South Carolina's average residential electricity price was 16.1¢/kWh in February 2026 —
the 22nd-highest price of the 51 states+DC (EIA). Across its major utilities in 2024, average all-in rates ranged from
11.4¢/kWh at South Carolina Public Service Authority to
18.9¢/kWh at Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc — a spread worth about
$816/yr at typical usage (10,800 kWh/yr).
South Carolina is a fully regulated market: households cannot choose their electricity or gas supplier.
For home heating, utility natural gas was the cheapest fuel at
$17.59 per million BTU vs $47.33 for electric resistance heat.
Residential rates by utility (EIA-861, average all-in ¢/kWh)
| Utility | 2023 ¢/kWh | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers (2024) | Ownership | vs state avg, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood CPW | 9.94 | 9.04 | 11,753 | Municipal | -$556 |
| MPD Electric Cooperative | 11.03 | 10.94 | 31,874 | Co-op | -$351 |
| South Carolina Public Service Authority | 11.38 | 11.38 | 185,529 | State-owned | -$303 |
| Greer Commission of Public Wks | 12.78 | 11.80 | 24,893 | Municipal | -$258 |
| City of Gaffney | 12.40 | 12.39 | 6,314 | Municipal | -$194 |
| City of Rock Hill | 13.14 | 12.55 | 36,492 | Municipal | -$177 |
| York Electric Coop Inc | 12.53 | 12.65 | 65,244 | Co-op | -$166 |
| Palmetto Electric Coop Inc | 12.28 | 12.79 | 68,338 | Co-op | -$151 |
| Easley Combined Utility System | 12.85 | 12.81 | 15,772 | Municipal | -$149 |
| Horry Electric Coop Inc | 12.91 | 13.23 | 86,726 | Co-op | -$103 |
| Black River Electric Coop, Inc | 12.76 | 13.47 | 30,610 | Co-op | -$78 |
| Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | 12.67 | 13.99 | 568,586 | Investor-owned | -$22 |
| Fairfield Electric Coop, Inc | 13.73 | 14.35 | 32,397 | Co-op | +$17 |
| Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc | 14.41 | 14.59 | 696,385 | Investor-owned | +$43 |
| Laurens Electric Coop, Inc | 14.26 | 14.66 | 58,438 | Co-op | +$51 |
| Santee Electric Coop, Inc | 14.23 | 14.74 | 35,235 | Co-op | +$60 |
| Duke Energy Progress | 14.67 | 14.88 | 143,713 | Investor-owned | +$74 |
| Mid-Carolina Electric Coop Inc | 14.48 | 14.88 | 56,463 | Co-op | +$74 |
| Berkeley Electric Coop Inc | 14.06 | 14.94 | 115,117 | Co-op | +$80 |
| City of Orangeburg | 14.43 | 15.49 | 20,639 | Municipal | +$140 |
| Aiken Electric Coop Inc | 15.98 | 15.53 | 49,460 | Co-op | +$144 |
| Lynches River Elec Coop, Inc | 15.85 | 15.71 | 21,363 | Co-op | +$164 |
| Broad River Electric Coop, Inc | 15.17 | 15.91 | 23,140 | Co-op | +$186 |
| Newberry Electric Coop, Inc | 15.86 | 16.32 | 12,970 | Co-op | +$230 |
| Edisto Electric Coop, Inc | 16.55 | 16.40 | 15,421 | Co-op | +$238 |
| Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc | 17.27 | 18.51 | 17,672 | Co-op | +$467 |
| Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc | 16.47 | 18.94 | 67,553 | Co-op | +$513 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ residential sales from each utility's federal EIA-861 filing (bundled service — supply + delivery + riders, not a quoted tariff rate). State average = 14.19¢/kWh, volume-weighted across these utilities (2024). Your distribution utility is fixed by address; these gaps measure what households in different territories actually paid. A further 2 competitive suppliers / solar lessors report energy-only or behind-the-meter sales in South Carolina; their prices cover only part of the bill and are not comparable to the all-in figures above.
