What is the average electric bill in Columbia in 2026?

EIA does not publish a Columbia bill. The official figure for South Carolina is $161.21 a month. That is the 2025 residential average, released October 7, 2026, and it is the latest full-year number.

Why does a 2026 page use a 2025 bill?

The annual EIA bill is a full calendar year. Final 2025 numbers were released on October 7, 2026. Monthly 2026 figures are still preliminary and are not a full-year average.

How much is electricity per kWh in South Carolina?

15.12¢ per kilowatt-hour, on about 1,066 kWh a month. A high bill can come from the rate, from heavy use, or from both. A long cooling season keeps use above 1,000 kWh. The rate is below the U.S. average.

Residential electric bill

Average Electric Bill in Columbia 2026

The average electric bill in Columbia is $161.21 a month. That is the South Carolina residential average. EIA publishes this figure by state, not by city.

$161.21per month

Rank: 13 of 51
Price: 15.12¢ per kWh
Typical use: 1,066 kWh

That is $10.53 above the U.S. average of $150.68. Over a year it is about $1,934.52. The price and the kilowatt-hours are the EIA residential averages for South Carolina in 2025.

Inland heat is more intense than on the coast, and the cooling season is long. A long cooling season keeps use above 1,000 kWh. The rate is below the U.S. average.

EIA builds the average bill from residential revenue divided by the number of residential customers (2,629,290 in South Carolina). It includes the energy and delivery charges utilities reported. It is not a quote for one house. A larger home, electric heat, or a time-of-use plan can land far from this average.

Cities in South Carolina

EIA does not publish a separate city bill. Each city below uses this South Carolina average.

The other big bills on a house

The electric bill shows up every month. The expensive years are usually a roof, an HVAC system, or a water heater.

Questions people ask

What is the average electric bill in Columbia in 2026?: EIA does not publish a Columbia bill. The official figure for South Carolina is $161.21 a month. That is the 2025 residential average, released October 7, 2026, and it is the latest full-year number.
Why does a 2026 page use a 2025 bill?: The annual EIA bill is a full calendar year. Final 2025 numbers were released on October 7, 2026. Monthly 2026 figures are still preliminary and are not a full-year average.
How much is electricity per kWh in South Carolina?: 15.12¢ per kilowatt-hour, on about 1,066 kWh a month. A high bill can come from the rate, from heavy use, or from both. A long cooling season keeps use above 1,000 kWh. The rate is below the U.S. average.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861, residential average monthly bill, calendar year 2025, released October 7, 2026. EIA-861 data files. Figures are rounded to the cent, to 0.01¢ per kWh, and to the nearest kilowatt-hour.

Average electric bill by state 2026 · Average electric bill in South Carolina