2019 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 58-5-380. Restrictions on interruption of gas service to residential customer for nonpayment of bill; exceptions.

(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.