This afternoon, the Public Service Commission has elected Florence Belser to serve as its Chair and Delton Powers to serve as Vice-Chair for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2022. Both were elected by acclamation.
SC PSC Elects New Officers
Commerce Probe Puts Solar Projects on Hold
The New York Times reports that solar projects across the country are being delayed while the U.S. Department of Commerce investigates whether Chinese companies are evading U.S. tariffs on solar panel components by routing them through Southeast Asian Counties. The investigation was prompted by a petition alleging anti-dumping violations filed by Auxin Solar, a California-based solar panel assembler, according to Utility Dive. The prices of solar components from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are used in the overwhelming majority of solar modules in the U.S. could be retroactively affected. The Times quotes the Solar Energy Industries Association as saying 318 projects across the U.S. have been canceled or delayed and hundreds of companies are considering layoffs.
The Kentucky PSC Lacks a Quorum
The Kentucky PSC is left without a quorum after the state Senate refused to confirm Gov. Andy Beshear’s latest nominee. The three-member body is down to one because Republican lawmakers also refused to confirm another appointment by the Democratic Governor earlier this year. As a result, the pending 2.8 billion dollar sale of Kentucky Power to American Electric Power is in limbo. Read about it here
How the War in Ukraine Affects Energy Markets
Two recent podcasts good provide insight into the global effects on energy markets of the war in Ukraine. Josh Rhodes, a Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin, spoke with Josh Barrow on Very Serious about Europe’s efforts to end its dependency on Russian natural gas. Mark Finley, a former senior economist for BP and former CIA analyst, spoke with former CIA director Michael Morell on Intelligence Matters about the effects of the Russian invasion on oil and gas markets. Both are interesting discussions of complex and interdependent energy markets.
SCWU Training Youth for Jobs in Water Industry
South Carolina Water Utilties has started a paid internship program at Blythewood High School. Three seniors will participate in the new program through which they will receive high school credit and the opportunity to join the company as employees based on performance. Read more at WISTV.com
PSC Hearing on EV Charging Stations
“The Public Service Commission has scheduled a public hearing in Docket No. 2021-210-E for Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 at 10 a.m. This hearing will be virtual and will be livestreamed at this link. Consumers interested in testifying at this public hearing can do so by following the process in this notice. “
The hearing is being held in response to a request by Clifton Power Company for clarification of the Commission’s jurisdiction over EV charging stations.
Offshore Wind Coming to the Carolinas
On May 11, 2022, the US Department of the Interior will auction two wind power sites off of the coast of the Carolinas. The sites, comprising 110,000 acres, are 50 miles east of Myrtle Beach. If fully developed, they could generate 1.3 gigawatts of power. Read more about it.
PSC to Review Motor Carrier Application and Insurance Requirements
The Public Service Commission has scheduled a Workshop on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to review the following Motor Carriers Regulations:
- 103-133 (6)(F) This regulation provides the application requirements for household goods movers, passenger carriers, charter buses, and stretcher vans
- 103-170 through 103-180 These regulations pertain to the insurance requirements for motor carriers
To participate in this workshop, complete the following survey by Monday, February 21, 2022: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9XS9J2J
New Surrebuttal Rule at SC PSC
Yesterday, the South Carolina Public Service Commission announced that, in future cases, surrebuttal testimony will only be allowed upon a showing of good cause. A party desiring to file surrebuttal will be required to file a motion by a deadline set by the Clerk’s office in each case.
MOVERS NEED FLEXIBLE PRICING
The Public Service Commission recently invited comments on the information it should consider when evaluating household goods movers’ requests for changes in their tariffs. The Terreni Law Firm submitted a letter proposing that household goods movers have the option of offering flexible pricing options to their customers. For more information, see Docket No. 2021-321-T.
SC Utility News Digest 