Our state’s regulated monopoly system works for the monopolies and public officials but not for the ratepayers nor the taxpayers.
It is a complicated, costly and manpower-heavy system that requires at best:
• A Public Service Commission and its staff, an Office of Regulatory Staff and a group of lawmakers who appoint and supposedly oversee the commissioner and their decisions. 
• Extensive research and hearings into rates hikes and other matters which keep an army of lawyers working year-round.
If George Orwell was still writing novels about totalitarian bullies and venal public servants he undoubtedly would write a sequel to “1984” about the fat cats of regulated monopolies and those they rob.
Rick Brundrett of the watchdog SC Policy Council found that the regulators who gave SC Electric & Gas $2 billion in rate hikes received a 22% raise.
Lawmakers raised the Public Service Commissioners’ salaries this year, from $107,822 to $132,071 and the chairman from $109,726 to $133,982.
And a pair of ex-lawmakers could join Thomas Ervin, an ex-circuit court judge who served in the House from 1980-84.
These 2 are Chip Limehouse of Charleston and Ted Vick of Pawleys Island. 
These aren’t the only jobs lawmakers have given ex-colleagues or relatives. Lawmakers gave:
• Ex-Rep. Mike Pitts a magistrate’s job paying $63,450 plus what Laurens County pays him.
 • Courtney Clyburn Pope, daughter of state Rep. Bill Clyburn of Aiken, Jennifer McCoy, wife of state Rep. Peter McCoy, and Walt McLeod IV, son of ex-Rep. Walt McLeod, circuit court judgeships paying $191,954. 
• Milton Kimpson, brother of state Sen. Marlon Kimpson, and Bill Funderburk, husband of Rep. Laurie Funderburk, D-Kershaw, to Administrative Law Court seats paying $153,563.
This system is rife with nepotism and ripe for reform.
We need a better one.
Why does our legislative delegation let it continue?