The Division of Consumer Advocacy was created by Act No. 644 of 1978. S.C. Code Ann. § 37-6-601 through 37-6-609 (1989 and Supp. 1997). The Consumer Advocate may be the Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs or he may be appointed by the Administrator with the approval of the Commission on Consumer Affairs. He must be an attorney with a minimum of three years' experience. The major functions and duties of the Division are: (1) to provide legal representation of the consumer interest before state and federal agencies which set rates or prices for consumer products or services or which enact regulations or establish policies related to those products or services; (2) to monitor regulations, rate structures and policies of those agencies and report proposed changes to the public through the news media; and (3) to evaluate and act upon requests from consumers concerning the matters set forth in (1) and (2), except that any proceedings initiated by the Consumer Advocate must be on behalf of the public at large. The Division is routinely involved in matters before the South Carolina Public Service Commission and the South Carolina Department of Insurance. The Division also participates in matters before the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Division is an active member of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA). NASUCA files comments on behalf of its members on a frequent basis before federal agencies, when its members have passed resolutions

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