On March 23rd, the Public Service Commission held a virtual public hearing in Docket No. 2020-229-E, a case before the Commission which involves the establishment of solar choice metering rates for Dominion Energy South Carolina. 252 consumers signed up to speak at the virtual public hearing, with Commissioners hearing from Dominion Energy South Carolina customers, solar power industry installers, and representatives of community groups.
If you weren't able to watch the hearing live, you can still watch the entirety of the virtual hearing at this link.
A similar hearing is planned for Dockets No. 2020-264-E/2020-265-E on April 21st—the Commission will be allowing registration until 4:45 p.m. on April 20th. For more on registration, check out the “From the Blog” section below!
Missed recent developments with the PSC or with our local utility economy? Read some of the highlights below:
At their Commission meeting on Wednesday, January 27th, the Public Service Commission issued Order No. 2021-64, which established virtual public hearings in Docket Nos. 2020-265-E and 2020-264-E on April 21st, 2021. These two dockets both involve solar choice metering riders and rate schedules for Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, so public hearings will be held jointly. If you’re interested in speaking at one of these virtual public hearings, here’s what you need to know:
The hearing times are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21st.
If you want to speak, you’ll need to register by emailing communications@psc.sc.gov or calling 803.896.1972 before 4:45 p.m. on April 20th.
When you call or email, you’ll need to provide your name, the telephone number you want the Commission to call, and your physical address.
On the day of the hearing, a representative of the Commission will call you when it’s your turn to speak. You’ll be called in the order in which you signed up.
Once you’re on the line, the representative will connect you to the Commission’s call-in line, at which point you’ll pause to be sworn in and to give the court reporter your name, location, and status as a Duke customer.
Once you’ve been sworn in, you can speak for up to three minutes and share your opinions with the Commission.
For more information, please reach out to the Public Service Commission at 803.896.5100 or at robert.bockman@psc.sc.gov. You can also follow the Commission on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
It’s spring in South Carolina! As warmer weather rolls in, SC Utility Consumer has the tips you need to stay cool and save money:
As you do your spring cleaning, don’t forget your appliances! Cleaning or replacing the air filters in your air conditioning unit and its evaporator coil are a very cheap way to cut down on your cooling costs without pricy maintenance. Learn how to clean your A/C unit’s evaporator coil at this link.
Rely on fans! Using ceiling fans can improve air flow and cool you down without having to touch the thermostat. Bathroom fans can also lower the temperature and cut down on the humidity in your home. Don’t forget to switch your fan over so it draws up hot air and blows cool air down—look for a small switch on the side of your fan and make sure your fan is blowing counterclockwise to keep cool.
Take advantage of the weather! It’s grilling weather and cooking outdoors reduces the amount of energy you consume within your home.
Weatherproof your home! Weatherproofing doesn’t have to be costly—simple improvements like weatherstripping your doors and windows and using caulk to plug any holes allows you to reduce the heat exchange between the indoors and the outdoors. Energy.gov has a full rundown of weatherstripping options—find out more at this link.
April 26th at 10 a.m. and continuing through the week: Merits Hearings in Dockets No. 2020-224-E and 2020-225-E (Watch Live)
Please note that these are highlights and may be subject to change—the complete calendar of scheduled events is available through the Docket Management System
