition is taken the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of common pleas of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-34-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 34 / Section 58-34-10
SECTION 58-34-10. Merger agreement; rate increases.
Status: in_force

(A) The investor-owned utility holding the majority interest in the V.C. Summer Nuclear Reactor Units 2 and 3 at Jenkinsville, South Carolina, has entered into a merger agreement with an out-of-state investor-owned utility. This merger agreement contemplates the continuation of rate increases imposed under the Base Load Review Act contained in Article 4, Chapter 33, Title 58. (B) Pursuant to the authority vested in the General Assembly by Section 1, Article IX of the Constitution of this State, the General Assembly is required to regulate investor-owned utilities in order to protect the public interest. The General Assembly has determined that Section 1, Article IX of the Constitution requires that the General Assembly exercise its authority to set certain utility rates for the purpose of protecting the public interest until a determination can be made by the appropriate regulatory and judicial authorities. This rate shall apply to all customers of the investor-owned utility identified in subsection (A), which has imposed nine rate increases for the purpose of funding the V.C. Summer project. Editor's Note 2018 Act No. 258, SECTION 12, provides as follows: "SECTION 12. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to all cases, proceedings, petitions, or matters pending before the Public Service Commission or in any other court or venue on or after the effective date of this act."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-300 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 3 / Section 58-21-300
SECTION 58-21-300. Notice of transfer points.
Status: in_force

Upon the approach to a transfer point by an electric car carrying passengers therefor the conductor shall announce the approach to such transfer point before arrival and again upon arrival at such point, together with such other information as may advise passengers of the destination of connecting cars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2350 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 19 / Section 58-17-2350
SECTION 58-17-2350. Jurisdiction over railroad track and platform scales; penalties.
Status: in_force

All railroad track and platform scales used in connection with shipping are hereby placed under the jurisdiction of the Office of Regulatory Staff for inspection and it may require the installation or replacement of scales when needed. A failure or refusal to carry out the instructions of the Office of Regulatory Staff in reference to the scales shall be punished by a penalty of two hundred dollars for each refusal to be recovered by suit in any court of competent jurisdiction by any person aggrieved. Any sum so recovered must be turned into the State Treasury for general use.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2090 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2090
SECTION 58-27-2090. Charges by affiliated interests.
Status: in_force

When, in the judgment of the commission, there is a reasonably substantial affiliation of any electrical utility engaged in business in this State with any other corporation or person or when, in the judgment of the commission, any other corporation or person either exercises or is in position to exercise, by reason of ownership or control of securities or for any other cause, any reasonably substantial control over the business or policies of any electrical utility engaged in business in this State, the burden of proof shall be upon the electrical utility to establish as determined by the commission the reasonableness, fairness, and absence of injurious effect upon the public interest of any fees or charges growing out of any transactions between any electrical utility and such other corporation or person (a) in relation to supervision, management, construction, or engineering, services or contract, (b) for the sale of material, supplies, equipment, or other commodities, or (c) for any other purpose. Every electrical utility shall be required to produce, if so ordered by the commission in a pending proceeding, for the information of the commission and the other parties all such contracts, papers, and documents relating thereto and explanatory thereof as may be required by the commission, and unless the reasonableness, fairness, and absence of injurious effect upon the public interest of such fees and charges are established as determined by the commission, the same shall not be allowed by the commission for rate-making purposes. The commission shall not allow for rate-making purposes any fees or expenses included in any contract or agreement with an affiliate representing charges that the commission has directly disallowed in its rate-making orders.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-24 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-24
SECTION 58-3-24. General Assembly members and immediate family ineligible for election to commission.
Status: in_force

No member of the General Assembly or member of his immediate family shall be elected to the commission while the member is serving in the General Assembly; nor shall a member of the General Assembly or a member of his immediate family be elected to the Public Service Commission for a period of four years after the member either: (1) ceases to be a member of the General Assembly; or (2) fails to file for election to the General Assembly in accordance with Section 7-11-15.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-200 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-200
SECTION 58-15-200. Fees shall be paid into State Treasury.
Status: in_force

All fees collected by the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of this article shall be paid into the State Treasury.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3420 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3420
SECTION 58-17-3420. Construction and maintenance of bridges.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation shall, at its own expense, construct, and afterwards maintain and keep in repair, all bridges, with their approaches or abutments, which it is authorized or required to construct over or under any turnpike road, canal, highway or other way and any city or town may recover of the railroad corporation whose road crosses a highway or town way therein all damages, charges and expenses incurred by such city or town by reason of the neglect or refusal of the corporation to erect or keep in repair all structures required or necessary at such crossing. But if, after the laying out and making of a railroad, the governing body of a county has authorized a turnpike, highway or other way to be laid out across the railroad, all expenses of and incident to constructing and maintaining the turnpike or way at such crossing shall be borne by the turnpike corporation or the county, city, town or other owner of it.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-300 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-300
SECTION 58-5-300. All facts may be considered in making correction.
Status: in_force

In connection with a determination under Section 58-5-290 the commission may consider all facts which in its judgment have a bearing upon a proper determination of the question, although not set forth in the application and not within the allegations contained therein.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1010 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-1010
SECTION 58-27-1010. Commission shall not regulate contracts made by municipalities.
Status: in_force

The Commission shall not regulate any contracts made by any municipality with its customers, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed as permitting the regulation by the Commission of the rates to be charged by any municipal plant to any of its customers, whether these customers be other municipalities, persons, firms or corporations.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-950 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 7 / Section 58-17-950
SECTION 58-17-950. Liability of stockholders of certain corporations.
Status: in_force

Every stockholder in a railroad corporation, created under the Constitution of 1868 and prior to the adoption of the Constitution of 1895, shall be jointly and severally liable to the creditors thereof in an amount, besides the value of his share or shares therein, not exceeding five per cent of the par value of the share or shares held by him at the time the obligation held by or the debt due the creditor was created; provided, that such obligation or debt shall have been payable within one year after it was created or incurred, and that proceedings to hold such stockholder liable therefor shall be commenced whilst he remains a stockholder therein or within two years after he shall have ceased to be such stockholder. Persons holding stock in such company as executors, administrators or by way of collateral security shall not be personally subject to the liabilities of the stockholders under the foregoing provisions, but the persons pledging such stock shall be liable as a stockholder and the estates and funds in the hands of such executors or administrators shall be liable in their hands in like manner and to the same extent as the deceased testator or intestate or the ward or person interested in such trust fund would have been if they had respectively been living and competent to act and hold the stock in their own names.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-930 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 5 / Section 58-11-930
SECTION 58-11-930. Meetings with requesting authority.
Status: in_force

(A) Within thirty days after written request by any authority with a population of greater than twenty-seven thousand according to the official 2010 United States Decennial Census and with which the applicant has not previously held a meeting that complies with this section, an applicant shall meet with the requesting authority to inform the authority in good faith: (1) when the applicant expects to commence deployment of small wireless facilities and poles within the authority pursuant to this article; (2) the number of small wireless facilities and poles it expects to deploy during the twenty-four months after commencement; and (3) the expected timing of such deployments. (B) All documents or other information provided by the applicant in the course of, or in association with, any meetings provided for in this section: (1) are presumed to be 'trade secrets' as defined in Section 30-4-40(a)(1); (2) are not public information under the Freedom of Information Act; and (3) are not subject to public disclosure. (C) The pendency of a meeting requested pursuant to this section shall not relieve an authority from reviewing and acting upon applications that have been or are submitted as set forth in this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 3 / Section 58-23-310
SECTION 58-23-310. Certain applicants granted certificates as matter of right.
Status: in_force

The commission must order the issuance of a certificate as a matter of right when it appears that the applicant was operating in good faith on or before June 8, 1925, but was not operating immediately prior thereto or on that date because of impassable roads.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1250 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1250
SECTION 58-23-1250. Name of owner and rates shall be posted in taxi.
Status: in_force

All persons driving, operating or controlling taxis shall post therein, in a conspicuous place where it may be easily and conveniently read by any passenger, a card upon which shall be printed in plain legible type the name of the owner of such taxi and the rates charged by the taxi.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-260 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-260
SECTION 58-15-260. Stock transfer shall be valid, except between parties, only if entered on corporation's books.
Status: in_force

No transfer of stock of a corporation organized under this chapter shall be valid, except as between the parties, until it shall have been regularly entered upon the books of the corporation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 17 / Section 58-27-2310
SECTION 58-27-2310. Action to vacate order of commission; limitations.
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 a party to any 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. § 58-27-2080 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2080
SECTION 58-27-2080. Compensation of witnesses.
Status: in_force

Witnesses who are summoned before the Commission shall be paid by the party or parties at whose instance they are summoned the same fees and mileage as are paid to witnesses in the courts of common pleas of this State, and witnesses whose depositions are taken pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the officer taking the same shall be entitled to be paid by the party or parties at whose instance the deposition is taken the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of common pleas of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-420 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 3 / Section 58-27-420
SECTION 58-27-420. Franchises and permits shall be indeterminate.
Status: in_force

Every permit or franchise hereafter granted to any electrical utility, either by the State or any municipality thereof, shall have the effect of an indeterminate permit which shall continue in effect until terminated as provided by this chapter or by any lawful forfeiture of the right of such electrical utility to continue to conduct its business in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-450 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 3 / Section 58-31-450
SECTION 58-31-450. Erosion control.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Authority shall provide proper vegetation or other method of erosion control on any existing or future rights-of-way.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-950 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 58-15-950
SECTION 58-15-950. Reports to conform to fiscal year.
Status: in_force

All reports required by law to be made by railroad companies to the Office of Regulatory Staff or to other officers of the State at specified times and based upon the operations of such railroad companies for the fiscal year preceding such reports shall be made after the thirty-first day of December of every year.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3970 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-3970
SECTION 58-17-3970. Acts declared unlawful shall be prohibited.
Status: in_force

Each and every act, matter or thing in this chapter declared to be unlawful is hereby prohibited.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4170
SECTION 58-17-4170. Forfeiture of charter for repeated violations of law.
Status: in_force

Whenever a railroad corporation of this State has repeatedly and wilfully violated any of the provisions of this chapter, and has been found guilty or judgment had against it within this State of the violation more than once or penalties have been recovered in penal actions for the violations more than once, the commission may, if it thinks it consistent with the public interest, instruct the Office of Regulatory Staff to proceed against the corporation, in any court of competent jurisdiction, by an information in the nature of a quo warranto, alleging such convictions or recoveries as cause of forfeiture of its charter of incorporation and upon proof of such facts there shall be judgment of ouster and final execution as in other cases of proceedings by quo warranto.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-2535 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 21 / Section 58-9-2535
SECTION 58-9-2535. Dual party relay charge collections.
Status: in_force

