Average Electric Bill in South Carolina
The average electric bill in South Carolina is about $139.23 a month — roughly $1670.76 a year — at the state average rate of 15.47 ¢/kWh. That's about $306.72 a year less than the typical U.S. household pays. That's based on 900 kWh of monthly use at the all-in average rate — delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees are already inside it; locally billed taxes vary by area.
Key metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| South Carolina average rate | 15.47 ¢/kWh |
| Estimated monthly bill | $139.23 |
| Estimated annual bill | $1670.76 |
| 500 kWh example | $77.35 |
| 1,500 kWh example | $232.05 |
South Carolina vs U.S. average bill
South Carolina's typical residential bill estimate is lower than the U.S. average by $25.56 per month (15.5%).
Is this what you'll actually pay?
It's a fair benchmark, not a forecast. We take South Carolina's average rate of 15.47 ¢/kWh and apply it to 900 kWh a month at the all-in average rate, which comes to $139.23. That rate already includes delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees; locally billed taxes vary by area.
Your own bill can land well above or below that, depending on how much you run the air conditioning, how you heat your home and water, your home's size, and how your utility designs its rates.
Rates are the EIA's July 2026 residential averages; this page's figures were last refreshed Sep 28, 2026 (UTC).
Average electric bill by home size in South Carolina
The 900 kWh benchmark sits between an apartment and a medium home. At South Carolina's rate, an apartment using 650 kWh runs about $103.89 a month and a large home using 1,600 kWh about $238.18.
| Home size | Typical usage | Monthly bill | Annual bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment in South Carolina | 650 kWh/month | $103.89 | $1246.69 |
| Small Home in South Carolina | 900 kWh/month | $139.23 | $1670.76 |
| Medium Home in South Carolina | 1,200 kWh/month | $181.64 | $2179.64 |
| Large Home in South Carolina | 1,600 kWh/month | $238.18 | $2858.15 |
Rows other than the benchmark use a two-part model, a fixed monthly charge plus a per-kWh rate, that matches the statewide average exactly at the benchmark usage. Open a profile for the assumptions behind it.
Usage-level bill examples in South Carolina
| Monthly usage | Estimated cost | Canonical page |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $77.35 | How much does 500 kWh cost in South Carolina? |
| 1,000 kWh | $154.70 | How much does 1,000 kWh cost in South Carolina? |
| 1,500 kWh | $232.05 | How much does 1,500 kWh cost in South Carolina? |
| 2,000 kWh | $309.40 | How much does 2,000 kWh cost in South Carolina? |
These pages answer fixed-usage questions like "how much does 1,000 kWh cost?"
What usually moves a household bill?
In practice, the biggest bill drivers are air conditioning, space heating, electric water heating, laundry, EV charging, and the length of time high-wattage appliances run each month.
Want to see where your money actually goes? The usage-cost pages show what a whole-home kWh pattern costs, and the appliance pages break down how individual devices add up.
If this month's bill jumped, start with why is my electric bill so high?, which separates rate causes from usage causes line by line.
Rate design is the other half: Dominion Energy South Carolina's standard residential tariff adds a $12.01 fixed monthly charge before the first kilowatt-hour. See the itemized charges for South Carolina.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average electric bill in South Carolina?
South Carolina households pay about $139.23 a month ($1670.76 a year) at the state average of 15.47 ¢/kWh, based on 900 kWh of monthly use and the EIA's July 2026 residential data. The rate is all-in: delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees are already inside it; locally billed taxes vary by area.
How does South Carolina compare with the U.S. average electric bill?
The U.S. average bill at 900 kWh is about $164.79 (18.31 ¢/kWh, EIA). South Carolina's $139.23 is about $25.56 a month less — roughly 16% below the U.S. average.
How much is the electric bill for an apartment vs a house in South Carolina?
At South Carolina's average rate, about $103.89 for an apartment (650 kWh), $139.23 for a small home (900 kWh), $181.64 for a medium home (1,200 kWh), $238.18 for a large home (1,600 kWh) per month. Figures for usage other than the benchmark use a two-part model, a fixed monthly charge plus a per-kWh rate, that matches the statewide average exactly at the benchmark usage.
Why is my South Carolina electric bill higher than the average?
Usage is the biggest reason: air conditioning, electric heat, and water heating can push a home far past 900 kWh a month. Rate design matters too. In South Carolina, Dominion Energy South Carolina's standard residential tariff carries a $12.01 fixed monthly charge plus 0.33¢/kWh in riders, so a low-usage home pays more per kWh than the average implies and a high-usage home pays less.
See your exact bill in South Carolina
Set your own usage to match your home — fees included. Then see savings options for South Carolina.
Calculate your South Carolina billSouth Carolina ways to save
Know when South Carolina rates change
South Carolina rates move with each monthly EIA update. Get an email when electricity costs in South Carolina gets cheaper — or more expensive.
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South Carolina appliance electricity examples
- Space Heater cost in South Carolina — See what 1,500 W of typical space heater usage looks like at 15.47 ¢/kWh.
- Heat Pump cost in South Carolina — See what 3,000 W of typical heat pump usage looks like at 15.47 ¢/kWh.
- Electric Fireplace cost in South Carolina — See what 1,400 W of typical electric fireplace usage looks like at 15.47 ¢/kWh.
State cost and bill pathways for South Carolina
- South Carolina electricity price per kWh — What a kWh of electricity costs in South Carolina
- South Carolina electricity rates & prices — Core authority page with statewide pricing context
- South Carolina electricity cost analysis — State-level cost, affordability, and value overview
- Average electric bill in South Carolina — What a typical monthly bill looks like
- South Carolina household bill estimator — Estimate your bill from your monthly usage
- Knowledge profile for South Carolina — Machine-readable state profile and metrics
Historical and trend pages
- South Carolina electricity price history — Historical context and trend interpretation
- Electricity inflation in South Carolina — State electricity inflation analysis
- South Carolina electricity price volatility — Volatility and rate movement profile
Fixed-usage and calculator pathways
- 800 kWh cost in South Carolina — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Electricity cost for 1,000 kWh in South Carolina — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- 750 kWh cost in South Carolina — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- South Carolina electricity cost calculator — Custom kWh and scenario cost calculation
Appliance and estimator pathways
- Refrigerator cost in South Carolina — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Refrigerator calculator in South Carolina — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Space Heater cost in South Carolina — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Space Heater calculator in South Carolina — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Window Ac cost in South Carolina — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Window Ac calculator in South Carolina — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
State comparison pathways for South Carolina
- South Carolina electricity comparisons — State-to-state comparison hub
- South Carolina vs California electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
- South Carolina vs Florida electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
Discovery and navigation hubs
- South Carolina electricity hub — Guide to this state's electricity rate, usage, comparison, and tool pages
- Electricity cost scenario hub — Entry point for residential and industry scenario pages
- South Carolina electricity cost overview — State-level electricity cost page with rates and typical bill context
- Average electric bill in South Carolina — Typical monthly bill estimate using a standard household usage assumption
- South Carolina electricity bill estimator — Household profile bill scenarios for this state
- Electricity usage hubs — Browse cost pages by common household usage tiers
Consumer electricity drivers
- Price drivers in South Carolina — Understand what influences state electricity prices
Source & Method
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: July 2026. Estimates use the EIA all-in average residential rate — energy, delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees together, not just the electricity itself. Fees are inside the rate, not an extra on top; how your own bill splits fixed versus per-kWh charges varies by utility. For what's inside the all-in rate, see hidden electricity fees; for how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.