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The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff publishes reports and newsletters relating to its mission of representing the public interest of South Carolina in utility regulation for the major utility industries such as electric, natural gas, telecommunications, transportation, and water/wastewater.
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Publication Review of the South Carolina Public Service Authority 2024 Request for Rate Adjustment(South Carolina State Library, 2024-09-06) South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff; Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc.The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff reviewed the Santee Cooper proposal for rate adjustments. This report provides findings from its review.Publication DE Plan Primer(South Carolina State Library, 2024-08-22) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThis PowerPoint presentation describes the digital equity plan as well as the Digital Opportunity Department and the Internet in South Carolina.Publication Is Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Still a Broadband Technology?(South Carolina State Library, 2022-04-07) Dawson, Doug; South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThe purpose of this discussion paper is to explore whether investments in Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology should be considered in South Carolina’s future broadband expansion plans. This paper reaches the conclusion, for a wide variety of reasons, that DSL technology delivered over a single pair of copper wires should not be considered in future broadband expansion plans as a viable technology.Publication Digital Equity Plan(South Carolina State Library, 2024-04-12) South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. Digital Opportunity DepartmentToday, many South Carolinians do not have access to Broadband services in their homes, and even more still cannot afford Broadband service, do not have devices capable of using the internet to its full potential, or lack the skills to utilize digital services safely and effectively. This South Carolina Digital Equity Plan assesses the current state of Digital Equity and the Digital Divide in South Carolina, prioritizes areas of greatest need and lays out how the newly formed Digital Opportunity Department of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff will work to bridge the Digital Divide and lay a foundation where every resident has equal access, opportunity, and empowerment in the digital age.Publication Digital Equity Plan(South Carolina State Library, 2024-02-12) South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. Digital Opportunity DepartmentToday, many South Carolinians do not have access to Broadband services in their homes, and even more still cannot afford Broadband service, do not have devices capable of using the internet to its full potential, or lack the skills to utilize digital services safely and effectively. This South Carolina Digital Equity Plan assesses the current state of Digital Equity and the Digital Divide in South Carolina, prioritizes areas of greatest need and lays out how the newly formed Digital Opportunity Department of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff will work to bridge the Digital Divide and lay a foundation where every resident has equal access, opportunity, and empowerment in the digital age.Publication Annual Review of Base Rates for Fuel Costs of Duke Energy Progress, LLC(South Carolina State Library, 2024-05-08) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffEach year, the PSC holds a hearing to determine if there should be any adjustment in the amount that Duke Energy Progress charges consumers for fuel used to generate power.Publication Review of Santee Cooper Annual Electric Pricing Report for Calendar Year 2022(South Carolina State Library, 2024-04-01) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThe Office of Regulatory Staff has reviewed the South Carolina Public Service Authority (“Santee Cooper”) annual electric pricing report. Generally, the report discussed and analyzed Santee Cooper’s adherence to each pricing principle.Publication [Letter to Thomas C. Alexander and G. Murrell Smith, Jr.](South Carolina State Library, 2024-04-12) South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff; Bateman, AndrewThis letter concerns the South Caroilina Office of Regulatory Staff's report in compliance with the S.C. code of laws regarding local exchange companies.Publication Digital equity plan(South Carolina State Library, 2023-12-11) South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. Digital Opportunity DepartmentToday, many South Carolinians do not have access to Broadband services in their homes, and even more still cannot afford Broadband service, do not have devices capable of using the internet to its full potential, or lack the skills to utilize digital services safely and effectively. This South Carolina Digital Equity Plan assesses the current state of Digital Equity and the Digital Divide in South Carolina, prioritizes areas of greatest need and lays out how the newly formed Digital Opportunity Department of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff will work to bridge the Digital Divide and lay a foundation where every resident has equal access, opportunity, and empowerment in the digital age.Publication Inspection and examination report of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress, LLC December 2022 : winter storm outages and blackouts(South