What drives electric bills in South Carolina
Residential electricity in South Carolina averaged 15.9¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 7.6% from 14.8¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 15.5¢. The typical home here used 1,050 kWh a month in 2024, 22% more than the U.S. average, so how much power you use matters as much as the price.
- Heavy cooling. Long, humid summers keep air conditioners running from May to October.
- Old nuclear costs. Dominion Energy South Carolina and Santee Cooper customers continue to pay part of the cost of the V.C. Summer reactors that were never finished.
- Rate increases. Several utilities raised rates in 2025 for grid upgrades, fuel costs and storm repairs.
Who supplies your power
Dominion Energy South Carolina, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress serve much of the state. State-owned Santee Cooper and about 20 electric co-ops serve most rural areas.
Ways to pay less in South Carolina
- Have your A/C serviced in spring, keep the outdoor unit clear and close blinds on south- and west-facing windows on hot afternoons.
- Many co-ops offer free energy audits and low-interest loans for heat pumps and insulation. Ask yours.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $58 a month at South Carolina prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in South Carolina.
Help paying your bill in South Carolina
- LIHEAP: South Carolina’s program helps with heating and cooling bills through community action agencies.
- Utility hardship funds: Dominion Energy, Duke and most co-ops have bill assistance funds, often called Share the Warmth or Share the Light.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in South Carolina?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in South Carolina produces roughly 9,450 kWh a year, about 75% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 15.9¢, that power is worth about $1,505 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How South Carolina compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 15.9¢ | 1,050 | $167 |
| North Carolina | 14.9¢ | 1,015 | $152 |
| Georgia | 15.4¢ | 1,074 | $165 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.