S.C. Code Regs. § 103-535

Service may be refused or discontinued for any of the reasons listed below. Unless otherwise stated, the customer shall be allowed a reasonable time in which to comply with the rule before service is discontinued.

A. Without notice in the event of a condition determined by the utility, the commission by order, or the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to be hazardous or dangerous.

B. In the event of customer use of equipment in such a manner as to affect adversely the utility’s service to others.

C. In the event of unauthorized use of the utility’s service.

D. For customer tampering with equipment furnished and owned by the utility. The customer shall make every reasonable effort to prevent tampering and shall notify the utility immediately of any tampering with damage to, or removal of any equipment.

E. For violation of and/or non-compliance with these rules and regulations.

F. For failure of the customer to fulfill the customer’s contractual obligations for service and/or facilities subject to regulation by the commission.

G. For failure of the customer to permit the utility reasonable access to its equipment.

H. For non-payment of any amounts due for connection charges and/or for service rendered provided that the utility has made a reasonable attempt to effect collection and has given the customer the proper notice as required by R.103-535.1.

I. For molesting or tampering with any service or sewerage pipe, or for illegally making connection into any sewerage line for the disposal of drainage surface waters.

J. For failure of the customer to provide the utility with a deposit as authorized by R.103-531.

K. For failure of the customer to furnish permits, certificates, and/or rights of way, as necessary to obtaining service, or in the event such permissions are withdrawn or terminated.

L. No sewer utility shall be required to furnish its sewerage service or to continue its service to any applicant who, at the time of such application, is indebted or any member of the applicant’s household is indebted, under an undisputed bill to such sewer utility company for sewerage service previously furnished such applicant or furnished any other member of the applicant’s household. However, for the purposes of this regulation, the sewer utility may not consider any indebtedness which was incurred by the applicant or any member of his household more than six (6) years prior to the time of application.

M. The utility may discontinue a customer’s service should that customer be in arrears on an account for service at another premises unless the customer pays a reasonable amount of his arrears account and makes reasonable arrangement with the utility to amortize the balance of such past due or arrears account over a reasonable length of time, not to exceed twelve months.

N. For the reason that the customer’s use of the utility’s service conflicts with, or violates, orders, ordinances or laws, of the State or any subdivision thereof, or of the commission.

O. In the case of a landlord/tenant relationship where the tenant is the customer, the utility may require the landlord to execute an agreement wherein such landlord agrees to be responsible for all charges billed to that premises in accordance with the approved tariffs for that utility and the Rules of the commission, and said account shall be considered the landlord’s and tenant’s account. In the event the landlord refuses to execute such an agreement, the utility may not discontinue service to the premises unless and until the tenant becomes delinquent on his account or until the premises are vacated. The utility may discontinue service pursuant to R.103-535.1 if the account is delinquent or may discontinue service at the time the premises are vacated and the utility shall not be required to furnish service to the premises until the landlord has executed the agreement, and paid any reconnection charges.

P. No utility shall be required to furnish, or continue to furnish its sewerage service to any premises to which the utility has not inspected the service connection, provided however, if the utility has waived its right to inspect the service connection, it may not refuse to furnish nor refuse to continue service to the premises.

Q. For nonpayment of any connection charge properly imposed by the utility and owed by the customer provided that the utility has made a reasonable attempt to effect collection and has given the customer 30 days written notice, sent by certified mail to the customer’s billing address, with a copy forwarded to the commission. A connection charge owed by a third party or a previous occupant or owner of premises is not deemed to be owed by the current customer, and that current customer’s service may not be disconnected under such circumstances.

103-535.1. Notice Prior to Discontinuance of Service.

A. Before any sewerage service may be discontinued, the utility must give thirty (30) days written notice to the customer, by certified mail, verified email, or hand delivered by staff/process server unless R.103-535.A is applicable, with copies forwarded to the local Bureau of Environmental Health Services and the ORS. At the expiration of the thirty (30) day period, the utility shall post a second notice by certified mail, verified email, or hand delivered by staff/process server to the customer advising that in not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days, the service may be discontinued at any time without further advance notice. If the physical disconnection of any sewerage service will cause an immediate environmental impact, as provided by the South Carolina Pollution Control Act or the Federal Clean Water Act, the local Bureau of Environmental Health Services of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the ORS shall immediately be notified of the action and the name and address of the customer. Service will be terminated only on Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., unless provisions have been made to have someone available to accept payment and reconnect service. The utility must inform the customer in the notice that the customer can contact the ORS if the customer disputes the discontinuance of service. Termination of service may be delayed in case of inclement weather, emergencies, or operational conflicts.

B. Upon termination of service, the sewer utility shall deliver a final written notice, such as a door hanger at the customer’s premises. The notice shall notify the customer that the sewer service has been disconnected, and any further use of service could cause environmental or health impacts. Additionally, the notice shall provide contact information for the utility and instructions for reestablishing service. The sewer utility shall maintain records of the efforts made to contact such customers pursuant to each section of R. 103-535.1.

C. The sewer utility shall provide a copy of the termination notice to any third party identified by the customer upon establishment of the service account or at any time thereafter.