Carolina State Library, 2023-08-25) South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff; GDS AssociatesOn the evening of Friday, December 23, 2022, the Duke Energy Progress, LLC and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC service areas in North and South Carolina began to experience very cold weather caused by Winter Storm Elliott. In South Carolina, approximately 94,893 customers were affected by the Companies’ load shed actions. On average, customers were without power for just under three hours, with some affected for over ten hours. This report examines the causes of the customer outages, the communication from the Companies, the role of the Southeast Energy Exchange Market, lessons learned, and any areas for improvement.Publication Electric & natural gas safety net(South Carolina State Library, 2019-07-30) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffElectric and natural gas utilities offer “safety net” programs or benefits to help consumers in certain situations who may struggle to pay their bills.Publication Dominion Energy solar choice rates : docket no. 2020-229-E(South Carolina State Library, 2021-04) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffDominion Energy South Carolina (DESC) is requesting the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSC) approve new rooftop solar rates which may reduce costs imposed on consumers who do not have or use rooftop solar, while allowing rooftop solar adopters to generate and use power without penalties. DESC’s proposed Solar Choice Rates would be available to residential and small general service consumers applying for new service after May 31, 2021.Publication Review of Santee Cooper annual electric pricing report for calendar year 2021(South Carolina State Library, 2023-05-02) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThe Office of Regulatory Staff has reviewed the South Carolina Public Service Authority (“Santee Cooper”) annual electric pricing report. Generally, the report discussed and analyzed Santee Cooper’s adherence to each pricing principle.Publication 2023 status report distributed energy resources and net energy metering implementation(South Carolina State Library, 2023-07-28) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThe law requires the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff to prepare and submit a report on the status of implementing the Distributed Energy Resource Programs and Net Energy Metering for South Carolina’s three largest investor-owned electric utilities -- Dominion Energy South Carolina, Duke Energy Carolinas, and Duke Energy Progress. The report is required to be updated no later than July 31 every two years.Publication South Carolina ARPA Capital Projects Fund 1.0 eligibility(South Carolina State Library, 2023-05-18) South Carolina Broadband OfficeThis map of ARPA Capital Projects Fund eligibility status is broken down by priority area, main street priority area, unserved and partially served.Publication The status of local telephone competition in South Carolina 2022 annual report(South Carolina State Library, 2023-05-15) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffIn order to track the changes occurring in the telecommunications industry, the Office of Regulatory Staff has been directed by the South Carolina General Assembly to compile information and monitor the status of local telephone competition in the state on an annual basis. The purpose of this document is to report the status of competition in the local telephone exchange market in South Carolina, to note any major changes that have occurred in the marketplace, and to monitor the effect of broadband and wireless services on the competitive local exchange market.Publication Bill of rights for residential customers of wastewater utilities(South Carolina State Library, 2020-07-15) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThe South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff wants wastewater utility customers to know their rights and responsibilities and whom to contact for assistance when they have questions or problems regarding regulated wastewater service.Publication Annual review of base rates for fuel costs of Duke Energy Progress (DEP)(South Carolina State Library, 2023-05-16) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffEach year, the PSC holds a hearing to determine if there should be any adjustment in the amount that Duke Energy Progress charges consumers for fuel used to generate power.Publication Annual review of base rates for fuel costs of Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc. (DESC)(South Carolina State Library, 2023-05-16) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffEach year, the PSC holds a hearing to determine if there should be any adjustment in the amount that Dominion Energy South Carolina charges consumers for fuel used to generate powerPublication The next, next greatest thing : Main Street, South Carolina(South Carolina State Library, 2023-03-21) South Carolina Office of Regulatory StaffThe ultimate objective of the MAIN ST grant program is to fund eligible broadband infrastructure projects that will add prioritization of key Main Streets (commercial corridors), through a competitive grant application process, that will deploy broadband internet service to prospective broadband recipients, including households, homes, businesses, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, community anchor institutions, agricultural operations, and agricultural processing facilities that are currently unserved or underserved (Main Street areas only).