Home Cost Pulse

South Carolina electricity rates and average bill

Residential price, August 2026

Homes in South Carolina paid an average of 15.76¢ per kWh in August 2026, 13% below the U.S. average of 18.16¢. That is the 20th lowest among the 50 states and D.C. The price is up 4.0% vs August 2025.

The average South Carolina home12 months to August 2026
Electricity used per month
1,069 kWh
U.S. average home
875 kWh
Average monthly bill
$168.61

Same usage at the Aug 2026 price$168.55

Bills are revenue divided by customers, so they include the fixed charges and fees utilities collect.

Price over the last 36 months

12.6¢16.1¢19.5¢Sep 2023Mar 2025Aug 202615.76¢
South CarolinaU.S. average
Show the monthly numbers
MonthPrice
August 202615.76¢
July 202615.47¢
June 202615.55¢
May 202616.18¢
April 202617.06¢
March 202616.46¢
February 202616.15¢
January 202615.41¢
December 202514.94¢
November 202515.68¢
October 202515.82¢
September 202515.51¢
August 202515.16¢
July 202514.85¢
June 202514.94¢
May 202515.58¢
April 202516.06¢
March 202515.44¢
February 202514.62¢
January 202514.01¢
December 202413.95¢
November 202415.62¢
October 202415.40¢
September 202414.79¢

What everyday things cost in South Carolina

At 15.76¢ per kWh, before any fixed monthly charge:

ItemEnergyCost
1,000 kWh
a round reference amount		1,000 kWh$157.60
Central air conditioner
3.5 kW running 8 hours a day for 30 days		840 kWh$132.38
Space heater
1.5 kW running 8 hours a day for 30 days		360 kWh$56.74
Electric car, 1,000 miles
3.5 miles per kWh with 10% charging losses		317 kWh$50.03
Electric clothes dryer
3 kW, twelve one-hour loads		36 kWh$5.67
LED TV
100 W for 5 hours a day for 30 days		15 kWh$2.36

Thermostat-controlled appliances cycle on and off, so real use is often lower. Price your own appliance.

Rooftop solar in South Carolina

A 1 kW rooftop system near Columbia produces about 1,446 kWh a year, according to the NLR PVWatts model. At South Carolina's average price that output is worth about $228 a year per kW. A typical 7 kW system would make about 10,120 kWh, worth about $1,595 a year.

The 30% federal tax credit for solar you buy (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025. Work out payback with your own quote.

Estimate your South Carolina bill

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South Carolina compared with the South

StatePriceAverage bill
Louisiana12.87¢$158
Tennessee13.42¢$161
Kentucky13.80¢$154
Arkansas14.37¢$143
Mississippi14.43¢$174
Oklahoma14.82¢$148
North Carolina14.95¢$154
Florida14.99¢$169
South Carolina15.76¢$169
Georgia15.90¢$164
Texas15.91¢$178
West Virginia16.31¢$164
Alabama16.33¢$187
Virginia17.64¢$177
Delaware18.70¢$167
Maryland21.40¢$202
District of Columbia25.98¢$155

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential retail sales, latest month August 2026. Average bill and usage: 12 months to August 2026, computed from EIA revenue, sales and customer counts.

Solar: PVWatts v8 by the National Laboratory of the Rockies, 1 kW fixed roof system, 20° tilt, facing south, 14% losses.

How we calculate. Page updated 2026-11-15.