(A) A local exchange provider must collect the dual party relay charge established in Section 58-9-2530(A) on each local exchange access facility. (1) For bills rendered on or after the effective date of this section, for any individual local exchange access facility that is capable of simultaneously carrying multiple voice and data transmissions, a subscriber must be billed a number of dual party relay charges equal to: (a) the number of outward voice transmission paths activated on such a facility in cases where the number of activated outward voice transmission paths can be modified by the subscriber only with the assistance of the service supplier; or (b) five, where the number of activated outward voice transmission paths can be modified by the subscriber without the assistance of the service supplier. The total number of dual party relay charges is subject to a maximum of fifty such charges for each account. (2) A billed subscriber must be liable for any dual party relay charge imposed under this subsection until it has been paid to the local exchange provider. A local exchange provider has no obligation to take any legal action to enforce the collection of the dual party relay charges for which a subscriber is billed. (3) Local exchange providers that collect dual party relay charges are entitled to retain two percent of the gross dual party relay charges remitted to the Office of Regulatory Staff as an administrative fee. Within forty-five days after the end of the month during which the charges were collected, each local exchange provider shall file with the Office of Regulatory Staff a return showing the total amount of dual party relay charges collected for the month and, at the same time, shall remit to the Office of Regulatory Staff the charges collected for that month less the administrative fee. (4) Dual party relay charges imposed under this subsection must be added to the billing by the local exchange provider to its subscriber and may be stated separately. (B) A CMRS provider must collect the dual party relay charge established in Section 58-9-2530(A) for each CMRS connection for which there is a mobile identification number containing an area code assigned to this State by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator; however, trunks or service lines used to supply service to CMRS providers must not be subject to a dual party relay charge. Prepaid wireless telecommunications service is subject to subsection (D) and not to this subsection. (1) A billed subscriber must be liable for any dual party relay charge imposed under this subsection until it has been paid to the CMRS provider. A CMRS provider has no obligation to take any legal action to enforce the collection of the dual party relay charges for which a subscriber is billed. (2) CMRS providers that collect dual party relay charges are entitled to retain two percent of the gross dual party relay charges remitted to the department as an administrative fee. On or before the twentieth day of the second month succeeding each monthly collection of the dual party relay charges, every CMRS provider shall file with the department a return under oath, in a form prescribed by the department, showing the total amount of charges collected for the month and, at the same time, shall remit to the department the fees collected for that month. The department shall transfer all charges remitted to the operating fund. (3) Dual party relay charges imposed under this subsection must be added to the billing by the CMRS provider to its subscriber and may be stated separately. (C) A VoIP provider must collect the dual party relay charge established in Section 58-9-2530(A) on each VoIP service line. This dual party relay charge must be sourced at the service address in the case of fixed VoIP service, or in the same manner as CMRS is sourced pursuant to the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act, Public Law 106-252, codified at 4 U.S.C. Sections 116 through 126. (1) A billed subscriber must be liable for any dual party relay charge imposed under this subsection until it has been paid to the VoIP provider. A VoIP provider has no obligation to take any legal action to enforce the collection of the dual party relay charges for which a subscriber is billed. For bills rendered on or after the effective date of this section, for any VoIP service line that is capable of simultaneously carrying multiple voice and data transmissions, a VoIP subscriber must be billed a number of dual party relay charges equal to: (a) the number of outward voice transmission paths activated on such a VoIP service line in cases where the number of activated outward voice transmission paths can be modified by the subscriber only with the assistance of the VoIP provider; or (b) five, where the number of activated outward voice transmission paths can be modified by the subscriber without the assistance of the VoIP provider. The total number of dual party relay charges is subject to a maximum of fifty such charges for each account. (2) VoIP providers that collect dual party relay charges are entitled to retain two percent of the gross dual party relay charges remitted to the department as an administrative fee. On or before the twentieth day of the second month succeeding each monthly collection of the dual party relay charges, each VoIP provider shall file with the department a return under oath, in a form prescribed by the department, showing the total amount of dual party relay charges collected for the month and, at the same time, shall remit to the department the charges collected for that month less the administrative fee. The department shall transfer all charges remitted to the operating fund. (3) Dual party relay charges imposed under this subsection must be added to the billing by the VoIP provider to its subscriber and may be stated separately. (D) A prepaid wireless seller must collect the dual party relay charge established in Section 58-9-2530(A) from a prepaid wireless consumer with respect to each prepaid wireless retail transaction occurring in this State. The amount of the dual party relay charge either must be separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document that is provided to the prepaid wireless consumer by the prepaid wireless seller; or otherwise disclosed to the prepaid wireless consumer. At the election of the prepaid wireless seller, the dual party relay charge may be combined with the USF contribution charge described in Section 58-9-280(E)(2)(b) into a single dual party relay and USF contribution charge for purposes of being stated on the invoice, receipt or other similar document or otherwise disclosed to the prepaid wireless consumer. The prepaid wireless seller shall notify the department as to how much of the amount remitted is for dual party relay and how much of the amount remitted is for USF. (1) For the purposes of this subsection, a prepaid wireless retail transaction must be sourced as provided in Section 12-36-910(B)(5)(b). (2) The dual party relay charge is the liability of the prepaid wireless consumer and not the prepaid wireless seller or of any prepaid wireless provider. However, the prepaid wireless seller is liable for remitting all dual party relay charges that the prepaid wireless seller collects from prepaid wireless consumers as provided in this subsection to the department. (3) A prepaid wireless seller is entitled to retain three percent of the gross dual party relay charges remitted to the department as an administrative fee. A prepaid wireless seller must remit the remainder of the dual party relay charges collected to the department on or before the twentieth day of the second month succeeding each monthly collection of the dual party relay charges. The department shall transfer all charges remitted to the operating fund. (4) The department shall establish procedures by which a prepaid wireless seller may document that a sale is not a prepaid wireless retail transaction, which procedures shall substantially coincide with the procedures for documenting sale for resale transactions pursuant to Section 12-36-950. (E) If a billed subscriber purchases a service that is both a CMRS service and a VoIP service, and there is a single active mobile telephone number or successor dialing protocol associated with the service, then only the CMRS dual party relay charges that are subject to subsection (B) apply to the service. Similarly, if an exchange access facility is also a VoIP service line, then only the dual party relay charges that are subject to subsection (A) shall apply to the service. (F) For services for which a bill is rendered prior to the effective date of this subsection, no subscriber or consumer is liable to any person or entity for a different dual party relay charge than the consumer or subscriber has been billed, and no local exchange provider, CMRS provider, VoIP provider, prepaid wireless provider, or prepaid wireless seller is liable to any person or entity for billing, collecting, or remitting a different dual party relay charge than is required by this article, or both. (G) Neither the State, any political subdivision of the State, nor an intergovernmental agency may require any service provider to impose, collect, or remit a tax, fee, surcharge, or other charge for dual party relay funding purposes other than the dual party relay charges set forth in this article. (H) The dual party relay charge required to be remitted to the department must be administered and collected by the department in the same manner as taxes as defined in Section 12-60-30 (27) are administered and collected by the department under the provisions of Title 12. Editor's Note 2016 Act No. 181, SECTION 10, provides as follows: "SECTION 10. Beginning on the effective date of this act, the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Department of Revenue may take necessary action to accommodate full implementation of SECTIONS 3, 5.A., and 8 of this act, as soon as practicable, provided, however, that full implementation shall not occur earlier than January 1, 2017. The Office of Regulatory Staff and the Department of Revenue shall provide at least thirty days' public notice of the full implementation date before the full implementation of these SECTIONS occurs, and no person or entity is required to bill, collect, remit, or pay any charges pursuant to SECTION 3, 5.A., or 8 of this act prior to the full implementation date."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-140 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-140
SECTION 58-15-140. Capital stock shall not be issued until price paid; exception.
Status: in_force

No capital stock shall be issued by any corporation organized under this chapter until the subscription price therefor has been fully paid, except when, by the terms of the petition, the capital stock is to be paid for in installments and payment of the deferred portion has been secured.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 5 / Section 58-13-240
SECTION 58-13-240. Connecting lines of common carriers defined and their liability fixed.
Status: in_force

All common carriers for transportation, over whose lines or parts thereof any freight, baggage or other property received by another such carrier for through shipment or transportation by such carriers on a contract for through carriage recognized, acquiesced in or acted upon by such carriers, shall in this State, with respect to the undertaking and carrying out of such transportation, be considered and construed to be connecting lines and each of such carriers, including the initial recipient of such property, shall be deemed and held to be the agents of each of the others and shall be held and deemed to be under a contract with each other and with the shipper, owner and consignee of such property for the safe and speedy through transportation thereof from the point of shipment to its destination and such contract as to the shipper, owner or consignee of such property shall be deemed and held to be the contract of each of such common carriers. In any of the courts of this State any through bill of lading, way bill, receipt, check or other instrument issued by any of such carriers or other proof showing that any of them has received such freight, baggage or other property for such through shipment or transportation shall constitute prima facie evidence of the subsistence of the relations, duties and liabilities of such carriers as herein defined and prescribed, notwithstanding any stipulations or attempted stipulations to the contrary by such carriers or any of them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1290 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1290
SECTION 58-23-1290. Vehicles shall answer calls in order received.
Status: in_force

All public vehicles for hire shall respond promptly to calls in the order in which they are received.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-5 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-5
SECTION 58-3-5. 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 by 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. § 58-13-30 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 58-13-30
SECTION 58-13-30. Fraudulently evading toll or fare or riding on train that does not carry passengers unlawful.
Status: in_force

Whoever fraudulently evades or attempts to evade the payment of any toll or fare, lawfully established, for the carrying of passengers, by giving a false answer to the collector of the fare, by traveling beyond the point to which fare has been paid or otherwise attempting to ride without paying the toll or fare, by riding without permission on trains that do not carry passengers or by concealing himself upon or about any train with intent to evade the payment of lawful toll or fare shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall pay a fine of not more than fifty dollars or be sentenced to imprisonment or labor on the chain gang for not more than thirty days. But when the alleged violation of law is based upon riding upon a train or car of a common carrier without permission or authority the punishment for such trespass shall not be greater than imprisonment for five days in the county jail or the payment of a fine not exceeding five dollars. In no case shall any defendant convicted of any such trespass be sentenced to service upon any chain gang in this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1640 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 13 / Section 58-17-1640
SECTION 58-17-1640. Information to be furnished Office of Regulatory Staff on request.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation must at all times, on request, furnish the Office of Regulatory Staff any information required by it concerning the condition, management, and operation of its railroad and particularly with copies of time tables and the rates of transporting freight and passengers upon its road and other roads with which its business is connected.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-940 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-940
SECTION 58-5-940. Assessments against gas utilities for administrative expenses and charges.
Status: in_force

