Speak up about the Duke rate hike

why it matters

If the Public Service Commission (PSC) approves DEC's new request, a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month would see their monthly electric bill rise by 7.6%, or $10.38 per month, on top of the 13% rate increase approved a year ago.

However, things are different this time. Earlier this year, the SC Legislature passed H.3309, also known as the SC Energy Security Act. The law includes rate stabilization provisions, which could allow utilities like Duke to raise rates annually through an expedited regulatory process — limited in scope and procedure compared to a general rate case — meaning an affected customer’s opportunity for public input and transparency could be more limited.

Utilities have the discretion to opt into this framework at any time, and while DEC has not done so yet, if the company were to opt into to this new process, its customers could see their rates increase more frequently. We're especially concerned about how these increases will impact low-income customers, who are most vulnerable to rising utility costs. With the looming possibility that DEC will elect to opt into rate stabilization in the near future, the outcome of its pending general rate case is all the more important.

DEC filed its application with the PSC on July 1, 2025. The Commission will begin hearing the case in November and issue a final order by early January 2026.

The outcome of this case will not just influence monthly bills in the near term. It will also help determine the future of energy affordability across South Carolina for years to come. Staying informed and engaged throughout this process will help ensure that the conversation around energy affordability reflects the realities faced by communities across our state.