New rate set to shield some South Carolina customers from data center energy costs

Concerns are rising in South Carolina regarding the potential impact of data centers on energy costs, particularly with a Meta data center under construction in Graniteville. Cole Price of Central Electric Power Cooperative, which supplies power to all 19 energy cooperatives in South Carolina, addressed these worries, noting the region's growth in data center development. In response to public anxiety over rising power bills, all 19 energy cooperatives in the state unanimously voted to adopt a new rate. This rate is designed to shield families and businesses from energy costs associated with data centers. Key protections include a 15-year minimum contract for data centers, prepayment for necessary infrastructure upgrades, and provisions allowing the ramping down of electricity use during potential energy shortages. Price emphasized that data centers must not burden the existing power system. Dominion Energy also released a statement regarding its contractual requirements with commercial and industrial customers, including provisions to protect customers from rising rates.