Public Utilities
The Firm has extensive experience and knowledge regarding those public utilities regulated by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. We offer comprehensive representation, regulatory advocacy, and legislative monitoring and advocacy in the following areas:Water and Wastewater
We represent privately owned water and wastewater utilities in a number of areas, advising these entities on a variety of regulatory issues. The Firm regularly represents water and wastewater utility clients in rate cases, customer complaint proceedings, and general regulatory matters before the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Our Firm has a long history of successfully representing water and sewer utility clients before the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in proceedings involving alleged violations of State and Federal (EPA) environmental regulations. We have also assisted these utility clients in obtaining and maintaining permits and certifications administered by DHEC. We have successfully negotiated with and/or litigated against City and County governments throughout South Carolina, to address various local, state and federal water and sewer issues involving our clients.
Submetering
We have actively represented the largest national providers of submetering services, the national association of these providers, along with developers, and multi-tenant property owners who submeter utility services to their tenants and residents.
Electricity and Gas
Our Firm has successfully handled numerous electricity and natural gas matters. We have successfully represented large commercial energy users in complaint proceedings against energy utilities to obtain refunds and going-forward rate reductions caused by the utilities' failure to place the customer on appropriate rate plans and negotiations against energy utilities related to tariffed rate plans, service contracts, and early termination penalties. We have advised a South Carolina municipality on the regulatory implications surrounding the possible purchase of a regional natural gas utility, pursuant to that municipality’s contractual right of first refusal to purchase the utility. We possess a broad knowledge and understanding of the utility accounting principles applicable to electricity and natural gas tariff and ratemaking issues.
Telecommunications
The Firm provides representation and advocacy on behalf of a number of telecommunications companies on the state and federal level. We regularly advise our communications clients on the federal, state and local legislative, regulatory, and legal issues affecting the industry. We have negotiated interconnection agreements and other inter-carrier agreements on behalf of our clients. We have effectively represented clients in a number of proceedings taking place at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and are familiar with the regulatory processes of the FCC.
Transportation
The firm has been involved in the certification and certificate transfer processes on behalf of household goods carriers. We have also represented hazardous waste carriers before the South Carolina Public Service Commission and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
