H 4082 General Bill, By Easterday, Allison, Altman, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, 
Bauer, Beck, Boan, Breeland, G. Brown, H. Brown, T. Brown, Campsen, Cato, 
Dantzler, Davenport, J.G. Felder, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, 
Hawkins, Hinson, J.H. Hodges, Howard, Jennings, B.L. Jordan, Keegan, Kelley, 
M.H. Kinon, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Lanford, Law, Leach, L.H. Limbaugh, 
Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Mack, Maddox, McCraw, W. McLeod, McMahand, 
Miller, V.T. Mullen, Phillips, Rice, Meacham, Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, 
Sandifer, Seithel, Sharpe, Simrill, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smith, 
Stille, E.C. Stoddard, Townsend, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Whatley, Wilder, Wilkins, 
Witherspoon, Woodrum and W.J. Young
 A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 58, CHAPTER 3, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION,
 BY ADDING SECTION 58-3-380 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE OF A
 CUSTOMER'S UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDER AND TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES.

   04/24/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-38
   04/24/97  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-39
   05/15/97  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
                     Commerce and Industry HJ-6
   05/21/97  House  Amended HJ-27
   05/21/97  House  Read second time HJ-29
   05/22/97  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
   05/22/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   05/22/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-10
   05/27/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-16
   05/28/98  Senate Amended SJ-50
   05/28/98  Senate Read second time SJ-50
   05/28/98  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-50

May 28, 1998

H. 4082

Introduced by Reps. Easterday, Altman, Limbaugh, Robinson, G. Brown, Campsen, Wilder, Bauer, Limehouse, Haskins, Maddox, Kelley, Knotts, Rice, Walker, Sharpe, Loftis, Sandifer, Davenport, Hinson, Simrill, Rodgers, Woodrum, J. Smith, Hamilton, Beck, R. Smith, Seithel, Allison, Wilkins, McCraw, Leach, Harrell, Klauber, Riser, Barrett, Mullen, Young, Law, Webb, D. Smith, H. Brown, Harrison, Dantzler, Littlejohn, Keegan, Kinon, Phillips, Witherspoon, T. Brown, Townsend, Vaughn, McMahand, Meacham, Kirsh, Whatley, Boan, McLeod, Breeland, Jennings, Cato, Hawkins, Miller, Battle, Stoddard, F. Smith, Mack, Stille, Barfield, Howard, Hodges, Lanford, Jordan, Harvin and Felder

S. Printed 5/28/98--S.

Read the first time May 22, 1997.

A BILL

TO AMEND TITLE 58, CHAPTER 3, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, BY ADDING SECTION 58-3-380 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE OF A CUSTOMER'S UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDER AND TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 58-3-230. (A) An entity may not change or initiate a change in a customer's utility provider, as defined in Sections 58-5-10, 58-9-10, and 58-27-10, without the customer's authorization.

(B) An entity which violates subsection (A) is liable to the customer for all charges incurred by the customer, in excess of those normally incurred through his designated provider, during the period of the unauthorized change.

(C) An entity which wilfully or knowingly changes, without authority, or initiates an unauthorized change of a customer's utility provider is subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars for each violation. The fines shall remain with the commission.

(D) Nothing contained in this section shall authorize or be construed to authorize a customer to change his utility provider in contravention of existing state law."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.