TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 5-31-2560, 6-11-2560, 33-49-1460, 58-5-1170, 58-27-2570, AND 58-31-560 SO AS TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT OR PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, PUBLIC UTILITY, PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, OR ELECTRIC UTILITY FURNISHING ELECTRICITY OR NATURAL GAS TO ITS CITIZENS TO INCLUDE IN THE CUSTOMER'S BILLS ONCE ANNUALLY A FORM THAT MAY BE RETURNED WITH PAYMENT THAT INFORMS THE MUNICIPALITY, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT OR PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, PUBLIC UTILITY, PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, OR ELECTRIC UTILITY THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A "SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOUNT CUSTOMER"; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 5-31-2510, 6-11-2510, 33-49-1410, 58-5-1110, 58-27-2510, AND 58-31-510, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE TERMINATION OF ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS SERVICE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FURNISHED BY A MUNICIPALITY, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT OR PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, PUBLIC UTILITY, PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, OR ELECTRIC UTILITY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF "SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOUNT CUSTOMER".
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 25, Chapter 31, Title 5 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 5-31-2560. A municipality furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens shall include in its bills to its customers once annually a form that may be returned with a payment that informs the municipality that the customer is a 'special needs account customer'."
SECTION 2. Article 17, Chapter 11, Title 6 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 6-11-2560. A special purpose or public service district furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens shall include in its bills to its customers once annually a form that may be returned with a payment that informs the special purpose or public service district that the customer is a 'special needs account customer'."
SECTION 3. Article 17, Chapter 49, Title 33 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 33-49-1460. An electric cooperative furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens shall include in its bills to its customers once annually a form that may be returned with a payment that informs the electric cooperative that the customer is a 'special needs account customer'."
SECTION 4. Article 11, Chapter 5, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 58-5-1170. A public utility furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens shall include in its bills to its customers once annually a form that may be returned with a payment that informs the public utility that the customer is a 'special needs account customer'."
SECTION 5. Article 21, Chapter 27, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 58-27-2570. A public service authority furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens shall include in its bills to its customers once annually a form that may be returned with a payment that informs the public service authority that the customer is a 'special needs account customer'."
SECTION 6. Article 5, Chapter 31, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 58-31-560. An electric utility furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens shall include in its bills to its customers once annually a form that may be returned with a payment that informs the electric utility that the customer is a 'special needs account customer'."
SECTION 7. Section 5-31-2510(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 313 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(2) 'Special needs account customer' means the account of a residential customer:
(a) where when the customer can furnish to the municipality furnishing electricity or natural gas to its citizens a certificate on a form provided by the municipality and signed by a licensed health care provider that states that termination of electric or gas service would be dangerous to the health of the customer or a member of his household at the premises to which electric or natural gas service is rendered;
(b) who is sixty years of age or older; or
(c) who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or dementia as certified by a licensed health care provider."
SECTION 8. Section 6-11-2510(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 313 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(2) 'Special needs account customer' means the account of a residential customer:
(a) where when the customer can furnish to the special purpose or public service district furnishing electricity or natural gas to residents of this State a certificate on a form provided by the special purpose or public service district and signed by a licensed health care provider that states that termination of electric or gas service would be dangerous to the health of the customer or a member of his household at the premises to which electric or natural gas service is rendered;
(b) who is sixty years of age or older; or
(c) who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or dementia as certified by a licensed health care provider."
SECTION 9. Section 33-49-1410(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 313 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(2) 'Special needs account member' means the account of a residential member:
(a) where when the member can furnish to the electric cooperative a certificate on a form provided by the electric cooperative and signed by a licensed health care provider that states that termination of electric service would be dangerous to the health of the member or a person residing in the member's household at the premises to which electric service is rendered;
(b) who is sixty years of age or older; or
(c) who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or dementia as certified by a licensed health care provider."
SECTION 10. Section 58-5-1110(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 313 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(2) 'Special needs account customer' means the account of a residential customer:
(a) where when the customer can furnish to the utility a certificate on a form provided by the utility and signed by a licensed health care provider that states that termination of natural gas service would be dangerous to the health of the customer or a member of his household at the premises to which natural gas service is rendered;
(b) who is sixty years of age or older; or
(c) who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or dementia as certified by a licensed health care provider."
SECTION 11. Section 58-27-2510(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 313 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(2) 'Special needs account customer' means the account of a residential customer:
(a) where when the customer can furnish to the utility a certificate on a form provided by the utility and signed by a licensed health care provider that states that termination of electric service would be dangerous to the health of the customer or a member of his household at the premises to which electric service is rendered;
(b) who is sixty years of age or older; or
(c) who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or dementia as certified by a licensed health care provider."
SECTION 12. Section 58-31-510(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 313 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(2) Special needs account customer" means the account of a residential customer:
(a) where when the customer can furnish to the Public Service Authority a certificate on a form provided by the Public Service Authority and signed by a licensed health care provider that states that termination of electric service would be dangerous to the health of the customer or a member of his household at the premises to which electric service is rendered;
(b) who is sixty years of age or older; or
(c) who suffers from Alzheimer's disease or dementia as certified by a licensed health care provider."
SECTION 13. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.