Electric Cooperatives | Office of Regulatory Staff

Electric distribution cooperatives are primarily self-governing utility companies, but the ORS and PSC do have oversight for some areas of company operations. This oversight is to make sure that the companies are following certain laws.

Act 56

The General Assembly passed Act 56 in 2019, giving the ORS the ability to inspect, audit, and examine the 22 electric cooperatives to make sure they are following certain laws. Act 56 also allows the ORS to investigate consumer complaints against electric cooperatives related to disconnection for not paying a bill. The ORS can inspect, audit, and examine an association of electric cooperatives for compliance with certain laws and an association’s bylaws.

After an inspection, audit, or examination, the ORS must send its findings to the management and board of the electric cooperative or association and try to resolve any compliance issues. The PSC has the authority and jurisdiction to resolve any disputes resulting from an inspection, audit, or examination.

2023 Lynches River Inspection, Audit, and Examination

The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) has received several complaint letters related to Lynches River Electric Cooperative, Inc. and has opened an inspection, audit, and examination. Requests for information have been sent to interested parties. If you have information and wish to share it with the ORS, please contact Christopher M. Huber, Esquire, Chief Legal Officer for the ORS, by phone at 803-737-5252 or by e-mail at chuber@ors.sc.gov.

Info Request to Board of Lynches River Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PDF)

Info Request to Harold Gardner Re: Lynches River Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PDF)

2022 Inspection, Audit, and Examination

Fairfield Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Electric Cooperative 2022 Compliance Examination