Section 58-27-2620 - Application; approval; updates; investigations; revocation; civil penalties; contested cases(A) Before any entity other than an entity lawfully providing retail electric service to the public in this State commences to do business as a lessor of renewable electric generation facilities under the terms of this article, that entity shall submit an application to the Office of Regulatory Staff and provide such information as the Office of Regulatory Staff shall require. In performing its responsibilities under this article, the Office of Regulatory Staff must balance the state's interest in promoting a market for the provision of renewable electric generation facilities as permitted by this article with an appropriate level of protection for customer-generator lessees to ensure fair and accurate marketing practices and ensure acceptable performance of renewable electric generation facilities and lessors.(B) The application shall be accompanied by such information as the Office of Regulatory Staff shall require and the Office of Regulatory Staff may condition its approval on such terms as the Office of Regulatory Staff shall determine to be just and reasonable to advance the goals of this article of balancing the state's interest in promoting a market for the provision of renewable electric generation facilities as permitted by this article, with an appropriate level of protection for customer-generator lessees and to ensure fair and accurate marketing practices.(C) Upon review of the application and a finding that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to conduct business in accordance with the provisions of this article, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall approve the application and issue the lessor a certificate permitting the lessor to market and lease renewable electric generation facilities to customer-generator lessees under the terms of this article.(D) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to require the regular updating of information by certificate holders.(E) The Office of Regulatory Staff shall receive, compile and investigate customer complaints arising under this article and shall attempt to negotiate consent agreements or other settlements resolving alleged violations of this article.(F) As concerns potential violations of this article, lessors of distributed generation resources and their officers, agents, employees, or customers shall be subject to the investigatory powers provided in Sections 58-4-50 and 58-4-55 to the Office of Regulatory Staff regarding public utilities.(G) For the protection of the consuming public, the Office of Regulatory Staff may file a petition with the Administrative Law Court requesting revocation of a certificate for violations of this article. In appropriate circumstances, the Office of Regulatory Staff may request the immediate revocation of a certificate.(H) It shall be a violation of law punishable by civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars per occurrence for any person subject to subsection (A), either directly or indirectly: (1) to solicit business as a lessor of renewable electric generation facilities without a valid certificate issued under this section or otherwise in violation of the terms of this article; or(2) to engage in any unfair or deceptive practice in the leasing of renewable electric generation facilities.(I) An aggrieved person with standing may file a request for a contested case of a decision of the Office of Regulatory Staff with the Administrative Law Court within thirty days of such decision.Added by 2014 S.C. Acts, Act No. 236 (SB 1189), s 4, eff. 6/2/2014. 2014 Act No. 236, Sections 9, 10, provide as follows:
"SECTION 9. If the application of the provisions of this act to any wholesale electrical contract existing on the date of its adoption is determined to impair unlawfully any term of such contract or to add material costs to either party, then that contract will be exempt from the terms of this act to the extent necessary to cure such impairment or to avoid the imposition of additional material costs.
"SECTION 10. Article 23, Chapter 27, Title 58 shall be construed as a whole, and all parts of it are to be read and construed together. If any part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the remainder of this article shall be invalidated. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the parties' right to appeal the matter."