COLUMBIA, S.C. — A bipartisan group of lawmakers at the State House are expressing frustration with the group responsible for approving utility rate increases in South Carolina.
At a town hall this week, ratepayers criticized a Blue Granite Water proposal to raise water rates 35 to 55 percent and sewer rates 56 percent.
Senator Dick Harpootlian, a Democrat representing Lexington and Richland counties, was at the meeting and said he is concerned as well.
“These folks are going to be put in a position where they can't pay for-- they won't be able to afford water and sewer and that's absolutely ludicrous,” Harpootlian said outside the Senate chamber.
In recent months, utility cases have received increased scrutiny from other government departments and officials.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has filed to intervene in the Blue Granite case.
They've also filed to intervene in the Palmetto Utilities rate case, which would raise sewer rates almost 28 percent.
RELATED: 'This is VC Summer 2.0' Blue Granite Water customers speak out against potential rate increase
Both proposed increases are pending in front of the Public Service Commission, which has the authority to approve rate increases.
Representative Chris Wooten, (R) Lexington, said these cases are emphasizing State House scrutiny on the PSC.
“Hopefully, we've learned a lesson with VC Summer. The PSC needs to really look into things a little bit deeper than they did originally. Because, I think the heartburn has not gone away from what happened with VC Summer. This is like VC Summer 2.0 is what they've called it. Because, the continuing effort from large utilities to take money away from the hardworking people is just not stopped,” Wooten claimed at the State House on Tuesday.
Harpootlian and Wooten both have constituents in the Blue Granite coverage area.
The Commission, which is the only deciding body on utility rates, has four seats up for election this year.
Commissioners G. O’Neal Hamilton, John Howard, Comer Randall, and Swain Whitfield’s seats are up this year, according to PSC staff.
Harpootlian said he wants to change how PSC commissioners are selected and how long they serve.
“I'm looking at perhaps legislation that would have the Governor appoint, with advice and consent of the Senate, and their terms be coterminous with the Governor. So, a governor comes in, he appoints his PSC, he or she appoints their PSC, and if the PSC does what this PSC has done, there would be political hell to pay,” Harpootlian said.
Harpootlian added it's unlikely incumbents would be re-elected by legislators this year after recent utility rate concerns, including the years-long Dominion/SCANA saga.