A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 58-3-20 RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISsION, SO AS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS FROM 7 TO 5 AND TO PROVIDE FOR QUALIFICATIONS, ELECTIONS, AND TERMS OF SERVICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-250 RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S ORDERS AND DECISIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR VERBAL DIRECTIVES MADE DURING A COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING AND SERVICE OF ALL FINAL ORDERS AND DECISIONS FOLLOWING A VERBAL DIRECTIVE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-10(B) RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF'S REPRESENTATION OF "PUBLIC INTEREST" BEFORE THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO AMEND "PUBLIC INTEREST"; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-40(C) RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, SO AS TO PROHIBIT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF FROM BEING INVOLVED IN A MATTER BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR FIVE YEARS IF THE MATTER INVOLVES THE BUSINESS WITH WHICH THE EMPLOYEE WAS FORMERLY EMPLOYED; TO AMEND SECTION 58-27-2100 RELATING TO FINDINGS AND ORDERS OF THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR VERBAL DIRECTIVES MADE AT A COMMISSION BUSINESS MEETING AND SERVICE OF THE FINAL WRITTEN ORDER FOLLOWING A VERBAL DIRECTIVE; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE TO RETAIN AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICIAL BOARD OR COMMISSION WITH SIMILAR ROLES TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OR THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, TO PROVIDE FOR THE SCOPE OF STUDY, AND TO REQUIRE A REPORT TO BE ISSUED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JANUARY 1, 2025; TO ADD ARTICLE 24, CHAPTER 27, TITLE 58 TO ESTABLISH AN ENERGY IMBALANCE MARKET, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THAT MARKET'S REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESSES AND TO MAKE RELATED FINDINGS; TO ADD SECTION 58-37-45 SO AS TO ESTABLISH FINDINGS BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FUTURE ENERGY RESOURCES, TRANSITION FROM COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY GENERATION, AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN EVALUATING INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS; TO ADD SECTION 58-31-205 SO AS TO PERMIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO JOINTLY OWN ELECTRIC GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES WITH INVESTOR-OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONDITIONS FOR OWNERSHIP; TO ADD SECTION 58-33-20(10) SO AS TO DEFINE "LIKE FACILITY"; TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58 RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF MAJOR UTILITY FACILiTIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR A CERTIFICATE, PROVIDE WHAT ACTIVITIES MAY OCCUR PENDING CONSIDERATION OF AN APPLICATION, AND PROVIDE FOR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES FOR AN APPLICATION AND RELATED PUBLIC HEARING; TO ADD SECTION 55-33-175, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THAT THE GRANT OF A CERTIFICATE FOR A GENERATION FACILITY OR DETERMINATION IT CONSTITUTES A LIKE FACILITY REPLACEMENT CONSTITUTES A CONCLUSIVE DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC PURPOSE EXISTS FOR SUPPORTING THE CONDEMNATION OF PROPERTY REASONABLY DETERMINED TO BE NECESSARY OR CONVENIENT FOR THE RELATED FACILITY; TO ADD 55-33-195 SO TO PROVIDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ENCOURAGEMENT OF DOMINION ENERGY AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO PREPARE TO CONSTRUCT ONE OR MORE NATURAL GAS-FIRED COMBINED CYCLE GENERATION FACILITIES AND FOR RELATED TRANSMISSION FACILITIES, DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS TO MAKE NECESSARY DETERMINATION RELATED TO CONSTRUCTING A SECOND POWERHOUSE AT BAD CREEK PUMPED HYDRO STATION, AND TO ENCOURAGE DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS AND DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS RELATED TO CONSTRUCTING HYDROGEN CAPABLE NATURAL GAS GENERATION, AND TO MAKE CERTAIN FINDINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS RELATED TO THESE PROJECTS; TO ADD SECTION 58-33-196, SO AS TO ENCOURAGE STUDIES RELATED TO SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR FACILITIES, REQUIRE ANNUAL PROJECT REPORTS TO THE