The following words and terms, when used in these rules and regulations, shall have the meaning indicated below:

103-702.1. Commission.

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina.

103-702.2. Curb Stop.

Valve controlling water flow located on the utility service line. Curb stops are for the exclusive use of the utility for control of the water supply to individual customers and should be located at or adjacent to the customer’s property line but should not be located on the customer’s premises. The control of the water supply by the customer shall be by means of a separate valve, installed by the customer, and located on the customer’s premises.

103-702.3. Customer.

Any person, firm, partnership or corporation, or any agency of the Federal, State or Local Government, being supplied with service by a utility under the jurisdiction of this commission. Customers shall be classified for purposes of applying rates as “residential”, or “commercial”, or “industrial”.

103-702.4. Customer Contribution in Aid of Construction.

A fee paid by a customer under a contract entered into by and between the utility and its customers providing terms for the extension of the utility’s mains to serve the customer.

103-702.5. Customer Service Line.

The portion of the distribution line that transports water from the meter, to the place of consumption on the customer’s premises, or, if there is no meter, from the curb stop to the place of consumption on the customer’s premises.

103-702.6. Error in Registration.

The percentage by which the correct registration varies from the meter registration. The error is derived by stopping the meter test hand at the starting point and then determining the percentage variation in registration as indicated by the working standard. The formula for determining the error in registration is:

A positive percentage indicates a fast meter and a negative percentage indicates the meter is slow.

103-702.7. Homeowners Association.

An association of lot owners located in a particular subdivision or development incorporated under the laws of this state as a non-profit corporation, including as one of its purposes, the operation of a water system to serve the particular subdivision or development. Each homeowners association, prior to the commencement of operations of a water system, shall file with the commission and provide a copy to the ORS (a) a certified copy of its certificate of incorporation; (b) a copy of the corporation’s bylaws; (c) a copy of any declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions on real property in the subdivision or development filed in conjunction with the formation of the homeowners association; (d) a copy of the permit or authorization from the Department of Health and Environmental Control issued to the homeowners association to operate the utility; and (e) copies of a statement signed by each lot owner disclosing that the water services in the subdivision are provided by a non-profit homeowners association, in which each lot owner is a voting member, and that an appropriate assessment to meet operating expenses of the utility must be paid by each lot owner.

103-702.8. Main.

A water pipe owned, operated or maintained, by a utility, which is used for the purpose of transmission or distribution of water, but does not include the “utility service line” or “customer service line”.

103-702.9. Meter.

Any device, or instrument, which is used by a utility in measuring a quantity of water for billing purposes. The meter will be the property of, and will be maintained by, the utility.

103-702.10. The Office of Regulatory Staff.

The executive director and employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff.

103-702.11. Premises.

A piece or tract of land or real estate, including buildings and other appurtenances thereon.

103-702.12. Rate.

The term “rate” when used in these rules and regulations means and includes every compensation, charge, toll, rental, classification, or availability fee, or any of them, including tap fees, or other non-recurring charges demanded, observed, charged, or collected by any utility for any water service offered by it to the public, and any rules and regulations, practices, or contracts affecting any such compensation, charge, toll, rental or classification. An application for approval of any rate schedule will not be accepted for filing under S.C. Code Ann. Section 58-5-240 unless accompanied by the information specified under 103-823.

103-702.13. Tap Fee.

A non-recurring, non-refundable charge related to connecting the customer to the utility’s system which includes the cost of installing the utility’s service line from the main to the customer’s premises and a portion of plant capacity which will be used to provide service to the new customer. Plant capacity shall be computed by using the Guidelines for Unit Contributory Loadings to Wastewater Treatment Facilities (1972) to determine the single family equivalency rating. Any privately-owned corporation, firm, partnership, or individual empowered by contract, or otherwise, to collect a tap fee from a customer for the provision of water service to that customer shall be considered a utility, and shall obtain commission approval prior to collecting tap fees, or any other rates for water service. An application for approval of any rate change shall not be considered unless the filing contains appropriate exhibits setting forth all cost criteria justifying the tap fee, setting forth the portion of the tap fee related to installing the service line and the portion related to plant capacity.

103-702.14. Utility.

Every person, firm, partnership, association, establishment or corporation furnishing or supplying in any manner water to the public, or any portion thereof, for compensation. A “homeowners association”, as defined in these rules and regulations and subject to the requirements set forth herein, upon commission order, may be found not to be a utility.

103-702.15. Utility Service Line.

The portion of the distribution line that transports water from a main to a meter, or if there is no meter, up to and including the curb stop.

103-702.16. Water Plant.

All facilities owned by the utility for the collection, production, purification, storage, transmission, metering, and distribution of potable water.

103-702.17. Local Office or Business Office.

These terms mean that in the event a water utility operates a local office or business office set forth in this article, then the water utility shall comply with the requirements of the section or subsection of the regulation addressing such local office or business office. In the event the utility does not operate a local office or business office, the section or subsection of the regulation does not apply to the water utility.

103-702.18. Mail.

The term “mail” means a communication sent by U.S. Mail or the notice method selected by the water utility customer and maintained in the customer’s records at the water utility.

103-702.19. Municipality.

“Municipality” includes a city, town, county, township, and any other corporation existing, created or organized as a governmental unit under the Constitution and laws of this State.

HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 14, Issue No. 3, eff March 23, 1990; State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 5, eff May 25, 2007; SCSR 48-5 Doc. No. 5184, eff May 24, 2024.