What SC Voters Think – SC Reliable Energy

South Carolinians have spoken on the issue of power in our state.

More than 80% of South Carolina voters surveyed favor moving away from the current monopolistic power system to one that encourages competition and allows multiple energy providers to sell electricity.

IThe poll of 600 registered general election voters was conducted December 15-17, 2024, by BK Strategies, with a combination of landline and cell phone interviews. The poll has a margin of error of 4% and a 95% confidence level.

Poll Results

South Carolina faces growing energy demands due to rapid population growth and business expansion. In order to meet future energy needs, which of the following is closest to your views? (1) South Carolina should continue with the current state-regulated monopoly system with utilities like Duke, Dominion, Santee Cooper, and the electric co-ops. (2) South Carolina should modernize its laws to encourage competition and allow multiple energy providers to generate and sell electricity that could be cheaper and more reliable.

10.2% — Continue with the current state-regulated monopoly

80.8% — Modernize its laws to encourage competition

9.1% — Don’t Know/Refused

If you knew that introducing greater competition into the electricity market could save South Carolina ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, would you favor or oppose modernizing the energy system to allow for competitive markets?

84.2% — Favor
54.9% — Strongly Favor
29.4% — Somewhat Favor

7.0% — Oppose
1.7% — Somewhat Oppose
5.4% — Strongly Oppose

8.7% — Don’t Know/Refused

Currently, South Carolina electric utilities are not required to participate in a regional electricity market that shares excess energy in order to increase efficiency and reliability. Should South Carolina require utilities to join a regional electricity market to lower costs and improve grid stability?

74.1% — Yes

10.8% — No

15.1% — Don’t Know/Refused

Would you support or oppose requiring South Carolina’s electric utilities to participate in a wholesale energy market, similar to those in other states, in order to reduce prices and make energy more reliable?

78.5% — Support
47.8% — Strongly Support
30.7% — Somewhat Support

8.1% — Oppose
2.7% — Somewhat Oppose
5.4% — Strongly Oppose

13.4% — Don’t Know/Refused