Public Service Commission

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-30, RELATING TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND AT LEAST SIX HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CURRICULUM, AND TO SPECIFY CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENT PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-60, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO DELETE A PROVISION FORBIDDING THE AUDIT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-190, RELATING TO AUDITS BY THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO CONDUCT CERTAIN EXAMINATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-200, RELATING TO CERTAIN INSPECTIONS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IN THE FURTHERANCE OF ITS DUTIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-225, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF MEETINGS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONERS TO QUESTION THE PARTIES THOROUGHLY DURING HEARINGS OF CONTESTED CASES WHEN APPROPRIATE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-260, RELATING TO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE AND CERTAIN OTHER LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-530, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE NOMINATION OF ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-560, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE ELECTION TO BE HELD WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD AFTER THE SCREENING AND NOMINATION PROCESS, AND TO IMPOSE CERTAIN NOMINATION QUALIFICATIONS.