FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – It’s something most don’t think about: flip the switch, the light comes on. But for some SC customers in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand, the flip of the switch may hit your wallet a little harder as soon as next year.
Duke energy officials filed a request last Friday to increase base rates for customers in South Carolina. The 14.5% rate increase the company is looking for means 168,000 homes in the Pee Dee as well as Horry and Georgetown counties could be paying between $16 and $17 more per month on average to keep the lights on.
Officials with Duke Energy told News13 the company hopes to use the $79 million in expected revenue from the rate hike to pay for upgrades on some of its power plants.
Most of those plants are in North Carolina, but still send much needed energy across the border to S.C.
The rate increase still has to be approved by the SC Public Service Commission, a process which could take several months, according to Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier.
“It’s going to be a very public proceeding and we want customers’ input,” Mosier said.
Later this year the SC Public Service Commission will host several meetings around the state where the public can come and tell officials how they feel about paying more on their Duke Energy electric bills.
To learn more about the process as well as find out if you’ll be one of those customers affected, visit Duke Energy’s frequently asked questions page here.