Side by side (SC, EIA-861)
| Metric | Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 13.99 | 18.94 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.67 | 16.47 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,511 | $2,046 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 568,586 | 67,553 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in SC | 19 | 5 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC · Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc · South Carolina overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Anderson · Greenville · Oconee · Pickens · Spartanburg counties (SC, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc do not compete for the same meters. South Carolina is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.sc.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC cheaper than Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc?
- Yes — in 2024 Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC customers averaged 13.99 cents/kWh versus 18.94 for Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc (EIA-861). Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC was cheaper by 4.95 cents, about $535 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. South Carolina has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc more expensive than Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Blue Ridge Electric Coop and Duke Energy Carolinas territory all feed the 4.95-cent gap.