H 4375

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-220, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, SO AS TO ADD CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MUST NOT ACCEPT A BASE LOAD REVIEW APPLICATION, NOR MAY IT CONSIDER ANY REQUESTS MADE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, OTHER THAN IN A DOCKET CURRENTLY PENDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 4, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58 ARE REPEALED UPON THE CONCLUSION OF LITIGATION CONCERNING THE ABANDONMENT OF V.C. SUMMER UNITS 2 AND 3; BY ADDING CHAPTER 34 TO TITLE 58 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH AND PROCEDURES UNDER WHICH ELECTRICITY RATES FOR CERTAIN RATEPAYERS WHO ARE PAYING ADDITIONAL CHARGES UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR PLANTS OR PROJECTS SHALL BE REVISED AND DETERMINED, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES AND PROVISIONS OF LAW WHICH APPLY AND DO NOT APPLY IN REGARD TO THE ADJUSTMENT OF ELECTRICITY RATES AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 34; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-280, RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR APPROVAL OF REVISED RATES UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMMISSION MUST GIVE SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE BOTH THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND THE UTILITY AGREE ON THE REVISED RATES AND INSTEAD PROVIDE IN THIS INSTANCE THAT THE COMMISSION MAY GIVE WEIGHT TO THE AGREEMENT IN ISSUING ITS REVISED RATES ORDER BUT MAY CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FACTORS AT ITS DISCRETION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-602, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, SO AS TO REVISE THESE QUALIFICATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-604, RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY, SO AS TO DELETE A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE DIVISION REPRESENTING CONSUMERS IN UTILITY MATTERS, AND PERMIT THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS IN CERTAIN MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND APPELLATE COURTS THAT AFFECT CONSUMERS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-607, RELATING TO PERMITTING THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO MAINTAIN ACTIONS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW AND TO INTERVENE IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE ABOVE PROVISIONS DO NOT APPLY IN MATTERS ARISING UNDER TITLE 58 AFFECTING PUBLIC UTILITIES, SERVICES, AND CARRIERS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-10, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS FURTHER DEFINE THE TERM "PUBLIC INTEREST" IN REGARD TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF'S REPRESENTATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST BEFORE THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-80, RELATING TO ACTIONS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ORDERS OF THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ON APPEAL, THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF DOES NOT REPRESENT THE COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-55, RELATING TO THE PRODUCTION OF BOOKS, RECORDS, AND INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BY THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO NONCOMPLIANCE, INSPECTIONS, AUDITS, EXAMINATIONS, AND COSTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE SUCH PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT OR PROTECTIVE ORDER, EXCEPT UNDER SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE WHEN SUCH INFORMATION MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WHEN SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE DISCLOSED, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY, AND TO ALLOW THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO APPLY IN CIRCUIT COURT FOR SUBPOENAS TO BE ISSUED TO ENTITIES OVER WHICH THE COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION. - ratified title