All lawful expenses and charges incurred by the commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff in the administration of this chapter and in performance of its duties thereunder shall be defrayed by assessments made by the Comptroller General against the gas utilities regulated thereunder and based upon the gross revenues collected by the gas utilities from their business done wholly within this State in the manner set out in Section 58-3-100 for other corporations; provided, however, the assessments against municipalities, gas authorities, public service districts, or other political subdivisions of the State shall be applicable only to expenses and charges incurred in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this article relating to gas safety requirements. The Public Service Commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff shall certify to the Comptroller General annually on or before August first the amounts to be assessed in the format approved by the Comptroller General.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-410 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 7 / Section 58-33-410
SECTION 58-33-410. Authority of other agencies or local governments; application of other laws.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no State or regional agency, or municipality or other local government may require any approval, consent, permit, certificate or other condition for the construction, operation or maintenance of a major utility facility authorized by a certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; provided, that nothing herein shall prevent the application of State laws for the protection of employees engaged in the construction, operation or maintenance of such facility; provided, however, that State agencies shall continue to have authority to enforce compliance with applicable State statutes, rules, regulations or standards promulgated within their authority.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-500 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 3 / Section 58-11-500
SECTION 58-11-500. Inspection and copying of tax returns, reports and other information.
Status: in_force

In the performance of its duties under this chapter, the Office of Regulatory Staff is hereby authorized to inspect or make copies of all income, property, or other tax returns, reports, or other information filed by radio common carrier with or otherwise obtained by any other department, commission, board, or agency of the state government.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-260 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 4 / Section 58-33-260
SECTION 58-33-260. Combined application; contents.
Status: in_force

(A) A combined application must contain: (1) an introduction; (2) material required by law or regulation to be contained in an application filed under the Utility Facility Siting and Environmental Protection Act, except that combined applications associated with plants located outside South Carolina shall address only Section 58-33-160(1)(a), 58-33-160(1)(d), and 58-33-160(1)(f) and information pertaining to the environmental impacts of the plant may not be included in the combined application; (3) the material required by law or regulation to be contained in an application under this article, including the material required under Section 58-33-250; (4) if combined with a general rate proceeding, the material required to be filed by law or regulation in applications for the establishment of new rates under Section 58-27-860; and (5) if the plant is located outside South Carolina, a copy of the order from the host state granting a certificate or other authorization similar to that granted under the Utility Facility Siting and Environmental Protection Act. (B) Where the same information is required in different sections of the combined application, it may be set forth once and cross-referenced as appropriate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1720 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 13 / Section 58-27-1720
SECTION 58-27-1720. Application for approval.
Status: in_force

Any electrical utility, except a municipality, desiring to issue any securities may apply to the commission for approval of the proposed issue by filing with the commission and providing a copy of an application to the Office of Regulatory Staff, together with a statement verified by (a) its president and secretary or other proper officers, (b) two of its incorporators, or (c) 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 the property, if any, to be acquired through the proposed issue; (5) the terms and conditions of their issuance; and (6) the financial condition of the electrical utility and its previous operations so far as relevant.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-70 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-70
SECTION 58-3-70. Compensation of commission members; limitations on other employment.
Status: in_force

Section effective "beginning with the fiscal year immediately following the next Public Service Commission election after" May 12, 2025. The commission members shall receive a salary in an amount equal to ninety percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Each commissioner must devote full time to his duties as a commissioner and must not engage in any other employment, business, profession, or vocation during the normal business hours of 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 31.B, provides as follows: "This section is effective beginning with the fiscal year immediately following the next Public Service Commission election after the effective date of this 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 31.A, in the first sentence, substituted "commission members shall receive a salary in an amount equal to ninety percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of South Carolina" for "chairman and members of the commission shall receive annual salaries payable in the same manner as the salaries of other state officers are paid".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-90 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-90
SECTION 58-3-90. Meetings of Commission; quorum.
Status: in_force

The commission must meet at least once each month, and the chairman must call a meeting at any other time upon the written request of any two members of the commission. A majority of the commissioners constitutes a quorum for the transaction of all business pertaining to their office.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-7-70 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 7 / Section 58-7-70
SECTION 58-7-70. Wrongful use of gas and interference with gas meters; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful for a person who has a contract, agreement, license or permission, oral or written, with or from a person or corporation authorized to manufacture, sell or use gas for the purpose of light, heat, or power or with or from an authorized agent of a person or corporation for the use of the gas belonging to, or produced or furnished by, a person or corporation for certain specified purposes who shall wilfully and intentionally withdraw, or cause to be withdrawn, gas in any manner and appropriate it to his own use or to the use of another person or corporation for purposes other than those specified. (B) It is unlawful for a person to whom gas is furnished from or by means of a meter who shall wilfully and with intention to cheat and defraud a person or corporation alter or interfere with a meter or by any contrivance whatsoever withdraw or take off gas in any manner except through a meter shall be punished as provided in Section 58-7-60(B). (C) A person who violates the provisions of this section for profit or income on behalf of a person in whose name the meter was installed or a person for whose benefit electricity, gas, or water was diverted for a: (1) first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both; (2) second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years or both; and (3) third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. (D) A person who violates the provisions of this section and the violation results in property damage in excess of five thousand dollars or results in the risk of great bodily injury or death from fire, explosion, or electrocution for a: (1) first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both; (2) second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years or both; and (3) third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. (E) A person who violates the provisions of this section and the violation results in: (1) great bodily injury to another person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or both. For purposes of this item, "great bodily injury" means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ; and (2) the death of another person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty years. (F) This section does not apply to licensed and certified contractors while performing usual and ordinary service in accordance with recognized standards.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1370 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 13 / Section 58-23-1370
SECTION 58-23-1370. Revocation of driver's license.
Status: in_force

The operation of any such taxi shall be constantly under the surveillance of the governing body of the county, which shall refuse permission to operate such taxi and revoke the license of any driver when in its judgment the driver's physical condition or record for violation of traffic or other ordinances or laws indicates that he is an unfit operator of such taxi.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-2030
SECTION 58-17-2030. Procedure for fixing or changing storage rates and charges.
Status: in_force

All the provisions of this title prescribing the procedure of the commission in fixing freight and passenger tariffs, hearing petitions of carriers and shippers, and altering and amending such tariffs apply to the subject of fixing and amending rates and charges for storage.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-13-120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 58-13-120
SECTION 58-13-120. Penalty for failure to transport promptly.
Status: in_force

Any such common carrier failing to comply with the provisions of Section 58-13-110, except for good and sufficient cause the burden of proof of which shall be on the common carrier so failing, shall be subject, in addition to the liabilities and remedies otherwise existing for unreasonable delay in the transportation of freight, to a penalty of five dollars per day for every day of delay in excess of the time limited, to be recovered by any cosignee who may be injured in any way by such delay or by the owner or holder of the bill of lading in any court of competent jurisdiction. But the sum of the penalty recovered shall not exceed the value of the goods and transportation charges thereon.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-395 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 3 / Section 58-12-395
SECTION 58-12-395. County emergency preparedness and alert system responsibilities.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article affects the ability of a county or municipality to carry out its emergency preparedness responsibilities pursuant to Section 25-1-450(2) or its emergency alert system responsibilities pursuant to 47 CFR Part 11.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1510 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 11 / Section 58-27-1510
SECTION 58-27-1510. Service shall be adequate, efficient and reasonable.
Status: in_force

Every electrical utility shall furnish adequate, efficient and reasonable service.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1810 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-1810
SECTION 58-17-1810. Extent of rate-making power.
Status: in_force

The powers herein conferred upon the Commission to fix passenger and freight rates, joint and several, are hereby delegated to it by the General Assembly as fully as the General Assembly itself could exercise them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3140 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 25 / Section 58-17-3140
SECTION 58-17-3140. Use of baggage checks.
Status: in_force

Every railroad corporation, when requested, shall give checks to their passengers for their baggage when delivered for transportation in good shipping order and shall redeliver such baggage to the passengers upon the surrender of their checks. Any corporation which wilfully refuses to comply with the provisions of this section shall forfeit ten dollars for each offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 17 / Section 58-17-2210
SECTION 58-17-2210. Issuance and contents of duplicate freight receipts; delivery of goods on presentation of receipt.
Status: in_force

All railroad companies in this State shall on demand issue duplicate freight receipts to shippers, describing the articles received or the marks and numbers on the packages received, in which shall be stated the class or classes of freight shipped, the freight charges over the road giving the receipt and, so far as practicable, the freight charges over other roads that carry such freight. No additional charge shall be made for giving any such receipt. When the consignee presents the railroad receipt to the agent of the railroad that delivers such freight, such agent shall deliver the articles shipped on payment of the rate charged for the class of freights mentioned in the receipt. If any railroad company shall violate the provision of this section such railroad company shall incur a penalty to be fixed and collected as provided in Section 58-17-3940.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-310 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 3 / Section 58-31-310
SECTION 58-31-310. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases as used in this article, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meanings: (1) The term "electrical utility" includes persons and corporations, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest owning or operating in this State equipment or facilities for generating, transmitting, delivering or furnishing electricity for street, railway or other public uses or for production of light, heat or power to or for the public for compensation; but it shall not include an electric cooperative or municipality and shall not include a person, corporation furnishing electricity only to himself or itself, their residents, employees or tenants when such electricity is not resold or used by others. (2) The term "present service area" means the area or areas hereinafter described, within which the Public Service Authority shall have the right to furnish electrical service to the exclusion of other electrical utilities. (3) The term "premises" means the building, structure or facility including any expansions or additions thereto, to which electricity is being or is to be furnished; provided, that two or more buildings, structures or facilities which are located on one tract or contiguous tracts of land and are utilized by one electric consumer for farming, business, commercial, industrial, institutional or governmental purposes, shall together constitute one "premises" regardless of whether they are separately metered and the charges for such service are calculated independently of charges for service to any other building, structure or facility. Premises are considered as being served by the Public Service Authority if on July 9, 1973 a contract between the electric consumer and the Public Service Authority has been signed, or any of the facilities for electric service belonging to the Public Service Authority are attached to such premises. (4) The term "line" means any electric conductors operating at a nominal voltage level of 25 KV or less, measured phase-to-phase, except (a) in the case of overhead construction, conductors from the pole or tower nearest the premises of a consumer to the premises, or conductors from a line tap to the premises, and (b) in the case of underground construction, conductors from the transformer (or junction point, if there is one) nearest, on or in the premises of the consumer to the premises. The term "line" includes any electric conductor operating at a nominal voltage level in excess of 25 KV when it is agreed between the Public Service Authority and an affected electric cooperative serving in the county where the conductor is located that the primary purpose and use of the conductor on January 1, 1984, was for the distribution of electric power and not for the transmission of bulk power from one area to another.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-1030
SECTION 58-27-1030. Sales of appliances shall not be considered in rate making.
Status: in_force

