On May 7th, 2020, the Public Service Commission issued Commission Order No. 2020-344 in Docket No. 2020-106-A, which was opened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency. Order No. 2020-344 is available to read at the above link, and outlines the PSC's regulations regarding deferred payment plans and extensions for regulated utilities to file 2019 Annual Reports. 

In the Commission's words, "we believe that more flexibility is necessary to assist utilities and their customers in mitigating the hardship many are currently facing, and hold, pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. Regs 103-803, that regulations on Deferred Payment Plans noted above are temporarily waived, so that utilities can offer customers greater flexibility and terms longer than six months to pay arrearages on their utility bills. Further, we also amend Order No. 2020-243 to grant utilities until June 5, 2020, to file their 2019 Annual Reports, if they have not already done so. We also continue the waiver of applicable regulations noted in Order No. 2020-243 regarding the filing of Annual Reports until June 5, 2020, pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. Regs 103-803 (2012). We believe that the extra time for filing will be helpful for the utilities while they are having to deal with matters related to the COVID-19 State of Emergency." 

For more information, please contact the Office of the Chief Clerk at 803.896.5100 or email robert.bockman@psc.sc.gov.