(A) The commission is authorized and empowered to employ: a chief clerk and deputy clerk; a commission attorney and assistant commission attorneys; hearing officers; hearing reporters; and such other professional, administrative, technical, and clerical personnel as the commission determines to be necessary in the proper discharge of the commission's duties and responsibilities as provided by law. The chairman must organize and direct the work of the commission staff. The salaries of the chairman, the commissioners, and the chief clerk shall not be construed as limiting the maximum salary which may be paid to other employees of the Public Service Commission. The commission staff shall not appear as a party in commission proceedings and shall not offer testimony on issues before the commission.
(B) Subject to Section 58-3-580, the commission must be staffed and equipped to perform the functions set forth in this title except for those responsibilities and functions reserved to the Office of Regulatory Staff. The expenses must be paid from the assessments collected pursuant to Section 58-3-100. The chairman, within allowed budgetary limits and as otherwise allowed by law, must authorize and approve travel, subsistence, and related expenses of personnel incurred while traveling on official business.
(C) The commissioners shall not supervise the Office of Regulatory Staff.
(D) The commission shall not inspect, audit, or examine public utilities. The inspection, auditing, and examination of public utilities is solely the responsibility of the Office of Regulatory Staff.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-56; 1952 Code Section 58-56; 1942 Code Section 8519; 1932 Code Section 8519; 1925 (34) 252; 1950 (46) 2466; 1983 Act No. 138, Section 11, 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.