Every electrical utility shall keep separate accounts to show all profits or losses resulting from the sale of appliances or other merchandise, and no such profit or loss shall be taken into consideration by the Commission in arriving at any rate to be charged for service by any such electrical utility.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1720 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 17 / Section 58-15-1720
SECTION 58-15-1720. Construction pending appeal.
Status: in_force

When any railroad company appeals from a decision of the Commission as provided for in Section 58-15-1700 or from an order or finding of any department or subdivision as provided for in Section 58-15-1710 the department or subdivision pending such appeal or appeals may proceed at its own risk and expense in constructing such grade crossing separation structure and without prejudice as to the division of the costs as herein provided should the appeal be decided adversely to such railroad.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 3 / Section 58-23-340
SECTION 58-23-340. Alienation or lease of certificates issued after July 1, 1983.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding custom or usage or any regulation, or other provision of law, it is unlawful for any person to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued or authorized to be issued after July 1, 1983, under the provisions of Chapter 23 of Title 58 for money, goods, services, or any other thing of value. A certificate may be transferred incident to the sale or lease of property or assets owned or used by a regulated motor carrier, provided the approval of the commission for the transfer of the certificate is first obtained and that the certificate itself is not transferred for value or utilized to enhance the value of other property transferred. Nothing herein shall effect the sale, lease, or otherwise transfer of a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued prior to July 1, 1983.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-170 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-170
SECTION 58-3-170. Commission empowered to fix agreements, contracts, and rates between common carriers and telephone and telegraph companies.
Status: in_force

In case of failure of common carriers and telephone and telegraph companies to agree, the commission must supervise and fix all agreements, contracts, rates, or the divisions thereof and regulations between or among common carriers and telephone and telegraph companies, of whatever kind, placed under the control or supervision of the commission. Except for rates, transactions affecting rates, or transactions affecting service areas, the provisions of this section do not apply to transactions between a telephone cooperative association and its subsidiary corporation or cooperative association.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 3 / Section 58-21-320
SECTION 58-21-320. Certain employees of electric railways shall have powers of peace officers.
Status: in_force

Conductors and other employees of electric railways while in charge of the cars of such railway are hereby invested with the powers of peace officers and authorized to make arrests as in the case of conductors of steam railroads.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-25-80 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 25 / Section 58-25-80
SECTION 58-25-80. Nature and purposes of authority; exemption from state and local taxes; participation in state programs.
Status: in_force

Each authority established, including any formed under Chapter 25 of Title 58 of the 1976 Code prior to the effective date of this chapter, exists for nonprofit and public purposes and is a public agency, and it is found and declared that the carrying out of the purpose of each authority is exclusively for public benefit and its property is public property. No authority shall pay any state or local ad valorem, income, sales, fuel, excise, or other use taxes or other taxes from which municipalities and counties are exempt. The South Carolina Department of Revenue is responsible for promulgating regulations necessary to effect fully this provision for tax exemption. The authority or operator providing public transportation on behalf of an authority may participate in the State Retirement System and utilize the services of the State Purchasing Department of the Division of General Services and any other joint activity of the State carried on for the benefit of state agencies and political subdivisions of the State. Operators providing public transportation on behalf of an authority shall not pay state and local fuel taxes from which municipalities and counties are exempt.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-650 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 5 / Section 58-27-650
SECTION 58-27-650. Reassignment of service areas.
Status: repealed

(A) The Public Service Commission, upon agreement of the affected electric suppliers, is authorized to reassign to one electric supplier any area or portion of the area assigned to another and, notwithstanding the lack of an agreement, the commission upon petition by any electric supplier or county or consolidated political subdivision within this State, after notice to all affected electric suppliers and after hearing, if a hearing is requested by any affected electric supplier, the Office of Regulatory Staff, or any other interested party, is authorized to reassign to one electric supplier any area or portion of the area assigned to another, except premises being served by the other electric supplier or to which any of its facilities for service are attached and except the portions of the area as are within three hundred feet of the other electric supplier's lines, upon a finding that the reassignment is required by public convenience and necessity. In determining whether public convenience and necessity require the reassignment, the commission shall consider among other things the adequacy and dependability of the service of the affected electric suppliers, but may not consider rate differentials between the electric suppliers. (B) The Public Service Commission has the authority and jurisdiction, if a hearing is requested by any affected electric supplier, the Office of Regulatory Staff, or municipality, to order any electric supplier to cease and desist from furnishing electric service inside an assigned area which has been annexed into a municipality upon a finding that service to existing consumers by the electric supplier which is then furnishing service, or which has the right to furnish service to the premises, is or will be inadequate or undependable, and cannot or will not be made adequate or dependable within a reasonable time, or that the rates, conditions of service, or service regulations, applied to the consumers, are unreasonably discriminatory. In determining the adequacy and dependability of service or whether rates, conditions of service, or service regulations are unreasonably discriminatory, the commission may not consider rate differentials between the affected electric suppliers or municipality or differences in the provisions of utility service other than electrical services. Upon a finding of inadequate, undependable, or unreasonably discriminatory service, the commission shall order necessary improvements or corrections or the sale of the facilities in accordance with Section 58-27-1360. Editor's Note Section 1 of 1984 Act No. 431, provides as follows: "The General Assembly finds that assignment of electric service territories by the Public Service Commission has aided the State in overseeing the public interest of its citizens by uniformly regulating the responsibilities and rights of sellers of electricity. "The General Assembly further finds that unnecessary duplication of electrical facilities increases rates and charges to South Carolina citizens and that the assignment of electric service territories has decreased duplication. "The General Assembly further finds that incorporation of new municipalities and annexation by existing municipalities alter assignments of service areas originally made for public convenience and necessity without consideration for the impact of the change on persons living outside the municipality. "Therefore, in accordance with the powers granted the General Assembly under Article IX, Section 1, and Article VIII, Section 14, of the Constitution of this State, it is declared the policy of South Carolina to maintain the assignment of electric service territories by the Public Service Commission over areas having been assigned electric suppliers under Section 58-27-640, even when the area becomes incorporated or annexed to an existing city or town." Section 57 of 1987 Act No. 173 (codified as SECTION 58-27-690), provides that this section shall not be modified, abridged, or repealed by 1987 Act No. 173.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2710 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 24 / Section 58-27-2710
SECTION 58-27-2710. Effect of election.
Status: in_force

The election by a utility to have the terms of this article apply to its rates and charges for retail electric service once made shall remain in effect until the next general rate proceeding for the public utility under Section 58-27-860, at which time the public utility may then elect to continue the applicability of this article to its rates and charges or elect to opt out of the provisions of this article. The applicant may withdraw its request to come under the terms of this article at any time before the entry of a final order of the commission on the merits of the proceeding in which the election is made or on a petition for rehearing in the proceeding. 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. § 58-21-280 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 3 / Section 58-21-280
SECTION 58-21-280. Electric street railway companies shall heat cars.
Status: in_force

All electric street railway companies doing business in this State shall provide and furnish all their streetcars or electric cars with sufficient heat for all passengers and employees. Any streetcar company violating the provisions of this section shall be liable to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-740 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 58-17-740
SECTION 58-17-740. Purchase of connecting railroad sold under mortgage, deed of trust or judicial process.
Status: in_force

When any railroad shall be sold and conveyed by virtue of any mortgage or deed of trust or under and by virtue of any process or decree of any court of this State or of the circuit court of the United States, any company with which such railroad connects may purchase and pay for such railroad, may issue its own stock for such an amount as the purchasers may deem the full and fair value thereof and may hold and enjoy the railroad so purchased with all the rights, privileges and franchises and with the same rights to charge for tolls, transportation and car services and subject to the same restrictions as were held, enjoyed and limited by and in respect to the company of which the road may be so sold. But no person shall purchase or lease any railroad lying in whole or in part within this State, or any interest therein or shall operate any such railroad when such purchaser or lessee already owns, operates or is interested in a line or lines of railroad which, either alone or in conjunction with other connecting railroads lying within or without this State, can compete between any two or more points within this State and any such purchase, lease or acquisition is hereby declared to be null and void. Nor shall any person owning or exercising a controlling interest in any such competing company or companies, either directly or indirectly, purchase or lease, in whole or in part, any such railroad. Any incorporators or individuals so offending by making any such acquisition shall also forfeit any franchise or license which they may hold from this State to operate or hold the competing road which they own, operate or are interested in and the company owning the railroad so to be controlled shall forfeit its charter, franchise or license to own and operate such railroad.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-660 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 5 / Section 58-27-660
SECTION 58-27-660. Supplier may furnish service in area served by another.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 58-27-620 and 58-27-640: (1) Any electric supplier may furnish electric service to any consumer who desires service from such electric supplier at any premises being served by another electric supplier, or at premises which another electric supplier has the right to serve pursuant to other provisions of this article, upon agreement of the affected electric suppliers. (2) The Public Service Commission shall have the authority and jurisdiction, after notice to all affected electric suppliers and the Office of Regulatory Staff and after hearing, if a hearing is requested by any affected electric supplier, the Office of Regulatory Staff, or any other interested party, to order any electric supplier which may reasonably do so to furnish electric service to any consumer who desires service from the electric supplier at any premises being served by another electric supplier, including service being provided under the provisions of Section 58-27-620(2) as it existed before the effective date of Article 4, Chapter 33 of Title 58 or at premises which another electric supplier has the right to serve pursuant to other provisions of this article, and to order the other electric supplier to cease and desist from furnishing electric service to the premises, upon a finding that service to the consumer by the electric supplier which is then furnishing service, or which has the right to furnish service, to the premises, is or will be inadequate or undependable, and cannot or will not be made adequate and dependable within a reasonable time, or that the rates, conditions of service, or service regulations, applied to the consumer, are unreasonably discriminatory. Editor's Note Article 4, Chapter 33 of Title 58 (SECTIONS 58-33-210, et seq.) took effect May 3, 2007.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1840 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 15 / Section 58-9-1840
SECTION 58-9-1840. Delivery of certain messages.
Status: in_force

