Commercial electricity in Columbia, South Carolina

Electric utilities serving Columbia

These are the utilities EIA records in Richland County and Lexington 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.

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 Columbia 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 Columbia

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 Columbia

The Census Bureau estimates Columbia had 147,035 residents on July 1, 2025, up 8.2% from 135,860 in 2020. It spans 2 counties, most of its people in Richland County.

Other cities in South Carolina

• Charleston
• North Charleston

Common questions

Who provides electricity to businesses in Columbia?

EIA lists Dominion Energy South Carolina, Mid-Carolina Electric Coop Inc, Aiken Electric Coop Inc and Fairfield Electric Coop, Inc and 2 more as electric utilities in Richland County and Lexington 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 Columbia?

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 Columbia 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.