South Carolina H 5282: Restoration Bible Institute

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5282 Text of Previous Version (Jun. 04, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5282

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "UTILITY BILLING ACCOUNTABILITY AND 
CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2026" BY ADDING CHAPTER 44 TO TITLE 58 SO AS TO 
PROHIBIT A UTILITY FROM CHANGING BILLING OR PAYMENT PRACTICES WITHOUT APPROVAL 
FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC 
SERVICE COMMISSION; TO PERMIT TEMPORARY APPROVAL PROCESSES IN THE EVENT OF AN 
EMERGENCY; TO REQUIRE UTILITIES TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC 
SERVICE COMMISSION AND OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC 
SERVICE COMMISSION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, TO 
ENGAGE AN AUDITOR TO EXAMINE PRESCRIBED BILLING ISSUES; TO REQUIRE A UTILITY TO 
PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS FOR BILLING OR PAYMENT CHANGES; TO 
ESTABLISH CONDITIONS AND PROHIBITIONS IN CERTAIN RENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES; TO 
REQUIRE ELECTRIC, GAS, AND WATER UTILITIES TO IMPLEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS 
FOR RURAL ENERGY-BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS, TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION 
TO PUBLISH A RURAL ENERGY BURDEN REPORT, AND TO CONSIDER METRICS IN ALL RATE 
PROCEEDINGS; TO PERMIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE 
FINES FOR VIOLATIONS, FOR A CUSTOMER TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSION, 
AND TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS.

Whereas, utility 
billing, arrearage, and payment-plan practices directly affect customer access 
to essential electric and gas services; and

Whereas, sudden or 
unannounced changes to such billing, arrearage, or payment plans can cause 
financial hardship, particularly for low- and moderate-income ratepayers; and

Whereas, recent reports 
indicate that a major regulated utility in South Carolina unilaterally modified 
its customer balance-carrying and payment policies without prior notice, 
resulting in confusion and increased risk of disconnection; and

Whereas, transparency 
and regulatory oversight of these practices are essential to maintaining 
affordability, fairness, and consumer protection; and

Whereas, ratepayers 
have reported significant, unexplained bill increases following the enactment 
of recent energy legislation, necessitating a system audit and data 
transparency to ensure accountability; and

Whereas, residents of 
rural South Carolina experience disproportionately high energy burdens, with household 
energy costs exceeding six percent of their income due to lower median incomes, 
aging housing stock, limited energy efficiency investments, and fewer utility 
choices; and

Whereas, all ratepayers 
would benefit from transparent utility billing practices, affordability 
standards, and disconnection procedures, as well as independent audits 
regarding billing and rate systems to ensure that utility rates are fair, 
accurate, and properly authorized. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Utility Billing Accountability and 
Consumer Protection Act of 2026."

SECTION 2. Title 58 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

CHAPTER 44

Utility Billing Accountability and Consumer Protection

 Section 
58-44-10. For purposes of this chapter:

 (1) 
"Affordability metrics" means data regarding customer arrears, late payments, 
disconnections, reconnections, and payment-plan participation.

 (2) 
"Billing or payment practice" means any rule, policy, or internal standard 
governing:

 (a) 
due dates, billing cycles, or statement frequency;

 (b) 
payment plans, deferred payment arrangements, or arrearage agreements;

 (c) 
thresholds for permissible past-due balances before disconnection;

 (d) 
late payment charges or penalties;

 (e) 
minimum or partial payment requirements to maintain service; or

 (f) 
customer eligibility for installment or budget billing programs.

 (3) 
"Consumer advocate" means the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

 (4) 
"Commission" means the South Carolina Public Service Commission.

 (5) 
"Utility" means any investor-owned electric or gas utility regulated by the 
commission pursuant to Title 58.

 Section 
58-44-20. (A) A utility may not 
alter, revise, or discontinue any billing or payment practice, including 
changes to the amount of balance customers may carry, without prior approval 
from the commission. Any proposed change to a billing or payment practice shall 
be submitted to the commission as a formal application, which must include:

 (1) 
a detailed description of the proposed change;

 (2) 
analysis of customer impacts, with a focus on low- and moderate-income 
households;

 (3) 
estimated changes in arrears, disconnections, and aver