Dominion customers plead to keep bills low at hearing on planned SC rate increase
Dominion Energy customers on Tuesday told S.C. regulators that a proposed increase in their power bills would be a major impact on their household finances.
Dozens signed up to speak out against a proposed rate increase on South Carolina customers at a hearing before the S.C. Public Service Commission. Dominion and state regulators have weighed in on plans for a rate increase later this year, but Tuesday’s hearing at the commission’s Columbia headquarters gave everyday rate payers a chance to testify about the impact a bigger bill would have on their lives.
Many said the impact of any rate increase could be difficult for their families to handle in a time of rising prices across the board.
Alana Breen told commissioners that even though she tries to be frugal with her heat and A.C., her Dominion bills can still “vary wildly” from month to month. She fears the impact an increase could have on her finances.
“After an unexpected expense on my car, I was down to $28 at one point in my checking account before I got my next paycheck,” Breen said.
Heather Flores is a state employee, but she told commissioners she also runs a small business out of her home and works part-time as a delivery driver to supplement her income.
“And there are still times I don’t go to the doctor, because I know I can’t afford the bills,” Flores said. “As state employees, we’re fortunate if we receive a 1% pay increase annually.”
Commission members heard the testimony as they consider Dominion’s request to charge South Carolina customers an extra $12 a month, based on 1,000 kilowatt hours. The change would mean an increase of 7.6% on the average customer’s bill.
Dominion had initially requested an increase that would have amounted to an extra $20 a month from the energy giant’s S.C. customers, but just days before Tuesday’s hearing, the company announced a new proposal that would lower the burden on its customers, after negotiations with state regulators and environmental and consumer groups.
The Virginia-based energy giant has said it needs to bring in more revenue to power a growing state, upgrade its infrastructure and recover from the damage still left over from Hurricane Helene.
“It’s not lost on us that a rate increase is never popular,” said Dominion attorney Chad Burgess. “I do our own family budget and costs are up across the board. But it costs money to ensure our system operates in a safe and reliable manner.”
Burgess said the new rates, meant to go into effect in July, will not go towards powering new data centers in the state or a controversial new gas plant in Canadys.
The company has said it would seek a smaller rate of return for its shareholders in the new deal, dropping from 10.5% to 9.9%. The reduction would still give Dominion a boost in revenue, but by $207 million a year instead of $322 million.
The plan considered by the Public Service Commission this week would also direct $6 million back to customers, with $3 million put towards a bill credit for residential S.C. customers this year, and another $1 million per year would go to assist low-income customers with payment assistance programs and weatherization projects for the next three years.
But many customers are upset at the thought of any price increase however, following a period when power bills have given a lot of South Carolinians sticker shock.
Testifying remotely from her Columbia-area home, Rachel McArthur said she was grateful to hear about money coming back to customers, but “without additional information, it’s hard to know how that will impact individual customers.” McArthur said she’s seen her power bill rise between $200 and $700 during colder months.
Irving Friedley, a retiree, said he didn’t want seniors like himself to have to resort to bill assistance programs to avoid having their lights turned off.
“This is not a socialist country,” Friedley said. “We want to be able to afford our bills and not have to ask for assistance.”
Michael Ward of North Augusta asked if Dominion had ever lowered rates on its customers. “Probably never,” Ward said. “They’ve got us over a barrel... I think it’s time regulators take control of their spending.”
Ward also called for Dominion executives to take an equivalent cut in their salaries to what rate payers are being asked to pay.
Many pointed out that Dominion customers are still paying for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear plant in Jenkinsville years after the joint project with Santee Cooper was shut down. One witness pointed out that the Public Service Commission had frequently used approved increases associated with that project.
Charlotte Martin told commissioners she and her neighbors were “exhausted” from trying to balance their finances as expenses continue to rise.
“We are not a revenue stream,” she said. “We are the people this commission was created to protect.”
Commission Chairman Delton Powers thanked customers for taking the time to share their testimony with the commission. “What you have to say does factor into our decisions,” he said.
The commission will hear more testimony at 5 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday at its Columbia headquarters, 101 Executive Center Drive #100, Columbia, SC 29210.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Dominion customers plead to keep bills low at hearing on planned SC rate increase."
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