NOTICE OF FILING AND PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE FOR CUSTOMER PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE ISSUED AT A LATER DATE Application of South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc. for Approval of an Adjustment in Rates and Charges and Modifications to Certain Terms and Conditions for the Provisions of Water and Sewer Service Docket No. 2026-214-WS Why is this Notice Important? • The Public Service Commission of South Carolina (“Commission”) has scheduled a public hearing in this case and will decide what rates South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc. (“SCWU” or “the Company”) can charge. • SCWU is requesting a rate increase and changes to the Company’s water and wastewater rates. • According to the Application, SCWU is requesting an adjustment in rates designed to achieve additional annual revenues of $11,546,412. • On June 18, 2026, in Order No. 2026-354, Docket No. 2025-283-WS, the Commission approved the merger of South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc., South Carolina Water Utilities-PUI, Inc., South Carolina Water Utilities-PWR, Inc., and Blue Granite Water Company. These systems are part of this application. • SCWU’s existing rates were approved by the Commission: on June 1, 2018, in Order No. 2018-369, Docket No. 2017-28- S (for Synergy Utilities, L.P.); on August 20, 2020, in Order No. 2020-561, Docket No. 2019-281-S (for Palmetto Utilities, Inc.), for former South Carolina Water Utilities – PUI, Inc. customers; on December 21, 2021, in Order No. 2021-814, Docket No. 2021-153-S (for Palmetto Wastewater Reclamation, Inc.), for former South Carolina Water Utilities-PWR, Inc. customers, and; on April 9, 2020, in Order No. 2020-306, Docket No. 2019-290-WS, and as modified by Order No. 2022- 287 for former Blue Granite Water Company customers. A summary of the bill impacts for residential 5/8” sewer customers, on a per Single Family Equivalent basis, is shown below: TOTAL SEWER INCREASE RESIDENTIAL SCWU SCWU SCWU SCWU SEWER – (Synergy) (South Carolina (South Carolina (Blue Granite Collection & Water Utilities – Water Utilities – Water Company) Treatment PUI, Inc.) PWR, Inc.) Current Proposed Current Proposed Current Proposed Current Proposed Monthly Service $43.00 $52.25 $59.87 $69.71 $39.33 $52.25 $86.47 $91.05 Charge Total Bill $43.00 $52.25 $59.87 $69.71 $39.33 $52.25 $86.47 $91.05 Change % 21.51% 16.44% 32.85% 5.30% • Although SCWU is requesting approval of the above referenced rates, in compliance with Order No. 2020-306 and Order No. 2020-561, an analysis and report has been prepared addressing the feasibility of an alternative rate design for volumetric sewer rates and an alternative rate design is addressed in the testimony of Mr. Wilks filed contemporaneously with the Application. • Among other mitigation proposals and to reduce the impact on customers, SCWU requests approval to phase-in the increased water service rates in two phases (Phase 1 to be effective as of the date of the Commission’s Order but no later than April 1, 2027, and Phase 2 effective January 1, 2028). However, if the Commission approves less than the Company’s requested revenue increase, SCWU may opt to implement the approved increase with either a shorter phase-in or no phase-in. • SCWU is proposing a rate adjustment mechanism that would facilitate an annual filing to (i) recover the accumulated deferral balance from the associated customers and (ii) recoup the incremental annualized costs from third-party water supply and sewer treatment providers who have increased their charges. SCWU proposes that the first rate adjustment mechanism be effective and coincide with Phase 2 or January 1, 2028. • A list of subdivisions served by SCWU can be found at https://www.mywater.us/docs/mywateruslibraries/buspecific/ south-carolina/bgwc-service-territories.pdf?sfvrsn=9dda115b_0 Phase I – SCWU Water Supply (former Blue Granite Water Company Customers) RESIDENTIAL WATER Service Territory 1 Service Territory 2 Water Supply Customers Only Current Proposed Current Proposed Base Charge $14.38 $23.71 $28.59 $30.81 Residential Commodity Charge (per 1,000 gal.) $8.61 $10.76 $12.84 $16.09 Volume Charge (avg. usage: ST 1 – 3,746 gal.; ST 2 – 3,541 gal.) $32.25 $40.31 $45.47 $56.97 Total Bill (Base and Volume Charges) $46.63 $64.02 $74.06 $87.78 Change % 37.29% 18.53% Phase II – SCWU Water Supply (former Blue Granite Water Company Customers) RESIDENTIAL WATER Service