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South Carolina Electricity Prices

Average retail price by sector.

Residential
15.55¢ /kWh
▲ 5.1%vs. last year
Commercial
11.62¢ /kWh
▲ 5.1%vs. last year
Industrial
7.55¢ /kWh
▲ 4.6%vs. last year

Data current through June 2026 — the latest available from the U.S. EIA, which publishes monthly figures on a roughly two-month delay.

Average monthly bill

Full bill breakdown →
$164per month▲ 4.3% vs. the year before

15.55¢/kWh × 1,057 kWh a month. Residential revenue divided by residential customers, averaged over the 12 months to June 2026 — the 15th highest among the 50 states and DC.

Compared with the U.S. and neighboring states

Average monthly residential electricity bill, in US dollars
South Carolina
$164
U.S. average
$156
Georgia
$161
North Carolina
$151

South Carolina is $9 a month above (+5.5%) the U.S. average of $156. Average monthly bill, July 2025 – June 2026.

How South Carolina makes its electricity

Fuel mix & 10-year trend →Power plants →
Renewable
7.3%
Carbon-free
59.8%
Largest source
Nuclear 53%
South Carolina electricity generation by source, July 2025 – June 2026
SourceShareGeneration
Natural gas23.1%23,671 GWh
Coal17.3%17,710 GWh
Nuclear52.5%53,760 GWh
Wind0.0%0 GWh
Solar3.5%3,627 GWh
Hydro2.2%2,261 GWh
Other1.3%1,340 GWh

102.4 TWh of net generation over the 12 months to June 2026. Generation, not consumption — power crosses state lines.

South Carolina electricity prices in context

South Carolina's residential electricity rate in May 2026 was 16.18¢/kWh, placing it 27th among the 50 states and DC when ranked from most to least expensive. This was 2.26¢/kWh below the national average of 18.44¢/kWh, or 12.3% lower. The rate exceeded those of both neighboring states: Georgia at 15.84¢/kWh and North Carolina at 15.09¢/kWh. Commercial and industrial rates stood at 11.57¢/kWh and 7.23¢/kWh respectively.

Over the past five years since May 2021, the residential rate has risen 25.5%, from 12.89¢/kWh. Over two decades since May 2006, it has climbed 78.2%, from 9.08¢/kWh. Since records began in January 2001, the increase totals 119.8%, from 7.36¢/kWh. The current rate sits just below the all-time high of 17.06¢/kWh reached in April 2026, though well above the record low of 7.31¢/kWh from December 2002.

The average monthly bill was $164 for 1,061 kWh in May 2026, compared with the national average of $155 for 871 kWh. Despite a rate below the national figure, South Carolina's bill runs higher because customers use considerably more electricity per month. The year-over-year increase in the residential rate was 5.0%.

Written from the EIA figures on this page, covering data through May 2026.

12-month trend

ResidentialCommercialIndustrial
5.9¢8.9¢12¢15¢18¢Jul '25Oct '25Jan '26Mar '26Jun '26ResidentialCommercialIndustrial

Price history since 2001

ResidentialCommercialIndustrial
2.5¢6.4¢10¢14¢18¢Jan '01May '07Oct '13Feb '20Jun '26ResidentialCommercialIndustrial

Average retail price in all three sectors, every month since January 2001.

Residential

Jan '01
7.36¢
Now
15.55¢
Change
▲ 111.3%
Range
7.31–17.06¢

Recent months

MonthResidentialCommercialIndustrial
June 202615.5511.627.55
May 202616.1811.577.23
April 202617.0611.617.45
March 202616.4511.707.44
February 202616.1512.828.62
January 202615.4112.389.03
December 202514.8211.537.62
November 202515.5311.196.71
October 202515.6511.006.98
September 202515.3410.967.07
August 202514.9810.897.05
July 202514.7010.977.88

Prices in ¢/kWh.

Frequently asked questions

›How much does electricity cost in South Carolina?
Residential electricity in South Carolina costs 15.55¢ per kilowatt-hour as of June 2026, the 31st highest rate among the 50 states and DC. Commercial customers pay 11.62¢ and industrial customers 7.55¢ per kilowatt-hour.
›Why is electricity relatively cheap in South Carolina?
South Carolina's residential rate of 15.55¢/kWh is -13.2% versus the U.S. average of 17.92¢/kWh. What a household actually pays also depends on how much it uses: the typical South Carolina home consumes 1,057 kWh a month against a national average of 870 kWh, which is why its average bill comes to $164.
›Have electricity prices in South Carolina gone up?
Residential electricity in South Carolina has moved +111.3% since 2001, reaching 15.55¢/kWh in June 2026. Over the last year alone the change was +5.1%.
›Is electricity cheaper in states neighboring South Carolina?
Of the states bordering South Carolina, North Carolina has the lowest average monthly bill at $151 and Georgia the highest at $161. South Carolina averages $164 a month, against a U.S. average of $156.