Midlands customers speak at public session on Dominion Energy proposed rate hike
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Dominion Energy customers from across the Midlands had an opportunity to speak up about a proposed rate hike on Monday.
The electric company said they are requesting a 14.21% rate hike from regulators at the Public Service Commission (PSC). Dominion currently estimates the average household bill at $132.68 a month and that bill would jump up to $151.54 under the proposal.
The public sessions took place at 101 Executive Center Drive in Columbia and were open for anyone to come and respond to the proposed hike. Two sessions happened Monday, the first from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the second between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Various online petitions and emails submitted to the PSC suggest residents are not happy with the proposal, according to Conservation Voters of South Carolina.
“Dominion Energy is a very commanding monopoly,” said Pamela Greenlaw, a public witness who spoke at 10 a.m. “We don’t have choice. They have unreasonable demands, and one of them is these repeated high increase in rates they’re requesting.”
Dominion said the rate hike was intended to keep plants open and the grid secure, saying they haven’t raised rates since 2020.
“In Columbia, South Carolina, I have a choice in which company that I can use for my internet and my phone,” said Elaine Cooper, another public witness who spoke during the 10 a.m. public session. “But with my utilities, there is only one choice: presently Dominion.”
Cooper spoke about the proposed hike taking place “during one of the hottest summers on record,” arguing the proposed increase would hit “older Dominion customers on fixed incomes” particularly hard.
Dominion released the following statement regarding the rate hike:
“Dominion Energy is committed to providing reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy that powers our customers every day. As a responsible energy company with rates lower than the national average, we must invest money and recover the rising costs needed to keep our plants running, our system reliable and our grid secure – all while doing our part to help make South Carolina a place where people want to live and work.”
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