South Carolina · City
Commercial electricity in Charleston, South Carolina
Which electric utilities serve businesses in Charleston, what each charged commercial customers in EIA’s 2025 data, and where South Carolina’s prices stand.
EIA lists 4 electric utilities in Charleston County and Berkeley County, the 2 counties it spans, which contain Charleston. Dominion Energy South Carolina, the largest by commercial customers, averaged 12.90¢ per kWh for them in 2025. South Carolina’s average commercial price was 11.68¢ per kWh over the 12 months to August 2026.
Source: EIA Form EIA-861 (2025) and Form EIA-861M; U.S. Census Bureau
Electric utilities serving Charleston
These are the utilities EIA records in Charleston County and Berkeley County, the 2 counties it spans. EIA lists a utility in a county when it has customers anywhere in it, so this is everyone with a presence, ordered by commercial customers across South Carolina, not a statement about any one address. Prices are EIA’s averages over all of each utility’s commercial customers: revenue divided by kWh.
| Utility | Type | Commercial customers in SC | Average commercial price, 2025 | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy South Carolina | Investor-owned | 110,815 | 12.90¢ | Charleston County, Berkeley County |
| Santee Cooper | State | 30,910 | 10.82¢ | Berkeley County |
| Berkeley Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 18,519 | 8.27¢ | Charleston County, Berkeley County |
| Edisto Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | 5,921 | 20.11¢ | Berkeley County |
Find the list for a single ZIP Code with the utility lookup, or set utilities side by side with the comparison tool.
What businesses in Charleston pay
Across South Carolina, businesses paid an average 11.68¢ per kWh over the 12 months to August 2026, 15.8% below the U.S. average of 13.87¢, and up 5.5% on the 12 months before. That ranks South Carolina 31 of 51, where 1 is the highest price. In 2025 the average commercial account in the state used 5,389 kWh a month, about $602 a month at the state price; that is a mean pulled up by a few very large users, so most small businesses use less.
A city has no price of its own: two businesses on the same street can pay very different amounts per kWh, because the rate schedule, the size of the peak and, where it is allowed, the supply contract matter more than the location. The South Carolina page has the state’s price history since 2010 and every utility with at least 500 commercial customers.
Choosing a supplier in Charleston
South Carolina commercial accounts buy supply from their regulated utility or cooperative. Tariff and demand work are the levers.
Where prices are heading
EIA does not forecast single states. For the South Atlantic census division, which includes South Carolina, its November 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook puts the average commercial price at 12.20¢ per kWh for 2026 and 12.31¢ for 2027, up 8.1% from 11.39¢ in 2025. The forecast for every region.
About Charleston
The Census Bureau estimates Charleston had 159,423 residents on July 1, 2025, up 5.4% from 151,225 in 2020. It spans 2 counties, most of its people in Charleston County.
Other cities in South Carolina
Common questions
- Who provides electricity to businesses in Charleston?
- EIA lists Dominion Energy South Carolina, Santee Cooper, Berkeley Electric Cooperative and Edisto Electric Coop, Inc as electric utilities in Charleston County and Berkeley County. Which one serves a given address depends on the street; the utility on an existing bill is the definitive answer, and a utility can confirm service for a new site.
- What is the average commercial electricity rate in Charleston?
- There is no official figure for a city. EIA publishes prices by state and by utility: Dominion Energy South Carolina averaged 12.90¢ per kWh for its commercial customers in 2025, and South Carolina averaged 11.68¢ over the 12 months to August 2026. A business’s own price depends on its rate schedule, its demand and, where it can choose, its supply contract.
- Can a business in Charleston choose its electricity supplier?
- South Carolina commercial accounts buy supply from their regulated utility or cooperative. Tariff and demand work are the levers. The state page for South Carolina explains how it works and who regulates it.
Averages describe Charleston; a bill describes your business. A person can read yours: rate schedule, demand, riders, contract window. Nobody calls unless you ask.