Data · July 2026 · 32nd of 51 jurisdictions

South Carolina Electricity Prices

Residential electricity in South Carolina averaged 15.47¢ per kilowatt-hour in July 2026, and its distance from the national benchmark has been widening. That is 9.3% below the jurisdiction's all-time high of 17.06¢, recorded in April 2026. Since January 2001 the jurisdiction average has risen 110%, from 7.36¢ — a compound 3.0% a year — and month-to-month it has been about as month-to-month steady as the typical jurisdiction. Within the trailing year alone the average moved 15.1%, peaking in April 2026.

What we measure: Average residential retail price of electricity published by the EIA for each reporting jurisdiction, in cents per kilowatt-hour — a state- or DC-wide monthly average, not a personalized utility tariff or the rate any single household pays. EIA publishes jurisdiction-level retail-price data on a lag of roughly two to three months; the latest period shown reflects that lag.

Key facts — July 2026

Avg residential rate
15.47¢
National rank
32nd of 51 jurisdictions reporting July 2026
Change (year over year)
+5.2%
vs national average
-19.7%
Est. annual bill
$1,624
All-time high
17.06¢ April 2026
National average
19.26¢
Months tracked
307

How South Carolina compares: below the national benchmark

Over the trailing twelve months the jurisdiction average ranged from 14.82¢ in December 2025 to 17.06¢ in April 2026 — a wide 15.1% spread within a single year.

South Carolina ranks 3rd of 5 in its immediate border group, between Florida at 15.03¢ and Virginia at 17.55¢.

South Carolina and its land-border neighbours, all at July 2026. A neighbour not reporting that month is omitted rather than compared at a different date.
JurisdictionAvg rate (¢/kWh)vs South Carolina
Florida15.03-2.8%
North Carolina15.16-2.0%
Georgia16.27+5.2%
Virginia17.55+13.4%

South Carolina is 9% off its record high

Record high
17.06¢ April 2026
Record low
7.31¢ December 2002
Change since January 2001
+110.2%
Compound annual rate
+3.0%/yr

Across the complete calendar years in the series (2001–2025), October is South Carolina's most expensive month relative to its own year and January its cheapest, a seasonal swing of about 8.4 percentage points. Each month is divided by its own calendar-year mean first, so the long-run price rise is not counted as seasonality. Partial years are excluded, so they are not part of the span named here.

Use South Carolina's 15.47¢/kWh jurisdiction average as comparison context. It is a public-data benchmark, not a household bill or solar result: a household figure requires documented annual use, address-specific production, same-scope price, utility cash flows, and source-event dates, and this page does not prefill them.

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South Carolina trend, last 36 reported months

Average residential price per kWh each month. Bars scale to the highest month shown.

Average residential electricity price by month in South Carolina
MonthAvg rate (¢/kWh)Rate relative to highest month
August 202313.41
September 202314.04
October 202314.00
November 202313.76
December 202313.26
January 202413.28
February 202413.94
March 202414.56
April 202414.60
May 202413.78
June 202413.90
July 202413.82
August 202414.31
September 202414.79
October 202415.40
November 202415.62
December 202413.95
January 202513.88
February 202514.50
March 202515.27
April 202515.86
May 202515.41
June 202514.79
July 202514.70
August 202514.98
September 202515.34
October 202515.65
November 202515.53
December 202514.82
January 202615.41
February 202616.15
March 202616.45
April 202617.06
May 202616.18
June 202615.55
July 202615.47

South Carolina electricity rates — common questions

Is electricity expensive in South Carolina?

South Carolina sits mid-pack — 15.47¢ per kilowatt-hour in July 2026, 32nd-highest of 51 and 19.7% below the national benchmark.

What is the average electricity bill in South Carolina?

At South Carolina's July 2026 average of 15.47¢/kWh, 10,500 kWh of annual use works out to $1,624 a year — around $135 a month. Running the same 10,500 kWh calculation at the July 2026 national benchmark rate gives $2,022 — a $398 gap between the two published averages, less for South Carolina, not a bill either way.

Are electricity rates going up in South Carolina?

Over the full EIA series the South Carolina jurisdiction average has risen 110% since January 2001, from 7.36¢ to 15.47¢ in July 2026 — a compound 3.0% per year. Month-to-month movement has been about typical for a reporting jurisdiction.

When were electricity rates highest in South Carolina?

April 2026, at 17.06¢ per kilowatt-hour. The July 2026 reading of 15.47¢ sits 9.3% below that peak. The lowest monthly average on record was 7.31¢ in December 2002.

What time of year is electricity most expensive in South Carolina?

October. Measured over the 25 complete calendar years the EIA series covers for South Carolina, 2001 through 2025, October runs highest relative to its own year and January runs lowest — a swing of roughly 8.4 percentage points.

Is electricity cheaper in states bordering South Carolina?

Among South Carolina and its land-border neighbours in July 2026, Florida posts the lowest average at 15.03¢ and Virginia the highest at 17.55¢. South Carolina ranks 3rd of 5 in the group, at 15.47¢.

Is 15.47¢/kWh the rate I actually pay in South Carolina?

Almost certainly not exactly, and this is the one caveat that governs every figure on this page. The published value is the EIA residential average across every utility and residential rate class in South Carolina for July 2026 — a benchmark, never a billed amount. Even the jurisdiction figure is not one number — across the trailing year it moved between 14.82¢ in December 2025 and 17.06¢ in April 2026. Your own rate depends on your utility, tariff, usage tier, time-of-use schedule, and fixed monthly charges, none of which this index models. Read your bill for the rate that applies to you.

Use this data

Download South Carolina CSV — free to reuse with attribution. See how the South Carolina figure is calculated for the metric definition, refresh cadence, and limitations. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electricity retail sales — average price by state.

Suggested citation

"South Carolina Electricity Prices." Geostellar Residential Electricity Price Index, July 2026, based on U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) electricity retail-sales data. https://geostellar.com/energy/electricity-rates/south-carolina

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