South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee

H 5282 — Utility Billing Accountability and Consumer Protection Act

Last action — Scrivener's error corrected

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 26, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 20% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill regulates utility billing changes and enhances consumer protections in South Carolina.

This bill establishes rules for utilities regarding billing and payment practices, requiring approval for changes. It also introduces consumer protections, especially for rural households, and mandates regular reporting to ensure accountability.

What this means for you
  • Families: Families, especially in rural areas, will receive specific protections against high energy costs and billing changes.
  • Consumers: Consumers will benefit from greater transparency and protections regarding changes in utility billing practices.

Summary

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "UTILITY BILLING ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2026" BY ADDING CHAPTER 44 TO TITLE 58 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A UTILITY FROM CHANGING BILLING OR PAYMENT PRACTICES WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO PERMIT TEMPORARY APPROVAL PROCESSES IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY; TO REQUIRE UTILITIES TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, TO ENGAGE AN AUDITOR TO EXAMINE PRESCRIBED BILLING ISSUES; TO REQUIRE A UTILITY TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS FOR BILLING OR PAYMENT CHANGES; TO ESTABLISH CONDITIONS AND PROHIBITIONS IN CERTAIN RENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES; TO REQUIRE ELECTRIC, GAS, AND WATER UTILITIES TO IMPLEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR RURAL ENERGY-BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS, TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PUBLISH A RURAL ENERGY BURDEN REPORT, AND TO CONSIDER METRICS IN ALL RATE PROCEEDINGS; TO PERMIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS, FOR A CUSTOMER TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSION, AND TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

4 added · 4 removed

4 line(s) added, 4 removed.

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Previous
Latest
2025-2026 Bill 5282 Text of Previous Version (Jun.
2025-2026 Bill 5282 Text of Previous Version (Feb.
04, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 5282Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
26, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 5282Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
TO REQUIRE ELECTRIC, GAS, AND WATER UTILITIES TO IMPLEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR RURAL ENERGY-BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS, TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PUBLISH A RURAL ENERGY BURDEN REPORT, AND TO CONSIDER METRICS IN ALL RATE PROCEEDINGS;
TO REQUIRE ELECTRIC, GAS, AND WATER UTILITIES TO IMPLEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR RURAL ENERGY-BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS, REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PUBLISH A RURAL ENERGY BURDEN REPORT, AND TO CONSIDER METRICS IN ALL RATE PROCEEDINGS;
----XX---- This web page was last updated on June 04, 2026 at 03:34 PM
----XX---- This web page was last updated on February 26, 2026 at 11:20 AM
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Action History

  1. Scrivener's error corrected

  2. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Scott

  3. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Dillard, Jones

  4. Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

  5. Introduced and read first time

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (166)

166 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 166 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety housing energy
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does H 5282 do?
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "UTILITY BILLING ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2026" BY ADDING CHAPTER 44 TO TITLE 58 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A UTILITY FROM CHANGING BILLING OR PAYMENT PRACTICES WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO PERMIT TEMPORARY APPROVAL PROCESSES IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY; TO REQUIRE UTILITIES TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, TO ENGAGE AN AUDITOR TO EXAMINE PRESCRIBED BILLING ISSUES; TO REQUIRE A UTILITY TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS FOR BILLING OR PAYMENT CHANGES; TO ESTABLISH CONDITIONS AND PROHIBITIONS IN CERTAIN RENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES; TO REQUIRE ELECTRIC, GAS, AND WATER UTILITIES TO IMPLEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR RURAL ENERGY-BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS, TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PUBLISH A RURAL ENERGY BURDEN REPORT, AND TO CONSIDER METRICS IN ALL RATE PROCEEDINGS; TO PERMIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS, FOR A CUSTOMER TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSION, AND TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS.
Who sponsors H 5282?
H 5282 is sponsored by Representative Robert T. Reese, Representative Chandra E. Dillard, Representative Wendell K. Jones, and Representative Keishan M. Scott.
What is the current status of H 5282?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 26, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track H 5282?
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