If it is found that a utility has directly or indirectly, by any device whatsoever, demanded, charged, collected or received from any customer a greater or lesser compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by such utility than that prescribed in the approved rate schedules of such utility, then filed in the manner provided in Title 58 of the South Carolina Code of Laws; or if it is found that any customer has received or accepted any service from a utility for a compensation greater or lesser than that prescribed in such schedules; or if, for any reason, billing error has resulted in a greater or lesser charge than that incurred by the customer for the actual service rendered, then the method of adjustment for such overcharge or undercharge shall be as provided by the following:

103-733.1. Fast or Slow Meters.

If the overcharge or undercharge is the result of a fast or slow meter, then the method of compensation shall be as follows:

1. (a) In case of a disputed account, involving the accuracy of a meter, such meter shall be tested upon request of the customer, as specified in 103-760(B).

2. (b) In the event that the meter so tested is found to have an error in registration of more than three (3) percent, the bills will be increased or decreased accordingly, but in no case shall such a correction be made for more than sixty (60) days or two (2) billing periods, whichever is greater, prior to determination of meter error.

   103-733.2. Customer Inadvertently Overcharged.

   If the utility has inadvertently overcharged a customer as a result of a misapplied schedule, an error in reading the meter, a skipped meter reading, or any other human or machine error, except as provided in 1 of this rule, the utility shall, at the customer’s option, credit or refund the excess amount paid by that customer or credit the amount billed as provided by the following:

3. (a) If the interval during which the customer was overcharged can be determined, then the utility shall credit or refund the excess amount charged during that entire interval provided that the applicable statute of limitations shall not be exceeded.
4. (b) If the interval during which the customer was overcharged cannot be determined, then the utility shall credit or refund the excess amount charged during the 12-month period preceding the date when the billing error was discovered.

5. (c) If the exact usage and/or demand incurred by the customer during the billing periods subject to adjustment cannot be determined, then the refund shall be based on an appropriate estimated usage and/or demand.

   103-733.3. Customer Inadvertently Undercharged.

   If the utility has undercharged any customer as a result of a misapplied schedule, an error in reading the meter, a skipped meter reading, or any human or machine error, except as provided in 1 and 5 of this rule, then the utility may recover the deficient amount as provided as follows:

6. (a) If the interval during which a customer was undercharged can be determined, then the utility may collect the deficient amount incurred during that interval up to a maximum period of six months.
7. (b) If the interval during which a customer was undercharged cannot be determined, then the utility may collect the deficient amount incurred during the six-month period preceding the date when the billing error was discovered by the utility.
8. (c) The customer shall be allowed to pay the deficient amount, in equal installments added to the regular monthly bills, over the same number of billing periods which occurred during the interval the customer was subject to pay the deficient amount.

9. (d) If the usage and/or demand incurred by that person during the billing periods subject to adjustment cannot be determined, then the adjustment shall be based on estimated usage and/or demand. If a meter has ceased to register, the adjustment shall be based on the average registration of the meter over a six-month period when in order.

   103-733.4. Customer Willfully Overcharged.

   If the utility has willfully overcharged any customer, the utility shall refund the difference, plus interest, as stated in the South Carolina Code of Laws Section 34-31-20(A) or such future Code of Laws of South Carolina governing the legal rate of interest of cases of accounts stated and in all cases where any sum or sums of money shall be ascertained and shall draw interest according to law for the period of time that can be determined that the customer was overcharged.

   103-733.5. Customer Undercharged Because of Fraud or Willful Misrepresentation.

   If the utility has undercharged any customer because of the customer’s fraudulent actions, such as tampering with, or bypassing the meter, or because the customer has willfully misrepresented a material fact resulting in an undercharge, or if it is shown that the customer is aware of fraudulent or illegal action by another person, such as tampering with, or bypassing the meter and it is evident that such tampering or bypassing benefits the customer, or if it is evident that a customer has knowledge of being undercharged without notifying the utility as such, then notwithstanding 1 of this rule, the utility shall recover the deficient amount provided as follows:

10. (a) If the interval during which the customer was undercharged can be determined, then the utility shall collect the deficient amount incurred during that entire interval, provided that the applicable statute of limitations is not exceeded.
11. (b) If the interval during which the customer was undercharged cannot be determined, then the utility shall collect the deficient amount incurred during the 12-month period preceding the date when the billing error was discovered by the utility.
12. (c) If the usage and/or demand incurred by that customer during the billing periods subject to adjustment cannot be determined, then the adjustment shall be based on an appropriate estimated usage and/or demand.
13. (d) In addition to the above, if the metering equipment has been removed or damaged, then the utility shall collect the estimated cost of repairing and/or replacing such equipment.

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.