On December 8^th, 12^th, and 13^th, the Public Service Commission held a series of in-person public hearings in Bishopville, Sumter, and Florence to hear from customers of Duke Energy Progress. Dozens of customers arrived to speak before the Commission and to register their opinions about the docket, which involves a request for an increase. Representatives of the Office of Regulatory Staff, Duke Energy, and the intervenors in the case were on hand to hear from customers who spoke up about Duke’s request and their experiences with the company, and Commissioners were able to direct questions to witnesses, whose testimony is evidence in the docket.

If you weren’t able to attend or testify at these hearings, you can still participate in the docket. The Public Service Commission will be holding a series of virtual public hearings in 2022-254-E starting on January 3^rd (and continuing on the 4^th and 5^th only if needed). You can sign up to testify at these virtual public hearings until December 30^th. To do so, follow the instructions at this blog post

or reach out to the Commission for more information at [email protected].  

Please note that the PSC office will be closed on January 2nd, 2023 to celebrate the New Year. We will return on January 3rd at 8:15 a.m. and hope you all have a happy and productive start to your year!

Upcoming Events: Jan.-Feb. 2023

January 3rd at 9 a.m.: Public Hearing in Docket No. 2022-254-E (Watch Live) (This virtual public hearing may continue on January 4th and 5th only if needed)

January 9th at 10 a.m.: Hearing in Docket No. 2022-254-E (Watch Live) (Please note that this hearing may continue through the week)

January 26th at 3 p.m.: Hearing in 2022-362-T (Petition of the Office of Regulatory Staff to Revoke Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity of Certain Motor Carriers for Failure to File Annual Reports and/or Gross Receipts 2022) (Watch Live)

January 30th at 11 a.m.: Allowable Ex Parte Briefing in NDI No. 2022-72-E (Request for an Allowable Ex Parte Briefing from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina Regarding The Economics of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Markets and Lessons Learned from Other States to Be Held on January 30, 2023) (Watch Live)

February 16th at 10 a.m.: Hearing in Docket No. 2022-356-C [Application of Sandhill Connextions, LLC for Limited Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) In All Areas Where Authorized as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier in South Carolina] (Watch Live)

February 28th at 10 a.m.: Regulation Review of Article 8, Practice and Procedure Regulations (Docket No. 2022-300-A) (Watch Live)

You can watch these meetings, briefings, and hearings live at the links above, or you can call in to the PSC's toll-free listen line by dialing +1-855-797-9485 and entering the access code of 2306 156 7308. Please note that the access code may change for certain events. Contact us at 803.896.5100 if you have questions or consult the PSC's calendar of events at this link.

SC Utility Consumer runs a blog series called "Utility Tools" that walks consumers through definitions, concepts, and ways to participate in the regulatory process. This month, we're spotlighting their information on testifying before the Commission.

Periodically, the Public Service Commission will host in-person public hearings in communities around the state, generally related to applications from utility providers that ask the Commission to approve a rate increase. These hearings are announced on the PSC website and notices will be sent out in your bill, so you should always know when a public hearing is coming up. Before you testify at a hearing, you’ll need to know the basic procedures, and this blog is here to help!

First, check the notice to make sure you have the date, time, and docket right. Dockets are the folders the Commission uses to track all materials related to a certain case, and you can explore the Commission’s Docket Management System at www.dms.psc.sc.gov. Once you’ve confirmed the date, time, and venue, show up at the location listed on the notice shortly before the start of the hearing.

When you arrive, you’ll be asked to sign in. In-person public hearings generally begin at 6 p.m., so you may want to arrive early to ensure you can sign up if you haven’t preregistered.

The hearing will open with a welcome from the Commission, a brief address from any representatives of the utility provider or providers, and an outline of proceedings from the Office of Regulatory Staff. The hearing will then be opened to members of the public who have signed up to speak in the order in which they signed up.

Once your name is called, please approach the microphone. You’ll be asked to affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth by a representative of the Commission; once you have affirmed this, you’ll be given the go-ahead to testify. You’ll have three minutes to testify, which the Commission will track. Once those three minutes have elapsed, a representative of the Commission will inform you, and you’ll be expected to immediately stop testifying. We want to make sure everyone gets their say, so it’s important to respect that time limit.

Some quick tips to make sure your testimony goes smoothly:

• Many testifiers find it useful to bring notes to make sure you cover the comments you want to deliver to the Commission.
• Practice what you’re going to say ahead of time—this can reduce stress and make sure your comments are under three minutes.
• Don’t leave the stand once your three minutes are up—Commissioners may have questions for you to answer clarifying your testimony or further explaining your position.

If you have questions about this process, you can reach out to the Public Service Commission at [email protected] or by calling 803.896.5100.

The Public Service Commission has a YouTube page where we host video content, including instructional videos and messages from the Commission. Visit our page at this link to watch videos and learn more about topics crucial to the public's understanding of our work and capabilities.