Such companies shall deliver all dispatches to the persons to whom they are addressed or to their agents, on payment of any charge due for them if such persons or agents reside within one mile of the telegraphic station or within the city or town in which such station is.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-270 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-270
SECTION 58-11-270. Commission shall furnish forms and information so as to permit orderly compliance by carriers.
Status: in_force

All report forms required to be completed by carriers pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and any other information necessary to enable carriers to remain in compliance with such provisions shall be furnished by the Public Service Commission to all carriers on a time schedule which will permit orderly compliance by the carriers.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-210
SECTION 58-15-210. Charters subject to repeal, alteration or amendment.
Status: in_force

Any such charter shall be subject to repeal, alteration or amendment by the General Assembly.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1910 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 19 / Section 58-15-1910
SECTION 58-15-1910. Department of Transportation shall cooperate in relation to grade separation structures.
Status: in_force

The Department of Transportation shall cooperate with any railroad company operating lines in the State in effecting necessary reconstruction, changes or alterations in grade separation structures on state highways where the tracks of such company cross such highways.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 1 / Section 58-33-10
SECTION 58-33-10. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the "Utility Facility Siting and Environmental Protection Act".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-40 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 1 / Section 58-31-40
SECTION 58-31-40. Remedies upon default of obligations; appointment of receiver.
Status: in_force

Any resolution authorizing any notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, and any mortgage or trust indenture or other agreement entered into pursuant thereto, may, whether or not any such obligations are or are to be secured by mortgage, provide that in the event that (a) default shall be made in the payment of the interest on any or all such obligations when and as the same shall become due and payable, (b) default shall be made in the payment of the principal of any or all such obligations when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the maturity thereof, by call for redemption or otherwise or (c) default shall be made in the performance of any agreement made with the purchasers or successive holders of any such obligations, and such default shall have continued for such period, if any, as may be prescribed by said resolution or said mortgage, trust indenture or other agreement in respect thereof, the trustees under such mortgage, trust indenture or other agreement entered into in respect of the obligations authorized thereby (or, if there shall be no such mortgage, trust indenture or other agreement, or trustee thereunder, a trustee appointed in the manner provided in such resolution or resolutions by the holders of not less than twenty-five per centum in aggregate principal amount of the obligations authorized thereby and at the time outstanding) may, and upon the written request of the holders of twenty-five per centum in aggregate principal amount of the obligations authorized by such resolution or resolutions at the time outstanding, shall, in his or its own name, but for the equal and proportionate benefit of the holders of all of such obligations, and with or without having possession thereof: (1) By mandamus or other suit, action or proceeding at law or in equity, enforce all rights of the holders of such obligations; (2) Bring suit upon such obligations, the coupons appurtenant thereto, or both; (3) By action or suit in equity, require the Authority to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for the holders of such obligations; (4) By action or suit in equity, enjoin any acts or things which may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the holders of such obligations; (5) After such notice to the Authority as such resolution may provide, declare the principal of all such obligations due and payable, and if all defaults shall have been made good, then with the written consent of the holder or holders of twenty-five per centum in aggregate principal amount of such obligations at the time outstanding, annul such declaration and its consequences; Provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of such obligations at the time outstanding shall, by instrument or instruments in writing delivered to such trustee, have the right to direct and control any and all action taken or to be taken by such trustee under this section. Any such resolution, mortgage, indenture or agreement may likewise provide that in any such suit, action or proceeding, any such trustee, whether or not all of such obligations have been declared due and payable, and with or without possession of any thereof, shall be entitled as of right to the appointment of a receiver who may enter upon and take possession of all or any part of the properties of the Authority and operate and maintain the same, and fix, collect and receive rates, tolls, and charges sufficient to provide revenues to pay the items specified in clause 13 of Section 58-31-30 hereof and all costs and disbursements of such suit, action or proceeding, such revenues to be applied in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and the resolution or resolutions authorizing such obligations, or the mortgage, indenture or other agreement pursuant to which the same shall have been issued. In any suit, action or proceeding by any such trustee, the reasonable fees, counsel fees and expenses of such trustee and of the receiver or receivers, if any, shall constitute taxable disbursements, and all costs and disbursements allowed by the court shall be a first charge upon any revenues pledged to secure the payment of such obligations. The circuit court of the county of Richland, and the circuit court of any other county wherein is located the principal office or any branch office of the Authority or wherein any of its property or facilities may be located, or any of such courts, shall have jurisdiction of any such suit, action or proceeding by any such trustee, and of all property involved therein. In addition to the powers hereinafter specifically provided for, each such trustee shall have and possess all powers necessary or appropriate for the exercise of any thereof, or necessary or appropriate for the general representation of the holders of such obligations in the enforcement of their right or rights. None of the remedies provided for in this section shall be deemed to be exclusive, and any one or more than one or all thereof shall be available in connection with any default and with any subsequent default.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-3000 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 25 / Section 58-9-3000
SECTION 58-9-3000. Short title; legislative findings.
Status: in_force

(A) This article shall be known as the "Broadband Accessibility Act". (B) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Despite the substantial efforts and billions of dollars invested by existing broadband service providers, locations within the State still lack access to broadband service, particularly in rural areas where the cost to deploy facilities is significantly higher than in more densely populated areas. (2) Because the lack of broadband facilities and services in certain areas deprives citizens residing in those areas from access to opportunities, the State needs to take action to correct and eliminate discrepancies in access to broadband facilities and services. (3) With this chapter, the General Assembly intends to authorize electric cooperatives to (a) invest in or deploy broadband facilities and (b) provide broadband service in this State, while ensuring that appropriate protections are in place to ensure that electric cooperatives do not have an unfair competitive advantage over other broadband service providers, and that the provision of broadband service by electric cooperatives does not unduly burden their electric service customers. (4) It is the public policy of this State to encourage and facilitate the development and investment in broadband facilities in order to facilitate access to broadband services at all locations in the State, as this development is vital and necessary to induce, create, and promote industrial and economic development and to create job opportunities, enhance health care, and enhance educational advancement in the State. (5) It is the public policy of this State to encourage continued and expanded investment in broadband infrastructure in this State by existing and new broadband providers. (6) It is the public policy of the State to promote the authorization of advanced communications capabilities to be installed within existing easements and other rights of way in a manner that protects the rights of landowners. (7) It is the public policy of this State to promote the efficient deployment of broadband facilities in the State. (8) Utilizing electric easements to provide broadband services, especially existing overhead or underground facilities, does not change the physical use of the easement, interfere with or impair any vested rights of the owner or occupier of real property subject to the easement, or place any additional burdens on the property interests of an owner or occupier. Consequently, the installation and operation of broadband services within the easements are merely changes in the manner or degree of the granted use as appropriate to accommodate a new technology and, absent any applicable express prohibition contained in the instrument conveying or granting the easement, shall be deemed as a matter of law to be permitted use within the scope of every such easement. (9) The provisions of this chapter are reasonably related to the legislative objective of facilitating access to broadband services in unserved areas throughout the State. Editor's Note 2020 Act No. 175, SECTION 6, provides as follows: "SECTION 6. This act does not convey or confer any implied or express grant of authority to an investor-owned electric utility to provide broadband facilities or broadband services as defined in this act and any legal rights which may or may not belong to investor-owned electric utilities to provide broadband facilities or broadband services at the time of the passage of this act are neither expanded nor contracted by its passage."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1690 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 16 / Section 58-23-1690
SECTION 58-23-1690. Fees.
Status: in_force

(A) The Office of Regulatory Staff may assess each TNC an annual fee in an amount necessary to permit the Office of Regulatory Staff to carry out the requirements of this article. (B) The annual assessment of fees will be pursuant to Section 58-4-60(B).
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-20 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 1 / Section 58-27-20
SECTION 58-27-20. Chapter inapplicable to certain areas.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the areas within former municipal corporate limits, where such municipality becomes a part of a consolidated political subdivision whenever such municipality owns and operates its own electric system and so long as such system continues to be owned and operated by the consolidated political subdivision.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 1 / Section 58-9-10
SECTION 58-9-10. Definitions.
Status: in_force

When used in Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter: (1) The term "Commission" means the Public Service Commission; (2) The term "commissioner" means one of the members of the Commission; (3) The term "corporation" includes all bodies corporate, joint stock companies or associations, domestic or foreign, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest, having any of the power or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships; (4) The term "person" includes all individuals, partnerships or associations other than corporations; (5) The term "public" means the public generally or any limited portion of the public, including a person or corporation; (6) The term "telephone utility" includes persons and corporations, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest owning or operating in this State equipment or facilities for the transmission of intelligence by telephone for hire, including all things incident thereto and related to the operation of telephones; (7) The term "rate" means and includes every compensation, charge, toll, rental and classification, or any of them, demanded, observed, charged or collected by any telephone utility for any communications service offered by it to the public and any rules, regulations, practices or contracts affecting any such compensation, charge, toll, rental or classification; and (8) The term "securities" means and includes stock, stock certificates, bonds, notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness, and any assumption or guaranty thereof. (9) The term "basic local exchange telephone service" means for residential and single-line business customers, access to basic voice grade local service, access to available emergency services and directory assistance, the capability to access interconnecting carriers, relay services, access to operator services, and one annual local directory listing (white pages or equivalent). (10) The term "carrier of last resort" means a facilities-based local exchange carrier, as determined by the commission, not inconsistent with the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, which has the obligation to provide basic local exchange telephone service, upon reasonable request, to all residential and single-line business customers within a defined service or geographic area. A carrier of last resort may meet its obligation by using any available technology of equal or greater service quality than is required by applicable commission regulations as of the effective date of this item, including, but not limited to, the provision of a broadband connection that allows the customer to access basic voice grade local service from the carrier of last resort or other available voice provider of the customer's choice. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and regardless of the technology used, the basic voice grade local service provided to meet this obligation is subject to the commission's jurisdiction with respect to service quality and rates, and is entitled to USF support. Initially, the incumbent LEC must be a carrier of last resort within its existing service area. (11) The term "incumbent local exchange carrier" or "incumbent LEC" means a telecommunications company, its affiliates, successors, or its assigns, which provide local exchange service pursuant to a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the commission before July 1, 1995, or operating as a local exchange carrier before that date pursuant to commission authority, to provide local exchange service within a certificated geographic service area of the State. Any such entity must be treated as the incumbent local exchange carrier only within the geographic area where it maintains service pursuant to: (a) any certificate of public convenience and necessity issued before July 1, 1995; or (b) any certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to supersede, in whole or in part, any certificate of public convenience and necessity issued before July 1, 1995. (12) The term "local exchange carrier" or "LEC" means either an incumbent local exchange carrier or a new entrant local exchange carrier. (13) The term "new entrant local exchange carrier" or "new entrant LEC" means a telecommunications company holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the commission pursuant to Section 58-9-280 (B) after December 31, 1995, to provide local exchange service within a certificated geographic service area of the State. (14) The term "small local exchange carrier" or "small LEC" means a rural telephone company as defined on February 8, 1996, in the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. (15) The term "telecommunications services" means the services for the transmission of voice and data communications to the public for hire, including those nonwireline services provided in competition to landline services. (16) The term "universal service" means the providing of basic local exchange telephone service, at affordable rates, upon reasonable request, to all residential and single-line business customers within a defined service area. (17) The term "broadband service" means a service that is used to deliver video or to provide access to the Internet or content and services similar to that accessible through the Internet, and that consists of the offering of: (a) a capability to transmit information at a rate that is generally not less than one hundred ninety kilobits per second in at least one direction; or (b) a service that uses one or more of the following to provide this access: (i) computer processing; (ii) information storage; and (iii) protocol conversion. (18) The term "regulatory staff" means the executive director or the executive director and the employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff. 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." 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" Effect of Amendment 2016 Act No. 181, SECTION 4, in (9), deleted "with touchtone" following "basic voice grade local service"; and in (10), inserted "or geographic" in the first sentence, and inserted the second and third sentences.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2050 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2050
SECTION 58-27-2050. Depositions.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff or any party to the proceedings may, in any hearing before the commission, cause the depositions of witnesses residing within or without the State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions in the courts of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1240
SECTION 58-9-1240. Rules governing pleadings, practice and procedure.
Status: in_force

