SCE&G, Charleston’s largest power provider, seeks to increase electricity rates by 6.61%

South Carolina Electric & Gas today filed for a 6.61 percent overall increase in its retail electric base rates.

The monthly bill of a residential customer would increase $6.67 a month, or about $80 a year, for each 1,000 kilowatts used. SCE&G is the Charleston region’s largest power provider.

The Cayce-based utility said the increase is being primarily driven by higher costs associated with reliability of its power grid and regulatory compliance as well the expiration of a large, undisclosed power sales contract.

A public hearing on SCE&G’s request is expected to be held in the fall. The company is asking that the higher rates take effect in January by the following amounts:

Residential customers: 4.85 percent;

Small commercial customers: 1.36 percent;

Medium-size commercial customers: 2.78 percent; and

Large commercial/industrial customers: 3.69 percent.

See Saturday’s editions of The Post and Courier for more details.