Territory 1 Service Territory 2 Water Supply Customers Only Current Proposed Current Proposed Base Charge $23.71 $33.03 $30.81 $33.03 Residential Commodity Charge (per 1,000 gal.) $10.76 $12.92 $16.09 $19.34 Volume Charge (avg. usage: ST 1 – 3,746 gal.; ST 2 – 3,541 gal.) $40.31 $48.40 $56.97 $68.48 Total Bill (Base and Volume Charges) $64.02 $81.43 $87.78 $101.51 Change % 27.19% 15.63% Phase I – SCWU Water Distribution (former Blue Granite Water Company Customers) RESIDENTIAL WATER Service Territory 1 Service Territory 2 Water Distribution Customers Only Current Proposed Current Proposed Base Charge $14.38 $23.71 $28.59 $30.81 Residential Commodity Charge (per 1,000 gal.) $11.63 $14.54 $14.82 $18.57 Volume Charge (avg. usage: ST 1 – 3,901 gal.; ST 2 – 2,569 gal.) $45.37 $56.72 $38.07 $47.71 Total Bill (Base and Volume Charges) $59.75 $80.43 $66.66 $78.52 Change % 34. 61% 17.79% Phase II – SCWU Water Distribution (former Blue Granite Water Company Customers) RESIDENTIAL WATER Service Territory 1 Service Territory 2 Water Distribution Customers Only Current Proposed Current Proposed Base Charge $23.71 $33.03 $30.81 $33.03 Residential Commodity Charge (per 1,000 gal.) $14.54 $17.45 $18.57 $22.32 Volume Charge (avg. usage: ST 1 – 3,901 gal.; ST 2 – 2,569 gal.) $56.72 $68.07 $47.71 $57.34 Total Bill (Base and Volume Charges) $80.43 $101.10 $78.52 $90.37 Change % 25.70% 15.09% The case was filed according to S.C. Code Ann. Section 58-5-240 and S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 103-823; this hearing has been scheduled according to S.C. Code Ann. Section 58-5-240 and S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 103-817. Links to the Docket and the Application: https://dms.psc.sc.gov/Web/Dockets/Detail/119795 and bc260f3c-c613-4566- 9950-348111901b25 When Will the Commission Hear the Company’s Case? When: Wednesday, February 17, 2027 at 10:00 A.M. and continuing, as necessary, through the remainder of the week (February 18th and February 19th) with the start time as ordered by the Chair of the Commission. Where: 101 Executive Center Drive, Hearing Room, Columbia, South Carolina 29210 Livestream: https://www.scetv.org/live/public-service-commission Who Can I Talk to About This Notice? Charlie Terreni, counsel for South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc. 803-771-7228 Nanette Edwards and Tracey Green, counsel for South Carolina Water 803-799-9800 Utilities, Inc. Office of Regulatory Staff 803-737-5230 or 1-800-922-1531 Department of Consumer Affairs 803-734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594 Public Service Commission 803-896-5100 How Can I Participate in this Case? A customer may participate in the case by the ways listed below: Option A: File a Letter of Protest by: • Emailing the completed Letter of Protest to contact@psc.sc.gov; or Mailing the completed Letter of Protest to 101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29210. More information is available here: https://psc.sc.gov/consumer-info/file-letter-protest Option B: Attend a Customer Public Hearing prior to the Commission hearing the Company’s case and hearing from other Parties of Record. If you are interested in providing testimony and/or attending a Customer Public Hearing, you may appear in-person or virtually. The schedule, including location(s), date(s), and time(s), for virtual or inperson Customer Public Hearings will be announced at a later date. Option C: File a Petition to Intervene. An Intervenor becomes a party in the case. Intervenors have the right to testify, crossexamine witnesses, seek reconsideration of the Commission’s Final Decision, and must follow the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. To intervene, you must: • Email a Petition to Intervene to contact@psc.sc.gov no later than Friday, December 18, 2026; or • Mail a Petition to Intervene to 101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29210 no later than Friday, December 18, 2026. Please include your email address. **You must give a copy of your Petition to Intervene to all Parties in this case. Petitions to Intervene must meet the requirements of Commission Regulation 103-825 and must be approved by the Commission. In the above referenced case, if the proposed tariffs contain any request for a change of rates, the proposed rates may be changed by the Commission. Persons seeking further information about these procedures should contact the Commission at 803-896-5100 or visit its website at www.psc.sc.gov.