Is electricity expensive in South Carolina?

South Carolina's residential average of 15.6¢/kWh is 15% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 21 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in South Carolina?

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $106 a year at South Carolina rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does South Carolina compare with other states?

The same median electric water heater costs $159 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $638 in Hawaii (the priciest). South Carolina sits at $188.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · South Carolina · 15.6¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in South Carolina?

$188/yr · median certified model

Residential electricity in South Carolina runs 15.6¢/kWh — 15% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified electric water heater at about $188 a year, versus $222 nationally.

South Carolina ranks 21 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at South Carolina rates the most efficient certified model (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $106 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $271 — a spread of $165 every year. For reference, the national extremes are Nevada (13.1¢/kWh) and Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh); the same median electric water heater would cost $159 and $638 a year there.

South Carolina

$188

US average

$222

Nevada

$159

Hawaii

$638

Median certified electric water heater (1,210 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest water heaters (electric) to run at South Carolina rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 15.6¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in SC
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$106
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$113
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$120
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$120
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$121
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$121
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$121
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$121
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$121
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$121

Price any model at South Carolina rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 52¢
Per month: $15.68
Per year: $188

1,210 kWh/yr × 15.6¢/kWh = $188/yr

Prefilled with the median certified electric water heater (1,210 kWh/yr). Every model page on this site carries its exact certified figure.

Questions, answered with the data

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in South Carolina?: About $188 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at South Carolina's average residential rate of 15.6¢/kWh — that's $15.68 a month.
Is electricity expensive in South Carolina?: South Carolina's residential average of 15.6¢/kWh is 15% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 21 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in South Carolina?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $106 a year at South Carolina rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does South Carolina compare with other states?: The same median electric water heater costs $159 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $638 in Hawaii (the priciest). South Carolina sits at $188.

Keep digging

Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.