A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding section 58-1-70 so as to provide that an electrical utility that owns or is responsible for operating an electrical substation have security cameras to monitor and record activities at the electrical substation and to define "electrical utility"; and by amending Section 16-11-740, relating to Malicious injury to telegraph, telephone, or electric utility system, so as to provide that a person who wilfully destroys, damages, or in any way injures an electrical substation to be fined thirty thousand dollars.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.Chapter 1, Title 58 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 58-1-70.(A) Each electrical utility that either owns or is responsible for operating an electrical substation must have active, properly functioning security cameras in order to monitor and record activities at the electrical substation.

(B) The term "electrical utility" includes municipalities to the extent of their business, property, rates, transactions, and operations without the corporate limits of the municipality, persons and corporations, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers, or other successors in interest owning or operating in this State equipment or facilities for generating, transmitting, delivering, or furnishing electricity for street, railway, or other public uses or for the production of light, heat, or power to or for the public for compensation, electric cooperatives, consolidated political subdivisions, and the Public Service Commission. This term does not include any person or entity furnishing electricity only to itself, residents, employees, or tenants when such current is not resold or used by others.

SECTION 2.Section 16-11-740 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 16-11-740.(A) It is unlawful for a person, without the consent of the owner, to wilfully:

(1) destroy, damage, or in any way injure a telegraph, telephone, electric utility system, satellite dish, or cable television system, including poles, cables, wires, fixtures, antennas, amplifiers, or other apparatus, equipment, or appliances;

(2) obstruct, impede, or impair their services or transmissions or;

(3) aid, agree with, employ, or conspire with a person to do or cause to be done any of the acts mentioned in this section.

(B) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than ten years.

(C) In addition to other punishment provided in this section and any other provision in law, a person who wilfully destroys, damages, or in any way injures an electrical substation, without the consent of the owner, must be fined thirty thousand dollars.

SECTION 3.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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