Can you choose your electric company in South Carolina?
Electric supply choice: no · Gas supply choice: no
Fully regulated.
Official rate information: psc.sc.gov.
Heating: which fuel is cheapest per million BTU in South Carolina?
| Fuel | Native price | As of | $ per MMBTU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility natural gas | $1.759 /therm | Feb 2026 | 17.59 |
| Electricity (resistance) | 16.15 ¢/kWh | Feb 2026 | 47.33 |
Utility natural gas is the cheapest residential energy per BTU in South Carolina at $17.59/MMBTU. Conversions: 1 kWh = 3,412 BTU; 1 therm = 100,000 BTU; heating oil 138,500 BTU/gal; propane 91,452 BTU/gal. Site-energy prices — appliance efficiency changes delivered-heat cost: a 95% AFUE gas furnace delivers heat near the gas figure, while a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5–3 cuts the effective electric figure by 60–70%. (No EIA weekly heating-oil survey price for South Carolina.)
Electricity price trend, last 12 months
South Carolina's average residential price went from 14.50¢/kWh in Feb '25 to 16.15¢/kWh in Feb '26 — up 11% year-over-year. The 12-month peak was 16.15¢ in Feb '26.
| Month | Feb '25 | Mar '25 | Apr '25 | May '25 | Jun '25 | Jul '25 | Aug '25 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | Nov '25 | Dec '25 | Jan '26 | Feb '26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¢/kWh | 14.50 | 15.27 | 15.86 | 15.41 | 14.79 | 14.70 | 14.98 | 15.34 | 15.65 | 15.53 | 14.82 | 15.41 | 16.15 |
Head-to-head utility comparisons in South Carolina
- Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc vs Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc vs South Carolina Public Service Authority — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc vs Berkeley Electric Coop Inc — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc vs Palmetto Electric Coop Inc — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc vs Mid-Carolina Electric Coop Inc — who's cheaper?
- Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC vs Duke Energy Progress — who's cheaper?
- Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC vs Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc — who's cheaper?
- Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC vs York Electric Coop Inc — who's cheaper?
- Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC vs Laurens Electric Coop, Inc — who's cheaper?
- Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC vs Mid-Carolina Electric Coop Inc — who's cheaper?
Questions people ask
- Who has the cheapest electricity in South Carolina?
- South Carolina Public Service Authority, at an average 11.4 cents per kWh for 2024 among South Carolina utilities with at least 50,000 customers (EIA-861). The most expensive, Blue Ridge Electric Coop Inc, averaged 18.9 cents — a difference of about $816 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I choose my electric company in South Carolina?
- No. South Carolina is a regulated retail market: your utility is set by address and there is no residential supplier shopping. Rates are set in state utility-commission proceedings (psc.sc.gov).
- Is gas or electric heat cheaper in South Carolina?
- Per million BTU of site energy, utility natural gas was $17.59 (Feb 2026) versus $47.33 for electric resistance heat. A heat pump delivering 2.5-3 units of heat per unit of electricity brings electric heating to roughly $16-19 per MMBTU.
- What is the average electric bill in South Carolina?
- At South Carolina's February 2026 average price of 16.15 cents/kWh and typical usage of 900 kWh per month, a household pays about $145 per month ($1744 per year) for electricity. Actual bills vary with usage, utility territory, and tariff.
About these numbers. Rates shown are averages computed from federal regulatory filings (EIA Form 861)
and public tariff databases — confirm with your utility before making decisions; your actual rate depends on your tariff,
usage, and riders. Distribution utility is determined by address and generally cannot be chosen; in retail-choice states
you may choose your supplier for the supply portion of the bill. Savings figures use 10,800 kWh/yr
(US average residential usage) and are estimates, not quotes. EnergySavings is an independent data project by CertiHomes
and is not affiliated with any utility, supplier, or government agency.