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South Carolina electric bills: $226/month (August 2026)

Updated with August 2026 data · Editor: Otto Pop · Methodology

$226/month
Average residential electric bill, South Carolina, August 2026
15.76¢/kWh · 1,436 kWh/month · rank 39 of 51 (1 = cheapest)
12-month average: $169/month (12 months to August 2026)
Source: EIA, Aug 2026

South Carolina households paid an average of $226 a month for electricity in August 2026, based on U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That is 20.2% higher than August 2025, and it ranks South Carolina 39th of 51 from the lowest average bill.

How much is the average electric bill in South Carolina?

South Carolina homes used 1,436 kWh in August 2026, above the U.S. average of 1,152 kWh, and paid 15.76¢/kWh. The average bill was $226. Use your own bill's numbers in the calculator.

Estimated bill: $226 a month, $2,712 a year if every month matched this one

Defaults are the South Carolina averages for August 2026 (EIA). Use changes with the seasons: the actual average bills for the 12 months to August 2026 added up to $2,022. Enter the use and price from your own bill for a personal estimate. EIA's average price already spreads fixed customer charges across every kWh; your utility's own fixed charge and rate plan can differ.

How have South Carolina electricity prices changed?

The price was 13.40¢/kWh in September 2021 and was 17.6% higher in August 2026. It ranged from 12.30¢/kWh in January 2022 to 17.06¢/kWh in April 2026.

Average residential electricity price in South Carolina, last 12 months
14.7¢15.3¢16.0¢16.7¢17.3¢Sep 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026
Show the numbers
Average residential electricity price in South Carolina, last 12 months
MonthValue
Sep 202515.51¢/kWh
Oct 202515.82¢/kWh
Nov 202515.68¢/kWh
Dec 202514.94¢/kWh
Jan 202615.41¢/kWh
Feb 202616.15¢/kWh
Mar 202616.46¢/kWh
Apr 202617.06¢/kWh
May 202616.18¢/kWh
Jun 202615.55¢/kWh
Jul 202615.47¢/kWh
Aug 202615.76¢/kWh

Source: EIA, residential electricity data, Sep 2025–Aug 2026

Average residential electricity price in South Carolina, last 5 years
11.7¢13.2¢14.7¢16.2¢17.6¢Sep 2021Sep 2022Sep 2023Sep 2024Sep 2025
Show the numbers
Average residential electricity price in South Carolina, last 5 years
MonthValue
Sep 202113.40¢/kWh
Oct 202113.49¢/kWh
Nov 202113.78¢/kWh
Dec 202112.80¢/kWh
Jan 202212.30¢/kWh
Feb 202212.60¢/kWh
Mar 202213.38¢/kWh
Apr 202213.48¢/kWh
May 202213.46¢/kWh
Jun 202213.67¢/kWh
Jul 202213.70¢/kWh
Aug 202214.27¢/kWh
Sep 202214.50¢/kWh
Oct 202214.07¢/kWh
Nov 202213.82¢/kWh
Dec 202213.86¢/kWh
Jan 202313.58¢/kWh
Feb 202314.06¢/kWh
Mar 202313.83¢/kWh
Apr 202313.90¢/kWh
May 202313.98¢/kWh
Jun 202313.75¢/kWh
Jul 202313.21¢/kWh
Aug 202313.41¢/kWh
Sep 202314.04¢/kWh
Oct 202314.00¢/kWh
Nov 202313.76¢/kWh
Dec 202313.26¢/kWh
Jan 202413.28¢/kWh
Feb 202413.94¢/kWh
Mar 202414.56¢/kWh
Apr 202414.60¢/kWh
May 202413.78¢/kWh
Jun 202413.90¢/kWh
Jul 202413.82¢/kWh
Aug 202414.31¢/kWh
Sep 202414.79¢/kWh
Oct 202415.40¢/kWh
Nov 202415.62¢/kWh
Dec 202413.95¢/kWh
Jan 202514.01¢/kWh
Feb 202514.62¢/kWh
Mar 202515.44¢/kWh
Apr 202516.06¢/kWh
May 202515.58¢/kWh
Jun 202514.94¢/kWh
Jul 202514.85¢/kWh
Aug 202515.16¢/kWh
Sep 202515.51¢/kWh
Oct 202515.82¢/kWh
Nov 202515.68¢/kWh
Dec 202514.94¢/kWh
Jan 202615.41¢/kWh
Feb 202616.15¢/kWh
Mar 202616.46¢/kWh
Apr 202617.06¢/kWh
May 202616.18¢/kWh
Jun 202615.55¢/kWh
Jul 202615.47¢/kWh
Aug 202615.76¢/kWh

Source: EIA, residential electricity data, Sep 2021–Aug 2026

How does South Carolina compare with other states?

South Carolina ranked 39th of 51, 8.1% higher than the U.S. average of $209 in August 2026. Georgia averaged $234 and North Carolina $196.

RankStateAvg. bill¢/kWhkWh/month
1Wyoming$11814.43821
2Washington$12014.63819
3Montana$12215.57784
4North Dakota$13013.31979
5Oregon$13515.92847
…
36Arkansas$21714.371,510
37Florida$21714.991,449
38Virginia$22017.641,246
39South Carolina$22615.761,436
40Louisiana$22712.871,763
41Maryland$23321.401,091
42Georgia$23415.901,471
…
47Oklahoma$25114.821,696
48Alabama$25416.331,555
49Texas$26615.911,670
50Arizona$26915.051,789
51Hawaii$26947.18570

1 = lowest average monthly bill. 50 states and DC.

StateAvg. bill¢/kWhvs. South Carolina
South Carolina$22615.76—
Georgia$23415.90+3.5%
North Carolina$19614.95-13.3%

What is behind South Carolina's electric bills?

  • Hot months carry the year: $232 in July 2026 against $129 in November 2025.
  • Price up 4%, bill up 20.2% from August 2025.
  • Annual total: $2,022.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the average electric bill in South Carolina?

The average residential electric bill in South Carolina was $226 a month in August 2026, based on EIA data. That assumes the state's average use of 1,436 kWh at 15.76¢/kWh. Because use changes with the seasons, the average over the 12 months to August 2026 is a steadier guide: $169 a month.

How much does electricity cost in South Carolina?

Residential customers in South Carolina paid an average of 15.76¢/kWh in August 2026, 4% higher than a year earlier.

Is electricity in South Carolina more expensive than the U.S. average?

In August 2026 the average South Carolina electric bill was $226, 8.1% higher than the U.S. average of $209. South Carolina ranked 39th of 51 from the lowest average bill (the 50 states and the District of Columbia).

How much electricity does a typical South Carolina home use?

A typical residential customer in South Carolina used 1,436 kWh in August 2026, calculated as total residential sales divided by the number of residential customers reported to EIA.

How much does a South Carolina household spend on electricity in a year?

Adding up the last 12 monthly average bills gives about $2,022 a year for a typical South Carolina household (12 months to August 2026). The highest month was July 2026 at $232; the lowest was November 2025 at $129.

Methodology, sources and updates

The average bill is the EIA average residential price multiplied by average monthly use per residential customer. EIA's price is residential revenue divided by kWh sold, so the fixed customer charges utilities bill are already spread across every kWh; your own fixed charge, rate plan and taxes can differ. Read the full methodology.

  • — Updated with EIA data for August 2026.
  • — Updated with EIA residential retail sales data for July 2026.

General information based on public data, not financial advice. Your own bill depends on your utility, rate plan, fixed charge, use and any taxes added to it. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it publicly.