Duke Energy proposes price hike for South Carolina customers [Video]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy is proposing its first rate hike in South Carolina in nearly a decade so it can make necessary upgrades to the power grid, officials say. 

The proposal states a typical customer’s bill may rise by around $18 in August with another smaller increase planned in 2026. Duke Energy says it hasn’t asked the South Carolina Public Service Commission for a rate hike since 2018. Duke has more than 650,000 customers in the Palmetto State. 

“If these increases continue, I’m going to have to get a part-time job in the wintertime just to pay the heat bill,” Mario Russo said. “It’s ridiculous.”

“Making upgrades at the Oconee Nuclear Station, improving the efficiency of Bad Creek Hydro, new poles, new wires, new technology that makes outages both easier to respond to and quicker in getting the lights back on for customers,” Ryan …