Electricity rates in Charleston, SC
Charleston (population 159,423) is served by Dominion Energy South Carolina. A typical home on its cheapest plan open to any household, Rate 8, pays about $184 a month, 17.19¢ per kWh all-in: 9% above the South Carolina average of the last 12 months.
Utility Dominion Energy SCPopulation Census 2025 estimateState average EIA, 12 months to August 2026
Typical all-in priceRate 8
Dominion Energy SC plans for a Charleston home
| Plan | Typical bill | All-in ¢/kWh | Summer weekday windows | EV, 1,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate 8Checked | $184/mo | 17.19 | Same price all day | $44/mo |
| Rate 5Checked | $196/mo | 18.35 | Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 5 am–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–8 pm, Mid-peak 8 pm–12 am | $26/mo |
Typical bill: average South Carolina use of 1,070 kWh a month, shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), averaged over the year. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 275 kWh a month from the wall, charging from its cheapest start hour. Full Dominion Energy SC tariff details and sources.
Charleston electricity: common questions
Who provides electricity in Charleston, SC?
The center of Charleston lies in Dominion Energy South Carolina’s retail service territory, according to the federal service-territory map built from EIA-861 data. Territories are drawn approximately, so homes near the city limits can be served by another utility or cooperative; the name on your bill is the authority.
How much is electricity per kWh in Charleston?
On Dominion Energy SC’s Rate 8 plan, a typical South Carolina home using 1,070 kWh a month pays about 17.19¢ per kWh all-in before taxes, or $184 a month. The South Carolina average over the last 12 months was 15.77¢ (EIA).
How much does it cost to charge an EV in Charleston?
Driving 1,000 miles a month in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD adds about $26 a month on Dominion Energy SC’s Rate 5 plan when charging starts at its cheapest hour (1 am), against about $153 of gasoline for a 25.5 mpg car.
When is electricity cheapest in Charleston?
Only on a time-of-use plan does the hour matter. On Dominion Energy SC’s Rate 5, summer weekday prices are highest in these windows: Rate 5: Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 5 am–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–8 pm, Mid-peak 8 pm–12 am. Running dishwashers, laundry and EV charging outside them costs less. Find the cheapest hour for an appliance.
Calculators with Dominion Energy SC preloaded
Sources: population, Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates; city location, Census Gazetteer; service territory, Electric Retail Service Territories (HIFLD/ORNL, from EIA-861); tariffs, see the Dominion Energy SC page.