Electricity rates in South Carolina

Average residential price, typical bill and appliance running costs in South Carolina, from official U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

Official EIA data · August 2026

Average rate, August 2026

15.76¢

per kWh

vs U.S. average

−13.2%

U.S.: 18.16¢

vs a year ago

+4.0%

was 15.16¢

Rank (1 = priciest)

#32 of 51

50 states + DC

What your kWh cost in South Carolina

Electricity used

kWh

Monthly kWh from your bill. 863 kWh is the 2024 U.S. household average.

Electricity rate

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Energy cost

$165.48

1,050 kWh × 15.76¢ (South Carolina average)

Per kWh: $0.1576
Per 100 kWh: $15.76
Per 1,000 kWh: $157.60

Average electric bill in South Carolina

2024 (EIA)	South Carolina	U.S.
Monthly use	1,050 kWh	863 kWh
Average price	14.23¢	16.48¢
Monthly bill	$149.51	$142.26
Residential customers	2,581,882	143,144,185

At the August 2026 rate, the average South Carolina household's 1,050 kWh would cost about $165.48 a month.

What appliances cost to run in South Carolina

Yearly cost at 15.76¢/kWh. Where marked, the kWh are the average for homes with that appliance in the South Atlantic region (EIA RECS 2020); the rest use the example settings on each appliance's page.

Appliance	kWh per year	Cost per year
Space heater	4,320	$680.83
Central air conditioner *	3,112	$490.45
Electric water heater *	2,767	$436.08
Pool pump *	2,755	$434.19
Electric car *	2,594	$408.81
Window air conditioner	2,095	$330.10
Hot tub *	1,758	$277.06
Dehumidifier *	1,211	$190.85
Light bulbs *	674	$106.22
Electric clothes dryer *	657	$103.54
Refrigerator *	652	$102.76
Chest or upright freezer *	600	$94.56
Ceiling fan *	305	$48.07
Electric oven *	295	$46.49
TV *	212	$33.41
Microwave *	106	$16.71

* Regional average from the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

Where South Carolina ranks

South Carolina is #32 of 51 by average residential rate in August 2026 (1 = most expensive). It is highlighted on the map.

¢ per kWh 12.7–14.4 14.4–15.9 15.9–17.2 17.2–24.5 24.5–47.2

Rate history

Period	South Carolina	U.S.
August 2026	15.76¢	18.16¢
August 2025	15.16¢	17.57¢
Year to date through August 2026	15.90¢	18.19¢
Same period a year earlier	14.98¢	17.03¢
2024 annual average	14.23¢	16.48¢

Nearby states (South Atlantic)

State	Rate (August 2026)	Avg. bill (2024)
Delaware	18.70¢	$150.87
District of Columbia	25.98¢	$113.23
Florida	14.99¢	$156.09
Georgia	15.90¢	$151.25
Maryland	21.40¢	$165.87
North Carolina	14.95¢	$143.50
Virginia	17.64¢	$148.77
West Virginia	16.31¢	$154.76

See electricity rates in all 50 states.

Quick answers

What is the average electricity rate in South Carolina?

The average residential price in South Carolina was 15.76¢ per kWh in August 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is −13.2% versus the U.S. average of 18.16¢ and ranks #32 of 51 (1 = most expensive).

What is the average electric bill in South Carolina?

In 2024, the average South Carolina household used 1,050 kWh a month and paid $149.51 a month (EIA). At the August 2026 rate, the same usage would cost about $165.48.

Are electricity prices going up in South Carolina?

The August 2026 average of 15.76¢/kWh compares with 15.16¢ a year earlier (+4.0%). For the year to date through August 2026, the average was 15.90¢, +6.1% versus the same period last year. Prices also change with the season, so compare the same month year over year.

Why is my rate different from the South Carolina average?

The EIA average is total residential revenue divided by kWh sold in the state. Your rate depends on your utility, your plan (fixed, variable or time-of-use) and fixed monthly charges, which weigh more per kWh in low-usage months.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

More calculators

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Average residential price per kWh in every state, updated monthly from the EIA.

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What any device costs per hour, day, month and year from its wattage.

kWh to Dollars Calculator

Turn the kWh on your bill into dollars at your state's rate.

See everything

These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.