The Commission may prescribe rules governing pleadings, practice and procedure before it not inconsistent with the provisions of Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter or any other provisions of law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1070 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 9 / Section 58-9-1070
SECTION 58-9-1070. Production of books and other records.
Status: in_force

The commission or Office of Regulatory Staff may require the production within this State at such time and place as it may designate of any books, accounts, papers, or records of the telephone utility relating to its business or affairs within the State, pertinent to any lawful inquiry and kept by the telephone utility in any office or place within or without this State or, at its option, verified copies in lieu thereof, so that an examination thereof may be made by the Office of Regulatory Staff or under its direction.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-80 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 2 / Section 58-12-80
SECTION 58-12-80. Fees payable by companies receiving benefits of grandfather clauses.
Status: in_force

Any cable television company which shall receive the benefits of operating under the grandfather clauses contained in this chapter shall pay to the county governing body or municipality the same fees as would be charged to a new franchising company by the county or municipality.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-290 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 4 / Section 58-33-290
SECTION 58-33-290. Effect of denial of or failure to seek project development application; filing new or amended applications.
Status: in_force

The denial of a project development application, application, or combined application under this article shall not preclude the utility from filing a new or amended project development application, application, or combined application at any time. A utility may proceed to construct a plant even if assurance of prudency or cost recovery under this article is not sought or is denied, and the failure to seek or obtain such an assurance may not be used as evidence or precedent in any future proceeding.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4090 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4090
SECTION 58-17-4090. Penalty for obstruction of railroad.
Status: in_force

If any person shall by himself or others place, or cause to be placed, on the track or other part of the passageway of any railroad on which steam engines, diesel engines or any other type engines or handcars are used any timber, stone or other obstruction, with intent to injure or impede the passage of any cars or means of conveyance, or shall in any manner obstruct any engine or car passing upon any railroad on which steam engines, diesel engines or any other type engines or handcars are used or endanger the safety of persons conveyed in or upon such railroads or assist therein, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, on being thereof convicted by due course of law, shall be punished by imprisonment in the Penitentiary for not less than one nor more than thirty years and fined in the discretion of the court, except when the death of some human being results from such impediment and in that case the offender shall be adjudged guilty of murder and shall suffer death. Nothing in this section shall in any manner take away any right of action for damages for injuries to the person or property of any person or body corporate caused by any injury, obstruction or damage done to any railroad or its buildings, tracks or constructions.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-50 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-50
SECTION 58-11-50. Unreasonable preferences and differences in rates shall not be made; reasonable classifications may be established.
Status: in_force

No radio common carrier shall, as to rates, or services, make or grant any unreasonable preference or advantage to any person or corporation or subject any person or corporation to any unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. No radio common carrier shall establish or maintain any unreasonable difference as to rates or service, either as between localities or as between classes of service. Subject to the approval of the Commission, however, radio common carriers may establish classifications of rates and services, and such classifications may take into account the conditions and circumstances surrounding the service, such as the time when used, the purpose for which used, the demand upon plant facilities, the value of the service rendered, the cost of equipment at time of installation, or any other reasonable consideration. The Commission may determine any question arising under this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-11-250 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 58-11-250
SECTION 58-11-250. Radio common carriers shall not permit employees to sell securities of others during employment nor require them to purchase any securities.
Status: in_force

No radio common carrier shall permit any employee to sell, offer for sale, or solicit the purchase of any security of any other person or corporation during such hours as such employee is engaged to perform any duty of such radio common carrier; nor shall any radio common carrier by any means or device whatsoever require any employee to purchase or contract to purchase any of its securities or those of any other person or corporation; nor shall any radio common carrier require any employee to permit the deduction from his wages or salary of any sum as a payment or to be applied as a payment on any purchase or contract to purchase any securities of such radio common carrier or of any other person or corporation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-500 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 4 / Section 58-12-500
SECTION 58-12-500. Blocking programs not subscribed to upon request; notice; delivery of channels on promotional basis.
Status: in_force

(A) Except as provided in subsection (C), a cable or video service provider that uses digital transmission technology to deliver cable or video programming must completely block all video and audio on any channel that a subscriber has not purchased at no charge to the subscriber. (B) A cable or video service provider that uses analog transmission technology to deliver cable or video programming must provide notice to its subscribers that informs the subscriber that, upon request by the subscriber, the cable or video service provider will block all video and audio on any channel that the subscriber has not purchased at no charge to the subscriber. The notice must be given to current subscribers by a bill insert, by separate mailing, or by electronic notice. Within five days of receiving a subscriber's request, the cable or video service provider must block all video and audio on any channel that the subscriber has not purchased. The time frames stated herein shall not apply if the cable or video service provider is unable to comply with them due to circumstances beyond the cable or video service provider's control. (C) A cable or video service provider that intends to deliver channels to its subscribers on a promotional basis shall provide its subscribers advanced notice of its intent to do so and shall inform them that, upon a subscriber's request, all video and audio on such channels can be completely blocked. Unless a subscriber makes such a request in the manner prescribed by the provider, a cable or video service provider may, on a promotional basis, deliver to a subscriber one or more channels the subscriber has not purchased. Editor's Note 2008 Act No. 182, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "This act is known and may be cited as the Television Programming Protection Act."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-33-430 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 33 / Article 7 / Section 58-33-430
SECTION 58-33-430. Annual reports shall be furnished by public utilities.
Status: in_force

Each public utility shall annually furnish a report to the commission and provide to the Office of Regulatory Staff for its review containing a ten-year forecast of loads and resources; provided, however, this section shall not apply to any electric cooperative. The report shall list the major utility facilities which, in the judgment of such utility, will be required to supply system demands during the forecast period. The forecast shall cover the ten-year period next succeeding the date of the report, shall be made available to the public, and furnished upon request to municipalities and government agencies charged with the duty of protecting the environment or of planning land use.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-4030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 33 / Section 58-17-4030
SECTION 58-17-4030. Penalty for injury due to negligence or carelessness.
Status: in_force

When an engineman, fireman or other agent or officer of a railroad corporation is guilty of negligence or carelessness whereby an injury is done to any person he shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-1120 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 11 / Section 58-15-1120
SECTION 58-15-1120. County where violation deemed committed.
Status: in_force

Every violation of the provisions of Section 58-15-1110 shall equally be held to have been committed in the county in which such act is finally carried out or in which any illegal charge is collected, as well as that in which the act or charge is ordered or agreed upon or any step taken in execution thereof.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-240 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-240
SECTION 58-3-240. Definitions; exemption from certain regulations for certain utility services.
Status: in_force

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Privately-owned industrial park" means a privately- owned tract of real property which is used solely for industrial uses, in which the provider of utility services owns or operates an industrial premises and owns or operates facilities for the provision of utility services and on which there is located one or more industrial users. " Privately-owned industrial park" also means those additional tracts as may be subsequently incorporated into the industrial park. (2) "Industrial premises" means a building, structure, plant, or facility which is located in a privately-owned industrial park and is owned or leased by an industrial user. (3) "Industrial user" means any person, corporation, or association which is engaged in the business of manufacturing, processing, assembling, fabricating, or related work. (4) "Provider of utility services" means a person, corporation, or association, other than a regulated public utility or its affiliates, that offers or provides, or both, utility services to the public or any portion of it outside a privately-owned industrial park, which provides any or all of those services which are defined in Chapters 5 and 7 of this title, excluding gas, and subject to regulation by the commission and where the services are provided to an industrial user in a privately-owned industrial park. (5) "Jurisdictional utilities" means those persons, corporations, associations, or political subdivisions which provide services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission under Chapters 5 and 7 of this title, excluding gas. (B) The provisions of Chapters 5 and 7 of this title, excluding gas, are not applicable to the provision of utility services to industrial users of these services where the industrial users are located in a privately-owned industrial park where the provider of utility services and the industrial user have agreed in writing to the terms and conditions for the provision of utility services and where all jurisdictional utilities which would have a right to provide any or all of the utility services have agreed in writing to waive their right to further notice and opportunity for hearing with respect to the written agreement and the provision of the services under the terms of the agreement. (C) Within twenty days after the execution of a written agreement between a provider of utility services and an industrial user pursuant to subsection (B), the provider of utility services must file with the commission and provide to the Office of Regulatory Staff, for information only, the written agreement and all waivers executed by jurisdictional utilities pursuant to subsection (B).
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-1030 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-1030
SECTION 58-5-1030. Civil penalties.
Status: in_force

