The Advocacy Division provides legal representation for the consumer interest in matters involving:

• Homeowner's Insurance
• Worker's Compensation Insurance
• Utilities

As the state agency chosen to represent the interests of consumers, SCDCA's Advocacy Division aims to ensure that increases in rates are justified, working to avoid excessive, inadequate or unwarranted rate increases. When needed, an action is filed with the Public Service Commission (PSC) or the Administrative Law Court. The Division submits evidence in hearings that demonstrate the rate request is not justified and often results in adjudications or settlements that generate savings for consumers and businesses alike. The Division also reviews rules and regulations proposed by state and federal agencies pertaining to rate-making or consumer products, goods and services, providing comments as deemed appropriate, and participates in various committees, including the State Health Planning Committee.

The Consumer Advocate

The Administrator may serve in the role of Consumer Advocate or appoint someone for the position. Traditionally, the Administrator serves in this dual capacity. Carri Grube Lybarker was appointed Administrator of SCDCA in 2011 and assumed the Consumer Advocate role in 2014. The Consumer Advocate can intervene in utility ratemaking before the PSC and serves to advocate for the interest of consumers, ie: those purchasing utility services for a personal, family or household purpose.

Recent Actions

Cases

• 2022-89-G Piedmont Natural Gas
• 2022-142-WS Daufuskie Island Utility
• 2021-90-E Duke Avoided Cost
• 2021-89-E Duke Avoided Cost
• 2021-88-E Dominion Avoided Cost
• 2021-361-G Dominion Natural Gas EE
• 2021-349-E Duke Joint Petition re NC Carbon Plan
• 2021-324-WS Kiawah Island Utility
• 2021-153-S Palmetto Wastewater Reclamation
• 2020-125-E Dominion Electric Rate Case
• 2019-281-S Palmetto Utilities Inc.

Administrative Dockets

• 2005-83-A PSC Administrative and Procedural Matters
• 2013-92-A DSM & EE Procedural Scheduling
• 2020-106-A Actions in Response to COVID-19
• 2020-247-A PSC Reg Review Workshops
• 2021-291-A Prefiled Testimony Docket
• 2019-387-A Customer Privacy Docket

Submitted Comments

• April 11, 2022 - CFPB Fees Imposed by Providers of Consumer Financial Products or Services (PDF)
• March 25, 2022 - CFPB Inquiry into Buy Now Pay Later Companies (PDF)
• March 9, 2022 - FCC Implementing Requirements for Effective Disclosure of Broadband Services Charges and Fees (PDF)
• January 24, 2022 - SSA Amending Rules to Alleviate Burdens on Medicare Beneficiaries That Fall Victim to Identity Theft (PDF)
• November 15, 2021 - FCC Strengthening Rules to Prevent Cell Phone SIM Swapping and Port-Out Fraud (PDF)
• October 14, 2021 - FCC Strengthening Numbering System Policies for VoIP to Prevent Use of Phone Numbers for Spam Calls (PDF)
• July 9, 2021 - FCC STIRSHAKEN Anti-Spam Call Regulatory Framework Implementation Deadlines (PDF)
• May 5, 2021 - FCC Privacy Act Rules on Requesting Access and Correction to Personal Records with Federal Govt (PDF)
• February 21, 2021 - CFPB Proposed Rulemaking on Consumer Information Sharing, Dodd Frank Section 1033 (PDF)
• December 7, 2020 - FTC Prescreened Credit Offer Opt-Out Notice Rule (PDF)
• September 18, 2019 - CFPB-Debt Collection Practices (PDF)
• August 2, 2019 - FTC-Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information
• August 3, 2018 - NCUA Payday Alternative Loans II (PDF)
• July 6, 2018 - CFPB-2018-0015 Bureau Financial Education Programs (PDF)
• July 6, 2018 - CFPB's Consumer Complaint & Consumer Inquiry Handling Processes (PDF)
• July 2, 2018 - CFPB Guidance and Implementation Support (PDF)
• May 19 - 2017 - Alternative Data Request for Information (PDF) | Press Release (PDF)
• July 3, 2017 - Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (PDF)
• October 7, 2016 - The Proposed Federal Small Loan Rule (PDF) | Press Release (PDF)

Consumer Resources

• Engaging in the Utility Regulation Process Webinar - 101 for Consumers (Webinar Video)
• Energy Saver Tool

Historical Background

The Consumer Protection Code was amended in 1978 to create the Division of Consumer Advocacy as a part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The Advocacy Division was originally established to represent consumers at large before state and federal regulatory agencies that set rates, including for milk and utilities. Changes to the law from 1980 forward expanded the Division's responsibilities to include the analysis of workers' compensation, homeowners, auto and other insurance filings.  The Consumer Advocate has participated in several insurance, worker's compensation and ratemaking proceedings in its history, garnering more than $2.9 billion in savings for businesses and consumers alike. The Consumer Advocate actively participated in many matters before the PSC from 1978 until the responsibility to intervene in utility rate filings was removed in 2004 when the Office of Regulatory Staff was created. SCDCA's role to represent the consumer interest was restored on July 12, 2018.