(A) A utility, as defined in Sections 58-5-10, 58-9-10, and 58-27-10, may not submit a change request for a customer's utility service until the customer's authorization for the change is obtained by using marketing or anti-slamming guidelines approved by the appropriate federal and state regulatory agencies. In the case of utilities defined by Section 58-9-10, the appropriate regulatory agencies are the Federal Communications Commission and the South Carolina Public Service Commission. If a utility other than that directly receiving the customer authorization subsequently effects the change into billing or operational systems, it is not:

1. (1) required to secure additional customer authorization; and
2. (2) liable pursuant to this section for errors, omissions, or unauthorized changes submitted by the utility originating the request.

(E) As used in this section "customer" means:

1. (1) the party identified in the account records of a utility as the one responsible for payment of the utility bill;
2. (2) an adult person authorized by the responsible party to change utility services or to charge services to the account; or
3. (3) a person contractually or otherwise lawfully authorized to represent the responsible party.