House LCI committee passes South Carolina Energy Security Act with amendments

The Labor, Commerce and Industry committee voted unanimously to adopt the subcommittee report and pass House Bill 3309, the South Carolina Energy Security Act, sending the bill to the House floor. The committee approved a set of amendments intended to clarify regulatory procedures, adjust compensation for Public Service Commission officials and narrow some powers previously written into the bill.

The bill matters because it would change how energy projects and utility regulation are reviewed in South Carolina, affect how certain appeals are processed, and alter administrative authority and pay structures for the Public Service Commission (PSC). Supporters said the changes aim to avoid unnecessary delays in permitting and to protect ratepayers; critics raised procedural questions during committee discussion.

Representative Gatch, the subcommittee chair, summarized the amendments adopted in subcommittee and in committee. He said the panel removed language that would have cut the number of PSC commissioners from seven to three and instead retained a seven-member commission. The amendments also expanded some provisions to cover water utilities and added language intended to prevent incomplete applications from being treated as approved because of missed deadlines (sometimes described in testimony as a “lazy judge” loophole). Gatch said the bill also clarifies the…