S.C. Senate considers passing bill to address repeated damage to gas and water lines

According to The State, Senate members in South Carolina are considering a bill that would address a string of utility strikes that have disrupted local communities.

The bill, which would tighten rules on digging in public right-of-ways, passed the House of Representatives in February, but is still awaiting hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee, The State reported. 

Increased utility construction projects, including the rollout of fiber optic internet infrastructure, has led to more frequent disruptions and damage to water and gas service lines. 

Local government officials say they are limited in stopping disruptive projects due to a law that allows utility providers access to public right-of-ways. Local officials can only issue stop-work orders to crews once damage has already been done.

Utility crews are required to call 811 before digging to request utility lines to be located and marked. 

Diggers make requests through 811 to have any existing utility lines located and marked within three days. But Nicholson said his utility gets overly broad requests — the entire length of a road, or a whole subdivision — that are difficult or unrealistic for them to meet.

But it’s not clear if the bill will make it through the Senate during the 2025 session. Committee chairman Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, did not respond to a request for comment from The State before publication.

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