Can households afford energy in South Carolina?
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
- 22.2Under 30%
- 7.430% to 60%
- 4.760% to 80%
- 3.680% to 100%
- 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.
South Carolina income, cost and burden
| Bracket | South Carolina homes | Share | South Carolina income | Electric | All energy | South Carolina burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 223,344 | 11% | $8,044 | $1,557 | $1,788 | 22.2% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 319,144 | 16% | $25,841 | $1,631 | $1,905 | 7.4% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 214,650 | 11% | $42,314 | $1,679 | $1,969 | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 193,261 | 10% | $55,750 | $1,721 | $2,023 | 3.6% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 1,072,686 | 53% | $133,532 | $1,796 | $2,180 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| All | 2,023,085 | 100% | $85,581 | $1,724 | $2,056 | 2.4% | 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 fuel | Homes | Share | South Carolina income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 1,439,496 | 71.2% | $80,123 | $1,938 | 2.4% |
| Utility gas | 471,014 | 23.3% | $107,842 | $2,348 | 2.2% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 69,473 | 3.4% | $73,868 | $2,870 | 3.9% |
| Fuel oil | 12,171 | 0.6% | $32,095 | $2,153 | 6.7% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 30,930 | 1.5% | $47,965 | $1,276 | 2.7% |
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.
- South Carolina LIHEAP office, phone 803-734-0662
- Clearinghouse snapshot, South Carolina
- South Carolina help with your bill
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 county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale County | 3,220 | $47,398 | $2,693 | 5.7% | 16.5% |
| Bamberg County | 4,610 | $56,526 | $2,728 | 4.8% | 15.2% |
| Union County | 11,580 | $56,708 | $2,575 | 4.5% | 12.6% |
| Barnwell County | 8,342 | $59,352 | $2,672 | 4.5% | 15.2% |
| Williamsburg County | 11,999 | $51,881 | $2,332 | 4.5% | 13.6% |
| Hampton County | 7,084 | $56,162 | $2,516 | 4.5% | 11.5% |
| Marlboro County | 9,463 | $47,259 | $2,045 | 4.3% | 11.4% |
| Colleton County | 15,656 | $62,084 | $2,607 | 4.2% | 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.