Opinion ID: 1217164
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Corridor Rights

Text: This case is governed by the Territorial Assignments Act (Act), [2] which reads in part: With respect to service outside the corporate limits of municipalities, electric suppliers shall have the rights and be subject to restrictions as follows: (1) Every electric supplier shall have the right to serve: (b) ... all premises initially requiring electric service after July 1, 1969, which are located wholly within 300 feet of such electric supplier's lines as such lines exist on July 1, 1969. S.C. Code Ann. § 58-27-620(1)(b)(1976) [Emphasis supplied]. Although Co-op's lines were in place on July 1, 1969, § 58-27-620 is not applicable as the premises in question, following annexation, were within corporate limits. Act 431 of 1984, amending § 58-27-670, governs service in newly annexed areas, stating in part: Annexation may not be construed to increase, decrease, or affect any other right or responsibility a municipality, rural electric cooperative, or electrical utility may have with regard to supplying electric service in areas assigned by the Public Service Commission in accordance with Chapter 27 of Title 58. (Emphasis supplied.) By its explicit terms, this section applies only to areas assigned by PSC. [3] Since PSC does not assign corridor areas, § 58-27-670 reserves no rights to Co-op. [4]