PSC appointments will shape utility rates across South Carolina

Ratepayer Protection Concerns Focus Attention on District 5 Appointment

Next week, the South Carolina General Assembly will vote to appoint members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for Congressional Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. While PSC votes rarely generate headlines, the commissioners selected next week will directly influence utility rate decisions, infrastructure approvals, and regulatory oversight affecting households and businesses across the state.

The PSC determines the rate structures for electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water services. Its decisions affect the monthly bills of millions of South Carolinians.

Candidates who will be voted on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, include:

• District 1: Eugene Hennelly, Carolyn L. “Carolee” Williams (incumbent)
• District 3, Bjorn J. Brooks, Stephen “Mike” Caston (incumbent)
• District 5: James C. “Jim” Reno, Headen B. Thomas (incumbent), Swain E. Whitfield
• District 7: Clint A. Elliott, Kenneth R. Moss, Delton W. Powers, Jr. (incumbent)

Ratepayer Watch SC is urging transparency and public awareness ahead of what could be one of the most consequential regulatory votes of the year. Of the four seats up for appointment, District 5 carries particular significance.

Former Commissioner Swain Whitfield, who served on the PSC from 2008 to 2020 and chaired the Commission, is a particularly concerning candidate. He served during the approval and construction of the V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3 nuclear expansion project, which collapsed in 2017 after billions had already been collected from ratepayers under the Base Load Review Act (BLRA).

Between 2008 and 2016, the PSC approved nine rate increases tied to the project, allowing approximately $2 billion to be collected in advance. After the project’s abandonment, many residential customers absorbed an estimated $1,000–$2,000 in unrecoverable costs. In 2020, during Mr. Whitfield’s reappointment process, the Public Utilities Review Committee determined he did not meet qualification standards under its screening criteria.

With state leaders discussing restarting construction at the V.C. Summer site and pursuing other multi-billion-dollar energy projects, the appointment of Whitfield warrants serious scrutiny. Ratepayers deserve to be protected from candidates who have a less-than-stellar record of protecting them.

At the same time, debates continue around data center growth and infrastructure expansion, raising further questions about who pays for grid upgrades and generation capacity. The PSC’s decisions will determine whether those costs are borne by large commercial users or spread across residential customers.

Ratepayer Watch SC urges citizens to:

• Review the backgrounds of PSC nominees
• Contact legislators and urge them to support ratepayer protections
• Monitor their legislator’s vote
• Hold elected officials accountable for appointments that impact household utility costs

As the General Assembly prepares to vote, Ratepayer Watch SC calls for full transparency, thoughtful evaluation of each nominee’s record, and a renewed commitment to protecting ratepayers across the Palmetto State.

About Ratepayer Watch SC

Ratepayer Watch SC is a statewide advocacy organization focused on transparency in utility regulation and accountability in decisions affecting South Carolina ratepayers.