South Carolina electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in South Carolina is 16.18 cents per kilowatt-hour, 12.3% below the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 27th highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +5.0% from 15.41¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- -12.3% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #27 of 51 · #25 cheapest
- Supply market
- Southeast (non-RTO) Regulated monopoly
Why South Carolina pays what it pays
South Carolina's rate story is inseparable from the V.C. Summer expansion, two nuclear units abandoned mid-construction after billions had been spent. The political and legal aftermath reshaped the state's utility landscape, forced the sale of the utility responsible, and left an unresolved question about how much of the cost ratepayers ultimately bear. Legislation reduced the burden substantially, but not to zero.
Beyond that, the fundamentals are good. The existing V.C. Summer unit and the Oconee station supply low-cost nuclear energy, and the state has a growing solar fleet. South Carolina's rate sits below the national average despite the stranded-cost overhang.
Delivery costs are moderate. Coastal storm exposure adds hardening spending, but the state's distribution network is comparatively young thanks to steady population growth.
How South Carolina compares
South Carolina ranks #27 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 25th cheapest. Within the South Atlantic division, 3 of 8 neighbouring states are cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 15.09 | +5.4% | #35 |
| Florida | 15.17 | +1.3% | #33 |
| Georgia | 15.84 | +5.7% | #30 |
| South Carolina | 16.18 | +5.0% | #27 |
| West Virginia | 16.80 | +3.8% | #23 |
| Virginia | 17.61 | +15.4% | #21 |
| Delaware | 19.38 | +6.9% | #19 |
| Maryland | 21.77 | +14.6% | #15 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40 | +24.3% | #10 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State. Data period May 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
What a bill looks like at this rate
The figures below apply the May 2026 South Carolina average to four usage levels. They are arithmetic, not quotes. A real bill also carries fixed customer charges, taxes and any rider specific to your utility.
Estimate your South Carolina bill
Multiply your own usage by the May 2026 state average. Enter the kilowatt-hours from your last statement. This is a supply-and-delivery blended average, not a utility quote.
Rate used: …. U.S. average 18.44¢/kWh, May 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
Who sells electricity in South Carolina
Dominion Energy South Carolina, formerly SCANA's SCE&G and acquired after the nuclear failure, serves the Columbia and Charleston areas. Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress serve the north. Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility, generates and serves both directly and through the state's electric co-operatives.
There is no residential retail choice. The Public Service Commission of South Carolina regulates the investor-owned utilities. Santee Cooper is governed by a board and overseen by the legislature.
What you can actually do about it
Santee Cooper's own future has been debated repeatedly in the legislature, and its rate path is set politically rather than through a conventional rate case. Co-op members buying Santee Cooper power are affected by those decisions without being party to them.
South Carolina's summer peak is severe, and most utilities offer summer-differentiated rates. Pre-cooling and thermostat setbacks move more money here than in most states.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of South Carolina, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
South Carolina electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in South Carolina?
The average residential electricity rate in South Carolina is 16.18 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is -12.3% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is a typical monthly electric bill in South Carolina?
At the May 2026 average rate of 16.18¢/kWh, a household using 900 kWh a month would pay about $146, and one using 1,500 kWh about $243. Actual bills vary with usage, rate schedule, fixed customer charges and taxes.
Have electricity rates in South Carolina gone up?
South Carolina rates rose 5% over the year to May 2026, from 15.41¢ in May 2025 to 16.18¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in South Carolina?
Regulated monopoly. South Carolina households buy both supply and delivery from their local regulated utility or co-operative; there is no competitive residential supplier market.
Where does this South Carolina rate figure come from?
It is the residential-sector average revenue per kilowatt-hour reported by utilities to the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Form EIA-861M and published in the Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A. It blends supply and delivery across every residential customer in the state, so it is a statewide average rather than a quote for any individual household.