(A) Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 9 of this title, the commission is vested with power and jurisdiction to supervise and regulate the rates and service of every public utility in this State and to fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices, and measurements of service to be furnished, imposed, or observed, and followed by every public utility in this State.
(B) The commission must develop and publish a policy manual which must set forth guidelines for the administration of the commission. All procedures must incorporate state requirements and good management practices to ensure the efficient and economical utilization of resources.
(C) The commission must facilitate access to its general rate request orders in contested matters involving more than one hundred thousand dollars by publishing an order guide which indexes and cross-references orders by subject matter and case name. The order guide must be made available for public inspection.
(D) The commission must promulgate regulations to require the direct testimony of witnesses appearing on behalf of utilities and of witnesses appearing on behalf of persons having formal intervenor status, such testimony to be reduced to writing and prefiled with the commission in advance of any hearing.
(E) Nothing in this section may be interpreted to repeal or modify specific exclusions from the commission's jurisdiction pursuant to Title 58 or any other title.
(F) When required to be filed, tariffs must be filed with the office of the chief clerk of the commission and, on that same day, provided to the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-1; 1952 Code Section 58-1; 1942 Code Section 8204; 1932 Code Section 8248; 1922 (32) 956; 1935 (39) 25; 1983 Act No. 138, Section 7, eff June 15, 1983; 2004 Act No. 175, Section 4, eff January 1, 2005.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers
Chapter 3 - Public Service Commission
Section 58-3-10. Continuation of Public Service Commission.
Section 58-3-20. Membership; election and qualifications; terms; vacancies.
Section 58-3-21. Subsistence allowance.
Section 58-3-22. Legal advice; meetings.
Section 58-3-25. Conflict of interest; commission members and employees.
Section 58-3-40. Election of chairman; hearing officer.
Section 58-3-50. Administration of oaths.
Section 58-3-70. Compensation of commission members; limitations on other employment.
Section 58-3-90. Meetings of Commission; quorum.
Section 58-3-100. Assessment for expenses of Commission; Commission an other-funded agency.
Section 58-3-110. Advance of funds for office of Commission.
Section 58-3-140. Powers to regulate public utilities.
Section 58-3-180. Promulgation of regulations to effectuate Section 58-3-170.
Section 58-3-200. Inspections, audits and examinations.
Section 58-3-240. Definitions; exemption from certain regulations for certain utility services.
Section 58-3-250. Final orders and decisions; contents; service on parties.
Section 58-3-280. Restriction on employment of former commissioners by public utility.
Section 58-3-310. Transportation Division Inspectors; commission and removal of inspectors.
Section 58-3-320. Bond of inspectors.
Section 58-3-330. Oath of inspectors.
Section 58-3-340. Inspectors to possess and exercise powers and authority of constables.
Section 58-3-350. Enforcement authority of inspectors.
Section 58-3-360. Inspectors to insure that violators are prosecuted.
Section 58-3-370. Arrest procedure.
Section 58-3-510. State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee established.
Section 58-3-530. Powers and duties.
Section 58-3-550. Staffing; identification of Executive Director candidates.
Section 58-3-560. Election of commission members; screening and qualification of candidates.