Average Electric Bill

Rates by state / South Carolina

Residential electricity · updated July 2026

Average electric bill in South Carolina

The average South Carolina home paid 15.6¢ per kWh and about $165 a month over the 12 months to July 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That rate is 13% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 26th highest of 50 states and D.C.

Average rate

15.6¢/kWh

12 months to Jul 2026. Latest month 15.5¢.

Average bill

$165/mo

Average use × average rate

Average use

1,057kWh/mo

Per residential customer

1-year change

+6.0%

5 years: +23.3%

South Carolina electric bills by month

What the average residential customer actually paid each month: total residential revenue ÷ customers. Source: EIA.

MonthAvg useAvg rateAvg bill
July 20261,499 kWh15.5¢$232
June 20261,195 kWh15.6¢$186
May 2026915 kWh16.2¢$148
April 2026770 kWh17.1¢$131
March 2026819 kWh16.4¢$135
February 20261,134 kWh16.1¢$183
January 20261,283 kWh15.4¢$198
December 20251,128 kWh14.8¢$167
November 2025827 kWh15.5¢$128
October 2025830 kWh15.7¢$130
September 20251,022 kWh15.3¢$157
August 20251,258 kWh15.0¢$188

Typical bill by home size in South Carolina

Monthly use of typical homes, all household sizes, priced at South Carolina's average rate of 15.6¢. Source: EIA RECS 2020 and EIA retail sales.

Home sizeTypical useMost homesTypical bill
Under 1,000 sq ft552 kWh348–850 kWh$86
1,000–1,499 sq ft815 kWh568–1,147 kWh$127
1,500–1,999 sq ft996 kWh698–1,365 kWh$156
2,000–2,999 sq ft1,195 kWh869–1,637 kWh$187
3,000+ sq ft1,506 kWh1,097–2,142 kWh$235

Summer and winter months run higher than these yearly averages. Check your own bill to compare a specific month.

What uses the most electricity in South Carolina homes

Average yearly use by purpose for South Carolina homes, priced at 15.6¢ per kWh. Source: EIA RECS 2020 (334 surveyed homes).

UsekWh / yr≈ $ / mo
Air conditioning3,369 (25%)$44
Water heating2,284 (17%)$30
Space heating2,104 (16%)$27
Everything else plugged in1,680 (12%)$22
Refrigerators and freezers1,068 (8%)$14
Washer and dryer696 (5%)$9
Lighting665 (5%)$9
TVs and electronics614 (5%)$8
Cooking and dishwasher440 (3%)$6
Fans and dehumidifiers408 (3%)$5
Pool and hot tub197 (1%)$3

Why is my electric bill so high?

Monthly rate, last 5 years

10.012.515.017.520.020222023202420252026¢/kWh
South CarolinaU.S. average

Monthly prices swing with the season because fixed charges are spread over fewer or more kWh.

How much electricity South Carolina homes use

5007501,0001,2501,5001,75020222023202420252026kWh
kWh per home per month

Electricity rates by utility in South Carolina

Average residential revenue per kWh in 2025, largest 25 of 29 by customers. Source: EIA-861.

UtilityCustomersRateAvg use / mo1-yr change
Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc712,67916.4¢1,032 kWh+12.5%
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC582,06213.5¢1,051 kWh-3.7%
South Carolina Public Service Authority188,96212.9¢959 kWh+13.4%
Duke Energy Progress - (NC)143,88414.1¢1,206 kWh-5.3%
Berkeley Electric Coop Inc119,54516.3¢1,149 kWh+9.3%
Horry Electric Coop Inc91,54513.8¢1,072 kWh+4.5%
Palmetto Electric Coop Inc69,84814.4¢1,210 kWh+12.5%
Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc - (SC)68,64719.8¢999 kWh+4.6%
York Electric Coop Inc66,36913.7¢1,084 kWh+8.1%
Laurens Electric Coop, Inc59,78615.6¢1,071 kWh+6.5%
Mid-Carolina Electric Coop Inc57,06716.8¢1,158 kWh+13.1%
Aiken Electric Coop Inc50,85017.5¢1,099 kWh+12.7%
City of Rock Hill - (SC)36,78612.3¢833 kWh-1.7%
Santee Electric Coop, Inc35,35616.4¢1,289 kWh+11.2%
Fairfield Electric Coop, Inc33,07115.6¢1,158 kWh+8.7%
MPD Electric Cooperative32,13013.7¢1,312 kWh+25.5%
Black River Electric Coop, Inc - (SC)30,87415.1¢1,289 kWh+12.4%
Broad River Electric Coop, Inc23,66017.2¢1,077 kWh+7.9%
Greer Commission of Public Wks23,19212.8¢898 kWh+8.6%
Lynches River Elec Coop, Inc21,73016.3¢1,066 kWh+4.0%
City of Orangeburg - (SC)20,68215.2¢1,079 kWh-2.0%
Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (SC)17,67019.9¢1,131 kWh+7.7%
Easley Combined Utility System16,01912.8¢980 kWh0.0%
Edisto Electric Coop, Inc15,54019.0¢1,200 kWh+15.8%
Newberry Electric Coop, Inc13,21517.1¢1,010 kWh+4.5%
All 29 utilities in South Carolina

South Carolina electricity: common questions

What is the average electric bill in South Carolina?
The average South Carolina household pays about $165 a month for electricity, based on 1,057 kWh of use at 15.6¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration data).
How much does electricity cost per kWh in South Carolina?
Residential electricity in South Carolina averaged 15.6¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026, and 15.5¢ in July 2026 alone. That is 13% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 26th highest of the 50 states and D.C. These averages spread fixed service charges and surcharges over each kWh. Sales taxes added to bills may not be included.
When are electric bills highest in South Carolina?
In the last 12 months, the average South Carolina bill peaked in July 2026 at $232 and was lowest in November 2025 at $128.
How much electricity does a 1,500–1,999 sq ft home use in South Carolina?
A typical South Carolina home of 1,500–1,999 square feet uses about 996 kWh a month, and most use between 698 and 1,365 kWh. At the state's average rate that is roughly $156 a month. Based on EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2020).
Are electricity rates going up in South Carolina?
South Carolina's average residential rate changed +6.0% compared with the previous 12 months and +23.3% over five years.
What uses the most electricity in South Carolina homes?
In a typical South Carolina home, air conditioning uses the most electricity (about 3,369 kWh a year, 25% of the total), followed by water heating (17%) and space heating (16%). Homes heated with electricity use about 14,073 kWh a year, compared with 12,546 kWh for homes heated another way. Source: EIA RECS 2020.
How do I know if my South Carolina electric bill is too high?
Compare two things: how many kWh you used against similar homes, and what you paid per kWh against the state average. The free bill check on AverageElectricBill.com does both from the numbers on your bill, adjusting for the month and your home's size.

States with similar rates

Is your South Carolina bill normal?

Check my bill