H 4425

A Bill To Amend The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina, 1976, So As To Enact The "Public Utility Consumer Protection Act" By Adding Section 58-33-299 So As To Prohibit Future Base Load Review Applications Or Petitions For Modification; By Adding Section 58-33-300 So As To Require A Utility To Meet Certain Requirements Before It May Recover Costs Of An Abandoned Base Load Plant; By Adding Section 58-33-305 So As To Require A Utility To Bear The Duty Of Candor To The Commission; By Adding Chapter 41 To Title 58 So As To Create The South Carolina Public Utility Consumer Advocate Office, To Define Necessary Terms, To Establish The Term And Powers Of The Director, To Provide The Duties Of The Office In Representing Consumers In Proceedings And To Establish A Source Of Funding; To Amend Section 1-11-20, As Amended, Relating To The Transfer Of Offices, So As To Transfer The State Energy Office To The Executive Branch Of This State, To Amend Sections 48-52-410, 48-52-440, And 48-52-460, As Amended, All Relating To The State Energy Office, So As To Make Conforming Changes; To Amend Section 58-33-110, Relating To Requirements For The Construction Of A Major Utility Facility, So As To Establish Certain Requirements Before The Approval Of A Plan To Recover The Construction Costs In The Rates For The Utility; To Amend Section 58-33-220, Relating To Definitions For The Base Load Review Act, So As To Define The Term "Prudence"; To Amend Section 58-33-270, Relating To Base Load Review Orders, So As To Establish A Procedure For A Party To Challenge A Breach Of A Utility'S Duty Of Candor And Transparency; To Amend Section 58-37-10, Relating To Definitions Applicable To Public Utilities, So As To Define The Term "Energy Efficiency"; To Amend Section 58-37-20, Relating To The Public Service Commission Adopting Procedures Encouraging Energy Efficiency, So As To Establish Energy Savings Goals, To Authorize The Public Service Commission To Promulgate Rules, To Require A Utility To Submit Energy Efficiency Plans And To Enumerate Requirements For The Plans, To Require A Utility To Submit An Annual Report, To Require The Office Of Regulatory Staff To Produce A Report Every Three Years, To Authorize The Public Service Commission To Adopt Regulations To Encourage Public Utilities Providing Gas Services To Invest In Cost-Effective Energy Efficient Technologies, To Authorize The Public Service Authority To Adopt Guidelines Reflecting The Dedication To Invest In Energy Efficient Technology; And To Amend Section 58-37-40, Relating To Integrated Resource Plans, So As To Define Necessary Terms, To Require Electrical Utilities To Prepare Integrated Resource Plans And Enumerate Certain Requirements For The Integrated Resource Plans And To Require The Public Service Authority To Prepare Integrated Resource Plans.