From Randy Randall, Chairman:
The spring of
2020 has been a
season of
adaptation.
As the novel coronavirus spread in our state and Governor McMaster declared a state of emergency, the Public Service Commission took action to ensure that the ratepayers of South Carolina continued to receive dependable and affordable utility services. Circumstances may change, but our mission never does, and we knew the Commission needed to take action to continue to fulfill that mission in an unprecedented era.
As part of our efforts, we focused on using technology to minimize direct contact—parties were encouraged to use our Docket Management System’s e-filing capacities, which offers the ability to file and receive documents 24/7 with no personal contact. We’ve continued livestreaming meetings and hearings so that anyone is able to watch the Commission’s deliberations and decisions without compromising their safety.
We’ve also updated public hearings to be virtual hearings during the pandemic. This means that if you’re interested in speaking before the Commission regarding a rate increase, you can do so from the security and comfort of your home or office. Our next public night hearing, involving Docket No. 2019-281-S, has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 22nd and will be virtual, meaning you can either call in on the witness line or via videoconferencing software to participate. Ratepayers will also be able to listen through a telephone line or livestream the video of the event at www.scetv.org/psc/ on that date. We’ll publish more information on www.psc.sc.gov as we draw closer to the hearing.
Safety is paramount, and our commitment to the public of South Carolina prioritizes safety above all else. Our strategy this spring has been to keep you safe while still serving our critical role as a regulatory agency, and these above actions have been designed to do just that. If you have further questions or would like to speak to Commission staff, I would encourage you to visit our website at www.psc.sc.gov or the SC Utility Consumer site at www.scutilityconsumer.com. You can also engage with us directly on Twitter at either @PSCofSC or @UtilityConsumer or on Facebook at Public Service Commission of South Carolina and SC Utility Consumer. Thank you, and stay safe.
