Electricity cost in South Carolina
Short answer: Homes in South Carolina pay an average of 15.47¢ per kWh for electricity (July 2026). That is 16% below the U.S. average of 18.31¢ and ranks number 32 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive. The average home here uses 1,050 kWh a month, which costs about $162.44 at that price.
South Carolina electricity cost calculator
Start typing an appliance and pick it from the list, or describe it in a sentence. You can skip this and fill in the boxes yourself.
The calculator starts with a 1,500-watt space heater and the South Carolina average price. Change the wattage and hours for your own appliance.
Uses 360.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the South Carolina average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
My list
Add each appliance you use to estimate this part of your bill. The list is kept only in this browser.
| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
South Carolina at a glance
South Carolina has 2,581,882 residential electricity customers. In 2024 the average home used 1,050 kWh a month, 22% more than the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 10th highest in the country. The average monthly bill was $149.51, the 15th highest, against a national average of $142.26.
A low price per kWh but heavy use: electricity is cheaper than average here, yet homes use more of it than most. The result is an average bill 5% above the national average.
What appliances cost to run in South Carolina
Typical wattage and use for each appliance, at the South Carolina average price of 15.47¢ per kWh, next to the same use at the U.S. average. Follow a link for the appliance's own calculator.
| Appliance | Typical use | Per month in South Carolina | Per month, U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric furnace | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $417.69 | $494.37 |
| Central air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $129.95 | $153.80 |
| Heat pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $111.38 | $131.83 |
| Electric water heater | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $62.65 | $74.16 |
| Space heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $55.69 | $65.92 |
| Pool pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $55.69 | $65.92 |
| Baseboard heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $55.69 | $65.92 |
| Electric car charger | 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $50.12 | $59.32 |
| Portable air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $44.55 | $52.73 |
| Window air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $33.42 | $39.55 |
| Dehumidifier | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $27.85 | $32.96 |
| Hot tub | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $27.85 | $32.96 |
| Electric fireplace | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $27.85 | $32.96 |
| Clothes dryer | 60 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $10.06 | $11.90 |
| Gaming PC | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $7.43 | $8.79 |
| Electric stove | 45 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $7.04 | $8.33 |
| Electric oven | 60 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $6.17 | $7.30 |
| Air purifier | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $5.57 | $6.59 |
| Refrigerator | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $5.57 | $6.59 |
| Desktop computer | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.18 | $4.94 |
| Dishwasher | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $4.02 | $4.76 |
| Chest freezer | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.71 | $4.39 |
| Electric blanket | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.71 | $4.39 |
| Mini fridge | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.97 | $3.52 |
| Ceiling fan | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.78 | $3.30 |
| Game console | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.78 | $3.30 |
| Box fan | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.78 | $3.30 |
| TV | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.32 | $2.75 |
| Humidifier | 10 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.86 | $2.20 |
| Air fryer | 20 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $1.68 | $1.98 |
| Laptop | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.67 | $1.98 |
| Slow cooker | 360 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $1.61 | $1.90 |
| Electric pressure cooker | 45 minutes per use, 3 times a week | $1.51 | $1.79 |
| Electric kettle | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | $1.41 | $1.67 |
| Hair dryer | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $1.41 | $1.67 |
| Washing machine | 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $1.26 | $1.49 |
| Microwave | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | $1.17 | $1.39 |
| Wi-Fi router | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.11 | $1.32 |
| String of Christmas lights | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.11 | $1.32 |
| Toaster oven | 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $1.07 | $1.27 |
| Coffee maker | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.78 | $0.93 |
| Rice cooker | 30 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $0.67 | $0.79 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.67 | $0.79 |
| Clothes iron | 20 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.54 | $0.63 |
| LED light bulb | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $0.23 | $0.27 |
| Toaster | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.21 | $0.25 |
What a monthly bill looks like
The table shows what different amounts of electricity cost at the latest South Carolina price. Fixed monthly charges are already included in the average price, so a real bill for a small user is usually a little higher than shown and a large user's a little lower.
| Monthly use | Roughly | In South Carolina | At the U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | A small apartment or a home with gas heat | $77.35 | $91.55 |
| 863 kWh | The average U.S. home (2024) | $133.51 | $158.02 |
| 1,050 kWh | The average home in South Carolina (2024) | $162.44 | $192.26 |
| 1,500 kWh | A large or all-electric home | $232.05 | $274.65 |
| 2,000 kWh | An all-electric home in its peak month | $309.40 | $366.20 |
Where the electricity in South Carolina comes from
The largest source of the electricity generated in South Carolina in 2024 was nuclear power, according to the Energy Information Administration's state profile. Nuclear plants are expensive to build but cheap and steady to run, so they tend to hold prices stable. They run around the clock regardless of the weather or the price of gas.
The state's power plants generated 100.5 million MWh in 2024, more than the 84.0 million MWh sold to customers in the state, so it produces more electricity than it uses.
How the climate shapes bills
Summers are long, hot and humid, so air conditioning is the largest electricity use in most South Carolina homes and bills peak from June to September. Many homes also heat with electricity, which adds a smaller winter peak.
That is why the same price per kWh can produce very different bills in two homes: the price tells you what each kWh costs, and the weather and your heating and cooling equipment decide how many you use. To see the effect of one appliance, compare a window air conditioner, a space heater and a heat pump in the table above.
Can you choose your electricity supplier?
Generally, no. South Carolina does not have a statewide retail choice program for households, so most buy their electricity from the utility or cooperative that serves their address, at prices approved by regulators or set by the local public power provider. Prices still differ between utilities, and between rate plans at the same utility, so check the price per kWh on your own bill and type it into the calculator.
South Carolina compared with nearby states
Average residential prices for July 2026, with the rank among the 50 states and D.C. and the cost of 900 kWh. The full table covers every state, and our guide explains why prices differ so much between states.
| State | Price per kWh | Rank | Cost of 900 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | 32 | $139.23 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | 36 | $136.44 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | 25 | $146.43 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | 37 | $135.27 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | 47 | $123.39 |
| U.S. average | 18.31¢ | – | $164.79 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average electricity rate in South Carolina?
The average residential price in South Carolina was 15.47 cents per kWh in July 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 16% below the U.S. average of 18.31 cents and ranks number 32 of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), where 1 is the most expensive.
How much is the average electric bill in South Carolina?
The average home in South Carolina used 1,050 kWh a month in 2024 and paid $149.51, according to the EIA; the U.S. average was 863 kWh and $142.26. At the latest price of 15.47 cents per kWh, 1,050 kWh costs $162.44.
How much electricity does a home in South Carolina use?
1,050 kWh a month on average in 2024, which is 22% more than the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 10th highest of the 50 states and D.C.
What uses the most electricity in a home in South Carolina?
Air conditioning, by a wide margin, followed by water heating and the clothes dryer. In homes with electric heat, a heat pump or furnace adds a second peak in the coldest weeks.
How do I find my exact price per kWh?
Take the total amount due on your electric bill and divide it by the kWh used that month. That gives the price you actually paid, including delivery charges and fees. Type it into the price box of the calculator instead of the state average.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Average monthly residential bill by state, 2024
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: State Electricity Profiles, 2024
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Residential retail electric choice
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.