Dominion SC customers will see bills go up next month after state gives approval
Starting next month, Dominion Energy customers in South Carolina will be seeing an unusual out-of-season increase in the rates they pay for their energy.
The S.C. Public Service Commission issued a directive Thursday that will implement a new rate schedule worked out between the power supplier and the state’s Office of Regulatory Staff.
Under the terms of the deal, the average residential energy customer will see a price increase of about 6%. Based on the usage of 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, that would increase a user’s rate from $132.79 to $140.53.
The new rate will go into effect in January and continue through April, when Dominion will have its new annual rate set by state regulators.
“Dominion Energy is pleased the Public Service Commission of South Carolina has approved our agreement with all parties, which was reached in the best interest of our customers by reducing the immediate impact of the fuel increase,” said spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion. “We encourage customers to contact us if they need payment assistance.”
The rate change is unusual because Dominion’s statewide prices are usually set in the spring. But this year, in response to a sharp spike in the price the company was paying for natural gas, Dominion came back to the state in August seeking permission to sharply increase its previously agreed price.
The requested change would have raised prices for residential customers by 13.9%, or $18.55 a month, based on a customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, according to the S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff. That same change would amount to a 16.8% rise on commercial customers and 26.7% rise for industrial customers, as spelled out in Dominion’s request for approval for the rate increase.
After regulators intervened, the two sides agreed to a compromise proposal that will go before the S.C. Public Service Commission for approval, based partly on the decline in natural gas prices since Dominion made the initial request in August.
“On behalf of the consumers, we recognize that no increase is welcome,” said Nanette Edwards, the executive director of the Office of Regulatory Staff. “We’ve just seen a lot of volatility in the commodity market, and this increase will be reviewed.”
In its directive, adopted at Thursday’s meeting, the commission calls the change “reasonable and in the public interest and in accordance with state law.” Commissioners voted 5-1 to move forward with the change.
This story was originally published December 16, 2022 at 12:12 PM.
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