Although Uber never stopped operating in South Carolina after the Public Service Commission (PSC) gave the company a cease-and-desist order earlier this month, the company can operate legally again in the state.
The PSC backtracked on its previous decision and issued a limited-time classification yesterday that allows Uber subsidy Rasier LLC to operate legally in the state until June 30.
In the order, the PSC cited a bill was filed in the S.C. House of Representatives that would determine how to regulate companies like Uber, which claims it is not subject to the same regulations as traditional taxi companies.
“Our action today is neither a rulemaking proceeding nor an attempt to legislate. The requested…classification is a temporary one granted solely for the purpose of bridging the time until legislation may be explored that more fully addresses the type of service being offered by Raiser,” the order said.
Uber began operating in South Carolina in June last year, but has been dogged by legal challenges to how it operates.
Uber has said multiple times that all of its drivers are subject to background checks and rides are insured up to $1 million.
After the PSC declared that Uber was illegal in the state, Gov. Nikki Haley wrote in a letter to the commission, “I am calling on the members of the PSC and the General Assembly to resolve this issue before we send a message to the rest of the nation and the world that South Carolina is not the kind of place they want to do business.”
After the PSC’s reversal, Haley issued a statement praising the commission for “reversing their decision and removing the bureaucratic roadblock they created for a company choosing to grow their business in South Carolina.”
She also said the decision would give citizens access to “safe reliable transportation options.”
