Electric Consumer

Editor: Katerine G., Editor & Data Researcher · Research & publishing: Electric Consumer Editorial Team · Data retrieved · Sources named on this page: DOE LEAD, HHS LIHEAP · How we got these numbers · Report an error

Can households afford energy in South Carolina?

10.0%of income to home energy, South Carolina households under 60% of state median income

14th of 51. All South Carolina households: 2.4% ($2,056 of $85,581). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 22.2% on $8,044. Renters 3.2%, owners 2.2%.

South Carolina burden by income bracket

At or above 6% in South Carolina: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 27% of homes (542,488 of 2,023,085).

South Carolina burden, % of income

  1. 22.2Under 30%
  2. 7.430% to 60%
  3. 4.760% to 80%
  4. 3.680% to 100%
  5. 1.6Over 100%

Getting the average under-30% household in South Carolina down to 6% takes $1,305 off its $1,788 energy cost, or $21,756 more income.

Where South Carolina sits among the states

Home energy burden of households under 60% of state median income, by state, one tile per stateAlaska: 11.2%AKMaine: 12.8%MEVermont: 13.1%VTNew Hampshire: 9.8%NHWashington: 5.0%WAIdaho: 8.0%IDMontana: 10.3%MTNorth Dakota: 7.8%NDMinnesota: 7.4%MNIllinois: 8.9%ILWisconsin: 7.4%WIMichigan: 9.5%MINew York: 8.5%NYRhode Island: 8.9%RIMassachusetts: 8.5%MAOregon: 6.2%ORNevada: 8.8%NVWyoming: 9.8%WYSouth Dakota: 9.6%SDIowa: 8.9%IAIndiana: 9.4%INOhio: 9.3%OHPennsylvania: 10.0%PANew Jersey: 5.7%NJConnecticut: 10.1%CTCalifornia: 6.7%CAUtah: 5.8%UTColorado: 6.1%CONebraska: 9.2%NEMissouri: 9.8%MOKentucky: 10.1%KYWest Virginia: 11.8%WVVirginia: 7.5%VAMaryland: 6.8%MDDelaware: 8.5%DEArizona: 7.7%AZNew Mexico: 10.4%NMKansas: 9.8%KSArkansas: 10.9%ARTennessee: 9.1%TNNorth Carolina: 8.4%NCSouth Carolina: 10.0%SCDistrict of Columbia: 5.9%DCOklahoma: 11.5%OKLouisiana: 11.0%LAMississippi: 12.4%MSAlabama: 11.2%ALGeorgia: 8.8%GAHawaii: 8.3%HITexas: 8.4%TXFlorida: 8.2%FL

One tile per state; darker means a larger share of income goes to home energy for lower-income households. South Carolina is outlined; click a tile for that state.

South Carolina income, cost and burden

BracketSouth Carolina homesShareSouth Carolina incomeElectricAll energySouth Carolina burdenU.S. burden
Under 30%223,34411%$8,044$1,557$1,78822.2%17.0%
30% to 60%319,14416%$25,841$1,631$1,9057.4%6.3%
60% to 80%214,65011%$42,314$1,679$1,9694.7%4.3%
80% to 100%193,26110%$55,750$1,721$2,0233.6%3.4%
Over 100%1,072,68653%$133,532$1,796$2,1801.6%1.6%
All2,023,085100%$85,581$1,724$2,0562.4%2.2%

Renters, owners and fuel in South Carolina

Renters pay $1,517 on $47,868 (3.2%); owners $2,277 on $101,049 (2.2%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: electricity, 71% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 6.7%.

South Carolina heating fuelHomesShareSouth Carolina incomeAll energyBurden
Electricity1,439,49671.2%$80,123$1,9382.4%
Utility gas471,01423.3%$107,842$2,3482.2%
Bottled gas (propane)69,4733.4%$73,868$2,8703.9%
Fuel oil12,1710.6%$32,095$2,1536.7%
Wood, coal, solar and other30,9301.5%$47,965$1,2762.7%

Your burden against South Carolina

    Help and shutoff rules in South Carolina

    FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 17,420 homes, 3 per 100 under 60% of median.

    FY2026 funding snapshot $49,367,067, $91 per such home.

    Eligibility listed: 60% State Median Income Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Level.

    Benefits listed: Heating: $200 minimum, $850 maximum Cooling: $200 minimum, $775 maximum Crisis: $1,000 maximum.

    Cold-weather clause: December through March: no termination of residential service if customer or household member furnishes a physician-signed certificate that termination would be especially dangerous to health, plus customer states inability to pay by installments. Not a blanket ban; no temperature trigger found.

    Read: S.C. Code Regs. 103-342 and 103-352 (Procedures for Termination of Service); 103-345, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.

    Not legal advice. Ask your South Carolina utility.

    Highest-burden South Carolina counties

    46 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Allendale County at 5.7%, lowest of the 46: York County at 1.7%.

    South Carolina countyHomesIncomeAll energyBurdenUnder 60%
    Allendale County3,220$47,398$2,6935.7%16.5%
    Bamberg County4,610$56,526$2,7284.8%15.2%
    Union County11,580$56,708$2,5754.5%12.6%
    Barnwell County8,342$59,352$2,6724.5%15.2%
    Williamsburg County11,999$51,881$2,3324.5%13.6%
    Hampton County7,084$56,162$2,5164.5%11.5%
    Marlboro County9,463$47,259$2,0454.3%11.4%
    Colleton County15,656$62,084$2,6074.2%12.7%

    Next to South Carolina in the ranking

    More

    Sources

    DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.

    Questions

    How much of income do South Carolina households spend on energy?

    2.4% for all households ($2,056 of $85,581) and 10.0% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.

    Who is hit hardest in South Carolina?

    Households under 30% of median income: 22.2%, 223,344 homes spending $1,788 on $8,044.

    How many South Carolina homes get LIHEAP heating help?

    17,420 in FY2024, 3 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.

    Is electricity the whole South Carolina energy burden?

    No: electricity is 2.0% of 2.4%; gas and other fuel are the rest.

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    10.0% of income to home energy, South Carolina households under 60% of state median income