Ratepayer Protection Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "RATEPAYER PROTECTION ACT"; TO AMEND SECTION 58-5-240, RELATING TO FILING SCHEDULES OF PROPOSED RATES AND THE LIKE FOR GAS, HEAT, WATER, SEWAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL, AND STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO SUSPEND THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PUBLIC UTILITY SEEKS A CHANGE IN RATE, TOLL, RENTAL, CHARGE, OR CLASSIFICATION DURING A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-27-870, RELATING TO FILING SCHEDULES OF PROPOSED RATES AND THE LIKE FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO SUSPEND THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PUBLIC UTILITY SEEKS A CHANGE IN RATE, TOLL, RENTAL, CHARGE, OR CLASSIFICATION DURING A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY.