HomeWattCost

Duke Energy Carolinas SC RS vs RT-EV

For a typical South Carolina home using 1,070 kWh a month, RS is cheaper by about $37 a year ($175 against $178 a month). RS is cheaper or about the same at every level of use from 200 to 2,500 kWh a month, with the same daily pattern of use.

Utility Duke Energy CarolinasTariffs checked 2026-11-07Typical use 1,070 kWh/mo, South Carolina

Head to head

ScenarioRSRT-EVCheaper
Typical home, per month$175$178RS
All-in price per kWh16.3¢16.6¢RS
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$217$209RT-EV
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$217$222RS
Fixed charge$12.07$13.20

Typical home: South Carolina average use by month (EIA), shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), before taxes. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 1,000 miles a month; cheapest start any hour on RS, 12 am on RT-EV.

RT-EV is an EV or electrification rate: check the eligibility rules on Duke Energy Carolinas’s tariff before switching.

Month by month

Typical-home bill each month on each plan.

PlanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
RS$208$184$136$128$150$194$242$232$166$137$136$182
RT-EV$206$188$139$133$155$198$245$235$170$141$139$184

RS: price by hour

July weekday.

Same price all day
15.8¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RT-EV: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakPeak
11.4¢16.3¢11.4¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RS or RT-EV: common questions

Is RS or RT-EV cheaper?

For a typical South Carolina home using 1,070 kWh a month, RS is cheaper by about $37 a year ($175 against $178 a month). RS is cheaper or about the same at every level of use from 200 to 2,500 kWh a month, with the same daily pattern of use. Adding an EV driven 1,000 miles a month and charged at each plan’s cheapest hour, RT-EV gives the lower total ($209 against $217 a month).

What is the difference between RS and RT-EV?

RS is tiered: the price per kWh rises with monthly use, with a fixed charge of $12.07 a month. RT-EV is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Peak 5 am–11 pm; lowest price 11 pm–5 am next day), with a fixed charge of $13.20 a month.

More Duke Energy Carolinas comparisons

How the two plans work

RS: Residential Service

  • In July the first 1,000 kWh a month cost 15.1¢ each; then 15.8¢ above 1,000 kWh a month.
  • An average South Carolina home (1,499 kWh in July) goes past the first tier, so extra load such as an EV is priced higher.
  • Fixed charge: $12.07 a month.

RT-EV: Residential Time of Use with Discount Charging Period

  • Peak 5 am–11 pm on July weekdays; 18 of 24 hours carry the top price of 16.3¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 11.4¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 4.9¢.
  • January weekdays range from 11.4¢ to 16.3¢.
  • Fixed charge: $13.20 a month.

Your own pattern of use decides the winner: compare every Duke Energy Carolinas plan on your usage, or see all Duke Energy Carolinas plans, sources and peak hours.