Dominion Energy customers will have opportunities to share feedback on the utility's proposed residential rate increase during a series of public hearings that begin next week. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) has scheduled virtual and in-person meetings throughout the state through May to hear from residents.
The SCDCA intervened to represent the interest of residential consumers as the Public Service Commission (PSC) evaluates Dominion's request of a 12.73% increase which would raise the average customer's monthly electric bill about $20. Dominion says the proposed increase will help the company keep up with a growing demand for electricity in the state.
Starting next Tuesday, Dominion users can voice their opinions through a series of in-person hearings. Hearings also are scheduled in April and May around the Lowcountry and Midlands to include Aiken, Bluffton, Charleston and Columbia. A full list of times and locations can be found here. Participants are encouraged to pre-register as the PSC will hear from pre-registered individuals first. Customers who cannot attend in-person have the option of testifying virtually on May 12 and 13 in Columbia.
As the state’s consumer advocate, SCDCA is authorized to intervene in utility ratemaking proceedings before the PSC, representing the interests of residential customers. Since the General Assembly restored its authority to participate in PSC cases in 2018, SCDCA’s Advocacy Division has been involved in more than 50 dockets—saving residential customers more than $46 million.