S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs asks to intervene in utility filing

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The S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs has petitioned to intervene in a request for a utility rate increase filed by Blue Granite Water Co.

Blue Granite Water Co. serves neighborhoods in Richland, Lexington and York counties. If the S.C. Public Service Commission approves the rate increase request, customers’ rates could go up by as much as 56%, according to a news release from the SCDCA.

Carrie Grube Lybarker, department administrator and consumer advocate, attended a town hall meeting of concerned Blue Granite Water Co. customers in September.

“Hearing from the customers and looking at the proposed rate increases, it became apparent we needed to intervene in this matter,” she said.

The consumer advocate serves as an advocate for the interest of customers before the PSC and can intervene in utility ratemaking. Lybarker filed the petition to intervene with the PSC on Nov. 25.

The Blue Granite Water Co.’s application for the proposed increases says water rates could increase up to 45% and sewer rates would increase as much as 56%. The company said revenue generated by the rate increase would pay for a storm reserve fund, legal expenses, investments in infrastructure and costs from water and wastewater treatment provided by a third party.

The SCDCA advocacy division and consumer advocate were established in 1978 to represent consumers before state and federal regulatory agencies. The advocacy division is responsible for property and casualty insurance and worker’s compensation insurance. The division also reviews rules and regulations proposed by state and federal agencies.