(A) Except as provided in subsections (B) and (C) of this section, a gas utility must not interrupt gas service to any residential customer for nonpayment of a bill until twenty-five days have elapsed from the date of billing.
(B) A gas utility may interrupt natural gas service to any residential customer who has voluntarily enrolled in a prepay program if the prepay program allows the customer to monitor his consumption of natural gas and his account balance on a daily basis and the balance of that customer's prepay account is zero, provided that the following conditions are met: (1) at the time the residential customer enrolls in the prepay program, the residential customer is informed and agrees that his natural gas service may be interrupted when the balance of his prepay account reaches zero; (2) natural gas service must not be interrupted before 10:00 a.m. on the next business day following an attempt by the gas utility to give the customer notice of the impending interruption by telephone or electronically; and (3) service must not be interrupted except during hours when the gas utility, or an agent, is accepting cash payments.
(C) A prepay program established by a gas utility shall be subject to approval by the commission prior to implementation. Any interruption of natural gas service under an approved prepay program shall be governed by the terms of this section and the provisions of the prepay account agreement. A prepay program approved by the commission under this subsection must allow the utility to interrupt service when the balance of the customer's prepay account is zero and the conditions set out in subsection (B) are met. Upon a showing of good cause, the commission may allow alternative compliance with the requirement of subsection (B) regarding the ability of the customer to monitor his consumption and account balance on a daily basis, if such compliance provides consumer information and protections similar to that required in subsection (B).
(D) Nothing contained herein shall be construed so as to relieve a gas utility of the requirements of Act 313 of 2006.
(E) Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may petition the courts of this State for redress in accordance with applicable law.
HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 138 Section 22, eff June 15, 1983; 2010 Act No. 258, Section 1, eff June 11, 2010.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 58 - Public Utilities, Services and Carriers
Chapter 5 - Gas, Heat, Water, Sewerage Collection And Disposal, And Street Railway Companies
Section 58-5-20. Applicability to a business not exclusively a public utility.
Section 58-5-210. Supervision and regulation of rates and service.
Section 58-5-220. Standardized system of accounts.
Section 58-5-230. Examination of books and accounts.
Section 58-5-240. Filing schedules of proposed rates and the like; effective date.
Section 58-5-260. Notice by publication of filing of new or changed schedule.
Section 58-5-270. Applications and individual consumer complaints; hearings.
Section 58-5-290. Correction by Commission of improper rates and the like.
Section 58-5-300. All facts may be considered in making correction.
Section 58-5-310. Record of proceedings; transcript of evidence.
Section 58-5-320. Recision, alteration or amendment of order or decision.
Section 58-5-330. Rehearing by Commission.
Section 58-5-340. Court review of orders or decisions.
Section 58-5-370. Charging higher water or gas rates than those fixed by Commission unlawful.
Section 58-5-390. Tap fees for installation and maintenance of fire sprinkler system; exception.
Section 58-5-400. Citation of article.
Section 58-5-410. Election to come under article.
Section 58-5-415. Duration of election; withdrawal of request to come under article.
Section 58-5-420. Contents of order.
Section 58-5-430. Monitoring reports; schedule and contents.
Section 58-5-440. March report; additional schedules.
Section 58-5-450. Review of reports; proposed tariff rate adjustments.
Section 58-5-460. Petition for review of Initial Order or failure to issue order; hearing.
Section 58-5-465. Final order; contents; deadline for issuance.
Section 58-5-480. Office of Regulatory staffing; assessments for staffing costs.
Section 58-5-740. Rights and remedies are cumulative.
Section 58-5-910. Short title.
Section 58-5-920. Definitions.
Section 58-5-930. Compliance with orders and regulations relating to federal safety standards.
Section 58-5-940. Assessments against gas utilities for administrative expenses and charges.
Section 58-5-950. Employment of staff; legal representation.
Section 58-5-960. Compliance with safety standards.
Section 58-5-980. Additional minimum safety standards.
Section 58-5-990. Application for rehearing; judicial review.
Section 58-5-1030. Civil penalties.
Section 58-5-1040. Injunctive relief.
Section 58-5-1050. Interaction with federal agencies.
Section 58-5-1060. Article inapplicable to liquefied petroleum gas.
Section 58-5-1070. Article inapplicable to anhydrous ammonia.
Section 58-5-1110. Definitions.
Section 58-5-1120. Termination procedures; contents.
Section 58-5-1130. Third-party notification program.
Section 58-5-1140. Disconnection when public safety emergency exists.
Section 58-5-1150. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 58-5-1160. Private right of action; new duty of care.