State Legislature to fill PSC Posts

A joint session of the South Carolina Legislature will fill the Public Service Commission representing Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. District Three includes the counties of Oconee, Anderson and Pickens. So far, two men have qualified, and they are Mike Caston of Clemson and Randy Randall of Clinton. An extended application period that expired Friday added District 3 hopefuls Terry Boling of Iva, Lonnie Hyatt of Piedmont, Willie Morgan of Clarks Hill, and Maria “Jonelle” Pacheo Ratliff of Pickens. Public Service Commissioners earn $129,000 a year and have jurisdiction over water and electric utilities, telephone utilities, intrastate railroads, among other responsibilities. A schedule for public hearings on the merits of the candidates will be available soon. Anyone wishing to testify must furnish a written, notarized statement of his or her proposed testimony no later than noon Friday, March 13, to the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee in Columbia.