If you have questions or concerns regarding your utility service, you can contact us.
General non-utility questions regarding South Carolina’s response to COVID-19 should be directed to the SC Emergency Management Division’s Public Information Hotline at (866) 246-0133 or SCEMD.
For those with hearing or speech challenges, our SC Equipment Distribution Program (SCEDP) staff continues to answer calls and emails while working remotely so clients will feel less isolated. Installation and troubleshooting help is available by phone. During the COVID-19 crisis, the program is dedicating at least one day a week in the office to ship equipment and process applications. The SCEDP Facebook page remains updated with information so that individuals can have resources at their fingertips. The SCEDP wants to make sure the hearing- and speech-impaired citizens of South Carolina can continue to connect to family and friends over the phone.
Our Pipeline Safety, Transportation, and Rail Safety programs are continuing inspections while following all guidelines for safety and social distancing. April is National Safe Digging Month and with so many of us staying home, it is more important than ever to remember to call SC811 before you dig in your yard. State law requires you to do one of the following at least three full working days before digging -- call 811, use the SC811 app, or visit SC811 -- to notify the utilities of your intention and generate a ticket. Utility operators then have 72 hours to perform the marking at no cost to you.
The ORS Transportation program now has a payment portal on the website for regulated passenger carriers (taxis, limousines, and certain types of non-emergency medical transportation) to pay their semi-annual license decal fees using a credit or debit card. With this enhancement, passenger carriers no longer need to visit the ORS office or pay by mail. Instead, they can save time and effort by paying remotely -- a benefit especially valuable to have in the current COVID-19 situation.
The ORS Energy Office continues to support stakeholders via telephone and other electronic means. Until further notice, in-person technical assistance – including site monitoring visits and energy walk-throughs – is suspended.
Through our responsibilities under the State Emergency Operations Plan with the SC Emergency Management Division, the ORS is assisting in South Carolina’s response to COVID-19. A few examples of our actions in the past few weeks:
- Coordinated N-95 mask and Tyvek suit donations
- Assisted with purchases/delivery of Personal Protective Equipment
- Worked to secure fuel waivers for the state’s fuel suppliers
- Obtained commercial driver’s license and medical-certificate extensions for drivers of fuel suppliers and utilities
- Helped to secure priority-level-2 testing for critical infrastructure workers
- Worked to secure quarantine exemptions for essential specialized utility workers coming to South Carolina from the tri-state area or New Orleans
- Took steps to see that federal authorities can gain access to the state’s nuclear facilities if needed
- Arranged for Sprint CapTel employees to get to their work facilities so those who need phone-captioning services see no interruption in service
- Worked with Amtrak to allow passengers free access along routes and posted signs regarding the Governor’s quarantine orders
We are here to offer any assistance we can during this challenging time. For the most recent updates on actions utilities are taking to help customers as well as consumer information related to this crisis, please visit our COVID-19 page.