How South Carolina's Power Company Works and What You Need to Know

South Carolina's main power company and how it serves the state

Dominion Energy is the primary electric utility serving most of South Carolina, operating as the state's largest power provider. The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to roughly 2.7 million customers across the state. If you live in South Carolina and receive an electric bill, you are almost certainly a Dominion customer unless you live in one of the smaller service areas run by municipal utilities or electric cooperatives.

Dominion Energy owns and maintains the power lines, poles, transformers, and substations that bring electricity to your home or business. The company is regulated by the South Carolina Public Service Commission, which oversees rates, service standards, and reliability. Understanding how Dominion operates—and what your other options might be—helps you navigate billing, outages, and service requests more effectively.

Key Takeaways

• Dominion Energy is South Carolina's largest electric utility, serving most of the state, but some areas are served by municipal utilities or electric cooperatives instead.
• The South Carolina Public Service Commission regulates Dominion's rates and service standards, and you can file a complaint with them if you have a billing or service dispute.
• You can report outages to Dominion through their website, mobile app, or phone line, and the company maintains an outage map showing affected areas in real time.
• Dominion offers budget billing, time-of-use rates, and energy efficiency programs that may lower your monthly costs if your usage pattern qualifies.
• If you own a home, you can request a free energy audit from Dominion to identify where you are losing heat or cooling and what upgrades might reduce your bill.

How to report an outage and track restoration

When the power goes out, Dominion Energy has multiple channels to receive your report. You can call 1-866-DOMINION (1-866-366-4636), use the Dominion Energy mobile app, or report the outage through their website at dominionenergy.com. The company prefers online or app-based reports because they are faster and free up phone lines for customers without internet access.

Once you report an outage, Dominion's system automatically detects whether the outage is widespread or isolated to your property. If it is a neighborhood outage, the company's crews are already responding. If it is only your home, a representative may ask you to check your breaker panel or reset your meter before dispatching a technician. Dominion maintains a real-time outage map on their website showing the number of customers without power in each area and estimated restoration times.

Restoration time depends on the cause and scope of the outage. A downed tree limb affecting one block may take two to four hours. A major storm affecting multiple counties can take days. Dominion publishes updates on their outage map and through text alerts if you have signed up for notifications. If your power is not restored within the estimated window, you can contact the company again for an updated timeline.

Understanding your bill and rate options

Your Dominion Energy bill includes several components: the cost of the electricity you used, a customer charge (a fixed monthly fee), and taxes. The electricity charge is based on your usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh), multiplied by the rate per kWh set by the Public Service Commission. Rates vary slightly by region within South Carolina and change periodically when Dominion requests a rate increase and the commission approves it.

Dominion offers budget billing, which averages your annual usage and charges you the same amount each month instead of higher bills in summer and winter. This makes budgeting easier but means you may owe money or receive a credit when the year ends and actual usage is reconciled. You can enroll in budget billing through your online account or by calling customer service.

The company also offers time-of-use rates in some areas, where electricity costs less during off-peak hours (typically late evening and early morning) and more during peak hours (typically late afternoon and early evening). This rate structure rewards customers who can shift usage—running the dishwasher or doing laundry at night, for example—but costs more if you use power during peak times. Ask Dominion whether time-of-use rates are available in your area and whether your usage pattern would benefit.

Energy efficiency programs and home audits

Dominion Energy offers a free home energy audit to residential customers in South Carolina. A technician visits your home, checks insulation, seals air leaks, inspects your heating and cooling system, and identifies where energy is being wasted. The audit produces a report with specific recommendations and estimated savings for each upgrade.

The company also runs rebate programs for customers who install energy-efficient equipment. Common rebates cover air conditioning system upgrades, heat pump installation, water heater replacement, and insulation improvements. Rebate amounts vary by measure and change periodically. You can view current rebates on Dominion's website or ask about them when you schedule your energy audit.

Beyond rebates, Dominion offers weatherization assistance for low-income households, which can include free insulation, air sealing, and heating system repairs. This program is separate from the company's standard efficiency offerings and has its own income limits. Contact Dominion's customer service line to ask whether you may be may be able to access.

What to do if you have a billing dispute or service complaint

If you believe your bill is incorrect or you have a complaint about Dominion's service, start by contacting the company directly. Call 1-866-DOMINION or log into your online account to dispute a charge or request a detailed explanation of your bill. Dominion has 30 days to respond to a billing inquiry.

If Dominion's response does not resolve the issue, you can file a complaint with the South Carolina Public Service Commission. The commission is an independent state agency that regulates utilities and investigates customer complaints. You can file a complaint online at psc.sc.gov, by mail, or by phone at 803-896-5100. The commission will contact Dominion on your behalf and work toward a resolution. Filing a complaint does not cost you anything.

Keep copies of your bills, correspondence with Dominion, and any documentation supporting your complaint. The more specific you are about the problem and when it occurred, the faster the commission can investigate.

Service areas and alternatives if Dominion does not serve your location

Dominion Energy serves most of South Carolina, but not all. Some areas are served by municipal electric utilities—city-owned companies that serve only their residents—or by electric cooperatives, which are member-owned nonprofits. The largest municipal utilities include the City of Greenville Utilities, the City of Columbia's electric division, and the City of Charleston's electric utility. Electric cooperatives include Aiken Electric Cooperative, Edisto Electric Cooperative, and others.

If you live in a Dominion service area, you cannot choose a different provider—electricity is a regulated monopoly in South Carolina, and each utility has an exclusive service territory. However, you can install rooftop solar panels and generate your own electricity. Dominion will still provide backup power when your solar system is not producing, and you can sell excess power back to the grid through a process called net metering. Ask Dominion about their solar interconnection process if you are interested.

If you live outside Dominion's service area, contact your local municipal utility or electric cooperative directly for billing, outage reporting, and service questions. Their processes are similar to Dominion's but may differ in specific details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set up or cancel my Dominion Energy account?

To start service, call 1-866-DOMINION or visit dominionenergy.com and select "Start Service." You will need your move-in date, a valid ID, and proof of residency. To cancel, contact the company at least three business days before your move-out date. If you owe a balance, Dominion will bill you after you leave.

Can I pay my Dominion bill online or by phone?

Yes. You can pay through your online account at dominionenergy.com, through the mobile app, by phone at 1-866-DOMINION, by mail, or in person at authorized payment locations. Online and app payments are free and process immediately. Phone payments may have a small fee depending on the payment method.

What should I do if I cannot pay my electric bill?

Contact Dominion's customer service immediately. The company offers payment plans that spread your balance over several months. You may also be may be able to access for bill assistance through local nonprofits or government programs. Dominion can connect you with resources in your area. Do not wait until your service is disconnected to reach out.

How often does Dominion read my meter?

Dominion reads meters monthly to generate your bill. Some customers have smart meters that report usage remotely, while others have traditional meters that a technician reads in person. You can also read your own meter and report the number to Dominion if you believe the company's reading is incorrect.

What happens during a winter storm or summer heat wave?

Dominion pre-positions crews and equipment before major weather events to restore power as quickly as possible. During extreme heat or cold, the company may issue conservation alerts asking customers to reduce usage during peak hours to prevent outages. Follow these requests if possible, but prioritize your safety—run air conditioning or heating as needed to stay healthy.