GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — Customers with Duke Energy in South Carolina could potentially see an increase in their electricity bills.
According to the electric utility company, an application to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) is asking for a revenue increase of $150.5 million, or 7.7%.
The utility company provides electricity to more than 660,000 customers primarily in Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Cherokee, Picknes, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Union and Abbeville counties.
If the proposed rates are approved, customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would increase by $10.38 per month.
Commercial customers could also see rate increases around 5.4%, while industrial customers would have rates increased by 5.2%.
“We know families and businesses are juggling a lot and we do not take a request to
increase rates lightly but being upfront and timely with our request is the right thing
to do and in the best interest of our customers,” said Tim Pearson, president of Duke Energy South Carolina.
Rates were already set to increase for Duke Energy customers on August 1, 2026 by 4.3%, or $6.42 per month.
In August 2024, a rate increase was improved for residential customers, who saw an increase in their electric bill by 8.7%, or 12.06 per month. The increase impacted commercial customers by 4.6% and industrial customers by 4.4%
Additionally, Duke Energy also sought to reduce their annual adjustment for fuel costs in South Carolina in 2024. The adjustment proposed a decrease by $19.60 per month for residential customers.
Customers could possibly see three rate increases in two just years, increasing their bills by $28.86 per month, through the $19.60 decrease would minimize the total increase for customers to $9.26 a month.
If approved, the recently requested rate increase would go into effect on March 1, 2026.
