South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 103 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Article 5 - SEWERAGE UTILITIES › Subarticle 4 - CUSTOMER RELATIONS › Section 103-535 - Denial or Discontinuance of Service

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
Service may be refused or discontinued for any of the reasons
				  listed below. Unless otherwise stated, the customer shall be allowed a
				  reasonable time in which to comply with the rule before service is
				  discontinued.
A. Without notice in the
				event of a condition determined by the utility, the commission by order, or the
				South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to be hazardous
				or dangerous.
B. In the event of
				customer use of equipment in such a manner as to affect adversely the utility's
				service to others.
C. In the event
				of unauthorized use of the utility's service.
D. For customer tampering with equipment
				furnished and owned by the utility. The customer shall make every reasonable
				effort to prevent tampering and shall notify the utility immediately of any
				tampering with damage to, or removal of any equipment.
E. For violation of and/or non-compliance
				with these rules and regulations.
F. For failure of the customer to fulfill the
				customer's contractual obligations for service and/or facilities subject to
				regulation by the commission.
G.
				For failure of the customer to permit the utility reasonable access to its
				equipment.
H. For non-payment of
				any amounts due for connection charges and/or for service rendered provided
				that the utility has made a reasonable attempt to effect collection and has
				given the customer the proper notice as required by R.103-535.1.
I. For molesting or tampering with any
				service or sewerage pipe, or for illegally making connection into any sewerage
				line for the disposal of drainage surface waters.
J. For failure of the customer to provide the
				utility with a deposit as authorized by R.103-531.
K. For failure of the customer to furnish
				permits, certificates, and/or rights of way, as necessary to obtaining service,
				or in the event such permissions are withdrawn or terminated.
L. No sewer utility shall be required to
				furnish its sewerage service or to continue its service to any applicant who,
				at the time of such application, is indebted or any member of the applicant's
				household is indebted, under an undisputed bill to such sewer utility company
				for sewerage service previously furnished such applicant or furnished any other
				member of the applicant's household. However, for the purposes of this
				regulation, the sewer utility may not consider any indebtedness which was
				incurred by the applicant or any member of his household more than six (6)
				years prior to the time of application.
M. The utility may discontinue a customer's
				service should that customer be in arrears on an account for service at another
				premises unless the customer pays a reasonable amount of his arrears account
				and makes reasonable arrangement with the utility to amortize the balance of
				such past due or arrears account over a reasonable length of time, not to
				exceed twelve months.
N. For the
				reason that the customer's use of the utility's service conflicts with, or
				violates, orders, ordinances or laws, of the State or any subdivision thereof,
				or of the commission.
O. In the
				case of a landlord/tenant relationship where the tenant is the customer, the
				utility may require the landlord to execute an agreement wherein such landlord
				agrees to be responsible for all charges billed to that premises in accordance
				with the approved tariffs for that utility and the Rules of the commission, and
				said account shall be considered the landlord's and tenant's account. In the
				event the landlord refuses to execute such an agreement, the utility may not
				discontinue service to the premises unless and until the tenant becomes
				delinquent on his account or until the premises are vacated. The utility may
				discontinue service pursuant to R.103-535.1 if the
				account is delinquent or may discontinue service at the time the premises are
				vacated and the utility shall not be required to furnish service to the
				premises until the landlord has executed the agreement, and paid any
				reconnection charges.
P. No utility
				shall be required to furnish, or continue to furnish its sewerage service to
				any premises to which the utility has not inspected the service connection,
				provided however, if the utility has waived its right to inspect the service
				connection, it may not refuse to furnish nor refuse to continue service to the
				premises.
Q. For nonpayment of any
				connection charge properly imposed by the utility and owed by the customer
				provided that the utility has made a reasonable attempt to effect collection
				and has given the customer 30 days written notice, sent by certified mail to
				the customer's billing address, with a copy forwarded to the commission. A
				connection charge owed by a third party or a previous occupant or owner of
				premises is not deemed to be owed by the current customer, and that current
				customer's service may not be disconnected under such circumstances.