BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — The Santee Cooper Board of Directors approved an increase in its base rates on Monday after months of public discussion meetings.
Under the change, the average customer will see an $11 increase in their monthly bill, according to the company’s release. However the company said customers have flexibility to reduce their monthly bills “by staggering or delaying their use of energy-intensive appliances, including their clothes dryer and water heater.”
The new rates will also change premium pricing during “peak energy use hours”:
- November to March: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- April to October: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Santee Cooper serves over 200,000 customers across Georgetown, Berkeley, and Horry Counties.
“The new rates will allow Santee Cooper to keep customers’ monthly bills below the state and national averages while we work to meet growing customer demand, invest in our electric system, and comply with new regulations,” said Jimmy Staton, President and CEO of Santee Cooper.
The hike marks the company’s first increase in base rates since 2017. The agency froze rates in 2020 as part of a civil action lawsuit settlement over the failed construction of a nuclear plant.
The new rates will take effect on April 1, 2025.
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