Residents in Beaufort, SC who request quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace spend an average of $229 monthly on electricity. That adds up to $2,748 per year. A different way to look at it is that a typical Beaufort, SC resident uses 1,492 kWh of electricity per month and 17,904 kWh over the year.
(For what it’s worth: Beaufort, SC residents shopping for solar on EnergySage may use more electricity than a typical household.)
The easiest way to compare electricity costs across regions is to look at the electricity rate. In the U.S., residential rates generally range from 11 ¢/kWh all the way up to 34 ¢/kWh.
As of February 2026, the cost of electricity in Beaufort, SC is 15 ¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh)—roughly 23% lower than the national average cost. That number is based on real-world electric bills shared with EnergySage over the past 12 months. You can compare that number to the most recent average state electric price reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
South Carolina’s electricity market is regulated, so you can’t choose which company supplies your electricity. Instead, the state determines your electric utility company based on where you live. There are two main utility companies in South Carolina, both of which are Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), meaning they're private for-profit companies:
Duke Energy
Dominion Energy
While the IOUs cover much of the state, some towns and cities are served by municipally-owned, not-for-profit electric companies that aren't subject to the same requirements as IOUs. These municipal utilities may offer lower rates, but may not offer benefits like net metering.
- 100% free to use, 100% online
- Access the lowest prices from installers near you
- Unbiased Energy Advisors ready to help
When you pay your electric bill, you’re not only covering the costs to produce that electricity, but also the costs of running and maintaining the electrical grid, as well as public benefit funds that promote things like renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Electric bill costs are rolled into fixed (monthly customer charges) and variable charges (¢/kWh that you use).
Fixed charges, like the flat fee for having a meter, generally remain the same monthly unless your utility makes a policy update.
Your variable charges will change every month and depend on your electricity rate and how much electricity you use.
Your electric bill's variable charges will include a supply (or generation) charge and a transmission and distribution (or delivery) charge. The supply charge covers the cost of electricity generation, while the transmission and distribution charges cover the cost of delivering it to your home.
Most utility customers in South Carolina pay a flat rate for each kWh of electricity. The rate might change over time, but it stays the same throughout the day. Some utilities offer variable-rate plans, like time-of-use rates or demand charges. Time-of-use plans are the norm if you install solar panels and participate in net metering.
How clean is the electricity in South Carolina?
Due to the complexity of utility grids, it's not easy to get precise data regarding exactly where the energy that goes to your specific home comes from, but according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 41% of the electricity on South Carolina’s utility grid comes from fossil fuels—primarily natural gas—as of August 2025.
Only about 7% comes from renewable sources. Given that almost half of the grid’s energy comes from fossil fuels, installing a home solar panel system in South Carolina will almost always shrink your carbon footprint.
Some electricity suppliers, like Santee Cooper, give you the option to pay a bit more so that most (or even all) of your electricity comes from renewable sources. If you’re unwilling or unable to go solar in South Carolina but still want to reduce your carbon footprint, this is a great alternative. It just won’t save you any money in most cases.
As long as you have a suitable roof, one of the surest ways to save on energy is to go solar—ideally with a vetted contractor offering a competitive price.
Solar panels will reduce or even eliminate your electric bills in the short term and protect you against rising electricity costs in the long run, too. The amount you save depends on how much you spend on electricity now and how much of your electric bill you can offset with solar energy.
Solar panels are a big investment, but Beaufort, SC homeowners who install them—and pay upfront—break even after an average of just 5.51 years. Then, the solar panels will continue to produce free electricity for years to come.
Does South Carolina offer net metering?
When the sun is out, your solar panels will usually produce more electricity than your home needs at any given moment.
That power doesn’t go to waste. The biggest utility companies in South Carolina (Dominion Energy and Duke Energy) offer net metering, a solar buyback program that provides energy credits for the solar power you send to the grid. Later, when you need to pull electricity from the grid (like at night or on cloudy days), the utility company deducts it from your banked credits.
South Carolina’s net metering policy is less favorable than in other states. To qualify for the program, you must sign up for a time-of-use rate plan with your utility, and there are limitations on how you can use the credits. For example, if you earn credits during off-peak hours, you can only use them during the same period.
Be sure to use your credits when you have them, as they won't roll over from month to month. Instead, the remaining credits are paid in cash at a lower rate than what you pay for electricity.
How much can you save with solar?
Electric bills in the Palmetto State are getting more expensive. With the help of incentives and rebates, you can save big by going solar in Beaufort, SC.
Just take a look at how much you'll spend on electricity over time based on your current bill. It’s easy to see how going solar can pay off quickly.
Electricity cost over time in South Carolina
Current monthly electric bill | 10-year electricity cost | 20-year electricity cost | 30-year electricity cost |
|---|---|---|---|
$50 | $6,400 | $14,000 | $22,000 |
$100 | $13,000 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
$150 | $19,000 | $41,000 | $67,000 |
$200 | $26,000 | $55,000 | $89,000 |
$250 | $32,000 | $69,000 | $110,000 |
Assuming a 1% annual increase based on inflation and average annual electric rate increases in South Carolina.
Let's assume you pay $229 for electricity monthly (the Beaufort, SC average) and that electricity prices increase by 1% annually. Let's also assume you buy your solar panel system upfront and that it costs you $31,000 before any available incentives.
In the first year with solar, you'll avoid spending $2,800 on electric bills. Over five years, you'll avoid $14,100; by 10 years, you'll have avoided $29,300. Solar panels are usually covered under warranty for 25 years—by then, you'll have avoided spending $81,600 on electric bills in Beaufort, SC.
The average payback period in Beaufort, SC is 5.51 years, so by this point, you've already broken even on your investment. When you subtract your upfront installation cost, you'll pocket $50,500 over 25 years with solar.
Your solar savings depend on you
How much your utility company charges for electricity is a big indicator of how much you'll save with solar. But your exact solar savings depend on your unique situation—including your energy usage, roof layout, system size, and how you pay for your system.
Here are some reasons your savings could be below average:
You don’t use much electricity, or your roof is small or has a less-than-ideal layout. You might have a relatively long payback period, so you'll save a little less over time.
You don't install enough solar panels to 100% offset your energy use. You’ll pay less up front but save less in the long run.
You finance your solar panel system with a loan or sign a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) instead of paying up front. These types of arrangements can make a lot of sense for keeping your capital flexible and will allow you to start saving sooner. But they will cut into your long-term savings.
Choosing a high-quality solar installer is the key to getting a top-notch solar panel system that will help you save on electric bills.
We pre-screen all solar companies on EnergySage to ensure they get the job done right. Here are the highest-rated EnergySage installers in Beaufort, SC:
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.0203 Reviews
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified4.8 /5.016 Reviews
Advanced InstallerScreened & Verified4.6 /5.0521 Reviews
Approved InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.05 Reviews
Approved InstallerScreened & Verified4.7 /5.0624 Reviews
Helping customers make informed decisions since 2009.
