- Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility in South Carolina, is proposing rate hikes for its customers, with residential rates set to increase by 4.7% in 2027 and 4.6% in 2028, in order to cover the costs of a new natural gas plant and other construction projects.
Customers of South Carolina’s state owned utility could again see their monthly power bills rise — by more than $13 a month over the next two years for the standard residential customer — as the early costs of a proposed natural gas plant and other construction projects come on the books.
Santee Cooper’s governing board voted unanimously Friday to begin the process of raising rates for the utility’s more than 220,000 direct customers, located in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties.
Under the proposal, residential customers’ rates would increase 4.7% starting Feb. 1 of next year and another 4.6% in 2028, according to a statement from the utility…