Santee Cooper Proposes Rate Changes, Launches Public Comment Period
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – The Santee Cooper Board of Directors received proposed base rate changes today for 2027 and 2028 and approved a public comment process, giving customers several months to review the proposed changes and provide input.
The proposed rate changes follow a comprehensive review of costs for 2027 and 2028 by management and third-party consultants. This review led management to recommend base rate adjustments in both years to ensure that the utility can continue to make necessary and timely investments in its electric system. The proposed rate adjustments will help address increased operating costs and system investments, such as new and updated generation and transmission facilities necessary to maintain strong reliability for customers.
Santee Cooper is proposing an average 3.3% increase across its retail customer classes in 2027, paired with rate structure updates shaped by customer feedback. Another overall average increase of 3.1% is proposed for 2028.
“These proposed changes are necessary to allow Santee Cooper to continue delivering the reliable, sustainable electricity that our customers expect,” said President and CEO Jimmy Staton. “We understand customers are concerned about rising prices generally, and we will keep our costs as low as possible while also guaranteeing system dependability for the future.”
The proposed 2027 adjustment includes average increases of 4.7% for residential customers, 2.9% for commercial customers, 3.2% for lighting customers and 2.6% for industrial customers. The proposed 2028 adjustment includes average increases of 4.6% for residential, 2.9% for commercial, 3% for lighting and 2.1% for industrial customers.
Santee Cooper held several customer focus groups earlier this year, and the proposed rates incorporate feedback from those sessions. For example, to reduce the cost impact of isolated spikes in electricity usage, proposed residential and small commercial customer rates would change how demand charges are calculated. Demand is the total amount of electricity a customer uses at one time, and it increases when several major appliances are operating at once. Instead of billing demand on a single highest-hour usage, the new Balanced Demand Billing would assess demand based on an average of the highest one-hour usage in each of the four highest peak periods that month. Additionally, the commercial peak demand window has been shortened from four hours to three, aligning those peak hours with residential hours and giving commercial customers more flexibility to manage costs.
“We listened to our customers and made meaningful changes based on their experiences and feedback,” Staton said. “Averaging peak-hour usage and shortening the commercial peak window address key ideas from residential and commercial customers. Our customers wanted to have more control over their results, and we are helping them do this with Balanced Demand Billing.”
Customers have until Aug. 31 to review and comment on the proposed changes. Details on the public meetings, how to submit written comments, and the full rate proposal are available at www.santeecooper.com/ratestudy.
Rate Process Timeline
- Public meetings in multiple locations: July 27 (6 p.m.), July 28 (10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.), and Aug. 31 (2 p.m.)
- Written comments: Accepted through July 30
- Management presents final recommended rates: Sept. 29
- Board vote on final recommended rates: Oct. 30
- If approved, new rates take effect: Feb. 1, 2027, and Feb. 1, 2028