(a) A gas utility which violates a provision of Section 58-5-1020 or a regulation under this article is subject to a civil penalty of not more than the maximum civil penalty provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 60122 and 49 C.F.R. 190.223. (b) A civil penalty may be compromised by the commission. In determining the amount of the penalty, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the violation, and the good faith of the person charged in attempting to achieve compliance, after notification of a violation, must be considered. The amount of the penalty when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, may be recovered in a civil action in the court of common pleas. Effect of Amendment 2024 Act No. 208, SECTION 1, in (a), substituted "the maximum civil penalty provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 60122 and 49 C.F.R. 190.223" for "ten thousand dollars for each violation for each day that the violation persists, except that the maximum civil penalty may not exceed five hundred thousand dollars for any related series of violations".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-970 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 7 / Section 58-27-970
SECTION 58-27-970. Participation in profits arising from efficiency.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of encouraging economy, efficiency and improvements in methods or service any electrical utility may, subject to the approval of the Commission, participate to such extent as may be permitted by the Commission in additional profits arising from any economy, efficiency or improvement in methods or service instituted by such electrical utility.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-570 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 5 / Section 58-9-570
SECTION 58-9-570. Factors which Commission shall consider in determining rates.
Status: in_force

In determining just, reasonable and sufficient rates the Commission shall give due consideration to the telephone utility's property devoted to the public service; the revenues received for the service; the reasonable operating expenses and other costs necessary to provide the service; the total earnings required for the proper discharge of the telephone utility's public duty; the capitalization of the telephone utility and the net income required on its net worth; and such other matters, circumstances and conditions as the Commission may find necessary. But the rates so fixed shall not be higher than necessary to give a fair return to the stockholders.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-590 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 23 / Article 5 / Section 58-23-590
SECTION 58-23-590. Carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal; fees.
Status: in_force

(A) The commission may promulgate regulations that establish enforcement procedures and powers to govern the operations of carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal. (B) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to establish a Transportation Division to carry out its responsibilities and may assess the carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal fees necessary to fund this office and to carry out its responsibilities. (C) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to employ necessary personnel to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter as they apply to carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal. A carrier operating in violation of a provision of Articles 1 through 12 of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must pay penalties provided in Section 58-23-80. A fine of one thousand dollars is imposed on the violators of the certification and registration requirements. Seventy-five percent of this fine must be remitted to the Office of Regulatory Staff to be used for the operation of the Transportation Division. Magistrates have jurisdiction over contested violations of this section and are prohibited from suspending or reducing the penalties. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 214, SECTION 15, in (A), substituted "may promulgate regulations that" for "must promulgate regulations necessary to control entry and certification standards, set rates and charges, and"; in (B), substituted "a Transportation Division" for "an Office of Compliance"; deleted (C) and (D), which related to the Office of Regulatory Staff issuing a common carrier certificate or contract carrier permit of public convenience and necessity, and redesignated former (E) as (C); and in (C), in the fourth sentence, substituted "Transportation Division" for "Office of Compliance".
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-710 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 58-5-710
SECTION 58-5-710. Issuance of order to provide adequate and proper service; fine or penalty; lien on property of utility.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Commission, upon petition by any interested party, shall have the right to require any person or corporation, as defined in Section 58-5-10, operating a water or sewer utility system for which prior consent or approval by the commission is required to appear before the commission on proper notice and show cause why that utility should not be required to take steps as are necessary to provide adequate and proper service to its customers. If the commission upon hearing determines that the service is not being provided, it shall issue an order requiring the utility to take steps as are necessary to the provision of the service within a reasonable time as prescribed by the commission. Upon failure of the utility to provide the service within the time prescribed without cause or excuse, as shall be determined by the commission, the commission shall impose a penalty or fine against the utility in an amount not less than one hundred dollars per day but not more than one thousand dollars per day. Each day the failure or noncompliance continues shall be considered a separate and distinct breach or violation of the order. Any fine or penalty so imposed or assessed by the commission, upon proper filing in the appropriate county office or offices, constitutes a lien upon the properties and assets of the utility in like manner and form as any other judgment at law. Any fine or penalty so imposed by the commission shall go into the general fund of the State, unless otherwise provided by law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-390 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-390
SECTION 58-5-390. Tap fees for installation and maintenance of fire sprinkler system; exception.
Status: in_force

(A) A publicly or privately owned utility may not impose a tap fee, other fee, or a recurring maintenance fee of any nature or however described for the installation and maintenance of a fire sprinkler system that exceeds the actual costs associated with the water line to the system. (B) For purposes of this section, actual costs include direct labor, direct material, the necessity of increased capacity, and other direct charges associated with the separate fire sprinkler line. The direct costs must be documented by either an invoice or work order that specifically assigns the costs to the separate fire sprinkler line. Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring a utility to provide service to support a private fire protection system. (C) Nothing in this section shall give the commission or the regulatory staff any power to regulate or interfere with public utilities owned or operated by or on behalf of any municipality, county, or regional transportation authority as defined in Chapter 25 of this title or their agencies.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-950 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 9 / Section 58-5-950
SECTION 58-5-950. Employment of staff; legal representation.
Status: in_force

The commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff may employ such technical administrative and clerical staff as may be required to carry out the provisions of this article and to perform the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it by this article in relation to gas utilities. The Office of Regulatory Staff shall institute and defend all suits or actions arising under this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-540 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 5 / Section 58-9-540
SECTION 58-9-540. Hearing on new schedule of rates; time for Commission action.
Status: in_force

(A) Whenever there is filed with the commission by any telephone utility a schedule stating a new rate or rates which affect the telephone utility's general body of subscribers, the commission shall, after notice to the Office of Regulatory Staff and the public such as the commission may prescribe, hold a hearing concerning the lawfulness or reasonableness of the rate or rates; provided, however, that when the proposed rate or tariff is a proposal to institute or modify an offering or regulation that is not part of a general rate case and does not affect the telephone utility's general body of subscribers, the commission may approve such filing without a hearing. Whenever a new rate is requested which affects the telephone utility's general body of subscribers, the commission shall rule and issue its order approving or disapproving the changes in full or in part within six months of the time of filing. (B) Should the Commission determine that it cannot, due to circumstances reasonably beyond its control, issue such order within the six-month period prescribed by this section, the Commission, may, by order, extend the six-month period for an additional five days. Any such order shall set forth such circumstances and make appropriate findings concerning the need for the extended period. If the Commission rules and issues its order within the time aforesaid, and the utility shall appeal from the order, by filing with the Commission a petition for rehearing, the utility may put the rates requested in its schedule into effect under bond only during the appeal and until final disposition of the case. Such bond must be in a reasonable amount approved by the Commission, with sureties approved by the Commission, conditioned upon the refund, in a manner to be prescribed by order of the Commission, to the persons, corporations, or municipalities respectively entitled to the amount of the excess, if the rate or rates put into effect are finally determined to be excessive; or there may be substituted for the bond other arrangements satisfactory to the Commission for the protection of parties interested. During any period in which a utility shall charge increased rates under bond, it shall provide records or other evidence of payments made by its subscribers or patrons under the rate or rates which the utility has put into operation in excess of the rate or rates in effect immediately prior to the filing of the schedule. All increases in rates put into effect under the provisions of this section which are not approved and for which a refund is required shall bear interest at a rate of twelve percent per annum. The interest shall commence on the date the disallowed increase is paid and continue until the date the refund is made. In all cases in which a refund is due, the Commission shall order a total refund of the difference between the amount collected under bond and the amount finally approved. (C) If the Commission fails to rule or issue its order within the time prescribed in subsection (A) or (B) of this section, the utility may put into effect the change in rates it requested in its schedule. The change is to be treated as an approval of the new rate schedule by the Commission. (D) After the date the schedule, which affects the telephone utility's general body of subscribers, is filed with the Commission, no further rate change request which affects the telephone utility's general body of subscribers may be filed until twelve months have elapsed from the date of the filing of the schedule; provided, however, this section shall not apply to a request for rate reduction. (E) The commission's determination of a fair rate of return must be documented fully in its findings of fact and based exclusively on reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-36-110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 36 / Section 58-36-110
SECTION 58-36-110. Exemption from notice requirements.
Status: reserved

This section is reserved, effective May 22, 2026, pursuant to 2025 Acts No. 65, SECTION 1. A person is exempt from the requirements of Section 58-36-60(A) when an excavation is performed under the following conditions: (1) by the owner of a single-family residential property on his own land when the excavation: (a) does not encroach on any operator's known right-of-way, easement, or permitted use; (b) is performed with nonmechanized equipment; and (c) is less than ten inches in depth; (2) tilling or plowing of soil when less than twelve inches in depth for agricultural purposes; (3) for excavation with nonmechanized equipment by an operator or an agent of an operator for the following purposes: (a) locating for a valid notification request, or for the minor repair, connecting or routine maintenance of an existing facility; or (b) underground probing to determine the extent of gas or water migration. (4) when the Department of Transportation, a local government, special purpose district, or public service district is carrying out maintenance activities within its designated right-of-way, which may include resurfacing, milling, emergency replacement of signs critical for maintaining safety, or the reshaping of shoulder and ditches to the original road profile.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-420 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 58-17-420
SECTION 58-17-420. Charter subject to amendment, alteration or repeal by State.
Status: repealed

Any railroad corporation formed under the provisions of this article shall be subject, as to the charter of such corporation, to the provisions of Section 12-401 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1962, any provision in the original charter of the company which owned or held such railroad previous to such sale or any amendment thereto to the contrary notwithstanding. Editor's Note Section 12-401 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1962, referred to in this section, was repealed by 1962 Act No. 847 (1962 (52) 1896). Prior to its repeal that section read as follows: "It shall be deemed a part of the charter of every corporation created under the provisions of any general law and of every charter granted, renewed, or amended by act or joint resolution of the General Assembly, unless such act or joint resolution shall, in express terms, declare the contrary, that such charter and every amendment and renewal thereof shall always remain subject to amendment, alteration or repeal by the General Assembly."
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-40 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-40
SECTION 58-15-40. Issuance of commission to incorporators; authorization for opening books of subscription after giving of notice.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of the declaration of the petitioners and the payment of a fee of three dollars for filing and indexing it, the Secretary of State shall file the declaration under a proper number and index it and shall issue to any two or more of the petitioners a commission constituting them a board of incorporators and authorizing them to open books of subscription to the capital stock of such proposed company, after such public notice, not less than thirty days, as he may require in such commission. Such notice to be published in some newspaper in each of the counties through which the proposed road shall pass and, in the case of steamboat companies, such notice shall be given at the termini only.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-7-25 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 7 / Section 58-7-25
SECTION 58-7-25. Right to repurchase unused condemned property.
Status: in_force

