Utilities would need state approval before changing customer billing rules

Covered utilities would need approval from the South Carolina Public Service Commission before changing billing or payment rules. These rules would cover regulated investor-owned electric and gas utilities, including payment plans, late fees, and unpaid-balance limits before service shutoffs. The commission would give at least 30 days’ public notice and hold a hearing before deciding on an application. Emergency approval could last up to 90 days to prevent imminent financial harm or system disruption. An extension would require a public hearing. Unapproved changes would be unenforceable. Affected customers could file complaints, and the commission could order refunds or bill credits. Violations could bring fines of up to $50,000 per day for each violation. Repeated or willful violations could also prevent utilities from recovering some costs through future rates. The requirements would take effect upon the Governor’s approval.

Covered utilities would submit quarterly customer billing reports, and the commission would arrange an independent audit. Reports from regulated investor-owned electric and gas utilities would cover unpaid bills, service shutoffs, and other billing problems. The audit would examine unexplained bill increases since 2024. The commission would publish combined reporting data and the audit findings. Utilities would keep reporting data for at least five years and cooperate with the audit, with protections for confidential information. The commission would hire an auditor within 180 days of the law taking effect upon the Governor’s approval. The audit would finish within 12 months of starting.

Tenants would receive protections against eviction and utility shutoffs tied to unpaid utility bills. Tenants could not be evicted or penalized solely for a nonpayment shutoff unless it resulted from their fraud or intentional damage. Covered utilities could not shut off service over a landlord’s unpaid bills if tenants are current on rent or otherwise follow their lease. Housing providers receiving government assistance could not condition continued housing on uninterrupted utility service when a tenant cannot afford it. Before a rental shutoff, utilities and housing providers would give tenants at least 30 days’ written notice, coordinate with energy assistance programs, and offer reasonable payment plans or other options. Utility shutoffs could not be used to force tenants out. Utilities and public housing authorities would report anonymous data about rental housing shutoffs. These protections would take effect upon the Governor’s approval.

Electric, gas, and water utilities would provide extra payment help and shutoff protections to eligible rural households. Households would qualify if their energy burden exceeds the statewide average and they live in a county or census tract designated rural by the U.S. Census Bureau or South Carolina Office of Rural Health. Utilities would refer eligible households to assistance programs before a shutoff and explain bills and available help in plain language. Utilities could not penalize customers for infrastructure inefficiencies outside their control or use shutoffs in ways that disproportionately force people from rural communities. Utilities would report rural customers’ costs and payment problems annually. The commission would publish a rural energy burden report and consider these measures in all rate proceedings. These requirements would take effect upon the Governor’s approval.