HomeWattCost

Duke Energy Carolinas SC RSTC vs RT-EV

For a typical South Carolina home using 1,070 kWh a month, RSTC is cheaper by about $24 a year ($176 against $178 a month). RSTC 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

ScenarioRSTCRT-EVCheaper
Typical home, per month$176$178RSTC
All-in price per kWh16.4¢16.6¢RSTC
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$204$209RSTC
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$226$222RT-EV
Fixed charge$13.20$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 1 am on RSTC, 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
RSTC$206$181$136$125$158$200$247$237$171$130$135$181
RT-EV$206$188$139$133$155$198$245$235$170$141$139$184

RSTC: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakMid-peakPeak
14.4¢10.1¢14.4¢27.8¢14.4¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RT-EV: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakPeak
11.4¢16.3¢11.4¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RSTC or RT-EV: common questions

Is RSTC or RT-EV cheaper?

For a typical South Carolina home using 1,070 kWh a month, RSTC is cheaper by about $24 a year ($176 against $178 a month). RSTC 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, RSTC gives the lower total ($204 against $209 a month).

What is the difference between RSTC and RT-EV?

RSTC is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–6 pm, Peak 6 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am; lowest price 1 am–6 am), with a fixed charge of $13.20 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

RSTC: Residential Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing

  • Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–6 pm, Peak 6 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am on July weekdays; 3 of 24 hours carry the top price of 27.8¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 10.1¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 17.7¢.
  • January weekdays range from 10.1¢ to 27.8¢.
  • Summer pricing applies May–Sep; winter pricing Oct–Apr.
  • Weekends differ: Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–12 am.
  • Fixed charge: $13.20 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.