TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 58-1-60 TO PROHIBIT A PUBLIC UTILITY FROM INCLUDING IN ITS RATE BASE OR OTHERWISE RECOVER FROM ITS CUSTOMERS ANY LEGAL FEES PAID BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY FOR A MATTER IN WHICH THE PUBLIC UTILITY WAS FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED A FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL STATUTE, REGULATION OR ORDINANCE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 58-1-60.    A public utility, as defined in Section 58-3-5, whose rates are subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission, shall not be permitted to include as a part of its rate base nor otherwise recover from its customers, any legal fees paid by the public utility for a matter in which the public utility was found to have violated a federal, state or local statute, regulation or ordinance."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.