A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTing THE "ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND RISK REDUCTION ACT"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-3-20, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REVISE THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS FROM SEVEN TO FIVE STATEWIDE, AT-LARGE SEATS WITH CERTAIN RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-3-250, RELATING TO FINAL ORDERS AND DECISIONS BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE RATIONALES FOR ITS PRIMARY CONCLUSIONS FOR VERBAL DIRECTIVES AND TO REQUIRE PUBLISHED FINAL ORDERS AND DECISIONS WITHIN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE VERBAL DIRECTIVE; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-4-10, RELATING TO the PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS TO MODIFY THE STANDARD OF PUBLIC INTEREST; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-4-40, RELATING TO the CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO EXCLUDE AN OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF EMPLOYEE FROM PARTICIPATING IN A MATTER REGULATED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INVOLVING THE EMPLOYEE'S FORMER EMPLOYER FOR FIVE YEARS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-27-256 SO AS TO REQUIRE ELECTRICAL UTILITIES TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO ENSURE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN TRANSITION IN THE CLOSING AND DECOMMISSIONing OF COAL GENERATING PLANTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-27-865, RELATING TO FUEL COSTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A FUEL COST RECOVERY MECHANISM WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-27-2100, RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FINDINGS AND ORDERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE RATIONALES FOR ITS PRIMARY CONCLUSIONS FOR VERBAL DIRECTIVES AND TO REQUIRE PUBLISHED FINAL ORDERS AND DECISIONS WITHIN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE VERBAL DIRECTIVE; BY ADDING ARTICLE 25 TO CHAPTER 27, TITLE 58 SO AS TO PERMIT THE ISSUANCE OF RATEPAYER PROTECTION BONDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO THOSE BONDS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-31-227, RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES AND RESOURCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES AND ANCILLARY SERVICES; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-33-110, RELATING TO A CERTIFICATE REQUIRED BEFORE CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR UTILITY FACILITY, SO AS TO PERMIT AN ALL-SOURCE BIDDING PROCESS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERMS "COST-EFFECTIVE" AND "DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM", AND TO CHANGE "DEMAND-SIDE ACTIVITY" TO "DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-20, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S PROCEDURES ENCOURAGING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A FINDING BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELATING TO PUBLIC INTEREST RELATED TO DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND TO REQUIRE INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION REGARDING ITS DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS FOR COMMISSION REVIEW; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-30, RELATING TO REPORTS ON DEMAND-SIDE ACTIVITIES OF GAS AND ELECTRICal UTILITIES, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE; BY ADDING SECTION 58-37-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL UTILITY PROGRAMS AND CUSTOMER INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-40, RELATING TO INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDING OF A NEED TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENTS, ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, AND PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES, AND TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR A UTILITY'S ENERGY TRANSITION AS IT RELATES TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST; BY ADDING SECTION 58-37-70 SO AS TO REQUIRE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL UTILITIES TO FILE A LOW-INCOME AFFORDABILITY TARIFF WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-41-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE DEFINITION OF "ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-41-20