(A) Any real property or real property interests, including, without limitation, easements and rights-of-way, of any gas or electrical utility or electric cooperative which are intended to be subjected to the lien of any mortgage, indenture, or other type of real property security agreement, may be described in general terms and are operative and effective without the necessity of description of metes and bounds, references to plats, or other methods of description as commonly utilized in mortgages of this State. Without limiting or excluding other types of general descriptions which may be utilized for these purposes, it is sufficient if the property or property interests are described in the following words or their substantial equivalent:

All real property and real property interests of __________, including, without limitation, lands, buildings, fixtures, easements, rights-of-way, leaseholds, and other interests, situate, lying, and being in any one or more of the counties of the State of South Carolina, as the same may be now or hereafter constituted or delineated, and whether now owned or acquired hereafter while the lien of this mortgage remains open and unsatisfied of record, SAVING, EXCEPTING, AND EXCLUDING THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING: __________.

(B) The provisions of Section 30-5-35 relating to derivation clauses in deeds and mortgages do not apply to mortgages granted by gas or electrical utilities or electric cooperatives.

(C) Without limiting the foregoing, it is also sufficient and effective to subject real property and real property interests of any gas or electrical utility or electric cooperative to the lien of any prior mortgage, indenture, or other similar real property security agreement executed by the utility by reference to the prior mortgage or other instrument and the inclusion of words in the deed or conveyance to the effect that the real property or real property interests will be upon acquisition by the grantee immediately and automatically subjected to the lien of the prior mortgage or other instrument.

(D) Without limiting the effect of subsections (A), (B), and (C) above, it is also operative and effective to describe the real property or real property interests of any gas or electrical utility or electric cooperative being subjected to the lien of a mortgage, indenture, or other real property security agreement by referencing the property description or descriptions contained in any prior mortgage or other real property financing agreement executed by the utility, even though that prior mortgage or other instrument may be satisfied of record and notwithstanding the fact that the prior mortgage or other instrument encumbers real property or real property interests which have been subjected thereto by reference to a description contained in another instrument.

HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 141, Section 4.

Editor's Note

1993 Act No. 141, Section 5, effective June 14, 1993, provides as follows:

"SECTION 5. The provisions provided for gas or electrical utilities or electric cooperatives in Sections 29-1-10, 29-3-50(B), 29-3-80, and 29-3-90 of this act shall be construed as cumulative authority and shall not be construed to impliedly repeal any existing laws affecting mortgages and liens of gas or electrical utilities or electric cooperatives."