S.C. Code Regs. § § 103-817

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 103-817 - Proceedings

A. Nature of Proceedings. If required by law and upon filing of a pleading as set forth in R.103-819, et. seq., proceedings for the purpose of rulemaking, ratemaking, licensing, determining rights, duties, or privileges of any party, and undertaking an official inquiry for the purposes of gathering information or making determinations, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission, shall be conducted by one or more Commissioners, or by a hearing examiner through the development of a formal record.

B. Initiation of Proceedings.

(1) All proceedings shall be initiated by filing with the Chief Clerk at the business offices at the Commission an original and copies, as determined by the Commission, of an appropriate pleading unless otherwise provided, as designated in R.103-819, et seq.

(2) The Chief Clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading that does not conform to the rules of the Commission, and shall furnish written notice to the party or the authorized representative within ten days after receipt, stating why it has not been accepted for filing.

C. Conduct of Proceedings.

(1) All pleadings initiating proceedings shall be dated upon receipt and shall be assigned a docket number after filing, and all subsequent pleadings or correspondence shall refer to that docket number. Pleadings will be captioned in accordance with R.103-819, et seq., and shall be processed pursuant to these rules.

(2) The Chief Clerk, after filing of the pleadings, shall give the Commission notice of such filing at the next regular meeting of the Commission. Where provided by law, any proceeding initiated under these rules may be disposed of without hearing by Order of the Commission within 14 days after the pleading has been accepted for filing, upon the written opinion of the Commission that the pleading on its face shows that a hearing is not necessary, in the public interest, or for the protection of substantial rights.

(3) After any pleading has been accepted for filing, the Chief Clerk may:

(a) Serve the pleadings, as required, in accordance with R.103-830, or within fourteen (14) days, provide the party filing the pleading a Notice of Filing, and, where required by law, the party at its own expense shall publish such notice one time in newspapers having general circulation in the State, or, if applicable, in newspapers having general circulation in the party's service area. Except for good cause shown, proof of publication must be filed on or before the return date. The Chief Clerk, pursuant to other rules of the Commission, may require that the Notice of Filing be mailed to customers and other persons and a certificate of service be filed on or before the return date.

(b) Fix a date for hearing, as soon as practicable, and when a date is available on the docket calendar. If the hearing date has not been included in the Notice of Filing, the Chief Clerk shall prepare a Notice of Hearing, and shall forward such Notice of Hearing to all parties. Proof of service must be placed in the formal record.

(c) Assign a time and place for any public hearing necessary in the conduct of any proceeding. The Chief Clerk shall likewise cause the pleadings to be served pursuant to these rules or issue written notice of the filing of pleadings, which shall be published pursuant to law and notice of the hearing date assigned for the conduct of any formal proceeding, as provided by law.

(d) The Chief Clerk shall forward a copy of a Notice of Filing, a Prefile Testimony Letter, or a Transmittal Letter to all parties by electronic service or by U.S. Mail. The Chief Clerk shall forward a Notice of Filing and Hearing, a Notice of Hearing, or any other document containing a hearing date to all parties by electronic service or by certified mail.

(e) Require from a person filing a pleading a letter incorporating a statement presenting the number of witnesses the person expects to offer in the proceeding and an estimate of the time required for the presentation of testimony and exhibits.

(4) Public hearings in the conduct of proceedings shall be held pursuant to R.103-836, et seq.

D. Final Disposition of Proceedings. Proceedings shall be concluded upon the issuance of an order by the Commission or upon a settlement or agreement reached by all parties to the proceedings and formally acknowledged by the Commission by issuance of an order.

S.C. Code Regs. § 103-817

Amended by State Register Volume 12, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 1988; State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 4, eff April 27, 2007; State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2015; State Register Volume 48, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/24/2024.