Santee Cooper Residential Bill Estimator
Non-Summer (Oct – May)
Summer (Jun – Sep)
Summer rates are typically higher due to peak demand.
Check your meter or previous bill for usage.
Fixed monthly base fee.
Base cost per kilowatt-hour.
Variable rate based on fuel costs.
Enter local tax rate if applicable.
Base Customer Charge:
Energy Charge Cost:
Fuel Adjustment Cost:
Taxes & Fees:
Total Estimated Bill:
*Estimates only. Actual bill may vary based on specific riders, demand charges, or recent rate adjustments.
Understanding Santee Cooper Rates
Santee Cooper, South Carolina's state-owned electric and water utility, utilizes specific rate structures that determine your monthly electricity bill. Unlike simple flat-rate pricing, your bill is composed of several distinct components that fluctuate based on the season and global fuel markets. This calculator helps residential customers (Rate RG) estimate their monthly costs.
Key Bill Components
- Customer Charge: This is a fixed monthly fee (often around $19.50 for residential customers) that covers the cost of maintaining the grid, metering, and billing, regardless of how much electricity you use.
- Energy Charge (kWh): This is the cost for the actual electricity consumed. Santee Cooper utilizes seasonal pricing:
- Summer (June – September): Rates are generally higher during these months due to the high demand placed on the grid by air conditioning.
- Non-Summer (October – May): Rates are typically lower during these off-peak months.
- Fuel Adjustment: This is a variable component that passes through the actual cost of fuel (coal, natural gas) used to generate electricity. This rate can change frequently and is applied per kWh used.
- Demand Charge: While standard residential users typically pay per kWh, some specific rate plans or commercial accounts include a demand charge based on the highest amount of power (kW) drawn at any single point during the month.
How to Calculate Your Usage
To get the most accurate result from the Santee Cooper Rate Calculator, you need to know your monthly consumption in Kilowatt-hours (kWh). You can find this on your previous monthly statements or by reading your electric meter. An average South Carolina home may use between 800 kWh (mild months) to over 1,500 kWh (hot summer months) depending on the efficiency of the HVAC system and home insulation.
Tips for Lowering Your Bill
Since the Energy Charge and Fuel Adjustment are tied directly to usage, the best way to lower your bill is energy efficiency. Consider upgrading to LED lighting, sealing windows, and setting your thermostat to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter to minimize the high-cost usage tiers.