Dominion Energy’s Rate Increase is an Unjust Burden on Customers

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dominion Energy customers will see an average bill increase of 5.8 percent, or $7.74 a month, after a settlement agreement between the utility and the state Office of Regulatory Staff.

Dominion initially sought an average rate hike of 13.9 percent or $18.45. The Public Service Commission approved the settlement, which goes into effect in January. 

Dominion officials said the utility is paying more for gas, coal and fuel oil because of “factors beyond the company’s control,” and are passing those costs onto their captive customers. The utility has also warned that more rate hikes are likely soon. 

While this settlement, approved by state regulators, is a better outcome for South Carolina families and businesses than the original proposal, Dominion’s continued reliance on volatile fossil fuels will continue to be a burden for customers and a threat to our air, water and public health. 

In response, Mikaela Curry, senior representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in the Carolinas, released the following statement:

“It’s good that this rate hike is less than Dominion first wanted, but it doesn’t address the underlying problem of forcing customers to cover the costs of rising gas prices in an increasingly volatile market, especially when clean, renewable energy is affordable and available right now. 

“South Carolinians pay some of the highest electric bills in the nation and these constant rate hikes exacerbate the ongoing, unjust burden on communities that are disproportionately low-income, elderly and Black. 

“We hope that when Public Service commissioners review Dominion’s upcoming resource plan, they’ll put South Carolina families first and require Dominion to move completely away from expensive, dirty fossil fuels and toward the clean, safe, affordable energy that communities demand and deserve.”