(A) If the property, or any portion of it, condemned by a corporation engaged in the business of supplying sewerage service, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, is not used for the purpose for which it was condemned within a five-year period from the date it was condemned, the former owner has the right to repurchase the property from the corporation upon payment of the original purchase price. (B) Unless the former owner exercises his right to repurchase this property within a period of one year from the expiration of the five-year period as provided in subsection (A), the right to repurchase ceases when the corporation gives the former owner ninety days' notice that the right will expire at the end of the ninety-day period.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-1540 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 11 / Section 58-27-1540
SECTION 58-27-1540. System of accounts.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff may, subject to the approval of the commission, establish a system of accounts to be kept by electrical utilities subject to its jurisdiction and may prescribe the manner in which the accounts must be kept. Every electrical utility must keep its books, papers, and records accurately and faithfully according to the system of accounts and all regulations and directions in relation thereto prescribed by the Office of Regulatory Staff.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-21-10 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 21 / Article 1 / Section 58-21-10
SECTION 58-21-10. Commission shall have jurisdiction over interurban railroads.
Status: in_force

All authority, power, and duties conferred by law upon the commission as to steam railways, express and telegraph lines in this State, steamboat lines, and truck lines doing business as common carriers within this State are extended and conferred upon the commission as to all interurban railways, whether steam, electricity, or other power is used by them and whether or not the roads are partly without the corporate limits of towns or cities. The commission may not fix or approve the rates, fares, or charges for interurban railways.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2320 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 19 / Section 58-17-2320
SECTION 58-17-2320. Forfeiture of freight for failure to reweigh.
Status: in_force

Any common carrier refusing or failing to comply with any of the provisions of Section 58-17-2310 shall forfeit the right to any freight incurred through transportation of such coal or other article or, in the event that such freight shall have been prepaid, shall be liable as a penalty to the consignee for the amount of freight so prepaid, to be recovered by suit in any court of competent jurisdiction.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-15-130 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 58-15-130
SECTION 58-15-130. Forfeiture of charter for failure to commence or complete construction or operation within certain time.
Status: in_force

A railroad, street railway or canal company organized under this chapter shall be deemed to have waived its charter rights, franchises and privileges unless it shall begin the construction of the proposed road within two years from the date of the issuance of its charter and complete it within a period to be fixed by the Secretary of State in his certificate of incorporation, which shall in no case exceed fifteen years. A steamboat company organized under this chapter shall commence operating its line within two years from the date of issuance of its charter or its charter rights shall be deemed forfeited.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-5-260 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 58-5-260
SECTION 58-5-260. Notice by publication of filing of new or changed schedule.
Status: in_force

Within ten days after the filing of any new or changed schedule by a public utility the Commission shall give general notice thereof by publication.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-31-400 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 31 / Article 3 / Section 58-31-400
SECTION 58-31-400. Submission of annual budget.
Status: in_force

The Public Service Authority shall submit its annual budget to the House Ways and Means Committee to be printed as a regular part of the General Appropriation Act. The annual budget is submitted for information purposes only.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 25 / Section 58-17-3110
SECTION 58-17-3110. Railroads not required to have second-class coaches.
Status: in_force

No railroad to which the provisions of this chapter apply shall be required to have second-class coaches or to sell second-class tickets.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-12-110 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12 / Article 2 / Section 58-12-110
SECTION 58-12-110. Televising of athletic events.
Status: in_force

No institution of higher learning funded by state appropriations shall enter into any contract with a cable television company franchised pursuant to this chapter which gives an exclusive right to the cable television company concerned to televise athletic events in which athletic teams of such institution participate to the exclusion of free television.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3790 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 31 / Section 58-17-3790
SECTION 58-17-3790. Punitive damages.
Status: in_force

Punitive damages shall not be recoverable in cases arising under this article except under circumstances under which exemplary damages are recoverable in cases arising under SECTION 58-17-3950.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-1900 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-1900
SECTION 58-17-1900. Supervision of contracts concerning rates and division of earnings.
Status: in_force

All contracts and agreements between railroad companies doing business in this State as to rates of freight and passenger tariffs must be submitted to the Office of Regulatory Staff for inspection and correction, that it may be seen whether or not they are in violation of the law, of the provisions of the Constitution or of the rules and regulations of the commission, and all arrangements and agreements whatever as to the division of earnings of any kind by competing railroad companies doing business in this State shall be submitted to the Office of Regulatory Staff for inspection and approval, insofar as they affect rules and regulations made by the commission to secure to all persons doing business with such companies just and reasonable rates of freight and passenger tariffs and so far as they are affected by any of the provisions contained in this chapter for securing to all persons just, equal, and reasonable facilities for the transportation of freight and passengers. The commission may make such rules and regulations as to such contracts and agreements as may be considered necessary and proper. Any agreements not approved by the commission or by virtue of which rates shall be charged exceeding the rates fixed for freight and passengers shall be violations of this chapter and are unlawful and void.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-200 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 1 / Section 58-3-200
SECTION 58-3-200. Inspections, audits and examinations.
Status: in_force

The commission has the authority to initiate inspections, audits, and examinations of all persons and entities subject to its jurisdiction. Such inspections, audits, and examinations must relate to matters within the commission's jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission must not conduct such inspections, audits, and examinations itself, but must request that they be conducted by the Office of Regulatory Staff pursuant to Section 58-4-50(A)(2).
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3620 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 29 / Section 58-17-3620
SECTION 58-17-3620. Ejection of disorderly passenger from train.
Status: in_force

When any passenger shall be guilty of disorderly conduct, use any obscene or grossly profane language to the annoyance and vexation of passengers or play any game of cards or other game of chance for money or other valuable thing upon any railroad train, the conductor of such train may stop his train at any place where such offense has been committed and eject such passenger from the train, using only such force as may be necessary to accomplish such removal, and may command the assistance of the employees of the railroad company or any of the passengers to assist in such removal.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-340 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 58-17-340
SECTION 58-17-340. Formation of corporation following purchase of railroad by virtue of mortgage or deed of trust by filing certificate.
Status: in_force

In case of the sale of any railroad situated wholly or partly within this State, by virtue of any mortgage or deed of trust, whether under foreclosure or other judicial proceeding or pursuant to any power contained in such mortgage or deed of trust, the purchaser thereof or his survivor representatives or assigns may, together with his associates, if any, form a corporation for the purpose of owning, possessing, maintaining and operating such railroad, or such portion thereof as may be situated within this State, by filing in the office of the Secretary of State a certificate specifying the name and style of such corporation, the number of its directors, the names of its directors and the period of their services, not exceeding one year, the amount of the capital stock of such corporation and the number of shares into which it is to be divided. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize in any manner the purchase or lease of such railroad by any railroad corporation or steamship company chartered either by this or any other state except as herein provided.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-210 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 58-9-210
SECTION 58-9-210. Rates shall be just and reasonable.
Status: in_force

Every rate made, demanded or received by any telephone utility or by any two or more telephone utilities jointly shall be just and reasonable.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-3-570 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 3 / Article 5 / Section 58-3-570
SECTION 58-3-570. Study of other state commission structures, responsibilities; report and recommendations.
Status: in_force

The review committee may conduct a comprehensive study of other states' commissions' structures, responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation. The review committee may prepare and deliver this report along with its recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2006.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2420 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 19 / Section 58-27-2420
SECTION 58-27-2420. Every violation shall constitute a separate offense.
Status: in_force

Every violation of a provision of this chapter or of any lawful order of the Commission, or any part thereof, by any corporation or person is a separate and distinct offense and in case of a continuing violation each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-2070 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 27 / Article 15 / Section 58-27-2070
SECTION 58-27-2070. Copies of official documents and orders as evidence.
Status: in_force

Copies of official documents and orders filed or deposited according to law in the office of the commission or the Office of Regulatory Staff, certified by a commissioner or by the clerk of the commission under its official seal or the executive director of the Office of Regulatory Staff to be true copies of the original, shall be evidence in like manner as the originals in all matters before the commission and in the courts of this State. The commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff may prescribe reasonable charges to be paid for furnishing authenticated copies of such documents and orders.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-3450 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 27 / Section 58-17-3450
SECTION 58-17-3450. Investigation of causes of accidents.
Status: in_force

The Office of Regulatory Staff shall investigate the cause of any accident on a railroad resulting in loss of life and of any accident not so resulting which, in its judgment, requires investigation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-7-60 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 7 / Section 58-7-60
SECTION 58-7-60. Unlawful appropriation of gas; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful for a person who has no contract, agreement, license or permission with or from a person or corporation authorized to manufacture, sell or use gas for the purpose of light, heat, or power or with or from an authorized agent of a person or corporation for the use of gas belonging to, or produced or furnished by, a person or corporation who shall wilfully withdraw or cause to be withdrawn in any manner and appropriate gas from the pipes or conduits of a person or corporation for his own use or for the use of another person or corporation. (B) A person who violates the provisions of this section for a: (1) first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days; (2) second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and (3) third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (C) A person who violates the provisions of this section and the violation results in property damage in excess of five thousand dollars or results in the risk of great bodily injury or death from fire, explosion, or electrocution for a: (1) first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both; (2) second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years or both; and (3) third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. (D) A person who violates the provisions of this section and the violation results in: (1) great bodily injury to another person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or both. For purposes of this item, "great bodily injury" means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ; and (2) the death of another person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty years. (E) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a person who aids, abets, or assists another person in withdrawing and appropriating gas from pipes or conduits to or for the use of another person or to or for the use of another person or corporation for a: (1) first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both; (2) second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both; and (3) third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. (F) This section does not apply to licensed and certified contractors while performing usual and ordinary service in accordance with recognized standards.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-17-2040 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 17 / Article 15 / Section 58-17-2040
SECTION 58-17-2040. Discrimination and excessive charges for storage prohibited.
Status: in_force

No railroad company shall make or retain, directly or indirectly, any charge for storage of freight greater than that fixed by the Commission for each particular storage, nor shall it discriminate between persons directly or indirectly by means of rebate or any other device in such charges.
S.C. Code Ann. § 58-9-1450 — SC Code / Title 58 / Chapter 9 / Article 11 / Section 58-9-1450
SECTION 58-9-1450. Commission's orders presumed lawful and reasonable.
Status: in_force

All orders of the Commission shall be deemed prima facie just and reasonable and in all actions and proceedings arising under Articles 1 through 13 of this chapter or growing out of the exercise of the powers herein granted to the Commission the burden of proof shall be on the party attacking any order of the Commission to show that the order is unlawful or unreasonable.